calligraphy workshop

The official logo of the Calligraphy Guild of Arkansas designed by the imcomparable Charles Pearce.

Roann Mathias, one of the best calligraphers in the United States in my humble opinion, was our instructor. Roann lives and works in Memphis, TN.

One of the participants, my precious friend, Carolyn. She is an incredible calligrapher in her own right and will have a website up and running soon. She designs beautiful wedding invitations among other things.

These are an example of the letter forms. We studied and studied and practiced and practiced and practiced.

And of course, we had a stand-out, star pupil, our own Kerry Kemp, owner of Art Outfitters here in Little Rock, who specializes in Spencerian--oh my, it is unbelievable.

My Thursday calligraphy partner, Travis, and Sharon. Travis is also a wonderful calligrapher. You can see her work hanging in the state capitol building here in Little Rock.

Sharon, Carolyn, and Teresa--calligraphy guild friends and participants in the workshop--Notice the script on Sharon's jacket. Calligraphers are notorious for wearing letters somewhere on their body--earrings, jackets, aprons, T-shirts--you name it!



The first night of the workshop Sharon and her grown daughter were looking through some of her old TEEN magazines from the 1970's and spotted this article about the Raiders using Neuland. I thought that was interesting. What timing!

Some of Roann's prints from original designs--

This is my humble attempt at lettering in the Neuland hand with twinkling H20's. The lettering is not good but I mainly wanted you to see the beauty of the sparkling water-based inks.





I would say that I long to be a good calligrapher but Travis would tell me that I just need to invest "more hours." And she would be right--so in all honesty, I cannot say that. I guess I could say, "I long to long to be a good calligrapher."

My bloomin' yard

Here are some of the things bloomin' in my yard right now. I'd love to hear about yours.

The flower speaks in a language understood in all tongues,
Gives hope to all who would dare to look and ponder
that its days are here and now--
That its blossom springs from beneath the earth
Gives us reason to wonder.

See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. From Matthew 6

It sounds like a cliche but I truly do long to bloom where I am planted. I long to make Jesus known to a lost and dying world.

Multitude Monday-the rose arbor

Standing under a rose arbor soaking in the warmth, the air in small gusts of wonder breathing life into me, enfolded in the perfume of the blushed, husband nearby choosing hard-to-find plants we have been diligently searching for--knowing the God Who created all this loves and teaches me, even me, each day--this is a little bit of heaven right here on earth to me. For this I am grateful.

* a just perfect evening for relaxing on the deck

* children and grandchildren who love God

* a son who called with good news

* a pretty journal given by a friend--hand-bound from paper made by hand

* windchimes

* calligraphy workshop with Roann Mathias--what an incredible calligrapher
and what works of art she creates-

* for a husband who takes care of things YESTERDAY--but sometimes it drives
me nuts like just now-

* for purple and blue gel pens on half-price sale--to decorate journal pages with

* for my car that still works great with no problems after 9 years

* for the movie, "Singing in the Rain"--hubby and I watched it tonight and
it just makes me light-hearted-

And I would like to share a verse I love so much from Proverbs 26:2. If you really think about this verse, maybe go outside and spot a darting swallow or a fluttering sparrow, it becomes even more real--what a great promise:

"Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest."

I long to stay engulfed by the sweet perfume of the precious Holy Spirit.

Posted in thanksgiving with the Gratitude Community at:

Weekend Worship at First United Methodist

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

A voice of one calling:"In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

A voice says, "Cry out."And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."



You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!" See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart: he gently leads those that have young.



Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,mor with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?



Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.

To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to? As for an idol, a craftsman casts it,and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A man too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot. He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40
New International Version

Have a wonderful, worshipful weekend.

Love and blessings to you all,
Dianne

For those who are new here, I feature a different church each weekend on my blog. Most of them are here in Arkansas where I live. Enjoy and I hope you come back.

I am linking to SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS today. I am not quite sure just yet how to get their picture link on my post so please just click SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS above to read prayers, thoughts, poems and devotionals for those who would like to add a little more worship to their Sunday.

Brokenhearted?--here's good news!

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

This is one of my favorite verses but my very favorite is featured at the top of my sidebar.





I long to be an encourager to the brokenhearted.
photo: art piece I painted 2009/Lisa Engelbrecht workshop

I am linking to kellys korner for favorite scripture verses.

Jesus' prayer for all of us everywhere

'Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.



Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." Portions of Jesus' prayer from John 17

When I first started this blog, I remember being overcome by the awesome knowledge that people all over the world could access this website and could hear from a lowly, unworthy servant of God this great good news of salvation for the world.

When I noticed this week that visitors from Australia, Austria, Hong Kong, Romania, Mexico, Ecuador, United Kingdom, Mongolia, Maylasia, Netherlands, India, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Ukraine, Philippines, and most states in America had accessed this blog in the last month, my heart leapt with the knowledge that I have the awesome privilege and responsibility to introduce you to this Jesus, the One who is praying for you at this very moment.

I am praying for you that Jesus will meet every need that you have. But what is really powerful and the most important thing is--Jesus is praying for YOU.

In the prayer above Jesus is praying for believers but then He also prays for those "who will believe." And dear friend, if you have never met this Jesus, that is YOU He is praying for. He loves you and wants you to be One with Him, the Father and the body of Christ.

In the sidebar to the left is a page entitled, "Do You Know Jesus?" It includes a simple prayer to introduce you to the God of the Universe.

He wrote no book
and yet His words and prayer
Are intimate on myriad tongues,
Are counsel everywhere. Therese Lindsey






I long to love as Jesus loved.

Jesus prayed for Himself and all of us in John 17. You may read the whole chapter here.

Photo: The heart wreath taken at Carolyn's earlier this week in her awesome "older" home with so much character.

cultivating our faith

Some years ago I walked out my front door and noticed a small vine (that I knew to be a weed) growing around one of my good plants. I made a mental note to pull it up by the roots as soon as I came home from running an errand. Being the mother of three sons and in the kitchen, laundry room, grocery store, gym, baseball or football field at any given moment in time, my mental note slipped from my memory.

In a few days and headed out the front door again, I happened to notice the same vine. It had grown several feet and entwined itself around my poor little plant to the point of strangling the life out of it.

I stopped abruptly when the analogy of the spiritual truth hit home with me. If I do not let God pull the little weeds in me early before they take deep root and develop a stronghold, my faith is in danger of being choked to the point it is not very effective.

But, how to do this--

Heb 11:1
What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.

I must put my faith in God--He must do the weeding but I must let Him and I must not resent it or be discouraged when He yanks those weeds in me up by the roots.

Prov 3:11-12
My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

For the pruning and weed pulling to be beneficial to cultivating my faith, I must cooperate. I must be willing to lay aside every weight and sin which so easily snares and entangles me--keeping me from being the faith-filled believer God intended.

I must trust Him who is the author, the finisher, the perfector of my faith.

Heb 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

From Romans 10:
Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Through the years I have found that when I read and study God's Word, listen to sermons from my pastor and Godly scriptural wisdom from friends, my faith is stronger. Also, I like to take God's word very literally (hearing the Word) at times, so when I find my faith weakening I find that reading God's Word out loud to myself or listening to it online--pure scripture--no one else's "take" on it--just pure scripture is a great antidote.



I long to be weed-free.
Thanks to my calligraphy friends, Travis and Carolyn, who inspired me so yesterday and made me laugh. The above photographs were taken of a canvas about Faith that Travis painted and calligraphed.

No Pets On Beach

Isn't human nature interesting? We press things to the extreme at times--just to the boundary of breaking the rules. Maybe we won't step over the line but we sidle right up next to it and hope for the best. I thought it was amusing several years ago when my eleven year old granddaughter took great pride in placing her "pet" as close to the sign as she could get him and still keep him on the beach. Just a little thrill at "almost breaking the rules," I guess.





From 2 Chronicles 16:9



For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those

whose hearts are fully committed to him.


Jesus wants us to follow Him and His rules with our whole heart. That is how His plan works best in our lives. He doesn't want us to venture close to the edge of breaking His commandments, His laws, His ordinances, His statutes, His precepts. In fact Psalm 19 tells us:



7 The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul.

The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.



8 The precepts of the LORD are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.



9 The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever.

The ordinances of the LORD are sure

and altogether righteous.



10 They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the comb.



11 By them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.



Why wouldn't we want to obey with all of our hearts when what we receive in return is wisdom, a revived soul, a joyful heart, eyes that sparkle, advance warning of danger and great reward?



From Psalm 86:11



Teach me your way, O LORD,

and I will walk in your truth;

give me an undivided heart,

that I may fear your name.











I long for an undivided heart.

Old Mill in Gone With the Wind

Thought you might enjoy starting off your week with a tour of The Old Mill in North Little Rock, Arkansas. It is so pretty this time of year. If you've ever watched the 1939 movie, Gone With the Wind, this mill was featured in the opening credits. You can read about it here.

The Wise and Foolish Builders
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
From Matthew 7

I hope your week is a lovely one!

Dianne
2010-the Year of Longings
I long for the solid rock!

Weekend Worship at Liberty Community Church

" . . . . ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:15-23

I long to let this little light of mine shine at all times for His glory alone.