My Husband Told Me I Should Post This So I Am

I have been spending more time in God's Word which is what I really wanted to do with my time off.  Today I studied most of Luke 1 and this is my journal which tells the story of that chapter.

I am studying with www.shereadstruth.com and am really enjoying it.  I had tried to get started on that several times and just never did.

But this time I think I am started for good.  I look so forward to the Bible reading each day and illustrating it in some way that speaks to me and my needs for retaining the Word.

This particular devotional was under Women of the Bible, Part II-Elizabeth

They are taking a few days off for the holiday and the next study will be on Daniel.  I encourage you to read along with us.  I am going to the website listed above and doing it from there but there are apps for your smart phone and tablet if you would rather read that way.

Hope you enjoy this.

I love you,

Dianne

© all photographs, art and text property of Elizabeth Dianne unless otherwise noted

Blog Break

I will be taking a blogging break from writing or from checking blogs for the next month.

During that time I want to pursue what God would have me do.

I think blogging was great for a while. I made it for a little over 5 years.

But now I am finding that I am all written out or so it seems.

I will write in my little journal for the next month and if I feel I have anything of substance to post for you at the end of that month, then I will--otherwise, I will probably let the blog trail off--just updating every month or so.

Or maybe I will use the extra time to paint more and post some more art for you at the end of that time.

But for now, I just need to spend more time alone with God, pursuing Him and what He has to say. If you are interested in keeping up with my fascinating life (tongue in cheek), you can find me on Instagram.

There is a link to my Instagram page in the upper right side bar. If you are on Instagram I would love to know--maybe a little notation in the comments section?!

Love,
Dianne

Sing For Joy

© all photographs, art and text property of Elizabeth Dianne unless otherwise noted

Would you take a moment and consider this: A person, any person, wearing a crown--whether it be an 18 year old newly crowned Miss America, a 70 year old queen of a country, a newly crowned 30 year old king of small nation, a 6 year old celebrating her birthday, or a 100 year old queen of the nursing home who has outlived all of her peers and celebrating a century of life--

 What is the demeanor?

 What is the posture?

 What is the expression on the face?

 When considering this, I could not think of one instance where there was a sad demeanor, dejected posture, or a hang-dog expression on one's face. All I could recall in my mind's eye was a cheerful, gracious demeanor, posture that spoke of self worth and a beautiful expression of life on a contented face. I'm sure there are exceptions but I don't remember any.

I trade these ashes in for beauty,                                              And wear forgiveness like a crown, Coming to kiss the feet of mercy, I lay every burden down.

Sunday in church as we sang the song above, the second line hit me hard.


How often have I sinned, asked forgiveness, God forgave me and yet I have moped around dejected because I had failed once again?

From Clarke commentary on the Bible we read:

As far as the east is from the west - As the east and the west can never meet in one point, but be for ever at the same distance from each other, so our sins and their decreed punishment are removed to an eternal distance by his mercy.

Have you let a grievous sin from years ago (that has been forgiven) continue to dominate your thinking and your actions?  I would encourage you today to accept the freedom that only comes from God.  Satan is a dream thief but God is a dream maker.

When we delight in Him, our wildest dreams will be rooted in what He wants for us.  He wants us to realize those dreams, to walk in fullness and wholeness, holding our head high in humbleness, wearing His forgiveness like a crown that we will one day lay at His feet. 

Please join with me today in kissing those feet of mercy and laying every burden down.

© all photographs, art and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

 

Brazilian Beauties

Just had to show you one more picture from my mission trip to Brazil several years ago.

I am on the back row third from right end.

Now if anyone would have ever told me when I went on this trip that I would get to speak to a group of 30 people, I totally would not have believed them.

I had just finished speaking to this group right before the picture was taken and they didn't run off--smile!

They were absolutely precious, so beautiful inside and outside, so ready to hear the gospel, so open and  so loving and friendly.

The pastor of the church who sponsored our group is on the right end also in a white shirt and black bill cap.

When we got to this location and he introduced me as the speaker, I almost fainted.

But God is good and He gave me the words to say.

One of the sweetest things to me on this trip was being called a missionary.  One of our translators (interpreters?--I can never remember which is the proper or best term) introduced me to a store clerk in a local mall as the misssionary who had come to be with them.

Now even though this was a mission trip, I had never thought of myself as a missionary.  That was totally humbling to me.

God is so good.  Praying that your week is awesome.  I love you all so very much.

© all photographs, art and text property of Elizabeth Dianne unless otherwise noted