Siggy

Siggy

Friday, June 03, 2016

Art and Faith

     "Mom, I think my painting is a mess."  "Mom, I don't think this will turn out the way I want it to." - These were the remarks I heard from my kids as they were painting yesterday.  They were seated for hours already and they were starting to become discouraged as they cannot see how their present "work" can turn out to be what they imagined it to be.  I told them that life is exactly like that.  I told them to focus on the big picture and work hard on the “details” for no small thing done for God will be wasted.  


     Indeed, God sees the big picture. There are many “little details” in our life that require faithfulness. Many times in our ‘walk’, we get impatient and we demand from God the things we desire. Sometimes we view our life as insignificant. We get anxious not knowing how everything will end up.    
     As an overflow of last night’s lesson, we discussed Hebrews 11 this morning.  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  For by it the men of old gained approval ... without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. “

     Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses (and many more) ...  They were tested (Heb. 11: 17), tortured (v35), mocked and scourged (v36), imprisoned (v36), stoned, sawn in two, tempted, put to death; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (v37).   I am sure there were times they wanted to give up and I know they all cried to God during these difficult times.   They may not have understood everything that was happening but they had faith in God. Through this faith, they conquered kingdoms, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, and from weakness were made strong (v33-34).

     As my kids continued working on their canvass, little by little, we saw the painting come to life. I imagined Noah building the ark. The work must have been tedious. People must have thought how foolish he was to be building something for (around) a hundred years! Noah did not know how the ark would look like in the end but he trusted God and followed every detail, every command. It took the kids around 4 hours to finish their painting and another hour to clean up.  It was not easy. It was tiring but in the end, they were rewarded with joy and with a precious lesson they will treasure in their hearts forever.


     In art and in faith, we all need to work on the “details”.  We need to persevere, give our best and not be complacent.  We will not always see the big picture but God can.  That is all that matters. 

Saturday, July 12, 2014

From The Mouth of Babes Part 8

I love Saturdays.  I look forward to spending the whole day at home watching movies, playing board games, watching our family videos and looking at old photographs.

Last Saturday, we spent the night laughing our hearts out as I read aloud the  "quotable quotes" from our kids.  You can find them here:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7


Here are some new ones:

March 13, 2011
Aethan: Dad is so  funny! Even when he sleeps , he is still doing a lot of things!
(You can actually talk to my hubby even when he is sleeping.  Do you think that would be the best time to ask for shopping money?)

2012
Michael:  Someday, I will be a homeschool Dad too.  I will stay at home and teach my kids while my wife works. ( I think we need to give my son a lesson on God's design for marriage). :-)

March 19, 2012
Mom:  What do you like most about Dad
Aethan: Mommy, I know!  Dad leaves his work to go to our birthdays! When I grow up, I would take a leave from the office to attend Mom and Dad's birthday! (Birthdays are considered a holiday in our family)

June 14, 2012
Aethan: Mom, when Dad sleeps, it's like he will be swimming (then Aethan acts it out --- blowing with his lips -- pfft! pfft! pfft!)
(I wanted to upload the video of my hubby sleeping but he might kill me) ;-)


August 15, 2012
After Habagat which left lots of communities flooded, we were praying for a way to help our brothers in our adopted community in Balubad, Marikina.   God orchestrated everything so it would be possible to deliver 5 boxes of Davao Bananas and boxes of pandesals --- all given to our Dgroup for free! My kids could just exclaim in awe: "Mommy, it's just like the way God provided  for George Muller!"

Oct. 17, 2012
Riel:what if we have 3 more sisters and 3 more brothers?
Aethan: What if we have 3 more brothers first before 3 more sisters?
Riel: What if we have 10 brothers and sisters, it will be difficult for mom!
Aethan: Why kuya?
Riel: Because we will be like the ancient Roman schools with 10 students!

Aug 2013
Riel: (talking to her grandma) Lola, what's the english of manananggal? (It's a mythical creature in the Philippines capable of cutting its body in half)
Lola: (serious) Cut Woman
(Lola reads too much DC comics - hehe)

2013
Michael:  Mom, can you homeschool us until college?
... Precious words to me ... who wouldn't want to hear that from their kids?

May 22, 2014
Me: have you ever heard God's voice in your heart (explain why)?
Michael: Mom, during my quiet time, when I was done praying, God said in my heart, spend more time with me (teary eyed) and so I prayed more.

June 2014
Aethan loves to eat while we are homeschooling.  One time, as I was cooking Champorado for snacks, Aethan recorded this phrase and repeatedly played it for around 30 minutes until I finished cooking
"Mom, I'm hungry."
(Aethan ate all his champorado in less than 5 minutes)

July 8, 2014
I have this weird looking blouse that I call "Jane-y" because it looks like Jane's (Of Tarzan). I wore it this evening and when Michael saw me, he said, "Mom, what happened to your blouse?!!! Why is it torn?"
** Michael is the one who is always concerned about what I wear. He would tell me if my blouse is too low or too fit...

April 2014
Whenever Michael and Aethan would do something bad, I would send them to their room so they can pray and ask forgiveness from the Lord.  Most of the time, Michael would go down after a few minutes carrying a "special message" in his heart. I have collected a lot of songs  which he made after his "quiet time" with the Lord. Here's the chorus  of one song:

"God showed me the way to Heaven.
God showed me the way to the light of the day
God showed me the way to life.
God gave me an escape out of my sin."


... Precious, precious words from the mouth of babes.


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P.S.

I also spend my Saturdays scrapping my heart out.

I have been wanting to scrap one set of photos taken in 2007 and Leaving A Legacy Designs' just released a perfect kit to scrap it with - PUDDLE JUMPERS.  Kit contains 24 pattern papers, 69 elements, 3 alphas and a bonus paper pack! There is also a word art pack and journal card pack.  Each part is 30% off and the bundle will be 50% off the first week.








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