Banner and Sail: The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow ⛵️

Like a ship that's tossed and driven
Battered by an angry sea
When the storms of life are raging
And their fury falls on me
I wonder what I have done
That makes this race so hard to run
Then I say to my soul, take courage
The Lord will make a way somehow
The Lord will make a way somehow

When beneath the stars I bow
He will take away each sorrow
There will be no sad tomorrow
Many a nights I toss in pain
Wondering what the day might be bringing
Then I say to my soul, take
your courage
The Lord will make a way somehow
~Hezekiah Walker 🚢
♫🎜The lord will make a way somehow Al Green 🎜🎝

Gallery

"Calm" Painted in oils 2020 Prints

I love a quiet morning. Coffee, the small chat of birds as the sun sets on the dawn of a new day. This day will be better, more productive, less stress and back to normal. This is July, a lazy summer day right? To the contrary, reminders everywhere that things aren't normal, at least not yet.

I have kept myself busy, withdrawing to my own little art world is what I do best. I know I have to look up from my work to check up on the ones I love, and of course pray. There is so much out of our hands but prayer is powerful, especially in the hands of a believer. (look back on previous posts)

"Quarantine" Painted in oils 2020 Prints

Taking care of yourself is not enough , we must take care of eachother!

A friend loves at all times

In the middle of this mess, my husband is out of work and is remodeling the kitchen. There hasn't been much peace in all the upheaval in my house but grateful to get it done. I have been updating my shop and art gallery. I have one large painting to finish and two commissions, and I start work on Sunday in full protective gear. Just another day in 2020, will I ever learn work/life balance? I think all of this is teaching me just that, what's important in life.

One of the things I have been into over the last year is natural fabrics, organic products and nice light, non synthetic scents, like the true flower, quiet and subtle.

Artisan Gift Collection by Bannerandsail

I am a true believer in natural fabrics on the body! Cotton, linen and wool are the best to wear. Fabrics shouldn't be blended, it's hard to find non blended fabrics, but you can feel the difference in your mood while wearing them, at least we can, my husband agrees. One of most difficult things about being quarantined is our Spotify wars, ;) I love my music, and usually I am open to new music too, but my husband's music. 😬

"Thankful perspective". Painting in oils 2020 Prints

The other problem is the social distancing part. We have been careful here, wearing masks in stores, saying no to friend's get togethers. Honesty, it's been difficult to know where to draw the line, especially when you know others aren't following safe social distancing.

My heart just broke when I saw this in a store yesterday and the clerk described some aggressive customers.

She's just trying to provide for her family, not trying to impose a political statement.

Footnote...

So, let's do a little math, you go to the store to buy something, and you may be exposed to 10 people or under, depending on what time of the day you go. A retail worker is exposed to hundreds and at least one of them will most likely have Covid 19.
I went to pick up my glasses at the eye doctors last week, and I saw that they are taking temperatures on each person arriving. They told me that they turned away two people already that had a high fever in one week. One of the temperatures they turned away was 104, and the customer insisted that he was fine and went away mad, so you see as a customer your odds are better not to be exposed than that of an employee.

I'm confused these days, when did it become a political statement to love your neighbor? Am I the only one going in a store and apologizing for other people's unloving behavior? What is it going to be like on the receiving end of all this at my work?

And what about love? Our brothers and sisters are still hurting, can't we stop and listen to the injustices that are sadly still happening in our day?

Introverts know how to isolate themselves and do the quarantine thing.

What is your experience?
What do you all think of 2020?

Murder hornets
Racial injustice
Mask wars
Riots
Pandemic
Isolation
Unemployment
Strange weather
locusts
Dust storms
(I can go on)

I was reading the other day, that it was like a stormy ocean slamming against a sea wall and quieting down after each crash.

Yesterday at tennis,
(Im very grateful for a social distancing sport)
I saw the sparrows, the same sparrows I use to see at the tennis courts in our area, darting back and forth at play, as if all was normal.

God has been good,
faithful to His promises.

Working some prints and cards

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6

One day we will all look back at this and say...

"I have no idea" this is what my husband says.

"i learned this...
(Hopefully we all learned a lesson from this)"

"I changed the things I needed to change"

"I have more compassion to the ones that are hurting, helping the poor and vulnerable".

"Remembering that life is fleeting, and eternity is forever".

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble".

"Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes." — Henry David Thoreau

Love breaks down barriers,
it's the gift we always have to give to each other.

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