I started doing Tamara LaPorte’s Life Book class this week. I wanted to have weekly lessons to keep me accountable to get into my studio and use some of the wonderful art supplies I have accumulated (and still am accumulating!). Our first project was to create an image (Tamara teaches how to create lovely face images) that can represent my word of the year. I had a hard time deciding between Contentment and Acceptance and finally went with Acceptance. I am willing to be willing to be more accepting of who I am in Christ and that He has created me to be creative and introspective and that is ok. So often in church culture, the assertive extroverts who make the most noise are the ones people look up to, but I am learning that the quiet ones often have the most to say that is worth listening to. Studying Daniel this “semester”, I admire his God-given qualities of humility, wisdom, patience, and a heart at peace even in the midst of the most trying circumstances. Contentment/acceptance is a learned trait. I want to be like Paul and be able to say with assurance, “…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11. And Paul had a lot more to contend with in his life than I do, that’s for sure! I like how the drips make some smudginess; that is a good representation that life is sometimes messy, and I make mistakes, but the final picture will be beautiful. “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6