in His presence there is fullness of joy.....

this afternoon, i had time to just chill with Jesus with no distractions... just what i needed... i lit a lovely smelling candle, put on some music, wrote in my journal and read some in my bible....

as we were chillin, i came across a verse i have read and heard several times through out my life but it struck a chord deep in my heart today... Psalm 16:11

what struck me so deeply in this verse is the line that says, "in your presence there is fullness of joy".... i started to think about what that really means. to me it means that when we are in the presence of the Holy Spirit we have the fullness of joy... just like the verse says. but then i started thinking about those moments where i am the most joyful ever and it seems like just for a moment i don't live in a broken world... you know, those moments when it is a beautiful spring day and your listening to your favorite song and driving around with the windows down or whatever your joyful moment is:)... and it dawned on me that in those moments that is the Holy Spirit ministering to me.... and that just makes my heart sing... all those times, it's Him with me and Him making His presence known to me.

this is such a simple thought but today it spoke to my heart more than it ever has... i almost feel like i can trust my joy... not just happiness or laughter because you can be happy or laugh about things that are not really good for the soul.... but i mean, that supernatural joy. the joy of the Lord.... i can trust that He is with me and guiding me along that path and i can trust that He is going there with me... the joy is evidence of His presence with me....

i love this.

i love when He reveals these simple yet incredible truths to me.

its good for the heart. :)

everyday pretty.....

Ahhh....

I love traveling...

I love finding beauty in everyday things.....

They make pretty pictures...

New boots... New phone...

Well...... I got a new iPhone and I am SO excited!

So, i was trying to think of something to blog about so I could test blogging from my phone......

So....... Boots!

I got some new cowboy boots to replace my old ones that have been my faithful companions for about 4 years now.... Not gonna lie, it was hard replacing my old ones.... I've had some great memories in those boots..... But I still wear them from time to time!

But my new ones.... They are so pretty! And slick on the bottom, hence me busting my butt in office max, but that's another story... Haha.

Anyways, here's my boots and a test blog from my phone!

Cheers!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

i promise..........

ok peeps.....

clearly, i have not posted anything in a LONG time.....

ehhh......... yea, i don't really have many excuses...

BUT

i do plan on getting back on the horse and cranking some bloggys out here soon....

we shall see what happens............. :)

peace and love my friends.

YOU ARE INVITED....................

This is the invitation to me and Katie Calhoun's art show on August 20th!!

and guess what...............

we want YOU to come to our show!!

Here are the details incase it is too small to read......

Thursday, August 20th

@ The Townhouse at Mt. Laurel

23 Olmsted Street

Birmingham, AL 35242

6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

www.laurieannejohnson.com

www.katiecalhoun.com

playlist to go with yesterdays blog...

so, this morning i put together a playlist that i think goes hand in hand with what i wrote about in yesterdays blog... if you haven't read it, click here.

music has always played a huge role in my relationship with Jesus.. i am so thankful that God is so creative! He made those musician's brains to make beautiful music and write lyrics that somehow always express my heart in words that i can't always find on my own... i guess thats why i am a painter and not a writer...

im going to work on getting the actual songs on here but until then, here is the list...

1. Embracing Accusations - Shane Barnard & Shane Everett
2. Flesh and Bone - Sarah McMillan
3. Lay 'Em Down - Needtobreathe
4. Hold Me Now - Jennifer Knapp
5. Refine Me - Jennifer Knapp
6. Desert Song - Hillsong
7. Lead Me to the Cross - Hillsong
8. May the Words of My Mouth - Shane Barnard & Shane Everett
9. Everything - Tim Hughes
10. Madly In Love With You - Sean McConnell
11. I Will Not Take My Love Away - Matt Wertz
12. Doves Eyes - Misty Edwards

the treasures of Psalm 34...

I read Psalm 34 today and something about v.19 struck a chord within my heart. I was reading this verse through and what stood out to me was seeing the word 'afflictions' and 'righteous' in the same sentence.... I sort of did a double take at those words because I am used to seeing 'afflictions' and 'wicked' in the same phrase but not the other way around.... hmmm....

I have committed my life to loving and serving the Lord but I can't tell you how much I stumble and fall flat on my face. Its enough sometimes to make me wonder if I am really living my life for Christ or do I just think I am?..... because surely a true follower of Christ would not screw up as much as I do... right?? Wrong..... every time my thinking goes that far, I am gently reminded of God's grace... His saving grace.... His strength and power in my weakness... His unrelenting love. Ahhhhhhh.... when those sweet truths are whispered into my ear, i cant even explain the feeling that my heart experiences... its like, like falling in love all over again for the first time.

I don't know about all of you out there but this verse is nothing but a breath of fresh air and a sweet whisper of hope to me!

It is flat out saying to me.... Laurie Anne, you are going to screw up and you are going to run into trouble and hardships, not just every now and then, but many times... BUT here is the clincher.... I, the Lord, will carry you, Laurie Anne, in my arms through all of it... you do not have to question my love for you....................... wow. That right there puts an end to those questions that start running around in my head, when I feel as though I have really done it this time.. I am finished.. the end. The reality is that it is actually the beginning! Woo hoo!

I feel as though chains have just been broken off of my brain. I am free. I am covered in the blood of Christ which has saved me from condemnation. I am no longer bound by the fear that I have to have a perfect track record to be saved or that I am going to run out of grace. I am free.

Praise the Lord! Ahemdulah!

a must read!

I am currently reading "Guests of the Sheik" by Elizabeth Warnock
Fernea. For all of you out there who have interest in North African
and/or Middle Eastern culture, you would love this book!

This book is a journal written by the wife of a newlywed american
couple who moved to Iraq in the 1950's. She writes about all her
experiences living in this unfamiliar culture... about her
relationships with the Muslim women, trying to adapt to being a new
wife, cultural mistakes she makes along the way, etc.

It's honest, entertaining, informative and very well written. I highly
recommend it to anyone who has visited or plans to visit that part of
the world!

Fantastic read.

HEADS UP!!!!!!

ART SHOW!!!!

LAURIE ANNE JOHNSON and KATIE CALHOUN

AUGUST 20th, 2009

Birmingham, Alabama

Katie and I are so excited to announce that we are having an art show! BUT we need YOUR MAILING ADDRESS so we can send you an invitation!!!!

please email your mailing address to laurieannejohnson@me.com!

THANK YOU!!!!

check out our artwork!!

www.laurieannejohnson.com

www.katiecalhoun.com

new painting! :)

"Filled With Light" - Oil - 30" x 40"

I painted this painting for my high school art teacher and dear friend Amy Henry! It was such an honor that the woman who taught me to paint wanted one of my paintings hanging in her house!! She is also a very talented artist and has a great photography business going on!! Check out her work HERE!!