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Words of Expectancy

August 25, 2013February 22, 2014 ~ bryanajoy

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2 thoughts on “Words of Expectancy”

Grace @ Cultural Life says:

August 26, 2013 at 7:13 am

Yes! That quote certainly rings true.

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Letters From The Sea Tower

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I started to write something about this poignant and beauteous quote from one of Tolkien's letters to his son Michael, but I think it speaks for itself. [5x7 prints are in the shop as of a few minutes ago! 😊] . . #JRRTolkien #tolkienletters #michaeltolkien #faith #courage #wemaylaughtogetheryet #thisisnottheend #tolkienquote

This black-eyed, blue-swaddled Baby Jesus watercolor with the Last Battle calligraphy quote isn't a new piece, but up until now, it's only been available as part of my Christmas card set. However, I've felt for awhile now that this shouldn't just be a Christmas painting, since the immensity of the Incarnation isn't just for December but for every day and for every place. So I went back to this one earlier this month and got better scans made and better color correction done and I'm happy to say that I have a few absolutely stunning 5x7 fine art prints of this very piece available in the shop today. 😊 . . #CSLewis #TheLastBattle #CSLewisQuote #narnia #BabyJesus #nativity #christmas #nativitypainting #incarnation #christmaspainting #inourworldtoo #uncialcalligraphy #traditionalcalligraphy

I finished up part two of Sam's Song in the middle of last week but have been a bit too busy to post a proper picture until this morning. But here it is. 😊 I'm tremendously happy with this little set. It's something I've been dreaming about doing for years and thanks to the patronage of a client who ordered it as a custom piece, it's finally a reality. [I'll follow up later with a side-by-side photo of the completed set!] . . #JRRTolkien #SamsSong #thetwotowers #lotr #tolkienart #tolkienpoem #mountdoom #baraddur #inwesternlands #mordor #tolkienwatercolor #customart #artcommission

As odd as it is, this week I've found a tremendous spiritual solace in a Seeb song I've been playing on repeat again and again. The song is "What Do You Love?" and it's just the chorus, really, that strikes a chord with me (but since it's electronic dance music, there's plenty of chorus 😉): . . "Come out of the dark, into the light. Whatever your fear is, it will be alright. But tell me, what do you love?" . . These lines are very, very simple and their author could hardly be accused of originality. But. It's the "but" that I like. It's the "but" that has been like the voice of God to me this week, saying "rest your mind on the goodness of things and not the badness of them. Set your sights on joy. Tell me, what do you love about this Good Life you're going to inhabit forever and ever, from glory to glory?" . . [The lovely item in my hand is one of the new fine art prints that were listed in my #etsyshop today! This is "Egrets," a painting illustrating an excerpt from Mary Oliver's poem. There are four of these in the shop right now, and one of them could be yours. Not to mention that the original piece is actually still available as well. 😃] . . #maryoliver #egrets #courage #faith #seeb #fineartprints #watercolorminiature #tinyart #watercolor #illustratedpoem

I think that when Alex and I first met, if you had asked anyone who knew us whether we would make a good couple, they would have been hard put to it to stifle some surprised laughter. We didn't seem to suit each other at all. We really didn't. Even back then, we both knew it too. But last night, as we spent some time marveling together over the mysteries of marriage, we were struck again by the intricate workings of the love of God. God, who sparks unexpected fires, his wonders to perform. Because now, after everything we've come through together over the past four years, all the ways our lives and our minds have changed and have grown, it seems impossible that there could be anyone living who is better suited for each of us than the other. But no one could have foreseen that except the mind of God. So whoever you are and wherever you are, don't panic. For me also, sometimes panic seems like the only logical reaction to the great loneliness of life. But Good Things are going to sprout quietly and strangely when you don't expect them, and happiness is going to well up in your heart like honey, because there is a Love that made this world and broods over it and speaks into it. And speaks Life. . . #marriage #hope #godsgrandeur #courage #valentinesday #dontpanic

Anyone remember this little #PGWodehouse tomato struggling for self-expression? 😄 This was an itty-bitty miniature I created last summer and the original piece sold a few months ago but someone reached out to me recently to ask if there any way I could get a few prints made. So I have two 5x5 square prints left (with no current plans to have anymore of them printed). If you'd like to grab one, it's your lucky day! They are $10 in the shop right now. . . #jeevesandwooster #pgwodehousequotes #pgwodehouseillustration #mymanjeeves #bertiewooster #britishhumor #etsyshop #watercolortomato #bookishart

Hi friends, I just wanted to let you know that the long-awaited Reepicheep prints are here at last! 😮 I listed them on Etsy a few minutes ago and one of the ten prints sold in the first five minutes, so be sure to act quickly if you want to get one! (shop link in bio) . . #reepicheep #etsyshop #reepicheepsverse #aslanscountry #theuttereast #narniaart #cslewis

Just a happy and busy night packing up February #LettersFromTheSeaTower. 😊 Thank you guys for all the new orders this week! Every single one means a great deal to me, even if you can only subscribe for a month. ❤ (Oh and also, don't forget there's a giveaway going on right now! Check my post from earlier this week to see the rules and details.) . . [If you want to get this letter in YOUR mailbox, it's as simple as subscribing at the shop link in my bio! 📬✉] . . #happymail #courage #hope #beauty #literature #thebeautifulandthegood #reepicheep #narnia #theodyssey #ulysses #tennyson #vintagestamps #watercolor

I just discovered this one today while hard at work packing up your February #LettersFromTheSeaTower. Don't you love how this tiny little stamp is like a window onto a whole world of spring and pale cherry blossoms? It's so intricate and real I can easily get lost in it. . . If you missed the post from yesterday, there's a giveaway for the February letter going on right now. Just check out yesterday's picture to see the rules for entering. It's simple, simple, because I don't like complicated giveaways. 😉 Have a jolly Thursday! . . #LettersFromTheSeaTower #vintagepostagestamps #beautifulstamps #mailart #cherryblossoms #stampcollection #wonder #artandliterature #charlottemason #etsyshop

I bet you know what time it is: it's time to give away some beautiful illustrated letters about literature and living well in this tangled-up, muddled old world. 🖌🎨✉ 🌍 That's right, the February edition of the #LettersFromTheSeaTower is finally complete and about to hit the post in brown paper envelopes covered with fascinating, colorful and quirky vintage postage stamps. 📮 I've spent about 45 hours researching, writing, and painting this letter and I really do believe it's the best one yet. 😊 And no matter where you live, you can be getting one in YOUR mailbox. 📬 . . I'm going to be giving away three of these letters absolutely free to three random commentors below. To enter, all you have to do is tag a friend who cares about literature or art or truth or beauty and might be interested in a project like this. You may tag as many friends as you like and each tag is a separate entry. (Please do leave each tag in a separate comment, as it makes the drawing easier!) You may enter from any country. The contest will close at midnight EST on Tuesday, February 12. The three winners will be announced on Wednesday, February 13. . . If you already know this is something you want to be a part of, you don't have to wait for the contest results to be announced. You can go subscribe right this very minute in my shop on Etsy and I will be fond of you for always. 😉😄 Because I care so very much about this project and I can't possibly do it without your subscriptions. [Shop link is in my bio. There are various subscription lengths available, but don't forget that longer subscriptions come with significant discounts!] Thank you guys for helping me to enrich the world through literature and the arts. Happy tagging! . . #LettersFromTheSeaTower #snailmail #happymail #lettersubscription #literature #bookishart #giveaway #etsyshop #bookishgifts #literaryart #literatureandart #artletters #britishliterature #handmade #stampcollection #cslewis #theodyssey #ulysses #alfredlordtennyson #reepicheep

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