All things new! He never gives up on us.

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

"God renews our souls like butterflies leaving a cocoon"

Happy New Year!  

It's hard to believe it's 2016 now.  I've been busy figuring out what I want to do this year. I am doing a watercolor painting and have a gallery that's interested in my work.  I thought maybe other people would like to get art supplies from Dick Blick so I posted the link.  It's a great place to get discounted supplies for artists and children's art. I've been buying supplies from them for years and never had any problems.  I recently bought a new easel.  Sometimes my mind goes in reverse so my neighbors got a kick out of watching me put it together.  Finally my husband helped me with the last pieces.  I think there's still a bracket that needs to go somewhere : )  Now I have no excuses for not painting.  As a little girl, I used to trace the sunshines on my pillow, in my crib, dreaming of being able to draw someday.  Our God is the ultimate in creativity.  Our Creator.  He's given us all gifts and talents.  

I wanted to focus this post on the hope we have in God's renewing Spirit.  We've all sinned and fallen short.  That's just a fact.  But God doesn't leave us in our mess.  He seeks to renew and restore us.  Here's what I found.  I hope these verses will help us not give up.  But to press on. 


30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:30-31 NKJV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV)

1 Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
For He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory
(Psalms 98:1 NKJV)


18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
(Romans 8:18 NKJV)

19 Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
(Isaiah 43:19 NKJV)

22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
(Ephesians 4:22-24 NKJV)

13 And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you.
(Deuteronomy 7:13 NKJV)

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
(Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJV)

18 For surely there is a hereafter,
And your hope will not be cut off.
19 Hear, my son, and be wise;
And guide your heart in the way.
(Proverbs 23:18-19 NKJV)

23 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints!
For the Lord preserves the faithful,
And fully repays the proud person.
24 Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord.
(Psalms 31:23-24 NKJV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
(1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV)

5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
(Romans 5:5 NKJV)

9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him...
(Colossians 3:9-10 NKJV)

31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:31 NKJV)

Here's a song from Owl City.  It's beauty is in it's simplicity.
Owl City, In Christ Alone (link)