Tag Archives: courage

Wild Days

See this “Wild Horses” oil painting come alive in 2 minutes (time lapse)

Ever feel that you live your life with reckless abandon, like these wild horses? What do they care about consequences or the worries of tomorrow? Sometimes we have a season in life when we have to take risks. One risk may lead to another, and a state of emotional numbness may take over. There’s really no point in fretting anymore if the stakes are higher than we can control. It’s time to let go, let God, and let our hearts freely and wildly hope, with no constraints, no disclaimers, and no holding back.

Yes, we may fail. Our dreams may shatter. Our hearts may break. But it may be that a leap of faith- going “all in”- a complete surrender of fear, that makes the difference between getting what we want or not.

Tomorrow the second moving pod will be delivered and Thursday we should find out the results of the appraisal on the house we’re trying to buy. If you’ve been following my journey, it’s been a wild ride. We got our vacate notice and have to move out by May 31. My husband has a job offer that doesn’t start until June. The homeowner was not willing to let us stay on for a few weeks past the lease so we were really in a bad situation during this housing crisis (not enough houses to rent or buy for the glut of people who need/want them; driving home prices above their asking price in bidding wars- selling on the first day of listing- and the rentals as well. People are actually bidding on rentals and driving the rent up higher than the asking price!).

We have had many twists and turns, including our first bid on a house not being the winning bid and having to start over, and we’re running out of time, but it looks like we will make it. Our initial plan to rent a house failed, and buying, ahead of our plan to do so next year, has been only through many unexpected and undesired paths, but here we are. If all of this goes through, we love the house and will feel we’ve won a very happy future! If the deal falls through, we have only a few weeks left to find a place to live. It’s WILD HORSES time!

Joshua 1:9: “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

New Year’s Day 2022

Watch this oil painting of a tiger come to life in 2 minutes (time lapse)

2022 is the year of the tiger according to Chinese tradition. Tiger years are “all about going big or going home”. The tiger is known for power, daring, and doing everything on a GRAND scale. Courage, leadership, quick action, and crazy dreams are also traits associated with “tiger years”.

I found this interesting, even though I know nothing about these traditions. From my own perspective, I was floored because when I went to write tonight’s blog post, my tiger painting sprang to mind as the one to share, so I looked it up to see if it was remotely possible that I’ve painted an animal that is “the year of” for 2022. I about fell off my chair when I saw that this year’s animal is a TIGER! Wow. So, even though I don’t have any connection to those traditions, I *do* have personal experience with mysterious serendipity, intuition, and thoughts or feelings pressed upon us that we can’t explain in the natural world.

Happy New Year, dear friends! May you fully embrace your “tiger year” with good courage, big dreams, and risks based on hope for the future. God bless and keep you, this day and always, and well beyond 2022!

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Roaring, Snarling or?

Watch this oil painting of a lion come to life in 2 minutes (time lapse)

You might remember when I painted the snarling lion in the video above, as it was fairly recently (August). Perhaps you see him as growling or even roaring. Although his mouth is not wide open in a roar, some of you may see beyond what is there.

Are you feeling like this lion? Do you feel a tension that is roaring, snarling or? Maybe you feel something else. Maybe you resonate more this THIS lion:

Lion of Judah oil painting by Natalie Buske Thomas
Oil painting “Lion of Judah“

Proverbs 28:1 “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

I was inspired by the grief of injustice. When crime that is far reaching, affects human beings worldwide, and hurts so many innocent people, is perpetuated, orchestrated, and covered up by powerful persons, entities, and governments, it’s in our nature to have moments in which we feel righteous anger, courage, and the quiet strength of a lion who is observing, unseen. He’s watching. He’s biding his time. One day he may be surrounded by hyenas, and if that day comes, he will be bold.

We may hope to never be that lion ourselves. We may feel as trusting as child, that there’s a lion out there who will protect us. All we need to do is take care of our families and stay out of the way when the time comes.

There is something about the sadness and wisdom in the eyes of the silent lion that resonates with me more than the snarling lion. The power that is yet to be seen can be more chilling than the power revealed. Humanity has great power. When we collectively desire goodness, mercy, and justice, we shall have it. God bless you and your families.

“Miracle Dancer”

2 Minute Time-lapse to watch Natalie paint this art

Excerpt from “50 Oil Paintings Inspired by my Christian Faith”

When I was 16, sitting in a wheelchair after a seizure, the doctor said, “She will never get out of that chair again.”
I refused to believe it
I danced in my next recital.
I danced ballet, tap, and jazz routines after being in and out of a wheelchair and unable to fully walk for months… and I won a trophy!
Never give in,
Never give up,
when they tell you, you’ll never walk-
DANCE!
Fight through the pain,
Fight through the fear.
Life is the DANCE!

-Natalie Buske Thomas

Oil painting “Miracle Dancer” by artist Natalie Buske Thomas

Psalm 77:14 NIV

“You are the God who performs miracles;

you display your power among the peoples.”

Believing in miracles, prayer, faith, self-belief, confidence, positivity, a determined spirit – all of these things can lead to amazing outcomes. But, as we exist in the human condition of mere mortals, we do not have a perfect, immortal life on this earth. There are times when we don’t get the miracle we long for, and for those times, sometimes the only miracle we can have may be peace. When we are at peace with what is, and what can never be, we are delivered from the worst parts of grief and suffering. So even when we don’t get the deliverance we hope for, we are delivered through hope itself – hope of a beautiful future in the next life, and courage to power through whatever we are dealing with in this one. But, sometimes we DO get what we want. For those times when we receive the miracles we pray for – REJOICE!

Enjoy Natalie’s art on fun, creative, and classy gifts for you and your family!

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