crystadaily

[crystadaily]

My son's very first oil painting from 2016. Praise God!

[crystadaily]

GOD, OUR FORTRESS

Acrylic on Illustration Board

by JT Sison

Psalm 46

God Is Our Fortress

To the choirmaster.

Of the Sons of Korah.

According to Alamoth.

A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

This painting is inspired by Psalms 46, borrowing amounts of the symbolism and the chapter's poetic nature. Having included details like the burning house on the right, and weapons on the floor to imply the war-torn state of the land. To the left, there seems to be a large rock in the water, this part was made to reference the line "though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea", a mountain sinking in the water.

On the other message of the picture, the weapons on the floor have been broken, inspired from lines that the Lord stops wars, breaking and shattering tools of war. The dwelling in the center is meant to represent the church, God's refuge for His people, being protected by Him and His light.

[crystadaily]

My son singing a modern hymn a few months ago.

Each Day I Live

Galkin Evangelistic Team

In darkness I once walked

The road that led to death

And to the world I bowed

And gave my every breath

Then to the earth He came

To seek and save the lost

But I yelled, “crucify”

And nailed Him to the cross

Bound by my sin and shame

I call upon His name!

Each day I live

Safe in His grace

The king of kings

Died in my place

Each day I stand

Set free from sin

My king is crowned

I live in Him

I see the empty tomb

The sting of death undone

My broken life is come

I'm risen in the Son

A slave of righteousness

No longer bound by sin

I give up all I have

To serve the Servant King

One with the Crucified

For by His death I die!

Each day I live

Safe in His grace

The king of kings

Died in my place

Each day I stand

Set free from sin

My king is crowned

I live in Him

And then the day will come

We'll see our risen Lord

In all His majesty

And we will be restored

In robes of righteousness

We'll stand before His throne

Our hope at last unveiled

Adopted as His own

One with the risen King

For evermore will sing!

Each day we live

Safe in His grace

The king of kings

Dies in our place

Each day we stand

Set free from sin

Our king is crowned

We'll live with Him

Each day we live

Safe in His grace

The king of kings

Dies in our place

Each day we stand

Set free from sin

Our king is crowned

We'll live with Him

With Him. 

[crystadaily]

I praise the Lord for an obedient son tuned to His will and seeking to obey and love those around him as much as he can.

I love you, little one.

Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. (Psalm 127:3, KJV)

[crystadaily]

Some of my son's words:

"Everyone is special and unique if you look at them through God's eyes."

"I've never met anyone ugly."

The inner me goes *squeeeeeal* when he says such things. Of course, I try to control myself by patting his head or something.

[crystadaily]

Our kids need us.. whatever kind of "us".

They need our presence, they need our comfort, they need our guidance, and most of all, they need our love.

To all parents out there, be with your children today.

[crystadaily]

Cute memories.😊💗

There are days that are just there to remind you that the Lord is with you. They seem to be just there to remind you of His kindness and His love.

Praise be unto Him.

[crystadaily]

I was singing a hymn when he joined me as second voice. And suddenly I was reminded of his little days. He’s growing so fast. 

It is my hope that he continues to grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. <3

[crystadaily]

Games. Play. Hugs. Love. 🤗

Thankful for the things of youth.

This week I just realized how my son has started to grow some acne on his nose. In my head I was like, "oh my, I'm gonna be a grandma soon". Haha. My head very often goes fast forward. 😂

As a homeschooling family of two, my son and I very often press on at projects one at a time, and then we play and have fun moments. Our working pace, among many other things, can improve, and we're working on this.

Each year, as he gains new skills, I become more and more of a cheerleader for him. Also, as he grows more in many aspects of his person, I just continue, by God's grace, to help him to be who he needs to be holistically. As I have noted earlier, I tend to fast forward in my mind very often, and so, most of my goals for him are also future oriented.

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment

Hebrews 9:27

By the Lord's faithfulness, I'm this forward in thinking --- what it would be like after our deaths, after this life. I cannot settle for what my son and I can accomplish in this world. We cannot. We serve the Lord and His kingdom and so for these things we work on.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

My words can only be words without His strength and power, without His grace, without Him. Indeed, without the Lord Jesus Christ, we are nothing.

Thankful for He who gives us life and purpose.❤️

May we give praise to Him unto eternity~

[crystadaily]

I know that my son is my son, but I'm thankful that in him I have a friend. The older he's getting, the more of my life I can share with him as he's growing in many aspects of his person, only by God's grace.

In addition to being my friend, I also do consider him as a brother in the Lord even in his age. I pray he continues to remain on this narrow path of obedience one day at a time.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17 ESV

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV

[crystadaily]

History. Stories. Music.

Love enjoying the little things with this little one.😘

[crystadaily]

1 Timothy 4:8

 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Thankful even for physical training.❤️

[crystadaily]

Grateful for the ability to learn to care for all of creation. It's amazing to grow in our knowledge in terms of how we care for God's world.

Pets are just a small part of it. Basically, being parents to our children require us to be constant examples of how we care for everything that is around us --- living and non-living; renewable and non-renewable; big or small --- being good stewards of God's varied gifts.

We all need to grow in this and only by God's grace and generous help.

[crystadaily]

Laughing our hearts out. In-house comedy.

#thankful

For two morning-nights, my son and I have been laughing and joking with each other a lot. I don't know if that's normal but it's been quite entertaining.

Even as we find ourselves entertained, very often during our conversations we still direct our thoughts to what Philippians 4:8 says, only by God's grace. He shares with me his views, some of them strike me as really amazing things, and of course, I do my thing in guiding him in this friendly way.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8‭-‬9 ESV

[crystadaily]

Thankful for problems and problem solving. I'm also thankful that I'm a witness to a lot of his processing --- he loves talking when he processes things (I wonder where he got that 😅, nah, wonder no more.. after all I'm a single mom.)

Thankful even for late nights when he can't stop himself from solving his problems.😂

I do want to sleep as early as possible but I really have to watch him until the time he's done.

Thankful for the little forms of waiting, too. All the waiting is helping me grow in patience, I do hope.

There is just so much more to be thankful for.🌱

[crystadaily]

Story times, hymns, metaphors and so much more. <3

[crystadaily]

Sounds and memories of laughter.

Thankful for those.