Thoughts of Grace

Grace Evangeline Oettinger BA MEd

Description

"thoughts of grace" is a coffee table and inspirational-style gift book that speaks of the struggle that ensues when the author’s marriage is broken. Through scripture and the precious comfort of the Holy Spirit, the writer finds hope and joy at the end of the tunnel.

When her husband of 32 years announces that he no longer has loving feelings for her, Grace is completely blindsided. Theirs had been a Christian home. What had gone wrong? With no answers, only questions, she turns to God, desperate for help and healing. Through searching His Word, praying and using the artistic gifts God gave her, Grace rediscovers the peace, confidence and joy that only He can give. Here, she shares her story of anguish, encouragement and inspiration with the hope of helping others in a time of crisis.





Grace has the ability to draw you into God’s Word in a fresh way, weaving Scriptures among her artistic painting and delighting us with creative information about flowers.

Out of her personal pain, she has allowed God to transform her into His likeness, each brush stroke drawing her closer to the One who heals every heartache. Whether you have a few minutes or a few hours to meditate on God’s powerful scriptures and enjoy her creative artistry, you’ll be inspired to embrace these truths that come alive through Grace’s creative touch.

~Ruth Coghill, Author, Speaker, and Encourager

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This is such a beautiful and heartfelt book by artist Grace Oettinger who uses her exquisite artistic talent to share with others the glories of God’s creation during a time of suffering in her life. I would have great difficulty naming a favourite painting as each one touched my soul in gentle and life-giving ways. My view of God and His truth expanded as I lingered over the richness of Grace’s works of art and I pray this book and each painting will be blessed by Him to bring healing and inspiration to others.

~Judy Cairns, Director of the Women’s Ministries Institute, FEB Central



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A lovely combination of beauty, faith, and vulnerability. Grace brings a sincere offering of hope and encouragement in the form of art and personal testimony of overcoming loss and grief.

~Ingrid Reichard, National Faith and Life Director,

The Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Spiritual Growth
• Christian Living
• Philosophie et théologie
• Suffering
• Hope
• Divorce

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 21 novembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664243897
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Copyright © 2022 Grace Evangeline Oettinger, BA, MEd.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical,

including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written

permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make

no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in

some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed

since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do

not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and

such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica,

Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New

International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

ISBN: 978-1-6642-4388-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-4389-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021918023

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/21/2022
In memory of my beloved parents,
Cecil and Clara Whalen,
who taught me the way of truth
I am grateful to Susan Barclay for her professional editorial assistance. Her ideas and feedback, careful attention to detail, and technological expertise all contributed to making this book the best that it could be.
Most of the paintings in this book are for sale and can be purchased by contacting me at [e-mail] . I also do commissioned work and particularly enjoy painting watercolors of flowers and homes.
All scripture verses that follow are taken from the New International Version, 2011 edition.

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD , “I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me,

and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

—Psalm 91:14-16
Prologue
The news was delivered like a blow on the chest by a heavy, fisted hand.
We were sitting at the table completing our evening meal when he looked at me and, without emotion, spoke the cold, heartless words, “I don’t have loving feelings for you anymore.”
I could not have been more shocked. Married for 32 years, with three adult children, I thought our marriage was totally secure. I was a very happy homemaker and professional artist. I had given my life joyously in raising our children and in being a helpmeet, admiring, supporting, and encouraging my husband throughout his career and professional transitions. Then, in less than a minute, that utterance changed my life forever. Our home was broken and my heart was broken, too. I had always believed my marriage would go the distance, as my parents’ had for close to seventy years. As much as I had done to make that happen, it was not to be.
I tried everything to work with my husband to put the pieces back together, but finally had to conclude that the nightmare was real. A few months later he walked out the door with his belongings.
Ours had been a Christian home. What had gone wrong? Nothing had prepared me for this. There were no answers, only questions. In the long road that lay ahead, I turned to my heavenly Father, desperate for help and healing.
As I poured out my brokenness to God, He spoke in quiet but reassuring words. Words of truth from the Bible as well as other positive messages were born in my mind. Many times He carried me and underneath were the everlasting arms when nothing but pain engulfed my world. I found myself thinking of Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Christ… [and participating] in His sufferings, [become] like Him…” I grew to believe that this was one installment in the process of becoming more like Jesus.
Out of that midnight of the soul I share with you the words of inspiration that comforted my heart as I began the journey down the pathway to healing. During that time, my gifting as an artist was a godsend as the creative focus provided a restorative balm. The paintings that follow are my original work, and I pray that they, together with the reflections, scriptures, and quotations, bring you peace and joy as well.
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
—2 Corinthians 12:9a
Jesus looked at them and said,
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
—Matthew 19:26

Eagle Flying
Eagle Flying was a Christmas gift for my son, Douglas. He was thrilled and rushed out to buy an easel on which to display it. In the background we see the rail bridge. As it enters the cloud formation, we gain a great feeling of the depth below. Moving to the foreground, we see the mighty wings of the eagle carrying it over the great valley. We are left in awe of our God and the amazing natural world He has created. The hymn “How Great Thou Art” springs to our minds and lips. Indeed, how great He proved Himself to be as I was plunged into anguish. It was His love that lifted me.

There is a Power whose care

Teaches thy way along that pathless coast—

The desert and illimitable air—

Lone wandering, but not lost.

******

He who, from zone to zone,

Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight,

In the long way that I must tread alone,

Will lead my steps aright.

—“To a Waterfowl,” William Cullen Bryant

Geraniums
Geraniums is the first in a series I have entitled Window Gardens. The brightly-colored geraniums, planted in the window box in a setting of English ivy, are flanked by plain black shutters with old fieldstones on the ground below. Note the floral reflections on the glass window panes, and the leaves, almost lacy on their edges. As I painted this, I felt like I was in the Cotswolds, sketching a little cottage on the back roads of England.
The geranium is associated with friendship, happiness, and positive emotions. One of its uses in essential oil is as an antidepressant. What a joy to have in your window box or garden a daily reminder that God is our constant friend and will never abandon us. As it says in His Word, “For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones” (Psalm 37:28a). The knowledge that He was with me through my suffering gave me the assurance that I would make it through the dark valley. Though others might disappoint, hurt, and betray me, with Jesus at my side, I could not lose; I would survive. The geranium reminds me to think on Him and to fix my thoughts on all that is good, lovely, pure, and noble (Philippians 4:8). As we invite Him to participate in our lives, He will bring beauty out of the ashes.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

—Isaiah 43:2

Pansies
It is very difficult for me to pick a favorite from the Window Gardens series, but if I were asked to do so, Pansies would be the one. I like the header on this window very much. It speaks to me of earlier times. I’m also drawn to the play of light on the window glass. And I love the pansies crowding for space in the old stone planter, as well as growing profusely along the bottom of the painting. All these details go together to make this a favorite piece.
The pansy symbolizes the love of one person for another, and this is the love that our heavenly Father plants in our hearts when we choose to follow Him. He gives us an amazing love for Himself as well as a special love for our fellow human beings, a love that goes beyond race, color, status, or wealth. This strong, abiding love was a real comfort to me in the midst of pain over my loss. I constantly cried out for a sense of His presence, for an awareness that He was there. Head knowledge was not enough; I needed to feel Him there. The Holy Spirit assured that He was indeed with me and would be true to His promises. How faithful is our God, how kind. “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them” (Psalm 34:17a).

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.

—Psalm 28:7a

I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”

—Lamentations 3:24

God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind.

Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?

—Numbers 23:19