Art & Spirit by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"MACY AT DINING TABLE"

Painting #408 of 1181 Paintings / Oil on Linen (40"x 30")  Completed in July, 1997

"This is my granddaughter and of course I painted this one from a photograph.  I loved painting her and in those days Karl and I were still enjoying living in our home on Lamb Lake, Indiana."

Healing I am whole and well in mind, body, and spirit. Tuesday, November 4, 2014 When electrical equipment malfunctions, I first check to see whether it is plugged in. Similarly, when I experience dysfunction or disease in mind or body, I check whether I am “plugged in” to God. If I have harbored faulty ideas, I let them go. If I have given power to beliefs of disharmony or sickness, I disconnect from those thoughts and reconnect to Truth. Established in right thinking, I allow the light of Truth to heal and transform me. As I experience healing from the inside out, I feel great ease and aliveness. I deeply trust life’s divine and perfect unfolding. No matter where I am in my healing process, I know that perfection and wholeness are my Truth. God is my health and well-being. Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light.—Luke 11:34

Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"ROSES OUTDOORS"

Painting #1163     Oil on linen on board    (14"x14)     Painted in November, 2011      (?)

FROM "THE DAILY WORD"                                Friday, February 21, 2014

REASSURANCE

Centered in the power of prayer, I triumph!

In the story of the Resurrection, Thomas required tangible proof that the man standing in front of him was indeed Jesus resurrected from the dead. Jesus said, “Reach out your hand … Do not doubt, but believe.”

If an answer to prayer eludes me or I expect a certain outcome that is not forthcoming, I, too, may look for tangible evidence. If I become unyielding, I could miss the blessings right in front of me.

To dispel any doubt, I recall instances in which I kept the faith—even when unfolding good was not yet visible. Recalling these past triumphs reassures me to trust that good is always unfolding. I declare myself a faith-filled believer. I overcome any false appearances and trust only in the Divine.

He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands … Do not doubt, but believe.”—John 20:27

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

Oil Painting, "Lady With Letter" by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"LADY WITH LETTER"

Painting #238   Oil on Linen   (30"x24")       Painted in August, 1995

Sunday, January 19, 2014

DIVINE ORDER

Here, where grace abounds, all is in divine order.

When life seems messy or muddled, hearing the words “all is in divine order” might be frustrating. Yet when clouds block the sun, the sun continues to shine just as brilliantly. Similarly, divine order does not cease when my world seems upside down.

I take a moment to turn my awareness away from the challenge and into the presence and power of God within. I breathe deeply to clear my mind and release any stress. As I continue to breathe in God, unsettling thoughts dissipate and disappear.

I am open and focused in this God-centered moment. Grace abounds and all is indeed in divine order.

Run at once to meet her, and say to her, “Are you all right?” … She answered, “It is all right.”—2 Kings 4:26

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

Oil Painting "Floral In Brass Vase" by Artist NORA KASTEN

"FLORAL IN BRASS VASE"

Painting #701 of 1179 paintings / Oil on linen  (30"x24") / painted in May, 2002   SOLD 

"Today, the cataract was removed from my left eye and I'm happy to tell you "ALL IS WELL".   I am most fortunate that Dr. George Corrent, of Bascomb Palmer Eye Institute, did the surgery and on Wednesday, August 28, he will remove the cataract from my right eye.  Isn't it wonderful how old eyes can be so skillfully repaired?  This is one very thankful lady.

I'm still singing this song.  Click on "Has Anyone Ever Told You" and sing along too."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"DAILY WORD" from UNITY            Monday, August 19, 2013

SERENITY

Nothing can disturb the calm peace of my soul.

Like the eye of a storm, the center of my being is a place of peace and quiet. I turn to this inner sanctuary any time I need to go apart from the world. In this sacred space, nothing can disturb the calm peace of my soul.
In moments of prayer and meditation, I focus on the light within me. By gently turning within, I can achieve serenity anywhere, at any time.
I am filled with the love of God. I feel the strength, wisdom, and light of God enfold me and prepare me for what’s ahead. I center myself with a simple inhale and exhale, and I rest in the awareness that God and I are one.
God is my assurance that all is well. I am at peace.

Live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.—2 Corinthians 13:11

The Widowed Life by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"This music is a Blessing to me and I'm glad to share it with you. 
 In two weeks it will be two years since my dearly Beloved Karl died.  I thought the agony of grief would be behind me by now but  . . . . . WRONG.   He's always close to the surface of my thoughts but most days I am at peace.  Maybe the coming anniversary of his death is bringing on the waves of horrible  grief anew but I thought that I would be stronger now.  Someone said to me a while back "Nora, take time to enjoy your sadness".  What does that mean?  I have fought it for so long.  Can it be true that this grief for Karl, after all, is just "prolonged self pity".

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

Reading from "Healing After Loss"

"Cut Roses"

"I want to share with you Martha Whitmore Hickman's meditation for today, November 11, from her book "Healing After Loss".

"Deeper and deeper we burrow into our grief.  Desolations pile on one another.  We wonder if we shall ever see anything on the horizon but this gloom and sadness.

Then one day, in some moment of quiet reflection, we find ourselves Thinking of Something Else!  Is it possible?  

We will move back and forth many times - back into the dark woods and forward again into light.  After a while we will realize it is all one world, that feelings of joy and sadness enrich each other - as a person who has been mortally ill has a new appreciation for the beauty of starlight, the taste of orange juice, the caress of love.

Is it all right?  Is it being disloyal to our lost loved one - to savor our life afresh?  Are we in danger of forgetting?  Not to Worry.  We would as soon forget to breathe."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"Brass & Tangerine" Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Brass & Tangerine"

© Nora Kasten

Oil painting on linen  (16"x12")  From the archives

A Page From "Healing After Loss" by Martha Whitmore Hickman

"In the midst of winter I discovered that there was in me an invincible summer."

                                                                                                                    Albert Camus

"It surprises us.  We know it's a fluke.  We know it won't last.  Happiness?  Contentment?  Joy?

      And not jut a quick flash of joy, of contentment - as when we are lifted up on wings of song - or by prayer - or by a spectacular sky - or because of a daisy blooming in some field.  But a sense that in some way we are going to be able, after all this, to be happy?  Whoever would have thought it?

      That assurance, too, may slip away.  But it will come back.  Perhaps each time it will seem less like an astonishing stranger, someone come to visit us in disguise.  No, it is real - this fecundity, this extended daylight, this warmth, this beauty of a summer evening.  Even in the wintry distress of our pain, we will believe in summer.

      Summer has it's storms too.  But they will pass.  Maybe they will clear the air and bring the world fresh and clean to our attention once more.  It is Life calling to us."

Today's affirmation

"In the midst of winter I will entertain the possibility that summer will come."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE