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"The timing of this book is appropriate, on a national basis, for the uplifting message it delivers."

"The writings gave me a sense of calm and reaffirmed my faith in God and His Kingdom."

"When I noticed the beautiful paintings in this collection, I felt the glory of God and all that He has provided."

“An artist possesses gifts of perception and interpretation. Alice Ann’s abilities in this respect are obvious. It is, however, her willingness to share her deepest thoughts and meditations, in the context of her own life’s journey, that makes her most gracious. Many of us marvel and see the presence and power of God in nature. It is Alice Ann who reminds us, as our Heavenly Father does, to see His majesty in our everyday lives.

Allow this artist, daughter, wife, and mother to open your eyes and hearts so that you may seek to truly know God and see all of the majesty and blessings that surround you. For this, I am grateful to Alice Ann, that little gallery on Johns Island tended by her faithful husband, Robert, and their dog, Ben. I am most grateful to our heavenly Father who brought her to us in this book. By the Grace of God indeed.”

                                                                                                                                             C. Harvey Rice
                                                                                                                                            Private Wealth Advisor
                                                                                                                                            Charlotte, NC

Excerpts from "Getting to Know God"

SIMPLE THINGS

“Consider the lilies.
They neither toil nor spin,
but Solomon in all his glory
was not clothed as beautifully as they.
And if God cares so wonderfully
for flowers that are here today
and gone tomorrow,
won’t he more surely care for you?”
Mathew 6:28-30

God surrounds us with His beauty and love
How many times have we taken a moment
To ponder the simple things in life.

We should often consider the lilies.
The complexity of a single flower.
Shows us that even simple things are not so simple.
They are miracles of creation.

I marvel at the miniscule feet of a little finch
And its tiny eyes so full of life.
I never cease to be amazed
At the majestic power and grace of a horse.
Or the gentle, understanding gaze of an old dog.

Not until we see an oak that dwarfs us
Do we appreciate the magic of a single seed.

How often do we contemplate the glory of a sunset?
Yet each morning, God erases the darkness
With a brilliant curtain of light.

The daily tasks of life often seem to complicate our lives.
What seems so complex in our lives
Can be made very simple

If we slow down occasionally
To contemplate even a leaf of ivy
We can see God’s plan
And let Him refresh our souls.

All of the world’s creations
All of nature’s beauty
Are God’s gift to us.
We are living in Eden
And don’t realize it.

Life is a trial.
A test
To reach the finish line unscathed
From hardness of heart
From selfishness & greed
From envy.

We enter each day
Not knowing
What trouble we may encounter
What evil may lay waiting in our paths.

We are tempted
We are shown easier paths
We are encouraged to become part of the world.
Another cog in the machine that plows
Over the downtrodden

To walk in the spirit
Is not always easy.
To forgive
When you are offended by the ungodly,
Is difficult indeed.

We need to constantly polish our spiritual armor
And to ask the Lord for His shelter and care.

Sometimes WE feel like the downtrodden.
As if all the world is against us.
We may see clearly what is right.
Yet the world does not understand.

Our strength and hope come from the Lord.
When we are persecuted by the world
We are also blessed by the Lord.

How better to deflate the power
Of those who are against us,
Than to praise the Lord
For every arrow pointed in our direction.

We are His children
Sheltered under His wings.
Though the bow is aimed in our direction
We are protected by the power of His Holy Name.

Winning the race
Is finishing with a heart full of love
Even though we are scarred by battles
Along the way.

"Let us run with endurance,
the race that God has set before us.
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus
on whom our faith depends
from start to finish."
Hebrews 12 1-2

"May you experience the love of Christ,
though it is so great
you will never fully understand it.
Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and
power that comes from God.”
Ephesians 3:19

Lord, clear my mind of all the clutter
That gets in the way of hearing you
And help me to understand
And help others to understand

Open my eyes to beauty around me
Let me savor every small detail of your creation
The blade of grass as well as the mountain
Let me see also, the goodness
In everyone I meet.

When I speak
Let it be with kindness and encouragement
Let words of wisdom flow
Let joy and laughter be on my lips

Grant that I may hear Your voice
To guide me
And grant me the ability
To truly listen

Strengthen my spirit
If it be your will, increase my skills
That I may use them to proclaim Your glory.