Deeper...

 

I recently attended the If:Gathering at my church. This two-day women's conference is an annual event that explores our faith through a series of Christian speakers.  The theme this year was "If the worst happens; we won't lose faith" 

The simulcast speakers were motivational, inspirational, and I left the conference feeling refilled, re-invigorated and inspired. In particular, Pastor Mike Todd had a half hour segment on going deeper in our Christianity, and it really spoke to me. His energy, comedic engagement, and shift to seriousness really drew me in. 

The overview of his message is basically that we think we are safe in the "shallows" of our faith. Sadly, God can't do what he wants to do with us there, we need to go out deeper in the water. Many of us are afraid to go out deeper, because we can't see the bottom or are worried about what might lurk in the deep water. He is calling us out in to the deep water, though... out of our "kiddie pool" Christianity.

In the deep water, God has given us an anchor for our faith.  

In the deep, He can work with us, and we can hold on to the he steadfast hope that is Jesus.

Not only can we hold on to the anchor (that is useless in the shallows!) but we ourselves can become anchors for those around us as we lead them out in to the deep.

I was reminded during his sermon about our town beach at the local lake. 

There is diving dock where the water is 25 feet deep.  My children like to swim out to it and do cannonball jumps. They have asked me to swim out there with them many times, but I am literally afraid to swim out over my head because I cannot see the bottom of the lake.  It was as if Mike Todd was speaking directly to me.

Last summer, I swam out to the dock.  I was terrified.  I had to psych myself up and pray to God to give me the courage and be with me so that I wouldn't chicken out and turn around, but I did it. This sermon was practically screaming at me... it is time to dig deeper into my faith.
Explore my ministry. Look for my purpose. Be more public. 

It bears saying that I have a praise report, too.

I've been struggling with an eye condition for three years and on the first day of the conference, I finally found a medication that brought instant relief and I could see with perfect clarify for the first time in a long time!

I started hearing/feeling the Spirit prompting me to draw an anchor. 

(I haven't done any art in so long because I spent the last year obtaining my Master's degree.) 

I began a sort of conversation with God in my head....

Me:  Oh!  I hear you telling me that I need to draw an anchor!

God:  You haven't drawn in so long.  It's good to draw again, yes.  An anchor... but think bigger.

Me: A whole underwater lake scene maybe?  With seaweed and fish.  Maybe sunfish like at the lake.

God:  Nope.   Bigger.

Me:  But, the story.  It fits me so perfectly

God:  It's not about you.  It's bigger than you.  Think bigger.

Me:  OK.  Ocean?  I can draw it digitally in Photoshop in case I make a mistake.

God:  Good.  Ocean is good.  Not digital.  Use watercolors.  

Me: Watercolors?  If I make a mistake it is ruined, and I'm still a beginner with watercolors.

God: Have you ruined one yet?

Me: Well.  You just fixed my eyes. Surely I can't say no to you if you want watercolors.  Watercolor ocean anchor it is.

The next day, I started painting the scene... the full painting took three days of working on and off.

The final piece is framed in a 16x20 frame, with an 11x14 opening.

Some of the verses that influenced its development:

Ephesians 4:11-14

Hebrews 6:19-20

Hebrews 12: 1-3

1 Corinthians 15: 58

Daisies for Mama...

This watercolor and ink drawing was created for my friend's mother. She suffered some pretty significant medical issues over the past two months that required extended hospitalization. My friend truly thought her mother was soon to be lost. I painted daisies, Mama's favorite flowers. There are 4 to represent Mama, her 2 daughters, and her son.

Thanks to the many prayers sent up on her behalf, the amazing medical capabilities of our doctors today, and strong determination, her mother has recovered. I painted this to be displayed in her room at the rehabilitation center where she was going for her aftercare, but it is now displayed at home instead, where she is doing great! A miracle indeed... 

Joyful Eyes...

I drew this portrait for a friend after she posted about the loss of her "Poppa".  As I read his obituary, I was struck by the kindness in his expression and the joyful sparkle in his eyes.  He looked like a truly and genuinely happy person, and I felt compelled to draw him immediately.

I was happy to see her and give her a hug, despite coronoavirus quarantine in full swing. Sometimes you just need to hold on to someone for a minute.  I didn't stay long, but I could see the portrait brought some fond memories to the surface.

On the way home, I received this lovely photo of the portrait in its new home.

I feel so blessed myself to be able to have blessed Poppa's family with this small gift and that it brings them comfort and joy. 

Thank you, Father, for giving me the gift of being able to draw and for showing me how to use that gift to bring joy to others in Your name.  Amen... 

Free Indeed...

This image was inspired by a man I was acquainted with recently. After knowing him a week or two, he told me his testimony of how he came to Christ.  He told me he was once an alcoholic, and he showed me a photograph of him at his worst; severely overweight, red faced from the alcohol and out of control blood pressure.

The story ended in celebration, however, as he was receiving his 2 year sobriety medallion today.

I felt compelled to draw this prayer of praise and thanksgiving on his behalf.

He is now free indeed!

Only minutes after his testimony, another man gave me a similar testimony, and just 4 days later, a third gentleman today told me he was celebrating 1 year sober this weekend!

The artwork is pencil, ink, with black shimmery gel roller pen on the chain and silver gel roller pen for the beams of light coming from the cross. 

Thank you, Father, for putting these people before me and allowing me to be on their path and touch their lives on their walk closer to you.  Let my light guide them closer to you, as you reach out your loving hand to take them into your arms and walk beside them.

You change us from the inside out and mold us into your image. 

Please continue to change all of us in wonderfully powerful ways.

In Jesus' name,

Amen

Loss...

This is Matt.  He was just 17 when he was recently killed in a senseless act of violence by two boys years younger than he was. His life was cut needlessly short, and my heart breaks for his family. They made an incredibly selfless and immeasurably generous gift of his organs.  Matt will live on in others and be remembered always.

I drew this as a remembrance in his honor and sent it to his family. It took me some time to finish it because he born within weeks of my oldest daughter. It hit me hard to imagine how quickly our children can be taken from us. I drew it through tears and so many prayers of comfort for Matt, his mother, his sister, and the rest of his family, his friends, and his community who were stunned by this tragedy.

Father, I pray that you hold Matt and his family in your arms.  Comfort them in their time of sorrow. Allow them to see that they gifts they made of his earthly body will have a ripple effect resulting in stories of love and gratitude throughout his community. Use this tragic event as only you can to create something beautiful... In Jesus' name... Amen. 

Metamorphosis...

Last year, I printed my own Christmas cards with the image from my post called Songbirds. The birds represented my children in our season of winter as we are learning our way through the difficulties that come with breaking up a family.

This year, I decided I am starting a tradition that my holiday cards will feature an art piece I made to represent my year and hopefully inspire those I give them to.  This year I'll be using the image above for my cards.  It has many layers of meaning, the over arching theme is transformation and the miracle and wonder of life.  

On a personal note, a friend recently sent a text that made me choke up:  "You are so different now. God Bless You.  Yes, people near you are taking notice now... God is fabulous"

Yes, God IS fabulous.  And if we listen to Him through studying his Word, we can't help but be transformed and renewed and utterly changed from who we were "before".  I know that I myself am more patient with the world in general, more empathetic, less stressed. I've learned to handle what I can and to give what I can't to God to take care of.  Sure, I'm not perfect, but the change has been AMAZING for my mental, physical, and spiritual health.  

In the Northeastern US where I live, we would never find a monarch on a real Christmas tree.  The cold would have killed them off by this time of year.  They tend to leave the area in September or perhaps as late as early October. However, I recently saw a documentary and was amazed to see footage of pines in Mexico literally covered on each entire branch with monarchs.  These images below cannot possibly due the sight justice.

This butterfly may not "belong" in a Christmas tree, as it is too cold here, but it persisted through the cold and when brought into the warmth and light of the house, emerged as beautiful as God meant for it to be. Like us, as Christians, are called to transform ourselves through meditating on God's Word.

(Another layer to the image... my family has developed a hobby these past 2 years of raising and releasing monarchs through out the summer that we hatch from eggs, so there's a fun nod here to my crazy sister who hatched something like 150 or so this year! It is such a fascinating process to watch! I highly recommend it if you have children.  It is an easy to manage science project that will instill a wonder for life and creation!)

The image was sketched in pencil, water color painted, and inked with a quill pen.

Holiday Gift...

While considering a Holiday Gift for my friend that would be both meaningful and useful, I decided to customize this simple 2020 planner that I picked up at a local department store.  I pictured it being used at work to stay on task, or better yet, to keep a prayer journal - this particular friend is a prayer warrior on the prayer team at his church.

I decided not to be sneaky or stealthy, and straightforwardly asked for some of his favorite Bible verses.  He sent me  four or five of his favorites.  I took his top 2, and made them into artwork for inside the covers of the planner.  The planner had no holidays marked inside it for some strange reason, so I then went through the pages of the book and marked and decorated each holiday on its monthly calendar page.  (There are additional weekly pages where he could keep track of prayer records or meetings, etc.)

This was the artwork that I put on the right side inside the front cover.  As you open the cover, you immediately see this bright and encouraging image.  On the left side of the inside cover, I hand-wrote out the verse and colored the edges of the page in matching blue and gold watercolor.  The image was sketched and watercolor painted, and overlaid with black ink from a quill pen.

The favorite verse, Romans 15:13, from the NLT translation

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

_____________________________________________

Inside the back cover of the book, I similarly sketched, painted, and inked an image for his second favorite verse, Mark 12: 29-31 and on the opposite side of the cover, I hand-wrote the verse.

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. The Lord our God is one Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.” 

The reaction upon opening the package?   

"It's Simply Beautiful."