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.
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.”
I spent a LOT of time on art this weekend! As I continued to experiment with my watercolors and watercolor paper, I realized I needed to get a lot "looser" and more "painterly" with the brush to really succeed with watercolor.
I spent some time mowing up the leaves in the yard today. I always wear my headset and play my praise playlist when I'm riding the lawn tractor. Simple inspiration to try some fall colored birch trees for practice and meditation.
I adore the fall colors in my area! I spent time telling God how beautiful his creation is as I worked out these trees. The conspicuous empty spot on the right needed a verse about trees, but I was called to this quote I found online instead. And afraid to completely destroy the painting with a calligraphic error, I decided to electronically overlay the quote instead.
I had no idea who John Burroughs was, but after a quick online search, I found he was a naturalist and a writer about the beauty of nature from the early 1900's, and who lived not very far from where I live! While researching, I saw another of his more famous quotes, "The Kingdom of Heaven is not a place, but a state of mind." This quote gave me more to meditate and talk to God about.
My good friend moved into a new apartment and had a housewarming get together. I wanted to make her something special, so I painted and inked a hydrangea for her, her favorite flower.
I wrote in a verse on the back of the painting for her: Luke 12: 27-28
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!"
Here is the picture, framed and ready for gifting...
This project was simple practice for me. Experimenting with my watercolor pencils and watercolor paper, and my new brush pens for calligraphy. It's not perfect, but it is one of my favorite verses, and spending an hour or two focusing on one of your favorite scriptures is always time well spent!
I gave my life to Christ on October 8, 2017. To celebrate the 2 year anniversary, I decided to create an drawing of my spot.
It began as a pencil sketch of the location where I was saved. I then used black ink to deepen the darks and tree branches. The picture looked drab and depressing, not the vibrant and colorful autumn image that I always seen in my head when I think back on that day.
I decided to experiment and added watercolors to the trees, and sky, the beach area.
Sadly, my experiment with the mixed media went awry. Watercolor on regular sketch paper makes the paper pill and peel, so the lake water itself was not able to be completed without completely destroying the paper. While I feel like the piece itself is incomplete (the lake looks more like a snowy field to me), I did learn a lot about how the watercolor pencils I have acted with each other and I was really pleased with the resulting fall colors in the trees.
I have since purchased a pad of watercolor paper for future watercolor experiments, and I may make another effort at this same image someday.
This piece was inspired by the August 2019 sermon series from Pastor Craig Groeschel of Life.Church called "Anxious for Nothing". You can view the messages on the Life.Church app, or on YouTube. Here is the first message of the series:
At around the 24 minute mark of the video above, Pastor Craig brings his lovely wife up onto the stage to demonstrate what was happening in 1 Kings 19: 11-13, when Elijah goes out to stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord. Pastor Craig's visual demonstration of Satan yelling vs. God whispering because he is close to us really struck me.
At the same time I was watching this series, we discussed various birds in the bible (and who/what they represent) during one of my bible study lessons. I envisioned Pastor Craig in the position of hearing Satan squawking at him in the form of a vulture, yet fending off the effects of the anxiety-inducing squawking by standing close to and in the presence of the Lord who is near.
I, myself, am guilty of putting too much weight on the words of the squawking vulture in my mind, and not enough focus on the Words of the one who is always near. I used to often say that I was my own worst critic, but I am working on focusing on the truth of who God says I am, not the random noise of my anxious mind.
This image started out as a pencil-only sketch, but as it took form, I added colored pencil (that I had purchased from the art supply store that were saturated with vibrant color) and added black ink and white ink to pop shadows and highlights.
The original post for this piece can be found here.
I was pleasantly surprised to receive a small notecard in the mail recently. I didn't recognize the return address, but the handwriting was lovely. I curiously opened the small envelope and found a card from the lovely lady I drew the "Sing" prayer for. Her name has been deleted for privacy, but her words touched me deeply and encouraged me to continue in this "accidental" ministry that we know is not an accident at all, but rather the will of God himself placed on me.
The handwritten note reads:
"Dear Delia, I have been wanted to send this note for solong, in fact, I asked H for your address months ago! When I received your picture I was in such a low place. I was discouraged and felt lost as to what my place was within ministry. Your incredible gift helped me to keep my eyes on the cross, and also on the fact the cross was empty... That His life, death & resurrection power is the reason I sing! That I can live a life full of love and gratitude and belonging. There was so much more that your picture spoke to me - and continues to speak (as it now hangs beside my bed and is often the first thing I see!) Thankyou for using your gift to bless me. Most sincerely, J"
You are most welcome, J, of course! I pray that the image continues to speak to you and remind me to use your beautiful gift to send up praise and lead others to do the same.
I will keep your note in a safe place... I look at it often, I took a picture to keep in my phone to encourage me when I have drawing block or just need a pick me up. This picture in my cell phone, in fact, has lead me to consider a new addition to this blog and my ministry - downloadable copies of the images that can be set at cell phone wall papers... Keep your eye out for that coming soon!
Much love to you and may you continue to grow in Christ!
The original post for this piece can be found here.
I received a thank you letter from the beautiful woman who I created this prayer for when she lost her daughter. In the interest of maintaining her privacy, I won't share the full note, but I feel compelled to share a small portion of the handwritten card, name redacted, that caught me by the heart and squeezed.
"As Christ went to find the lost lambs, T was a shepherd always searching for lost lambs she could care for. Your choice of images could not have been more perfect in representing T's life then and now, as she is safely at home in his arms."
Messages like this encourage me to continue in this ministry.
I'm so blessed to be able to give comfort to others through art.
This song, I'm listening by Chris McClarney, is reaching me today.
I "heard" some encouragement today that made me feel that I am on the right track with God's will for me.
Firstly, I seriously worried about how I handled the prayer presentation for the comfort drawing that I delivered tonight. I was worried that I might not have said the "right thing" in the card, or have chosen "the right" verse in Isaiah 40:11. God allowed me to hear a clip on the radio after I left the wake that focused on Isaiah 40, and I knew it was Him telling me I had chosen well.
Secondly, I attended a Worship Night concert at my church tonight. (Side note: I LOVE Worship Night at church! I always leave energized and uplifted, and after attending two wakes today, the emotional boost was even more appreciated than usual.) Our worship leader prayed that we would BOLDLY go forth in faith, and I brought that prayer deeper into me. I prayed that as "real life" people around me begin to learn of my drawings that they will be touched by the Word and that I will boldly proclaim the Good News to those around me.
Lastly, the recipient of the Holy Spirit drawing told me that she continues to be blessed by drawing, nearly two weeks after I gave it to her - that she has set her cell phone wall paper to the drawing and it continues to speak to her daily. What better validation than that? To hear from the person you prayed for that your prayer literally has blessed them with such an impact?
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are so incredibly generous with your Grace. I am humbled and overwhelmed to consider the fact that you love me so much and have a will and a plan for me. You have blessed me with these skills that allow me to draw visual representations of your Word and these drawings are reaching and blessing those around me. I ask that you continue to bless me with opportunities to pray for and draw for people in need. I ask that you continue to help me see your will for me - continue to speak to me in ways that I can recognize, whether a song on the radio at the perfect time, a well timed sermon message, or a social media message to encourage me when I am unsure. You know your plan for me, Lord, and I know it is a plan for good and not harm. I will continue to seek you out wherever you send me to look. Thank you for all you have done for me. My life is not my own, I give it all to you. Amen
I completed this pencil piece tonight. It's larger than my usual 8.5" x 11" sketchbook page at 11"x14".
I wish that there was a happy prayer associated with this drawing, but that is not the case. My heart is heavy today as I learned that a colleague and mentor of mine lost her adult daughter unexpectedly last night.
As a parent myself, I cannot fathom the loss of one of my children. I can only imagine the level of heartache she is feeling, and I wanted to draw an expression of comfort for her to show my support for her family at this most difficult time.
Isaiah 40 spoke to me and I was inspired by verse 11 specifically. In my bible app the NIV version chapter is labelled as Comfort for God's People.
'He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. '
Isaiah 40:11
I understand that "gifts" are not a tradition for the mourning, but it is my prayer to the Lord that His word and this drawing of the verse bring her, her remaining daughter, her husband, and all who knew this beautiful young woman, a sense of peace and comfort in their time of sorrow. The photo has been framed and will be forwarded to the family with a card expressing my condolences and the significance of the drawing and the verse.
Dear Lord, I come to you tonight to ask you to gently carry the mother who has lost her precious daughter. Lift her up and carry her close to you, as you carry the little lamb in your bosom. Embrace her with your love and allow her to feel your presence with her so that she may be comforted with the knowledge that you are not only with her, but you are with her daughter and caring for her, as well, as she walks by your side. The faith is strong in their family. I pray that their faith is strengthened during this season of sadness. I pray specifically, Lord, that this drawing you allowed me to create reminds the family to lean into you for support in their time of need. In Jesus' name... Amen.
Side note:this will be a significant step outside of my "comfort zone". In an earlier post, I mentioned that I am feeling compelled to remove some of the anonymity of this blog and my drawings. The anonymity gives me a sense of safety, a sense that people close to me won't judge me for my beliefs, or try to attack me because of them. This will be the first drawing that anyone outside of a very select few in my "real" life have seen. (Perhaps only 5 Christian friends have seen these drawings in person. My parents and siblings have seen a few, but not all.)
To step out in public faith - in front of my coworkers and a respected mentor at my place of employment - will be a real demonstration of my willingness to be more public with my faith, to share the Good News, and to minister the Word to others around me as I study the bible more and more deeply each day.
Take Number 2 for attempting to draw a wedding gift for young friends getting married in September. I decided to use a verse that is a bit more passionate and less preachy for my young friends. (My first attempt turned out to be destined for another couple, see my previous post called "Wives...")
I wanted a hand written look to the wording, but was able to admit to myself that my calligraphy skills are a bit rusty, so I "cheated" and used the laser printer to print the verse. I then set out with my handy waterproof drawing pens to draw in the flowers. I specifically chose two flowers and positioned them "leaning on" each other, or embracing each other.
This verse is from the Song of Songs (the Old Testament) which was the first Old Testament book I studied thanks to a Pastor Craig Groeschel / Life.Church series called Love Song. You can find the series on YouTube.
I used watercolor pencils to add color to the piece, and then a water brush to blend away the pencil strokes and blend the shading.
As I impatiently waited for the watercolors to fully dry, I considered what wisdom to write on the back of the piece... I decided to write a single, simple, heartfelt sentence, and framed it up.
I'm really pleased with how this piece came out. This drawing feels more right for the couple I had in mind when drawing it. The bright and sunny Brown-Eyed Susans make me smile, like the bride to be, who has the most beautiful and contagious sunny smile. The groom has deep, dark, kind, brown eyes, so the flowers are a perfect fit for them both.
I had considered making them pink, like echinacea, at first. But yellow kept calling to me. Turns out an alternative name for Brown Eyed Susan is Golden Jerusalem... coincidence? I'm learning that there is no such thing! According to a flower symbolism website, they also represent happiness, so that's a bonus, as well.
I wish my friends all of the love and patience in this world. I know that they both have an amazingly strong foundation and focus on Our Heavenly Father, so I know that their marriage will be blessed, long, and happy, and that they know where to turn to in times of trouble or sadness. Their bond will be truly blessed. I can't wait to watch them grow together in Christ and surround themselves with a family.
Some friends are getting married in September. I wanted to draw a prayer for them as a gift. I drew a bouquet, using three orchids to represent the Trinity, with a red rose in the center to represent the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3 kept coming to me, but I wasn't fully sure of it. I kept asking myself if I was letting my bad marriage influence my choice of verses for this artwork...
I also really wanted to hand ink the lettering since it had been literally decades since I had used my old calligraphy supplies. I'm surprised that the inks weren't dried up, honestly!
In full transparency, I was very unhappy with the result of this artwork. I am my own worst critic, and it wasn't speaking to me and felt wrong, but I couldn't tell exactly why. I wrote to my good friend and told her how disappointed I was with the artwork, and how I actually was considering tossing it, and I hadn't tossed a piece yet.
Well, the reason it felt wrong was that it WAS wrong for the particular couple I had in mind!
My friend told me that SHE actually loved the artwork, and I realized it was better suited to her and her husband. They had recently experienced a year-long long distance separation to try to figure out how to save their marriage. She prayed faithfully for her husband and herself and invited the Holy Spirit into their lives to save their marriage, and they are reuniting THIS WEEK. I am told that he is a fully changed man, who has accepted Jesus as Savior, given himself over to the Spirit, and comes back to her full of tender love.
I will fully admit that I was skeptical that there would be a change in him, but GOD is so GOOD. I was so thrilled to hear her good news and so utterly humbled to realize that despite praying all year for my dear friend, I did not *really* believe that God would change her husband. I am ashamed to admit that I thought he was beyond reach, but of course, no one is ever outside of His reach!
I pray that this artwork (which she plans to display in her home prominently) reminds them both to submit to each other and treat each other with love and kindness as they learn to love the new people God has made both of them into.
I don't work in color a lot yet, but I wanted this one to be in color, the light surrounding the woman had to be blue, to match my vision.
At a prayer night a few nights ago, we were prompted to pray and reflect on who God is, what he's done in our lives in the past, what he will do in the future, and lastly, on how he is omnipresent, he's always been with us, and will remain with us.
I felt a vision, as though the Holy Spirit was swirling around me in the form of bright blue light as I prayed and reflected on His goodness to me.
I just recently read through John, and John 15 specifically felt connected to my previous post The True Vine. In the previous chapter (14) and again, later in chapter 15, we are told of our Helper, the Holy Spirit. These verses were fresh on my mind during prayer night...
John 14: 15-17
15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14: 26
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Update: Sunday July 14:
I thought the original intent of this image as I said above, was that the Holy Spirit was swirling around ME as I prayed.
The following morning when I woke up, I was having trouble deciding whether I should go to church services or not. You see, I drive approximately 40 minutes to church, and I was very low on gas, and I didn't have money to put into my tank.
Around 9:30am, I looked at the picture and felt that I needed to go to church and give this to our worship leader. I felt very strongly, and immediately, that this picture was of her and had a message for her. It even looked more like her than myself... In fact, I don't even own a green shirt, but I *do* have a recent video clip of her leading worship at our evening baptism ceremony where she is just exuding joy and dancing while singing while wearing a green shirt.
I marked the two scriptures above on the back of the drawing, signed it to her from myself, got myself together and headed to church for our 11am service.
I waited until after the service, sat with her aside and gave her the picture. I explained to her that I recalled her saying a couple of weeks ago to one of our pastors some comments about how she thought she sometimes struggled with knowing exactly what to say when leading the church in prayer.
I told her to remember that when she prays, the Holy Spirit will come upon her, swirl around her like blue light and tell her exactly what to say. I reminded her of some prayers she has offered up that have been amazingly and inexplicably perfect for me at the time.
She was very quiet and seemed a bit stunned as tears welled up in her eyes a bit. She told me that during the first service, she was unsure of the prayer that she had led, and was praying with one of our pastors about it during the sermon, to seek guidance to "do it better" at the 11am service I attended.
The time of her prayers with the pastor that morning would have been around 9:30, when I was at home and realized the picture was of her and that she needed it.
We hugged a few times and I headed home. She headed to the store and bought a frame for the image. She told me it blessed her immensely right away.
Later that afternoon, at home, another of my friends sent me the sermon online that he was watching as he could not make it to church that day. He was listening to Dr. Charles Stanley talk about Walking in the Holy Spirit, shown below. I decided to listen to the sermon while I mowed my lawn. (Side note: I love Charles Stanley's voice and way of teaching. It is easy to understand, and full of scripture, and I think he voice is so soothing! If you've never watched him, you are in for a treat.)
I was driving the lawn tractor with my headphones on, and just a few minutes into the sermon when Dr. Stanley mentioned some scriptures referring to the Holy Spirit and His role in our lives... THE EXACT SAME SCRIPTURES I posted above and that I had written on the back of the drawing.
I immediately stopped the tractor and wrote to my friends, both, to tell them of the news. Both were overjoyed and amazed to hear of the news.
This was a clear sign to me directly from the Holy Spirit, confirming for me that I am on the right pathway, that I am hearing Him speak to me, and I am acting in the manner He is pleased with. I still cannot fathom how or why He would choose to be near to me... A "nobody". The answer I always come back to is LOVE, and I am overwhelmed.
Dear Heavenly Father, You are so good to me, Lord, though You know that I do not deserve it. You are generous with your Grace with me every day, and I am humbled to think that the God who made Heaven and Earth made me, and made me for a purpose. Thank you for the gifts you have given me- especially the previously unknown skills to create art that reaches out and speaks to those around me. Thank you for showing me how to draw the words I can't find to say to encourage and uplift those in my life that need uplifting. Thank you, Lord, for speaking to me in wondrous ways; for providing me with the "coincidences too big to be coincidences" that let me feel you are with me and confirm for me that I am hearing your desires for me. Please continue to bless my hands to create more works of art that glorify You as I explore different techniques and styles in art. Please help me to learn to be more bold in my testimony and my ministry as I continue on my path to spiritual maturity. All Glory and Honor to You, Lord. Amen.
A final thought - I'll close the update with the new Casting Crowns song (with Matthew West) because it says a lot of what I'm feeling right now.
Based on the verses in John 15, this drawing depicts Jesus, the living sacrifice, hanging on a tree, and wound in vines, stretching to grow and bear fruit.
I am so pleased with the results of this drawing. I've been encouraged to share some of my drawings in a public setting where they'd be judged. This would require me to remove some of the anonymity of the blog and the artwork. Only a few close Christians in my life know that I make these drawings.
I'll pray on that further before making a decision.
The scripture... John 15: 1-8
The Vine and the Branches
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
I've begun reading a bible study book on Ephesians by Joyce Meyer.
This happened to be the verse of the day recently as well...
I pray that I am light to others, that they may see the miraculous works that He has done in my life, and seek Him out in their life, as well. There were people I prayed for that I was hoping to display the light toward; relationship struggles are tough. But there are three people in this world in particular who I pray will see the difference that God has made in my live and will develop a curiosity and later a thirst for His word.
This was one of the first times I used chalks. I used gray on the tonal paper to darken the shadow around the candle, and white chalk to add a halo of light to the flame and some shading to the candlestick.
I pray for my oldest daughter often. We're in a season of winter right now, but spring is here! She's visiting fairly regularly and opening up to me quite a bit. We're finding our way.
These three images were drawn with her during a visit. We drove to a couple of local large cemeteries and drew the same pictures of some of the architecture and statues. She was showing me her much looser, more sketchy style, and she we chuckled about my apparent inability to just sketch and let the drawing come quickly.
It was a beautiful day, the weather was amazing, and we just enjoyed each other's company and talked and talked while we decided which memorial to draw next.
I didn't pray while drawing these, I was too caught up in the time I was getting to spend with my beautiful daughter, but I did pray over them as I finished them up at home; specifically, I thanked God for bringing my daughter back to me and for giving me such a lovely weekend doing something together that we both enjoyed.
It was not unnoticed by me that her subject of choice was angel statues. I believe that she is getting brave enough to wonder what is up with all of the positive changes in my mom's life. I look forward to the day that I get to minister to her with God's word, and pray that she accepts what I have to tell her. BUT - that is another prayer for another drawing.
I often pray for God to show me his plan, his vision for me. We all know that if He wants us to see his vision, He will show us in His good time.
I have been having vision issues - an ultra rare processing disorder. I drew the eye as a prayer for my own physical vision symptoms. I planned to then draw in the lyrics to God I Look To You around the eye. (Such a good song! I'll link it here...)
When the eye was complete, I wasn't feeling the lyrics around it, but felt called to draw the full face instead. The prayer also changed with the change in design for the drawing. I added a freckle in the lower portion of the iris, to match the freckle in my daughter's eye.
My prayer turned from my vision issue to asking God to help my daughter see the amazing things He has done in my life, and to help me be a model of a Christian woman for her. She seems interested in my faith. She asks questions occasionally, but as a teenager who has never known God or church, she is still unsure of it all.
I am giving her time, trying to be a positive model and showing her some of my drawings that I'm really proud of. I prayed for a long time over this drawing and over my daughter.
She saw this particular drawing when the eye was done, but he face was just being filled it around it. She said the girl's mouth was wrong, it was too upturned if she was sad and crying. I told her that she wasn't sad and to look at it again. She studied the drawing and seemed to understand that the girl was overwhelmed with joy at the sight she was seeing. I smiled at my beautiful daughter, then drew in the freckle so she could see it match hers.
I don't have a particular verse associated with this drawing chosen, the song says it all.
On Sunday, I purchased a couple of new, smaller sketch books with toned paper. I also grabbed a kit with an extra set of pencils to travel with, and it had charcoal in it. Someday maybe I’ll try charcoal. Lastly, a can of fixative spray because my precious drawings smudge against each other in their sketchbooks...
This piece was inspired by my YouVersion app. It is today’s verse of the day and it was a fast one! (Speaking in relative terms here, many of my drawings have taken 10-12 or even more hours.). This speedy project took about 2 hours total; a half hour for the flower, but about 1.5 hours to decide on a font, sketch it out and fill in the letters.
Having a discussion with a good friend... It was asked "If you had your pencils out... What would One Flock One Shephard look like to you?"
This is the result. The world represented, people from all sorts of regions, religions, cultures coming together as one under Jesus. Note that all of the people are moving TOWARD him, not away - not making disciples, but coming together as one church built on the rock... Some have arms raised high, some have a more withdrawn and humble approach.
A fun and unexpected surprise that everyone picks up as soon as they see it? God's HAND on us (the world) as believers. The groups of those seeking Him were supposed to be approaching the cross and converging into one large group. The hand/fingers effect was completely given to the drawing by Him.
Psalm 95:1-2 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I was asked to pray for a woman who struggling with using song has her ministry without feeling pride or boastfulness. This immediately came to mind - SING FOR JOY to the Lord. Singing for joy and using a beautiful gift from Him for His glory will always move those that hear toward Him.
Pencil only, and surprisingly, my fastest drawing yet. It just flowed so easily.
You are so generous, beyond anything that I deserve. I humbly thank you today, Lord, for guiding my hands and for giving me this gift of artistry so that I may share your never ending Grace with those who need to feel your love. Please continue to bless me with your vision and guidance so that I may minister to as many others as I can reach for you.
My January 2019 piece called "Letting Go..." (an image of a dove being released from hands) focused on forgiveness and featured an older Life.Church sermon delivered by Pastor Craig Groeschel.
This week, he preached on the message again, and I am compelled to share the video of that message above.
Forgiveness is a huge struggle for me, but as Pastor Craig says... at first prayers for those who've hurt us are grumbling and insincere, but with daily practice, we become authentic in our prayers for those who've wronged us. And I find that is absolutely true. It doesn't happen overnight, but eventually it does happen.
As the huge hit movie "Frozen" proclaimed - - Let it go...
This piece was inspired by Ephesians 6:10-20 (ESV) and the Whole Armor of God. Unfortunately, the person who is to wield the armor has let their guard down and removed it, while the flaming darts of the evil one fly in... A reminder to myself and to others to always be ready, and not let our guard down when protecting ourselves from evil.
This was created with pencil only.
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The Whole Armor of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
On a recent trip to the art supply store, I purchased a white gel pen and a very large 9B pencil/crayon with the intent of trying a night sky. My 13 year old daughter told me about a new technique they were learning in her art class at school- smudging with a paper stump. We bought a package of them, and she showed me how to use the them because she thought it would make a nicer sky than simply using pencil strokes.
Soon after, my dear friend wrote to me about a vision she had seen. She described hands reaching down from the heavens holding a wedding gown over a cityscape. She said she felt compelled to tell me about it so I could draw it, and she knew I had done a few pieces with hands in them recently.
As my friend described her vision, I saw it at in my mind as being at night, and knew I had to draw it with my new tools.
After I sketched in the hands, fabric and city lightly, I used the paper stump to shade in the darkness of the sky and the city. Afterward, I used the white gel pen to dot the sky with stars, add the lights on the bridge and windows, and created the lace effect on the fabric.
I sent this picture of it to my friend who said, "Wow. I can't believe how amazing that is!!!! Girl it's so gorgeous and sooo close to my vision that I think you saw it too."
Here is an image of the lace detail.
Editing to add this verse, though it seems to be in reverse;
Revelation 21:2 (NIV)I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
A woman from the congregation of my church that I am becoming friends with was speaking with me on a recent Sunday morning. She is aware of the issues I've been having with fibromyalgia pain. She told me that she had now been having trouble with her left thumb- it was painful and wouldn't bend at the base joint. She demonstrated that it, indeed, would not bend at all. We prayed for healing for both of our issues with widespread pain.
Later that week, after a bible study session at our church, she told me an amazing story through tears welling up in her eyes.
She said that during the service just days before, where we had sat with each other, she had a vision of Jesus approaching her and putting his hand on her forearm. His robe draped over her arm, and he moved his hands downward and held her hand cupped in his.
Two days later, she was telling another friend about her issues with her thumb. When she attempted to demonstrate its refusal to bend, she was shocked when it suddenly had full range of motion and no pain!
I was overwhelmed by her emotions and her story, and I knew I had to draw a prayer for her next.
I always sign the back of the sketch with the recipient's name and the date of the prayer. I gave it to her the following Sunday at service. As I approached her to give it to her, I noticed she was wearing a name tag, and I was disappointed to see that I had spelled her name incorrectly. She had a fairly "normal" name, but I saw instead of an "a" she had a "y" in the middle.
I hastily found a pen to correct my error and gave her the drawing. She immediately cried and we hugged. She said she had goosebumps. I apologized for misspelling her name, and we laughed. She said that she added a "y" as a teenager to jazz up her plain name. That her true given name on her birth certificate is with just as I had spelled it... with an "a". She said even her children don't know the real spelling of her name. We chuckled a bit and I told her God knows her by name and I guess He gave me her real name, and we laughed and hugged some more.
Later that afternoon, she sent me a text message with a photo of the drawing proudly displayed in a frame on the wall of her home.
