The beginning...

This is how I hear Him speaking to me, and through me... 

During the summer of 2018, I was working through the most difficult season of my life and had come back to Faith. That season, at that time, had lasted for about a year.  I was looking for an outlet for my story, for my testimony, and had considered many options; writing a book, or a blog, or a graphic novel.  I felt very strongly that the calling was strongest for the graphic novel, and began to make some panes using my software.

One of my dear friends from church suggested a few times that I should try to draw the panels by hand instead of with the computer. I said many times to her that I "can't draw by hand" and that I was "terrible at drawing people" or "I don't know how" to draw by hand.

Now, at this time I had also volunteered to help design a classroom for the church, which was experiencing a major expansion project.  The classroom, which was for first and second grade students, was to have an "Under the Sea" theme to it with some wallpaper murals mounted on the wall that would need to have some decorative painting around them to blend them in.  The classroom was quite large, and I had the assistance of very talented artist to help me with the wall murals.

On the day that I went to the hardware store to pick up the paint for the wall murals, I was stunned to see that my paint department technician had tattooed sleeves on both arms of under the sea themes.   His tattoos included the same corals and many of the same fish that were planned for my walls!  He allowed me to take a photo of his tattoos to show my design team. Surely this was no coincidence.

Right smack in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the room work, I developed some unexpected and quite painful medical issues, as did the artist who was helping me. I doubted that I could finish the project on my own and with no formal training.

I thought such doubts to myself as, "My room will never look as good as the other classrooms" and "I can't paint as good the other artists."  I never took an art class (other than the usual art class in high school over 25 years ago) and was not trained by anyone in any particular style.   (I did love watching Bob Ross as a child, and I had watched a video on One Stroke painting before.)

I managed to push through the pain for the most part, but progress was slow. One Saturday, I was feeling particularly good and planned to spend much of the day painting.

I made a lot of progress on the walls, painting various corals and seaweed, but there was one space that kept calling to me for something different, something special. I decided to sit on the floor and freehand an octopus in that spot, just below a window.  I had never painted coral, nor seaweed, and certainly, never an octopus. I prayed for God to guide my hand, dipped my brush, and just started painting.  I ended up with a gigantic orange octopus who simply looked like he belonged in that spot.

I looked at my watch and realized that I had managed to paint for 6 hours straight that day with no pain. As soon as I was finished with the octopus and stood up, however, the pain returned with intensity.  A sign that the day's work was well done.

Over the course of the next few weeks, I managed to paint all of the classroom walls and I still look with wonder on the final results. Surely I had created the artwork, but it came out better than I ever imagined or anticipated.

While at church services one Sunday, that very same talented artist was seated in the row next to me.  As we were talking, she told me that she often sketches crosses when she prays for specific people, and envisions setting that person and their needs at the foot of the cross.  It was very powerful for her and helped her to intently focus on that person as she prayed for them.

I could hear Him in that moment telling me to at least TRY to draw.

I purchased an inexpensive sketch book, and a package of mechanical pencils.  As I began my first drawing, I was not happy with the mechanical pencils. I headed to the art store where I purchased a set of drawing pencils of varying hardness.

Thus began my prayerful drawings.   I will share each one as it is finished, the significance behind it, and the coincidences that I cannot explain other than to tell you that He is working through my hands.

I share them here to inspire others, to share His word, and testify to how I hear Him speaking to me in my daily life and through these drawings.

He is so good.  He has blessed me with artistic skills that I didn't know I had, and gave me the friends He used to speak to me... to tell me to TRY.  He guides my hand as I draw while I pray, and helps me see the image that He wants me to share with others.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you find something here that speaks to you.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or feedback using the comments options.