Statues...

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.

Give Me Vision...

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.

Here is a detail photo of the eye:

Flowers fall...

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.

Pencil with ink and white gel roller.

Here’s a detail crop...

One...

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.

Verse of inspiration:

John 17: 20-21 Jesus Prays for All Believers...

 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Sing...

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.

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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.

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Dear Lord, 

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.

~Amen

Forgiveness...

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... 

Armor of God...

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.