Visual Prayer--Tears in God's Bottle

Rough days are inevitable. Seems like they come in conjunction with some of the biggest blessings. Which I suppose is par for the course.

What makes rough days worse is stupid people. Or stupid mean people. Or just plain ole people.
It might not be that way for you. I walk a tightrope between introvert and extrovert so while some days being with people energizes me, other days, it exhausts me to a disturbing point.

I continually read on of Oswald Chambers' devotionals about exhaustion. You're doing yourself a huge disservice if you relate to what I'm saying but don't read this. It's short.

I was feeling pressure from so many areas (some of them self-induced) so I decided to take a bath with some lavender bath salts, listen to Jeremy Camp on the iPod dock, and have some quiet time with God. I covered my eyes with a washcloth and asked the Holy Spirit to quiet my soul.

It took awhile. I think my mind naturally resists being still and quiet. The song Letting Go came on and behind my washcloth covered closed eyes, I clearly saw a jar with tears in it.

And I cried.

Then I put on my big girl panties and decided I could trust God to handle these mounting problems of mine. If he could store my tears in a jar, he could certainly take care of some insignificant people that were bothering me. Besides, what they do shouldn't be my concern, right?

I hurried to my easel and painted a jar.

Then I decided I needed to know where that verse was and in what context it was written. Turns out, it was smack in the middle of a Psalm. Psalm 56.


And what a wonderful Psalm it is for someone in the position I had been complaining about being in.

By creating prayer, renewal washed over me.

My spirit calmed and then soared.

The urge to crawl into bed and hide away from the world for weeks on end was gone.

Restored.

Not alone in misery and wandering, but every tear recorded and kept in God's bottle.

The Artist in Me--Continued

Remember this day?

Remember I said that the Flashlight Drawing was my favorite session? I finally went to pick up the disc of our art.

There aren't many things that interest me more than writing, photography, and art. If I had to live my days as the starving artist, I believe I'd choose that over being an Orange County Housewife ANYday. Money doesn't make me happy. I used to think it would be the bee's knees and peachy keen to have an endless flow. But then I grew up and got a few gray hairs and learned that while money might make some things easier, it definitely could not satisfy me. If I had mansions and pools and boats and cars and diamonds and florescent white teeth and leathery-tanned skin, and a boob job-wait. I don't need one of those. So if I had it all...where would I be without my writing? My art? I would most like cease to exist.


So there it is.

If I complain about money again, kindly (or not) remind me of this post. Mmmkay? Thanks.




Back to the Flashlight Drawing.

Pitch black room.
Little flashlights.
Camera on a tripod.

Voila!

Magic Flashlight drawings!

The Artist in Me

Valparaiso University Department of Art held their annual (and free!) Draw-a-thon yesterday which focuses on alternative drawing processes.

The first session was Flashlight Drawing, but I can't talk about that until I receive my disc of artwork the instructor is sending. (It was my favorite session!) But if you look here you might get a taste of what's to come.

We did a surrealist method called Exquisite Corpses in which a piece of paper is folded in thirds and artists draw either a head, a torso, or feet without having seen the rest of the drawing then pass the sketch to the next artist until it is a wild creature.

Here are a few examples:

This is a head the instructor drew.
Here's a horse head I drew.

I drew Ghost Lady and she happens to be my favorite, so I brought her home and I'm going to frame her and put her in my office.

I think she has a story to tell.But of course, I'll have to tell it for her since she has no mouth. (There is a layered meaning here.)



I learned that I want an art studio. And maybe, even if I'm reluctant to admit it because I don't really believe it, maybe I'm a little bit of an artist on the inside.

2009 Scripture Art Number 15

Beth Moore posted on her blog asking if anyone wanted to join

her in memorizing Scripture, two a month, in 2009.

You can see all of my posts here.

* * *

Note: I got behind with the moving and stuff so I'm starting with the current verse and I'll post the 5 I'm behind as I get them finished. (Did I really just admit that I'm 10 weeks behind?? 10 weeks?!)

Genesis 16:13 So she named the LORD (YHWH) who spoke to her El Roi, The God Who Sees, for she said, "Have I really seen here the One who sees me?"

This goes with my Muddy Water post from a couple days ago. I can't get this image out of my head.

(sorry about the image quality, this was taken with my phone.)

2009 Scripture Art Number 9

Beth Moore posted on her blog asking if anyone wanted to join

her in memorizing Scripture, two a month, in 2009.

You can see all of my posts here.

* * *

This post is a little over due. I was supposed to put it up on the 1st, but I was in Missouri and since I've been back all kinds of chaos has ensued.

However, it was finished and I am working on the one that's due in 3 short days. I'll be out of town (again) so I'll post that one when I get back.

My next verse is the final in this series of verses, Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek Me
and find Me
when you search for Me
with all of your heart.

Painting Revelation

Painting Revelation by Debby Topliff

When asked to review this DVD, I jumped on it. I mean, with my focus on Visual Prayers and my Art Scripture Journal how could I resist taking the time to study another artist's work?

And wow. I liked this.

Debby Topliff was intimidated by the book of Revelation and issued herself a challenge--to study it. She came away with notes and drawings--and put paint to canvas. A 5-foot by 7-foot canvas to be exact. (OH what fun that would be!!)


Her DVD, Painting Revelation is broken into easy to watch sections that can be done as weekly studies or watched all at once (as Zane and I did.) Debby narrates the DVD and starts in her woodsy yard talking about what the Bible says and then moves to zooming in on the portion of her painting while she explains her interpretation.

This is such an incredible experience.

As I've been doing my Scripture Journal and Visual Prayers, I've been basically doodling, drawing or painting or whatever I feel led to do. I haven't ever set out to do something, interpret something. So this process was very interesting to me.

In addition to what I've already talked about, there is bonus material...


Resources included:

• Study: Download the 6-week study guide with worksheets, charts, visual key, Scripture references, and easy-to-use leader’s guide — for personal or group use.

• Fellowship: Watch the DVD with your small group, youth group, or retreat and choose from the discussion questions to explore topics you’re interested in.

• Teaching: Show the DVD in segments to present an overview and set the context for preaching and teaching on Revelation.

• Worship: Project images from the DVD to enhance singing and praise.

• Family: Share the DVD with your children to introduce them to the book of Revelation.

You can preview the DVD here. You should. It's beautiful! (and it's only 3 minutes!)


I'm so glad I had the opportunity to review this.

2009 Scripture Art Number 8

Beth Moore posted on her blog asking if anyone wanted to join

her in memorizing Scripture, two a month, in 2009.

You can see all of my posts here.

* * *

Here's the final version of Scripture Art Number 7.
Jeremiah 29:11

The next Scripture I'm working on is Jeremiah 29:12

You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

2009 Scripture Art Number 7

Beth Moore posted on her blog asking if anyone wanted to join

her in memorizing Scripture, two a month, in 2009.

You can see all of my posts here.

* * *

This is from the March 16-31st period. I really, really enjoyed this one. The left page was done with watercolor pencils and different markers. The right was watercolor paint and marker.

Now. To pick a verse for the first half of April.

I had a thought that I should pick Jeremiah 29:11-13 and pushed the thought aside because I know the verses. So I asked on Twitter and @LisaReid said, "I'd have to go with Jer 29:11, or 11-13. It stands out like a gem against the rest of the book, always surprising me."

Uh-huh. Surprise. Surprise, eh?

So I told her I'd thought those where the verses I should do, but hesitated instead, so this was a "Here's your sign" moment. She said, "Ha! I almost didn't reply to you, but I really felt that I should. So yes, here's your sign. Dooo eeeet!"

So it looks like I'll be spending from now until Mid-May on this passage. I'll do one verse for each 2-week period.

For I know the plans I have for you—[this is] the LORD's declaration—plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

2009 Scripture Art Number 6

Beth Moore posted on her blog asking if anyone wanted to join

her in memorizing Scripture, two a month, in 2009.

You can see all of my posts here.

* * *

<--Scripture Art Number Five Final version

This is the second period for this passage, I chose to spend a session on each verse rather than fly through it as a whole passage. That means, I spend six full weeks on this passage.

God knows what He's doing.








The verse for Scripture Art Number 6, March 16-30 is: (in bold)

Luke 6:36-38

Be merciful, just as your Father is also merciful.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged

Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.

Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Give and it will be given to you; a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over--will be poured in your lap.

For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

2009 Scripture Art Number 4

Beth Moore posted on her blog asking if anyone wanted to join

her in memorizing Scripture, two a month, in 2009.

It's never too late to join in!

You can see all of my posts here.

* * *

I'm a couple days late this time, but I have not quit! (My goal, my desire, is to finish this strong.)

Here's Scripture Art Number 3 (before)

Final

My new verse(s): It's a lot, I might take this in steps, but they all go together and I didn't feel right splitting them up. I don't have a page in the journal started yet, I'll be working on that soon.

Luke 6:36-38

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Stop judging and you will not be judged.

Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.

Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.

For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.

2009 Scripture Number 3

Beth Moore posted on her blog asking if anyone wanted to join

her in memorizing Scripture, two a month, in 2009.

You can see all of my posts here.

* * *

Before I get to the third verse of the year, here's a recap of the second:

The finished journal page:



And the start of the third verse of the year. John 4:24 "God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."


To start this one off, I dribbled some water on the page and moved it around with my fingers then added some drops of ink to the paper. I dragged ink around the border with a scrap of paper.