Adore HIM Creations

Watching Wednesday

Just have to share what was made in the studio last Saturday!

Our small group is doing the one little word and a few women came and made their OLW canvas. Love the work God is doing in their lives through their word and the faithart he creates through their hands.

Doris's word for 2012 is praise.  Love how she used the textured background and the glitter on the letters supports praise!

Ashley is a new student to both the OLW and to the studio. She did a great job of preparing her word thoughts and created love!

 

Penny's word is devotion. She has such a adventurous spirit and is always thinking and trying new techniques! Don't you love her composition?

I am trying to pray about what my word will look like (steadfast) so stay tuned.

What is your one little word for 2012?

one little word for 2012

My word  took some time to become my word this year. After a difficult year with the word free, I was hesitant about God giving me a word that would be difficult to live. 

 Trying to be transparent with my life, I am sharing my self assessment from 2011.

Unraveling  2011  “free”

What disappointed me?   That I didn’t finish what I started with my weight or my debt free goal.  That depression took over my life for a few months and separated me from my children.   The secular craft fairs weren’t successful and  took a lot of time and energy for a small return.  That my relationship with my daughters is still very difficult.

What surprised me? Meeting Connie and Jan was such a blessing and affirmation. The success of my art work and the sales at church sponsored events.  Loving my Grandson so much.  Highlights were AHC classes and sales.

Where did I excel? Increased my blogging and attracted more readers/followers. Established Etsy and selling through etsy is a possible revenue source.   I discovered that I love to create, I love to teach and inspire others.  My creations were successful and I was able to worship God through my work.  I walked for 75% of the year.  I made new art friends and had artistic growth!  Attended 6 craft shows and they showed me that secular craft shows are not the venue for my work.  I completed lots of projects and sold them and created classes for COB.  I earned more than $1500 in profit from AHC.

Where did I fail?  I didn’t lose weight, I actually gained weight. I stopped walking in November when my walking partner moved.  I became depressed and my emotional state affected my relationships with my children that I am still repairing.  2011 was supposed to be about being free- I actually think 2011 was difficult, emotional and stressed. I experienced artistic growth, but the emotional issues hobbled me. I withdrew from a lot of my life ( NHC, small group, neighbors).  I didn’t get out of debt which was my goal.  I was able to pay off about $2k in debt but paid for my son's rehearsal dinner, so am now $3600 in debt.  I bought QuickBooks and began to create my business but it is not finished. I have to finish entering all 2011 AR & AP.

Think back to the person you were when you initially picked your OLW.  Compare it to the individual you have become. 

I wanted to be free, but my emotional state actually kept me captive in 2011. I didn’t turn to God to help me, I did the same old thing- I “took care of myself”.  I am still  feeling numb,  and I don’t feel in control of my emotions or behavior.

 Did you expect to see the amount of growth you have experienced over the past year? Or maybe you had difficulty with your word and didn’t see the full fruit of the word in your life.  

I had such difficulty that I only saw growth in my artistic creativity. Not in my emotional or physical life.

 How did God use your OLW in ways you were not  expecting?

  He allowed me to become more creative and to meet new Christian artist that are an encouragement and inspiration.

 What are some lessons you have learned over the past year?   I have an emotional issue that I need to address. It has crippled me and turned my children away from me.  I am not living life fully and with hope and love. I have difficulty being a loving person, I am stressed most of the time with my children.

 If you could sit down with your future self, what would you want them to know about all the emotions, expectations and fears you harbored when you began your OLW journey?   I believe in the OLW and have seen the growth and happiness in following the word God gives me.  I must address the issues in my life so that God can use me.

 

What word is God giving you for 2012?  steadfast

 Why do you feel that God is drawing you to this word?  Honestly looking at myself, I realize I start things with the best intentions and then don’t finish. I find excuses to not do or be what I committed to. This year I want to finish strong, keep my commitments to myself and do what I say. It is about my integrity. 

If you embraced and lived this word daily, what could God do in your life and how would 2012 be different for you?

I would be unshakable, unfaltering and steady in my daily life.  I would finish what I start. I would have confidence in Jesus to give me strength to finish strong.

In what ways do you already live/follow this word?  For a lot of things I do finish, but the most important- my health, my faith I waver, and allow myself to fall away.

In what ways do you not live/follow this word? I say I am going to do something and then I start but don’t finish. I want to finish strong with what I know is important. I want to be balanced.  This word also fits with abiding, which was my word in 20010.  Free from 2011 is part of steadfast too- to be free of worry and trust in God for all my needs and to give me the strength to finish!

What old patterns or beliefs have kept you from living this word until now?  I get excited and decide to do something, then when the emotions wear off I stop and don’t finish.  I want to change that pattern. To only commit to what I really can do.

I have created a list of goals for 2012. To be shared next week.

 

My purpose in 2012     I will be steadfast. I will focus on only making commitments I can keep.

Outcomes for 2012:   

At the end of 2012 I will FINISH STRONG.

Theme for 2012:  

the year of CONSISTENCY

one little word for 2012

Last night my women's small group met and we all shared our 2012 one little word. It was a memorable meeting and so inspiring to hear how God is working in all of our lives.

What is this?   Great description from My one word :

"Every New Year we hope this will finally be the year that things will change. We make promises about the new person we're going to become, pledging to get a grip on our finances, get in shape, become a better parent, spouse, even a nicer human being! But there’s one problem: our resolutions seldom work. The busy pace of life gets the better of us, and suddenly, the year is over with little to no personal growth having occurred in our lives.

“My One Word” is an experiment designed to move you beyond the past and look ahead. The challenge is simple: lose the long list of changes you want to make this year and instead pick ONE WORD. This process provides clarity by taking all of your big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single thing. One word focuses on your character and creates a vision for your future. So, we invite you to join us and pick one word in 2012"

 

If you are new to the one little word, check out my page on the right side bar for all the info. I created forms to use to identify your one little word and they are free to download here.

Here is the one little word for our women's group. Very powerful when you see them all together!

IMPACT  Love  devotion  believe  praise  renew  experience  steadfast  LOVE  light  sacrifice  Christ-like  self-control  faithful  wait  hope

Would love to have you join us!

endings and beginnings

Today was open studio and we had 4 women here crafting- creating and sharing. What a wonderful way to end 2011.

2011 was the beginning of Adore HIM Creations becoming a real studio, creating art to sell and expanding my artistic horizons. What a blessing it has been to spend my time creating art that brings glory and honor to God. I have been blessed to help others see the creativity God gave them and to help them allow that creativity to soar. Look at this piece from Penny- one of our regular students. Love how she gave expression to the word peace.

   And Denise, my beautiful friend and sister in Christ. She made this piece to hang in her office at work. I am so proud of how she has allowed her artistic talents to become freely expressed. This picture doesn't do this justice, the cross is luminescent and glows.

Tracy and her daughter made this beautiful present for her son and his new wife. A beautiful reminder of Gods' plan for marriage.

 

Are you getting ready to discover your one little word for 2012? If so, check out the One little word page here at my blog for ideas, worksheets and lots more links and info!

Also, stay tuend for new classes in 2012 and a brand new launch of my

"Guest Artist " Series for 2012.

May God bless you and keep you and may you find new ways to creatively express God in your daily life, art and heart.

Happy New Year!

 

becoming free friday

Henri Nouwen suggests that  “[t]he word patience means willingness to stay where we are and live out the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.”

Sometimes that is so hard to do!  To wait, to be patient, to let God have His way in my life. That is so difficult. It is the same way in my art. I want to just grab the colors, the sprays and begin to lay the color down, to move with abandon, to be free in not thinking about what I am doing, to just create!

But, if I take the time to slow down, spend time with Him and seek his input, then the colors are richer, they make more of a statement and work together to tell His story, not mine.

becoming free is learning to be patient and to work with HIM.

Simone Weil writes,  “Waiting patiently…is the foundation of the spiritual life.”

Is my spiritual and artistic life growing?  I know that studying His word and spending time worshiping Him, I am creating a deeper bond with the creator of the Universe. My artistic life is growing, as I patiently wait for his  creative prompting. This work is in progress. I am patiently waiting for His instructions........

becoming free friday

Thanks for all the encouragement from my last Friday post!  It is a blessing to hear from you about your struggles and to know there are others who identify with me!

So, after writing about my frustration with the 2 canvases last week, I felt relieved and relaxed and led by God to continue to work on them. To not give up. To loosen up my self critic and allow the Holy Spirit to move through me.

Matt Tommey  author of "Unlocking the Heart of the Artist" posted this commentary about prophetic art this week.   He said "When we collaborate with the Holy Spirit in this dance of Kingdom creativity, His power, His Life and His Light merge with our faith, creative thoughts, imaginations, desires and skill into art that carries the literal presence and power of God.    It is in this context that our art, no matter the creative medium becomes prophetic.". 

I had that experience this past week in working on these two pieces!  I prayed and asked God (Holy Spirit) to guide me, give me the movements, the imagination to work on these pieces. It became a dance with me and the Holy Spirit as I added another layer of gesso, and  more texture.Then I spray painted, and then used Golden paints to enhance the colors. 

I was in what I call the "zone". Where I have the inspiration, and I am quiet and allow the Holy spirit to move through me. It is like a dance, and it was a joyful dance that happened.

The spray paints have to have some time to dry and here is what it looks like when they are dry.   Not as intense color, so next step is acrylic paint layer techniques... no pictures of me painting  ...

Here are the two pieces now.....

They have a leather look that is wonderful and the pictures don't do them justice!

I was so happy with the result that I decided to create 2 more for a quad!

Here are all four and then see each of the new pieces individually.

I felt such joy and happiness and intensity as I was creating them. I don't have a name yet for the collection- any suggestions???

Matt says  "Your art in the Kingdom has no choice but to be prophetic when it’s mixed with faith, creativity and the Wind of the Spirit."  These faithart pieces are a combination of my listening to the Holy Spirit, His ideas and my obedience to complete the work He has given me.  That is freedom- artistic and spiritual!

 

 

becoming free friday

Today I want to share about a struggle I have in my "free" journey. I have shared with you about my struggle as an artist- to even call myself an artist. I have such self doubts and self criticism about my art. I like what I make and feel called to make most of my faithart, but when it doesn't come together immediately I really get discouraged.

See these 2 canvases?  They are 8x8 size and I was creating a new version of this  blue green canvas project ( trust in the Lord...).  I used some new stencils and new paints and neither of them has come together. This picture is actually the 2nd stage, they are now covered with a coat of gesso so that I could start all over again with the texture. 

They are sitting there waiting for me... I feel the pressure to finish them..... I am not excited to work on them..... they are not perfect.....

All those thoughts run through my head each time I walk past them and look at them.  Dissatisfaction, discontent, rejection, failure....  Part of me wants to throw them away and to foget about them.

So, how does this relate to my one little word you might be asking???

I have discussed this struggle a few times on my blog here and here and here.  Today it is more about my self control and my self talk. I want to create beautiful faith art!  I really am driven by that. There is such a a parallel between creating faithart and the work God is doing in me to create the person He wants me to be.

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.  Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness."  Malachi 3:3

 God is sifting and refining me. To become free I must go through a period of refinement and purification- a painful process. This involves Him changing me, stripping away and separating my old ways ( ways that don't work and don't serve Him).  The refiner ( God) sits and observes the melting metal, waits for the correct, proper time to pour it out and separate the impurities.  I love the idea that God is sitting and watching me, waiting for me to submit to His hands, in control of me and my life. That requires patience and grace. So even though the refining process can be difficult and painful, He is doing this to ultimately make me into His creation- the person He desired me to be before I was born.

My art should be like this process. I have to wait for the right moment, do the right things ( maybe many times and many layers ) to get the final result that I picture in my mind.  The blue trust picture is a perfect example of that process!  It started out as something entirely different- I didn't like it at all, so I covered it with gesso and created another painting. Still didn't like it and wasn't about to throw away the canvas.  So the third time I decided to let go of any pictures in my mind of what it "should" be and just play, add texture ( to cover up what I didn't like underneath) and new colors. Wow, when I let go of my preconceived notions in my little box it became a beautiful piece of art!

So, in my becoming free walk- God is refining me, and in my faithart walk I am refining my techniques, mind and spirit.  What an adventure He is bringing to my life and what a blessing to be allowed to be refined by His hand.  Stay tuned for how the canvases turn out.....

 

 

becoming free friday

Happy Holiday!!

My daughter Natalya made this beautiful tag and it features free, so that is our OLW update for today. Watch Technique Tuesday next week for the tutorial on how to make words like free.

I hope that you have a fun 4th of July weekend- remember our service men and women who so valiantly work for us to continue to be FREE in America!

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

becoming free friday

Good morning!  The first full week of no school and 3 teenagers at home. Overall it has been a good week. But we are getting adjusted to a new schedule and it is difficult for me. I am used to having my day to myself- of course I work a full time job from home and run a small business, teach faithart classes and garden, create art, rescue dogs and on and on.....   So now I have 3 girls at home with me so there is no alone time, time for reflection and peace.

I realized on Wednesday, whoa, we didn't plan this very well! So now each of the girls has a daytimer and a summer calendar and a plan of what they want to accomplish and how they are going to do it.  Kind of like our word. If we don't have a goal in mind and then create a plan to get to that goal, how will God use our word to transform us???

It is a struggle to be free.  I can resist the struggle or I can embrace it and endure the struggle. Either way, time will be passing, I will be living my life and hopefully allowing God to help me be free.

Sometimes I choose comfort and routine over struggle and the result is no change. Then I get frustrated with my stalled self and then anger takes over and comes out in my attitude. All because I didn't stay on my plan!

Someone who has a plan and is following her plan is the story of my friend Doris. She has allowed God to change her, transform her and has followed through with His plan for her life. For the past year, Doris has been "diligently" doing the Lords Table . If you don't know about it, check it out here. The Lords table is about "setting captives free" and Doris has embraced this and has transformed her body and her mind and heart. She has chosen a plan and has followed it "diligently ( her one word for 2011)". She is such an inspiration to our small group and to those who know her.  Doris has used this plan to grow closer to God, to allow Him to be in control of her eating, her time and her body. I love you Doris!

So, do you have a plan? Do you follow your plan?  Choosing a word is a good experience, but unless you have a plan to follow, the word will not be given the emphasis to transform you. And God is in the business of transformation!

 

 

*****************************************************************************************

• New  One Little word feature -I have added a special page for the one little word.  The features section on my blog to the right. If you click there you can find the worksheet for choosing the OLW. 
• New  One little word photo album -I have added a photo album full of pictures of all my students who are embracing their word and creating faithart.
• My One Word blog-  for more info and articles about living with Gods word for your life go to My One Word

 

becoming free friday

Almost half way through 2011, so might be a good time to evaluate my progress in becoming free.

Most of the time I tell you about my successes in this journey.  I have been blessed and changed by God to have success in areas of my life that I want to change.  Right now there is an area of my walk with God that I am not doing so well.  Actually there are two things.

One is my frustration with my daughters disabilities.  As I have shared, all of my girls are adopted from Ukraine ( only 5 years ago!). They were born with disabilities and we have to live with the consequences of their parents behaviors.  My girls have FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome- each in a different degree), RAD (reactive attachment disorder) and PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder).  All of these create a person who is afraid, unable to remember the simplest of tasks and has difficulty with comprehension of complex issues/tasks.  This is very difficult to live with and to parent children with these issues. I have to say that they have accomplished so much- if they were still in Ukraine they would be dead or living homeless on the streets, so the fact that they are physically healthy, attending school and getting good grades and learning is huge.

My frustration comes out in the way I talk to them.  It is so difficult to have to repeat the same things over and over and over again. When I think they have learned something, and we do it over and over again, and then they can't complete the task, I get very frustrated.  I want to be loving and give them grace, but my attitude is hurtful to them and doesn't help the situation.  I am studying Romans and Paul describes my life pretty well here in Romans 7: 15-17

" I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is god. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do- this I keep on doing."

So, I am being honest- in this area of my life I am sinning. I am tearing my children down with my frustration and perpetuating their fear.  I desire to stop doing this and will be praying for my release of this sin in my life.  I can use your prayers!

The other area of my life I am not doing well is in gluttony. Food has become my method of calming myself- to deal with my anxiety and frustration with my children. They go hand in hand don't they!

I am reminded of the keys to defeat sin in my life. 

Refocus, reveal ( in this post I am revealing my sin), resist and realize!

My prayer is for God to help me to defeat my sin and become the loving mother I desire to be.  

I pray they your one little word is transforming your life and that you are at the half way mark and will evaluate your progress also! May God bless you this week!

 

becoming free friday

I am working on feeling free in my art. I struggle with labeling myself as an artist, so I am asking God to give me confidence in my work.  This week I have made some new items, trying some new techniques and feeling free.

When I work, I struggle with my perfectionism and my passion.  I want it to look a certain way, I want to use the colors and form to say something that I have in my mind. That can be difficult, as sometimes it does look like the picture in my head and other times it doesn't and I have to decide - will I allow myself to express my feelings and be free as I create???

This one came together pretty easy. I used the bible verse the wakes me up each day...

"This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

I wanted to show joy, a lightness, a peace and calm. So I used a new stencil , with warm golds and greens.  I used my new skin technique for the words. I think I like it. I will have to create more word art and show you others.  What  do you think?

The next piece is one that I have been working on for months. I started out really good and then when I added the bible verse, it really messed it up. Sorry, no pictures of the mess up. I put it aside and didn't do anything with it. I love the outer parts of the composition, and wanted to give it some time to work through how to finish it.

So yesterday I got it out and decided to gesso over the mistake and add some texture with the leaves stencil.  Then I used ranger color washes and played with the colors. I spray a high gloss enamel as a final coat to set the colors. I love it now!!!

  And finally a real abstract piece. I wanted to just let the color flow and play with a spatula, not a brush. I love how the colors mixed and play off each other. Quite fun allowing myself to be free- being free of the censor in my mind!!!

 

becoming free friday

There is a wonderful song that runs through my mind a lot.  I know you have heard it if you listen to Christian music. 

Robert Robinson lived in England in the 1700's.  He became a street gang member and was living a bad life that would have taken him to prison or death. However, he heard George Whitefield ( one of history's greatest preachers) in 1752 at a evangelistic meeting and his life was forever changed.  Three years later he gave his heart to Jesus and entered the ministry.  When he was 23 he became  minister at the Calvinist Methodist Chapel in Norfolk England and began to write hymns.  His hymn for Pentecost sunday was a prayer that the Holy Spirit flood into our hearts with His streams of mercy, enabling us to sing God's praises and remain faithful to Him.  "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is the song.   I love David Crowder Bands version. 

  Come thou font of every blessing
 Tune my heart to sing thy grace
 Streams of mercy never ceasing
 Call for songs of loudest praise
 Teach me some melodious sonnet
 Sung by flaming tongues above
 Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
 Mount of thy redeeming love
 Here I raise my Ebenezer
 Hither by thy help I'm come
 And I hope by thy good pleasure
 Safely to arrive at home
 Jesus sought me when a stranger
 Wondering from the fold of God
 He, to rescue me from danger
 Interposed His precious blood
 O to grace how how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be!
 Let thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee
 Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
 Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above

It reminds me that I am prone to wander from God. Yes, I want to be  free. 
I want to be free to love Him in all my ways, but my sinful nature  takes over and I realize 
I have taken back my life from Him.  I am  free- free from my sin, I have eternal life in God. 
I want to live  free!  Its the living each day that is so difficult. Actually it is only  difficult when 
I try to control my life, because when I give it each  day to Him I am flooded with peace, joy and love. 
 

becoming free friday

My one little word for 2011 is free. Each dayI am given the opportunity to experience freedom and it comes in all different forms. Like books I read, TV shows, people, art, etc.

Today I want to share and recommend a great book.  "same kind of different as me"  by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.  I read it over the past weekend and it is an amazing true story. 
It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana... and an East Texas honky-tonk... and, without a doubt, in the heart of God. It unfolds in a
Hollywood hacienda... an upscale New York Gallery... a downtown
dumpster... a Texas ranch.
Gritty with pain and betrayal and brutality, it also shines with an
unexpected, life-changing love.

Page 179-180 

Denver said to Ron " God gives each person on the earth a set of keys, keys to live this life down here on earth. Now in this set, there is one key you can use to unlock prison doors and set captives free.

. . . Mr. Ron, I was captive in the devils prison. That was easy for Miss Debbie to see. But I got to tell you: many folks had seen be behind the bars in that prison for more than thirty years, and they ust walked on by. Kept their keys in their pocket and left me locked up. Now I ain't tryin to run them other folks down, cause I was not a nice fella-dangerous-and probably just as happy to stay in prison. But Miss Debbie was different- she seen me behind them bars and reached way down in her pocket and pulled out the keys God gave hear and used one to  unlock the prison door and set me free." 

Denver pounded home those last words like eight separate nails, then sat back in his chair, sipped his coffee. He put the mug down. "she's the onlyest person that ever loved me enough not to give up on me, and I praise God that today I can sit here in your home a changed man-a free man."

 

As you can tell I was really affected by this story. It really hit home for me- as Denver became free-

free- to be loved,  

free-from his past,

free from his anger,

it reminded me of how God set me free 19 years ago.  Someone reached out to me, my beloved Aunt Ruth and a neighbor and gave me the keys to freedom. I am a blessed woman, and my freedom has given me the opportunity to give the key to others. Like my daughters, co-workers and women in my church family.  Being free has a responsibility to it, for me to share that freedom with others, to recognize those in chains and to get out of my comfort zone and LOVE them.

I hope that you will get this book and allow God to share His joy with you as you hear of the miracle of friendship and redemption in this story.

How are you doing with your one little word? Is it changing you? Are you growing? I would love to hear your experience!

becoming free friday

Last Saturday I had a group of young women students who came and created a one little word canvas. It was a fun group and their art is a reflection of their relationships with God.

some of the lessons I learned...

1.  each person'S choice of colors is interesting and I can go with their flow and support their choices!  amazing how the art turns out!

2.  quick demos are good, then get out of my students way and let them experiment and play!  this group enjoys art in other parts of their lives, yet they still had that freedom to play! wish I could bottle it and give it to my older students!

3.  simple can be best- these OLW canvases are smaller than we usually make, and not as many embellishements, but God worked through their hearts, hands and eyes and created masterpieces that will bring them inspiration each day!

4.  God brings me the students, the words and the time to bring Him the glory and honor!

And here is the rest of the group!

the one little words are

JOY

HEART

HOPE

LOVE

CONTENT

FORGIVE

WHOLE

BELIEVE

becoming free friday

Todays post over at "My One Word" blog is so powerful. I encourage you to go over and read it. I want to quote something from it to share more about my walk with "free". 

"Every day you will have an opportunity to “see” your life and your world though the lens of your One Word. If your word is compassion, it changes the way you see. You can’t simply measure your growth by whether or not you have been compassionate – you must begin to monitor how you see what is happening around you. You walk into a situation and begin to see through the lens of compassion and become available to bring God’s compassion where it might be needed. This is to be holy – you are set apart for his purposes.

If your word is love or faith, it changes the way you see your world. You are looking for opportunities. You are looking for ways for God to use what he is doing in you. You are set apart for his work – your One Word becomes a way to see things and not just a thing to do! "

Free changes the way I see my world and my experiences.  I get to see through the lens of freedom when I get frustrated, scared or impatient.  I get to see the opportunity to experieince freedom in the midst of my reactions, and I get to see the ways God is using my life to teach me freedom.   It is so exciting and sometimes scary to understand that I am not free- God wants me to be free, but I so quickly go to my self control issues and rely on my own understanding and my own ways to deal with things.  It is just like Proverbs 3:5-6  "Trust in the Lord, in all my ways acknowledge Him and lean not on my own understanding and he will make my path straight".  He can only give me freedom when I am willing to trust Him.

My prayer for this week is to trust him more, completely and to rely on Him not on myself.

May God bless you and your walk in your word this week!

Testimony Thursday

 God's plan for me is to be a "Godly" woman. What does that look like?  If I use the Bible to guide me, then I look to Proverbs 31:10 -31. It describes a woman with a strong character, great wisdom and many skills.  Can I use that as my pattern?

A Wife of Noble Character

 ^{10 [b]}Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
      She is more precious than rubies.
 ¹¹ Her husband can trust her,
      and she will greatly enrich his life.
 ¹² She brings him good, not harm,
      all the days of her life.

 ¹³ She finds wool and flax
      and busily spins it.
 ¹⁴ She is like a merchant’s ship,
      bringing her food from afar.
 ¹⁵ She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
      and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

 ¹⁶ She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
      with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
 ¹⁷ She is energetic and strong,
      a hard worker.
 ¹⁸ She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
      her lamp burns late into the night.

 ¹⁹ Her hands are busy spinning thread,
      her fingers twisting fiber.
 ²⁰ She extends a helping hand to the poor
      and opens her arms to the needy.
 ²¹ She has no fear of winter for her household,
      for everyone has warm^[c] clothes.

 ²² She makes her own bedspreads.
      She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
 ²³ Her husband is well known at the city gates,
      where he sits with the other civic leaders.
 ²⁴ She makes belted linen garments
      and sashes to sell to the merchants.

 ²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity,
      and she laughs without fear of the future.
 ²⁶ When she speaks, her words are wise,
      and she gives instructions with kindness.
 ²⁷ She carefully watches everything in her household
      and suffers nothing from laziness.

 ²⁸ Her children stand and bless her.
      Her husband praises her:
 ²⁹ “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
      but you surpass them all!”

 ³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
      but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
 ³¹ Reward her for all she has done.
      Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

This woman is a manufacturer, importer, manager, realtor, farmer, seamstess, upholsterer, and merchant. The most amazing thing about her is her reverence for God.  I like to think she is not just one woman, but a composite of many women. She is an inspiration for me.

In my life I have done a lot of those things. Adore HIM Creations makes me a manufacturer, manager, and merchant. I think God has given me this business to bring him glory and honor as I create faith art and use art to turn people to Him.  I love to work in my yard, planting, creating and enjoying the fruits of my labor- my flower garden.  But I have to remember that all of this verse sounds like a lot of "doing" and I am working on not so much "doing" as being.

So how can I "be" a Proverbs 31 woman?  I can love my children- no matter what. I can follow God's promptings in my business, in my creating and in my professional life. I can spend more time in prayer and seeking wise counsel. I can "be" a woman that others seek for wise counsel. I can live with integrity and honesty. I can trust in Him and lead others by example.  I can be " the light". 

God, help me daily to turn to you, to love others as you love me.Thank you for loving me and providing for me and my family. Help me to be all you want me to be and to be the example for my children.

 

becoming free friday

Today is Good Friday.  It is strange that we call the saddest day of the year a "good day." 

From my faithart journal....

I love the quote by John Newton: I am not what I out to be. I am not what I wish to be. I am not even what I hope to be. But by the cross of Christ, I am not what I was."   

It tells my story. I want to be better, to be more like Christ, to love others they way He loved them. But I am a sinner, He died for me, so that I would have eternal life.

Thank you Jesus for setting me free- free to know that I am saved and I will spend eternity with you!

May God bless you and keep you this Easter weekend.

 

becoming free friday

My journey of becoming free is so illustrated in my little rescue dog Bella.  Let me tell you her story.

Bella was a puppy mill victim.  She lived most of her life in a metal cage, existing only to breed puppies. She didn't really know the touch of a human, or soft carpeting , treats or fun playing with other dogs.  She was rescued from the puppy mill by a Lab rescue organization in KY. We drove the 10 hours to see the labradoodle puppies that the rescue org had that weekend.  We fell in love with a cute little white labradoodle puppy and it was really hard to decide.  Bella was in a cage all by herself, and so defeated that she didn't respond at all to us. No barking, or growling, or moving away from us. Vera was the one who went into the large cage and sat with her and tried to get her to respond to us.  For about 2 hours we talked and tried to interact with her, and tried to decide which dog would work best for us and for Bailey our 1 yrs golden doodle. 

Here is Bella at the rescue organization. She was so matted, had horrible breath and infected ears.

I was reminded of another rescue story and God put it on my heart to talk to the girls about their own rescue.  Deanna was crying and so upset because she had her heart set on the puppy, but when I asked them to think about what would happen to Bella, and what would have happened if I hadn't adopted them- what if I only wanted a baby or a cute little toddler, where would they be ???

In the end we took Bella.  He name was Kayla, but we changed her name as we drove back to our home in VA.  We loved the name Bella and felt it was a pretty name for a little girl and it sounded so cute with Bailey.  Bailey and Bella, our two dogs.

Here she is on her first day as Bella- we groomed her and started her transformation! Her eyes are still so fearful and empty.

It is now almost a year since she came into our life. At first it was difficult to watch her, the fear of everything- fans, people, doors, yards, etc.  Bella wanted to go outside, but was scared to death to go out the door.  She wouldn't come back in either.  In fact most people didn't know I even had a 2nd dog, because she would hide most of the time.

God intervened in Bellas' life about 4 months ago. Somehow, she made the decision to trust- to let go of her fear, to be happy, to wag her tail at us, to let us pet her, love her.  It is a joy to watch her now. She has come so far! 

When I think about my own walk in being free, Bella reminds me that I have to make the decision to "BE FREE". To walk in freedom means I have to let go of my fear, my anxiety, to make the choice to love and be loved.

So each time I pet my Bella, I thank God for the picture of faith and freedom he has given me!

becoming free friday

Becoming free - I thought about it in 2 ways this week.

becoming free from......    a moving away from fear, anxiety, anger, sadness

becoming free to ......   feel joy, exhilaration, love, peace, patience

I have been experiencing both of those in the past 3 months.  Less fear, less anxiety, less anger.  More joy, love, peace, patience. Interesting how a word can re frame my life and my thinking!

I read the other day about resistance.  Resistance- we all feel it and try to interpret it.  Is it a sign that I am not in God's will?  Maybe it is just the devil at work.  He convinces me that the resistance itself is a sign that I am not doing God's will.  Example:  my job is tough and demanding, so it must mean I am not supposed to be there, so it must be time to quit and find a new easier place to work.  The devil does it with marriage- I must have married the wrong person, it is so tough and it wasn't supposed to be like this. So divorce becomes acceptable. 

Resistance just might be a sign that I am not out of God's will for me, but totally in His will and the devil is fighting me because I am getting closer to what God wants for me!

So I need to use the resistance as motivation to push through, through to the plan God has for me. To see it as a sign that I am heading in the right direction because the devil is running at me, trying to convince me to stop, change, go back.

becoming free is about feeling the resistance and shaking it off me like removing the shackles.  I love the song  by ""Mary Mary""  read the lyrics  ( watch the video  in case you don't know this great song   and look at the picture I made of this song in my life.

"Shackles (Praise You)"

Whoo!
It sure is hot out here
Ya know?
I don't mind thought
Just glad to be free
Know what I'm saying, uh!

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
(What'cha wanna do?)
I just wanna praise you
(Yeah, yeah)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
(Uh feel me?)
And I'm gonna praise you
(What'cha gon do?)
I'm gonna praise you

In the corners of mind
I just can't seem to find a reason to believe
That I can break free
Cause you see I have been down for so long
Feel like the hope is gone
But as I lift my hands, I understand
That I should praise you through my circumstance

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you

Everything that could go wrong
All went wrong at one time
So much pressure fell on me
I thought I was gon lose my mind
But I know you wanna see
If I will hold on through these trials
But I need you to lift this load
Cause I can't take it anymore

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you

Been through the fire and the rain
Bound in every kind of way
But God has broken every chain
So let me go right now

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you
[repeat x3]

Take them off
What'cha gonna do, yeah

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you

becoming free friday

It has been a fairly calm week- meaning just enough on my plate to keep me busy but not too much to OD me. I want to share two parts to my experience of free, first artistic freedom to experiment and then my spiritual/emotional freedom.

Artistic freedom: I am taking a online class from My Creative Classroom Mixed Media Workshop with Catherine Scanlon. I am trying some new techniques and new substrate.

This week was about image transfering onto a wood panel. I have not used the wooden panels before, so this was a new experience.  I really like them better than stretched canvas. I can stamp on it easily and as I mention next had to strip all my original layers off and it was still usable.  I used a 12x12 with a 3/4 profile.

I used the wrong medium and  did 4 layers and then had to scrape them all off and start over again. I used Liquitex Matte Medium, and it is not a good product.  Didn't really stick the collage items and didn't work very well transferring the image.  Switched to Ranger Claudine Helmuth Multi Matte Medium per the class instructor. I will use it again, loved the consistency and it worked!

Here is my finished project .  I call it the "Garden of Gethsemane" and is built around Mark 14:36  

"Abba, Father, he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup of suffering from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

 

I found a picture of an olive tree in an olive garden, as the garden at Gethsemane was an olive garden where Jesus went to pray for strength to face the trial and suffering ahead and be with God.

 

Here are some pictures of the base and various steps in the collage process.

 

 

Spiritual Freedom:  I have been spending a lot of time in prayer this week. My spiritual mother- my aunt Ruth  is dealing with her husbands lung cancer. They have been my hero's most of my life and it is difficult to comprehend his illness. They have been the most active, healthy people their entire life. They have always exercised, eaten healthy and enjoyed a wonderful faith walk with God. My Aunt was 10 yrs old when I was born, so she is like an older sister to me and the one who led me to Christ 18 years ago. She has been a sister in Christ and role model for me.

It is difficult  to contemplate illness and possible death. Although knowing where I am going , that I will celebrate with Jesus makes it easier to deal with and to recognize a release from this world.

This time in prayer has made me realize that Jesus is my lover and the more I pursue him the more peace, hope and love I have and the more I am able to bring Him glory in my life.

So my spiritual freedom this week is about a recognition of mortality, freeing me to be at peace and have joy no matter what is happening around me.

May God bless you and keep you this week.

 

becoming free friday

To be free, I have to question my beliefs about a  lot of things about myself.  One of them is what I call my self.  Can I call myself  an "artist".  Wonder why it is so hard to add that label to me.  So, let me look up what artist means first...

art·ist

–noun

1.a person who produces works in any of the arts  that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.

2.a person who practices one of the fine arts,  especially a painter or sculptor.

3.a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.: a commercial artist.

4.a person who works in one of the performing arts,  as an actor, musician, or singer; a public performer: a mime artist; an artist of the dance.

5.a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill.

Number 5 hits me- a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill.  That is where I fall down. I question my work, is it really a work dedicated to bringing God glory and honor as I say? Is it good enough, how does it compare to real artists??

Matt Tommey's book "Unlocking the Heart of the Artist" gives me some clues.  "God made you and me to be a "one of a kind" unique and memorable or "remember-able" creative creation. So, our creativity is a way that He has given us to capture those moments of worship and sustain them as a reminder or a memory to acknowledge that He is a "one of a kind" true, awesome, eternal, timeless, wondrous God."

I love that- my faith art is my way of capturing and sustaining my worship!  Yes, that makes me an artist!

God, free my fear so that I can walk  with the title "ARTIST."

This week we have been working so hard to prepare for our first craft show tomorrow. We sold so many items last Saturday at the "Praying in Color" workshop, that we needed to replenish our stock.

Thought I would show you what the studio looks like when  , she helps each of us!

Vera makes the prayer planks. Natalya makes the mini marvels and Deanna is the assistant. She helps us all.

I am responsible for the scrapbooks and canvas pieces.

Bailey gives us love and makes me take breaks to pet him and walk him! Everyone has a job in this studio!

becoming free friday

11 weeks into my walking "free".  Even though I have a lot on my plate right now ( full time job, babysitting my grandson 5 days per week, 1st craft show coming up, girls school and retreats, bible study and leading small group) I am feeling free.  But probably not in the sense you would understand.

I am free of a lot of anxiety about people and situations. I am free of worry and free of others expectations on me about me and who I am. I am trying to live for my lover- Jesus- my words and my actions to support my love for Him and to acknowledge Him as my Lord and Savior.  That is true freedom!

I am fasting from chocolate and salty snacks as a individual choice and as part of my small group. We are fasting for a family at my church that needs lots of prayers. So instead of comforting myself with my food, I am praying for them and seeking God in the situation.  It has drawn me closer to Him and consequently feeling more free! 

This post over at my one word gave me some good insight this week.

Similarly, the potential your One Word has on your transformation depends on your perspective.

As you develop ways to measure growth through your One Word, take the necessary time to examine your perspective. When you look at your character, what do you see: flaws that leave you hopeless, or gaps where growth can occur? Are you a work in progress, or someone already doomed for failure? Does your perspective on the places where you fall short make you defensive, play the blame game or attempt to escape the transformation process altogether?

Or do you see your problems through the eyes of Christ and your identity in Him? Do you believe the ability for personal transformation lies solely on your shoulders, or through the Holy Spirit working inside of you? Do you hope that your circumstances will change, or that you will change in the midst of your circumstances? Through which lens or perspective do you view yourself? The answer to this question influences everything.

 

I am trying to see the gaps in my character, not the flaws and I am a work in progress. As I let go of my anxiety and fears, He is able to fill in the gaps with love, peace and joy. I know my circumstances won't change, I must make the change to be free.

How are you doing in your one word? Are you ready to quit? Is it transforming you? I would love to hear about your journey. 

 

becoming free friday

The sun shines this morning! 

Lent began on Wednesday and I am choosing to do a 40 day Lent study. I am using  "Come Near to God"  a Lenten Devotional Journey written by John Wasson from Our Savior Lutheran Church, McKinney TX.  I have never done a Lent study or fast so this is a first for me.

Yesterday he discussed the significance of the number 40.  Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days in special communion with God, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and Jesus was tempted and tested for 40 days. So, I am preparing my heart for 40 days before Easter.

Today is "Going Without".  The practice of fasting. I have only fasted 2-3 times in my faith walk and am willing to do this as I want to develop a greater intimacy with Christ.  "One offers to abstain from something, particularly something important or commonly enjoyed, in order to loosen its hold upon their lives."   Our small group is fasting in honor of a family in our church who is undergoing major attacks by the devil- major health issues, basements flooding, cars breaking down, etc. 

So what am I going to give up?  It has to be something that I enjoy, and almost "have to" have, so I think it will be 2 food items- chocolate and salty snacks.  Each night I look forward to my "reward" my pretzels, or chips, so it will be something hard for me to do. It is another step on my becoming "free" journey also.

I want to run to him, not to food for my comfort.  I want to seek him with all my heart and be free of the ties that I allow to bind me.

"therefore, since we are surrounded by such a gret cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entagles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."   Hebrews 12:1

So how are you preparing for Easter?  What can you give up to be closer to Him?

I am free!

This past weekend I drive  950 miles to Ashville NC to attend the   "Unlocking the Heart of the Artist" retreat.  Matt Tommey from  The Worship Studio created this phenomenal retreat which is about healing the heart of artists ( musicians, visual artists, potters, basket-weavers, etc) so that the Holy Spirit flows through them to reach God's people through their God given artistic talents.

It was inspiring, informative, healing and got me in touch with God's plan for my life. I feel rejuvenated, and so light and free!  It is hard to put into words the experience.  Lots of wonderful worship, praise, prayer and meeting other Christian artists.  The food was fantastic, the setting beautiful in the Appalachian mountains, and the rainy weekend weather provided a beautiful cover of mist to keep us all focused on our experience with God.   The worship team played soul inspiring and uplifting music that got us in touch with our Father and his beautiful grace.

I had the chance to take a art class and it really inspired me to add more of God's presence into my work.

I am a grammy today - I have the pleasure and honor of babysitting my grandson.  He is a delight and blessing. He is now crawling!  

I will leave you with my bible verse and the canvas that sums up my weekend experience.

 

"in my anguish I cried out to the Lord and he answered by setting me free."  Psalm 118:5

 

art journaling or visual journaling

Wanted to share some link info today that should create a hunger in you to journal!

1.  Strathmore is hosting a FREE workshop series that is great .  Strathmore Online Workshops is the place to start. Some of the top journalers are sharing their secrets, tips and prompts.  Linda Blinn is the newest series, started 3 /1.  Great video of how to prepare your art journal.

2.  Balzer Designs is hosting the year long art journal inspiration blog.  I love Julies work and the artists she is showcasing are wonderful too!

3.  One of the guest artists Sasha Holloway has a informative post about the words we journal. Check it out!

4.  Some of my inspiration recomendations: 

    here are the bloggers I love and they inspire me to art journal:

    Mary Freeman A Splendid Adventure- a dear internet friend who loves Jesus and honors him in her work

Traci Bautista  of course the queen of art journaling- she keeps us up to date with daily prompts, check her out!

A Year in the life of an art journal  great prompts and inspiration pictures

Art Journaling ning network  of course there is the art journaling ning network, where you will find tons of videos, inspirations and links

 

So what are you waiting for?  Jump in- color, paint, write!  How is God loving you today?  make a page about that!

 

collage art folders

I have been having so much fun creating collage folders. I love how each one is unique. What a great way to use up all the scap paper you have sitting around.

I start with manila folders, cut them to the size I want and then collage them. I use Distress inks around the edges and add some stickers and stamps for interest and use my sewing machines to add some texture.  Final step is to use gloss medium to cover each folder . The medium stiffens them up.

I created a collage planner for myself and then my friends saw it and wanted one too. So here are the other 2 planners I made. Going to the store to have the holes punched so that I can bind them.

Enjoy!

1.  Integrity is my friends word

2.  holy is another one for another friend.

3.  my cover says creativity

see the front,  back, and a few inside pages. I added my goal list and my bible verses that I am working for my one little word in 2011 (free).  Some grid paper, plain paper and a weekly planner.

   

becoming free friday

" It is for freedom that Christ has set me free. Stand firm, then and do not let myself be burdened again, by a yoke of slavery."  Gal 5:1

God is setting me free, he is changing my heart and my mind to be able to live by his commandments, his rules.  This past week "free" has really been a challenge.  Family is very important to me and when things are not going well in my family, then I get worried and feel anxious and try to figure out how to fix things and feeling free goes out the window!

The story of Jonah is a good illustration of becoming free.  Jonah was asked to go to Ninevah to deliver a message to the people there. Now they were a people who had a reputation for inflicting physical and psychological terror on their enemies. So Jonah really didn't want to go and "save " them. In fact he wanted them to be punished for their sins, so he ran the other way, in the complete opposite direction!  However, God wasn't about to let Jonah off the hook. I know you all know the story of the ship, Jonah being thrown overboard and the "big fish" who swallowed him.  I did too, but I never thought about the story God was trying to tell us in this "big fish" story.  The story that we can't run from God- there is nowhere to hide.

"Where can I go from your spirit?  Or where can I flee from your presence?"  Psalm 139:7

God used all the events to get Jonah's attention and to save him from himself. This week, God showed me my Ninevah- a family situation that I wanted to run from.  And God worked through my pain to remind me how he saved me, how he loves me and that he has a purpose for my life. I am to be the "light" to my family. To show them forgiveness and love, no MATTER WHAT!  I am forgiven, so I must forgive.   The freedom and the peace that followed that conscious decision to forgive and love is amazing.  Funny how the one little word doesn't ever go away after the 365 days of focusing on it.  My first word was "the light" and my second was "trust" and now "free".  They all build upon one another and are like perfect fences in my life to keep me safe and in God's presence.

Thank you God for you love, your patience, and your presence in my life. Thank you for my one little word that I can use to frame all my choices, experiences and feeling.

free- it is becoming more natural.........

 

My pictures this week are of my new planner journal that I made. I collaged some manilla folders, used gloss medium on them and then created my own calendar and planner pages inside. I am off to get it bound today, so will add pictures later!

  Here are some pics of the projects the ladies did last Saturday at my open studio day. All related to their one little word.

Enjoy~!

 

becoming free friday

A great week of experiencing God's freedom.

My friend Berna sent me the link to Proverbs 31 daily devotion and it was all about becoming free. Check out the full devotion here Free by Lynn Cowell

"I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts."  Psalm 119:45

So what is a precept?

pre·cept –noun

1.a commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct.

2.an injunction as to moral conduct; maxim.

3.a procedural directive or rule, as for the performance of some technical operation.

Lynn Cowell describes free "as the state of being free or at liberty, rather than in confinement or under physical restraint. "  I so identify with that!  I want to be free of my anxiety and fear. I want to be released fromt he restraints of worry, doubt and fear. 

She wrote " Since God is not a God of chaos or confinement, when I follow His ways He brings freedom. He causes the things He has not called me to do, or to be a part of, to fade in the background. That is where my purpose is peaceful."  Yes, that is what my 2011 life is all about. Being clear on what I am doing, when and where and why I am doing, so that I choose what will bring me closer to my "free" walk not in the other direction. 

I am trying to follow his precepts ( commands, procedures, ways to live). Some days I do well, and others it is a struggle.

This page is from my art journal last year before my word became free...

becoming free friday

I love how God speaks to me.   I am doing a bible study on Jonah by Priscilla Shirer about navigating a life interrupted and I am understanding how free is the place God is taking me to and interrupting my life with!

If you are like me the story of Jonah was about the whale, and frankly I didn't really believe that a man could live inside a whale, so I just chocked it up to exaggeration. However, in this study, I have found out I missed the whole point of Jonah!  Jonah was a prophet in Israel and God asked him to go to a really far away town ( Nineveh) and preach to the people. Now this place and people had a horrible reputation and were feared by the Israelites. So when God told Jonah to go there he rebelled and went as far away in the opposite direction as he could go.  I think you know the rest of the story, but the point is his running in the opposite direction!  I realized that I have done that so many times in my life- God was trying to talk to me for years, and I just didn't listen, and in fact ran in the opposite direction also!  When I finally started listening ( 1992) my life was pretty much in shambles, - getting a divorce, moved across the county to TX for a job, so I was lonely and vulnerable. Over the next few years I became  a born again Christian, but it took me another 10 years to allow God to be the Lord of my life.  Only then did I begin to see his blessings, and he was able to take my life out of the ashes and use it for his purposes.

Now he has me focusing on being free- understanding that I am just managing my life, my children and Adore HIM Creations- I don't own it, ( He does). When I can stay in the place of manager I am free- free to live the life He created for me, free of my fears and anxiety and my children are free to become who He wants them to be, not who I think they SHOULD be.

My free canvas is full of butterflies- I love the symbolism- they start out as ugly worms and become the most beautiful flying creatures.

" in my anguish, I cried to the Lord and he answered by setting me free..."  Psalm 118:5

If you haven't been to the my one word blog- I so encourage you to visit and sign up!  It is so inspirational and helps in your daily walk in your word.

becoming free friday

I hope that you are enjoying your one word. I am beginning to see that God gave me free for a reason. Some days I don't like the reason, but my obedience to his leading is the path to peace.

I am doing the Jonah  Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer  and it is amazing how Jonah's story is a learning experience for me.  Most of you know the story of Jonah and the whale, and in fact  I admit I never focused on any part of the story except the whale. It sounded so far fetched that I just chalked it up to an embellished story in the bible.  As I am studying Jonah, I realize I missed the whole point of the story!  God called upon Jonah, a prophet, to go to Ninevah and tell them a message. Jonah didn't want to go, and in fact ran the other direction!  How like my life is that story.  Most of my life ( prior to my being saved in my 40's) I didn't listen to God and most of the time ran in the opposite direction. Like, getting married because I wanted to be married, to have children when I wanted to, leaving jobs for another one that looked better, moving to a bigger home because  I wanted it.  Once I allowed God to have access to my life, I experienced a lot of upheaval, but as I say, I thought my life was falling apart, but it was actually falling together. Together in the way God wanted, not my ways.

⁷ Let the wicked forsake their ways
   and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
   and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

 ⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,”
            declares the LORD.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 57:7-9

Becoming free is to let go of my self control, allowing him to lead me. Accepting his invitation to live a significant life, to PARTNER with him for his projects and his purposes.

thanks for joining me on this journey!

How is God speaking to you through your one word?