Adore HIM Creations

Praying in color for February 2012

I finished my Feb page and it is amazing what God has done in my life as I take the time to stop and spend time with him.

I talked about Praying in Color back in January 2012 here.  This is a year project that I am doing combining 2 faithart techniques. On the left side of my book, I am keeping track of my 1000 Gifts from Anne Voskamp  here.  It is a pleasure and a sweet time to spend thinking about my day and jotting down the gifts he has given me that day ( 3 per day). You can use Ann's prompts, which I did in Jan but in Feb I just gave thanks for all the events/people/things that happened to me each day and wrote them down.

So here is my finished February page- it is on the right side of my large journal. This month I colored it all in the first few days and then added all the black words and doodling each day. 

It is my praying in color page. I color with inexpensive colored pencils and doodle my prayers and it is amazing what happens to my brain.  The bible verse " Be still and know that I am God" is one that has been elusive for me, but I find that I am actually still in my brain when I am coloring or doodling and God is able to be with me and speak to me. Unlike when I pray- it is all a vertical litany of lifting this person up or telling Him what I would like him to do.

Have you tried doodling/praying in color?  The book "Praying in Color" is a great place to start. 

I am showing you my blank March pages, it is so interesting to see the blank picture and then when it is done I am reminded of how much time I spent with God and what I was praying for and about.

 

Praying in Color

My children are learning this technique and I wanted to share their journals with you also.

Natalya has committed to doing the 1000 gifts and praying in color also. It really showcases her extraordinary doodling skills and her special heart for God.

 

 

Next is Deanna, she decided to stick with a blue color scheme.

 

Vera is last but not least. She is working in a small moleskin journal.

 

Walk with HIM Wednesdays

I have been faithful this month in my journaling project. This is the post where I talk about this new project and I am thankful to say that I completed the month of January. It is a dual project- that combines counting 1000 gifts in 2012 and praying in color.

First I have to to talk about my book. For the first time in my art life I purchased a large size ( 15 1/2 x 11) and it is made from handmade papers from India. I found it at Hobby Lobby and used my 40% off coupon. It was an extravagant purchase for me. I wanted to honor God with my time and use the best paper as a gift to him. So the plan was to follow Ann Voskamps "1000 Gifts" project and list my gifts on the left side of the page spread and then do my praying in color, or tangle prayers on the right side. This page was completed using a stencil as the base for the design and then I used inexpensive colored pencils.

Here is the picture of the original  design.

Each night I prayed and doodled, journaled, colored. Amazingly, I felt closer to him and was able to listen as my hand was preoccupied and I was focusing on Him.

Have you read " Praying in Color" ?  If not, I highly recommend the  book. 

It talks about how we try to "be still and listen to God", but our bodies get in our way. "If I permit my body to move-even just the movement of my hand, fingers, and arm with pen and marker- then my bones and muscles are content. I can be calm and relaxed enough to find inner stillness and to pay attention.  In general, it's not my body that needs to be stilled; its my mind."  page 44  Praying in color is a new prayer form that gives God an invitation and a new door to penetrate into the locked cells of my heart and mind. 

If you are looking for a way to energize your prayer life, or a different way to pray, then come along with me and try this!

Each month I will be sharing my pages and how it is going.  My goal is to do a page a month for the entire year.

 

 

Walk with HIM Wednesdays

this will be a new weekly feature on my blog. It is based on the book "one thousand gifts"  by Ann Voskamp. If you haven't been to her site, or read the book, I highly recommend it.

Ann has a challenge with her book and at her blog about the joy dare for 2012.

" Snap a photo or record 3 gifts per day. Count One Thousand gifts in 2012: Discover Joy!"

I am doing that in a different way. My friend Connie  ( check her blog today about hearts and her decorations!) has been keeping her one thousand gifts record for a few months. She is such an inspiration!   I saw how she was doing it about 2 weeks ago and realized that was a good way for me to follow and capture my gifts from God.

I was able to purchase a handmade watercolor book 11 x 15 3/4 at Hobby Lobby with my gift card from my son. I debated on whether I should keep the book after I bought it, I had never worked in such a large size!  However, since I got 40% off the price, I decided to keep it. Once I opened the book I realized that is was a gift to me from God. the handmade papers were so decadent and luscious that I was anxious to work in it.

So, I set it up like Connie's book.  Right page for my Tangle Prayers and left side for journaling my 1000 gifts in 2012.  So far it is a delight to spend time with God each day doodling, praying and contemplating His gifts in my life.

Here are some pictures of the cover and the inside.   I spent about 3 hours filling 12 pages by tracing with a perm marker a stencil for each month. 

Each week I will share my tangle prayer page and you can see the progress! This month I am using colored pencils ( Crayola ones are great and inexpensive). 

I hope you check out the links and  discover your way to spend time with God and counting your gifts!