Made Me Smile

Sometimes the most random-est things make me smile.
Take this evening for example.
I was sitting on the Healthline bus, listening to my MP3 player and reading the latest edition of Somerset Studios.  The bus was stopped at a light just before an underpass.  As I glanced up, I saw a train engine coming  over the over-pass, which was enough to make me smile, right there.  ( I love trains!)  But, what REALLY made me smile was the long line of bright green with yellow trim John Deere harvesters that followed behind it.  A virtual farm equiptment parade!


I guess it doesn't take much to amuse me...

Searching for Inspiration

In my quest to create a God-honoring art piece for Easter, I have spent a little time surfing the net for ideas and encouragement. It has been exciting and thrilling to see the vast number of artists who are Followers of Christ.

Very Inspiring Video! 

After thinking and praying and reading over Scripture, I deciding to start my project.  I have decided to create a collage  which will depict "Christ on the Cross".  I've begun decoupaging the background with slips of the local White Pages.  This represents "the world" that God so loved that He gave His only Son... (John 3:16a).  Below are pictures of me beginning my project.

On Faith and Art

Oh, Hello there!

So much has happened in the past 4 months that I feel were blog-worthy, but I am still trying to develop the discipline to maintain blogging... so bear with me!

Last week I was asked if I'd like to contribute an art piece for an Easter project for my church.  Several artistic members of the congregation were each asked to portray an aspect of the Easter account from scripture.

My assignment:  Jesus is nailed to the Cross.  Luke 23:33-38. 
"33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”[a]
And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”
36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”
38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:[b]

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."



As I sat in prayer and meditation during the week I asked God to enable me to glorify Him by creating an artistic expression which would help the viewer reflect on Jesus' sacrafice and love for us.

As I searched the internet for ideas, I came across a website (one I'd placed in my favorites probably a year or so ago)  It is called "Create By Faith"  http://createbyfaith.ning.com/

The following video has inspired me to forge ahead with boldness in merging my faith with my art.
Hope you too are inspired by it;

Makoto Fujimura - The Art of "The Four Holy Gospels" from Crossway on Vimeo.

30 Days of Thankfulness; Days 6 & 7

DAY #6


"God thunders marvelously with His voice;
He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;
Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
He seals the hand of every man,
That all men may know His work."
~Job 37:5-7

                               Cara took this picture outside our apartment

Lake effect dumped a foot or more of snow on Cleveland, making it an adventure getting home.  Traffic was gridlocked and many commuters sat in standstill traffic for hours trying to make it home. Most of the agencies in the Federal Building (except mine) began sending workers home at 1pm.  As I looked out the window at the MESS on the roads, I knew I didn't want to be a part of THAT, so I was happy to stay in and work.  By 5:30 the snow had not let up and the traffic was still standing. Long story short - I made my way to Tower City where I picked up a couple of calendars at Borders and hopped onto the Rapid Transit.  I ended up only arriving home about an hour or so later than I normally would have. 

I am thankful for the snow!
Yes, I know - people in Cleveland seem to hate snow - and they certainly don't seem to know how to drive in it (I've always wondered why they didn't pull up roots and move somewhere south!)
But...
If you don't have to drive in or shovel snow, you can find it to be most beautiful.  As my bus headed up the tree-lined hill, I couldn't help but smile at how beautiful all of the trees were with their snow-laden branches.
The real challenge was navigating the snow on foot.  I had to walk in the street until I came to the front of my building. I reached out for the fire hydrant and climbed through a foot and a half of snow to the unshovelled steps, trying to feel where each step began and ended through the deep deep carpet of snow.

And then,

at last...

The door opens

Cara laughs at my snowy appearance

as the warmth of the apartment hits my frozen face

and I am finally...

HOME!

DAY #7
I am thankful for my big clunky boots and my long, heavy coat!
And my nice warm apartment.
And a cup of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows.

She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
~Proverbs 31:21

~thank you Lord!

30 Days of Thankfulness Day #5

DAY #5

"Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
~Psalm 126:2

I'm thankful for 2 crazy daughters  who make me laugh..

Last night, Cara and I decorated the Christmas tree.  Christmas tree decorating isn't complete without turning on the traditional Christmas Carols - Nat King Cole, 13 versions of O Holy night and some Chipmunks mixed in. 

Not last night.

Cara had her own "playlist" of let's say, NON-conventional Christmas songs.  "Santa Claus is Thumbing to Town" by Reliant K, Family Force Five's rap-version of "Twas the Night Before Christmas", a Scream-O version of Jingle Bell Rock by Thousand Foot Crutch and my favorite, Pumpkin Jack singing "Making Christmas" from the movie "Nightmare Before Christmas".  We had a ball rockin' out while putting the ornaments on the tree.

And we ended the evening with a cup of hot chocolate. With marshmallows!

30 Days of Thankfulness Day#4

"This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it. "
~ Psalm 118:24

Day #4

TGIM

That's right - TGIM - Thank God It's Monday!!
Why wait 'til Friday to thank Him?

Each day is a gift from Him.  And if Monday for you means up early and off to work for the start of a new week, you have an extra measure of thanks to give - because you are one of the 88% or so US citizens who HAVE a job to go to!

I do thank the Lord for the job I have.  I remember 10 years ago, I had been working temporary jobs for a couple of years and had finally landed an entry level mail room job in the government.  The pay was sooo looooww, I cried when I saw my first paycheck after deductions.  How was I going to send my daughter to college when my gross salary for one year was less than her tuition and room and board? 

But the Lord provided a way. Not only did Tiana attend and graduate from college, but so did her brother and sister right after her.

Soon after I began my entry level job (with benefits!), I landed a job with another branch of the government that was more suited to my skill level and I was able to more than double my income in a very short time.  It all started when I missed my bus one day and was late for work.  On the later bus, I met a fellow bus patron who I hadn't seen for a few years and we chatted.  She told me she had applied for this job and they were still taking applications.  In fact, that day was the deadline to apply for the civil service test.  She just "happened" to have a copy of the flyer with her.  I jotted down the phone number and the rest is history.  I sincerely love my job, even with the challenges (read - frustrations and stress) that come with it. If I hadn't missed my bus that day 9 years ago, I wouldn't be where I am now.  Tell me MY God doesn't work things out for the better to those who trust in Him! 

When people are curious as to why I love my job, I tell them it beats the unemployment line, and at least I work for the U.S. Government and don't have to be paid to carry a gun and have people shooting at me in a foreign land!  Most of all, it was, and continues to be, a gift from God!

TGIM!

(Lord,  help me to appreciate the Mondays as well as the Fridays, Sundays and all the days in between!)

30 Days of Thankfulness Day #3

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,  And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name."
~Psalm 100:4


DAY #3


I am thankful for the freedom of Worship.

I had a wonderful worship and praise time at church today.  From the brisk walk to church, to the sweet prayer time and diving into God's Word with my Sunday School class,  the Children's Choir, the Praise Team, Pastor's message and generally being in the presence of my church family as we worshiped Jesus Christ as LORD gives me much cause  to be thankful for that freedom.


An international publication - "Voice of the Martyrs" cited there were more Christians persecuted for their faith in the 20th Century than the past 2000 years combined since Christ walked the earth. On a Sunday such as this, there are many, many Christians who are forced to worship Jesus in secret.  Being "discovered" with even the possession of a Bible can, and does, result in everything from ostracization from family, bodily harm, arrest and imprisonment, loss of job, home and even loss of life.  Fellow believers meet "underground" in Iraq, Iran, China, Indonesia, Turkey, India, and many, many other places.


I am very thankful for the freedom of religion this country affords, that I can own many Bibles and attend church and speak the name of Christ without fear.

Lord, help me to appreciate the freedoms I've been given and the opportunities to worship all Your works  and Your name. That I am allowed to approach Your throne at any time and You are alway available to me. Never let me take that for granted.  Also, keep a burden on my heart to pray for fellow believers around the world who make up the "Church" -universal who are being persecuted.