Portrait at JFK

I had fun today connecting with a middle school aged boy with autism. His mom was very open about the fact that he had autism, and he was doing quirky moves, especially with his mom. He'd throw stuff at her, etc. Turns out he loves to draw. So, I asked him to start drawing for me. He likes cartooning, and he made me several cartoons that were actually good. I could see he had good control and solid fine motor skills. So cool to see God's gifting in him!

My plane was really late to board, so I decided to get out the sketchpad and do a quick portrait of my new friend. What a nice interlude in the busy, hub-bub of JFK. I sensed his mom and I could connect easily. She had just returned from a vacation in London. She had that "just back from a European vacation" relaxed attitude.

I think if I do more of these portraits on the spot, I will add, "You are God's artwork" on the portrait before I hand it over. So, tonight, I celebrate connecting with this very special boy through drawing. Both of us love it!

My thought for tonight: There will be no "knights in shining armor" in God's kingdom; our armor will have many dings and dents. No, no perfect Hollywood heroes will ride to save the day; just wearied saints who look to God and, in weakness, find Christ's strength. This, indeed, is the essence of God's kingdom: divine greatness manifest in common people. - Francis Frangipane

Ironman and Grandsons

Ironman is really big with my grandson, Caleb. He sleeps with an Ironman action figure. So, for fun, today I sketched an Ironman cartoon, and he loved it. He put it right up on his fridge and told me I was a good artist. :-)

I don't know much about Ironman, and just recently found out there were two movies about Ironman. I believe my grandson only knows the cartoon version of Ironman. I didn't even know about the cartoon. Talk about me living in a bubble!

So, this one is for Caleb. By the way, he said God was stronger than Ironman. Good to know!

Calvin Joshua Sleeping

Since I played with my grandsons and walked Calvin for miles today, I am really tired. I just love baby Calvin Joshua. He even seemed to make eye contact with me and smile! He is a month old, so I am going to trust that was a real smile:-)

I am posting a quick sketch. It took maybe 1/2 hour and the cell phone camera doesn't have high resolution. But, here it is.

Also, my quote or thought for today - "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once they grow up."-Pablo Picasso

Lilies Continued

The purples are not showing up with my phone camera. I hope to get my camera tonight, and then I will re-post pictures of this watercolor. I enjoy negative space, and it reminds me of hardships and sorrows making goodness all the brighter when it occurs.

"When you have come to the edge of all the light that you know, and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly."-Patrick Overton

Consider the Lillies

Matthew 6:25-29
Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?

And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?

And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.

Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these.

I like this passage of scripture that describes God's intimacy with and care for us in the midst of our fears and toiling. Jesus is speaking the words in the passage, and He is showing us our heavenly Father's heart with His words. They should be soothing to our souls. Why aren't they always for me? I think some of my wrestling with anxiety has to do with timing. God has different timing than me.

Like when Moses didn't come down from the mountain right away. Timing. The people waiting for his return entertained their fears and made a calf of gold with which to cast their loyalty and fears. I think there is a lot in there about loyalty and betrayal and fear. We each have our flavors of fears that we need a big,loving God to help us with.

Well, back to lilies of the field....I will try to paint them adding the butterfly stamp and the verse.

The drawing took a while, so I will paint tomorrow. Here is the drawing.

Fishers of Men

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." which can be found in the Bible at Matthew 4:19. Chomno is visiting from Cambodia. He is a pastor, church planter, worker to remove sex trafficking in Cambodia, husband and father. I am meeting him this morning for the first time, but his hard work and stellar efforts precede our meeting.

Yesterday, I drew his adopted daughter. She is a girl who was to be sold for the sex industry. When I look at her sweet face, I am thankful she is not being destroyed like garbage in the sex trafficking industry. Today, I am drawing him with his fishing net he really uses in Cambodia. God has called Chomno to be a fisher of men. And women and little children. He has "caught" these precious people to be a part of their rescue. I am looking forward to meeting him!
Well, I had a lovely dinner with friends of Chomno. I really enjoy seeing what God is doing all over the world. His artwork, people, are on display in such a variety!
Wonderful time with kind friends.

Line one in Cambodian - I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19
and then - Jesus loves you.

Manna

"This is the little girl that Chomno and Kim recently adopted from a family in Phnom Penh to keep her from being sold. When he told us her name, I said, "Like bread from Heaven?" And he said, "Yes, she picked that name herself when she came to live with us." This little girl is absolutely full of joy. When she sings she raises her hands, and her whole countenance just beams." - My friend, Paula

I am attempting to draw her portrait today. She is a beautiful creation of God, rescued to live. Her story is "manna" for all of us who need a picture of hopeful life today.

http://www.cambodianhopeorganization.org is where you can find more information on all that is happening in the part of the world where Chomno and Kim are living.
Children are trafficked for the sex trade, for begging, to smuggle drugs and to provide cheap labour in neighbouring countries. CHO works namely in Poipet and other towns bordering with Thailand where child trafficking is a rapidly increasing problem.

Well, I had to stop for today:-)