Woman at the Well

I have been a little sporadic on the making of art with about 100 days to go. I hope to get back into my routine beginning today. With packing for another trip right before me, it is going to be work to weave it into my days.

I received an email with a painting of the woman at the well with the view being that of looking down on her as she spoke with Jesus as He sat at the well. I am going to try to draw/paint something to go with that passage of scripture. I will post later today, along with any new thoughts I may have.

Since returning from NY, I have seemed to have had my passion to make art lessen a bit. It is frustrating to me, and I make myself draw anyway. I am practicing my scales, I say to myself. God has gifted me with art, and I don't want to bury my talents, I say to my soul. Be still my restless soul, and rest in your Maker. Life crowds its way in, and the changes ahead warrant much new action.

I remember a quote from Mary Oliver about striving while making art, and it fills my mind. It is from her book, Blue Pastures. Here is the quote: " The most regretful people on earth are those who felt the call to creative work, who felt their own creative power restive and uprising, and gave it neither power nor time." artists need time and quiet space.....two things I am sorely lacking at the moment.

I'll see if I can post my drawing, but it will probably be happening at the end the week due to camera issues. Trust me; I am making art.

John 21

I collapsed into bed last night, having said goodbye to new, very special friends. I lay there thinking I had not posted any art for the day. The heat and multiple training sessions got the better of me. Plus, I took a several mile walk in the heat, and felt fairly sick afterwards. Walks in 90 degrees and humidity don't work with my AC loving body:-)

On the way to the airport, the driver gave me John 21 to think about. That, I did. I came home, via an all day plane trip, and read the whole chapter. The van driver's point was that Jesus was sitting on the shore waiting for the disciples with a fish dinner. Yet, He helped them catch a boatload of fish and invited them to His meal. We aren't told how He got the fish. He didn't need theirs, but He blessed them with tons of fish anyway, and fed them with His, fresh off a charcoal fire. He also invited them to love Him and feed His "sheep" - people all over the world.

It made me think how God uses each of us that love Him, including people like Peter who denied Him and wept over it. But, Peter ended up being an amazing witness of Jesus' love for people. Jesus invites us to be a part of what He is doing in loving others, It's kind of just like when He invited the first disciples to that fish fry over a charcoal fire. They were off fishing for fish, and Jesus redirected them in spite of any and all shortcomings. He didn't need their fish, but He wanted them.

I'll have to add a day or two onto my 365 day challenge due to yesterday's vacation day.

Here is a quick sketch.

Doodling

I was thinking about a mural today during the sessions on teaching ESL students. All the information was helpful, but my mind wandered to seeing if I could draw all the seaweed and shells, and then tuck the fish in at the end. It was fun to push myself in this way. I think the kids could do something like this with torn paper and paint. So hot here, but lots of good memories are being made. I am really enjoying everyone God has placed in my life right here at this conference.

Worship

Oh worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness. The Creator of the universe is worthy of all our praise, day and night. I am so thankful for life in His hands. Thank you, Lord for your tender mercies, faithfulness and lovingkindness. They are new each morning. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, bless the Lord, all that is within me, and bless His holy name.

This was a quick sketch from the morning session, and it is right in my Bible.

My thought for today: "Here is what I have discovered: Just before the Lord releases a new mantle for your life, He will often "dis-mantle" your old level of service. This dismantling is a good thing, for God is about the release you into greater conformity to Christ." - Francis Frangipane

Encouragement

I pray you have a friend who is an encouraging person, a minister of comfort and mercy no matter what the circumstance. Someone like Jesus in your life. Lord, help me to be a friend who re-presents Jesus in the lives of others. What a gift that is that we can be to each other.

My friend says to me, " Your soul finds rest in God alone, your rock and strong foundation, a fortress strong against your foes and you will not be shaken. your delight and your reward, your redeemer. Trust in Him completely. He will prove His mercy. Your King has crushed the curse of death. Everlasting, never failing." (Psalm 62.) My friend sits and listens, cries with me, lets me grieve and then get back up again in my time with the Lord's help. My friend prays for me.

Lord, help me to be that kind of friend.

Niagara Falls

Today we had a day off from the usual training sessions. After a fantastic church service together, we headed to the Falls for the fourth of July. It was sunny, blue skies and teaming with fellow tourists. The Canadian side was a little prettier with plantings and gardens. Still, there was plenty of time and room for lovely photos. My art for today will be a photograph.

The boat in the photo is called The Maiden in the Mist. I chose to walk on the Canadian side, but one friend went in the boat....along with thousands of others....450 at a time. Happy Birthday, USA!

Psalm 95

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

For the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.

Mosaic

We broke up into small groups today to brainstorm how we would share a Biblical worldview in any given lesson. I chose a lesson teaching mosaic. I'd share how important each piece is for the whole, just like each child has great worth and value even though they are part of the whole of humanity. Each person, like each tile, is unique, special and necessary. Also, when we work in concert with one another, we make art, beauty, truth as a whole.

We worship God, our creator, when we acknowledge we are His artwork, and He is intentional in creating us and placing us in the time and space we are in. We may not be able to see the whole of God's plan, but we can trust that He, as master artist, values each person, or "tile" if you will, He has created.