Heart of Stone?

As beautiful as this natural formation is, I want a heart of flesh. God's been challenging me about His mercy, compassion and grace... do I have that? Or, do I have a hard, stony heart that doesn't really care one way or the other?

The Multi-Colored Coat

Joseph, in the Bible, was given a multi-colored coat. His father gave it to him as a sign of favor. That coat cost him almost everything except his life. His brothers were jealous of him and sold him into slavery. He was thrown into prison for something he didn't do. He was forgotten. Yet, in each place he went, he was given favor... and in the end he was placed second in command over a country. He saved his people from famine and certain death.

Joseph isn't the only one who has been given a multi-colored coat...



The journaling reads:
The multi-colored coat was given as a sign of love and favor...

You're a gem. -> jealousy
So uncool. -> pain
Today was not so great. -> agony
Can it get any worse than this? -> sacrifice
You should know this. -> hope
Today was a very, very happy day. -> redemption
Life is good. -> strength
Can it get any better than this?

Trip Pictures #4

Here are a couple more pictures from my trip. Aren't they beautiful people? :-)


A Shy One


Red Scarf Man

Trip Pictures #3

Here are some more pictures:


Beautiful Colors


Another Beautiful Woman


Orphan. Hopefully he is being taken care of now...

Trip Pictures #2

Here are a few more pictures:


Mom and Baby


Three Kids


Love the Hat! I had one person say it looks like a tea cozy, but I think it's classy. :-)

Trip Pictures

I haven't updated in a long time... things have been very busy, and I was on a trip overseas. So, Ill just post some pictures. :-)


Watching Daddy


Beautiful Woman


One of Thousands of gods

Christmas ATC's #2

Here are the rest of my ATC's. See previous post for an explanation. :-)

Christmas ATC's #1

These are some "artist trading cards" I did for a Christmas "swap". All of us created 25 cards at 2.5" x 3.5" then mailed them to one individual. She then mailed one card to each individual from each other person. So, I received 25 cards back, from 24 different people (+ one of my own). It was fun to do, and fun to receive all the different styles, designs, etc. back!

Here are a few:

The Fortune

The fortune said, "Deep faith eliminates fear"

Journaling reads:
I've been chewing on this fortune ever since I got it. "Deep faith eliminates fear." It was confirmation of a truth I'm learning.

Believing is Seeing - OLW

The challenge was to create something with the word Believe. Journaling reads: "I grew up thinking I had to see something to believe it. But now I'm discovering that Believing is Seeing! It's turning my world upside down..."



So much of what God says doesn't made sense to my logical way of thinking. He tells me to believe what He says even when I can't see it with my physical eyes, when there is no visible "proof". Many times it's a real fight for me. Yet, when I choose to believe Him anyways, I often do see the results!

The Gathering Place

This is an 18" x 24" canvas for my living room wall. I love having a place to gather people together. If you click on the picture, you will be able to see a lot more of the details.



Some definitions for gather or gathering:
to bring together into one group, collection, or place
to bring together or assemble from various places, sources, or people
to serve as a center of attention for; attract
to pick or harvest (any crop or natural yield) from its place of growth or formation
to wrap or draw around or close
to come together around a central point; assemble
to collect or accumulate
to grow, as by accretion; increase.

How awesome is that? :-) That is what I want for my gathering place!

Open Portal

This photo was taken at the Garden of the Gods, just a few miles from my new home! It's a beautiful place to walk. The formation is called Kissing Camels. I love the hole that you can see heaven through. :-) It's a reminder of the open portal between heaven and earth, the place where God pours His blessings out.



I am so blessed in so many ways!

Sealed & Crowned

I had made a layout for a friend for his birthday, but decided to do it in a different format. I turned it from a 12"x12" page into a folder. I've included both the inside and the outside. I added a bit more journaling. "Seal of Righteousness, Seal of Approval, Seal of Fruitfulness." I think he will enjoy it much more now.




To see the original, go to the Crowned in Splendor post here

Welcome

I'm moved into my new place. I made a clipboard that hangs on my door to let people know when they can come on in. I believe in the importance of words, and have done my best to make my place a peaceful, joyful, hopeful space for people to hang out! If I'm not available, I change the index card to something else.



The clipboard is covered with patterned paper, electric tape and a felt heart.

Clear Creek

This is a photo I took of Clear Creek. I have always enjoyed walking by this river (what's the difference between a river and a creek?), but am moving and won't be able to do it much longer. So, I wanted a picture to remember it. It has beautiful views along the way, and lots of cool sculptures to add to the ambiance.

Balance... but where is the passion?

Journaling reads:

Balance. Safety. Control.

But where is the passion?

I did this for the One Little Word challenge. I think that so often I get caught up in balance that I forget my passion. "Don't get to radical. Don't get to hot or cold. Stay in the middle." This is my reminder to myself.

Blow Wind Blow

Journaling reads:

Awake, O north wind, and come wind of the south. Make my garden breathe out fragrance. Let it's spices be wafted abroad. May my beloved come into his garden and eat it's choice fruit.
Song of Solomon 4:16.

Used patterned paper, brad, pipe cleaner & chalk.

This is a picture of where I'm at in my life. My garden (life) breathes out it's fragrance, the wind (spirit) comes, and as a result it's spices will be wafted abroad (internationally). It's been well tended and it's fruitful for my Beloved.

Hope

Journaling reads:

Hope

Did you know that not all starfish are symmetrical? And did you know that some starfish can regrow legs that have been broken off?
Did you know that God can take unbalanced and broken people and make them whole? The natural world mirrors the spiritual. There is hope!

I love that in God there is hope of becoming whole, no matter how bad or broken we are. He created us in the first place and is the only one who knows how to take care of us.

I used patterned paper, polymer clay, embellishments, ribbon, and bubble wrap. (Loved that starfish paper!)

The Butterfly Effect

I loved the quotes and the lavendar on this. The idea is that one little motion can set off a series of reactions thousands of miles away (a flutter of butterfly wings can build up enough power to cause a hurricane on the other side of the world). One person CAN change things!

I want to bring wonder and love and laughter into the world, and change it through them. :-)

Crown of Splendor

Journaling reads:

You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Isaiah 62:3 (There is also hidden journaling under the flaps).

I made this for a friend for his birthday. I used patterned paper, leather and polymer clay. I still haven't decided if I need to add anything else, or just leave it the way it is. I like the simplicity of it.