Walk on Water

You told me to come
to walk on the water
with you
That is so strange
Yet I will do what you say
The water's so cold
And I am so scared
But I keep my eyes on you
and I...

Walk on water
Taking one step at a time
Keeping my eyes on you
Keeping my eyes on you

Take my hands off the boat
Surprised that the water is so firm
How can something so unstable be so stable
This is impossible
But I'm doing it!
I can...

Walk on water
Taking on step at a time
Keeping my eyes on you
Keeping my eyes on you

But then I become distracted
by the wind and the waves
This is water for goodness sakes
What am I doing?
Oh my...

Jesus!!!!!

He reaches out His hand,
why could I not trust
that when he says to come
I can do anything,
It doesn't matter what others say,
It doesn't matter that I understand,
It doesn't matter what I see or feel,
All that matters is
that I keep my eyes on the One who says I can...

Walk on water
taking one step at a time
keeping my eyes on Him...

Reminders of the Father's love

Every spring I am reminded of how much the Father loves me.  Several years ago, we were blessed with our third child, Michael.  Yet we never had the opportunity to see nor hold Michael for he entered the Presence of God when he was still in my womb.  What a heart-wrenching loss that was!  Soon after my miscarriage, the ladies in my bible study group gave me a magnolia tree to commemorate our little one.  We called this little tree our "Michael tree".  That tree was precious to me.  Not only did it remind me of my precious little one, but it also reminded of my childhood.  We had a huge magnolia tree in our yard which my sister and I loved to climb and play under.  And I've always loved magnolia flowers.  Well, for years I watered, fertilized and cared for this little tree.  It grew and grew, but it never produced any flowers or fruit.  That made me a bit sad because I LOVE flowers.

The last spring that we were in our previous home, God did something for me so beautiful and unexpected.  It still overwhelms me with joy.  For the first time, our Michael tree produced flowers.  Lots of flowers. Beautiful flowers.  What joy it brought to me!  What a wonderful gift from the Father.   It was God's reminder to me that He loves me and cares about the smallest desires of my heart.

The next year we moved into our current home.  Before moving, I had the desire to plant rose bushes in our previous home.  Because I knew we would be moving, I delayed planting any rose bushes, but I was planning to  plant roses in our new home.   You will never guess what God did for me?  He had the previous owner of our current home to plant rose bushes in the front yard.  So when we moved in this house, my rose bushes were already here.  Another sweet reminder of the Father's love for me.  So every spring, I walk out my front door and I'm greeted with a bouquet of beautiful roses straight from the hands of the Father.  Now that's Love.

May our Father bless you with sweet reminders of His love.  They often come in the smallest ways.

Painting of Magnolia flower from our Michael tree

Alecia

Waves of Texture

Here is the first of a serious of pieces I'm working on which integrates lots of texture (papyrus and other handmade papers with natural fibers) on sculpted watercolor paper.  I've been sculpting watercolor paper for about a year, as well as using watercolor paper to create interesting affects.  Initially, I started trying to make paper look like metal.  I came pretty darn close, I'd have to say.  It's fun looking at people's reactions when they realize that it's not really metal, but paper.  I'll have to post a couple of pieces in the future.  I'm really enjoying all of the interesting affects I'm able to create with water color paper, and natural fibers.  I'm thinking about adding some contrasting textures to future pieces like silk fabric. In the piece above, I used my background to provide a contrast to all of the texture in the sculpture.  The background has some texture, but the texture is a lot smoother.

If you want to experiment, take some water color paper, wet it really good, then bend and shape it into interesting shapes.  Let it dry and it stays that way.  There's your paper sculpture.  Experiment with the paper weight.  The thicker the paper, the sturdier the sculpture.  Have fun!

The Children Cry Hosanna

I've been working on this song and I 'd love your feedback.  I've recorded it acapella. Should I add music?  This video was uploaded thanks to my oldest son, Brian.  Teenagers are good for something!  ;)  

(The quality of the final song will sound much better than this)

 

My Declaration

I'm in the middle of a fundraising campaign in order to acquire the funds to have my book published.  See:

http://www.kickstarter.com/e/Z5YEF/projects/350625527/fear-lives-here-no-more-a-book

The last few days my fundraiser has been at a standstill.  I've received less of a response than I was hoping.  As I've been praying about the Lord's hand of provision for this project, the Lord has given me some words of instruction.  I want to share them with you, in hopes that it would be encouraging for you as well.

The thing  you desire will happen only as much as you trust me enough to obey my commands.  You will only receive what you trust me to give you.  You will receive the fulfillment of your desires only as much as you surrender your need for understanding and control.  Every small act of surrender puts you in a position to receive tremendous blessings--beyond your imagination.    When you trust me, you wait when I say wait.  You go when I say go. You ask when I say ask.  You give when I say give.  You leave the results to me, and have an expectation that I will do what I said I would do.

So I choose to trust God no matter what.  I will not give up .  I will continue to press on.  I won't let others lack of understanding, or lack of vision, discourage me.  I must press on.  I'll bring every doubt and fear to you.  I'll bring to you my confusion, and I'll ask for your instructions and allow you to cast the vision again.  I won't take matters into my own hands, trying to make it happen.  I will obey you.  I surrender my need to understand how, or when.  Kickstarter was definitely an act of obedience, but if this isn't your method of providing, I still choose to trust you.    How you provide is your business.  I must persist in completing the work that you've set before me.    Help me to do these things, by your Spirit.  Amen.

Yahweh

Boundless Exhibition
Transcends time
Transcends generations
Crosses continents
                              cultures
                    religions
                               languages
and every known barrier

Is  
      seen
      smelled
      touched
      tasted
and heard
                            by every creature

Our hearts rejoice when we recognize a glimpse of Him though our minds choose to renounce Him.

Always present.
Where?
Here.
Go Down.  He's Here.
Go up, up.  He's Here.
Try to Hide.  He's Here.

In the quietest, most tranquil, and uninhabited  place,  the water droplets sing and dance to His melody
Climb the highest mountain where frigid air whips everything into submission, His voice echos there
Go
    Down
             to undiscovered places where strange creatures make their home and the atmosphere itsself threatens to crush us,  His light pierces the darkest darkness
Propel yourself into outer space into places beyond the reach of human intelligence.  He's already there.
There is no place , that his presence can't be apprehended.

He is.

He isn't a rock, but the rock speaks of Him.
He isn't the ocean, but the ocean sings of Him.
He isn't the sun, but the sun points to Him.
He is inexhaustible in His expressions--in His display
His canvas is the universe--which by the way scientists say is expanding.

Just how great is He?  His canvas is too big for us to determine and it is a speck in comparison to Him.
It will take  no less than an eternity to see the fullness of His display.  And I'm not simply trying to be poetic.  This is reality.  Do you understand where I'm going here?

This God, my God, speaks.
He loves.
He whispers to my heart and  yours.

The same God who knows no limits, no restrictions, no weakness..
finds His delight in you.  And He wants you to know Him.

Take time to look at the minute details of His masterpiece. What is He showing you about Himself?  Look at the diversity of our world.  Marvel at it.  Embrace it.  Listen and look for Him.

Stand back and observe the vastness of the universe.   Stop and notice the mundane.  Look into your own eyes.  Study history.  He stamped a glimpse of himself in all these places.

Live life relishing every divine encounter,
and bow your knee to the One,
the only,
the Great,
supreme,
unchanging One.

YaHWeH.

Creative Journey Into the Light- excerpt from my book "Fear Doesn't Live Here Anymore"

       Since I was about 12 years old, I’ve been involved with and loved art.  I took classes, exhibited at school and competed in art contests.  As I grew older, I started pursuing other interests and my art became a hobby that I pursued only occasionally.  I always kept notebooks for sketching.  After having kids, I sketched even less, since I disliked having kids looking over my shoulder while I was trying to sketch.  Anyway, the Lord began speaking to my heart in 2006 about pursuing my art again as a part of the art ministry at my church.  I never even considered being a part of the team because I didn’t think I was good enough.  Many of the people on the team went to art school, and some are professional artists.  I thought, “I can’t do that!” In spite of my fears,  I made the decision to obey.  I began showing people my sketches.  That was scary!  Then I began working on a piece for the next exhibit.  When I attended the first meeting where we showed our ideas, I was terrified.  I haven’t been that terrified in quite a while.  I was so afraid that I could barely speak.  I showed my piece and got a good response!  Whew!

Since then, it’s been an uphill battle with my heart.  I’ve had to deal with pieces being rejected, or not liked.  There have even been pieces that I didn’t particularly like.  I’ve battled myself.  I would hold my breath every exhibit when I revealed my piece or pieces.  I guess I still do, to a lesser extent.  “Will anyone like it?”  “Does it meet the standard?”  Ultimately, I have found my peace in knowing that I sought the Lord as I've created each piece, and knowing that I’ve given my best.   I must trust that God will speak to whomever he has ordained each piece to speak to.  I must trust that He will redeem my “mess ups”.  My job is to seek his face, listen carefully and obey him fully.  It’s that simple and it’s freeing!

      This fear of not being good enough permeates so much of my life.  I’ve always been a perfectionist.  In school, if I made a 99, I was trying to figure out why I didn’t make the 100.  I didn’t then, and I still don’t like making mistakes.  When I was younger, I would be willing to take risks to do something I wanted to do, thinking that I would succeed and not make mistakes.  Over the course of time, because of many failures, I became afraid of failure.  I now understand that failure is a part of life.  I’ve learned more from my failures than I ever have from my victories.  I am able to empathize with others when they fail.  The Lord has also taught me that He is achieving something far greater than we can see when we step out in faith to obey him.  Even greater than that, God redeems our failures.  He turns our ashes into beauty.  Isn’t that what the cross is all about?  If I never fail, how will I know of his redemptive power in my life?

             The Lord is continuing to renew my mind daily with his truth.  I am learning to accept my inadequacies, and failures.  Actually, I'm learning to embrace my insufficiencies .  Though it is painful to have my weaknesses and failures exposed, I know that it is good for me to live in truth.  And truth sets us free.  I am freed to become all that my Creator designed me to be.  I am free to fulfill my purpose in life.  He made me with certain strengths and certain weaknesses.  They were put there on purpose.  Why?  So that I may completely rely on Him.  So that I might know, that I am truly weak.  That is reality.  That is truth.  I am insufficient, but He is ALL-sufficient.  Also, so that I may be united with others in His body.  He calls us to help each other in areas of weakness.   God wants no self-sufficient "lone rangers".  

I'm learning to  make myself available to be used by our great and glorious God.  He specializes in using the unqualified and weak to accomplish great things.  And His plans can't be stopped!

So I ponder the question: Why am I so afraid of others seeing my failures, my weaknesses, sins, mistakes, etc?  I care more about what people think about me, than I care about obeying God.  I want the approval of people rather than, God.  It all comes back to ME.  Let me tell you, the Father is exposing these things by His Spirit.  They aren't easy lessons to learn, but they are worth it.  And every time I think I'm over other people's opinions, the Spirit exposes another area!   I want a heart that is completely devoted to Him.  I no longer want to live my life as a prisoner of other people's opinions.  I no longer want to make decisions because I want the reward of the applause of people.  I want the greater reward.  

1.  Are you resisting obeying God in some area of your life because you’re afraid you will fail?  Are you willing to take the risk?  Isn’t God BIG enough to accomplish GREAT things through you inspite of your weaknesses, sins, and other insufficiencies?
2. Can you think of an area of your life where God revealed his glory through your failures?  What good came of this failure?
3. Are there weaknesses or failures that you've refused to admit?  Perhaps you've made excuses.  Maybe you simply think you need to try harder, or at least try a different method.  Admit, accept and embrace your failures.  Cling to the sufficient grace of our Lord.
4. Who are you trying to please?  A spouse?  Your parents?  Friends?  Colleagues?  Are you using their approval or disapproval to gauge whether or not you're ok?  Ponder this thought:  You are more than Ok, because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  Now go deeper:  God knows you completely, through and through and He loves and accepts you as you are.  Meditate and pray over these truths.

Meditate on the following scriptures:

2 Peter 1:3

Hebrews 10:11-14

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

John 15:5-8

art experiment

I was working on a project, and got an idea.  I've got this paper that looks like wood.  It has a wood grain look to it.  I decided to cut the paper into strips, squares and rectangles.  Then I glued them to a couple of small pieces of canvas.  I let it dry and then painted on top of it.  This was the result.  I LOVE IT!  It was one of those Thank You God moments. 

Felecia told me it looks like the D R (Dominican Republic).  I agree.

I've got a couple of new projects where you'll be seeing this technique.  Stay tuned!

But what should I do with my little experiments?  I like them, but they're not finished pieces of art.  Got any ideas?