Artful Lent 2016 Week 2 -TRUSTING

TRUSTING, something so hard to do. Especially when you are to turn everything over in to Gods hands. Doing it is one thing for me but being comfortable in it so another.

I've been struggling and working at hearing Gods plan for me. Questioning what it is I am to be doing. So theJesus Calling "Experiencing God's Presence"  in Sarah Young study guides seemed a good place to start.  Several excesizes in Luke 5:1-11 is given to study.  It's a familar story. But this time I saw it from the shoreline. Watching, listening.Amazed at the trust the men, especially Simon, puts in Jesus. With what seems to be with no question.  Here it is:

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,^[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. ² He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. ³ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put outside into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
⁶ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰ and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” ¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Read  it againand imagining what Simon.was feeling, thinking when Jesus called him out.Wwhat kind of tone does Jesus use?   Why did Simom say " Go away from me Lord, I am a sinful man." ? Would you respond the way Jesus did?

Picturung what people thought of this sight, what happened before them, if you were ther how would it effect your trust  in the Lord? Are you able to do what Jesus asks whebn he calls you out? What would help you to have more TRUST in the Lord for what he has in store for your life?

 Hoping this inspires you. SUSAN

Stop back, I'll share where this verse takes me in my drawing.

 

Artful Lent Drawing: Ash Wednesday

Last couple Lenten seasons I have done Twisted Line drawings from journaling props from another artist, Tamara Peterson of Artful Story. This year, I'm going to attempt to find inspiration on my own. I'm excited to see where I am led. These little Zentangled inspired drawings are relaxing and I can reflect and think about the verse as I draw.

 

Not even sure where to begin, I though how about where lent begins, with Ash Wednesday. Questioning where this originates, where in Bible it might be referenced...so my research began. Courious why ashes on for head? What I found was it is not all that old of an observation and seems bases on one verse. 

In an article from Time magazine I found it said Ash Wendsday has been observed since about the 11th centry. In the 1970's , YES, 1970's when trends were going toward contecting the physical body with the spiritual body, as well as to open up conversations about faith.

In the article from Time,  Lauren F. Winner, a priest and assistant professor at Duke Divinity School. “You see that in the book Daniel in the nine chapter there’s a line about associating fasting with ashes, so ashes are associated with penance, which is the dominant theme of Lent.”

I often need a little back story to help me take in a verse. So my prompt starts with verse 2 of Danial 9 and goes to Danial 9:4

 

"In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments."  Daniel 9:2-4.NIV
 

Now on to the Drawing! I use simple materials to be able to do the prompt with in my lifestyle as a mom of four,wife,artist/self employed, bus driver etc. I recomend picking materials that you too can manage ans set yourself up for success. 

 

 

Again this year  I'm working on a 3.5" x 3.5" card weight paper. ( a smooth bristal works nicely), dollar store type machanical pencil, no sharpening needed, Sakura Prisma markers. Sizes .03,.01,.005. All in black. I LOVE these pens and have ok..many many. If your just getting started, the .01 will get the job done nicely. ( or any fine tip marker you have) Maybe toss in a litlle white eraser. Again can be found at dollar store.  I keep all of this and pre-cut paper in a 4"x6" plastic container.

 

I like a little boarder. It helps frame in the design. So I reflected and thought about the verses and tried to portray how it would be applied and interpreted for myself. I begin with a pencil sketch of some of the basic shapes and fill in as I go directly with ink/marker.

 

Looking into what a sakcloth is I learned it was from goats. Their coat is bulky and known to be VERY uncomfortable. My figue is kneeling head bowed in repentance. I feel like when lm brought to my knees, it is serious business.

As I added ashes, the challenge for me was to keep them light looking in weight, but grey/dirty looking as well as interesting. I included images of my sins. That of my tongue, clock: worried about time, not spending proper time with God/Bible/listening/ reflection  and my thoughts.

Image of Bible as  I should go to the Bible to draw closer to God, pray, confess and repent. Cross there for a number of reasons but a reminder that Jesus died for my sins.

 

I would love to have you join me each week and see where we go together. Even if you do not draw, take in the verse and share what you experience in the comments below.

 

blessings, Susan

Love your Neighbor is EASIER than thy Self

Honestly- I am still having trouble with even posting my image. I typed this all out...in my head, I agree.Knowing this is the way but I feel so selfish when I look at the images I drew. How I want to spend some me  time... who do I think I am? How can I do this guilt free? How are the chores going to get done?What am I thinking? What do I let go? 

"Love yourself first and everything else  falls into line."

                                                                           Lucille ball

Artful lent week 3 has me saying a lot of hmmm. James 2:8-9

"ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF"   As yourself, really as yourself? 

My Love Language is doing for others. Simple as that. But, I certainly don't treat myself, my desires, my time like I do my neighbors/others.I think nothing of putting my studio time aside to help at school, run here or there for someone/something. 

"But, if you are showing partiality, you are committing sin..." 

It is hard to think being kind to others, giving of myself, but not honoring the same in myself as sinful. What a mind game.
Going back to also we have to take care of ourselves, eat right, get rest in order to be our best for others. I know this in my head but...

My artful lent piece I put in the things I love to do, what make me happy and feeds my soul. BUT usually the first things I push aside as well. I want it to be a reminder that God wants me to be kind to myself like my neighbors and that its OK to do so.
" Love Yourself as Your Neighbors. "

A peak at my next one I am working on.

FOCUS on HIM-NO DRAMA NEEDED

Lent Week 2 Tamara sent us to Mark 9:2-10 And what Captured my attention was verse 7,8.

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud:“This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

How dramatic the scene set up is. This I think is often what happens to get our attention before we see God. Before we take our needs to him. Dramatic and earth moving things in our lives.

I tried to create Jesus as my focus too in my Artful Lent Piece this week. Whirling clouds above and everything else  leading the eye to Jesus.

Remembering to see Jesus in everything I do. If I do, I hope to avoid the drama God needs to get my attention. LOL

Temptations that Draw Me Away from Priorites

Temptations are all around us. How come so many of them come wrapped in chocolate! Now in the big picture I don't think this is one of the serious temptations. Though one I fall to to often....;)
This weeks Artful lent verse is  and asks us what keeps us from a relationship with God. This is were temptation comes in for me. Its in the for of the word  "priorities".

Week 2 for the Artful Lent Journal, Cherry Ashen Fargo  suggest that we prepare ourselves early on.To be armed with scripture verses that will protect us from the lies of the enemy and remind us of your purpose for following the leading of the Spirit to this place.     

"Go forward knowing that God will be there for you during this time. He will allow you to be tested but as you look to Him, He will strengthen you and provide you with a way of escape from your temptations. It may be challenging but it will be worth it! " Peter 5:10

I found myself thinking about the temptations that keep me from growing closer to God. Most of which have to do with time. In my artful lent piece I drew the path to God . All HIS natural beauty.Rays drawing the eye to the Holy Spirit. whom I need to listen for better. Along the way are what the devil tells me are my priorities. Time,my chores and responsibilities.Working with my kids on more homework than I can remember ever doing in my school years.Work and making money,chores like getting the yard work done. A bit of chocolate temptation and the all needed sleep so I can do it all over again.



All these things take me away from spending time in the word, in church and praying. I know if I spent the time doing these things all the rest would be better. So this week I am focusing on just that. God first. The rest will follow.

How will you put God first?

Drawing Nearer to God with Artful Lent

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

Psalms 145:18

2015 Lent is upon us. I am following and using Tamara Peterson's Artful Lent Journal prompts for my Twisted Line drawings (zentangle inspired) again this year.I found her a little over a week into lent last year and never did catch up. :(. I am determined and inspired to draw closer to the Lord through lent, through art. 
 Beginning our journey with ASH WEDNESDAY.

Ash Wednesday is the name given to the first day of the season of Lent, in which the Pastor applies ashes to the foreheads of Christians to signify an inner repentance. Anglo-Saxon abbot Aelfric (955-1020). In his Lives of the Saints, he writes, 

"We read in the books both in the Old Law and in the New that the men who repented of their sins bestrewed themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. Now let us do this little at the beginning of our Lent that we strew ashes upon our heads to signify that we ought to repent of our sins during the Lenten fast."

And Tamara had this to say to get us thinking:"Today take some time to remember who created you and what you were created to do. Slow down and be in his presence, listen to what your creator has for you today and for this journey through Lent. Then dip your hand in the "ashes" and join Jesus on this journey to renew your love and commitment to follow what he has in store for you."

Verse inspiration: Ephesians 2:10

HIS hands of ashes here with LEAVES & SUN representing for me NEW LIFE and a NEW DAY  which HE offers us FREELY. This helps free me knowing I get another chance,another day to do it better with God's love for me.

May you be free to feel God's love though all you do.