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.