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.

 

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.