Exodus 19:5

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. Exodus 19:5

My art challenge this week, #8, is something new in fibers.  I made handmade paper. 

I've seen it for years and thought it was a major process that had to be done with very special tools and equipment.  I have always loved seeing the specks of flowers and leaves in it.  A few summers ago, I took a painting class that met just before a fibers class.  I was intrigued by their paper making project.  I asked a lot of questions of students who were in that class.  When special screens and rollers were mentioned, I again thought it was out of my realm to ever make my own.  However, when my oldest son made handmade paper this past year in his art class at high school, he told me all about it and how easy it was to do.  I began surfing the net and found a great video that made it look easy and doable, even at home.  Materials like an old picture frame, old window screen, and a blender were things I had already.  I didn’t have to purchase a thing.  This paper is truly a special treasure to me, as I have bits of dried roses in it from a bouquet my husband gave me last Valentine’s Day.  I keep holding the paper, studying it, amazed that I really made it all by myself. ….a special treasure….It makes me reflect on that verse from Exodus.  It’s read by our minister twice a month (he reads the Ten Commandments each Sunday, either from Deuteronomy or Exodus, and begins with reading a few other verses).  I’m always in awe each time I hear (and read) that if I obey His voice, I will be a special treasure to Him.  I am uniquely made, just as each of these papers, handcrafted by God, (Psalm 139:13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb)….a special treasure to Him.  And thankfully, because of Christ’s shed blood on the cross (not my ability to keep the commandments -Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God) I am a special treasure to God….by His grace.  

Leviticus 11:20-23

All flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you. Yet these you may eat of every flying insect that creeps on all fours: those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to leap on the earth. These you may eat: the locust after its kind, the destroying locust after its kind, the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind. But all other flying insects which have four feet shall be an abomination to you. Leviticus 11:20-23

For my art challenge this week, #7, it is something you dislike, ink on text.  

I don’t like mosquitoes.  I chuckled when I came across these verses.  So good to know that mosquitos shall be an abomination to me.  No arguing here.  They are.  

Psalm 103:15-18

As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

And its place remembers it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting

On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children’s children,

To such as keep His covenant,

And to those who remember His commandments to do them. Psalm 103:15-18

Outside our house are numerous rose bushes.  In the spring, the buds come out in full force, quickly blossoming into beautiful blooms, all shades of pink.  I love pink roses. My wedding bouquet was made up of them.  I wanted to paint a pink rose for my art challenge this week #6, …favorite flower in acrylics.  I grabbed my camera and headed outdoors to take some pictures of them, only to be disappointed.  I couldn't find any nice looking rose as I had seen just a couple of weeks prior.  Most were completely gone.  The ones left were brown tinged and fading.  I relegated to perusing the internet for a decent photo of a pink rose to use as my reference for painting.   

This made me think of Psalm 103.  Things of this world fade….material things, possessions, seasons of life, and sadly, people.  But what is encouraging and comforting for Christians is God’s mercy….it’s from everlasting to everlasting.  We are blessed by His mercies each and every day.  So I smile and know that one of those mercies will be that my roses, yet again, will bloom in just a few short weeks (if not days).  But I cannot forget the verses that follow.  While I enjoy His mercies each and every day, I must also remember His commandments.  I have to live for Him, be a light for Him in this world, and obey His commandments….and teach this to my children.

Psalm 27:4 & 84:1-2

One thing I have desired of the Lord,

That will I seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord

All the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the Lord,

And to inquire in His temple. Psalm 27:4

How lovely is Your tabernacle,

O Lord of hosts!

My soul longs, yes, even faints

For the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 84:1-2

The art challenge for this week #5 is my favorite place, photography.

My favorite place is church.  My oldest and youngest boys sit with my husband and me in a pew in the middle, and to our right, our two middle children sit with my parents and sister (who is at the keyboard when I snapped this with my iPhone).  This is my view each Sunday.  As I stare at this picture, pure contentment washes over me.  During worship, I pray that God works in the hearts of my children, that our faith is strengthened each day, that we never will waiver or stray from Him, and that we will always desire and long to dwell in His house.