John 15:5

 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

My art challenge this week, #9, is a repeated object, printmaking.  Ironically, printmaking is a method to repeat the same image.  My garden comes to mind right now, in the middle of summer, when brainstorm something that is repeated.  At the end of our garden is a twelve foot long grape arbor, with three plants, all loaded with young grapes, as I type. 

I had never seen grapes growing in person until after I met my husband.  Behind his parents’ house is a vineyard (where later a winery was built, too).  After we were married, my husband built us a small grape arbor and planted three grapes vines.  Each year, he prunes them back and I am always amazed that they end up full of branches and grapes. The original vine (trunk) is extremely sturdy and grows vertically.  The branches shoot off and grow horizontally along the pole.  Our grapevines never fail to produce (even though we neglect to water during droughts, and even some years forget to prune).  I’m quickly reminded of this verse (and many others) that say Christ is the vine and we are the branches.   The branches wouldn't be there without the trunk of the vine.  We wouldn't be here without Christ.  

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.  

Isaiah 35:5-6

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Then the lame shall leap like a deer,

And the tongue of the dumb sing.

For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness,

And streams in the desert.  Isaiah 35:5-6

The art challenge for week 4 is "A Turning Point in Your Life" in watercolor.

For me, a turning point would be when I went back to work after home schooling my own four kids for nine years.  A year into my new "season" in life, I was assigned to a care for a kindergarten girl who is blind, can't talk, and can't walk. I was very scared and overwhelmed in the beginning.  However, after working with her for two years, I've grown to love her dearly. She is such a joyful little girl who brings smiles to faces of all who know her.  Although she can't speak, she is very vocal with giggles and squeals of laughter. Because she has such keen hearing, her intelligence is brought out in unconventional ways.
This text from Isaiah 35 is speaking of heaven, the return of Christ.  One day, this little angel will walk and talk and see....but until then, she has given me a glimpse of heaven. Christ's love shines through her joy of life.

Psalm 5:11

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. Psalm 5:11

My art challenge this week, #3, is a word in clay.  I chose the word, "JOY" and made a pendant/bracelet.

In January, when we came back from Christmas break, we had a staff/faculty meeting where we were challenged to find a word that would be our motivator for the semester.  I chose the word, joy because of our ultimate purpose: to glorify God...Psalm 5:11 clearly shows how I am to be...always.  It's also what my response to all situations should be...that of joy. When people see me, my demeanor should exude joy. I thought a charm on a bracelet would be a great reminder for me.

I searched the word joy on Bible Gateway and found 192 (New King James version) references to joy/joyful/joyfully.   Here are a few that I love to read over and over:
Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

Habakkuk 3:18

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 

Luke 1:14

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

3 John 1:4

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Hebrews 13:17

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Proverbs 12:10a

A righteous man regards the life of his animal, Proverbs 12:10a

Week 2 for my art challenge: my favorite animal in colored pencil.  I chose my cat, Tigger.

I am very happy the Lord saw fit to create cats. I love them. Growing up, my family had numerous cats, and since getting married, we've had four friendly felines. Each time, I say the current one is my favorite, whether that’s really true or not, I guess I just forget about the past cats. Tigger isn't very cuddly with me, as he is with our daughter, but he has such personality that he just makes me laugh. He is very needy in that he yearns for affection first thing in the morning, and can have a conversation with his meowing that you’d think he really was talking to you. He does nothing productive besides hunting bugs (and then has stomach issues later because of that) and lies around and sleeps all day (and all night). Oh, the life of a cat. Thank you, Lord, for creating them.    

Psalm 127:3-5 (my Art challenge)

For the next ten weeks, I’m doing an art challenge, using a different media for each project.  I actually chose the ten ideas from a “30 Day Drawing Challenge” that I've seen around the internet, and tweaked it to fit my schedule and interests. I thought it would be fun to integrate it with my blog. The first one is “Self Portrait” in pencil.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

So are the children of one’s youth.

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; Psalm 127:3-5

While four kids wouldn't necessarily fill a quiver, they do keep my husband and me busy.  And yes, they do make us happy.  But kids are a huge responsibility in that we have to mold them spiritually. Reading the Bible, praying, and attending church is our foundation of our faith.  One facet of putting our faith into action, being a light unto the world, showing that we are Christians, is displayed on the field.  

Because our kids are in their teenage years, much of our time is spent watching them compete in sports, such as soccer, football, track, and baseball.  (Hence, my “self-portrait” is of me with my iPhone in one hand and my coffee mug in the other, sitting in my chair watching my kids). 

Playing sports has helped us teach our children godliness on the field (which in turn has helped us teach them how to act off the field).  Good sportsmanship is an aspect of playing a sport that has to be taught.  They have to learn how to act when their team is losing, when a ref makes a bad call, when they don’t do well, and when they aren't treated fairly.  Many car rides home have been spent reflecting on the game/event which has resulted in many discussions on how their (and our) behavior should represent Christ, and how we could all do better.     

Psalm 128:3

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine

In the very heart of your house,

Your children like olive plants

All around your table. Psalm 128:3

This past week, my husband and I were talking about what I would like to do when our kids are college age and beyond.  Right now, for them to go to the school district they do, I have to work full time in that district.  God’s plans have been different than mine. I thought I’d be able to get an art position, but He wants me with this special little girl as her personal instructional assistant.  Last year, I taught summer school and loved the change of scenery (older kids, actually teaching, different building).  I planned to do the same this summer, but mostly because I needed to renew my certification which had expired in January.

So, back to what my desire is for when I no longer need to work at the school.  I said to my husband that I love being at home, taking care of him, the kids, and the house.  Although our kids aren’t small, they still produce dirty laundry, make messes in the house, need help with homework, and need reminded to do everything else.  Well, two days ago, I was told that my certification couldn’t be renewed with a summer school position and that I couldn’t teach summer school without certification. 

It’s funny how God just gave me what I really wanted.  While at the time I was upset because I do love to teach and really want to have my certification renewed, I now look at it as a quick answer from the Lord.  I love to be in the heart of my house, making their favorite meals to be enjoyed around our table, and providing a home where they can come back to as their haven, their retreat. I love being a mother.  Happy Mother's Day.