Since starting this blog, I have also taken on the very large project of creating and administrating The Graceful Artist.  Due to the large amount of time that takes, I am going to take a step back from this blog for a time.  I am not abandoning the idea of it all together but just putting it on hold for a while.  Please follow my art blog at Wind and Honey and follow The Graceful Artist by joining our page on Facebook or by signing up for the newsletter.

The Graceful Artist

I would like to introduce to you a brand new online event - The Graceful Artist.  The Graceful Artist is a brand new concept  -  a collection of workshops presented from the perspective that our faith is enriched by our creativity and our creativity is enriched by our faith. 

Our first workshops will open February 1, 2014. We have a talented lineup of instructors who will share their gift and their faith with you through interactive video workshops. Through the online discussion forums, you will get the opportunity to discuss the workshop with the instructor and with fellow students and you can ask you teacher questions.  You can check out some of them here.  The workshops will be presented three at a time throughout the year.  So, there will always be something you can get involved in.

I will be teaching a workshop called Artful Prayer starting in February.  In this workshop, I will teach how to use an art journal to enrich your prayer life.  If that sounds like something you would like to pursue, you can find more information about the Artful Prayer workshop here.

The idea of blending faith and creativity is really an expression of what I have experienced in my own life.  They have each played a role in urging the other forward as I have moved through the challenges of life.  It is my prayer that this event will also encourage, renew, and blossom creativity and spiritual strength in those who participate.  Come check us out.  We'd love for you to join us.    

12 Years Later

Grieving with those who grieve

Easter Blessings

 

The Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.  May you be blessed by knowing Him this Easter.

***Does anyone know the artist that created this piece?  I found it in a collection of public domain images but would love to credit the artist.

 

Celebrating With Palms

Palm Sunday was yesterday and now the calendar would tell us it is time to move on from Palm Sunday kinds of thoughts.  But even today, on this next morning when there are so many things to be done, Palm Sunday thoughts continue.

 On that first day of Palms, the crowd shouted.  They celebrated.  They proclaimed Him King.

And then they turned their backs on Him.
When the crises came days later, they no longer shouted Hosanna.   They turned to Barabbas.  They turned to the easy route, the direction of the crowd.  They ran scared, afraid to speak up.  They gave up on hope.

We celebrate Palm Sunday year after year knowing all the while the end of the story.  We know the cross is coming.  We know the victory of the resurrection is coming.   And so we celebrate Palm Sunday with Easter eyes all the while wondering at the shallow perspective of the crowd when Jesus rode that humble donkey through the waving of palm branches.

We think less of them, with pious assurance that we would not have acted as they did.

Yesterday morning singing "Hosanna, hosanna, You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises     Hosanna, hosanna,  Come have Your way among us.  We welcome You here, Lord Jesus", I had to wonder at the glory of having been there that day.  Then I realized the people in that crowd with palm branches in hand, had pre-Easter minds.   Would I have realized the glory of the Lord in that moment?  Would I have had the depth of character and faith to stand on who I knew Him to be -- even in the danger of the events of the next week?

What about this week in 2013 and this day?  Will I have the alertness to recognize God and His Spirit at work and will I have the strength and courage to stand and act even when I cannot see the hope of next week?

Oh Lord, that I would... that I will.




*Words to Hosanna by Paul Baloche
 

Stopping the Goliath in Our Life

 

I Samuel 17 tells the famous story of David and the giant Goliath.  While the part of the story where David wallops Goliath with but a single rock is quite well known, the other details are not.

Did you know that David was about half Goliath's height?  Goliath was thought to be about 9'7".  The average height at the time was about 5' and David was considered to be shorter than average.  Yikes!

Goliath and the Philistines were walking around shouting insults and other things that were quite unkind at the Israelite army for 40 days!  Talk about bullying!

David wasn't even a soldier.  He was only there because he had left his flock of sheep to take some goodies from the kitchen to his brothers.  He showed up and upon seeing and hearing what was going on, he started asking questions.  What in the world is this?  Who is this guy?  Why are you putting up with him?  And What is going to be done about it?

Finally David told King Saul that he would get rid of this guy and his foul mouth.  How absurd this must have looked to Saul and the other soldiers.  David was young, he was small, and he was not trained as a soldier.

But David did have experience in fighting lions and bears who wanted to attack his sheep.  And he had faith.  He had a lot of faith.  In his time alone in the field with his beloved sheep, he found time to know his God deeper.

So when the moment came for David to put an end to the stand off between the Israelites and the Philistines, scripture tells us the David ran quickly toward the battle line.

What unusual task is God calling you to?   Is someone throwing verbal doubts your way?  Do you feel you are not properly prepared?  Take another look.  Perhaps God has used unusual avenues to prepare you for just this task.  I challenge you to run to the battle line.  You will not be going alone.  The Lord will be with you.

Merry Christmas

 

May we seek Him in this new year with the determination of the wise men so long ago.

I pray that you are blessed this Christmas with the joy and peace that comes from knowing the One for whom we celebrate.

Merry Christmas!

Elizabeth