Be Joyful always; Pray continually!

I've been thinking a lot about prayer lately, and reading books on prayer, and yes, I've been praying.  It's amazing to me how God works when we pray.  One of the books I've read and I recommend is The Power of Surrender by Michael Catt.  He's written several others in this series, and they are all very good.

One point he makes is that in order to pray for revival, we first must surrender all to God.  That's something I'm working on, and have a feeling I'll be working on it for a while.

Here's a verse I'm memorizing:

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Pray on!

"Create in me a new and clean heart, O Lord"

PRAYER.  That's what I'm excited about right now, and that's what I'm going to be writing about on this blog.  I hope you are or will be as excited as I am about prayer and how God is working.  So, let's get going!

Over the past year and a half, a co-worker and I have been calling each other every morning during our morning commutes.  We call these our Prayer Calls.  When we first started, I have to admit that on some days it felt to me like we spent more time talking and griping about things than we did praying.  But, God has answered our prayers and the desires of our hearts because out of those first calls have come a true prayer ministry.  I can feel and see the change in me and my co-worker has talked about the changes she has seen in her own heart and life.

And, our actual praying has changed.  Now, we spend most of our time praying and many days end up sitting in our cars in the parking lot to finish our prayer time.  I also can see how our actual requests have changed, and how God has led us to pray for people and events.

God's Timing is Perfect:  Our Sunday School class uses the Masterworks series from Lifeway and the book for the first of the year used selections of Priscilla Shirer's book, Jonah, and Michael Catt's book, The Power of Surrender. Both of these books are powerful and if you haven't already read them, put them on your list to read as soon as you can.

Reading these books and others as well as spending more time with the Word as I've been journeying to become a prayer warrior has convicted me of things I need to change in my life, of things I need to surrender to God. 

Here's a verse I'm memorizing this year (with Beth Moore's Siesta Scripture Memory Team--If you don't know about this, check it out here.  I'll write more about it next week):

"Search me, God, and know my heart;

    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,   

    and lead me in the way everlasting."

                  Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

 Pray on!

Happy New Year!

First, I can't believe that it's already New Year's Eve.  This past year has been a whirlwind of events, experiences, and growth.  And, I'm looking forward to 2012, and not only because I prefer the even numbered years to the odd numbered ones.  Yeah, I know, that isn't really logical, but it's the fact.

Many, well, most of the blogs I read are talking about making resolutions, and I'm not going to repeat all that.  But, I am curious, do you make resolutions?  I make what I like to think of as course corrections because they are more reflections of what's working and what's not rather than an all out resolution.  I like making them now and I also do the same thing at the end of the school year in June and at the beginning of the school year in August.  I feel like those time frames give me enough time to really know what's working and what I've just not put enough effort in for it to be successful.

Also, this year I'm going to choose a word for the year, or at least for the first six months (until my June course correction!).  I was thinking of LISTEN, but I still haven't decided.  Are you choosing a word?  If so, what is your word?

One thing I want to do more of in 2012 is be more aware of all the blessings and gifts around me.  I'm working on concrete ways to implement this practice.  After all, they say you have to do something for 21 days before it becomes a habit.

My prayer for you is that 2012 will be the year you learn how to weave your talents, abilities, gifts, and creativity into your life in amazing and miraculous ways and that you feel the extravagant love of our Lord every day..

Thanksgiving and other thoughts

Happy Thanksgiving--almost!  My goal this month was to create every day, as in the Create Every Day challenge for November.  Well, things haven't been going as I'd planned, but the month isn't over, either.

One thing I have done is take another weaving workshop.  It was great, but a little frustrating, but good frustrating.  I learned a lot about my little rigid heddle loom, even though I haven't finished my project, towels, yet.  I am going back and fixing a mistake, which is good, but a little unlike me.   I do not have many perfection-type tendencies, but in this case, I decided that fixing the mistake, even though it means the whole project will take longer than I thought, is the best thing to do because I'm learning from the whole experience.

Well, at least that's what I'm telling myself.

I did receive a request asking what art supplies I'd like for Christmas present.  I haven't responded because I don't know what to ask for.  What a nice dilemma to have.  I'm leaning towards watercolor paints, but then again, maybe I'll ask for some more pastels. . .hmmmmmm

I am very thankful for the opportunities I've had to be creative in all different ways over the last year.  My husband and I were just talking about how this time last year we were carting my four-harness loom home.  At that time, I thought all my presents this year would be something I'd woven--HA!  But, I've learned about my loom and weaving in general, so I'm thinking next year will be a handwoven Christmas, and birthday. . .and anniversaries. . .Well, you get the idea.

So, what are you thankful for?  Be creative and show the ones you love how thankful you are for them.  I am so thankful for all the blessings God has given me over the past year, and I'm excited to see what's in store for the rest of this year and the next!  God is so good!

Do Not Engage or Fight the garbage with all your might

Things have been busy in my life, but that's no excuse for my not keeping up with posts.  My biggest problem, I think, is that I've been letting the garbage weigh me down.

What I mean by garbage is all the STUFF that happens around us; stuff that may be important to someone else, but is not really my business, not my mission.  Garbage is the stuff that keeps me from staying focused on what's important.

I have a sign posted in my office at my day job that reads:  "Do NOT Engage."  It hangs where I can see it just by looking up, but it's where most people never look.  Every once in a while, someone does notice it and will ask, "What's that about?" 

And, I tell them.  I tell them that I think we all have a mission--short term or long term--and that our goal should be to accomplish or complete that mission.  The problem is, we get off track and many times fail to reach our goal--accomplish our mission.  I tell them that I think of it like when Navy SEALS are sent out to do something.  No matter what, they stay focused.  If a vehicle breaks down, they keep going.  If they see something they could take care of, they stay focused.  They may go back and take care of that something AFTER they accomplish their mission, but they don't get off their path to go take care of something that is not their mission.  They do NOT engage in anything that would keep them from completing their assigned task.

And, then, I finish by saying that I want to be like that.  I want to stay focused on my mission, but things happen, so I need to remind myself, "Do NOT engage." 

Some people get it.  They nod and say, "Yeah," in a thoughtful way.  Some people do not, and just shake their heads and grin, then walk away.  And, I let them. 

So, I'm writing this post to get myself back on track.  This post is my way of reminding myself, "Do NOT engage" when the garbage calls my name and wants me to come out and play.  I have a mission and that mission is to stay focused on what God wants me to do by using all the gifts He's given me.  So, I need to get back to painting, writing, weaving, and creating. 

One way I'm doing that is by getting up just a little earlier every morning, so I can use 10-15 minutes to create before I leave for my day job.  It's not easy for me because it seems like I've been getting home later every day, which means I get to bed later every night, but I'm going to keep trying.

How do you find time to create?  How do you stay on your mission?  How do you resist the garbage?  Let me know!

August Challenge

This month begins Laurie Halse Anderson's fourth annual Write Fifteen Minutes A Day Challenge.  Yes, I know, you've missed one day already, but that's okay!  You can start today!

Why, you may be asking, am I writing about writing on a blog that's supposed to be about all the creative arts?  Well, yes, I confess, I am a writer.  But, I'm also a weaver, a painter, a spinner. . . get the picture?  Writing is something that is accessible to all artists, no matter what their medium. 

And, writing is an activity that allows you to listen to yourself, and to the creative whispers that, I believe, come from the Holy Spirit.

So, why not take the challenge?  Set aside 15 minutes and write.  Laurie Halse Anderson will be posting prompts every day and I've put in the links to her blog, so you can read those and more about the WFMAD Challenge.  We spend so much time listening to others, to television, to music, to radio, to white noise, why not take 15 minutes and listen to what's going on in your own head and heart?  What do you have to lose?  Let me know!  I'm taking the challenge and will be reporting on my progress.  I'm also going to be watching to see if I notice any changes in me as I go through the month.  What about you?

My secrets. . .

about art journaling.  Had you there for a second, didn't I?  You probably thought this blog was going off in a different direction, right?  Wrong.  We're talking art journaling secrets, and the truth, or the secret is, I don't really have that many right now because I'm new to the whole world of art journaling.  I've kept journals for years, and would start, then stop, because somehow it wasn't working for me.  I think art journaling is what I've been looking for--to write and draw or collage my ideas feels right.  So, today I'll write about what I know, but, who knows, maybe this time next year, I'll have a lot more secrets to share.

Just in case you're wondering, the inspiration for this post is from Connie Hozvicka.   She runs Dirty Footprints Studio and has a blog entry/contest this week asking people to share their art journaling secrets.  I love reading her blog, and I love a challenge, so here are my secrets.

One of my secrets for my art journaling is to start out with a verse or a quote.  No surprise, there, right?  Just looking at the name of my blog would let you know how much I love verses and quotes.  I try to begin my day with prayer time, and I've started keeping a rough art journal in which I write and illustrate whatever verse or quote sticks with me that morning.  I'm in the process of transferring one idea to a larger work, but most of my entries are still in the beginning stages.

Another secret/practice I've found that works for me is to be sure to leave at least one page blank in between my daily entries.  Many times I've gone back to add something or include something and it was great to have the space to add my new images and words beside my original work.  

Some mornings I'm not sure about what to draw or what images/colors I want to use, but I love the verse or quote, and I've gone ahead and made an entry with just the words.  The amazing thing is that as I've been writing out the verse or quote, a whole picture or image of what I can do with the words will come into my head.  

I love this part of art journaling, well, this part of creating anything; I don't have to be sure where I'm going, but if I start, the colors and images or the words and characters will show up.