Creating in Faith - Reflections on the Series

Since July 2012 I have been posting a weekly post called ‘Creating in Faith’.  I started out taking part in a prayer journal hosted by Mika Diaz on Motley Soul and when it finished she asked me I wanted to continue and contribute to the group.  I began to write a weekly series taking a word and writing an encouraging message and insight around it.  I had also decided that I wanted to create what I call a ‘bookmark holder’, decorate it and it would hold a bookmark that I would write my prayer requests for that week.  

Bookmark holders

Here is the post to show you how I made them.  I wasn't sure how I would put them together, but proceeded to paint on them and fill them with imagery that spoke to me.

Each Bookmark holder has a bookmark enclosed

It has been great write the posts and have really allowed me to reflect and share on many things.

Thoughts, prayers and insights are written with the bookmarks holders

Over the year each week I wrote my thoughts and prayers, and I intend to continue to add to them and will be able to look back and see what the prayers were or a specific week, what transpired, the prayers that were answered and really see what other things will come up for the year. 

Who needs a reason to create a piece of art?

It has also been great to be able to create the book mark holders and I intend binding them together.  It will be something I can add to over the year once bound.

Experimenting with materials and colours

If you want to take a closer look at each of the completed bookmark holders and posts I will be putting a tab at the top of the page that will take you to each post.

What’s next?

I am stepping out stretching myself further and in the next couple of weeks will see the start of my video series called ‘Creative Sundays’.

In the same way as the Creating in Faith, posts I hope to give you a shot of inspiration, to get you on the road to creating yourself or giving yourself the permission to create be inspired or just play.

We can often find taking that time ourselves can get increasingly difficult with the demands of balancing life, family and work commitments.

I will aim to create a weekly piece of art and show you the process from start to finish, share some prompts, scriptures, encouraging quotes and uplifting music.

I hope you join me on my next journey and also share what you get up to.  Have you come to the end of a project that you were involved in, let me know how you got on.  Blessings

Stepping out of the Boat - Creating in Faith

Time to step out of the boat

Anything that is worth having you not only have to work hardfor it, but you also have to step out of your comfort zone'.  I know that the times where I have made a bigger effort the results are more rewarding because you can appreciate the hard work that went into it. As you look back you really see your achievements and the steps you took to get where you were to where you wanted to be.  

We can sometimes get complacent, too comfortable or even lazy when it comes to making those changes, but with perseverance you will see the results of your hard work.

You need to get out of the boat and walk!

It is easy to decide to do nothing and not make changes, cause change happens whether you decide to act or not. You can do nothing and not make any decisions and decide to leave things the way that they have always been, but do you think the way it has always been done is working for you?  Take some time to think about it for a moment.  Think about what your purpose in this world, if that is too scary, think about what your purpose is for the next week and how different you want it to be, what do you want to achieve this week that you never thought possible last week, what will it look like?, who will it effect, how will it really change your life?  If you want things to be different you have to move cause change is caused by motion, whether it is on a grand scale or if it is a little bit at a time, one day, one thought, one action at a time.

Stepping out of the boat, out of our comfort zone  requires us to have faith - which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen....  The bible also tells us that 'I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength' Philippians 4:13.  What things have you been sitting on that you really want to try, you've been giving yourself that excuse time and time again and keep telling yourself 'soon' or 'I'll do it the next time', next month or next year, and time passes and before you know it next year has come and another 3 went along with it.  I want to encourage you for 2014 where ever you are on your journey not to be fearful of what is to come, not to be afraid of what you can see, or what other people are saying.  Take a step out of the boat that you are in and have faith that with each step you can make that difference, that change.

Get a different perspective

I started this series of creating in faith posts last year July after been asked by my fellow artist and friend Mika Diaz on Motley Soul to contribute to one of the groups on her site, and now a year and then some has passed you can see my first post HERE. It has been a real journey, and I have come out after a year having grown.  I have gained new insight, which I am looking forward to be able to see just how far I have come.  I have created a series of creative bookmark holders, and pieces of art, capturing prayers, thoughts, desires and dreams, of which I know some have been answered, often as a result of changing perspective.  I will be sharing my reflections next week and share what I will be doing next as a project on my blog. Have a blessed week, leave a comment, let me know what steps you will be taking for change this week.

The Lord is my shepherd;  I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul... Psalm 23:1-3

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me..Psalm 23:4

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9

Confidence - Creating in Faith

Confidence

What do you know that you know, that you know to be true?

Earlier this week I had a mini revelation or understanding about my life.  It wasn't something now I think of it that I didn't already know, but it was clarity that shone its' light over an area of my work.

'You know that you know that you know to be true.....'

In my prayer life I have been praying for change, but we all know that change can only come if you do something different, taking that step each day doing something different until you get the required results.  The change could only be activated if I had the confidence to know that despite what things look like, something totally different than the current view is expected.

I am confident in knowing that if I want to learn something and everyday I do a little bit to expand my knowledge, put it into practise, review and learn some more, I can be guaranteed that in a year I’ll know more than I did when I started.

Having confidence helps me to know that in every situation there are several outcomes possible and if I am flexible in my approach and not ridged then it is possible to be able to gain insight and understanding from any outcome.

In our faith we have confidence that there is a living God who cares for us and wants us to live a life beyond anything we could possibly imagine, using the gifts, talents and abilities that we have all been given, working on those ones that need work, sharing, giving, blessing....

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength... Philippians 4:13

God wants you to be curious about life, to stretch beyond what society tells you is the norm and to keep asking those questions like a child who learns about his surroundings starts to ask the ‘why’ questions.  God’s word tells us to 'ask and you will receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be open in Matthew 7:7'.   There is no standing still, no static, or staleness but an excitement about each and every day, knowing that the difference that it will bring depends on our perspective and whether our glass is half empty or remains half full.

The Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught... Proverbs 3:26

What have you put your confidence in?

Creating in Faith - Mothers

As a daughter there were expectations that we had of our mother, without questioning, mum was always there, she was a quiet strength.  you always knew if you were in trouble that mum would help you out.  As I grew up I never gave the role of motherhood any thought.  The nights I came home late, out enjoying myself never thinking of how much worry I put mum to and her waiting up to make sure I got back safe.

Mothers - Book mark holder of reflections

On my 18th birthday mum says I walked into the front room and declared that as I was 18 I would be leaving home and going to live with my sister.  I never realized that despite thinking I was an adult, I was still far from it, and while she treated me as an adult, mum still saw me as her little girl.  Her role of worrying even though I lived in my own home never ceased, being a mother wasn't something she switched off.  I do remember her making a comment to something I had said, probably something to do with me saying "I'm an adult now you know!"  her response in her wisdom was to let me know that just because I am big didn't mean that she would stop caring, and how I would understand when I became a mother.

I understand now that being a mother to a 'just turned 18 year old brings up many of the memories from my own teenage years.  I have to learn to give him space, to approach him as the young man he is becoming, I couldn't quite imagine him leaving home at this age, and know that even when he is in his 40's I will still worry about how he is getting on.  As our kids get older we are faced with our own mortality and begin to question where and who we are, and what we will fill that gap that is left when they decide to flee the nest.  I try to continue to look at my life still excited about those things that I have not yet tried, understanding that physically there are things that I can no longer or even want to do.

In caring for my mother it would seem as if the role have got reversed.  Looking after mums needs and making sure that she is comfortable has been hard to get my head around.  I had looked forward to the mother-daughter talks that we would have when I became an adult.  I cling the the things that she can remember of our childhood, in an attempt to halt the progressive damage being done by dementia.

The role of a mother isn't something that can be taken lightly for you have young hearts and minds in your hand that need to be nurtured and equipped to one day go out into the world and have adventures of their own with the confidence in knowing who they are. We guide them in their journey and show by our examples our unconditional love.  Think about your relationships with your mother and reflect on the lessons you have learnt that you have passed on.

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you...let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.. John 14:24

Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him and he with Me..Revelation 3:20

Creating in Faith - Fruit, what do you want to be known by?

But the Fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22

They shall be known by their fruit

What is motivating you when you get up in the morning?  When you think of the life you are living what do you feel is your contribution? Are you contributing in a positive way to the world you live in?

Listen to the Podcast

This wasn't a question that bothered me much up to my early 30’s, but after that I began to feel that there must be more to my life than the one I was living, I had things I wanted to achieve, new things I wanted to try and places to travel to, I knew that I had to step up and make changes and my drive to be more creative couldn't be contained.

When you look at an apple seed, you don’t know how many apples will grow on the tree that the apple will later go on to be, neither do you know how many trees the seeds that are in each apple that will eventually grow and develop.  But you can be guaranteed that with the right conditions, temperature and soil nutrients, you generally should get a fairly good harvest.  Year after year the tree will get bigger and produce more and more fruit, and the cycle will continue with each seed that is produced.  There will be more fruit in its 10^th year than was in its 2^nd year.  That said you know that a plum tree will never bear apples no matter how much you talk to the tree, change the fertilizer you’ll get plums.  I give you this example because I think we are all blessed to produce fruit of our own, and there are the gifts and talents we possess that can and should be expressed into the. 

No two gifts are the same.  The gifts’ you have are like no other, think about the gifts you possess, the ones that come naturally and those that with a bit of extra study, training or practice can be put to use.  Identifying the fruit – the scripture says we will be known by our fruit so there is an expectation that we will be producing something from what we have.  What have you been sitting on for such a long time that needs to be express, and what about ‘that thing’ that you always promised yourself you would do when you had time, when will that be exactly?   

Our fruit ultimately should be a blessing to someone else, it’s no good keeping them to ourselves they are to edify and encourage others to grow and develop the gifts and fruit yet to be birthed.

Patience - Creating in Faith

Every circumstance and situation is meant to change and enlighten us to give us the gifts of understanding to face other situations.  In each we have to really ask ourselves what we are being show in the situation for the lessons and insights can be subtle, easily to see, or hard, we can understand it quite easily or not get it at all.

In all of it we need to exercise patience, just as if we looked at our current life, it took a process and a journey.  We had to open our minds to learning new things, taking the risk, step by step until we were confident.  When we look at a child learning to walk we can see that it doesn't just try for one day and then give up because it couldn't keep its’ balance,  It gets up day after day and keeps going until it can walk.  We too have to look at those examples long forgotten from our childhood, how we learnt, how we were encouraged not to look at the immediate, but to make another step and another until we reached our goal.  You can’t write yourself off, you have to look at everything from a totally different perspective and see where you need to have patience with yourself.

What is your perspective

As I have gotten older I think I have become more patient.  I have learnt to see how my reactions and responses can impact either positively or negatively to a situation. There are so many situations where we have no control over and all we can do is our part, and see how things work out.  I could not control my mother getting dementia, or the progress of the illness, but I can encourage her to do things that can impact on her health and well-being and that might slow down the progression of the illness. 

I also noticed how patience impacted on my creativity.  When I first started out as an artist I felt the need to complete my work in one sitting, I felt that I had failed if I needed more time, not realising that for my process I needed to give myself the time to reflect on what I had done and even leave the piece for a few days, weeks or months even.  I found it very hard in the beginning, but now after growing and giving myself the space no longer feel that urgency to get a painting complete, at one sitting and enjoying the processes. 

Patience - Bookmark holder filled with bookmark of prayers

For me the key is a combination of several things that will lead to the completion or final result. In confidence I will prepare myself for the journey, understanding that there is a process that I will have to go through to get to where I ultimately want to be and as I pick up new knowledge and insights on the way in confidence I will step into that which I have wanted to achieve.

Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established . Proverbs 16:3

A person’s wisdom yields patience;  it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense   Proverbs 19:11

Joy - Creating in Faith

After all that we have been through, I still have joy.....

I have been reflecting back over my life as another year slowly comes to an end.  As I look to the year to come and wonder if the decisions I made this year will bear fruit in the coming year.  Not one for making New Year’s resolutions I plan from around November the things I want to do or changes that I want to make, that way I am not setting myself up for a fall when you hit the second week in January and all your promises to yourself have been swept to the wayside.

Back to joy... there are many scriptures and references that talk about 'shouts of joy', 'singing songs of joy', 'being joyful', and it would seem as if it were a state of being.  When you look at the glass with water in it, is it half full or half empty?  I have always been a half full type of girl and tried to go into every situation trying to look at the positives that can be seen, and this I guess calls for a particular state of mind, but I think you also have to make a decision with the way you choose to see things.

My mother had a mini stroke twice this year, and after we came back from holiday and she had been in respite care she was in a really bad way and couldn't stand up straight and had difficulty walking, she also couldn't feed herself and wasn't really eating.  It was suggested by some that she go into a permanent home, but this is something that I have always fought against, for whatever reason the ‘residential home’ environment doesn't seem to extend life but I could guarantee that within 6 months she would have passed.  What was important for me in getting her back to some form of health, thee one to one interaction, the encouragement to walk even if she said she didn’t want to and for me the creativity, the laughter and joy would be the thing that would facilitate improvement.  I knew that if I was sitting down all day in a circular formation with other people who didn’t really speak and other people making you do things at set times then I would find it difficult and wouldn’t want to get up or function.  We know that if you have ever suffered from any form of depression, the last thing you want to do is mix with other people and you don’t want to get up and walk but cover your head under the covers, even though the walk will do you mood some good.  It would seem that there is no joy in this situation.  

What we had to look at was not what mum couldn’t do, but what she could, how could we support her where she was but to also retain and build on the strength that she had.  We had to encourage her to see that there was still something worth fighting for – to try and straighten her back, lift up her head, hold the spoon, walk up those stairs with encouragement all the way - to find those pockets of joy, sing a song, dance even though there is no music and as I found joy in the simple things she was able to find the joy within what she had, see the sun shining and get excited.

When we choose to be joyful it lifts or spirits, and brings about a sense of contentment and peace, opening up new insight and views to life.  Wherever you are in the world when you look at your current situation where can you see the pockets of joy?  Sometimes it is in the least expected places, but it is worth taking the time to discover.  Blessings

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you... and I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes... Ezekiel 36:26-27

  

 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. John 16:20

 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

Restore - Creating in Faith

1  the action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition: 

sight, teeth - dental tissue,  the process of restoring a building, work of art, etc. to its original condition:

When I think of restoration I often think of those large works of art having being damaged through age and the passing of time.  Methodically the painting is sectioned off and the original paint and chemicals analysed and compared matching the type of paint that was used all those centuries ago.  The paintings then need to be in a protected controlled environment where the temperature and lighting is monitored on a daily basis.  This restoration is not an overnight thing but can take months even years before it is complete.

In our busy lives we have gone through many situations and circumstances the effects of which show the tale take signs in the way we treat ourselves or the impact on our body and health.  If you were to put your life up to be restored what would need to happen, what would the process be like and what things or areas would have to come under constructions with the necessary scaffolding to prevent it from falling down.

We would need to call in for the specialist equipment, as unique individuals the tools we need to use to repair damage done by years of neglect would be specific to us and our situation.  Where would you start, as you hold up that magnifying glass to look at the layers that needed to be painstakingly scraped away to make way for new layers to be added. Are you willing to scrap back to the foundations to let the healing begin?

By spending time in the word, our lives can be transformed, we can be sure as we allow ourselves to be blessed .  As we rest in the arms of God we will be lifted and renewed.  We will have to take the time to know every inch of our own hearts - piece by piece, for the harmony and balanced will be restored to our life.  Give it a try! 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3 5-6

Present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12 1-2 

Strength - Creating in Faith

Creating in Faith - Strength

Physical strength is something that we all possess to varying degrees and we can build upon it through training and exercise.  Inner strength is something far different built up from the trials we have been through and calls on reserves from a place that at times can be tested to the limit, and we can find ourselves wondering if we can make it through, whatever the situation, ready to throw in the towel one minute to the next being able to see some rays of sunshine and hope.

I have had my inner strength tested to varying degrees over the past 15 years and seen the strength of others tested in different ways.  Having looked after my mother and shared her journey on my blog, there have been moments where I wasn't sure if I could cope, or if I wanted to carry on.  In April early this year she suffered from a mini stroke and then another one in July while we were away on holiday.  As she ventures on the road to some form of recovery I am thankful that she is still here.  

We have shared our joy, laughter and pain as we venture into still unknown dementia territory, as her main carer I try and find things that will make her life more comfortable and look at ways to make her environment safe.  At the moment she has trouble walking, and her vision is very poor, so we have to look at alternative accommodation and preempt things that may arise and try and make her remaining years as comfortable as possible. 

In March 2011, Barbara my fellow artist and best friend of over 30 years passed away suddenly, no warning, no sickness, nothing leaving behind a husband and 5 children.  Our worlds were turned upside down.  I admired the strength that her husband showed, whilst in his pain he was there for everyone else, always asking how you were, giving you encouragement or seeing if there was anything he could do for you.  He pulled the family together, he had to, he was tested in the fire, there were some very dark times and it seemed inconceivable that he would ever see a glimmer of light, but on 4^th October this year 2 ½ years after Barbara’s death he met someone that showed him how to laugh again and they celebrated their wedding along with family and friends.

On 2^nd June this year, my brother passed after fighting multiple myeloma for 4 years, I am still trying to be strong calling on the experiences that I have been through, it doesn't feel like he is gone sometimes, I sometimes shaking my head in disbelief that this could have happened.  I look at the strength that Frances his wife has to call on to be there for their 3 children, to carry on doing the routines that used to be shared.  I wonder how I would have coped, with every corner a reminder of the loss. 

I was at the hospital right before he went to be with the Lord, not ever imagining that it could ever happen, hoping that it was a nightmare or to be able to flick the switch and change the channel.  Robert had said to me in 1992 when my father passed away that we had to be strong for my mother and we were.  Through my tears on the 2^nd June I knew that I had to find the strength, I was not alone in my grief and as we shared our memories and experiences our pain was and will be eased.

God says that he will never leave or forsake us, and that we can do all things through Him who gives us strength and I must say that despite the past few years my strength has truly come from God.  There is nothing that we can do on our own; we know others who have suffered things that we don’t even want to contemplate.  I talk to my son talk about Robert and the times we shared as children and growing up.  I also tell him about all those who risked their lives, fought and died so that he could be free and in his soon to be 18^th years allowed to vote and to be able to enjoy a life where his views and thoughts can make a difference – the generation of tomorrow.

Whatever you are going through remember that you are not on your own.  There are others who are praying for you, reaching out to you, lifting you up, and hearing your story, hearing your voice.  You will see that you are not on the journey alone, for in our strength we will begin to breathe again one day at a time.

Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you... 2 Corinthians 13:11

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away... Matthew 24:35

Revelation - Creating in Faith

Revelation - Book mark prayer holder

Over the past few weeks I had been trying to push myself for change.  There are many things I want to accomplish and many changes that have to be made so that these things can come into fruition.  I shared in my post yesterday about staring fear in the face and acknowledging your feelings, and that is exactly what I have been trying to do!.  I am not and would never say that it is an easy feat, it isn't, it is not an overnight thing either.  There are somethings that I find easier to do than others.  When it comes to the practical sides of planning and sorting out others I find this much easier to deal with than if I were to do the same thing for myself.  

We can constantly be fighting to change how we think about ourselves and then out of the blue some random person says something and that opens a door up to our understanding.  Every now and again I do compare myself to those in my field asking myself "what do I think I am doing?".  I want to add value to my work and for it to be of quality, speaking to the hearts of others, yet as I type these words I am reminded that I first need to value myself and not sell myself short, embracing all that I am, all that I was and all that I am yet to be.  

This 'perfect', 'got it all together' person doesn't and will never exist.  We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and at some point we will all have a moment when we release an offering in the world that might be less than perfect - so what - we pick ourselves up, we have taken that important step, we learn from it and then we move on.  This is so much better than to not have tried at all and be asking yourself "what if".

As we delve into getting to know and understand ourselves better, we need to give ourselves a fighting chance and we will reveal the hidden treasures that are waiting to come out.  We all have treasure within, it's whether or not you feel your worth the time. My encouragement today is to spend the time searching, seeking, asking those difficult questions,  and most of all listening.as you learn to turn down the volume of your mouth and open up both of your ears to hear,  your brain will process the information and your understanding will increase.  Sometimes it will feel uncomfortable, but the benefits that will reveal themselves to you will far outweigh anything that you think you are going through .......

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change His mind.  Does He speak and then not act?  Does He promise and not fulfil? Numbers 23:19

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, Ephesians 6:14 

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me  Revelations 3:20