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

Persistence - Creating in Faith

 

Prayer bookmark covers - Persistence

‘Never give up’, 'keep on going’ 'endure' and ‘stay on course’ are all phrases and words we have come across and can think of ways we may have applied it in our own lives.  There is that ‘something’ we do, despite the odds or what others are going to say (positive or negative) in order for us to reach the finish line and achieve our goals.  If we think about the times when we have given up on a goal or dream we see that it can be a culmination of the naysayers even words and thoughts from our own mouths that predict failure.  For some, though there is something they can draw on that is deep within that keeps saying ‘pick yourself up, start again, keep on going.

Being persistent can often see some go through unimaginable hardships for their loved ones, so that they may have a better life. There are people around the world who despite their circumstances and situation, through adversity and hardship answered the call deep within to strive for making the changes and the actions necessary.  They didn’t give up but kept going and their actions not only impacted their own lives, but the lives of those they came into contact with and even the wider community.

When I look at my own life there are many things I want to achieve.  I can see some things in the past where I either talked myself out of doing or allowed myself to be discouraged due to negativity of others.   One thing that has been consistent with me is my desire to bless others dispite how I feel, to see them use their talents and abilities and grow.  As I delve deeper as an artist I know that it is in the creative field that I want to work and see others not only be blessed by my work, but to find where they fit, where they can bloom and shine their light.  I love encouraging others to step out and find their passion using their talents and abilities, and I hope that comes across in my art and the things I post.

We will come across challenging situations or circumstances where we will  wonder whether it is worth persisting and is our time spent better somewhere else, but it could be like oncovering the gold that lay covered the more you sift and clean it,  the clear it is to see the gold that lies beneath.  So with persistence we can truly say we gave it a chance.  It says in Matthew 7:7 ask and ye shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened.  What do you need to do to open some of those doors?

..greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.... 
1 John 4:4

Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do... John 14:13

 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.  Romans 13:4

Prayer - Creating in Faith

It is quite apt that my word for the Creating in Faith series that I have been doing on a weekly basis is Prayer. Prayer for me this week has been at the very heart of everything I have been doing.  Many of you know that I have been sharing about my brother Robert who was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2009.  Recently the doctors had said that his cancer wasn't responding to treatment, it was all over his body and was now roaming free throughout his blood.  He went into hospital last Sunday and has been there ever since, he became semi unconscious  and wasn't responding even to his name, he was having problems breathing and as a result his mouth and tongue has become extremely dry, the Doctors said he only had a few days, and we were very fearful and sad at their prognosis and what the outcome would be.

All I have been able to lean on is prayer.  The word of God is my foundation, and the only thing with whom I can put my trust.  I know that miracles happen every day, our very lives are miracles and its something that we often take for granted.  We don't often see the preciousness of our existence, the treasures that we each have locked away and we often miss the most important things that matter in our lives. All we have been able to do is pray - the bible tells us to 'pray without ceasing'.  We have been pressing in, people all around the world have been standing with us in prayer, for healing, transformation, strength to get through what has been a very difficult time.

Yesterday Robert woke out of the semi-consciousness and was able to acknowledge is wife and family, we chatted and asked him questions and he was able to respond.  We were encouraged by these small steps and every day we look for more improvements to take place in his blood levels and general strength.  We are staying with him round the clock encouraging him, to lift up his spirits and to let him know that he is not alone.  I want to encourage anyone out there who is going through a challenging time either through their own health or that of a loved one that this world is bigger than we can ever imagine and we can't rely on ourselves, our thoughts or what others feel our situation is saying regardless of the 'professional status'.

Prayer really changes things - situations, circumstances and relationships and my sole purpose is to pray until something happens. I know God is changing me as I press in, as I stand on his word and as I pray for and with my brother, we all have something that we are going through and I even have room enough to pray for you.  If you have a situation that you are dealing with I would love to stand with you in prayer, email me at amanda(at)realityarts(dot)co(dot)uk.

I will keep you updated, for those who are praying for the family we ask that you continue to lift him, his wife and the children up.  We are taking one day at a time, making the most of the miracles we see today and let tomorrow take care of itself.  For now stay blessed and have a good week.

For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways...Psalm 91:11

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours..Mark 11:24

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God...Philippians 4:6

Creating in Faith - Understanding (Special Request)

Good fortune can fall on the just and the unjust in equal measure, we know not when or where disaster will strike.

This week my brother was rushed to hospital, they had found elevated levels of calcium in his blood, he hadn't eaten for 3 days and was very weak.  The doctors did their tests, scans, mri's and  have come to the conclusion that multiple myeloma is back.  After his bone marrow transfusion, chemo and radio therapy last year we thought there would be at least a 10 year gap before we would have to worry about it, unfortunately the reports say no.

I tried  to understanding why 'our family'.  Why mum with dementia, Robert with this cancer and my father passing 20 years ago with an unknown illness.  There seems to be so many that have been struck down, we seem to be in a generation now where our parents were when we were younger when we can count the passing of friends and relatives that we know being affected by some illness or the other.

After getting the news I felt washed out, what words of encouragement could I offer to him when all I wanted to do was cry, as I sat thinking the words that came to me were, ‘....the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much’ James 5:16.   It was then that I understood what I needed to do.  My tears cannot bring a cure but prayer can.  Despite it all we have to stand firm on the word of God.  There can be no compromises, no excuses, though at times our faith can be shaken by the very circumstances, I have found a renewed strength in the word.

I am not one who normally likes to ask for help, but the word says...were two or three come together ... I know that there will be strength in our prayers as we come together.  I ask you now to join with me in prayer for a miraculous healing for my brother Robert, and for his family, 3 children and wife.   We have to stand on the word of God, have faith and believe that we have the victory over defeat.  I would thank you in advance for taking the step for I know that God is working in all our lives and as we continue to move in faith,  a change will come and we will be blessed beyond our wildest dreams. 

As you go about your week, along with prayer ask God to enable you to understand the impact that your very gifts which you sometimes hide can, if nurtured, be a blessing.  Create a journal page or piece of art that expresses this.

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gifts of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind 2 Timothy 1:6-7

If you would like to see how I made the book mark pockets check out the post Bookmark Pockets

Come join the group - Creating in Faith, show us how you will be incorporating the words and scriptures and reflections in your art this week.  Step out and be a blessing and you will also be blessed!