Have a blessed day of worship in the house of the Lord!
Hi! Last night I had the amazing opportunity to try my hand at WORSHIP ART at our church’s downtown location, Out of the Box. This was a totally new experience for me and one that made me a little anxious! I have never done anything remotely like this, on a sheet, or with chalk! Ronnie had asked me about a week ago if I would like to do something. So I agreed. Well, I began studying what Ash Wednesday meant scripturally and also how it was portrayed in art. My orignal idea was nothing like this, the second idea was closer, but when I came up with this one on the day OF the event, I knew it was the one, even though I was hesistant to use it. I didn’t want to creep anyone out, but I think it’s the truth. It’s a little creepy, yeah, BUT, it is BOLD and it tells the story of sin and redemption through repentance. I never, in my wildest dreams, thought I would be doing something like this. If it were up to me, I’d still be hiding under the pew in the back row of the church! But as Jeremiah 29:11 says, ” I know the plans I have for you..” I agree…He certainly does!
This entire process has grown me spiritually and I will never be the same again. It’s not about me, it’s about getting up and making a stand for GOD, no matter what our mind, emotions, friends, or satan tells me. Don’t believe the lies!! They aren’t true! God will never harm us, it’s other people that do that. He only wants what is good for us, to “prosper us!” When I got up to do this, the room was dark and the spotlight was on the easel as I was drawing. When I began to draw, the Holy Spirit took over and I cannot recall parts of it. I had practiced this at home, 5 times! I was trying to complete it to a song that was 5 minutes and 34 seconds long. I never did it. That night, when God took over, as I made the last stroke on the sheet, the last note of the song played and it was done. I didn’t do it, God did it! He was right there IN me.
There were 45 youth in attendance, thanks for coming out and encouraging me! The drawing shows a figure in a cloak with a heart shaped face. Well, the face had previously been a skull ( before the imposition of the ashes) and the figure is holding a bowl of ashes. Around the figure are the 7 deadly sins. This picture shows the sins marked out with red chalk, which is the blood of Jesus. His blood covers our sins when we repent and ask for forgiveness. The face was then made red, by Kalli Rae , after we rec’d the ashes, to show Jesus’ love for us. It went from ashes to beauty! Just as we do, when we accept Christ and begin this adventure with Him! Believe me you, it IS an adventure!!!!!!!!!! I never thought I’d be doing this! God works in many ways and this is one of them! So, take it from me, the big chicken on the block, if you think God is asking you to do something, go for it! He will help you get through it! Which by the way, I’m no longer the big chicken on the block, thanks to HIM!!!!!!!
Thank you LORD! I love you so much!!!!!!
Hi! In our Beth Moore study on the “Beloved Disciple John” Beth talks about her relationship with Jesus. She says, ” Jesus makes me HAPPY! He thrills me! He nearly takes my breath away with His beauty. He is the unspeakable joy and love of my life. I think He’s a BLAST!” I don’t think she’s talking about physical beauty, but heart beauty…that He loves her so much that He would do anything for her, and in fact He did. He died on the cross for you and I.
Honestly, I pray that I never take my eyes off Him and I pray that I will always have a clear vision of who He is and what He has done for all of us and that I tell others about His great love for humankind. ALL of us. Not just Christians, but everyone. God created ALL of US in HIS IMAGE.
Isaiah 43:7 says that we were personally formed and created for God’s glory! How awesome is that? Genesis 2:7 says: God formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul!
So, maybe that guy I saw in the store was a reminder to me to keep my eyes on Jesus, or maybe he was just a guy buying beer. But to me, that moment was very real and the more I looked at him, the more my heart raced at the thought of seeing Jesus in person. All I know is that when it is time for me to see Jesus, I won’t ever want to leave His side.
Today is Ash Wednesday and I have thoughts of repentance on my mind. I am also taking a step of faith in doing a “live” drawing for our youth at Out of the Box tonight. So, my mind is pretty much taken up with thoughts of Ash Wednesday today. Well, earlier this morning I cleaned out our refrigerator. As I was doing this, I thought, Hmmm, how appropriate to be cleaning out the fridge today, Ash Wednesday. Why is this appropriate you ask?
Well, as I unraveled the mysterious contents of the refrigerator I began to realize how spoiled lettuce resembles my sins. It is discolored, wilted, slimy and stinky. Just like sin. Then I came across a petrified carrot. Let me just say that it looked like a fossil and was all hard and crusty. Yuck! My sin is like that too. If my heart is hardened, God can’t get in to soften it up. So, how do I soften it up? Well, when you add water to a plant that is dried up, it comes back to life, right? Perks right up! Well, Jesus is the Living Water and in order for me to receive that Living Water of Life, I must confess my sins and ask for forgiveness. Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance and a day to grieve our sins and ask for forgiveness.
In 40 days, we celebrate Easter, the Resurrection of The Living Water, Jesus Christ, Son of God.
I found this on Godtube, which is now called “Tangle.” It is a beautiful pilgrimmage to hear God during Lent. I love it.
After Ash wednesday during the weeks of Lent it is a common sight to see groups of men and children circle the island of Sao Miguel in the azores on foot. These pilgrims who are called “Romeiros” each year reaffirm their faith by circling the island on foot while chanting, praying , and meditating.For a week these men and children criss cross the island stopping at night for shelter and rest in the homes of charitable strangers that open up their homes throughout the villages of the island.The pilgrimage is undertaken as a form of penance and with hopes of seeking Gods guidance and assistance.
God has given Mary and awesome gift!
What is Ash Wednesday? Why do we hold a service? What does the service mean?
Ash Wednesday is the first day of LENT. It gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of believers as a sign of repentance. It is a time of looking inward, being sorry for our sins and a time of self-denial. A time of mourning. The ashes come from the previous year’s Easter palm branches, which are dried and turned into ashes. They are then used to mark the forehead with the sign of repentance, a cross in ashes.
The service is usually very quiet and funeral like.
Do YOU believe that God loves YOU and invites you to be His friend??
It is an invitation especially for you!
I have been watching a lot of YouTube videos on how to do Worship painting. This is where an artist or artists paint or draw to music or to a sermon, scripture, etc.. During a service. An interesting concept, but harder than it looks! Here is an attempt at Jesus in marker, pencil and chalk, in 10 minutes or less. This is a 2′ x 3′ drawing. I just kinda went at it to some music and this is what happened. haha. No masterpiece here, but an interesting graffitti like drawing.
1. Which one are you? The thief asking for forgiveness or the other one ignoring the plea?
2. Are you preparing yourself for eternity?
Just something to ponder on today.
I need more than 10 minutes to draw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!