the gaze of the soul

Another art journal page prompted by the Documented Life Project. (The challenge was to include fabric on this page.)  Here is how it came together...

The yellow circle is a piece of fabric that I adhered to the page with gel medium.  This photo is a favorite of my sister and I...part of my story...and I am currently reading a book by A.W.Tozer and that is what I journaled...I love to include on my journal pages notes from my reading that are significant to me...it is all part of the processing.  And it seemed to suit the photo.
Hope you are adding a little art to your summer days!  :)

'cause it's what I do

Art journal play...reflecting and rehearsing the Word of the Year (WotY)...because it's what I do...

Be on the look out for His wonder...and know!

into the depths

"The classical disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond surface living into the depths."
                                                         (taken from Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster)

It is too bad that often we (yes, even I still do) think of discipline as a negative thing...and yet I love the "call", the challenge, the opportunity that the disciplines provide for me in a deeper, more intimate walk of faith, with Christ...it really is just an invitation for MORE...more of Him!  And so, I accept!

Dive deeper!

what we see...

...or don't.

I am all about keeping my eyes open this year...SEEing God, His hand in my life...trying to be mindful to NOT miss a single thing that He has for me to see...all that said, lately I have been thinking alot about what we can't see.  Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is the assurance of things hoped and the conviction of things NOT SEEN...hmmm...knowing that there are things going on that we cannot see...and trusting God with that, even resting in that...and so, I choose to hope, choose to trust, choose to rest in Him one day at a time, often minute by minute.

Do you have a WOTY?

You know...a WOTY:  a  Word Of The Year.  "SEE" is mine this year. Past years have been:  remember, hope, good, know, joy, celebrate...I take a long time choosing what the word will be...knowing that for the whole year it will be a word to guide my quiet times, help my focus and perspective...that kind of thing...I always ask God to direct me in what HE wants me to "work" with...Afterall, He knows best what it is that I need in this walk of faith with Him...that is really what it is all about...right?!? :)  And once I know what the word will be, it is SO EXCITING how He confirms and incorporates that word (concept, theme) into my life and learning.  YAY Jesus!  So if you "see" :) lots of things here that have to do with sight, seeing, focus, perspective, vision, looking, eyes, watching...that's where I'm coming from...this is the year to SEE God, His Hand...to be mindful to keep my eyes open...to anticipate Him...I don't know about you, but I don't want to miss a single thing that He has for me!   2013-the year to SEE!

Keep Counting

The discipline of gratitude (re-inspired by AnnVoskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts) has been so HUGE...so helpful in my walk of faith as I continue to "train" my thoughts...conform my heart.  Whether I am confused or hurt or busy or just don't know what to think, the act of counting "gifts given" helps set things right...set me right...get my focus back on God-where it needs to be-and pay attention to His Hand in my life, in my every day.  This morning as I was listening to the song "How He Loves Us", the words: "we are His portion. He is our prize, drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes...I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way He loves us. Oh, how He loves us," reminded me that those regrets, confusion, hurts, etc distract me and do take time and energy to "maintain".   The mindfulness to look for God, to anticipate Him in the moments of my day helps me "seek the things which are above...setting my mind on things above" (Col. 3:1-2).  And so, I created this page in my April journal to remind me to keep counting...always giving thanks. (Eph. 5:20)

I filled the page with a list of everything I was thankful for.

 Then I put a gesso wash over that list and inked it with distress inks and a blending tool.

With acrylic paint, a stencil, and sequin waste I added texture, creating another layer.

                                  Finally, I arranged and glued in place the images and words.

"Oh, how He loves us!!!"  Hallelujah!