Thanksgiving by Susan L.

  The leaves are dressing in their autumn glory. The nights grow cooler. The days shorter. The last of the tomatoes beside the house are ready.
  The sunflower in the front yard has been picked clean by the various songbirds who think sunflower seeds are fine dining. It has produced over eighty red and yellow blooms providing plenty to eat and plenty to share. I managed to cut off one bloom with half the small, black seeds remaining so they can be planted next year for my feathered friends.
  It hasn't been the greatest year as far as health is concerned but I'll give thanks anyways that this cold will be the only illness I suffer this coming winter! I got the only cough medicine I can take on sale!
  I'll give thanks for my tiny kitchen even though it made cooking an eight kilo turkey extremely challenging yesterday. It pretty much took up all the counter space but it got done. The stuffing and gravy was made, bones roasted as well as some vegies for the pot of stock that sits in the fridge. My house still smells scrumptious! All that remains is to heat everything up at my mom's for a family gathering today. Except the soup. That's mine. Best cure for a cold!
  I'll give thanks that no one will catch it from me.
  This post could go on forever. There's so much to be thankful for: where I live and work, the gifts, God's provision, family, quiet times and busy days, Pumpkin, solitude and company, fresh air, clean water, as well as all the things Jesus brings into my life. Things like forgiveness, redemption, healing, restoration, and grace. Most of all He gives me a heart of gratitude so that no matter how tough things are, I can always find something to be thankful for.
  "Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God." 2 Cor 9:10-11
 
 
 
 

InkTober 2016 Week 1 by Susan L.

  This has been most enjoyable, taking the InkTober challenge. I am honoured to be in such talented company but, I discovered, after checking out on line what other artists are doing, that black ink lends itself to creating dark images. After catching up, which was done in this triple panel, I decided to use the provided prompts as a faith outreach opportunity; to shed a little light in the darkness.
  It's a good exercise for practicing listening as well. I lift the prompt word up in prayer, God is faithful to provide the inspiration.
  It's a nice way to shake off the monsters that appeared in art therapy.
  The cross was inspired by "hungry". Then came "sad" and "lost". The sea scene was created from the word "hidden". I don't know if using the fish symbol for Jesus to draw actual fish is perhaps the most respectful of ideas...I am glad the Lord has a sense of humour.
  The portrait of Peter, was prompted by "rock". It was the only image I used reference for. It was astounding how many online pictures there are of Jewish men. The only reason I looked was because different nationalities have different traits in their appearance.
  Being aware of using a photographed portrait that is someone else's work, I used the face of a young man with penetrating eyes as a starting point. By aging him and putting on the beard. It doesn't look anything like the original picture.
  I confess to cheating a bit by leaning the paper back before taking a photo of the drawing. It shortened his nose that for some reason seems to be an area I always end up drawing too long no matter whose portrait I am drawing!
  They say that most portrait artists include some aspect of their own face in the finished piece. I guess it's because it is the face we are most familiar with that it can't help creeping in. While my own nose isn't particularly long, it is rather slender (the only thing about me that is).
  Lord, thank You for Your inspiration as I have embarked on this journey. Thank You for providing the time to do each piece and the time I have had to practice and hone my skills.
  Mostly I thank You for the gift of art that is so much a part of who I am.
  "But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand." Is 64:8
 
 
 
 
 

Exploration by Susan L.

  Last night in art therapy I drew a bunch of monsters trying to put faces on the various anxieties that plague me. At first I thought it would be fun and decided to do them like baseball cards with images and stats regarding each "player". By the time I reached card number ten, it wasn't much fun anymore. By the time I reached number ten, I didn't need to do a pencil under-drawing because the image of the next one became clear as a bell before I'd even finished the one I was working on.
 They ranged from performance anxiety to the anxieties born in childhood like having actual monsters under the bed and being afraid of the dark. There was a ghost who whispered words of shame and self doubt. A judge added its opinions. There was one that corroded confidence...
  As Forest Gump says, "That's all I am going to say about that."
  I needed another team. "The Good Guys."
  The team Captain is Jesus. There are only five members on His team but they are tremendously powerful: Determination, Wisdom, Vulnerability, Hope and Grace.
  All of this came about because of last week's realization about how much of my time is spent resting and recharging in order to do what is generally considered "a normal day". "Normal" days exact a high price in energy for me. Most of what I do needs an equal time spent in refresh mode.
  Taking on anything new requires careful thought about the physical and emotional cost it will have. 
  It's hard to be okay with that.
  Lord, I need more grace in my life. I need help forgiving those who established the "rules" lives are to be lived by. I need help forgiving the what's and the who's who feed the anxiety crew. Most of all, I need help forgiving myself for being so darn hard on myself all the time.
  These things I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.
  "Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility." Zeph 2:3

Pity Party by Susan L.

  Pity parties always come with whine and cheese. So here goes. I am sick again. (Waaah!) Full of a cold that has taken over my head, chest, and patience. (Sniff. Pout.) I am beginning to wonder if it isn't something environmental. Should I get the air quality tested in the house? Could there be mould hidden somewhere that is causing so many respiratory issues?
  That's a scary thought. It's just as scary facing the idea I'll have another winter of ill health like last season. Lord, help me not be so sick!!
  Perhaps purchasing an air filter system might be a good idea. I'd already thought about buying one of the Himalayan salt lamps which cleanse the air of impurities. It's only a matter of finding one because I noticed a huge difference breathing the salt air of Nova Scotia.
  This is so frustrating!! (Snivel.) I have been eating better although the exercise fell by the wayside. I was too tired most days. I guess the body was trying to fight off this latest interloper. (Boo-hoo!)
  Meanwhile, I am going to try and do things a bit differently by taking double doses of vitamin C.
  A peppercorn a day swallowed like a pill apparently boots the immune system. My step dad is a copious pepper eater and rarely gets a cold. My co-worker is the same. I don't like pepper so simply swallowing a peppercorn works for me. That's one of the easier home remedies I've heard about. (Maybe I ought to cheer for that. Okay. Woohoo!)
  I think I should double up the multi-vitamin as well for a bit.
  I will pray for a healing miracle too!
  Oh well. It is what it is. Thanks for listening to me rant.
  A dose of cough medicine and I'll be as right as rain.
  "And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?" But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."" Lk 18:26-27

Challenge Taken by Susan L.

  I've decided to take the InkTober challenge. It means doing one pen and ink drawing a day for the entire month of October. When I Googled the challenge to find out more about it, I discovered it came with a list of prompts which makes it a bit easier trying to think about what to draw. Or maybe it's more challenging. How do you draw "hungry"? Hmmm. I'll be musing about that one because it's today's prompt.
  I'm thinking too, it will be a good way to explore all that ink can do. The tools used can create effect. I particularly enjoy using a sharpened twig dipped in India ink. It creates a lovely organic feel ideal for drawing images from the natural world. A paintbrush also adds texture to lines. I wonder what using the soft end of a feather would do?
  There's dollar store gel pens which are my tool of choice. I have an art pen that has a flattened nib like a calligraphy pen. Calligraphy is also ink art. I've also got another pen and ink set with a variety of nibs that has yet to be explored.
  Then there's shading. Cross hatching, where lines of the same thickness are overlaid in different directions, builds the shadows that define an object. Bold graphic shadows can be effective as well. There's a stipple technique that uses dots placed far apart or close together to create shading although it is rather time consuming.
  Using ink like watercolours is effective as well. The more water added, the ink becomes a lighter gray.
  And this is only black and white! I've also got coloured inks which could add a whole new dimension to the prompted subject.
  My goodness! All these ways to connect with one art tool. It's got me thinking about all the ways I connect to God or to find Him in my life.
  He is in all things.
  That means He is in every single thing that is done, or said, or thought, or drawn, or made, or hoped for, or mourned, or celebrated, or breathed, or laughed about, or cried over...He's in the quiet moments as much as being present in the joyful noise of worship. And so much more!
  He's a great big God after all.
  "Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name." Ps 97:12
 
 
 
 

Believing is Seeing by Susan L.

  In one of my posts about the trip, I'd mentioned how, by the end of the day, it felt like my brain was going to explode from visual overload. While waiting for the electrician to do his stuff at work, I picked up an old Guinness Book of World Records to pass the time. Having no hydro really limits what you can do but at least there was enough light coming in the windows to read by. The book contained a brief section about vision; that the human eye can see 10,000,000 colours under optimal conditions.
  Wow.
  No wonder I felt overloaded!
  I love it when the Lord validates my feelings and affirms the authenticity of them.
  My son and his wife were over on Saturday. He mentioned it's "Inktober", an artist's challenge to do one pen and ink drawing a day for the month of October. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or big. Small drawings are as acceptable as larger pieces. Phone call doodles, Zen tangles, stipple drawings, ink washes, studies...something...anything is good.
  I'd asked the Lord to help me get more art into my life. Taking on this challenge in a media I love working in...answered prayers. I am a couple of days behind so need to catch up. Which is okay seeing as I only heard about it on Saturday.
  I've a special sketchpad for it as well. It was given to me a couple Christmases ago. The paper has a stone coating. Ideal for receiving ink. I'd thought about taking it down east but it was rather heavy to be toting around in a back pack. It's what I will use for the challenge.
  Lord, help me find the time to do this challenge. Grant me ideas about what to draw. Help me not get too upset if I miss a day. In Jesus, name I pray. Amen!
  "He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me." Ps 55:18
 
 

God's Provision by Susan L.

  The last couple of days has been crazy hectic. Because my boss was away and I was working alone, things happen. Around one thirty, the power went out at the centre. It was only us. No one else in the building had been affected. There aren't that many windows so it was rather dark inside despite being the middle of the day.
  God's hand 1: We usually get some sort of small gift to give out at the Annual Information Meeting. This year it was a pen light on a cord. I'd tossed a left over one into my purse, not really needing a flashlight but unable to resist a freebie! Am I ever glad because it meant being able to go into the creepy, cobweb filled, damp and musty, stone basement by myself. All that was missing was a horror movie soundtrack playing in the background. My imagination was playing all sorts of tricks as I looked down the steep, railing free, creaky steps into the inky blackness beyond the light.
  I wasn't able to figure out which breaker might have tripped. I tried the main one but it didn't work. (Turns out I hadn't been firm enough with it. But then, anything electrical is better left to the professionals.)
  The centre had to be closed early for health and safety reasons.
  God's hand 2: We have an old, corded phone that hooks into the fax line so I was able to call my boss's boss, and the property manager to let them know what was going on. They sent an electrician to check out the situation.
  God's hand 3: The main breaker that shuts power off from the street to the panel was the problem. It had corroded over time being in the creepy, cobweb filled, damp and musty, stone basement at the bottom of the creaky steps. I am so thankful the place hadn't burnt down!
  God's hand 4: By shutting down all unnecessary equipment, we were able to get the power to stay on so Art Therapy wasn't cancelled.
  God's hand 5: The electrician was back yesterday to replace the damaged switch. I had to be there at 7:30 AM to meet him. (A nice young man who even bought me a coffee while we were waiting for hydro to come and cut off the power from the street.) Once the switch was switched, we had to wait for the electrical inspector, then hydro to come back and turn us back on. We were only an hour late opening.
  God's hand 6: Which has nothing to do with work. I pulled a brown envelope out of my mailbox. The kind that only comes from the government. Rarely do they contain good news especially if they come at an unusual time. My stomach dropped. Reluctantly opening it, and once past the first few lines, I realized this was actually good news! They'd done some recalculations so I was entitled to a generous lump sum payment to cover the shortages of the past four years.
  I had to smile. Not only had God been on the trip down east with me, He'd paid His way, too!
  He really is the God of all things.
  "So He (Jesus) said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life."" Lk 18:29-30