Psalm 23

'Want' is an interesting word. In this psalm it talks about not wanting. It isn't to do with not desiring, but not being in want. God knows what I need and makes sure that I have it.

It's just that sometimes what I think I need is different from God's idea of what I need.

At times like this, I must let go of what I want, trust that God knows what I need and go with it. It's not always easy. Sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side. Often we have to make the mistake of tasting it several times before we realise that, actually, what we have is exactly what we need.

So when there is something that you want, let God be the judge of whether it is actually what you need.

Tags

Working on the packs for the ladies who will be joining me on Saturday for the women's retreat. These are the tags that will go on the front of the info packages and will also act as place cards for the table.

Almost done now with the prep. Looking forward to the actual day now.

Psalm 23

I've started on a book on Psalm 23 to try to remove some 'sameness' from my pages. Here I've used colours that are not usual for me and hand lettering rather than stamps. The background is made with masking tape laid on in torn strips and then painted over.

I like the shape of the pages, too. It's funny how something as simple as a different shape or dimension can break you out of a rut.

I've also been busy making hand-bound journals for the women's retreat I'm leading on Saturday.

Blocked!

What do you do when you're blocked?

I don't mean that I'm not creating anything. At the moment I'm knitting, writing the programme and preparing the elements for a women's retreat, preparing to give my testimony at a dinner (aaaagggghhhh!), and writing some stories.

I'm not blocked completely. I just feel that my journal pages have become a little samey - I reach for the same media, the same colours, the same shapes.

I've reached the end of a particular part of the journey and not found the beginning of the next bit.

So I'm starting an art book on Psalm 23. I'm going to deliberately choose techniques and colours that I'm not that familiar with. I'm sifting through my books for inspiration and moving out of my comfort zone.

So what would you do?

Know when you are finished

Sometimes I look at a page I have been working on and know that it needs some words on it. This time I was staring at this and thinking it's done. There's nothing else I feel I need to add.


How many times do we continue with something even when we have gone beyond the end of it?

There is a need to know when something is done. When it has come to the end of its life. I know that often in churches programmes go on even though they are no longer effective. Sometimes it is because so-and-so needs to feel that their gifts are being used, or 'if we stop this there will be nothing for such-and-such a group of people to do.' Or even 'we've always done this. It's tradition.' Are those good reasons to keep on with something that has so obviously done its time and is now finished?

Yes, it can be scary looking at doing a new thing - you don't know how well it will work, if at all. You don't know if anyone will support it. But that is no reason to keep on with something that is over and done.

We need to learn to end things well.

Are you harvesting the crop you want?

If you want to grow oaks, you have to plant acorns.

Duh! Obviously, you say.

But we don't always think about this in terms of how we live our lives. We don't always think that if we look down on someone, then we will not be growing a friend. If we are mean and spiteful, why should we expect a crop of love in our lives? If we don't dream big, why should we expect miracles?

What are you planting?

Do you need to change your seeds?



And to change the subject entirely, hop on over to inspired.gumnut.net  where I was recently interviewed by Liz Powley.

Inspired People

Just a quick note to say that I will be the featured artist on Gumnut Inspirations on Monday. Go and see and have a rummage through Liz's website which is full of fun and interesting artwork.

Enjoy your weekend!

Busy, busy busy!

I haven't finished any new journal pages in the last few days. I finished my last journal and have been prepping a new one.

Along with writing the programme for a women's retreat and doing all the preparations that go with it, filling in my report for my homeschooling inspection, tracking down books for the next academic year, and writing a story for a competition, I have been answering questions for Liz Powley  for her Inspired People series. Look out for it in the next few weeks. And check out Liz's bubble-paintings, they're fabulous. So much fun and exceedingly messy. What's not to like? :)

I hope to get some more journalling done in the next few days - the pages are primed and ready. Just need five minutes to scribble on them now...

Illuminated Living

This page started out with a layer of tissue paper that had been used to package a scented candle. When I did my overpainting, I was left with a paler section that made me think of the glow of a candle so I went with that as my image. Closer inspection of the tissue paper revealed the words 'illuminated living'

'Illuminate' is defined as: to light up; to make understandable.

This made me think about how much light there is in my life and how much light I bring to others.

What is your life wattage?

Deep in the earth...

Had such trouble photographing these pages - the black really reflects the light even when you turn off the flash. Never mind...

I came to this page with a black background and groaned. I've done a few with black backgrounds lately - must have gone a bit mad when I was prepping the latest batch of books. I liked the golden yellow surround which reminded me of a sunny day. That got me thinking about the warmth of the sun working on the earth and seeds preparing to sprout up. I've been out working in the garden, so perhaps that's why my mind went in that direction.

Anyway, I thought of seeds sprouting in the dark while aiming to reach the sunlight. Much like when something new starts in our lives. At first it is all dark and quiet. The seed sits there while you ponder and prepare. Then the first root and shoot sprout. Everything is still dark, but you have some idea of what direction you need to push in. A bit more growth and you break through into the sunlight and can really get going.

What is sprouting up  in your life at the moment?