The White Buffalo Christian Art Gallery

An amazing thing is happening in my life. Two of my paintings are being featured in the opening exhibit of the White Buffalo Art Gallery here in Abilene. The gallery opened last night. This was not just a grand opening-it was a huge fun incredible evening. The gallery was open, with live music on an outdoor stage, incredible food, as well as a sidewalk exhibit. I want to thank those of you who came out for helping make it such a great evening.

This is so crazy to me on so many levels. I first put a paintbrush to canvas last September so I've only been doing this since then. It's taken a lot of persuading on the part of both God and my mentors to convince me that I am indeed an artist. My whole life my twin brother Randy has been the artist in our family. And he is an artist and he's amazing. I was never encouraged in that direction by either of my parents I suppose because Randy so excelled in that area. In fact, I would go as far as saying I became invisible in any creative realm. I was the functioning person in our family. I was the one who cooked, cleaned, grocery shopped, did the laundry, kept the house going while my parents both worked. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't build up a resentment. That said, after years of inner healing work I've moved past that place of resentment into a place of creativity. And it's blowing me away! (Wow as I reread that I thought I'd written "palace of creativity" which I hadn't. But I like that! I've moved into a Palace of Creativity. That's where I live now!)

The way I go about creating these paintings is amazing to me. I don't touch the canvas until I have a clear vision from Holy Spirit as to what he wants to do. I really do feel like he chooses the colors, the form, the texture, etc. I've even watched the painting paint itself. It is beyond fascinating. It's a spiritual experience and I'm completely convinced that he's doing something in each painting. There's some part of his heart that he is revealing to me through the process. It's very humbling and precious.

So back to the gallery opening, when I walked up to the building and saw my name listed among the featured artists I was moved to tears. This is something I never dreamed I would ever see in my lifetime. I can't even say it's a dream come true because it's a dream I never dreamed. Not even 6 weeks ago. It's completely out of my realm of reasoning. It is so God. I believe I am right where he created and intended for me to be today. It feels really really good. Stop by The White Buffalo and share this miracle with me. They're open 10-6 Monday -Saturday. It's located at 2528 S. 7th, next door to the Natural Food Center. It's an incredible place you don't want to miss.

Lent

I'm giving up negativity for Lent. No wait-reframing - I'm receiving more positivity into my life. Positive thinking. Positive talking. Positive conversations. Positive feelings toward others. Positive habits. Positive food. You name it, if it's positive I am taking it on. I'm going to concentrate on allowing God to bring me more fully into the concept of being a new creation. I've borrowed negativity for far too long. It's time to return it. I no longer want it to be lent out to me.

I decided to start by not receiving the ashes on my forehead today. I understand the concept of Lent - "self-examination and penitence, demonstrated by self-denial, in preparation for Easter". UGH!!! I know I'm going to die, but I believe the Father wants us to LIVE now in the full knowledge and understanding of the amazing thing that Jesus did. I want to completely get the meaning of being a new creation. And I'm not sure I always get it. I don't want to go backwards - I want to go forward into his arms.

So if, as a bunch of Christians, we go around with ashes on our heads how does that draw others to him? Before I knew Him I was covered with ashes as well as a lot of other stuff in the spirit. I don't need to be reminded of that. So why remind people of their current condition? Trust me, they know. Instead I believe we draw others in with our love and JOY! That's what the world needs now. Love. Joy. Peace. And hope that when we die we're not just dead. Hope that all of this that we see around us is not all there is.

So today in the season of Lent I am hoping to return the things that don't belong to me anymore to the cross. They belong to Jesus now. He paid full price for them. I think it makes him sad or maybe even mad when I take them back. I am a new creation because Jesus loved me enough to change everything. I intend to receive that truth daily and turn my back on the ashes that covered my life before I met him. I am a creation of joy! Yay!!!

But God...

A week ago today I was offered an amazing opportunity.  Our Prophetic Art class was called up to the plate.  We were given the opportunity to connect hearts to God - to simply ask and listen.  I love doing this.  

I was at a conference put on by TSSM (Transformation School of Supernatural Ministry).  I've been a student of the school for the last 2 years.  I've learned so much.  I love the things that have come and continue to come out of it.

So here we were - standing in the front waiting for the next person in line to come on down. After listening for 4 or 5 people I found myself facing James.  He was a middle aged guy wearing a red jacket.  I asked him if it would be okay for me to hold his hands and say a prayer.  He said sure.  I simply asked God to show me a picture that would touch James' heart.  I immediately saw a campfire.  

I've learned enough to know that now that I have the picture if I will just begin to draw it and open my mouth God will fill my heart with His words.  So I did.  As soon as I started talking I heard the words "dying ember" and then the wave of knowing hit.  I told James I felt like the Father wanted him to know that under the perfect conditions even a dying ember could become a fire again - in fact a bonfire.  Perfect conditions - dying ember - bonfire - these words resonated in my heart for James.  

I asked him if this meant anything to him.  He stood there staring at me for a moment and then he said, "I bought a ranch to use as a ministry for burned out pastors.  It's a place for them to come and be renewed."  Then he told me that they had already had one pastor come who was completely burned out.  By the time he left he had written 7 chapters of a book.  We stood and stared at each other sharing a moment of glory.  I told James I believe God was all over that ranch.  I told him God wants to bless that place and he should just sit back and watch.  

The name of the ranch is Deine.  It's German for "Yours".  I love that.  If you know a pastor who needs a place to reignite, I know just the place.  And I'm really excited about it.  I have an email address for information. 

 

Happy New Year - Word Revealed

January 1, 2013.  Wow.  That seems so crazy to me.  I remember being a little girl thinking the year 2000 sounded so dreamy and far away.  Unreachable.  And here we are 13 years into it.

My word for 2012 was Hope.  That is a good word.  Hope is a good thing.  I know I gained more hope and hopefully I gave hope to others last year.  There is always hope because absolutely anything is possible.  Anything.

Every time the sun rises it feels like hope rises too.  And a brand new year - let's talk about hope!

One Monday I was at my friend Latimer's for Creative Monday.  There were 3 of us sitting at the dining room table doodling.  When we were finished we realized all 3 of us had doodled "hope".  That was very cool.  (Mine's on top)

Hope has been my constant companion all year and I am so thankful.  I fully intend for it to stay with me my whole life. I am not through with hope nor will I ever be through with it.  Old things pass away and that is a good thing - but hope never gets old - it's new every morning.




But now it's 2013 and I've asked for a whole new word.  And true to His character with me - Holy Spirit answered me quite promptly and then proceeded to keep haunting me with it until I "got" it.  My new word for 2013 is "Write".   Funny thing about it is that every time I think about it I also see "right".  So I'm going with Write/Right.  Or maybe it's write right or write about right.  We will see.  It's only day one - so much more to be peeled back and revealed.  I love the process these words put me through.  Sometimes it's profound and sometimes it's subtle and sometimes I get completely blasted.  I just love it.

So do you ask for a word too?  If so, I'd love to know what it is.  Who knows, I just may doodle it.  (when I'm not writing, haha!)  Wow cool things just came to mind.  Already this word is very interesting.

Happy 2013!

Soul nurturing

This has been an amazing morning. I sat outside by the fire with a hot cup of coffee watching the light and wind play in the trees, listening to the birds sing with Christmas jazz on Pandora. I could do this all day long but I suppose I shouldn't.

I'm having a hard time dragging myself out of this place though. It's December 2, it's beautiful out here, there are butterflies everywhere, it seems like a unique and special moment in time. So the question is, should one drag themselves out of this special place? Or should one just enjoy it as long as one could without guilt. I think I'll choose the latter. Content. Free. Feeling loved.

Merry-Go-Round

Last Wednesday I was given the opportunity to take a moment and purposefully seek a moment/memory with God.  He gave me a new one.  I immediately envisioned myself on one of those old metal merry-go-rounds they used to have at the parks.  I was wearing yellow.  Jesus was there pushing me.  He was wearing blue. (For some reason this is significant.) At first I was afraid He was going to make it go fast.  But in this vision Jesus is face to face with me saying, "It's okay to go slow."  

When I was a kid we used to go to a park near my grandmother's house that had one of these contraptions.  All the cousins would jump on and one of the older kids would push us and jump on when they got it going as fast as they could.  I hated going fast.  I was that kid who would get scared and want them to slow down.  I wasn't very popular on the merry-go-round.  I inevitably ended up on the swings.

But on Wednesday, it was just me and Jesus.  And it was okay to go slow.  In fact, He confirmed that it was okay because that's the way He made me.  As I've let this evolve, He has revealed the many ways this is true in my life.  I love to fully experience things and places.  I am totally content to sit on a patio in Switzerland and take in every aspect of the view, the company, the smells and sights and sounds of that place when everyone else is itching to rush off to Italy.  (I never made it to Italy.  Twice.  But I dont' regret one second of my time on the porch in Switzerland!)  I am totally content to spend the whole day, sun up to sun down on the beach, again taking in the sights, sounds, smells and not rushing off to go shopping.  And I am totally content to sit by a river and pick up every single rock, study it, wet it and study it again.  This is how I can take a 40 minute walk in Port Meadow in Oxford and stretch it out to 7 hours.  I was made that way.  And it is so okay.  He said so.

Rocks

If you know me at all, you know I love rocks.  I collect rocks.  I stack rocks.  I wet my rocks sometimes so I can see them differently.  I can't always remember why I picked up a certain rock, but when I wet it and it all comes back to me.  It's as if there's a mystery about it that comes to light when you add water.  I even smell rocks.  (If you want to know what God smells like, smell nature.)  Rocks make me happy.

Today it's raining like crazy here in Abilene.  This is exceptionally good news.  It's been so very dry and hot this summer.  But today it's raining.

It think God is wetting His rocks.