Saturated in Prayer

Hello Friends,

It has been quite a while since I posted on this blog and far too long since I have done any art journaling. My scriptural meditations have been minimal and I haven't done much intuitive art at all. I miss both. Last week I started doing a little of both and I have a very simple page to share with you.

While the Take Me Deeper devotional studies at His Kingdom Come are inspiring, I tend to glean more from my own personal readings of the bible. So I went back to where I left off in reading Philippians chapter four in The Passion Translation. I got as far as verse six when my attention was arrested.

"Be saturated in prayer throughout each day." I have meditated on this verse for about a week. I am still mulling it over, thinking about what that truly means. Here are some dictionary explanations of what the word means.

Saturated:
- Soaked with moisture; drenched
- soaked, impregnated, or imbued thoroughly; charged thoroughly or completely; brought to a state of saturation.
- Unable to hold or contain more; full

Is it any wonder I am still pondering what this verse might look like in my life? Am I drenched, soaked, impregnated with prayer? Am I filled with the Holy Spirit to the point where I cannot contain any more?

A common mistake about prayer is to think that it is synonymous with talking. Very little of true prayer has to do with talking. Mother Theresa described much of her prayer as "listening". Pastor Bill Johnson of Bethel Church in Redding, California explains it as, "turning your affections toward God".

The problem with saturation is evaporation. A saturated sponge begins to dry out the moment it is taken out of water. Do I remain in the water of His Presence and His Word? Am I ever listening? Am I continually turning my affections to the One my heart loves? Nope. Not there yet, my friends.

A blogger friend (Heart Works) wrote today about not becoming discouraged with where you are at in your faith journey. Every step towards the Father is precious and delights his heart. If I move forward slowly, the point is not that I am slow, but that I am moving.

Thanks for stopping to visit with me today. No matter where you are at in your journey of faith, please know this - You are beautiful and you are loved.

Blessing hugs,
Teresa

Guide to Painting Mediums

Hello Friends,

A quick post here to share a tutorial by my favourite online teacher, The Frugal Crafter. If you have ever wondered about what all of those painting and texture mediums do and how to use them, you will want to catch this tutorial. I will post the You Tube video below, but make sure to go the Lindsay's blog as well so you can pick up her printable chart. I am going to keep mine right next to my mediums.

I hope you will find this as helpful as I did. Please leave some love on Lindsay's blog - The Frugal Crafter.

Hugs & Smiles
Teresa

DON'T LIMIT YOUR JOY

Hello Friends,

Recently I read something in The Passion Translation that grabbed my attention so much I mulled it over for at least a week. Here it is:

 "My beloved ones, don't ever limit your joy or fail to rejoice in the wonderful experience of knowing our Lord Jesus!" (Philippians 3:1 TPT)

"Lord, how do I limit my joy?" I wondered. 

Is it by failing to rejoice and marvel that I can actually know Jesus? 

Jesus said that we would have troubles in this life. (John 16:33) He also said to be of good cheer because he had overcome the world.

 Troubles. This world. The darkness in this poor, broken world.

But Jesus overcame the darkness. His plan is to heal all of broken creation. Sometimes his healing manifests now. Sometimes it manifests later. And we will see the full manifestation of his healing of everything that is broken in our world when he comes again.

He is good and I rejoice that I have the marvelous privilege of asking for his manifest healing in my life. Because I know him I can ask. Whether he says yes, no or wait, the greater part is not that I can ask, but that I know him.Praise Jesus for your marvelous love! Thank you for your mercies, which are new every day. If you bring healing, I will rejoice. If you give strength to endure, I will rejoice. In all things I will rejoice because knowing you is the greatest treasure of all.

  

MY ART PAGE:

A friend gave me this book on making mosaics. Being that I am not interested in this type of craft, I decided to use the patterns a different way.

I started by gluing 1/4 inch paper strips to the back of one of the patterns. Then I gessoed over the finished piece.

 

 Next I prepared my background with a glue resist technique and Gelatos. This was my 2nd attempt with this technique and again it was a flop. I have had problems with other resist techniques as well. I guess, in my case, resistance is futile. (I know my fellow Trekkies got that one. Wink.)

I flipped my photo of the mosaic pattern in MS Publisher and glued my cut-out pieces to the background using the flipped pattern as a guide.

Next I outlined everything with a permanent Sharpie marker pen. I also clipped the overhanging hair pieces, which I regret.

My final step was to add my title at the top and the verse at the bottom.

And here is the completed page.

Thank you for stopping by today. I wish you a blessed Easter weekend. May the love of the Father fill your hearts with joy. And may you know that you are beautiful and you are loved.

Blessing hugs,
Teresa

Link-ups:
Paint Party Friday - art
Art Journal Journal - Favourite poems & quotes
Word Art Wednesday - anything goes
All Crafts Challenge - anything but a card
Craft Your Passion - always anything goes
Not Just Cards - always anything goes
Creative Moments - anything goes/anything but a card
Inspiration Destination - anything goes
Simply Papercraft - anything goes