I Hide Myself In You

Psalm143:9-10: "Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." We can't hide FROM God, so why don't we hide IN God? There are enemies all around us in this world. We constantly are battling the evil plans of the prince of this world. Our lives are training grounds for learning the will of God and if we are hidden in Him those worldly things are put aside so we can focus on His plans.

The base of this art is a trading card onto which I painted, collaged and etched in gel. It measures 2 1/2" x 3 1/2."

My Thoughts

" 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,' " Isaiah 55:8-9. All the thinking in the world cannot explain why God does what He does. We may think we understand, but we have just scratched the surface. God will many times reveal His word to us when we read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will guide us into good works, Jesus reveals His life and mission to us so we can follow Him--but understanding it all now is not meant for us. I also have to be careful not to fill my head with every thought imaginable so that there are no thoughts for God. How foolish of me to do that.

I used a trading card as the base, painted, collaged, gelled, etched and dry brushed. It measures 2 1/2" x 3 1/2."

Terror of Night

Psalm 91:5 states: "You will not fear the terror of night." I don't know why. Here I am an adult and sometimes I still get afraid of the dark in the middle of the night in my own home. Sometimes the terror of the night is even in the middle of the day. What causes this? Too many horror movies? suspense stories? newscasts? real life? Who knows. I think the evil one has his hand in this. When he can convince me that I don't have a Saviour who takes care of all my needs, I get afraid. When I call on the name of Jesus and pray for calm and peace, He provides it every time--every time I trust that He will.

The Garden

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.... I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:1,2 and 5. Lavender is everywhere in this part of the country. I planted a couple of plants this year, late, and hope they bear the woodsy aroma of lavender for us next year. So many times my plants die because I don't water, feed or prune them. I'm so unlike the heavenly gardner who actually cares for his garden. Notice the "branches" part of these verses. We are absolutely useless without our attachment to the vine. We need the living water, heavenly manna and pruning our Heavenly Father gives us. How blessed to be part of his garden.

This was the first fiber art quilt I made. I put clipped yarn on muslin, covered it with tulle, pinned and machine quilted it. Other hand embroidery was added for detail. It measures 9" x 9." It now resides in a Bed and Breakfast in Canada.

Grace

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast," Ephesians 2:8-9. Grace is a gift. All we need to do is accept it and open our hearts to it in faith believing that God is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do. Accepting is the only work we need to do. All else comes from love.

This is made on a playing card base, 2 1/2" x 3 1/2," and is decorated with paper images, paint, and matte gel medium.

Guard My Heart

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life," Proverbs 4:23. So many times I let my heart do the leading. Everytime I do that it gets wounded. Oh, that I would be in control of my heart, my emotions, then I would think clearly and discern what's going on.
I got my feelings hurt today and my intentions were good. Sometimes people are just doing their job and I get in the way. It took a long time and a long talk with God to put things in perspective. I wasn't wrong in what I did. I was a scapegoat--someone to whom one could be the authority. Everything's fine, but I'll be careful from now on not to assume authority and not get in that particular situation again.

The base of this art is a playing card on which I painted, collaged and etched.

Encouragement

I asked my pastor's wife if there was something about which I could pray. She mentioned "encouragement." Our pastor is doing very well but he's having to work through the intense pain of surgery again after just 6 weeks of having his last surgery. I can't even begin to imagine what they must be enduring. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:11. "...encourage one another and build each other up." I hope I did that today. Maybe I said or did something that was encouraging. That needs to be a goal for every day.

This little card was one of the first ATCs I made. The picture is not good because it was taken with an inadequate camera last year, but I remembered making this and it fits today's theme. I used a playing card for the base and assorted ephemera and computer generated lettering, stickers and a stamp to decorate it.

CELEBRATE LIFE!

It was a joy to do something fun today. I am bouyed by how well my pastor is doing after his surgery. Though he has a long way to go, God has blessed him today by allowing him to improve. It's time to CELEBRATE! "Then all the people went...to celebrate with great joy." Nehemiah 8:12.

This is an ATC/ACEO (Artist Trading Card/Art Card Editions and Originals) measuring 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". The base is a playing card and I used a German text, handwriting, copy of photo, other ephemera, book binding, matte gel medium, paint and gesso. I etched a design in the gel medium and dry brushed with gesso.

Wonders and Miracles

"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." Job 5:9
Hallelujah. Praise His Name. Our pastor survived the 9-hour surgery on his aorta. The surgery itself is a miracle. God worked through the hands of a Christian doctor to perform this wondrous deed. I'm assured that we have only begun to witness the Wonderful Miracles God has yet to show us. I'm awed and grateful. We were there all day with his wife and our church family so we're tired, but overcome with happiness to see that everything works and he lives.
Pray with us for his healing, please.

Thankful Remembrances

"I thank my God every time I remember you....He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3 and 6. Whenever someone comes to mind, pray for them. The Holy Spirit has placed that remembrance in your head. God has blessed us with the ability for continual prayer. We don't have to stop what we are doing or go to a special place in order to pray. We can pray anywhere and at any time. My pastor is facing surgery and verse 6 gives me hope that he will be able to complete the work he was sent to do.
It gives me hope for his future here on earth. Lord, please, work a mighty work in my friend's life. Amen.

I made this work of altered art in a demonstration done last Saturday to gain interest for a mixed media class I'm planning to teach in September. It measures 5" x 7 1/2" with the lace extending another 1 1/2" below and the ribbon hanger another 3" above. I used a copied image of a photograph, wallpaper, scrapbook paper, book binding, yarn, sticker, ribbon rose, lace, ribbon, old buttons, a flower twig and jute twine. An old book cover was used as the base.

Singing Under His Wings

Psalm 63:6-7 "On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings." As I was looking for appropriate verses to accompany this art, I found Psalm 63 and immediately thought of my pastor who is in ICU awaiting another surgery on his aorta, the second in less than 6 weeks. Interestingly enough, in his note to the congregation that was read to us this morning, he quoted verse 7. I think it is fascinating when this happens. I don't believe in coincidences or accidents. I feel everything is planned by God and the working of the Holy Spirit brings believers together through happenings like this. Pastor, I'm praying that you will indeed sing again, a song to us of victory and praise for the glorious things God has done in your life. Thank you , Lord, in advance for caring for this wonderful man of God. I look forward to the blessings that will come from you regarding his healing. I love you and honor you for your greatness. Amen.

This card (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") is made on a playing card base. I used a copied image of a photograph and other ephemera, glitter glue, paint, gesso and matte gel medium.

Peace

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 Things were very unpeaceful when John wrote these words of Christ. All around us we see and hear of everything but peace. I feel desperate at times wondering if things could get worse--then I remember-- Christ gives the only true peace we need. Even when things are beyond despair, Christ's promised peace soothes my ravaged soul.
I made this altered art today in a demonstration done at a local craft and decorating store. I'll be teaching a mixed media class there in Sepember. I had about ten people sign up and a few more interested in my 3 hours there. The art has a very old book cover as the base, collaged newspaper words cover with tracing paper, a little girl image, ephemera and a ribbon and it measures about 4 1/2" x 7 ." I used buttons and a charm on bent wire as the hanger.

The Shelter of Your Wings

Psalm 61:4--"I long...to take refuge in the shelter of your wings." What a place to rest! When my life is on track and I remember to look to God first in trouble, I can always find the shelter about which the Psalmist sings.

I can always find the shelter about which the Psalmist sings
When I remember to find refuge underneath God's wings.--Sally L. Smith 7/27/07

I decorated a very inexpensive photo album with this art. It measures 4 3/4" X 6 1/2." I keep my unsold ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) in it. This is one of my favorite photos in my collection. She looks so innocent and sweet--very unlike the real world. I removed the cardboard decorative sheet already in the album and painted and decorated it with a butterfly stamp, ephemera, and glitter pens.

A New Creation

Collage: a work of the visual arts made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole.
When we are Christ's, Christ makes us into new people. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" I'm glad God gives me a new day to be a new creation. Make me what you will, Lord.

This box measures about 4" x 7" x 1" and is perfect for ATC/ACEO's. It will hold at least 24 of them. I've collaged it and painted the inside. Then I coated it with gel medium and etched designs in it, stained the etching and then dry brushed with a gold.

Storms of Life

There are so many storms in life. My pastor is back in the hospital with complications. He was on the mend from a replaced aortic arch and doing well and now pain due to a blood clot. How discouraging and scary. There was an explosion and fire down the street and breast cancer the other direction down my street. Anywhere we look there are problems and terrifying situations. Sometimes we need to remember who made the storm and who can calm it. The Bible, in Mark 4:39-40, tells of such a situation: "He (Jesus) got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?' " It's hard to remember to not be afraid when the world comes crashing down on us, but Jesus asks us to "have faith" so I guess that's what we are supposed to do. Father, forgive me for not having faith that you know what is going on and that you will take care of things. Help me turn everything over to you. Amen.

This is a fiber art quilt made on a muslin base. Finely clipped yarn makes the colored background and embroidery over tulle gives it texture. I sold this piece last year.