Summer 2014

I'm back at school now and that means I have internet again! During this past summer I was canvassing and internet was sporadic and unreliable. However, that doesn't mean I haven't been drawing. I had a number of good sketches but I gave most of them away to people but I will show you what I have left.

Just a little update on what has been happening the last few months:
This summer I was canvassing for ten weeks and that was a challenge and a blessing. For those of you who do not know what canvassing means, it is a door-to-door method of evangelism work where individuals sell religious books on a donation basis. This work was truly a challenge to me and a huge blessing as well. There were some days that I didn't want to keep going but by the grace of God I pulled through and I can look back and see ways in which I have grown. I can't tell you how many specific prayers I saw God answer throughout this summer. It was a great encouragement to me and it personally strengthened my faith in God. Let me tell you an amazing story.

I honestly don't like courthouses. I associate them with getting speeding tickets, police officers and jail. Throughout the summer, I had several opportunities to canvass courthouses. Each time the experience was a bit intimidating - tall building, police officers, security officers at the door, upset people etc. I know that there are people inside of courthouses who may not have an opportunity otherwise to see or hear of Jesus. I definitely know there are people inside of courthouses who would appreciate a word of encouragement or a prayer. On this particular day I approached a courthouse and on the inside I was really scared. I began praying earnestly in my heart that the Lord would open a way for me to reach people within this courthouse and that I could be a blessing and meet people's specific needs.

I walked inside the door and was promptly greeted by a security officer. He immediately asked what was I doing, what case did I have to present and who did I want to see. I responded that I didn't have a case to present, I wanted to speak with anyone who was available and that I was a student working on a summer scholarship project. He thought for a moment and then directed me to the sheriff's office. If going inside a courthouse was intimidating, being sent straight to the sheriff's office was worse. "But hey," I thought, "there might be someone in there who needs exactly the books that I have got." So off I went. I spoke with the officers and in the end, one of the officers ended up getting the book "Bible Answers!"

I headed back to the lobby and the security guard asked me if I had had a successful conversation with the sheriff's department. I answered that I had and he directed me next to the county judge's office. I really began praying that the Lord would use me in such a way so that I could be a blessing to the judge's heart. After waiting a moment, the judge called me in her office and I showed her the books that I had and told her about them. All the while I was praying and in the end, she got the devotional book "Christ's Object Lessons." I went from that office rejoicing!

The same security guard told me to visit the tax offices next. One of the ladies in there told me that she had a young daughter. She was immediately interested in the children's book that I had and got the book for her daughter saying that she wanted her child to have a good book about Jesus to read. One of the other ladies in the same office got the beautiful devotional book "Steps to Christ." Again, I was rejoicing that the Lord was using me to bless others and to meet their needs.

After leaving the tax offices, I noticed a young man waiting outside of a courtroom. I sat down by him and started a conversation. It turns out that he was struggling with some family issues and that he was searching for a deeper walk with the Lord. He mentioned that he enjoyed studying about end time events and I was able to give him the book "The Great Controversy" which speaks about that. He was very thankful that I had stopped by and he was very appreciative of the book. We had a prayer together and when we had finished praying he had tears in his eyes. He kept saying he was so glad I had stopped by and that our meeting was not a coincidence. Again, I went on my way praising the Lord that He was directly answering my prayers. All in all, in that courthouse five books went out. The Lord had answered my prayer that I could be a blessing to others and meet their specific needs. I also later found out that a friend of mine had at the same time been specifically praying that five books would go out at that courthouse! The Lord is beyond amazing! What a blessing and a privilege to be doing the Lord's work!


That was just one experience and I could share many more. Now, I am back at school. I am the assistant girls dean for the academy and that is such a blessing as well! I ask that you keep me in prayer this semester as I work with these girls. I long to see each one of them grow in their relationship with the Lord.

Sunset Drawing

I love going to church! Today was extra special - it was the communion service. I had such a wonderful time studying the Sabbath school quarterly, playing the piano, and enjoying the fellowship of my church family. After arriving home late in the afternoon, I went on the balcony to enjoy what I could of the lovely day. I brought out my sketchbook and pencils and began to sketch the trees across the road. All of the sudden, I looked at the sky and realized I was missing a gorgeous sunset. So I hurried and sketched the sunset as best as I could. This drawing took only fifteen or twenty minutes to do. It has a bit of an impressionist look. But it's the best I could do!

Praise the Lord for a lovely time at church and a beautiful sunset to close the day. :) 

Soul Expression

Soul Expression. I have a number of ways I use to express myself- composing music on the piano, sketching my surroundings, drawing pictures from my imagination, making crafts, cooking food without recipes.....

We all have different ways of expressing ourselves and that is part of what makes us unique individuals. However, the greatest thing....no, not thing....the greatest Person I want to express is Jesus. I want Him to exude from me and be part of everything I do or make. I know that may sound weird.....Maybe I'm getting confusing, but I want to be so full of Jesus that every time I express myself Jesus naturally flows into that expression.

Here's a little word art I drew. May it remind you that everyone is unique and special. May it also remind you that Jesus is to be our ultimate 'soul expression.' :)

Ink and Watercolor Sketch

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen to day (ask me if you want a tasty curry recipe!) but I did find time to do a quick sketch. Recently, I've been seeing these sketches that combine ink and watercolor. I wanted to create a sketch using those two things and this was the result. I'm not sure that I'm happy with it yet. I think I need to try a couple more times!

The watercolor part didn't come out strong enough for me so I actually went back and used some permanent marker pens to bring out the color a bit. Anyways....this was just a trial run since I've never tried mixing ink and watercolor before. 

Laos

Laos....In case you don't know what that is, it's a small country in Southeast Asia that borders Thailand and Cambodia. I spent two years there teaching English and those were the best two years of my life. That country, it's people and it's culture have endeared themselves to my heart. I was thinking about Laos yesterday and I ended up drawing this bit of word art. Hope you enjoy it! And, if you ever want to hear any of my stories from Laos just let me know! :)

Goofy Characters Drawing

I was bored the other day and just started drawing random little characters. It kept growing and this was the result. It was so much fun to draw! 

Haha I really let my imagination go free on this one. Letting loose and drawing goofy things is such a fun drawing exercise. :)

Church in the Woods

Here's a little sketch I did. I used a reference photo for the church and the trees were from my imagination. I drew this to practice perspective (It's still a little bit off, but that's a work in progress!) I drew this using a regular black ball-point pen. Hope you like it! :)

Urban Sketch

                                      Here's a quick urban sketch I did of an apartment building.

Blown Away

This drawing I call Blown Away. 

Watchful Cat

                                          Here's another picture I drew today.  A Watchful Cat.

Bird on a Branch

                   

                           Here's a little bird I drew today. It's the first drawing in my new art journal.

Time

Time..... It slowly slips away until it's all gone.

Here's something I read in a book called Desire of Ages not to long ago:

"He [Jesus].... taught that every moment of time is fraught with eternal results; that it is to be cherished as a treasure, and to be employed for holy purposes."

Oops....Where did that hour and a half go when I was supposed to be 'just checking my email?'

Delight in the Lord

What I have to say this time is short, sweet and to the point.

Psalms 37:4

"Delight thyself in the Lord and He will give thee the desires of thine heart."

Notice: Delighting in the Lord comes before the fulfillment of your heart's desires. God's wants us to find our happiness, joy, peace, love, and contentment
in Him first.

Create

Two days ago I finished reading through the entire Bible. I decided to start reading it again but with a slightly different take. This time I'm trying to find Jesus in every verse. So, I started in Genesis one and verse one.

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

There were two things that grabbed my attention in this verse.

1. "In the beginning" God was there. Before the beginning God was there. Before He even created anything, with sanctified imagination, I see God looking down through the ages at what this earth would become. I imagine Him seeing the fall of man, the first death, the first sacrifice, His death on the cross.....all the way to the Second Coming. I imagine Him thinking, "I want my people to have an opportunity to choose to love Me." He knew and saw all that in the beginning.

2. "God created the heavens and the earth." God created. I like that. He didn't just throw stuff together or let a couple objects smash together to form the earth. He created. He put thought into what He was about to do. Once again, I imagine God making a mental list beforehand of everything that would be good for His children and would bring them the most joy and happiness. I imagine Him planning out what needed creating first. But God created. He loved us so much, even before we existed, that He created the earth.

Thinking about Genesis 1:1 inspired me to draw a picture as well. :)

More Sketches

I'll be completely honest- I haven't posted something in a really long time. My mind has been in a lot of places lately. I don't know if you've ever gotten into one of those periods of your life where you are wondering where to go and what to do next but that is kind of where I'm at right now. I've done a number of sketches lately and here are a few. The two crazy looking ones are from my imagination. Shortly explained: 1) I like to fish, I like to eat fish and I like to draw fish. 2) I like to draw random objects and designs altogether. 3) This is a woman from the Asian calendar hanging on my wall. 4) I was thinking about ice cream and was inspired to draw a rather interesting version of the well-known dessert.

Always Grow

Looking back at this past year, how did you grow? How were you changed?

     I like to draw trees. Every tree is different with its twisted limbs, leafy foliage, strong roots and rough bark. Some trees even seem to have personality to me. The bent over, crooked trees seem wise, old and full of experience. The straight, stately trees seem proud, maybe even arrogant and the little saplings seem full of life and energy.  Each tree grows a little throughout the year. Maybe a little taller, a little wider or a little more damaged. Each year a storm may tear off a branch. Perhaps a name will be carved in its trunk.

     Yet the tree continues to grow, to blossom, to bear fruit, to rest and to grow again. Ever and always growing despite what goes on around it. Looking back at this past year, how did you grow? What were your successes or your failures? In this new year of 2013, I challenge you to grow closer to Christ. Live each day for Him no matter what goes on around you. But ever and always grow. A tree that doesn't grow is dead. The old year is behind you and new year is before you. Determine to grow into a closer likeness of Christ this year. 

Happy New Years! 

A Beach Full of Chicken Eggs

    I dream crazy dreams. They usually include flying, dangerous situations or wild twists on everyday objects. Last night was one of those nights. I dreamed I was at a beach surrounded by....what else? Chicken eggs! I wanted to find an egg that was about to hatch, take it home and watch the process of the young chick emerging. I remember dreaming that I picked up a big egg and put it in my bag. Well, a couple minutes later the egg was broken and a big mess in my bag. However, I went back to the beach to choose another egg. I broke this one as well. While I was in the process of choosing a third egg, some people came running towards me telling me to go somewhere else. I quickly took my bag and left. Later on, one of my friends approached me and told me that he knew I wanted to have a little chick. He then proceeded to hand me a cute, fluffy, yellow chick all for my own.

    Now I will leave you to think what you may about my dream. I personally woke up thinking, "How strange to dream about chickens!" I doubt my dream means anything more than an active night time imagination but I couldn't help but draw an object lesson from it.

    Sometimes I find myself thinking that my life needs a new start. I need to stop doing this and start doing that in order to be a new or better person. However, my attempts always fail. My resolutions to be better might stand firm for a little while, but I always find myself back where I started. When I try of my own self to be better, when I try to choose a new life for my own self, I usually end up where I began, broken and sometimes in a worse mess than before. The only Person who can really change me, who can take the broken, messy contents of myself and exchange them for a new life, is Jesus Christ. He gives me new life as a gift. It is not something I can manufacture on my own. I always end up breaking the promises I make to myself to be better. My only hope is to turn away from the 'beach' of my own wishful attempts at a new life and allow God to give me a new life which will grow to maturity with and in Him.

From This Past Year

A poster of a guitar I completed for my church.

    I just wanted to show you all a few art pieces I have finished this past year. Some of these I did when I was bored, others my church asked me to do. The Asian sunset one I painted with a friend and the Lilies are on canvas. 

A Rose

Typical Asian Sunset

Lilies