Creativity

Abstract

Butterfly

    A streak of creativity hit me today! Enjoy! :)
I've been trying to create more pictures from imagination and these are some of the results.

Flowers...

Random Flowers

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! 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!! Remember that Christmas is about giving with no thought of receiving in return. :) Here is my very first painting in oil colors! It is also a gift for my next door neighbors!

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 

Let Your Light Shine

    When I was about seven years old, I remember hearing a story of a king and his three sons. The king had ruled his empire for many years and was now old. He now had to decide which of his three sons (who were triplets and thus each had equal right to the throne) would be the next king. Finally, he gave them a challenge and the winner would become the next king.

    The king told his sons that 'there are no limits to what can be achieved, but a great king must know how to....benefit the people of his kingdom regardless of wealth and riches.' Each son was then given one copper coin. They must use only this coin to fill up an empty room in the palace with whatever they wanted. 

    The sons went and looked everywhere for something to buy that would fill up the room. At the end of the day, the king was waiting for them. The first son had bought empty barrels with his coin. These barrels were filled with water and emptied into the room. He watched happily as the room was filled almost halfway. 

    After all the water had leaked out, the second son came. He had spent his coin to buy all the hay from a farmer. The hay filled the room nearly three-quarters full. He felt confident that he would be the king and the last brother could not top his feat. 

    Once the hay was removed, the third son came forward and stood in the middle of the room. He apparently had nothing with him. Everyone looked on expectantly. The king, thinking his third son had not taken his challenge seriously, asked, "Did you bring anything, son?" "Yes, father," answered the third son. He then proceeded to take a small candle and match out of his pocket. He struck the match and lit the candle. "Yes, father. I did buy something. I bought a candle and decided to fill this room with light." 

    

    Whenever you see a candle, think of ways you can fill your world with light. Fill your home with love and kindness. Fill your workplace with patience and smiles. Fill your school with happiness and diligence. 

Matthew 5:16 

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." 

Story taken from: 

http://revolutionhive.com/2012/01/25/the-king-and-his-3-sons/

Water or Wood?

    Instead of huddling around an open fire and roasting marshmallows, here in Asia we use open fires for daily cooking. Grilled fish, steamed rice, barbecued chicken, and noodle soup are a few of the things cooked over open fires. Sometimes while I bike down back alleys, I will see mothers and little old grandmothers stirring steaming pots or turning roasting meat. Wood and charcoal are used to keep the fires at the right height and when all cooking is finished, water is sometimes poured over the fire to put it out.
    I once heard a saying that went something like this:

When there's a fire, some people bring wood and some people bring water.

    This could be applied in the literal sense but it is really talking about how we deal with tension in our day to day lives. When there is a problem, a tense situation, an opportunity to gossip, a chance to annoy or frustrate someone we don't like, what do we do? Do we bring wood? Do we increase the tension? Forget to think before we speak, or take the opportunity to add a negative word or action? Or do we bring water? Do we think and pray before tackling the situation? Refuse to destroy a person's reputation through gossip, or take  the chance to purposefully do something nice for someone we dislike?
    We are told that "blessed are the peacemakers." This week try to be a peacemaker. Bring the water. Put the fires out! Everyone knows how much damage fire has the potential to do. It can burn down buildings, obliterate forests, and worse even kill people. When there is disagreement or tension between people, it has the potential to burn down relationships and obliterate friendships. Bring the water! Put the fires out!