( above portrait from google)

Over the past month, I have been absorbing and pondering many wonderful things for the revivalists that are being raised up this hour in many nations.

One of the most powerful ways I have seen to influence a nation is by what they see.

Art is interesting. Choosing art pieces that are speaking to those who visually see it without words is imperative to reaching the masses.

( Mary Cassett)

What do you see that it is saying?

The mother. Her child. Is there a comfort between them? Are they at rest? Yet, during rest, what is being gained?

Is the child learning? Are they discussing?

There is a lot to ponder.

Much that this position can give in order to understand the intent of the artist. Usually more than meets the eye at first glance.

There are times, you look at a painting and you think: I like it, but I don't know what it means.

It touches something deep inside of me and draws me to worship God.

Those kinds are really fun.

When I think of art, I think of talking, but without words. I think of the art piece: BEING THE MESSAGE.

The purpose of this blog today is to share with you  a few hilights of what I learned.

There will be more to come as I grow.

The past 2 weeks dad has been teaching my nation about tithing. About money and about Prosperity.  

Prosperity-with-a-purpose

The blessings of it

The pitfalls of it

and the proper alignment with God's way of thinking.

 ( PIC FOR VISUAL FROM GOOGLE)

Blessings

God began tying together other puzzle pieces of what I was learning about art too. 

How to view it.  It's purpose in the kingdom. How it looks differently than in the world....and..to let it lead me to HIM.

http://createsupernaturally.com/

I  just finished a 6 week art class with my art director Teresa Dedmon and her wonderful staff.

At the culmination of our art event, there were other people brought in.

I had many favorites. At the end, I met a sweet little girl with a painting of rain. It was blue in color and she smiled and spoke very joyfully about her painting as she explained it to me.

At the end of her speaking,... I had wished I had gotten a picture of it, when I had the chance. Because her heart for art moved me.

She is one who will grow up to take revival around the world through her art.

Her passion for art drew people to want to know not just the art, but the artist. Because she loved Him.

To me, that is exactly what Jesus and Father God did when He created us.

We are the art piece.  He is the Master Artist. Jesus sat as the model for the painting....and He is the original first portrait.

 When it's done right, we are not just drawn to the portrait, but to the artist that created it. In the kingdom, we are drawn to Him that we see inside of them through their creative expression.

I am learning something powerful this season, that our focus is imperative.

The arts lead us to Him. But they are not the focus, He is.

Pitfalls

Yesterday, as I pondered that I thought of dad's message on money. Prosperity with a Purpose...building blocks of tithing, giving and giving God our first in everything.

How for the Isralites, the object of worship ,in turning their attention to a golden calf.

https://www.biblegateway.com/p.../?search=Exodus%2032 ( here is the account )

Fleeing Egypt, they had been given the wealth of the nation.

God gave them through the hands of the Egyptians, gold and livestock and other things which was considered 'wealth' in that day.

They began turning their attention to that instead of the God who actually rescued them, because they turned to what they could 'see'...rather than the the God who saved them...merely because He was not physically visible. While they waited for Moses those 40 days, they began to turn their affection to what their hands could make with what had been given, rather than thanking the giver and trusting Him to come through with the next step in direction.  

Likewise, if we turn our attention to man as the provider, or money, rather than let it lead us to Him,the ONE who provided it, then we will be just like the Israelites were as they worshiped the calf they could create and see rather than the God they couldn't see.

My experiences this month got me to thinking about many different levels in life.

Where we 'focus on that as the source rather than God the Provider.

 I began to ponder the art world. I remembered some of the things I learned through either the creativity conference I watched or my lessons this past 6 weeks, but somewhere in there God was sharing with me about art. About beauty. Its rightful place. Arts rightful place.  Restored, because we let it lead us to Him. not to it. We love it. Appreciate it. But it all leads us to an encounter with His face, His heart and His love.

Then I thought about a star being born,

Both the literal star...

and people...on earth.

Teresa said something soooo powerful yesterday that led me to ponder this deeper. She said how in the world, art draws inward to itself, but in the kingdom. For in the kingdom,  art is made to go outward.

I loved that.

It gave me a visual.

I pictured Justin Beiber, because someone mentioned him. and other people who had the title: star.

How the outward attention being placed upon them can do 2 things.

It really depends upon what is IN THEM.

If they are strong inside, what is in them is stronger than the pressure on the outside and they explode...or.. are birthed as strong role model in society people can look to worldwide.

 or.... the outward pressure becomes too strong for who they are on the inside and they implode or die out and are no longer able to stand in that position.

Then I thought of a physical star.

Physical stars are born when the inner pressure is stronger than the outer pressure upon it.

When it is, stars break forth.

I just love how God gives us wisdom to understand why it's so important to let ourselves be built upon Him in every way.

Hearing what God is saying to us is imperative for our growth.

The HEARING EAR... sound goes in...and requires a response outwardly.

SOUND goes in to CREATE A RESPONSE PUSHING OUTWARD.

OR YOU CAN SAY:

UNDERSTANDING ....goes in...and requires a response outwardly.

UNDERSTANDING goes in to CREATE A RESPONSE PUSHING OUTWARD FROM OUR HEART.

That is wisdom.

My art piece has  an ear. sound is 'suppose to be going in... but I created the piece to look-like SOUND is going out. Which is abstract from what you would expect. 

I think it was His reminder to me.

And my first piece as an artist whose learning the ways of the kingdom in this newly discovered arena.

I never painted with understanding.

This is a new discovery this last year or so has been with the kingdom in mind. Before, it was just to paint whatever I wanted or liked. Not that it's bad to paint like that. It's just nice now having a purpose.. using the gift with purpose just seems more fulfilling.

Sometimes, I painted something profound without meaning to. But, it was like God was breaking in and trying to show me a gift He had placed in there and this season I am getting the right tools to enjoy it fully.

Now.. it's to make a difference. To be a blessing.

Or ...to spend time with Him.

Or, because He wants me to.

Or even because He likes it when I do.

These are all things I have learned lately and have deeply enjoyed.

There is more.

But that will be for another lesson in days to come.

Have a great day in His presence!

oh.. P.S...

( portion of my art piece on the HEARING EAR)  

When I created it, I created it to receive. Like an antenna.  To create a place for healing to take place for my deaf nation to hear.

But God said as I finished it, it was more than that. It was to signify our DNA.

our IDENTITY

How WE are a song. a melody that is music to His ear. That we are A SONG OF LOVE... that He sang over us at our creation or beginning.

It reminded me of dads message on Solomon asking for wisdom...

which truly was asking for a hearing ear.

and a hearing ear UNDERSTANDS what is being given.

Our Identity is always the FIRST STEP in the process of building.

Grateful for the lessons.