Take Me Deeper 2016 - DNA - Week 10 - 4th March

TMD 2016 - DNA - Week 10 - 4th March - I Am Alive in the Spirit

I read the suggested passages for going deeper, Acts 4:23-31, and of it all, the final words really struck a chord with me..."After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness."

I really wanted to portray the feeling of the Holy Spirit not simply 'coming upon' someone, but living within them, working within them, and the feeling of power, as talked about in the devotional, that would bring.

I almost felt scared to start this piece..no idea why! Almost a blocked feeling but I pushed on through and it came together quite quickly! Then I had to leave it. I had finished everything bar the digital painting. I was so tempted to leave it as it was, lol, but decided to have a go at painting it, expecting it to be hard and take an absolute age. But it actually was done pretty quickly and easily! Yay!!
TFL!
Bernie x

Take Me Deeper 2016 - DNA - 19th February - Made to Create

TMD 2016 - DNA - February Week 1 - 19th February 2016 - Made to Create

OMW! This devotional has had such an effect on me!

Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Also, in the verse before, 1:26, it says, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…

Of course, I'd thought about God as Creator, but not necessarily as Creative in respect to His creation of us. So, as I am created in His likeness, my creativity is not simply a gift bestowed upon me, but actually, literally, part of my DNA! A real, integral, part of me, the likeness of God, and made a part of me by God before I came into being! I honestly don't have the words to express the subtle difference in thinking here, but that thought has really been messing with my brain lol - in a good way!

The same thought keeps coming back to me...the good works that were planed for me before my birth, maybe, creating Faith art is part of that plan. Creating on a serious scale I mean, more than just an enjoyable pass time. More like a calling. An imperative. Something that has to come forth and can't be stopped up...

Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I've always considered good works in relation to myself anyway, as the good I can do for others..more a physical good...being there for them, helping in practical ways, putting myself last after the needs of others...

But maybe creating my Faith art is also a way of helping others, of performing good works? I've been so blessed and humbled by the lovely comments HKC peeps (and others!) have made when I post each art piece. Some are so touching, when it seems an image has resonated at just the right time. I've always felt throughout the TMD weeks that each time I create, it's not down to me what appears on the page. Images appear, and I'm no longer frightened of starting a piece with absolutely no idea of how I want to portray the themes, readings, and thoughts I have!

So what if my art is actually a 'good work'?! And I've been putting it on the back burner, creating only when I have time after other things (worthy things though, not time wasting things!) are finished?! What to do with that thought!?!

I think some of the issue is the word 'work' as in 'good works' suggests something that should be perhaps not easy, involves some kind of sacrifice...and creating art is such a pleasurable experience, the two things haven't come together in my head before! 

I found this from MacLaren: "Now, do not let us take that phrase, ‘good works,’ which I have already said came hot from the Apostle’s heart, and is now cold as a bar of iron, in the limited sense which it has come to bear in modern religious phraseology. It means something a great deal more than that. It covers the whole ground of what the Apostle, in another of his letters, speaks of when he says, ‘Whatsoever things are lovely and of good report, if there be any virtue’-to use for a moment the world’s word, which has such power to conjure in Greek ethics-’or if there be any praise’-to use for a moment the world’s low motive, which has such power to sway men-’think of these things,’ and these things do. That is the width of the conception of ‘good works’; everything that is ‘lovely and of good report.’ That is what you receive the new life for."

So that for me sums up and really blows wide open the concept of 'good works!'

From the devotional then, some words hit me straight in the heart! Such as:

"We are also called to be Ambassadors of Christ. We represent Him here on the Earth. What we create needs to come out of our intimacy with Him. He inspires us, we create out of that, and then put it out into the world like grains of salt and flashes of light. We are meant to be salt and light in this world, not just through our good works (as it says in Matthew 5:13-16), but in everything we do, including our creative works. Our creations and art can be used by Him to reach out to a lost and dying world."

This also struck such a chord given the way I create: "Michael Card says in his book, 'Scribbling in the Sand: Christ and creativity' --“God is an artist and he is beautiful. He has woven his image into the fabric of our lives, which explains our drive to create things which are beyond us and which we don’t always understand.”"

So! This week's devotional has really given me food for thought and a restless feeling to boot! I keep hearing this little voice wondering if I'm missing something...if I'm not seeing something that is becoming more and more important! I'm not sure what to do next really, other than pray for guidance and see what happens!

if you've read this far, thanks for bearing with me as I work this all out 'on paper' lol! And thank you all for the wonderful encouragement so freely given!

TFL!

Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - Advent Day 10 - 8th December 2015

Advent Day 10 - 8th December - Come Let Us Adore Him

I used a couple of papers of mine and then added loads of brushwork and the figures. I wanted to give the impression of an ancient landscape but have the figures seem more modern...to make the Carol a call to us all in every age. Then I digitally painted it!
TFL!
Bernie x

Take me Deeper - September Week 3

Remember, if you'd like to join us it's never too late - each piece of art I've produced has been a blessing to me in its own way! You can find all the info HERE! Just join HKC if you're not already a member and then register for the class!

September Week 3 - The Promise of Wisdom

The one verse that I worked from that just felt so meaningful and the opposite of how the world thinks and acts was 1 Corinthians 1:26-30 - 

Now remember what you were, my brothers and sisters, when God called you. From the human point of view few of you were wise or powerful or of high social standing. God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful. He chose what the world looks down on and despises, and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. This means that no one can boast in God's presence. But God has brought you into union with Christ Jesus, and God has made Christ to be  our wisdom. By him we are put right with God; we become God's holy people and are set free.

I had exactly the image in mind for this piece and again used the same five textures in a different combination in respect to layer order, opacity and blend mode. Plus a couple of CU brushes and the HKC Digital image of course which just seemed so appropriate!

TFL!

Take Me Deeper - September Week 2

What a difference we're seeing here in the UK as Autumn creeps ever closer! The mining bees are now out in our garden in full force, resulting in a retreat by all of us, even the dog! The mornings see a bit of a nip in the air, but our days this week have been wall to wall blue skies and sunshine!

I followed one of Diane Marra's videos yesterday, having bought some watercolour crayons a week or so ago after seeing her working with them, and have made a couple of backgrounds for pages! I really enjoyed myself!! So there IS life after digi lol! It's years since I last used paint/paper/glue and it was so much fun!

I'm rather inspired at present by what my youngest daughter (who is home educated) and I are seeing under our new microscope! The patterns that we never knew existed within nature as they're usually invisible to the naked eye are so captivating, I'm seriously thinking of buying another microscope for myself that can attach to my PC, and then using the images to create some digital papers/elements! They'd definitely be unique lol!

For now though, here are my artwork and my thoughts for this week's devotionals - very timely and apt considering my situation at present!

September Week 2 - The Promise of Forgiveness

This was very timely for me and I came back to it three times to re-read! From the reading I did I gleaned that God promises us forgiveness, but it is conditional upon our response. It is our choice to forgive and the Holy Spirit will help us.

I read John 6:37 - "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out" - whoever = anyone; He turns nobody away.

And 1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I wanted to encompass a feeling of freedom that can come from our forgiving, and also the blessings that can come from that. I wanted the piece to feel personal, with a real sense that we are cared for.

So, I used a solitary figure, alone on the hillside, 'coming to the Father', and the white light 'spots' around her are representing the blessings flowing from her forgiving another. There is a wispy smoke-effect raising heavenward, representing both the Holy Spirit helping her, but also the freedom she is gaining through her actions.

I kept to my personal little challenge and used the same 5 textures, just in a different order and with different blend modes. I like how the piece has the same feel as last week's piece but is different!

I used CU textures and brushes, and one of the HKC digital shapes.
TFL!
Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - September Week 1

Here we are again! This past week has seen the end of the school summer holidays, and the end of the day-on-day sunshine as well! We took our rabbits to a 'bunny-whisperer', and ascertained once and for all that these two brothers, who were once so close won't ever be able to go in the same hutch or run again. It's very sad, and all because they have had to be separated for 6 weeks following their castration ops which, shall we say, didn't go as they should have, and the ensuing complications and additional operations forced the separation. However, as they are not miserable being in separate accommodation but together in the same space, so they can sit right by each other, the lady agreed that they'd be fine and we wouldn't need to get them a girlfriend each if we didn't want to! Phew! Going from 2 rabbits to 4 would have been a stretch, LOL, and the cost of the insurance alone would have been a problem along with everything else!

So, we've bought an additional hutch which is waiting to be made up...but now our annual visit from the mining bees seems to be starting - a little later than the past few years, probably because of the chill and the rain! There's no way the kids - or I, LOL - will clean out two hutches surrounded by mining bees! If you haven't heard of them you're not alone - my 91 year old dad had never heard of them before we moved here! If you haven't seen one before, they look just like wasps! And as wasps sting for no reason, it's hard to get the risk of being surrounded by what look like wasps out of your head! Actually there's very little risk - mining bees are very placid, and, as they tunnel up and down through the soil, they're used to be being in confined spaces. So even getting one up your trouser leg as I did last year, won't result in a sting! Unlike a wasp! Mining bees are not protected in the UK, and I read they're not even much use for pollinating, so it's rather frustrating to give up our whole garden for 6 weeks each year at this time...but also something quite special!

So the rabbits will go into their hutches in the conservatory and then once our visitors have left they'll be out in the garden in the new 15'x6' enclosure we made for them during the summer! Hopefully we won't get a harsh winter or it will only be a couple of months and they'll be back in the conservatory again!

So, less chat from me, LOL, and here's the artwork, with my thoughts as I prepared to create!

September Week 1 - Equipped for Life

This is actually the second piece I created for this week's devotional! The first piece, well, I really didn't have any idea what to create and it was more of a playing with techniques than making art, I feel. I do like it but it didn't feel as 'from the heart' as I'd have liked. So I'm going to keep that, maybe work on it some more, and maybe its time will come later in the month!

Having left that first piece alone for a few days, I found myself with some creating time and so took another look at the Bible verses I'd written out from the first study. Immediately an image came to me, so clear, that I sat down and created this straight off! Wow!

The verses that especially inspired this image were:

Isaiah 54:10 - "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

and 2 Peter 1:3 - His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

and finally Romans 9:4 - They are God's people; he made them his children and revealed his glory to them; he made his covenants with them and gave them the Law; they have the true worship; they have received God's promises.

This is so much more what I wanted to create originally! It has much more of a family, loving and loved feel to it, I think. I used 4 or 5 different textures in this and have decided to set myself a little challenge of using those same textures within each piece this month and see how far I can stretch them to work in different ways! I like the way these textures interacted to give quite an old fashioned look to the piece, so I hope I can achieve that each week!

As well as the various CU textures, I used CU brushes and digital images from His Kingdom Come of course! I just clipped one of the background textures to each figure to give the appearance of silhouetted figures which are part of their surroundings. Very slight blur added to them to take off the sharp edges and give the impression of distance.
Really enjoyed myself with this piece!
TFL!

Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - July Week 5

July Week 5 - Honour Ourselves

To sum up the month and also represent all the different ways in which we should honour ourselves and so honour God, I used three of HKC's Praise Him digital figures.

This month's pieces have been so intuitive and have just seemed to leap off the page each time once I started up Photoshop! It's been a very different way of working and I've loved every minute!

On this piece I also used my own papers, plus CU brushes and borders.
TFL!
Bernie x

Take me Deeper - July Week 2

I honestly had so much fun making this page! I seem to be finding a new style, freer, which I love! I'm sure there will be more pieces in this style!

July Week 2 - Cultivating Honour

I did the word search and the predominant words were love one another - which would seem to sum up the way we need to live to honour God and also each other.

So I wanted an image that spoke those words! No ideas of course! So I started playing with the HKC Praise Him digital images and resized, warped and even cut off an arm and moved it around to form the impression I wanted! I can't believe how quickly this came together! It seemed too simple at first; too easy, but I soon realised that nothing else was needed or would work so this is how it stays!

Arms wrapped around each other, these 2 live in love together. With one arm raised in worship, they both live in love of God. They are both enveloped in the light of God and I hope a feeling of joy as well as love comes through!

Other than the HKC Praise Him image, I used my own papers, plus CU brushes and edges.
TFL!
Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - July Week 1

Wow, can you believe it's July already?! We have had temperatures up into the 30s this week which has made even ordinary tasks seems like a slog! (I'm one of those pale people who burn in just 5 minutes in the sun and just can't 'do' heat and humidity!). I'm hoping for a big thunder storm very soon to break this humidity and freshen things up a bit! Not to mention the gardens need a good soaking!

My artwork for this first week in July came together so simply, it all seems a bit strange! I purchased the Praise Him Digital Images from His Kingdom Come - have a look in their store as they have great stuff for digital artists and for actual paint on paper artists! So much so I'm seriously considering setting up all my paints and inks etc again somehow after several years of being only digital just to use their stuff!! The digital images just seemed to inspire me so much! I'm looking forward to seeing more of them hit the store!

So, here's what I made!

July Week 1 - Independence v. Dependence

Having looked up the definitions of various words was really interesting! Especially perhaps because some of the definitions of vulnerable are not things generally thought of as positive! Plus, it was so positive listening to the Podcasts, especially with all the negativity and upset within my Parish at present! I had an unexpected hour to myself and really enjoyed listening whilst browsing the HKC Store! All in all it really inspired me!

My inspiration for this piece was Psalm 8:1-2 - Your praise reaches up to the heavens; it is sung by children and babies.

This month's artwork will be slightly different as I decided to use the Praise Him digital images each week. I really enjoyed the first one! I had intended to use as it came but played around and added some nuance of shape and tone and loved it!

The b/g papers are all mine, with a CU border and a bit of CU brush work.
TFL!

Well, it's been a busy week this week! Two days I had road trips to take others places I'd not been before! Yesterday (Thursday) the girls and I were so whacked after Wednesday's excursion that we had a pyjama day! Don't think I've ever done that before on a Mon-Fri day lol but I obviously needed it as feel much more 'alive' today! I keep telling myself it's just part of taking care of me lol!

So here is my offering for this last week of June! I really enjoyed creating this piece!

June Week 4 - The Family of God

Having done all the suggested reading, just two really called to me. Firstly Ephesians 1:18-20:
I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world.

Then Galatians 3:26 - It is through faith that all of you are God's children in union with Christ Jesus.

I had absolutely no idea what kind of image to create, so gave up thinking about it and started reading more of The Creative Call, HKC's Book Club current fare. The page I opened up quoted from Genesis and that reminded me that that was where I had started at the beginning of June!

It seemed fitting and really appealed to me to try and illustrate Genesis 1:1-3 - In the beginning, when God created the universe, the earth was formless and desolate.The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the Spirit of God was moving over the water. Then God commanded, "Let there be light" - and light appeared.

This really fired my imagination, and just seemed so appropriate as it seems to me, this was the start of family - and with all the nasty politics of separation nowadays, it seems so hard for so many people to remember that we are all one world, one human family spread across the whole earth, and we all, along with all of God's creation were created to be together on this planet.

Sometimes what is lacking in a family is made up for from friends, even people we don't know sometimes, and of course, God as our Father loves and watches over us all.

So! This is my piece! Darkness over the seas becoming light. The Spirit represented with a stylised dove shape and wispy trails. Bit of artistic license with the suggestion of mountains in the b/g lol but it worked better! I tried the finished piece in black and white and actually liked it but thought it needed to be in cheery colours to give a more positive feel to it. So there we have it! Lots of brush work and a couple of textures!
TFL!

Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - June Week 3

Where has the time gone?! I honestly can't even remember everything we've done this week! 

June Week 3 - A Father's Love

Of the suggested reading, certain seemed to tug at my heartstrings more...and when I looked up the lyrics for Song for the Prodigals, well, I was in tears! I think there's just so much to relate to there!

Romans 8:15 - For the Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead the Spirit makes you God's children, and by the Spirit's power we cry out to God, "Father, my Father!"

2 Corinthians 6:18 - I will be your Father and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

1 John 3:1 - See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great that we are called God's children - and so, in fact, we are. This is why the world does not know us; it has not known God.

Having done the reading, for days I put off even opening Photoshop! I had absolutely no ideas of how to represent the feelings I had! Plus life was throwing some hard stuff at me (still is but I'm feeling stronger about it now!) and that was zapping my creativity. But a few days of that and I was desperate and determined to create something! So I asked for my hand to be guided and opened up Photoshop!

I first thought about using the same kind of image as the past two weeks, but adapting it to show it held within a tear drop...but that didn't work out! So I went back to basics, started with a blank black page (never do that usually!). I had a strong feeling I would be creating an almost abstract piece.

As I played with blending modes and textures, shapes began to appear...and I ended up with something in colours I hadn't expected at all!
Near the end I wanted to add some texture and what I added blew out a lot of the colour over the piece...and I loved the effect! I went back and forth, lol, trying it with and without to see if I should keep the intensity of colour in, but nothing worked better to my eye than how it finished up!

So, here is my piece! Although not specific to family, I think the colours of love within it, the feeling of peace, and the rays almost like arms coming towards us and enveloping all creation speak volumes. After all, I feel it's not just about the humans! The whole of creation is 'family' and should live in harmony and love!
TFL!

Take Me Deeper - June Week 1

This week has been a pretty hard one in several ways, which has really sapped my creativity, but, as always seems to happen, I reach a point where I can look back over things and be amazed that I'm still standing! Hopefully I'll feel able to open up the Photoshop again soon and feel the inspiration for my next Take Me deeper piece! For now, here is what I created for this week:

June Week 1 - Family

I did the suggested reading, but am always drawn to Genesis so that was bubbling away in the background somewhere!

In addition, of all the verses, John 3:16 almost seemed to jump out at me! - For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.

This week I had no image in mind when I opened up Photoshop...absolutely nothing, despite these readings. I sat for hours and played with a couple of photos of mine but it really wasn't what I felt was right. So I gave up that day and left it.

A couple of days later, the words to a hymn started going round and round in my head...no idea why, although it may have been inspired by the HKC Book Club (we're reading The Creative Call) - I seemed to find a lot of TMD and the Creative Call coming together this week! Anyway, it was the hymn based on Psalm 139 by Bernadette Farrell: O God, You Know Me and You Search me. I found verses 1,2, & 5 really spoke to me:

O God, You know me and You search me.
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze,
when I walk or lie down you are before me,
ever the Maker and Keeper of my days.

You know my resting and my rising.
You discern my purpose from afar,
and with love everlasting You besiege me:
In every moment of life and death You are.

For You created me and shaped me.
Gave me life within my mother's womb.
For the wonder of who I am I praise You.
Safe in Your hands, all creation is made new.

Then I searched some old photos of mine of a fantastic sunset, and played with those, and the cloud formations I'd captured, to create this piece. Imagining the creation of the world, and the starting of life appearing on the planet, I wanted something gentle and peaceful with both light and dark...it wasn't easy! This took me a good couple of hours and right until the end almost it was a paler, more pastel coloured piece! But my feeling was to bring in more darkness, so it ended up like this!
TFL!

Take Me Deeper - May Week 5

We had an extra piece to create this week, showing our own personal sanctuary, and I really enjoyed documenting our new patio area which is my sanctuary! Last year, the idea came to me to knock down the large summerhouse at the top of our garden, under the big tree, and in the May school holidays, we set to, having emptied it of all the 'stuff' that had been crammed in there since we moved here in 2010!

In the process of removing the roof structure, hubby fell from the ladder, landing on the concrete floor, and fractured his hip in 2 places and damaged his shoulder. It meant a stay in hospital and 6 weeks off work. he even had to go and stay with his brother for a couple of weeks as the have a downstairs toilet that could be accessed with the wheelchair! So rather a traumatic time for us all!

Throughout the summer, I went almost every day to pick up my cousin, who doesn't drive, and who is very talented in brick and plasterwork, as well as laying patios! As he is a Carer for his nephew, he could only manage a couple of hours every day, but gradually, it all came together and we are now so lucky to have this patio area, under the tree, and which is such a peaceful area (I think there's something special about sitting beneath a great tree!) and has such beautiful light displays as the sun's dappled light shines through the leaves and shadows dance on the walls. I'm very thankful to have this area.

The words on my second piece showing my sanctuary were written for the exercises we're doing in the HKC Book Club - it's not too late to join if you're interested! Just go HERE and click on the Book Club to join! I'm really enjoying it and it really is opening up new ways of thinking and practising my art and trying new things too!

So, here is my regular piece, followed by the extra piece showing my sanctuary:

May Week 5 - Rhythms of Grace Part 2

Jesus as our sustenance - I did the suggested reading and was perhaps drawn more to the following verses as I'm more familiar with those that mention food and drink...

John 6;29 - Jesus answered, "What God wants you to do is believe in the one he sent."

John 6:37-39 - Everyone whom my Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me, because I have come down from heaven to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me. And it is the will of him who sent me that I should not lose any of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them all to life on the last day."

When reading some passages about Life these verses really inspired me. I think I'm drawn to the imagery suggested by the words, and these verses are what influenced my piece this week.

John 8:12 - When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Genesis 1:20 - And God said, "Let the water team with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of sky."

And the words quoted within the devotional are ones I absolutely love! - Numbers 6:24-26 - The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.

I had the image I finally produced in my head and it all came together so smoothly! I did experiment with putting the word 'peace' onto my page but it just disrupted the flow too much so I took it out.

Hopefully my image gives a feel of peace, light and life - the Lord's face shining upon us - with the creatures in the sea suggested and the birds in the sky. God's creation; it's beauty that can help us feel peace and focus on Him.

TFL!

Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - May Week 4

My posting is a little late this week as...we had an earthquake at 2.53am Friday morning!! It was 4.3 on the Richter scale and there have been no reports of any injuries or serious damage thankfully. It's only the second earthquake I've ever experienced, and the first one was during the daytime. This one taking place in the middle of the night and waking us from our sleep was even more disconcerting! I couldn't get back to sleep and spent most of yesterday in a stupor!

I'm feeling a lot better toady though, so here's my thoughts and artwork inspired by this week's devotional!

May Week 4 - Rhythms of Grace

Of the suggested readings these were the ones I felt most drawn to:
Psalm 29:11 - The Lord gives strength to his people and blesses them with peace.

Psalm 46:1-6 - God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and mountains fall into the ocean depths; even if seas roar and rage, and the hills are shaken by the violence.

Psalm 62:1 - I wait patiently for God to save me; I depend on him alone.

Psalm 62:5-8 - I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him. he alone protects and saves me; he is my defender and I shall never be defeated. My salvation and honour depend on God; he is my strong protection; he is my shelter.

Psalm 68:19 - Praise the Lord, who carries our burdens day after day; he is the God who saves us.

Isaiah 26:3-4 - You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you. Trust in the Lord for ever; he will always protect us.

Isaiah 40:28-31 - Don't you know? haven't you heard? the Lord is the everlasting God; he created all the world. He never grows tired or weary. No one understands his thoughts. He strengthens those who are weak and tired. Even those who are young grow weak; young people can fall exhausted. But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed.

This week's piece was one that I actually had planed before starting. Basing it on Psalm 46;1-6 I wanted to portray us being within a cave, safe and protected, (perhaps a cave within the hills and mountains that have been the focus of all my May pieces to date), whilst outside the sea is rising into the mountains and crashing, roaring and raging. What was calm is not in tumult, but we are safe in the shelter of the cave - God's protection for us, keeping us safe - "we will not be afraid."

I have no idea why but this piece had to be done in these dark colours. I started off trying to make it lighter, to continue with the pale, light and calm colours I've used throughout May so far but it wasn't having it! I hope it feels more of a cosy darkness than a scary one though!

The birds and stars are in the sky still representing God's presence and the entire creation being His.

This one took a while and I was totally absorbed in it! It has over 140 layers! I started with about half a dozen textures all blended together and went on from there building up the image - definitely a labour of love!
TFL!

Take Me Deeper - May Week 3

Well, here we are again! After a week that has seemed to drag, it's finally Friday! After this week especially, I feel I need to be thinking about the self care that has been our focus this month in our Take Me Deeper pages. For all the hard 'stuff' we've been through this week, though, we have still been shown the kindness and compassion by others, including people who don't even know us! One more thing to be so thankful for!

So, on to TMD!

May Week 3 - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - Know Thyself

From the suggested readings these were the ones I felt most drawn to and wanted to include the 'feel' of within my art:

Romans 12:3-8 - And because of God's gracious gift to me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you. We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body. So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith we have; if it is to serve, we should serve, if it is to teach, we should teach; if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 - There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served. There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service. The Spirit's presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all.

1 Peter 4:10-11 - Each one, as a good manager of God's different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God. Whoever preaches must preach God's messages; whoever serves must serve with the strength that God gives, so that in all things praise may be given to God through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.

And probably the one that inspired me the most:
Ephesians 4:10-13 - So the one who came down is the same one who went up, above and beyond the heavens, to fill the whole universe with his presence. It was he who "gave gifts"; he appointed some to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ. And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature.

Having kept with the theme of hills and mountains, peaceful places, and calm-coloured pieces this month, this last passage gave me the kernel of an image.
I had the thought of being in a specific part of the hills and mountains I've used in my May pieces so far. I started to create the landscape using random brushes with various photos warped and blended in (bunches of flowers, old Victorian images of bouquets around a field of flowers etc - these images and the lady obtained from Antique Images and Graphics Fairy websites for this piece). I like to think of this process as the digital equivalent of journalling or drawing on a page and then covering it up with gesso and paints - nothing specific can be seen but it still contributes to the overall feel of the piece!

Then I found the beautiful image of the lady and her whole demeanour seemed to be exactly what I was feeling! She was within an image of the sea, so I got rid of that so I could use her as she is now, looking as if she is within a rather craggy landscape, perhaps amongst the hills or mountains shown in other pieces this month!

The white wispiness is back from previous months to represent the Spirit, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 - the Spirit is around her, shown in her, giving gifts. The rock she is leaning upon and actually the whole area where she is has brighter colours, the reds and oranges, representing the Spirit and the gifts and the fruit of those gifts spreading out around her and into the world.
The landscape further afield is kept in the peaceful, lonely place colours - she is there to learn about herself, to begin to know herself better. To me she looks as if she is pondering something, perhaps in prayer. However, that landscape does lack the brighter colours, representing the Spirit, that are around her - she is receiving gifts from the Spirit that she can then take out into the world and 'colour' it with the fruits of the gifts given to her.
I've kept the birds and stars in the sky from the earlier pieces this month to represent the entire universe filled with God's presence, spoken of in Ephesians 4:10-13.

TFL!
Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - May Week 1

I'm feeling rather desperate today! Desperate to get back to creating and having the time at the computer to create and to visit HKC and really focus on those things! There's been a lot of 'life' going on the past couple of weeks! Hopefully things will calm for a week or so now until the next highly stressful event on 11th May - can't really talk about that on here but let's just say I'll be glad when it's out of the way, not for my sake but that of others! 

Anyway, yesterday we had our first visit from the Local Education Authority rep and she was a very nice lady, very supportive, and totally happy with where we are on our Home Education adventure! I wasn't worried but it was still a hoop to have to jump through; but tis done now!

So, onwards for now! As always, if you'd like to join in with Take Me Deeper, just register at His Kingdom Come and join the class! Simple as that! It's a wonderful project and has brought me so many blessings!

May Week 1 - Sustainable Living

I was so ready to read this!! Being aware how it SO much easier said than done though, I was happy to start reading the suggested passages!

I read a lot of Jesus going to 'a lonely place' or being 'alone', praying, and also looking after the Disciples by taking them to 'some place where we will be alone' so they could rest for a while. Going up a hill is mentioned, as is being in a boat.

The Psalms gave strong images of God as our refuge, our shelter, our protector. There were two in particular that really touched me:

Psalm 63:1-5
O God you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you. Let me see you in the sanctuary; let me see how mighty and glorious you are. Your constant love is better than life itself, and so I will praise you. I will give you thanks as long as I live; I will raise my hands to you in prayer. My soul will feast and be satisfied, and I will sing glad songs of praise to you.

and Psalm 121: 1-8
I look to the mountains;
where will my help come from?
My help will come from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let you fall;
Your protector is always awake.
The protector of Israel never dozes or sleeps.
The Lord will guard you;
he is by your side to protect you.
The sun will not hurt you during the day,
nor the moon during the night.
The Lord will protect you from all dangers,
he will keep you safe.
He will protect you as you come and go
now and forever.

So at this point I had a completely different image in my head to what I produced - as usually seems to be the way lol! Focusing more on Psalm 63, I had an image of a dry, parched earth, with rain falling on top and lush green, fertile areas where it fell. However, I didn't get time to actually create anything along those lines, and when I came to re-read everything and actually fire up the Photoshop a few days later, the main thing that I wanted to portray was a sense of peace and calm.

At this stage Psalm 121 pulled me in more, and I wanted to use the image of mountains, also tying in with the Gospel readings that mentioned Jesus going up a hill, to a lonely place - somewhere with no distractions and where he could pray, even all night long, as he wished.

Again this week I started with a couple of textures and blended them, which gave the impression of certain shapes. I was literally amazed as I just pulled in random shapes, using brushes, changed blending modes, and suddenly a mountainous landscape appeared on the page! I created a path leading off up into the hills and kept the colours cool, which I hope gives a feeling of calm and peace! I wanted this to look like a pleasant place not a foreboding one! I added the stars in the sky to illustrate the 'I look to the mountains; where will my help come from?' in Psalm 121 - our Father is always present and there helping us; sometimes we just need to take time out, go up our hill, and feel closer to Him, in order to appreciate that!

TFL!
Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - April Week 4

It was the first week back at school again this week after over two weeks holiday and returning to routine seems to be getting harder! Life has kept me away from the computer a lot and there's been a lot of driving around, but we're planning a movie day and some relaxation for the weekend!

Each day I see or experience something that makes me stop to give pause and realise how much we have to be thankful for. I love that I'm more aware of these things now - just as it should be! One of the things I am regularly inspired by is the kindness and creativeness from everyone at His Kingdom Come! The sense of community, the artwork, the kind words and thoughts and the pure caring so evident there is so uplifting! If you'd like to be a part of this and join in the fun you can find His Kingdom Come HERE!

So with that in mind, here's my piece for April Week 4 - have to say this is possibly my favourite piece of the year so far!

April Week 4 - A Living Hope

I did all the suggested reading and found the following passages from various sources that really spoke to me:

- It is nothing less than an almighty power that will bring a soul to believe in Christ, and to venture its all upon his righteousness, and upon the hope of eternal life.

- If God can spare His Son from defeat by death, he can spare us from defeat by life.

- Here then is the new community, the called-out ones, from both Judaism and paganism, that now constitute the church.

- The fulfilment of the Father's purpose for the Son is his lordship over the church. Jesus, who fills the whole universe with his presence and governs the entire creation with his given authority, finds his completion as Head of the body, the church.

- God wants us to know what is the hope of this calling - your salvation does not rest on you choosing Christ but on his choosing you.

I think the three commentaries I found that really inspired me are these:

- Knowing you are saved because in eternity god purposed to save you, and that His purpose is certain, will give you assurance when struggling with doubt or failure. It will encourage you to go on. It will fill you with thanksgiving, joy and hope.

- The hope of His calling is the certainty of increasing blessing and joy in Christ, beginning now and lasting through all eternity.

If we are the called according to God's purpose, then we know that he is actively working all things together for your good, both in time and in eternity. So even in the most difficult trials, we can be filled with hope.

- ...that God should set such high value on a community of sinners rescued from perdition and still bearing too many traces of their former state, might well seem incredible were it now made clear that he sees them in Christ, as from the beginning he chose them in Christ. (FF Bruce).

Again, I had absolutely no image in my head with which to illustrate hope! I looked up what is said to be the colour of hope...I knew green was was surprised to see also blue and white mentioned. So I wanted the piece to be in those colours.

I again used textures, blended, to create a background 'scene', then added some waves and birds as it seemed to fit better to have a seascape than a landscape this week! As well as hope I wanted to illustrate the almighty power of God as mentioned in the first commentary's words, so I quite liked it being more of a 'rough' image (as opposed to refined!). I darkened the sky on the top right a little and then added stars across the piece to represent the 'whole universe' and 'entire creation', also mentioned above. I also added more tiny birds, in white.

I'm hoping this piece comes across as hopeful and powerful combined!

Created with CU textures and brushes.

TFL!

Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - April Week 3

Another week has passed! It's the school Easter holidays here - normal routine starts again on Monday - and the weather has been glorious! We've done some work in the garden, and, spending time just sitting out there watching our newish rabbits in their run, has given me time to stop and really appreciate what we have around us every day. It's so easy to get wrapped up in things that seem to need our attention and time, and we think of it as a strength to be able to deal with this 'stuff', but actually, sometimes it's stronger to just sit and be and trust that our Father has it all under control and things will resolve in His time. I do believe there are occasions when we must stand up and be counted though. But I'm getting better at keeping more calm about it all LOL!

So, onto the artwork! April Week 3 - Power for Living.

I did all the suggested reading but found Ephesians so powerful:
1:18-20: I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world.

Then:
v.7: I was made a servant of the gospel by God's special gift, which he gave me through the working of his power.

v.12: In union with Christ and through our faith in him we have the boldness to go into God's presence with all confidence.

3:17-19:
I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, so that you, together with all God's people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love. Yes, may you come to know his love - although it can never be fully known - and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.

v.20: To him who by means of his power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of: to God be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus for all time, for ever and ever! Amen.

Although these readings really inspired me, no image was coming to mind. How could I possibly illustrate the power of God? Living in love? God's special gift? I left it a few days before even trying to create anything and was considering an abstract piece. I prayed before starting, to be guided, then opened my Photoshop and started to just play!

I actually used three textures, blended, as my background. This formed a kind of landscape that suggested to me that the viewer is in a cave looking out. There are craggy rocks ahead, leading to a peak, reaching up, high. On the very top of that peak is a small tree. The bright light and rays in the sky are the signs of God's power. That power reaches down and across the whole land and across all creation (represented by the birds). The little tree reaches up towards the light and power and stands tall and firm, where others cannot, through receiving the light and power. No matter how inhospitable the surroundings, the little tree survives and stands strong - as do we, through life's trials, when we live with the love, light and power of God.
TFL!
Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - April Week 2

Well, due to various issues I didn't have the Holy Week I'd hoped for! Easter Sunday was different also...and I still think to myself how weird it is not to be up early and getting ready to play all the hymns at Church for the Children's Family Mass (I 'retired' from playing the organ June 2014)! It would always be quite nerve-racking as there would be so many pieces to play and I had to have the music in the right order to make for faster transitions!
Still, it's a good job we have faith in God enough to sustain ourselves through this time of despair, and can lean on Him to bring us through. I am so thankful for everybody at His Kingdom Come who inspire me so much with their words, their artwork and their kindness. If you would like to join this wonderful community and perhaps take up the Take Me Deeper 2015 Project or another class or three (!!) you can find it all HERE!

Now, to my Take Me Deeper Page for April Week 2 - From Death to Life

I read Romans 6-8 as suggested and noted down a lot of points, including:

- if we have died to sin we cannot live in sin

- we are to think of ourselves as dead, so far as sin is concerned, but living in fellowship with God through Christ Jesus.

- sin must no longer rule in our mortal bodies, so that we obey the desires of our natural self. We must instead give ourselves to God and surrender our whole being to Him to be used for righteous purposes.

- No longer do we serve in the old way of a written law, but in the new way of the Spirit.

- If Christ lives in you, the Spirit is life for you.

- ...the Spirit also comes to help us, weak as we are. For we do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with god for us...And God, who sees into our hearts, knows what the thought of the Spirit is; because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of his people and in accordance with his will

- Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be like the eldest brother in a large family.

- He gave his Son - will he not freely give all things?

Then from 2 Corinthians 5:14-21:

- Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also. Our message is that god was making the whole human race his friends through Christ.

- Here we are then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends! Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.

Then from Collossians 2:13-15:

You were at one time spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were Gentiles without the Law. But God has now brought you to life with Christ. God forgave all our sins; he cancelled the unfavourable record of our debts with its unbinding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross. And on that cross, Christ stripped the spiritual rulers and authorities of their power; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.

Lastly Ephesians 2:1-10:

- In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual power in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.

But God's mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God's grace that you have been saved. In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him to rule with him in the heavenly world. He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of his grace in the love he showed us in Christ Jesus. For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the results of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it.God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.

I then looked for some commentaries on these readings and made some notes on these including this from Matthew Henry:

Paul speaks of the great foundation doctrine of the Gospel. if we believe we might be justified by the faith of Christ and belief in Christ, is it not foolish to go back to the law, and to expect to be justified by the merit of moral works, or sacrifices, or ceremonies?

Paul saw that justification was not to be expected by the works of the law, and that there was no further need of the sacrifices and cleansing of it, since they were done away in Christ, by his offering up himself a sacrifice for us.The effect was not a careless, lawless life. It was necessary that he might live to God and be devoted to Him through the motives and grace of the gospel.

Finally: No man, whom we have reason to believe to be justified by faith in Christ is to be refused either Christian association or Church fellowship.

having read all this and starting to think about an image to represent it all (!) I decided it needed to be kept simple. Firstly I thought about surrendering your whole being and what kind of image could represent that. Next I thought about new life and new creation and images for that. I knew then that I wanted a person looking free, no self consciousness present, fully surrendered to God and new life. I wanted flowers strewn around, as if flying through the air with abandon; in celebration of being free and no longer a slave of sin. Finally I knew I wanted light, bright colours - the darkness of sin has gone!

So this is my piece! The dancing lady just felt so free and full of life! She is dancing on the flower, representing new life. There are small flowers strewn around, flying through the air around her, in celebration. The colours are bright and cheerful with no hint of darkness. The Spirit is represented around her as in previous weeks' pieces. Other accents were added to add to the feeling of light, happiness and abandonment to God. This dancing lady is truly living a new life!

Dancing lady is a CU vector, the flower b/g paper is my own, and everything else is CU brushes.

TFL!

Bernie x