Cardinal Tree

Cardinal Tree

In order to dance and succeed,

you must let Him take the lead.

No matter your plans,

You are in His hands.

So, be still

and accept His will.

Let loose of what you want to do

and grow where He plants you.

You are the one God sent,

so get comfortable in your environment.

All around, His blessings are blooming.

So, stop uprooting what He's doing.

Don't brush away

the birds that want to stay,

Listen to then sing

and be a branch for their weary wing.

He's growing so many branches for so many birds,

Many opportunities for your encouraging words.

Keep growing where he planted you,

Trusting His plan will prove true.

 

Poem by me, Tabitha Morgan

 

I made these picture below that coincide with the portrait.

 

 

STORY BEHIND THE PICTURE

 

I  LOVE DRAWING!

but,  I really hate drawing portraits.

I feel like everything I do looks like Trisha's Portrait

from Napoleon Dynamite.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JNYttUZRKc

 

But I pushed through and did all lot of work (like 3 hours) on the bottom lip. lol

for real though, I did.

So, I guess it turned out ok. It's the idea of it that I am happy with.

 Many things inspired me to create this picture.

But it all came together in my mind this weekend after the TAEA Conference.

 

Mostly my teaching position over the last 4 years inspired this picture.

 

I taught middle school art for 10 years and loved it. I felt happy, successful, wise and confident in my career. I had a life change and moved to another town and taught elementary art. I KNOW it was a God move. I prayed about it and He gave me very clear signs that I was to be at the grade level and this school. I teach at Krahn Elementary and we are the CARDINALS.

I love my little cardinals, really. But, my first 3 years there I felt

sad, unsuccessful, clueless and defeated. Kindergarten ate my lunch for 3 years. I did not want to make teacher friends because I knew I didn't want to stay. I distanced myself from anything that brought me comfort because staying was not MY plan.

Proverbs 19:21, says,

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."

 Every year I tried to switch grade levels.

Each year I was unsuccessful with transferring. Finally, I decided after three years to just stop fighting my spot. I had to quit being stubborn and start being still. I had to take my shoes off, get comfortable, stay a while, let my roots loose in the dirt, trust God, try to do my best, look at the positive and grow where I was planted. I prayed for His perspective, strength, wisdom and acceptance.

I'm happy to say, This year things are different.

I don't even want to leave anymore. Not even on my hardest days. My cardinals are my children. What I once saw as a curse, I see as a blessing.

I teach the ENTIRE SCHOOL! This is hard, yes. But hard is good.

Hard is resistance. Resistance gives strength. I am the teacher these kids will have consistently from K-5. Art may be their safe place. Art may be their only light all day. I will get to see them grow from babies to young adults. This IS a BLESSING.

 The background...

TAEA 2017 Conference in Galveston, Texas

Native Lee (Speaker at conference) and her paper bag technique,

Matthew Brundage (Copic Marker guy),

Marantha Liga (Artist of "Wishing Tree Me") on display at TAEA,

 



Hope for the Tree

Doing What's Good

 

 

"Let Us Not Grow Weary of doing what's GOOD, for in due season we will Reap A Harvest." This verse keeps popping up in front of me this last couple weeks. I think God is trying to tell me something. Too often we "do good" hoping to get praise from humans. Too often nobody notices and we get all bent up. Do you clean house hoping the kids will notice? Have fun with that! Do you work hard at your job hoping your boss with throw you a bone? May never happen. As a teacher, the ki...ds at school that do good just becuase they see me holding stickers behind my back get on my nerves! Am I that kid? Just hoping for a pat on the back?
In reality, we ( or "I" really) should be happy to do good when NOBODY sees us. For it is these "good things" that He sees. These good deeds that do not gain us earthly praise that He holds onto and gives us blessing either here or in eternity. They are the riches. Character is what you are in the dark, right? So, do good always. No matter if you are noticed by anyone. Know that He notices is proud of you, His child. If we hunger fro human appreciation for every good deed we do, we will starve. Look to Him above who sees it all. He loves you.

Pray First

 

Philippians 4:6

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

 ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Illustrated Lyrics of Faith

Drawing the lyrics of my Christian Playlist.

Making the most of my time.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO9LCmjm5f0

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXL0dTzK5mc

 



Illustrated Truths continued...

Psalm 56

Lord, have mercy on me; all day long the enemy troops press in.

So many are proud to fight against me; how they long to conquer me.

^3-4 But when I am afraid, I will put my confidence in you.

Yes, I will trust the promises of God. And since I am trusting him,

what can mere man do to me? ⁵ They are always twisting what I say.

All their thoughts are how to harm me. 

⁶ They meet together to perfect their plans;

they hide beside the trail, listening for my steps, waiting to kill me.

 ⁷ They expect to get away with it. Don’t let them, Lord. In anger cast them to the ground.

⁸ You have seen me tossing and turning through the night.

You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle!

You have recorded every one in your book.

⁹ The very day I call for help, the tide of battle turns.

My enemies flee! This one thing I know: God is for me! 

 ^10-11 I am trusting God—oh, praise his promises!

I am not afraid of anything mere man can do to me! Yes, praise his promises.

 ¹² I will surely do what I have promised, Lord, and thank you for your help. 

¹³ For you have saved me from death and my feet from slipping,

so that I can walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

 

1 Peter 3:3-4

New International Version (NIV)

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

I love this quote from Kid President.

It is similar to others I have heard.

 

"Nobody cares about how much you know,

until the know how much you care."

 

and

 

"It's nice to be important,

It's more important to be nice."

 

It all reminds me of what The Bible taught us...

 

Philippians 2:3-5

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

 Let each of you look not only to his own interests,

but also to the interests of others.

Have this mind among yourselves,

which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Think on These Things, Philippians 4:8

 

My most common spiritual weakness is my pessimistic thoughts. My mind complains, gripes, insults myself and others in my weakest moments. I have found that there are ways to "flip the switch" in my head. One is turning on my Spiritual Music, another is counting my blessings, and finding a way to give praise for what I am complaining for. God wants us to think of GOOD things.

This is harder and goes against the human grain. Every action we make was once a thought,

so before you speak it or do it,

Think it through.

 

T- is it TRUE

H- is it HELPFUL

I- Is it INSPIRING

N- Is it NECASSARY

K- Is it KIND?

 

Philippians 4:6-8

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Romans 12:2

 

do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

 

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing

 

Here I sit in the middle of Hurricane Harvey, high and dry in my house.

Work is cancelled and school too. What to do, what to do.

I see the news filled with people blessing others. I am so proud of my community.

I feel antsy just sitting and watching...

How can I use my time and not waste it?

How can I give back?

I know the Word of God,

I have an abundance of inspiration and creativity,

(Sometimes too much and time is too little!)

AND God has given me the time in this rainy week.

 

 God blesses us with gifts, talents and time?

Do you have a boat? Go rescue storm refugees.

Do you have extra clothes? Go give to the wet ones.

Do you bake? Make cookies for your flooded neighbor.

Do ALL THIS in the Name of Christ!

 

Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30

If God gives you talents, do not bury them in the dirt to keep them safe out of fear.

Invest them, use them, be brave to put them out there.

For if you use what God has given you, he will be happy with you.

^" For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance."

 

DONT IGNOTE WHAT GOD GIVES YOU TODAY!

or it can be taken away...

This was told to the rich fool that stored away all his harvest for the future,

instead of trusting God to provide him with daily needs.

When he finally had time to use it, he was gone.

See Luke 12:13-21

We cannot take our "harvest" with us, so share it today.

 

YOU ARE BLESSED!

It's not by Luck of Chance or some changing thing that you have the good things you have.

 

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Treasures in Heaven

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

Hebrews 13:16

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

 

Galatians 6:9

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

 



Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

 

 

Matthew 5:40-41

And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.

If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.

(Go the "extra mile")

 

IN your good works and deeds, do not expect earthly praise.

Let your Father in Heaven clearly see your work.

For he is the only one that needs to know.

At times this is hard because people may be around you when you work,

for instance: what if you are a preacher or helping flood disaster.

How can you do that in secret? You cannot.

The most important thing in these circumstances is to bring glory to your Father in the act.

For example, "I give you these cookies in Jesus's Name" or put a note on the cookies that says,
"In Christ's Love". Basically, put the spotlight on HIm and give HIm the glory. He is what the blessing came from in the first place, you are just giving it back.

 

Matthew 6:1-2

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

 

I hope these illustrations will stay in your heart and be an inspirational reminder to you that

YOU ARE BLESSED!

God wants to give you more and wants to see you share it with your

Brothers and Sister in Christ.

When your kids share the things you give to them, doesn't it make you proud?

Does it not make you want to do it more?

Be Blessed this week.

Stormy Day Art

It's often that in the storm is where people find inspiration.

Watching the news on Hurricane Harvey, seeing people step up in love to help inspires me to help in my own way from home.

Through my art I hope to encourage people to help others out of love, without expectation of return.

I hope others remember what is important in life. There are temporary things in life  that can be replace and eternal things that last forever.

I will keep creating beyond the storm...

 

 

Moths Destroy

Intricate design woven and weaved by artist hands,

Imported beauties shipped from other lands,

things to treasure and lock away,

and things worth much money we pay.

The world finds comfort in which to things we cling

to some special item or beautiful thing.

 

But there is a higher perspective from a Father so tall,

that the things we see here have no value at all.

For moths come to eat till it all fades to nothing,

we choose to cry in sorrow or in praise we can sing.

Do we love the things or the Creator of all?

Is our perspective big or is it too small?

I pray you see it with an unseen spiritual gaze

instead of continuing in the world's tangible ways.

by Tabitha Morgan

 

 

 

 

Here in South Texas we are under flood advisory. At times like this, it helps me to realize what is most important. It's not things we see, but things we cannot.

Here in preparation for the storm, are we preparing our hearts as well?

Are we not only stocking up on bread to eat, but stocking up on the daily bread of Christ?

Read the WOrd of God today and everyday to know the truth.

 

 Take these words at truth and memorize them to prepare you for the storm.

Deauteronomy 11:18-20

18“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 19“You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. 20“You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,

 Yes, you should prepare for a storm in many ways. But do not conform to the ways of the world in fear. Trust God Daily with your needs.

God Warns against this hoarding of riches in place of daily trusting Him.

Luke 12:13-21

 

Matthew 4

But he answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

This music video is perfect for this verse...

Shane and Shane, Though You Slay Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUPz6_TciY&list=PL81E68F5A1F0FA410&index=96

 

 

Things in the storm may wash away. This is God's will for us to cling to Him in knowing that He is the only rock to stand on in the storm. He is the firm foundation on which we stand.

If a storm is what I takes to praise Him, then bring the rain!

Listen to this song...

Mercy Me, Bring the Rain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kseRKxkq5iY&list=PL81E68F5A1F0FA410&index=97

 

 

Matthew 6:19-21

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.…

 

 

I pray that these images I created and words of truth bring you closer to Christ.

 

 

Instrument of your PEACE

My teacher friend, Rachel, gave me this cup a couple years a go before we were real friends. 

It was a "Thank You" gift she graciously gave for a mural I painted for her kindergartners. 

It is my favorite cup to drink from in the mornings. At the time she didn't know me that well, but her choice of gift really captured my style in may ways. I love this cup. I'm kinda particular about me mugs. It may be silly, but it has been a post of mine before. 

http://thelostsocklife.blogspot.com/2013/04/clouds-in-my-coffee-obsession-with.html

so.....

I love to look at the designs on this particular mug.

 The love the colors, shapes, variety of emphasis and patterns.

The Cup of Inspiration

Prayer of Inspiration

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offense, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.

My Color Pallette.

I used a painting that I had created before that I love. 

My dad had gotten the framed painting from an auction along with many many more. He offered it to me to use however I wanted. I challenged myself to take what was made before and build over the existing colors to create something of my own. 

This is what I ended up with. 

Before

 After

 

This picture always make me think of this song.

It's about taking old broken things, giving them to God and seeing what He can create. 

Listen... 

You Make Beautiful Things

Song byGungor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1spkhp41ig4&list=PL81E68F5A1F0FA410&index=57

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STARTING THE PICTURE...

I used ideas from the mug, but the words of the prayer for my text. 

I started with a brown Sharpie. I drew only the lines that I did not want to bleed away with the water brush that I planned on adding later. On the cup, some of the lines are dark and stand out. SOme of the other images (flowers, leaves) are blurry and light. This was my focus for the picture. 

I then used my daughters markers (washable in may colors) to fill in some of the details. 

After I filled some in, I applied a thin water brush to some areas in order to smear the color. It's kinda like a watercolor marker technique, but with non intended markers. 

 I am very happy with the end result. I have been staring at the mug many mornings, wondering when I would make art to reflect what I love about it. And I am even more happy that the meaning points others in the direction of my Lord and Father Jesus Christ. The greatest blessing is being able to be used as an instrument of Peace for Him. 

Wreath Painting

My big sister, Debby Ditta is a baby photographer. 

Go see her work. Her talent shines bright. 

http://debbyditta.photoshelter.com/

I have been helping her lately with her shoots. It is a hard job that I really never thought would be. It takes a patience and creativity that only certain people have, people like my sister. I am making this wreath for an addition to her picture props. I am praying that every baby that lay inside this wreath be blessed and surrounded by His Peace for their long life. 

I drew the wreath with a pencil very lightly first. 

I then used water soluble markers and outlined the leafs. I changed in varying shades of greens, grays and browns to add variety. 

Leaving the inside of the leave white, I started to paint with a small brush using only water. This blended the colors together to make unique colors. 

THE END

Guide to Finding Love

These images have been dug deep from my heart as a guide to anyone looking for a closer relationship to Love. I spent my life (till the age of 29) knowing God was there, but only feeling Him from a distance. This created a hole in my heart that I was continually trying to fill with things of this world.

 I was left unsatisfied...

I did not know how to find Love.

 But, Now I do.

Once I found Love and it overflowed in my life, I began writing out my testimony.

It is unfinished, as God is not finished with me. 

But I am working on the emotional time of readiness to dive back into completing the book soon.

My Illustrated Testimony shows the importance of finding love in my life.

It was something I never knew how to do until I was taught how, 

It changed my life.

http://thelostsocklife.blogspot.com/2013/03/supertab-autobiographical-comic-of-my.html

HOW THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO....

FIND LOVE. 

BE STILL INSIDE

This is the hardest part! To sit down, be still and listen... near impossible. If it's not the kids, spouse, work, dogs or surroundings that distract us... it's our own minds! Our mind gets filled with thought of the Earth; paying bills, getting taxes filed, getting the dogs their shots, feeding the children... whatever. We can't possibly hear

 His Still Small Voice (1 Kings 19:11-13) if we have a thousand other voices trying to make us anxious. Satan knows this... so... he likes to whisper words of doubt to keep us busy all day long. It's easy to fear things that you cannot control. This even happened to Jesus, yes, really. He had times of anxiety that he had to escape the world in order to hear his Father's voice. But there's somebody that wants to help...

 

My art (above)

God wants to take our burdens, 

calm us down, give us peace and free us from anxiety that binds us.. He says so.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jamie Grace sings about it here...

LOVE THIS SONG!

https://youtu.be/3lBtnreAcAE

Psalm 46:10
He says, "Be still, and know that I am God:"

Here are times when Jesus had to be alone, escape people, be 

still and quiet to hear His Father's voice...

And early in the morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there. 

( Mark 1:35)

And immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the multitude away. And after bidding them farewell, he departed to the mountain to pray.

 ( Mark 6:45-46)

And they came to a place called Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here until I have prayed." And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch." And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground, and began praying.

 ( Mark 14:32-34)

And when day came, He departed to a lonely place; and the multitudes were searching for Him, and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from going away from them.

 ( Luke 4:42)

But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

 ( Luke 5:16)

And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. ( Luke 6:12)

from Super Tab (above) 

My art (above)

LET THE EARTH MELT AWAY

I know when I'm on a mission to hear God's voice, I get distracted by the world around me... things around me that I feel touching my skin, things I see around me that are unsettling, things I hear that try to pull me away or make me loose concentration... pretty much every human sense can cause me to stray away from my mission. The world is physical. God is spiritual. He is inside us... deep and quietly waiting.

John 4:24

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

1 John 2:15

"Do not love the world or anything in the world.

 If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 

Romans 12:2

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to discern what is good, pleasing and perfect will of God."

2 Corinthians 4:18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, 

but what is unseen is eternal. 

IMAGINE A NEW PLACE

Psalm 23:1-6

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul. 

He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for You are with me:

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil: my cup overflows. 

Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

from SuperTab (above)

SEEK LOVE

1 John 4: 

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

We could try our whole lives to find love from the Earth. Earthly love will fail. It can try to do the job, but will come short every time. People disappoint, let us down, discourage us... I know through God relationships can be healed. I know it. But it is THROUGH GOD, that it can be healed. His love through us, our pride aside with our forgiving hearts humbled. Without God, without LOve, it is impossible. So, before you can try to seek love from things, pets, or people of the earth... 

He is the source of where it all comes from.

Seek Him... He will be there. 

It is His deepest desire.

Jeremiah 29:12-14
"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, declares the Lord"

Matthew 7:7
Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.

Deuteronomy 4:29
"But from there you will seek the LORD your God,
and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul."

from SuperTab (above)

It was here, for the first time I met with Jesus. 

I asked Him the questions in my heart. 

He filled my emptiness and overflowed my heart holes with abundant spiritual satisfaction. 

These were holes nobody on this earth knew were there, not even me. Only my Creator knew. 

He showed me hurts I had buried deep and hid away until i forgot they were there. He restored my soul, just as His word said. 

His promises are true. 

I pray with all my heart that you will find time to be alone to meet Him in your secret place of Peace. 

It is what Jesus said ever time He met with His disciples, "Peace be with you..".

The Holy Spirit is here for that very reason. I big price was paid so that you could have that Peace with you always and everywhere. Let go of the world and find what really matters.

What will last for an eternity when all the things that we worry about are gone and over... 

He will be there waiting. He is there waiting now.