Sticker Burrs & Boken Blue Egg

Woke a little early to work outside. I'm working on getting rid of these spotted clover patches I found. They look harmless, green and kinda sweet. But looks can be deceiving. Upon closer inspection, I see a green little, sticky ball inside this patch. 

The key to maintaining a lively & productive garden, I'm slowly learning, is to identify the good and bad. Leave the good, kill the bad. Knowing is the first step in this battle. I know the truth about those little green balls. I know what it intends to do. It will get in Todd Quinton Morgan 's socks this Summer after mowing, it will get in our garden, it will choke the beauty from our flowers. It will cause pain. I want it gone for Easter so we can celebrate new life. While picking up these burr patches, I started to feel defeated. I can never do all this alone. There's too much here. If I leave just a little on accident it will all come back! Ive already filled a washtub. How much is left? 

Just then, I found a blue broken Robin's egg. Never seen one. I realized what God was speaking to me at this point...

 A reoccurring theme has been circling my walk with Christ over the last 7 years. The theme is "thorns". They were what my late husband, Shannon Seaton, spent his last hours removing from our home. He held armor for it across his chest when he left. Coincidence? No. Message? Yes. I believe this was his last message to me, his family and everyone. "Rid the weeds". In Genesis 3:18, God purposely put weeds on the earth because of our sins. Before that, food grew from the Earth with no labor. Ever since then we had to labor to live. Is we do not uproot the thistle from the ground, it will come back. There is no quick easy way other than pulling it up. I know because before the day Shannon left, he tried every method. He resorted to hands and knees. Hands and knees will rid the weeds. It's a humbling experience that is guaranteed to relieve the pull of the thistle. God says, in Hebrew 12, to run the race of life with perseverance, being careful to not let the snares at our feet entangle us. Lots of us are running with Christ. Thorns still exist on our journey. But if we catch them before they brown & harden, the roots are weaker and the pull is less painful. In all this struggle to get out what slows us down from our walk it can seem as though we will never win. We won't. There's too much of it. We've filled our buckets. If we left any out there, It will just grow back... right? This is False news. Good true NewS!! Easter is here! Something happened. Someone is here in your garden to get rid off all that sticker bur, He's gonna pull it ALL out. He's gonna make it new and beautiful! He's been sitting in the garden the entire time. He was just waiting for you to notice the blue broken egg laying there. Notice the tomb cracked open and laying empty. This is for real!!! Celebrate the end of the thorns! The crown of thorns is replaced with a crown of beauty. God can s look weak to you too. Open your eyes and ears. Go be alone with Him somewhere. Ask Him to help you garden. Ask Him to sit on the porch. ASK him to go on a walk. ASK Him to dance silly with you. Ask Him to come into your pain and pull out the weeds in your heart. Ask Him to soften the soil in your hearts so that love can grow again. Ask Him. He is there. He is alive. I know.

Life before and after Christ. 

Working gloves with sticker bur on them. 

Naked hands with no shame because He defeated death. The tomb is empty. 

Back to Art Class

Making new stuff for YOUR classroom. 

Stop by the store to stock

Up On poster downloads. 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Lost-Sock-Art-Teacher

Our 316 Home

THE HOUSE BEFORE

This 1907 Craftsman Bungalow has been in my vision for 15 years

here in our little town of Mineola, Texas. 

I've taken the long way home just to drive by it on my way through town for a while. 

I admired the large luscious yard, beautiful wrapped porch and sturdy columns. 

It has a very unique charm that is a true treasure to me. 

LOVE IN THE HOUSE

WORKING HARD

CHOICES

Kitchen Tile- Grey and white check

Backsplash- Bordered Subway Tile

HOUSE INSPIRED

My cup runneth over. He gives us more than we need, more than we imagined.

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

for the sake of His name.

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

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 goodness and mercy will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

Luke 6:37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, RUNNING OVER, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Proverb 3:9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,

with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,

and your vats will brim over with new wine.

In Him was Life

I created this drawing based on John 1:4-5.

Breaking this verse down was where I started. The verse is very deep. I asked my husband, Todd, for help with his idea of the verse. We both started simple with the idea of a glowing figure with flame light inside. After further thought, Todd thought of maybe having life showing inside the figure rather than a flame of light. Although this was more challenging, I really liked this idea. 

I see the "Life" as things growing and living. God created life from nothing in the Garden of Eden. Life sprung from Him. He is the Creator. 

That created life was the guiding light of truth for all other Creation to come.

 Life itself is a testament to a Creator. 

Romans 1:20 says, 

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities- His eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse". 

This light that has been there since the beginning, shines in the darkness. We do not have to be afraid of being overcome by sin, darkness or satan. His light is always with us in the dark world if we choose to carry it. By GOd's Son, Jesus, death and darkness have been overcome. He won already. We know the end. It is not a mystery how it will turn out. It is promised. 

1 Corinthian's 15:55-57 says, 

"O Death, where is your sting? O death, where is your victory? For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sing its power. But thank GOD! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I wanted to snake to be in the darkness, looming powerless behind God. 

The butterflies came from this creation and light, 

Ephesians 5:8

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light. 

John 8:12, says

Jesus spoke again to them, I am the light of the world: he that follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 

1 John 1:5 says, 

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 

When the butterflies flutter together in fellowship, they are stronger. 

1 John 1:7

"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin."

If our lights are on in the darkness, the sin cannot hurt us. We are fluttering with His salvation inside us. We are no longer like Adam and Eve, we have Him inside us everywhere we go. There is no forbidden fruit, slithering sneaky snake or lie that can smother the light of the truth. 

Lukie 10 :19 says, 

"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions

 and to overcome all power of he enemy: 

nothing will harm you. "

These butterflies cannot be taken by the snake. 

Satan tried to ruin it from the start with the first created beings. 

But Jesus came and fixed it all, giving the snake no more power. 

The fruitful tree satan once used against us is known for what it truly is... a lie. 

God will have His way, no matter what. 

His way is the whirlwind in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 

Nahum 1:3

So, look up and know that he watches over you. 

If He is for you, then who can be against you?  Romans 8:31

Have peace that He is with you on your journey. 

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 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...

 

 

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.