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. 

Doodle Windows

We have these curved windows in our house that I am not sure how to dress.i do not care for the 80's fan blinds much, attempted a stained glass thing (failure), but really did not want it empty. 

When I taught middle school art years ago, we did some really cool window art that let the light shine through the negative spaces of the designs..,

http://tabithaannthelostsock.blogspot.com/2012_09_01_archive.html?m=1

This was my design for classroom window, poster board with cut out designs. 

My home-----

(Above: circles in various sizes with patterns in between)

Inspired my above design. 

I had white acrylic paint and little bitty brushes. I love to doodle... So, I did it. 

The first window I did, months back in kitchen. 

Succulents above entry. 

Laundry room window. 

Light & Salvation by Tabitha Seaton

I cannot get rid of this image in my head the last week. It is of a strong bold and colorful flower growing toward the sun. It gravitates towards the source of it's strength as if it is only think that matters. Although the other flowers around it are growing a different way, it is not concerned with it's surroundings. The only thing that matters in this landscape is that the flower and "Son" are one. They are beyond the physical realm and exist in the spirit. The "Son" is the Light where the flower is drawn to for strength and the blood is the nourishing Salvation.

Since my life has been drastically changed by circumstance, I feel as though I am this flower. Hard rains may beat me down here, but it's moisture makes me stronger. I am aware there is a season for all things in order to make His will work. In the seasons of storms, I learn to lean on a higher power beyond my own. I am here on earth, knowing it is His plan for me... But my gaze is upward, my heart is His, my hope is Heaven, and my desire to to point others to Him. The more I grow towards the Spirit, the more the things around me become only silhouettes on the horizon. My gaze is higher as I gain a new perspective.

 

 I used the same image here in a lesson example for my students 

while studying Henri Matisse's paper cut out methods.

 

Read more about Matisse Paper Cut-outs here...

 http://thelostsocklife.blogspot.com/2014/04/matisse-paper-cut-outs.html

and how to teach the technique to students here..

http://tabithaannthelostsock.blogspot.com/2014/04/matisse-inspired-lessons.html

Using you gifts to give back to the World...

I remember when I first truly came to know of God's love, all I could do was share my experience with everyone I knew. I felt like a volcano that just had to burst out and spill God's love over the world. I was unstoppable and on fire! I strongly believe that when we are filled up with something from the Lord, that He wants us to use what we were filled with and spill it out to others as a testimony of His love. The lord will fill us up to overflowing! Psalm 23:5 says that our cups runneth over and God provides us with more than we need. He does this out of love for not only us, but in hopes that we will use what is running over to give to others. He gives us more than we can contain in our own life, wanting us in turn to spill out to others what He gives. When we are done, dry, and thirsty... He fills us again. God has an unending supply of His love and is waiting for us to just open up our mouths and ask! Psalm 81:10 says that if we open our mouths wide He will fill it. (John 4:14, John & 6:35) If we let His blessings sit inside ourselves selfishly, they become stagnant, useless, and harmful. James 2:17 says that when we have faith in God and experience and know His love, but do not act upon it by working for and sharing with others, our faith is dead. God's love itself should make us automatically want to give and share what we have been given. 1 John 3:19 says that we love because He loved us first. It is an automatic response to His touch. Everything good in our lives is from God. His word says so...James 1:17.

God gave us all a light. We are supposed to use out light to shine to others to help them see the way to His love. Our talents can be our light! We can use what he has given to help others see Him more clearly through what we create and our actions. Love moves, it acts, it sings, it jumps, it sews, it cooks, it cares, it mends, it is NOT sitting stagnant!

Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let you light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven."

Use your gift and talent to glorify God, not glorify yourself. 1 Peter 4:10-11 says "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace... In everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
If your audience does not appreciate or understand what you are trying to communicate, God knows our  hearts and theirs too. Just do it anyway! So, whatever you gift or talent is, "work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be pain back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality," Colossians 3:23

2 Corinthians 8:8-9 

I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

all Artwork below by Tabitha Seaton

Whether you create music, a theatrical scene, a dance, art, a feast... whatever, 

create for your Creator. 

Colossians 3:23

If you are working for the Lord, whatever it is that you are doing will be blessed.

Read More about this art here...

http://thelostsocklife.blogspot.com/2013/03/lord-bless-work-of-my-hands.html

 

In order to receive the fruit of His love

We should be willing to shake the tree...

Read more about the above and below art here on my art teacher blog...

http://tabithaannthelostsock.blogspot.com/2012/04/keith-haring-semiotics-posters.html

Also see these related topics...

What is the difference between talents and spiritual gifts...?
To summarize the differences between spiritual gifts and talents: 1) A talent is the result of genetics and/or training, while a spiritual gift is the result of the power of the Holy Spirit. 2) A talent can be possessed by anyone, Christian or non-Christian, while spiritual gifts are only possessed by Christians. 3) While both talents and spiritual gifts should be used for God’s glory and to minister to others, spiritual gifts are focused on these tasks, while talents can be used entirely for non-spiritual purposes.
Answer found here..
http://www.gotquestions.org/difference-talent-spiritual-gift.html#ixzz2WLTmPm9j
How Can We Develop Our Talents?

There are certain things we must do to develop our talents. First, we must discover our talents. We should evaluate ourselves to find our strengths and abilities. Our family and friends can help us do this. We should also ask our Heavenly Father to help us learn about our talents.

Second, we must be willing to spend the time and effort to develop the talent we are seeking.

Third, we must have faith that our Heavenly Father will help us, and we must have faith in ourselves.

Fourth, we must learn the skills necessary for us to develop our talents. We might do this by taking a class, asking a friend to teach us, or reading a book.

Fifth, we must practice using our talent. Every talent takes effort and work to develop. The mastery of a talent must be earned.

Sixth, we must share our talent with others. It is by our using our talents that they grow (see Matthew 25:29).

All of these steps are easier if we pray and seek the Lord’s help. He wants us to develop our talents, and he will help us.

Info above found here...

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=321b7befabc20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=198bf4b13819d110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD