Illustrations of the Heart...

I often get inspired after worship at church while sitting and listening to the sermon. My mind's wheels start spinning, producing ideas, hands scribbling all over my paper program in all open spaces, inspired by the Spirit to help others understand how it feels to feel God's love the way I do. Being a Christian is about being set apart from what the world gives. 

In these two pictures, I am showing that when you move with the Maker, you are moving differently than the rest of the world. Things that we do and roads that we walk down may seem crazy to people that are not of the Faith. In the eyes of the world, it doesn't make sense. Honestly, to the Christian.. it doesn't either! That is where trust plays a part. We walk by faith, not by sight. 

2 Corinthians 5:7 

I will never forget the scene from Indian Jones Holy Grain Leap of Faith...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK8vtwhy_JY

Of course it feels crazy to walk blind-folded a path that you cannot see, but in the grand scheme of things.. it is what we see that is temporary and what we do not see that is eternal! 

2 Corinthians 4:18

We are instructed by Christ to NOT FOLLOW the world, but to rise above it.

That is the only way to gain a good perspective of what HIS will is in our lives, to look from His eyes above our bodies (my interpretation)...

Romans 12:2

 

DIFFERENT DRUMMER

by Tabitha Seaton

It's so easy to tap your feet to the beat of a song. Sometimes we follow a song that we don't even understand the words to! That's what the world does. It makes you want to join into the beat, to follow along. We have to be careful not to get carried away by the beat of the world... 

We have to follow the beat and voice of our Shepard and get out of trances of the World. 

Because this world once belonged to Satan... he became the "prince of this world" when he fell from Heaven as an angel of the Lord! John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11

 

TREASURES AT HIS FEET

by Tabitha Seaton

My poem...

All pride aside

no treasure will I hide.

I give it all to you

the only value true. 

All my trophies I lay at your feet

knowing with your love I've won final defeat.

This world holds no value in my heart

your love cherished is my core's deepest part.

I've won the greatest prize

 when I saw true sacrifice in your eyes.

All I win here will be fore your Glory, 

so that my life will shine light onYour story.

Matthew 6:19 Tells is to not store up for ourselves earthly treasures. These things will be destroyed by rust or stolen by thieves in the end. Our true treasure is in the promise that we will be able to enter the Kingdom as children of the King forever and ever. Not because we earned enough trophies, accumulated enough gold, or sat high on a throne here on earth... but because of what HE did and the price HE paid on the cross that will buy our pass into Heaven. Our earthly wealth will have nothing to do with our Heavenly wealth... it actually may have the reverse effect since dependance on money tends to lead to independence from Christ. Matthew 19:24 say that is is harder for a rich man to make it to Heaven just as it is hard for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle. 

Matthew 6:24 also states that if you worship money you cannot worship Him. 

If you try to worship both, you will in turn hate one and love the other. You cannot love God and Money at the same time. 

So, if not money, whatever you rely on that gives you pride... Lay it Down at His feet. 

Make what you do best for His glory, not your own. Be willing to let it all go and let this world see Him through you. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 Says that in all we do (eating, drinking, moving) we should do for others above ourselves to reveal God's glory. It is all for HIM, not ourselves. Since He is in us, we desire to lift others up above ourselves since it is His greatest commandment.

Balance of Faith...

As we walk the road of faith towards the cross we choose to be selfless.

Nobody walks this path perfectly. We often venture off to the sides, knowing that we should not.

One side we walk on is high, so high that we think we don' t need Him. We think we are our own God and that all things are possible though ourselves. We can do anything and need Him for nothing. Everythign we gain is for our glory. We are rich, rightous, and prideful. But, on this plateau of pride, it hurts to fall off. But, through the pain of falling from it, we see the truth.

On the other side of the path, it is low and pull of pits. If we venture here, we feel as though we have nothing to offer God. We feel as though He does not see us and has forgotten us. We are worthless and feel pity on ourselves for being left by Him. But the truth is that we left, not Him. We can always go back. In fact, He is waiting there for us patienly in love, never condeming.

Although the clouds may be grey outside of his love, we are invited to walk with Him daily.

Will you give up your selfish pride or self pity to follow a road unselfishly?

It is not easy, but He gives us strength, guidance, and protection there.

At the end is eternity, peace, and treasure.

Follow and see...

sketch of balance of faith

pre color...

 

I did a Bible Study lesson for Sunday School 

and used this worksheet at our Visual handout on the lesson. 

It has ALOT of valuable scripture about being Prideful, Pitiful, and being on the right path.

You are more than welcome to use it if you like for any study you are using.

Mrs. Raines,,,She Rained Love.

I started this school year off sitting through in service the same as I always do.

But, one thing was different. Our new Superintendent  Dr. Fuller, challenged us to think back to a certain teacher that made a real positive influence in our lives. 

I knew for sure who I would pick... but I was not really sure why.

I always loved my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Raines, the best out of all of my teachers.

To be honest, I really did not like 2nd grade at all. I was the chubbiest girl in my class, not the sharpest crayon in the box, and did not really have a friend to call my own. 

I spent that year hopelessly devoted to Michael Paul (front row, far left in space uniform) who was unfortunately not so in love with me. I know this because he gave me the nickname, Tubby Tabby. Ouch! But, he was not heartless. His heart just belonged to Tracey (front row, far left). Never the less, I chased him around the playground... and he chased her. One day, out of pure rage and jealousy, at recess I threw a rock at him. Mrs. Raines never sent me to the principal's office, my guilt was enough punishment.

In general, life was awkward and I did not have a whole lot of self esteem.

But Mrs. Raines saw something in me that nobody else had seen. As an artist and teacher, I get asked a lot by my students, "When did you know you were an artist?". 

I tell them 2nd grade. 

That is because of Mrs. Raines. 

My first grade teacher, Mrs. W (I tried to forget her last name, and her long flesh digging fingernails), 

did not make me feel like an artist. I do not remember her seeing any good in me at all. All she saw was the negative and that was all she gave in return. But 2nd grade brought new hope to my life. I remember my first picture that was on display. It was big eyed green alien. I loved the color green and had a soft spot for rare and strange creatures. As it hung in the room for parent/teacher night, I felt pride for the first time. I remember my mother coming, along with all the other parents, to this special evening in the classroom. We were all supposed to independently read a poem by Shel Silverstien and act it out. I was assigned "Lazy Jane". Now, like I stated before, I was not the sharpest girl. But, I think that Mrs. Raines gave me just the right poem for what she knew I could do. It was long, which made me feel very important. But, she did give me one that was simple as well. Just her doing this makes me realize how she thought about us as individuals. She took our abilities and egos to heart, being careful not to set us up for embarrassment.

Here is the poem. I still remember it by heart and will type it without even looking it up. 

Lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy Jane.

She wants a drink of water so she 

waits and waits and waits and waits and waits 

for it to rain....

I not only read Lazy Jane, but I read it was great genius... or at least that is the way I remember feeling about my performance. I remember laying on the ground, reading the words and at the end, opening my mouth up really big pretending to wait for the rain. 

I am the big girl, third from left on the middle  row.

This was the year I felt like somebody special, because Mrs. Raines made me feel life a star.

She made me feel good at something and it made it easier to focus on the good things about myself and elementary life. Kids still picked on my up until 5th grade, when I lost some of my weight and got a clue about my appearance.

This was also the first year I won the big art contest, Houston Rodeo Art. 

This was the picture I created below in Mrs. Raines class that year.

We all went to the Houston Livestock show to see it on display... oh, and to see the Rodeo of course.

Life's roads took me down the same road to being a teacher, just like Mrs. Raines. 

I try to remember to take the time to look deeper into my students, to pull out their best

while considering how they all have different abilities.

I am forever grateful to Mrs. Raines. Without her to encourage me and see the best in me, I may not be where I am today. 

God Bless Mrs. Raines and all teachers like her.

Read and see more about this special lady in my autobiographical comic...

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

Hampster on a Wheel... be still!

God made me a creative being, and he gave me a talent as a way to let it out of me. 

I am so blessed and grateful for that that sometimes I can't stop to see what His plans are for all the stuff I created. I sometimes get so wrapped up in it that I become prideful and catch myself practicing my acceptance speech in front of the mirror for when I win my giant trophy in front of millions of adoring fans!

I hear them yelling out my name, snapping photos, and throwing me their Lost Socks and roses...

Sometimes I get so busy doing what I do, I forget to talk to God and stop to ask myself why I am doing it.

I have so many plans, so many dreams, so many ideas!

I can't sit still sometimes. 

I want all my books published, all my LostSocks sold.

I want to be in Better Homes Magazine and more!

I run and run to get it all done, faster... faster...

I am a Hampster on a Wheel, can't be still!

Gotta go, Gotta go!

Can't talk now...

Come back later...

Kids go take a nap...

leave mommy alone...

The world is MINE MINE MINE!

I know I have felt like this before, 

hmmmm...some place, some time, 

But not time to remember!!!

BAHAHAHAHHH!

(Read where I have, here...Judas's Perfume)

http://thelostsocklife.blogspot.com/2013/03/judass-perfume-stinks-my-socks-do-not.html

But then...

shhhhhhh. I heard something... something small and still, 

It's Him!

He was just waiting there patiently for me to realize this.

A Hampster on a wheel runs in vain.

Hampster on a wheel, BE STILL, and know, I am God.

Psalm 46:10

I stop, be still, take a breath...

and remember...

That big trophy I am in such a hurry to get...

all the stuff I want to happen, all the fame I can't wait to attain...

If I do ever get it, it will come in His time and His plan.

Cause if I got it my way, it would be a disaster.

But if I do, by any small chance...

I should lay it all at His feet. 

He is the one that deserves all the glory. He Created me so that I could create all this...

Without him, none of this would be possible.

Then I ask myself why do I try so hard?

Is it for me, or Him?

Is what I am creating a reflection of my Creator? 

Then I ask him to prune all my vanity away. Bring me back to where I should be.

Be patient and trust His control. 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.                                                                           1 Peter 5:7                                  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Then the peace floods back to my life. All anxiety is lifted away life a weight off my shoulders. Daddy will take care of it. You just be my child again and let me take control. This is what I love...

So, God I am trusting you with all I do. 

I will keep having fun making stuff. 

Please bless my work and let it glorify your Name. 

One day you will look at me and say, 

Well done my good and faithful daughter.

That will be the only trophy I need. 

I love you...

View the poem and illustration of this post...

http://thelostsocklife.blogspot.com/2013/03/hamster-on-wheel-art-and-poetry.html

MY PROJECTS

that keep me busy...

My Thrifty Secret Jounal

An illustrated journal about not being afraid to get your hands dirty for the sake of fashion.

Get over yourself and head to the "stinky store". 

One person's trash is another girls next Fashion Statement!

My Art Teacher Blog

http://tabithaannthelostsock.blogspot.com/

A blog full of fun lesson plans for any art teacher.

Showcases artwork from the kids I teach.

The Creator

A book for kids to understand God's love for His creation. 

God is the artist, we are the canvases.

This book attempts to tell the Bible from a unique perspective...

It is still in the works.

The Lost Sock

This is a book about a little girl who finds hope in the hopeless.

She discovers that a Lost Sock does not have to be lost...

With a little love and creativity, she makes a new friend.

MINDY SERIES

Mindy's Magic Timeship

This is the beginning of Mindy's Misadventures...

She uses her thrifty wit to put together a time machine.

She also finds out what not to do with it!

OOps!

Mindy plans a way to still be mischievous, and not get caught...

only her plans don't go as well as expected.

Mindy procrastinates her Art History homework and needs a way to make up for lost time...