Would you like to join me?

Summer is here and I've been spending some time re-organizing my artistic journeying and re-considering how I want to move forward. Truth be told, as much as I still enjoy painting, I have felt a calling in the past few years to go back to my first love which is drawing. Drawing also seems to fit better with the other demands on my time right now. 

For those of you who follow my painting blog , you have probably already noticed that I have not painted in awhile. I'm not stopping it all together, just delving into some other interests. Several people have inquired about my lack of posting on Heart-In-Hand. Truthfully, the time I used to spend writing longer posts is not a luxury I have or desire to focus on at this point. 

BUT, I have forged a new little adventure (actually two!) which focuses more on my drawings and I would love it if you would join me along the way. Introducing: 

You may remember that I introduced you to Viola Blue and Phineas Frog several months ago in a Heart-in-Hand post. I decided that they deserved their own spot and have created a blog just for them, entitled PB and Joyly (click on the link to check it out). It's my hope that PB and Joyly will be a cartoon that all ages can relate to. It's my goal to create something parents can enjoy and share with their kids and then perhaps start a discussion. If you would like to follow along on their journeys, you can subscribe on the blog page and an email will be sent to you whenever there is a new posting.

I also wanted to find a way to share the little drawings (cartoons, really) that appear in my daily Bible readings. Because they are very different from PB and Joyly, I wanted them to have their own blog as well, so I created "Morning Glories and Graces." 

I am challenging myself in this blog to keep it simple, offer drawings that will get people thinking and see what happens if I try to "grow" this lifelong love I've had for cartooning. I'm very excited and hope you will join me by subscribing here. 

Thank you all for the support you've given me over the years and I'm serving up a full portion of gratitude for all that brought me to this place, here  and now. It's a little scary starting something new (inner dialogue: this is crazy, I don't need something else to do, what if I fail, it's going to be a lot of work...yada-yada), but I'm bolstered by the support of friends and the strong hope and desire that I am honoring God with the talents he gave me.

Thank you, CS Lewis

If I could write a thank you note to any writer of the past, I think it would be CS Lewis. I told my daughter the other day he's my "literary crush" when it comes to writings of faith and spiritual guidance. My favorite collections of his writings are "CS Lewis: Words to Live By" and "Yours, Jack" (a compilation of his personal letters). Lewis is a word crafter and I revel in the fact that he doesn't spoon feed cliches...he's straightforward, and yet, his words must be digested and considered, processed and translated by the reader.

Seldom do I read Lewis and find myself done. Like yeast, his words and imagery leaven and grow through personal reflection. I'll leave you with this for an example:

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” 
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Dragons Can Be Beaten

God Has Something Bigger in Mind

When I read a "God is my shield" reference in the Bible, you can bet I underline it. It always feels good to be reminded and we can find many passages in the Bible referencing "shields."

In Psalm 3, David reflects on trusting God in times of adversity as he despairs that in the eyes of his enemies, there is "no help for him in God." But David knows better and proclaims:

"But YOU, O Lord,

are a shield around me,

my glory,

and the one who lifts my head" (v3)

This isn't any tiny shield David is referring to. Charles Spurgeon defines the use of the word shield here:

"Shield in the original signifies more than a shield;

it means a BUCKLER round about, a protection

which will surround a person entirely.

A shield above, beneath, around, without and within."

In this world we face battles - sickness, anxieties, pain, loss - there is no protection that keeps us sheltered from experiences that shatter our confidence. In fact, our life experience is a battle of confidence and the world can be quick to set us to doubting who we go to for help. King David knew the only kind of real help comes from God, our Father, who lifts our head in holy confidence reminding us that the very creator of heaven and earth is above, beneath, around, without and within us.

Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” (John 16:31-33 MSG)

A New Artistic Journey

Over the past 6 months, I've debated back and forth with myself about where Heart-In-Hand is going and whether I should continue it or close this chapter. 

The answer that I keep coming back to is not to continue its old format, but a revised approach might be interesting. In large part, this is due to my return to the working world where my time is more divided and not conducive to hours spent pondering and writing like I enjoyed in the past.

I feel a little sheepish sharing this new approach with you because it is SO different from previous postings...and I have lots of doubts! Will you think I'm silly? Will it all be just too simple?! Is it even ready to be presented? In the midst of these thoughts: "Just go for it. See what happens. It will be fun!" 

Ever since I was a young girl, I have loved drawing cartoons. I don't even know that I'm necessarily good at it - but I enjoy it. About a year ago, a small girl appeared in my drawings, accompanied by a frog. (Yes, it's like those authors who write books and say their main characters showed up in their writings out of nowhere - weird, I know!) I kept drawing her, but I didn't know what to "do" with her. Her name is Viola Blue. She has a good heart and means well, but is often side-tracked and misses the point. That's why her sidekick and friend, Phineas Frog spends much of his time trying to get her back on track. (Read F.R.O.G. "fully rely on God")

I introduced her into my "Psalm Sunday" readings and sketched her alongside some of my favorite verses. It became a goal to try and pull some simple truths out of my readings and draw her into them. I suppose I could keep her for myself, but what would be the fun of that? With the goal of keeping it simple and joyful - like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich :0) - "Peanut Butter and Joy" was born. 

I'm not sure if PBandJoy will be a part of every entry from now on, but a briefer more artistic approach to Heart-in-Hand is definitely part of the new direction. One thing hasn't changed since I first started Heart-In-Hand over 5 years ago...my desire to share with others the things that inspire me and touch my heart with the hope that you may be lifted up and inspired as well.

So, if you are inclined to join me on this new artistic journey, I would welcome your continued support and sharing. 

And here is your first "PBandJoy": 

Unspeakable Joy

 

WE forget that we are
CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT
            "For GOD, who commanded the light to shine
out of darkness,
          hath shined IN OUR HEARTS,
to give the light of the knowledge of
     the glory of God
                 in the face of
                               JESUS CHRIST."

                                                                   ~Marion Hinton

1 Peter 1:8

Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do not [even] now see Him, you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy.

Along the Traveled Mile

The photo above was taken at dusk by my son from the passenger side of his truck. Besides it being striking (and that I love images with roads!) it pleased me that the beauty of the moment caused him pause and that it meant enough to him to stop and capture the beauty of it in an artistic way on his camera phone. Creation is all around us - beauty is all around us - if we take the time to appreciate it. And here I have a teenage boy doing just that. Hurrah! 

I asked him if I could use it for my blog and found this poem by one of my Dad's favorite writers which I thought was a perfect pairing. Read to the end because the end isn't quite what the beginning might have you thinking...

The Finer Thought

Edgar Guest

How fine it is at night to say:

I have not wronged a soul to-day.

I have not by a word or deed,

In any breast sowed anger's seed,

Or caused a fellow being pain;

Nor is there on my crest a stain

That shame has left. In honor's way,

With head erect, I've lived this day.

When night slips down and day departs

And rest returns to weary hearts,

How fine it is to close the book

Of records for the day, and look

Once more along the traveled mile

And find that all has been worth while;

To say: In honor I have toiled;

My plume is spotless and unsoiled.

Yet cold and stern a man may be

Retaining his integrity;

And he may pass from day to day

A spirit dead, in living clay,

Observing strictly morals, laws,

Yet serving but a selfish cause;

So it is not enough to say:

I have not stooped to shame to-day!

It is a finer, nobler thought

When day is done and night has brought

The contemplative hours and sweet,

And rest to weary hearts and feet,

If man can stand in truth and say:

I have been useful here to-day.

Back there is one I chanced to see

With hope newborn because of me.

This day in honor I have toiled;

My shining crest is still unsoiled;

But on the mile I leave behind

Is one who says that I was kind;

And someone hums a cheerful song

Because I chanced to come along.

Sweet rest at night that man shall own

Who has not lived his day alone.

Keep Dancing (Trough or Peak or In-Betweens)

It's been far too long since my last blog entry! I'm in a time of transition - good things happening, but I'm also trying to decide how I want to move forward with "Heart In Hand." I feel certain I don't want to give it up, but I can't seem find my next step either. I come across so many little things I want to share with you, but I have this bad tendency of thinking if I don't spend days and days on it (as in the past), it won't be blog worthy. I'm trying to figure out how I transition to a more practical application for my blog when it comes to my busy life. I'm not sure of the answer to yet, but I did find a wonderful quote over the summer by CS Lewis that made me think it's okay (even Spirit driven?) to sometimes sit back and see what happens:

"What would I do now if I had a full assurance that this was only a temporary trough?" and having got the answer, go and do it...it may be good advice to not even try to do in the trough all you can do on the peak."

So I'm going to wait in my little blog trough and see what happens. If you happen to find yourself in your own kind of trough, I pray you will have patience with yourself. In the meantime, we could always dance! 

"You Raise Me Up"

Funny how at times there’s a lining-up of song and circumstance in our lives that feels like a knocking on the soul’s door exclaiming, “Special delivery!” That happened to me the other day when Josh Groban’s rendition of “You Raise Me Up” came on the radio.

I was contemplating how we allow our thoughts to work against us, keeping us shallow in spirit - especially those that keep us awake at night. (You know those irrational ones that serve no purpose other than keeping us a sleepless mess, lessening our chances for a good night’s rest and piling worry upon worry?)  None of us are exempt from them. So, how to rise above and leave them behind?

God beckons in Isaiah 55:3, “Incline your ear, and come to me...” The order of our action seems reversed: Shouldn’t we go to Him first and then listen? But He would have us let go of the declining inner monologue in our heads so that we are able to incline our ears toward our Father who says to us, “Come.”  

“…listen, so that you may live.” (Is. 55:3) And because we submit to Him through the inclining of our ears we move to a place where our hearts are able to go to Him to learn abundant living. How can we resist such an invitation?

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord,

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

(Isaiah 55:8-9)

What a relief! Out of the depths of our misguided and scattered thoughts we are reminded that there is another way - His way, not our way - that raises and uplifts, that offers something better. When we quiet our own thoughts and listen for His, we can trade ours in for thoughts that heal…thoughts that shed new light…thoughts that break old patterns…thoughts that cross the barrier of self and challenge us into new growth…and, best of all, thoughts that restore spirit, with the strength of God the Father behind them.

“My heart has no desire to stay

Where doubts and fears dismay;

Though some may dwell where these abound,

My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.”

~Johnson Oatman Jr.

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