GIVEAWAY!

Make a comment on any posts. Give me your most creative comment/story, etc. and win this giveaway. It is based on my current artwork. When you look at her special eyes, she will tell you something, LOL!!!

UPDATE!

Stay tuned to this blog, make sure you sign up to get notified by email for three things: 1) for this week's giveaway!  Make a comment and I will pick from all the comments for a winner.  You can make a comment on any of the posts past or present; 2) Tutorials original and/or repurposed art techniques and 3) More inspirational messages.  Inspirational messages will always be published on Sundays.  Make comments or ask me any questions you may have and I will try to respond as best I can.  Thanks!  View the new art this week.

TRUST

It takes a great amount of self-control to ward of instant gratification.  In this day and age of new technology and the innovation of “stuff” we always want new things RIGHT NOW.  Some worse than others.  When it comes to the major issues in our lives, we pray of them.  Prayers are free but we should also realize that when you request God for something and expect him to grant your wish, it should also line up with his will for your life.  We often hear, and the bible also tells us, that when God answers our prayers, he does it in HIS time, not ours.  In our culture, we are used to instant gratification and materialistically, we fulfill those desires ourselves.  With God it’s different.   

Patience is one of God’s most valuable principle.  The reason why God wants us to wait is to protect us from self-destruction.  Psalm 27:14 It takes a strong person to face temptation for something that God has for them later and to say you are willing to wait.  Patience is this: I am willing to wait upon God and remove all the deadlines.  You cannot give God a deadline, the most sovereign of the universe.  What kind of relationship would you have with God, the one who knows what’s best for you, when you give him an ultimatum?

We gain Courage when we wait on the Lord.  There is character in a person who has the strength to wait for God’s best in their life (Psalm 25:3) If you’re afraid that if you don’t get it now then you may never get it and eventually make you look like a failure.  You never have to think about what people think or say when you are being obedient to God.  It doesn’t make a difference what they think.  When you wait for God’s timing, you are waiting for the only kind God gives you, his very best.  Don’t fight God and think you know what is best for you.  God only acts on our behalf in the best way.  We have to wait for his timing, his direction.  Psalm 37:34 NLV.  Don’t be impatient for God to act, keep steadily along his pathway and in due season, he will honor you with his blessing, because that’s what he’s planned for us, in light of his purpose.

Wait for his timing and direction.  Whatever your desire may be, if you are willing to wait for his time and direction, you will get what the will of God is in your life, most of us call it a “Blessing in disguise”  You will get something better than what you expected and deserve because that is the kind of God he is. 

What’s the reason to wait?  Why doesn’t God just give it right now? First, because he’s preparing us for it.  He may want to change certain things about you.  For example, God instructed Joshua to march around the city of Jericho seven times.  Joshua asked how are they supposed to defeat the people in Jericho by marching around it?  Here’s the wisdom of God. What is he doing? He wasn’t getting the Israelites ready, he’s getting the people in Jericho ready.  He was causing confusion, fear, frustration, anxiety by the 7^th time they had marched around, the people in Jericho were in total disarray and emotionally defeated before the walls ever came down.  You ask anyone in the military, what is the longest moment in a battle? They will say, the moments you have to wait before you pull the trigger.  What was God doing to Jericho?  He was destroying the sense of courage, self-ability, and willingness and ability to fight because all they can see is marching.  He was working on their behalf to save multitude of lives.  Otherwise, they would have had to work harder in building items necessary to wage war, instead all they did was march.  Your life may seem like a parade, like nothing is happening but really God is doing something behind the scenes. 

I wonder how many times God would have given you what you asked for if you would just wait for his timing.  Don’t step ahead of God, he already knows what’s going to happen, you can’t change his plans and you will never go wrong if you wait on the Lord.  He knows every detail of our lives, he knows what you like and whether or not it is the best for you.   He knows that you will regret the day that you disappoint him so he says, not now.  Wait.  God always has a purpose for us when he tells us to wait.  God acts on behalf of those who wait for him.  He is preparing the circumstance, he’s purifying our motives.  He has to make the circumstances right and get the motive right.  He is teaching us to trust him. God will not grant us our desires unless it matches with his will.  God will give you clear direction at this point, he’ll say, Trust me and wait.  Your unwillingness to wait for God, it’s saying I don’t trust you God.

God has another purpose for making us wait and that is to make an impact not only in our lives but also to those who watched you get the blessing and known that you chose to wait on God instead of taking their advice.  It sends an awesome testimony.  The reality, truthfulness and worthiness of God, you win and the people around you win. 

Have a blessed week and Love one another!

QUICK VIEWING OF SOME ART I'VE FINISHED

This is a wallhanging.  The background is hand dyed fabric by me and I appliqued 3 birds and edged with decorative tape.  I applied eyelets and tied it with a decorative yarn and finished with beads. 

 The charm below was also handmade with polymer clay, mica powder and resined the little charm inside the frame so it looks like it's floating, which it really is, lol!

 The painting below is 16x20 acrylic painting.  I started to post it on Etsy to sell but my neigbor purchased it before I could get the ad up.  Yay!

This past week I was busy making art and I just wanted to share some of the things I've made that are currently for sale on Etsy (under Afoxart). I have two things, LOL! However, I have been finishing some halfway, unfinished, or more embellishments for the art I have already made but sitting around waiting to be finilized.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised!  I will be having a giveaway next week, I will be working on the giveaway this week so make sure you stay tuned!  Also, please be sure to leave a comment on my blog! You may win the giveaway! Whoo Hoo!

Check out my youtube video on decorating an ordinary envelope.  The last giveaway was mailed in this envelope.  Hope you like it and may it inspire you to make your own decorated envelope.  Don't forget to spray sealant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkDWEnJ-Q1E&feature=g-all-u&context=G2945070FAAAAAAAAAAA

God bless you all and love one another!

GOD KNOWS - LOVE AND LOST

Puppy Love:  Do you remember the first time you started to get attracted to the opposite sex?  The first time you shared a toy, or even given it to him?  When you wished he would win that fake diamond ring from a cracker jack box and gives it to you?  What about the time when you just had a crush on someone and admired him from afar and stole moments alone creating scenarios of a life happily ever after?  As children, we watch fairy tales and while engulfed in our innocence, seek the perfect prince who will sweep us off our feet.

Young Love:  This usually happens in our teenage years, well into our early twenties.  The world was our oyster!  There was no stopping us.  We are free to go out, have fun, experience the world and the people that share it with us.  The young men whose eyes we caught.  We could choose anyone we wanted but at unfortunate times, we make the wrong choices.  Why?  Women are more attracted to bad boys, nice guys finish last, you know the vicious cycle…  Men, well totally different creatures.  Most are only after one thing and one thing only. 

First True Love:  As a young adults, somewhat set in our ways, we meet that special someone.  You know that one person who, just by the very sight of him makes the heart flutter.  The one whose every word sounds so deep and meaningful, someone who we think, if he ever left, would be total devastation.  We ignore the faults we see, even thinking.. oh how cute *eyes flutter*.  You let this person in with a love that is so pure and innocent. The kind love songs were written about.

Then life happens.  There are shenanigans like rent, expenses, and oops, we got pregnant, etc.  The responsibilities of reality set in and we grow up.  Depending on how conditioned we were as children, sometimes we can’t keep up.  Some even succumb to self destruction.  You know when they say, we always hurt the ones we love the most?  That happened too.

We break up.  We vow never to let anyone in as much as we’ve let the last one in.  All the fairy tale dreams shattered.  Every time we loved and lost, it hardens our hearts a little bit more.  They each take a piece of us, until what?

Here’s the harsh reality.  We all need to understand that our happiness does not depend on ANYONE.  We have to learn, each and every day, that people, whether we are  in a relationship with them or not, will hurt us in some fashion.  Why? Because innately, we are selfish beings.  We tend to think about ourselves first and others second.  God gave us that right, the gift of free will.

But you say, “No man is an island.”  Don’t get me wrong, I promote loving each other.  You’ll see that line at the end of every blog I’ve written.  It’s ok to love, and healthy love is unconditional.  You love your spouse not in the way that you become a doormat, but if he or she goes astray and tells you it’s over, let it be.  Well, you say, “easier said than done.”  I know, we’re not perfect.  I’ve had my heart broken before and it’s devastating!  I’ve never known pain as bad as a breakup or a divorce is.  But you know what?  I give myself one week.  One week to let it all out.  At the end of that week, I get into God’s loving arms because he will never turn his back on you nor forsake you.  God’s love is not like ours, His is EVERLASTING! (chew on that a little)  NO MATTER how you’ve shunned him, turned away from Him, or run away from Him, when you’re ready to go back, His arms are stretched wide open and his embrace is firm.  He is our constant.  HE will never force you to love Him but when you’re ready to do so, you can bet He will always be there. 

Okay, that may sound like a bunch of blah si blah blah to you.  If you want to know step by step, I can only suggest it the way I do it.  When I’ve reached the lowest of the lowest point in ANY GIVEN SITUATION (not just a break up), I sit in my quiet space and tell him straight… God I am giving this all up to you, you handle it, because you are the only one who can.  I won’t and can’t look back because by doing so, I am saying, I don’t trust you.  So there.  You’re IT.  Whether you believe this or not, He takes it over.  It may be that very instant, the next day, week, month or even year. He does it in his own time.  You may say, “that’s crazy!” Well, this is what I’ve learned about God.  He won’t give you proof that may create further doubt.  When HE gives you proof…. You would definitely know it.  It may even cause you to say, PRAISE JESUS!  Think about it.

Till my next rant… Love one another!

Please vote

Click here to vote for my artwork to be on the cover of Thalo Mag. Thanks! http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/199016/voteable_entries/46870332

KEYS TO SURVIVING IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS

When you feel like your life is in a tailspin, and gets tough relationally, financially, or whatever “ly” you are going through, and it feels like something is wanting to stomp you what do you do?  Look around you, you’ll be happy to know that you’re not the only one who is going through something similar and like you no one around you is perfect.  When your integrity is tested you sometimes contemplate in risking your integrity in order to survive.  You either have to make a choice whether to keep your morality, ones which you know is right or do what maybe someone like your boss wants you to do, even though you know it’s wrong.  That’s a tough situation, but it is real life.  We all have to struggle in that but we are not alone.  One of the strongest quality the enemy possesses is the ability to convince you that you’re the only one going through it and it is farthest from the truth.

When life gets tough we seem to have some choices we tend to do one of two things. One, we want to escape it or go backwards.  However, turning back the clock is impossible.  We’re always brought back to the same situation when we don’t tackle the problem head on.  The other is denial.  We pretend that it will just go away.  Do you know that if you don’t accept the things that are happening in your life, you get stuck in that same situation, no matter the magnitude of it? 

God doesn’t want us to suffer through these types of situations, He wants us to persevere, to come out of the situation better and stronger than before.  What do we do though?

First it is very important to remember that God has a plan.  When the Israelites were complaining to Moses that the Egyptians are coming to get them, God said, don’t complain to me!  Move your butts close to the Red Sea!  The Israelites just wanted to sit there and say, whoa is me, but God wanted them to trust Him when he says He will deliver them from the Egyptians, which He did when he parted the Red Sea at the very LAST minute!

Often, we choose to ignore God.  We run the other direction when it comes to having a relationship with Him.  But do you know that no matter where you run, whether it’s to him or away from Him, his plan remains the same?  He has a perfect plan.  You can do everything in your life to mess it up, but God still has a plan and no matter what, His plan always works.  It may not always make sense to us but it always works.  I didn’t write Proverbs 3:5-12, God did, so it’s there in His book!  For example, people will ask, why do I have to tithe 10% to God? If I’m struggling, that doesn’t really equate.  God doesn’t need your money!  HE IS GOD, Hello!  But he did say do it, trust me and I will pour out the blessings of heaven in your life.  For years I fought this because one, I was a single mother of 2, I had a job that is just enough to pay my bills and expenses, so like everyone else, I was like, HUH?  But one day I said, let me just do it and see.  I did.  I had been trusting Him since and he has blessed me with his grace wherein I knew that I would never have to worry because He will always provide for me and will never forsake me.  I took that leap of faith and God hasn’t disappointed me yet.  I'm far from rolling in the dough but I'm not hungry either.  If you need me to go into more details, you can email me and I’ll tell you.

Second, God can speak to you directly.  God will speak specific things into your life.  Talk directly to God and he will speak directly into your life and reveal his plans to you.  Again, not my words, Jeremiah 29:11, God’s plans are always good.  He typically answers us by handing us a map that takes us through the route we don’t want.  He’ll either ask us to go somewhere you hate or admit to something you didn’t want to admit to, because the one thing you don’t want to face is usually what gets you stuck in that place which will then require you to ask Him for His help.

Third, redirect your focus to the Greater person above all, not to minimize your struggles and problems, but take your eyes off the problem and shift it to God who is bigger and more powerful than anything or anyone on this earth.

Lastly, you must take the next step, believe in God.  Don’t wait for God to do it for you, you have to help him help you, but don’t do it on your own either without his help just because you think God is not moving fast enough.

How do faith and action fit together?  Move in the direction where God wants you to go, and do what he’s saying for you to do.  That’s what faith is.  Faith without action is dead.

Have a great week and Love one another!