Light Overcomes

Last night, my heart was heavy. I knew I needed some creative meditative time. The feeling of “Play” wasn’t there. The “Pray” was heavily dominant in my Pray & Play time. I felt like collaging. Just gluing all the torn pieces together—into a heart of love. The scripture above came immediately to my mind. The quote above came across my feed. But as I dumped my envelope of book and music pages collage fodder on my desk, this verse was at the top of a scrap, on the top of my pile. ❤️ The light shines in the darkness, and… Continue reading

How Mixed Media Ruined My Art

How Mixed Media Ruined My Art… But brought healing to my soul. Perhaps you can relate in some way. Are you being held back from creating because you think you can’t do it? Won’t be any good at it? Don’t have any natural talent for it? Can’t take the time to do it if it doesn’t turn out great? Were you driven to perfectionism as a child? Or did an abuser shame you into it as an adult? Were you an overachiever? Put that pressure on yourself? What holds you back? My Journey Creating with a goal of perfection came… Continue reading

When the Lights Go Down

Tonight the lights go down. It is the last night of our Frontier Revue show. Although I post a lot about creativity being a huge tool in soul care, most of those posts center around visual arts creativity. But there is another powerful tool for our soul’s wellbeing, perhaps even more important. That is music. Although listening to it is good, creating it—when it comes from your own heart, is even better. I’m not saying you have to be a composer, but rather a producer of music—even if no one else hears it. The healing powers of music range from… Continue reading

Lay Your Burdens Down

The Power of the Cross not only washes away our sins at conversion, but is there for all that Jesus offers for our lives after that. The inspiration for this page, by Natasha Lee, focused on the cross, and as I created, I was worshipping with the song *The Power of the Cross* by Keith & Kristen Getty. As I meditated on this powerful work Jesus the Christ accomplished on the cross, the picture in my mind was from Pilgrims Progress, on Christian’s burden being lifted at the foot of the cross. Jesus’ lifting of our burdens isn’t just that one… Continue reading

Dry Bones

When YHWH set Ezekiel down in the valley full of very dry bones, The Spirit asked him, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel replied, “Lord YHWH, only you know.” Dry bones, hear the word of YHWH, “I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.” The Encounters in Colour Christian art journaling retreat session by Jen Alward focused on this passage, in Ezekiel 37. As I meditated on it and how I wanted to make my faith art page for it, I remembered a time several years ago when I was walking through a valley of… Continue reading

Egypt to Shiloh

Many times I liken our journey out of a destructive marriage to the Exodus from Egypt. (And no, we most likely will not receive “riches” on our way out.) Rather, it compares in the trust we have to have in God as we do what we know we need to. The waters will be stormy and scary as we start crossing out. The enemy may pursue—perhaps with ‘sweet words’ like Pharoah, “sure I’ll let you go” and then fighting it every step of the way. Some sisters may complain and want to go back, thinking things were much better when… Continue reading

Rocking R&R

Survivors need self/soul care, to heal and rebuild. And being out in God’s Creation is a great natural, rest giving healer! This is the view of a little R&R from my porch rocking chair on the Lord’s Day morning, at the Called to Peace ministries abuse survivors Retreat that I attended in NC this past week. The clouds that stayed low on the mountains, all of yesterday, have rolled out. The rain last night only leaves its scent. The sun in shining. The birds are chirping. Beautiful peace. Take care of you, sisters, so you can be freely whole! Or… Continue reading

Shine Your Light

Jesus is THE Light of the World! In Him there is no darkness. He is and was the source of “Let there be Light”, in the beginning. How blessed are those of us, who have been born again through Him and carry His Spirit within us, to shine His Light into this world around us. We are carriers of His Light. The passage I’m meditating on in this creative faith art make is Matthew 5:14-16. You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under… Continue reading

Celebrating A Very Special Survivor

Today I honor a very special abuse and se*ually betrayed survivor. My mama! ❤️💖❤️ My mom, like most women in her era, did not talk openly about her pain, abuse experiences, or divorce. The were no post-divorce therapists. Divorced women hopefully had friends, usually 1 or 2 close friends who were probably also divorcees, in whom they could confide. There was no healing path. Many were still grieving or hurt or without clarity 20 or 30 years later. Many remarried—2, 3, or 4 times, only getting back into the same situations. The damage never resolved. Thankfully, my mom remarried a… Continue reading

If I Perish

Reading in Esther today—for Purim, which is tonight.Thankful for sister Esther’s example of standing for what’s right before God, for seeking God’s wisdom for a plan and executing it, and saving many. “If I perish, I perish!”But justice was served at the gallows. May we stand as faithful to God as Esther, regardless the stakes. May we seek wisdom for the best course of action, in God’s view, and speak it out courageously, regardless of our “position” in this world. May our God-given voices and wisdom be heard and heeded, that many would be saved.