I Find Joy in the Word

Mark 6:31 says "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile."  This is something he says to me as well.  

And early in the morning I wake up while it is still dark and the world is still asleep.  He invites me to go to the depths of my heart where he dwells, to meet him there.  And the rest that he gives is peace and wholeness...

John Tauler says "Saint Augustine and Saint Anselm tell us concerning prayer that it is «a raising of the soul to God»… For my part, I tell you only this: truly detach yourself from yourself and from all created things and raise your soul wholly to God above all creatures, into the deep abyss. There, immerse your spirit in God’s spirit in true abandonment…, in a real union with God…, Ask God there for everything he wants us to ask him, what you desire and what other people desire from you. And hold this as certain: what a tiny, little coin is with regard to a hundred thousand gold pieces, that is what all external prayer is with regard to this prayer, which is a real union with God, and with regard to this inflowing and fusion of the created spirit in the uncreated spirit of God…" (from my Lectio Divina Android app)

This year, I started making my prayer journal an art journal as well.  I find that all the wonderful words in the bible are such an inspiration for me.  For living my life as well as for making art.  And the time I spend drawing and coloring in and painting gives me the time to reflect even more on these verses. And because I delight in all the previous days' illustrations, I find myself going back and reflecting even more.

I'm linking up this week to Inspire Me Monday and Hear It on Sunday, Use it on Monday.

p.s Have you joined my two giveaways? There's still time if you are interested - My Latest ATCs and My Memories digital scrapbooking software.

Journal Illustration: This I know, God is on My Side

This is a part of a page of my journal.  It speaks of the times when we pray for something and keep waiting for His answer which seems so long in coming.  What a lovely verse from Psalm 56 which says "Are my tears not stored in your vial, recorded in your book?"  Each tear we shed, collected and recorded by God.

The verse continues with hope and confidence, "This I know, God is on my side."  This I will quote to myself when things don't seem to be going the way I want them to.  God is on my side.

And my prayer for you, dear blog friends, "May God grant you what you have asked of him."1 Samuel 1:17

Sharing this in Paint Party Friday, Studio Sneak Peek, Brag on God Friday, Show and Tell Saturday, Just Journals and Sunday Sketches.

Palette and Paint

I came across Palette and Paint last week and I thought it would be fun to join today!  Here are what may be the messiest watercolors you've ever seen!

And the Artist Trading Card I've just finished...

Reminding you that you can still join my giveaways for  My Latest ATCs and My Memories digital scrapbooking software.  Happy Thursday, everyone!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Paints

Good Wednesday, WOYWWers!  I have just caught sight of Julia's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday post which she has posted on a Tuesday (whaaat?!) so I am in a rush to get my post up!

My desk today is filled with paints, since I am finishing an ATC of a mother and child which was requested for a trade (in ATCs for All).  If you are interested, you still have time to join my giveaway for one of my My Latest ATCs.

On the far end, a picture frame made entirely out of paper, given to me by one of the prisoners from the Quezon City Jail, where I serve every week...

And there is still time to join my giveaway for My Memories digital scrapbooking software which is quite a fun software to use for all sorts of projects (not just scrapbooking).

Come join in the fun of showing your desks and peeking at desks from all over the world!

Journal Pages: Miracles

I recently read Mark 1:40-41, where Jesus heals the leper who says, "If you wish, you can make me clean." While painting in my journal, I thought of all that I am praying for, people who are sick, situations I have no control over, challenges, trials, my own weaknesses.  I ask Him to stretch out his hand and touch all these.  If you wish, Lord, you can do all these.   And I am grateful for these words in the bible that give me hope, "I will do it. Be made clean."

Even if it requires a miracle, just like the healing of the paralytic in Mark 2,  I continue to hope.  Speaking of bible verses, here is a link to Bible Verses by Topic: Inspirational Scriptures by Subject which you might find helpful.  

I'm linking up with Brag on God Friday, Just Journals and Sunday Sketches.  And you still have time to join the two giveaways I'm having if you are interested - My Latest ATCs and My Memories digital scrapbooking software.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Edit: And because bible verses always inspire me, I'm linking up this week to Inspire Me Monday.

My Latest Artist Trading Cards

Sarah over at La-De-Dah has a regular feature called My Monthly Mojo and for the month of January, she features Artist Trading Cards, the little works of art that are a great way to be creative even when you don't have that much time. 

Of course I had to play along since it was making ATCs that got me started on painting bigger pieces and making other projects.

I started making ATCs and then trading them in ATCs for All, where everyone is welcome to join in the fun of trading.

I haven't done any trading recently but Sarah's post inspired me to make some ATCs again.

First, I cut some scrap board to the specified 2½" x 3½" size.

I covered the cards in bookpaper, drew an outline of each girl and gessoed this part.

I colored them with watercolor, colored pencils, copic markers, poster paints, and whatever else I have.

I then added scrap paper, magazine cutouts, stamped images, and other bits and pieces.

I still have a few more to finish (making a lot all at the same time makes it easier for me to part with them).  And just to say thank you to my visitors, I'm giving away one of these ATCs on Valentine's day.  Let me know in a comment if you would like a chance to own one of these and if you are a follower, let me know in a separate comment for a second chance to join this giveaway.

Aside from My Monthly Mojo, I will also link up with Paint Party Friday, and Studio Sneak Peek.

And if you haven't yet, you might want to join my giveaway for the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software.   Hugs to all of you!

What's on my Workdesk Wednesday: A Lot!

So, it's Wednesday once again (whaaaat? already?) and there goes my plan to post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  Here is my desk today, with a lot going on for our What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday link party.  Some new craft books and ATCs that I stuck on a sheet to scan (I plan to make a post about them but who knows how THAT plan will go)...

And behind the mug of water, the unfinished ATCs from the same set...

And here is my reflection guide for our "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity," an "international ecumenical observance" which we observe from January 18 to today.  This year's theme is "We will all be changed by the victory of Our Lord Jesus Christ" 1 Corinthians 15:51-58.  

Change doesn't happen overnight and we often have to be patient (the hairdryer shows I haven't been patient in waiting for the paint to dry on it's own)...

Here is a page from my prayer journal, illustrating David and Goliath...

and a quote from the daily devotional, The Word Among Us, "The giant of division seems entrenched and formidable.  We may feel powerless against him... But don't forget: This battle is the Lord's, not ours to win... We need to carefully select the smooth stones he has placed at out disposal... One that flies straight to the mark is love, choosing to think the best of each other.  Love deeply respects the other, listens to the other, and is open to learning from the other... If we can just learn to look upon each other with love, we will go a long way toward the unity we all long for." 

And I think about the WOYWW bloggers who accept one another even if we all have different beliefs and ways of doing things.  We don't insist on our own way, or judge others who don't do things the way we do it.  We learn from one another and appreciate one another.  We encourage one another to be the best we can be.  Now that's what I call unity.

p.s. There's still time to join the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software giveaway.

My Journal Pages

Deciding this year to make my prayer journal an art journal has been a blessing for me. The time spent drawing and painting has been added time to reflect on the verses from the bible and what they mean to me.  


But it is a challenge as well to find the time to do it.  Sometimes I don't get to finish the page in the morning and have go back to it after I get back from work.  Sometimes I have to continue the following day adding  whatever I want in the previous days' pages.  But it is a good challenge because I get to do art everyday!


Here are some illustrations from my prayer journal, with verses from the first book of Samuel.  In this book, Hannah prayed for a son and she waited a long time before her prayer was answered.  When she finally had a son (Samuel) this is what she said...

Together, with Hannah, "My heart exults in the Lord.  I rejoice in my victory". 1 Samuel 2:1

When Samuel was a boy, he heard his name being called and although he did not recognize the Lord's voice, he obeyed what Eli the priest told him to say...

Although there have been times when I have been certain of God's direction for me, I'm sure there have been many times when the Lord has called me and I didn't recognize his voice.  But I continue to try to listen and grow in recognizing his voice.  I continue to say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening". 1 Samuel 3:9

I will link up with Paint Party Friday, Brag on God Friday, Studio Sneak Peek, Show and Tell Saturday, Just Journals and Sunday Sketches.  

And if you are interest in digital scrapbooking, you still have time to join my giveaway for the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software.   Happy creating!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Bookpaper ATCs

Hello, dear blog friends!  Here is a shot of my workdesk this Wednesday morning...

It's been a while since I made some Artist Trading Cards so I decided to make some after seeing Sarah's My Monthly Mojo post.  I'm using a bookpaper background, gessoed in parts, colored with whatever I can get my hands on and then I will layer them with paper scraps.

That's it for today (finally, a short WOYWW post!) and for more desks, drop by Julia who has THE WOYWW list!  Happy desk peeking!

My Prayer Journal 2012

For 2012, I have started a new prayer journal, and I try to put a little bit of art into each page, to help me remember the bible verse I meditated on.  Here are a few parts of the pages I have made so far...

After the Christmas holidays, I'm trying to get back into posting more regularly so I'm linking this up with Paint Party Friday, Brag on God Friday, Studio Sneak Peek, Show and Tell Saturday and Sunday Sketches.  

If you are interested in trying out digital scrapbooking, you still have time to join my giveaway for the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software.   Blessings to all of you!