Listen, DO...and have your mind blown away!!

I love how God takes delight in me and loved me so much that he took the time to hand make me and put within me certain desires. He made me who I am, and those desires?? Well, they are there for His glory. This gives me peace and is, well, dang exciting! But, I also know that "I am not my own". I have to remember that goes for every area of my life, even art. Let me explain.

I know that God gave me the gift of being able to express myself, and His heart, through art. But, with that gift, I have the choice to be selfish with it and build up my own little world, or be part of a bigger picture. I pray that I always choose that latter, for with it comes so much satisfaction, far greater that I could ever attain, if I listen to that still small voice, and then do.

One perfect example is with a piece I did awhile ago called "Chopin". When I was creating this one, I had visions of it hanging in this certain little violin shop. But, I packaged that vision up, and tucked it away neatly, telling no one. Well, after I completed Chopin, I felt so sure that it would sell quickly. I had it hanging in the gallery where I worked and, it was also for sale, two different times, with 100% of the proceeds going to worthy organizations. Although people admired it, it didn't move. I was brought back to the vision I had while working on it.

Well, this is where it gets interesting. While I had it displayed and for sale at our church, this friend approached me...YES, the owner of this wonderful violin shop. He brought me over to my table and said how he liked this one piece, then extended his arm towards, none other than, Chopin. He said something to the effect of, "I would love this hanging in my shop". This was the violin shop in my vision...this was where it was supposed to be all along! I was blown away!!

Today, Chopin adorns this awesome music shop's walls. It's still for sale, but until it reaches it's final destination, it hangs where it was meant to be, and hopefully makes people smile.

God is faithful. He even cares about paint and brushes. But so much more than that, He is inviting us to join Him in this awesome journey through life. It's exciting... and He's asking you, "Won't you come along??" And between you and me, there is nothing better!!