2012

• I believe that this will be a year of new things
• I believe that this will be a year of blessings and fulfilled promises
• I believe that this year will hold higher levels and deeper roots
• I believe that this year will be a year of expansion and growth
• I believe that this will be a year of victories and dreams becoming reality
• I believe that this year will transform, renew, restore, revolutionize and challenge
• I believe that this year will be a year of beautiful beginnings and sober ends. 

I really believe that this year will be measured by the basket we give to the Lord; however much we give Him is how much He will fill. If we bring small baskets, He will fill our small baskets; but if we bring as many large baskets as we can, I believe He will fill them. I believe the Lord is going to begin asking us, "How much do you want?" 

I believe....help me with my unbelief. 

Try This On For The New Year

As you all are probably well aware, I recently finished a 30 Day Drawing Challenge. I enjoyed the creative challenge so much that I decided to put my own spin on it; I made my own 30 Day Justice Drawing Challenge. Each day the tast is to draw a different justice issue and share it. Next to each day's issue is a link for inspiration which will hopefully serve as a launching pad for further research and activism. 

So let's spread this all over the web, raise awareness, and draw for justice for the new year!

Come Closer

In Genesis 18 we are given history's first example of intercession when Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gommorah, asking the Lord how many righteous men it would take for Him to spare the city. Verses 22-23 say, "So themen turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said..." 

God knows His ways, we don't; that's why we have to draw near and talk. The secret intimacies of God are whispered; it is only when you are close to someone that you can hear their whispers. But it's not God Who is far, rather it is us. The rod and the reel are in our hands, if we want to come closer it's in our power to do that. In fact, Christ came and died that we might have that power. C.S. Lewis said, "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God." So will you draw near? Will you come closer?

Day 30: The End

Today's last and final task was to make a banner congratulating yourself for finishing the drawing challenge. If you haven't done this drawing challenge yet, do it. 

Day 29: A Place You Want To Go

Days 24-28

My apologies; our internet was not working properly for the past 3 days and so I was unable to load the pictures, but here they are:

Day 24: A Couple

Day 25: Scenery 

The source for this drawing was actually a picture I took from on base; it was one of the many beautiful sunsets I get to see here. 

Day 26: Something You Don't Like

Day 27: Someone You Love

Day 28: Anything You'd Like

Well since it's almost Christmas I figured I'd draw something Christmasy. This is my Christmas tree with some of the presents God has given me. 

Day 23: Something You Need

Today I drew a picture that says, "I need faith." but even after more than 20 attempts to upload the picture, it still wouldn't work. At around the 15th time I thought, "Huh, how ironic that it is taking so many tries to upload this picture." But it stopped being ironic and got to be just plain annoying. So I had written that you were going to have to go out on a little faith and trust me that I did draw a picture, because I was so fed up with seeing "failed" stamped across the pictures. But something in me decided to check another place and there were 3 copies of this picture; whaddya know they actually did upload afterall! Yeah I need more faith.

If This Were Faith by Robert Louis Stevenson

God, if this were enough,
That I see things bare to the buff
And up to the buttocks in mire;
That I ask nor hope nor hire,
Nut in the husk,
Nor dawn beyond the dusk,
Nor life beyond death:
God, if this were faith! 

Having felt thy wind in my face
Spit sorrow and disgrace,
Having seen thine evil doom
In Golgotha and Khartoum,
And the brutes, the work of thine hands,
Fill with injustice lands
And stain with blood the sea:
If still in my veins the glee
Of the black night and the sun
And the lost battle, run:
If, an adept,
The iniquitous lists I still accept
With joy, and joy to endure and be withstood,
And still to battle and perish for a dream of good:
God, if that were enough! 

If to feel, in the ink of the slough,
And the sink of the mire,
Veins of glory and fire
Run through and transpierce and transpire,
And a secret purpose of glory in every part,
And the answering glory of battle fill my heart;
To thrill with the joy of girded men
To go on for ever and fail and go on again,
And be mauled to the earth and arise,
And contend for the shade of a word and a thing
not seen with the eyes:
With the half of a broken hope for a pillow at night
That somehow the right is the right
And the smooth shall bloom from the rough:
Lord, if that were enough!

Day 22: Something You Miss

This is a rough sketch of the living room at my parent's house back home in Florida. The thing I miss most, more than just them is being with them, and most times it was done here in this living room; pop in an old Cary Grant movie, put on some crime show, Big Bang Theory, Swamp People, doesn't matter too much, as long as we're together. I miss watching movies with my dad and having to re-watch them with my mom because she fell asleep. I miss my sister lying on my legs and if it's a scary movie, scaring her by rattling the blinds and watching her levitate. Yeah I miss a lot of things about my family but I miss being in that room with them most. 

Day 21: Something You Want

I really want, that at the end of my life, I am like a worn out rag that just needs to be tossed. I want to be utterly spent at the end. I want to have given so much that I have nothing left to give; I want there to be no other option but to go Home and have my body return to dust. I want to be so used that I am finished at the finish, that I may say I truly gave it all I had. 

Day 20: Something Orange

At the beginning of today's drawing challenge, when I saw it was "something orange", I was anything but inspired and so I thought of the easiest thing I could do to write off the challenge...draw an orange. Well drawing 1 orange led to drawing Florida which then led to adding font which led to what you see now. BAM inspiration. I guess that's kinda what this challenge is all about, surprising yourself and inspiring creativity where you thought you didn't have any. 

Day 19: Something New

My heart is held together by strings. 

Once a broken heart but He pieced me back together with strings of bronze and silver. 

Many have tried to tune me, trying to adjust me to what they think is the right pitch for me,

But all they do is just wind me too tight and suffocate me with their religiosity. 

Others have tried to unwind and bring me down a few notes,

But they just change the key of me entirely and too loosely I hang

Like that, I cannot be played; I'm too cold for any music to be made. 

The Master of my patchwork is the only One who can tune me accurately. 

He knows just the right key, He knows the perfect sound for every string. 

With His hands that brought me freedom, He plays me freedom songs

And resonates passion and life back into this, once hollow, sound. 

Only You can strum the chords of my heart. 

So play me

a song. Play me however You want. 

Just let it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear. 

Day 18: Doodle

This isn't really a doodle, in fact it's not even recent but whatever... IT COUNTS. lol

Day 17: Favorite Plant

A money tree. I haven't been able to find one yet but I know one exists because my parents used to have one....lol

Day 16: Inspiration

Inspiration for today's drawing comes from Proverbs 11:25- "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." and from an artist Jim LePage whose art depicts Scripture; his work is beautiful, creative, and modern. 

Day 15: Family Picture

Sure I could've drawn an actual picture of my family but this is way more fun. Each thing represents one of my family members. 

The owl represents my dad; he's the wisest person I know. The cool thing about owls is how much time the mom and dad spend teaching their young how to fly and how to hunt; they don't just knock them out of the nest like some birds, but they really prepare them. I'd say my dad was an excellent teacher. The Lord's definitely going to say, "Well done." when He sees him. 

The knitting needles and yarn represents my mom, not just because she is so crafty (which she totally is) but because of what you make with them; you make sweaters and scarves with it. Scarves and sweaters are comforting, warm, and make you feel at home; that's my mom. She is the most loving person that I know. I never have had to wonder how God loves us because she has exhibited the mother heart of God in ways I can only hope to mimic. 

The whisk represents my sister; she's a cook, she's funky, she's strong, she's what brings us all together. My sister loves holidays and traditions, the things that make a family so unique and beautiful, the things that always bring families together just like a whisk brings the ingredients into one blend. Also, no kitchen is complete without a whisk and we would not be complete without Melissa. She's smart, talented, amazing, funny and my best friend. 

The tv well that's me because everyone knows that I'm the entertainment...I always have been and always will be. 

That's the Gray Family

Day 14: Favorite Fairytale

Beauty and The Beast was my favorite when I was a child, my mom said I used to have the whole thing memorized. Now that I'm older, I still see the beauty in the broken and how loving broken people transforms them. 

Day 13: Comic

Yeah welcome to my life. 

Days 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12

We had a major conference here in Adelaide which left me too busy and too tired to draw. But here are the days I missed including today's:

Day 8: Favorite Animated Character

Yeah my favorite animated character is Laura Croft; always has been and always will be. I know that this boulder isn't her but it's a representation and far easier to draw when you're behind :-)

Day 9: Favorite TV Show

Okay I promise I drew this. Technically, it's a network and not a show but gosh I love the food network!

Day 10: Favorite Candy

My favorite candy is candy that didn't cost someone their freedom and didn't steal their rights. Slave-free candy please!

Day 11: A Turning Point In Your Life

This was the theme of the camp I worked with in Ukraine in 2005 and it's where God told me that missions is what I'd be doing for the rest of my life. The words say, "Svuabodney Palut" and it means "Free to Fly" which is exactly what God did when He called me to His work; He set me free.

Day 12: Most Recent Accomplishment

I am finally back down to the belt size I was when I left Thailand! Whoohoo!