Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: To Be In Awe

I can only imagine the feeling of seeing the Sistine Chapel for the first time (or really...any time!).  Even if you had no background in art whatsoever, you couldn't help but to be in awe.  Art has a way of inspiring us, transporting us, and leaving us in a state of awe.  I think the Sistine Chapel might just about blow my mind.  So often it is an almost "religious" experience.  I remember the first time I saw a work by Van Gogh in person.  It took me to church!  I sat down on a bench across from it, and sat in its presence. That might sound dramatic, but Van Gogh's work had always been a favorite of mine.  I studied it, thought of his life, watched others view it, and just tried to imprint the moment in my heart and mind forever.    I think another part of the equation is knowing the artist.  You don't have to have an art history background to appreciate it, but knowing the master's hand that painted such an awe inspiring work adds a layer of depth, understanding, and appreciation you might not have otherwise.  

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek:  

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, 

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

Do you ever find yourself in awe of God?  I think many speak of God being "awesome" or doing "awesome" things, but I'm referring to a deeper recognition of who God is & what He has done or is doing in your life.  Does our Lord bring you to a place where you just want to linger in His presence?  The writer of Psalms 27 asks God if he could dwell in the house of the Lord & gaze at His beauty.  When was the last time you wanted to "dwell & gaze" in relation to God?  In our fast paced world we don't often dwell anywhere well.  We are so rushed & divided that dwelling & gazing sounds like a foreign concept.  Nobody has time for that.  But you should!  If art can bring us to a state of awe & makes us want to linger a little longer...why can't God do the same for us?  What do we need to do, change, or incorporate that would bring this about?  Maybe we need to begin recognizing God at work in our life.  Maybe we need to get back into His word so we can have a clearer understanding of why He is so AWEsome.  

If art can bring us to a state of "awe"...shouldn't God?  

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: MORE

 Have you ever felt alone...misunderstood...unable to connect with those around you?  I think that most of us have felt like this at some point in our life.  Deep down we all wish there was more....more togetherness, understanding, and connection!!  It seems all too common among "art people".  We often see, feel, think, and express things differently than our peers.  The danger is not in the differences, but in self isolation and associating only with those of like minds. As much as I might love being left to my own thoughts at times or spending time with others involved in the arts....it is incredibly important that I connect with those outside my "circle".  Keeping to myself or associating with those who "get" me,  I am  neglecting the amazing opportunity to educate, inform, and engage with those who may have not been afforded the same opportunities and experiences in the arts. This doesn't mean that we will get everyone to understand the finer points of neo-expressionism, but we can help & encourage others to appreciate art and those who create it. This will build bridges.  The more bridges we build...the more connections there will be.  Soon we will find that we are not as alone as we once thought, and that others do "get" us (and even if they don't...they still like to be around us).    

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household. 

Ephesians 2:19

  Everyone struggles with feeling alone, misunderstood, and disconnected.  Sometimes this is a passing feeling/reality.  Sometimes it is a more chronic experience.  The struggle is real, and often we are unaware that those around us are in the middle of the battle.  In Ephesians 2:19 we are told that there are no longer foreigners and strangers in the house of God.  There is an amazing connectedness that comes through a relationship with the Lord.  However, we often need to work on it in the day to day.  Sometimes we are a bit selfish/busy/oblivious. We need to be more purposeful and reach out to those around us.  We need to find ways to connect.  We can not wait for others to come to us, but we need to be the ones that builds the bridges, makes connections, and helps everyone to not feel like a foreigner or stranger.  We need to be the family that God has called us to be.  We need to be MORE than we have been. What MORE can you do?  

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: In Its Time

 The microwave takes too long.  Fast food isn't fast enough. Next day delivery seems like forever.  The internet moves at a snails pace.  We become very disgruntled if we have to set through commercials while watching a program.  It's as if our perception of time has been changed by "progress".  However, art does not always operate (well) in our new normal.  There is time required to grow as an artist.  Hours, days, weeks, months, and years can be invested in artistic pursuits to develop one's skills.  A YouTube video can not substitute for the practice, patience, failure, success, and growth that can only take place over time.  Too often people expect to be better/further along than they are. When they become frustrated because they aren't where they think they should be.....they quit.   This is true in showing and selling one's art.  You can not expect to be an overnight success. Van Gogh only sold one painting while he was a live (and created hundreds!).  How much time?  Each of us is unique.  We can not compare ourselves to others in our artistic journey.  Art develops in its own time.  Leave the microwave for popcorn...not art!

The microwave society we live in has found its way into the faith community.  We want our prayers answered now.  We want our healing now. We want to be in leadership now. We want our happiness now. The thing is....our timing might not be God's timing.  There have been many situations where I've "wished" I was in a different place in my journey.  I've tried to pray away what I was going through (personal illness, death in the family, stress, uncertainty).  However...I would have missed out on so much if God would have instantly taken away or changed my circumstances. 

I would not have learned what it means to rest in him, trust him, and believe that he is enough.  I would not have seen the body of Christ come together and help meet my needs.  I would not have been able to gain insight and empathy for what others go through.  "He has made everything beautiful in its time."  We need to embrace the time we've been given....he will make it beautiful.   

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

Have ever looked back on past work and wondered..."WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"  Art work can be an interesting snap shot of a specific time and place that you were in mentally, emotionally, relationally, and artistically.  When we look back at that time in our lives, it can feel like someone else's life. We might view ourselves as immature at that point in time.  Whatever our reasoning for that "season", it was created from where our minds & hearts were focused.  Art is an expression of the artist.  It only makes sense that it would capture that "period"(Picasso Blue & Rose Period anyone?)

What we allow our mind to entertain can often give direction to our mental, emotional, and relational state.  Are you feeling overwhelmed? Is stress infiltrating every area of your life. Are you finding yourself speaking & perceiving things in a much more negative tone?  There is so much going on in our world & in our own lives that we can begin allowing it to change us.  The reality that "life" is happening to us that is beyond our control is just that....LIFE!  What you do with that is on you.  If we focus on the negative...we become negative.  If we focus on the stress....we become stressed.  I'm not saying we bury our head in the sand, but we do have a choice of where we focus our attention and energy.  Philippians 4:8 tells us the things we should be thinking about! In this world we will have trouble....that's scripture...that's truth.  However, if we chose to reside in those things....our life will reflect it!  We are not denying the bad things that happen...but we are choosing to to live in the truth that God's love, God's faithfulness, God's provision is enough to meet all of my needs.  

What are you thinking??

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: Start New

 

There have been many times over the years that I've become "stuck" on a concept, style, medium, brand, color(s), or technique.  There wasn't a conscious choice to become stuck.  It just kind of happened.  There are different reasons for this: a stubborn desire to make something work, a fear to try something new/different, we are comfortable doing what we've always done,  lacking vision for what's next, or some combination.  Though it is noble to see something to fruition, holding onto something that isn't working prevents us from moving forward.  Painting over a canvas, tearing out a page in your sketch book, switching the medium....when you start new you give yourself the freedom to let go of what was and embrace what is yet to come. 

Past successes and failures have the potential to get in the way of what God wants to do in our lives.  Living in what was prevents us from living in what's now.  Some rest in the glory of the past. Some wrestle with the mistakes of the past.  Both need to start new!  When we are given the gift of "today" we must seek God on how we might grow to know him more and to make him known. Our past experience inform our present but do not define it.  "SEE, I AM DOING A NEW THING!" What is it that God desires to do in and through you...TODAY.  What past experiences are you holding on to as excuses?  You've gone on mission trips, grown up in church, taught Sunday school.....but what about TODAY?   You've messed up...repeatedly, you feel like you've run from God, you are still struggling.....but what about TODAY?  Today is a day to start new!  Today is a day to trust God.