School Time

I am filled with anticipation, wondering and even doubt as I prepare to head back to college. You see, over the years I have changed my mind back and forth about whether I should go. So I didn't make any grand plans, but when God opened the door for me to be able to go last year, I walked through it. And He has continued to hold it open, providing with each thing, including money, that I need to go.

There aren't many colleges (a small few I am sure) like Belhaven. So small and personal, Christian worldview curriculum, a wonderful Christian art program, smart and caring professors, beautiful campus, and large homeschool percent of the student body. Belhaven is far from perfect but a chance to play tennis and learn the art skills from a rare gifted art instructor has been a treat.

So I am going back with no intention of quitting. I miss my family and even wonder if I should leave home. But my parents do want me to go if I can. College is not for everyone and girls especially should think twice before following the trend. In my case I am learning things that I could not have learned at home and the life experience has been valuable. I will continue to pray and follow God's leading one step at a time.

I think that God has a different path for each of us, but reading the Bible is the clearest way to understanding God's plan for us. The Bible doesn't say girls may not go to college. It does say what is expected from a Christ-honoring woman. A helpmeet to her husband, mother to her children, minister to the needy, teaching God's Word to younger women. This is not a career woman who pursues her own goals above others, although she may have a source of income. I hope that my college experiences, and especially my art classes, will make me a better woman and most importantly better able to fulfill the role Christ has for me to play down the road.

Here is a video of Rep. Forbes reminding us of America's true heritage and how it is no longer following it.




So true.

Do you notice the new background? I have learned how to put my own painting up as the background and am very excited about this. like it?

Doing Something

A week or so ago, I typed the word “generation Y” into my search box. I am designing a logo and I thought learning a little more about the characteristics of my generation might give me some more ideas. I found some interesting articles. Apparently this generation is interested in doing something. Business are advised to make their young employees feel as though they are making a positive difference. A USA Today poll from 2003 showed that 61% of teens and young people feel personally responsible for making a difference in the world.
Interesting. Do book titles Do the Right Thing, Do Something, Do Hard Things sound familiar?
It is a trending movement in our society right now. And it's not just teens. We live in a world of unlimited comunication and technology like never before, and we feel empowered. But at the same time our world is crumbling: wars, violence, drugs, disease, political disaster. We want to do something. We know we can. But what?
What can we do? We should not limit ourselves or our abilities. Here are some of my ideas:

Make a difference in your own home:

Be faithful in the small things such as doing chores around the house and
being a compassionate, helpful influence. Open your eyes. Ask. Be a benefit and
not a burden to your family. Be a godly example as much as you can.

Let your voice be heard.

Most of us have facebook pages or blogs, these are places where we can speak
out for truth! Instead of chatting about movies, encourage one another and let the
world know what you think about infanticide, socialism, and terrorists. Or the
movie industry! Speak your mind, but do it gently.

Volunteer

Be hands on. Volunteer to teach Sunday school, mentor, become a doctor or
nurse, DO what you see is needed.

Action.

Civil disobedience, holding signs, signing petions, write books, advertise,
campaign, make phone calls, there is no end to this list.

Pray!! This is the most powerful weapon of all. Praying and reading God's Word will enable you to fight battles that you never could have imagined.

And don't give up!

What can you do? Take it one step at a time. You may be surprised how far you can get.

MY BLOG

Hi everyone!
I am so sorry that I have been absent for so long, but I am going to schedule myself to make sure that stay on top of blogging more often!
I have just spent a lovely week visiting my grandmother in Virginia. We visited art musems and visited with family. (I am originally from that area so I have a lot of family there). I am feeling encouraged to get back to my art with a new vigor.
I thought some of you might be interested in why I named my blog “A Flower of the Field.” Psalm 103:15 reads, “As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him,and his righteousness with their children's children-with those who keep his covenants and remember to obey his precepts.” You see, I find this verse comforting. God is unchanging and steady, he is always loving and just. No matter what we do, he never loses his temper, never goes back on his word. We are temporary and weak, but guess what? God is taking care of his children! There is another verse: “Observe how the lilies of the field grow, they do not toil, nor do they spin, yet I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these,” Matt. 6:28. So we should not be anxious for tommorrow for only God knows what it will bring. Sometimes we flowers are bending in the storm, other times we are lifting our faces to the sun. But through it and beyond it even when are gone from the earth the Lord is remembering us! And if our trust is in him we will live forever with him. Casting Crowns sings a wonderful song about it:


Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.


Bridge:Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

Chorus:I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.I am yours.
I am yours.
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
I am yours..I am yours..

I have this song playing on my playlist(lower right on this page), stop and listen and see if you can't give your troubles to the Lord, not once, but over and over again, for He is always there.



Besides, I love flowers!

A Deeper Reality

As Christians we know that there is more to life than material things. There are realities that we cannot physically comprehend. When we think "abstract" we think of words like "God, souls, love, truth, fear." These are as solid realities as the material ones. But there other things which are real. Relationships between things, between people, between material and immaterial, and between immaterial things are actualities themselves. In fact, every thing and concept is affected by every other one. When we know someone really well we know them for more than what they look like, more than what they do, we know as them. I am not endorsing the neo-platonic view of separation of material and immaterial (that earthly things are bad). An illustration of this how we react to color. A room painted red will give a different effect than one in blue. Or try line. A solid straight line seems to say something different a loose curvy one. It is different but is it the same difference to everyone? As an artist I am interested in understanding this deeper reality. When I first started to draw, my goal was lifelikeness. I did not achieve this in any way. Then I realized that it is not what you know but what you see. The eyes see things differently than they are. (A bird may look like a flash of white). But this past year I have connected a few more dots. Art is about creating an image. It translates something that previously existed into something that can be viewed and shared. It brings something from the immaterial world into the tangible. Often, and this is my goal, it communicates about something that we know or understand in a more powerful way(than simply looking). As my professor says, "Artists are no different(capability-wise) than anyone else-they are just much more sensitive to what they are perceiving." Abstract and non-objective art is often a result of this search for understanding the reality of something. (though not necessarily). It is not just what things look like that contributes to its essence. In Christian Perspective class, the professor said,"What is the ultimate reality? God." I asked" How can something more or less real? That is an absolute." He said that is not what he meant. Everything is caused by something else. We call God the Prime Mover and ultimate Truth. Everything is not God, but He is the Creator sustainer. So as Christian artists when we are searching for that something more, we are learning about God and his creation. It is a lifelong journey, one that I am eager for and that I am excited to be on.

Midnight Music Musings

The church service at Holy Trinity Anglican church this morning was worshipful as usual, but one thing caught me and hasn't let me go all day. A man and his wife who were visiting played the offertory song him with the guitar and mic and she with the violin. He played "Be Thou My Vision". He did not know that that was one of the planned communion hymns as well. It fit in perfectly with the service and lesson of the day. So we got to first listen to and then sing this beautiful Irish hymn. It was so sung so well during the offertory that it was extremely powerful. I personally can't get enough of this song and similar Celtic hymns. When I got back to my dorm room i listened to several versions online, I am still not tired of hearing this song. Something about it hurts inside and pulls. I think it is the combination of the lyrics with the music. It reminds of C.S. Lewis when he wrote of the eternal longing inside man's heart for something deeper and beyond, that pulls toward eternity and ultimately God. It is this longing that people try to satisfy in so many ways but are only left feeling more empty. Only Jesus is big enough to fill this void. I had an interesting conversation with a friend this evening. We we talking about genetics and how there seems to be a cultural and family inheritance that goes beyond physical features. She is half Scottish and mentioned how Celtic music is something special to her and that she loved it before she knew what it was when she came across it. My mother also has love for this very same hymn, so I wonder if my affection for it is partly genetic. Whether it is or not, this I know: I want the Lord to be my inheritance, now and always! I praise the Lord for songs like this and "You Raise Me Up " and "In Christ Alone" that are especially moving to us Irish hymn lovers. Praise God for music to praise Him with. And praise him for putting eternity in our hearts and filling up our parched and hungry souls with his living water!

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.