I am not a competitive person in the least, So why did i get into ART, one of the most competitive professions to enter :( *sigh* I could really use some of that heavenly gudiance right now...
I am starting to think i made a HUGE mistake getting into this feild of work. I feel a pull like no other to it thou, that's the confusing part....
Sorry for the small rant, Having one of those days i guess.
Don
Replies
Don wrote: "I will continue colouring, and let GOD handle the rest, His timing is perfect..."
That's a good place to be, Don. It's a lot easier for the wind (Holy Spirit) to direct a moving sailboat than one with it's sails down, tied to the dock, waiting for the perfect timing.
"Commit your works to the LORD,
Donald C Armstrong said:
What a remarkable life you are living. I feel for the extreme hardship you are under, and I know how a lack of money can shade everything gray. I also have given a daughter to Jesus; wow, God's grace be on you. I also cheer your upward efforts in exercise and art. Halleluja, go, Go!
Your heart is with your wife and children, and they are your mission field at this time.
Share encouragement with others when you have an opportunity. Because your voice is coming out of a hard place, it will be worth more to those who you're sharing with.
Thanks everyone,
You have all been very kind. I apperciate the comments. I am gonna just leave it with the lord.
I will continue colouring, and let GOD handle the rest, His timing is perfect...when he things i am ready to enter the world and colour for him, He will open the doors and windows for it to happen :)
On a personal note, i use to be heavy into fitness, at one point i was a Personal trainer, But i haven't touched weights in over 2 years because of Sophia getting sick, Well today i decided to get off my butt and start working out again, I even picked up a jug of protien ;).
SO thanks to you all, I have a new motivation, and i am very sure GOD will bless me in my art when he see's fit :)
God bless you all :)
Don
WOW What Christopher Haupt said is totally a boost! I know how you feel exactly.
I've worked hard on my series for 12 years now and I feel like I'm at the exact same point as when I started. My art has grown, but my reach into the public...not an inch. And like you I've done everything that I can think of.
But the biggest thing I have to remember is that God's timing is not like our own. He is ever faithful. Sometimes our season hasn't come because we aren't ready. Sometimes it is because God knows that great blessing would strain something else in our lives that would cause us to go off track. And sometimes? Its that God is removing that mountain and softening the hearts of those people that will bless us in the future. And if you feel like you are standing still, it just might be because God knows there is a storm where you are heading.
Patience in a fast paced world is hard, especially when there are family needs at stake, but God is always right on time. And in the midst of it all we can try to do so much that we forget to leave it in God's hands and stop trying to make it happen in our own time, with our own resources, and our own strength. That isn't saying to stop pushing to make it happen (faith without works is dead) but... do you pray before every personal contact? Do you consult with God and wait for His 'go' before shooting that resume? Do you pray for favor over those you are going to come in contact with? Do you pray and ask God for Him to make money happen or do you ask that 'His Will be done...whatever it is?' I've found in my own life that often times we are so busy making it happen that we forget to consult and pray to God in ALL things. Before, during and after we make those decisions. I sometimes wonder if my season passed because I didn't consult God first. If I was actively engaged enough with Him to let Him lead me where I needed to go.
As for me, right now, I'm resting from promoting. Going back to the basics and remembering the joy I simply have in telling my story. Sometimes a break is good. Rest is good. God says so, even He rested. Time to just get back into prayer, back into the closeness of God, getting your footing back and replenishing your energy.
Just some thoughts :) hope they encourage you. But never give up!
Great Post Crespo totally agree! and would add: Donald have that relationship w/ the Holy Spirit, pray and ask for guidance, and expect answers.
"I feel this is what GOD wants me doing..."
If I may... it is always a dangerous thing to run on feelings.
Feelings ebb and flow, and they're always a poor foundation to base a decision on... especially an important decision such a career choices.
In Scripture we can read what the will of God is for our lives. Romans 12:2 and 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (and other verses) tell us that the will of God for us is our sanctification, to lead a righteous life.
That is God's specific will for our life. How we accomplish that, and what we do with our lives is our business as long as we abide by the will of God. That is, as long as we lead holy lives.
If you choose to color for a living then do so, and choose those projects that will enable you to still live in a Godly manner and not compromise your walk.
That is the will of God.
Or if you choose NOT to color, but say, decide on plumbing instead, or maybe even running a poultry farm, then do so as long as you can live in a Godly manner and not compromise your walk.
That is the will of God.
But to let feelings lead us is not the will of God.
Our Father wants mature children who make smart choices based on the principles and precepts that He has given us. Feelings are nice, but they are notoriously deceptive. (The heart is deceitful and wicked, yes?)
Choose what you will, but do so thoughtfully and with the ways of our Lord in mind, and whatever you decide will be pleasing to Him.
All the very best, Donald.
God bless.
LOL.....Yeah you can't have Superman as your icon and be sounding like that. LOL. Lets make it happen!!
Wow, thanks for the pep talk LOL!... I will not give up or stop colouring, This is something i have decided, if i have to pump gas part time to bring cash into my house i have and will do it again...
I feel this is what GOD wants me doing.. so i am gonna do it....I don't like parties, even my own pity parties, so i think i will close this one down, and fire up the cintiq..
Thanks everyone :)
now if you'll excuss me, i have some colouring to do ;)
Yeah I remember seeing some chinese kid on American Idol who couldn't sing a lick. He sounded like garbage on a stick. And he got a huge money making contract because he didn't know how to sing. And then I heard people on American Idol Who Had An Amazing Gift To Sing and didn't even make it to the next step past auditions. Simon destroyed them. Go figure. Life Sucks sometimes when you really think about it.
Then something happened where I told my son to go and wash the dishes, and it was late and he didn't feel like it because it was almost bedtime. But I used my authority and made him wash the dishes anyway..... then seconds later my wife tells me to go and wash the tub out because it's dirty and I'm like, "What! It''s late and I have to go to work tomorrow and it's bedtime!" Of course if I wanted to go to bed peacefully then I better wash that tub out. LOL...... What I thought about in that little story is that there is always a bigger fish. Always. No matter how good anybody is. Some one will always be there who is more successful and more talented than you or me or any of us or all of us combined. That's just the way it is. That junk sucks BIGTIME! Yo my man Life does suck and things don't happen the way that they should, and it's worth getting frustrated about it sometimes.... I know I wish things were different.
My advice to you and this is self taught so I'm passing it on to any one who will listen. Is to go ahead and have your moment. Have your pity party. Cry. Pray. Vent. All of that. But when it's over make a decision afterwards to not allow any reason keep you from making it happen. Don't blame yourself, don't blame your circumstances, don't blame other people, don't blame your weaknesses, don't blame the past or present, or anything else for that matter. In this life you have to make it happen. You have to make it happen. Go after hard what it is you want. If a chinese man who can't sing can make it. If a blind man can become one of the greatest singers of our time(Stevie Wonder Ray Charles), if David can beat Goliath, if a poor black kid living in the projects can become the President of the United States then we can't allow ourselves to have any excuse to not make it in life.... we have to give it more and more and more if we want to make it. We have internet. We have art programs like photoshop, we have technology to cut our time in half for what ever it is we want to do. We have Youtube tutorials on anything that we can think of. It's so many things that we can do in this life to make money it's almost infinite. Especially in the United States.
Jesus told a story where the master gave three people talents, he never told them what to do with it except to make sure that it prospers. Of the three the first one killed it and brought back a whole lot in return and the master was happy, the second one brought back something too but not as good as the first guy and the master was happy, and the last one chose to do nothing. Fear and I'd even say lack of motivation kept him from doing anything at all. And fear was his excuse.
Dog, trust me, you can do whatever you put your mind to, anything is possible we just have to keep pushing towards it. Even if you are bound to the house and you have to take care of your wife, you can still make something happen. Look on craigslist, digital webbing, career builder, tee fury..... the great thing about being an artist in this day and age is that we don't have to leave the house ever. Network, politic, do research on art sites. ask questions. If the first person tells you no, then go to the next person. It's not personal.
You can also put the art on the back burner and do something more practical to get money. There is this company called Arise where you provide customer service for big name company's from your own house. And they pay you per hour or per call. None of my art projects are paying anything now it's more long term, so I drive a bus, and am currently working on a hustle that can bring in now money. The bible also promotes in proverbs to don't just do one thing, do multiple things so that if one adventure fails then you have a few back ups to support you. Being an artist may not be the best thing now to focus on, and being practical and getting that now money is.... there is nothing wrong with that. Don't stay down for too long man, figure out a way to get that now money so you can be in a better position for you and your wife. We are men and men make it happen.
When we watch Lord of the Rings, Spiderman, 300, we watch these epic movies because the characters make it happen despite the odds. That's why we love them and their stories, become a character in your own book as it unfolds, and be that character that rises above his circumstances and do something extraordinary.
When you pick yourself up and make a choice to get back in the ring, this advice will be perfect for that moment. Be encouraged my brother, and what ever you choose to do whether it's art or something else. Keep grinding.
Thanks andy,
I sure hope GOD has a plan, cause i could use it right now, it's been a rough couple years, the last year has been unbearable, I have no idea how i am sane after losing my daughter...it has to be by the grace of GOD...Now if you guys wanna pray for someone, pray for my wife pat, she isn't doing so well...she coulduse some good news...
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