I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15
Isn't that an amazing thought? It spurs one on to create beautiful things in His name. In a world where beauty is fleeting we can create something that will impact eternally.
You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible."
If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’
“But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry. John 15:18-27
Since we are not of this world but of the Kingdom of God, its necessary to make every effort to set ourselves apart. Setting a higher standard for our portrayals of the human form and the human soul. As men and women of the Lord our body is his, our soul, is his, our spirit is his. This should be enough to help us remember to treat the human figure as having been made by God. Though marred by sin and sin's effects on the planet, we are not the less given the Holy Spirit to guide us in all that we do and all that we are. The Word of God is very clear about respecting that which bears the image of God stamped upon it. We are able to reach hearts and minds for Christ if we adhere to the simple principle in Micah 6:8. Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God. HCSB
No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8.
It seems really simple but its a lot harder to implement. As a writer, who will probably never be great on any level, I want my legacy not to be just a paper trail but a trail of life lessons that my kids can follow with joy. That means that ego can't get in the way no matter how many people are impressed with my "talent" after all its not my talent, its a gift.
"For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6
Light its important every artist, even the visually impaired artists like Anne Leaf (Bind Artists Society), uses light to convey so much to the world. The critics look for what color and light says about the artist. Writers use light as a metaphor or a device. Naturally those who do the inking on a comic are very cognizant of where light and shadow fall. However, I believe that the greatest artwork of all is the transforming work Jesus Christ does in the heart of man. Paul says that God made the same light created in the beginning of this earth to shine in our HEARTS so that WE could know the Glory of God as seen in the face of our Savior Jesus Christ. Imagine... chaos.. nothingness... emptiness... vast dark void. There was water over a formless shape, the The Spirit of God was moving over the waters then God said, "let there be light" Genesis 1:2-3 and as God spoke suddenly LIGHT out of no where, out of nothing, beautiful, shining light. Genesis 1:4 "And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness." That light, that very same light is the light is the light God made to shine in our hearts. WOW how amazing is that? Bear light!
In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. Matthew 5:45. NOW WAIT before you just assume I'm going to be talking about art from the perspective of Christian v. Non-Christian art, I have a whole different idea in mind. As Solomon says, there's nothing new under the sun. Certainly not in my chosen business of fiber art. As writer I doubt I've written about any new topic... this could be said for all art forms. HOWEVER, as Christians and brothers and sisters in the Lord we must abide by and respect the art of others. The laws by which that art is protected in various countries differs but the principle is the same. While fan art is certainly a WONDERFUL expression of appreciation, asking people to copy the work of another without giving proper credit is stealing. A violation of the Word of God. As a writer I'm fiercely protective of other artists work because I know a little piece of themselves went into that work and they were willing to open up that part of themselves for us to see. Its with Gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I have a gift I can share but with discretion. Always.
As a writer, poet, mom, and all around curious person, I find myself looking at what is going on around me for its possible story value. (poems do tell a story) I guess that's part of how I was wired by God. I'm so glad that Christ pulled me "out of the miry clay, and put me on the rock to stay" so that I could tell HIS story. Sure I was very young when I was plucked out of that pit of destruction. I believe that gives me a greater responsibility to tell each story truthfully. Whether its helping to write a story or writing my own articles, poems, stories, I have a duty to the truth. That truth is based on the fact that "In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth". A biblical world and life view gives us the freedom to be creative within a framework of beauty
My son has been an artist since he was old enough to hold an implement with which to draw. Now that I have joined CCAS i have been paying particular attention to the greater implications of christian comics. I ask myself questions, like what does this mean to us, what does the art and the dialog say about us, where do we "draw the line" so to speak in our efforts to make a direct correlation between the real world and what we write/draw/ink,or letter. What does it say about our faith and more importantly are the comics an extension of our true selves. To those who attempt to see a larger picture in writing, what bits and pieces do we put into our craft that say more about us than we intended? Always something personal about a writer/artist seeps through unintentionally. That is how God made us. We say things without overt words. Are the comics we produce more an extension of ourselves or are they a wish for what we would like to be... or both? Are they true? People look for heroes... "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." When I grapple with a poem... I hope the words cause the reader to ask questions about themselves and are open to an answer from above.
We may not have your picture hanging on our wall
