Created to create

The Bible says that we were created in God's image. So if He created the whole universe, including the people in it, then He created us to create. I realize that means more than being an artist, but there is something to that. I'm not the world's most artistic person, however. I mean, I can be creative in other ways, but when it comes to making "art" I'm all thumbs. But when I came across this on Pinterest a while back, I knew I wanted to flex my creative muscles and give it a shot. Plus it was a new way of using the creative gifts God has given me and I wanted Him to be glorified through the process. All I needed were the supplies and the time and I finally acquired both today!

In the original blog that inspired my bout of creativity, she used magazines, pages from old books, sheet music and a whole host of other things for her canvas projects. I don't have magazines, nor was I about to spend upwards of $15 on something I was about to tear apart and I can't foresee ripping pages from any of my books (unless it was my old accounting textbook, but who wants to make art from that??), but the sheet music I had and with a flash on inspiration, I settled on using the fronts of old greeting cards. A trip to Wal-Mart, and then to Target for the vinyl lettters, later, I settled down to start working on the first project.

For the first project, I selected a few cards I liked and began separating the fronts from the backs then once I determined I had enough to fill my 11x14 canvas I started arranging them how I wanted and using Elmer's Craft Bond I glued them in place. Then I had to decide what quote or saying I wanted to use. This was honestly the hardest part of the whole project as I didn't have enough of the letters I needed for my original idea (note to self: buy 2 packs of vinyl letters), but the letters are easily removed so I was able to start, and restart, several times. Eventually I settled on You Are My Victory, which is a great song off of Jimmy Needham's new album, Clear The Stage.

Next, I decided on my paint colors and covered the entire thing. Once my creation had dried, I set to work peeling the letters off to reveal the final project. A quick coat of Mod Podge and my "artwork" is complete!

For the second one, I decided to make use of some old sheet music I had from a church choir performance that happened several years ago. I had already decided on How Great Thou Art as my quote, so why not use the sheet music as well? The steps from there are basically the same as the first, so I won't bore you with that again, but I really think I like my second attempt better than the first. Both look good, but I'm a big fan of the purple :-)

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking....


 Project 1: You Are My Victory

 

Project 2: How Great Thou Art

 The final product!!!

All in all, not super time-consuming and I love the results! I will definitely be making more of these. Now I have to figure out where and how to hang them....

Love vs Hate, Gay vs Straight, Chicken vs Beef?

Ok, I admit it. I was one of thousands who stood in line for 2 hours just to "Eat Mor Chikin" today. And I've read a lot of blogs, tweets and facebook posts both for and against the event that have gotten me thinking so I thought I'd add to the list in the hopes that it might make you think as well :-)

Some people decided not to go to Chick-Fil-A today, not because they don't support what the company stands for, but because they feel that God has a higher calling for us. Why squabble over the little things? On the one hand, I agree with most of what they are saying. God does call us to love, not hate. While I was standing in line this afternoon, however, what was on my mind and in my heart was not with the intention of hating homosexuals. It was to love the Word of God and to show support to some people who are in a vast minority. Hate was the farthest thing from my thoughts (eating was in the top 5, as the minutes ticked by!). Somebody commented on a picture I posted today on facebook: "Doesn't God want us to love all people?" Yes, yes He does. Unequivocally. But since when have love and tolerance gone hand in hand? Where does it say I have to agree with someone in order to love them?

I read some tweets that stated standing in line to eat chicken was a waste of time when there are starving children all over the world. Okay, ouch. Yes, that is absolutely true, but what did you do today to help to remedy that global issue? God does call us as Christians to take care of the widows, the orphans, the poor, the outcast. If you did something today to answer that call, then I will eat my words and you made a better use of your time than I did. But if not, please don't criticize my decision to make a stand for Truth. And maybe next week I'll go volunteer at a soup kitchen...

Others didn't go to Chick-Fil-A because they oppose Dan Cathy's views on traditional marriage. And that's fine. I don't agree with their view, they don't agree with mine, but we are entitled to have our opinions and beliefs. What bothers me is when those of us who decided to stand in line today are accused of being hateful towards a group of people. The people I was in line with were not a bunch of hateful bigots. They were retired, middle-class, God-loving and God-fearing people. There were young, old, married, single, black, white, Asian, long-haired, short-haired, able-bodied, disabled, etc. And we were all brought together by common belief and purpose. In the two hours I stood in that line, I did not hear one hateful thing espoused by anyone near me. For the most part, we spent time just getting to know each other and learning people's backgrounds. Nothing more. Tell me where the hate is here. If you had been gay and were standing in line with us, it wouldn't have made a difference. Because today was not about gay versus straight. It really all boils down to freedom of speech and religion.