“Your life’s not over…
it’s just that you have to live it a new way.”
~ TBI patient Joseph Maxim
Today’s edition of Kintsugi of the Soul is a story that is so inspiring… the power of creation… recreation… sport… finding your purpose beyond brokeness… and HOPE!!
“The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable.
A perpetual series of occasions for hope.”
On today’s edition of Kintsugi of the Soul*, I am referring you to a trUly BEaUtiful blog called Beauty Beyond Bones and a specific post called Glorious Wounds. The Beauty Beyond Blog shares the story of a young woman as she chronicled her battle with an eating disorder. Calling herself an ED Warrior, she writes openly and transparently about her fight for survival. The author admits her blog posts can be very graphic. However, she hopes that by shedding light on the dark battle she fought, it will help guide others (and their loved ones) on the path to recovery from disordered eating.
Beauty Beyond Bones writes:
“Jesus endured the greatest suffering of all: the Cross. And when He rose again after the third day, He greeted His loved ones and showed them the scars on His hands where He had been pierced. Thomas even put his hands in the holes. His wounds weren’t infected, but glorious and glowing. They were a victory.”
So what does an artist do when he or she is struggling with questions, uncertainty and pain? They go to their art…
” . . . brush to canvas,
feet to stage,
finger to shutter,
pen to paper,
voice to music or character,
or hands to clay as we seek . . . “
As artists and creatives we often go to our art form when we’re struggling. And while we may not always find answers, we do find solace, often entering into that “thin place” between heaven and earth where our spirits find rest among the swirling questions in our mind, heart and soul.
In today’s edition of Kintusgi of the Soul* we find an artist struggling and turning to music as a way to find solace and also as a way to reach his mother who has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. Jay Allen is a country music singer whose song “Blank Stares” resonates in the hearts of so many whose families have been struck by this awful disease.
In this week’s “Kintsugi of the Soul,” Professor of Neurosurgery, James Doty, M.D., tells a touching story of how one interaction altered the course of a his life:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
Matt Durbin (c) 2014
The People Stood Watching
Come, see a man who told me everything
I ever did. A man who healed my eyes,
fed me bread he multiplied, poured my cup
of wine, washed my feet, called me out
onto the sea, cursed the unfruitful tree,
received my kiss on his way out of Gethsemane.
Come see a man who raised me from death,
beckoned for me from my tomb, knew me
in my mother’s womb. See him, how he saved me?
Let him save himself, if he is the chosen
one, the Son of God, of Man, a Nazarene.
Come draw lots with me—which piece
of clothing do you need?
~ Sarah M. Wells (C) 2010 Continue reading
As we wind down our year of creative posts, I want to direct you to a blog post from my friend Dave Weiss of AMOK Arts entitled “Vision… Can You See it?” This post is a short but powerful word of encouragement to artists and creatives about moving forward in the dreams, callings, visions and destinies to which God is calling you.
It is my prayer that as this year unwinds you will seek the Lord’s guidance and will for the coming year. What creative destiny has He placed on your heart? What has He called you to for the season ahead? Make yourself “present” to God and seek what he has for you in this present moment! Continue reading
I trust you had a blessed CHRISTmas holiday as you celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Did you know in traditional Christian church tradition, CHRISTmas lasts through Epiphany on January 6th? As we wind down from the CHRISTmas holiday weekend, let us remember that Jesus came both to LIVE as God among us (Incarnation) and to DIE as the final atoning sacrifice (Salvation). He is both Lion and Lamb, Alpha and Omega, Healer and Savior, Infant Babe and Victorious King!
Today let me refer you to an October post on Infinite Windows, a blog with meditations on faith and art. This post describes a powerful encounter the writer recently had with a piece of artwork at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. The painting was Caravaggio’s Christ Crowned with Thorns, and it depicts Roman soldiers forcing the crown of thorns upon Jesus’ head. I am often astonished by the power of art to bring us into life-changing encounters and memories of God’s redemptive power, grace and love. Continue reading
Grace Bailey is a prophetic artist on a mission! Ministering out of her home church in Ballarat, Victoria (Australia) and at a variety of conferences, she has set herself a goal of 52 Weeks of Prophetic Art. Yes! 52 weeks of live painting during worship! What an amazing goal and ministry. I have been following her since I first found her last Spring on her Facebook page and have been deeply blessed by the artwork she is painting. You can also follow her journey here on her website.
“Valley of Dry Bones? Ha! piece of Cake!”
by Grace Bailey (C) 2015
The painting on your right is “Valley of Dry Bones? Ha! piece of Cake!”
Won’t you take a moment to consider? What are the dry bones in your life? Are they dreams and visions that seem to have died? Are they broken, wounded places in your spirit? Are they mistakes from your past that still fill you with shame? While you examine this painting, won’t you slowly and prayerfully read this prophetic prayer adapted from Ezekiel 37 with me and other fellow artists praying this prayer with us today? Continue reading
It’s another Facebook Friday!!
Today’s group is Prophetic Art International and is administered by Victoria Robertson and Christopher W Bennett.
Here’s the group description:
A group available for us Artistic Christians to share what God is doing through Artists in the church! Previously Prophetic Art Canada, this group has grown far beyond the borders of just Canada, so the name of this group has been altered to reflect that!
As we wind down our focus on books for artists, creatives and worshipers, I want to direct you to a new book that came out just this month!
The Seventy: A Movement of Creativity in the Earth by Pastor Bernard Boulton is based on a prophetic prayer he spoke over his congregation in 2009.
This book announces a movement of creativity rising in the earth during the second decade of the twenty first century. The God of creativity who created the heavens and the earth and created mankind in His image is raising up and sending out a remnant of creative artists who have seen God with a pure heart and have a call on their lives to release the love of God through creative expression.
The month of October and National Book Month are coming to a close, dear friends. I hope you’ve found some books to add to your creative library!
I’ve shared The Creative Epiphany blog of artist Jo Ann Brown-Scott previously. You can see that here. I want to direct you to a specific post about her book, entitled The Creative Epiphany: Gifted Minds, Grand Realizations, which delves into the creative minds of 19 artists with stories of their personal encounter with “Epiphany.” In her post celebrating January 6th, the Day of Epiphany, she talks about her book and ends with this wonderful thought-provoking quote:
. . . an epiphany brings information – an enlightening message of some variety – that you did not have before. A missing piece in your plans. And you needed it to move forward. It is of great help to you and utmost importance that you pay attention to it. There are some keys to accommodating the arrival of the coveted epiphany – the best one is to remain open and present, living in the now, aware and alert to all possibilities. Keep a receptive mind, engaged and involved in life. Be hopeful. Have faith.
National Book Month is winding down! I hope you’ve found some new resources to add to your creative library!!
Today’s book for your library is A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live by Emily P. Freeman. I gleaned this BEaUtiful gem of a quote from her blog post about how a five word email turned into a book:
“I don’t write as an expert – I’m not sure there is such a thing in deep matters of the soul. I write as a fellow image bearer, an intuitive observer and participant in the art of God.
I see artistic potential in not only those pursuits the world would label artistic like painting and singing and dance, but also in small gestures done with great faith, like listening, waiting, and showing up.
There is an art alive within you and you don’t have to go anywhere to find it. Because the art alive within you was woven into the fabric of your soul when you were made in the secret place. Doubt, discouragement and distraction may be covering it up, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. When believers embrace the unique shape of their soul and move into the world as the person we most fully are, art comes out.”
National Book Month continues with books for creatives, artists and worshipers!!
Artists & Artisans Awake: Creativity & the Global Harvest is written by Bhari Long, a leader in the prophetic art movement in the UK. She and her husband James Mark Long not only labor as prophetic artists themsleves, but also mentor younger artists to release them in their calling as creatives in God’s kingdom.
Gordon Wright, founder of Crossline Christian Ministries in the UK, has this to say in review of the book:
“Artists & Artisans Awake! is a successful blend of the
author’s own journey into prophetic creativity together with insights which are both helpful and challenging. Through narrative, anecdote, testimonies and practical exercises, Bhari brings encouragement and inspiration across a wide range of artistic expression. If you seek to go deeper into this precious gift of God — this book is for you. Read, enjoy and be blessed.”
N
ational Book Month continues with more books for creatives, artists and worshipers.
Today’s book is The Organic Artist by Nick Neddo. Is your creative hobby getting too expensive? Do you love to create but find yourself inhibited by the cost of art supplies? The Organic Artist is loaded with ideas to make your own paint, paper, prints and pigments all with the help of nature!
“The Organic Artist seeks to inspire creativity by connecting you to your wild roots. In addition to offering a wide variety of suggestions for using nature as supplies for art, this book also introduces the concepts of awareness and perception that are foundational to the creative process.”
We continue National Book Month with more books for artists, creatives and worshipers!
Gently Awakened: The Influence of Faith on Your Artistic Journey by Sara Joseph is a wonderful book of transparency from the heart of an artist who has surrendered her gifts to God! Sara shares her passion behind writing this book:
“Aware of how testimonies always encouraged me, whether
I heard them in church or read them in a book, I wondered if perhaps my story would encourage someone else. This book is part memoir interspersed with color images of art and poetry. It is an account of some of my experiences as an artist and a testament to God’s incredible faithfulness. His unchanging character is reason enough for you to confidently pursue art as an expression of your faith.”
National Book month continues with books for creatives, artists and worshipers!
Pattie Ann Hale is the author of Journeyartfully: Secrets for Living an Artful Life. Here is the description from her website:
“This thought-provoking and life-shifting book by artist and
teacher, Pattie Ann Hale, is an invitation to live artfully. The artful life is a deeply spiritual life which brings those who will embark upon it into a deeper understanding of creation, God’s heart, community, and themselves. This book will open one to new doors of creativity, love, soulfulness and spiritual encounter through the sacredness of everyday living, seeing divine nature in the entirety of life.”
Enjoying our book focus? Hope so! Because there’s lots more books on the way!
Today’s feature is An Army Arising: Why Artists are on the Frontlines of the Next Move of God by Christ John Otto. It is a very inspiring book. If you are an artist or creative in need of “the big picture,” this is a great read as it helps you see the bigger picture of God’s kingdom coming to earth through our artistic offerings!
Otto works with artists through Belonging House of Boston, Massachusetts where creative worship is being used to glorify God and advance His kingdom!
Continuing our focus on books for creatives, artists and worshipers, I want to point you to Billion Dollar Painter: The Triumph and Tragedy of Thomas Kinkade, Painter of Light by G. Eric Kuskey.
I enjoyed this honest review from Amazon:
“This is not the most sophisticated book. It’s not the most comprehensive book. But it is a really fascinating biography told from the point of view of a man who was a close friend
and colleague of painter Thomas Kinkade through the best and worst of times. I actually had a hard time putting the book down due to its compelling narrative arc — naive but brilliant painter and his two pals dream up a little company that turns into a multi-billion dollar enterprise, before the wheels fall off.
Some may criticize the book for being too soft on Kinkade himself, letting him off the hook for some of the financial damage his company did to gallery dealers and soft-pedaling some of the painter’s vices. But I think readers can read between the lines of the author’s account and get a pretty full and interesting picture of the Painter of Light, who kept his hopeful gaze on the morning glow even as dusk closed in…”
Continuing our National Book Month focus on books for creatives, artists and worshipers, I’d like to introduce you to several books from Matt Tommey of the Worship Studio.
The first is Unlocking the Heart of the Artist: A Practical Guide to Fulfilling Your Creative Calling in the Kingdom. According to Jeanne Randall, President of Masterpiece Christian Arts Foundation, “It’s the Purpose-Driven Life for Artists.” I love that it touches on the importance of working towards healing and wholeness. There is also a companion guide resource with journal prompts and project ideas to help you on your healing journey.
Creativity According to the Kingdom: Connecting With Heaven to Create With God and Release Transformation is Tommey’s more recent release. I love what this Amazon reviewer had to say about the book: “Matt Tommey’s earthy and challenging teachings on creativity in the Kingdom are wonderful. He raises the bar to create with God instead of struggling to create for God. It is encouraging and uplifting.”
Continuing our focus on books for creatives, artists and worshipers, I wanted to share the books of Dave Weiss of AMOK Arts. I’ve shared several resources from Dave this year, and here’s two more great resources he offers!!
Running AMOK: Creative Musings for the Creative Hands of the Body of Christ is his latest offering. It is available through Amazon in both print and Kindle format. Kindle version is currently FREE for Kindle subscribers or $2.99 if not.
Ministering to the Creative Soul: a Manifesto on Ministry to Creatives and the People Who Love Them is Dave’s other offering. The Kindle version is also free to Kindle subscribers and $.99 for non-subscribers.
Nurturing the Creative Spirit Within 