Hello Fellow Worshipers! Found this recipe for play-dough with essential oils at One Essential Community and thought I would share it with you. You can find full instructions with photos and essential oil blend ideas.
Playdough is a wonderful way to use the embodied sense of touch during prayer and meditation time. Add essential oils and we include the sense of smell. You can add the following scriptures to embody your prayer, meditation and Bible study time: Continue reading
Today I would like to introduce you to an embodied spiritual practice called CaraMayan. CaraMayan is a way of moving to the Bible for exercise, fitness, worship and prayer. It is a Christian alternative to Yoga and Tai Chi based on dance and pilates movement. It was created by my friend Mary Jones, founder of the International Christian Dance Fellowship. I’ve had the privilege of meeting and spending time with Mary, and it was an honor to sit under her teaching and fellowship over a meal. She is truly a treasure in the kingdom of God!!
Not sure if anyone’s coined the term “Physio Divina”, but perhaps today is the day we do! In Lectio Divina (sacred reading) we read a passage of scripture several times to savor its meaning. In CaraMayan we experience the same type of meditation, except through physical movement. May you be blessed as you put this into practice.
Join me, Jody Thomae, author of The Creator’s Healing Power, as I guide you on a healing journey through my newest book via a Virtual Bible Study. You’re invited to join me live on four 75-minute phone calls. The calls will include embodied prayer ministry time and also be recorded for later playback. You’ll also be a part of our private Facebook page where you can share your thoughts and get to know others joining us on this healing journey. The study is hosted by YogaFaith, a Christ-centered yoga training school, and is currently being offered for a sale price of $20 through their website. Continue reading
I suppose you should never give away the ending to your book, but here I am, doing it anyway. I’ve never been one to stay contained by the world’s boxes.
The excerpt below includes In the Cave, a story of Mama Bear and her Cub that both opens and closes my newly released book, The Creator’s Healing Power—Restoring the Broken to Beautiful. Based on the Legend of the Snowdrops, it is a story of redemption and new life based on the battle won on the cross of Jesus and the “battle to end all battles” found in Revelation 19-21:
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
So here is how the story ends…
an excerpt from The Creator’s Healing Power—Restoring the Broken to Beautiful, the 2nd book in the Bible Studies to Nurture the Creative Spirit Within series: 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
Have you ever thought about the “creation” of Christ? Not as God but as a human, a baby, born in a manger, as the scripture says? Who decided what he would look like, his smile, the color of his eyes, the shape of his tiny nose? Did he and God the Father put their heads together and say, “This is what God Incarnate should look like.” Or did God simply say, “Let me surprise you, Son”?
Just some thoughts to ponder as I direct you to a short CHRISTmas devotional called Christ Jesus — a Work of Art. May you be blessed as you consider this most precious gift the world has ever received!
Today’s post is for Bible art journalers and other crafty folks, with a Christmas gift idea, a free resource and a blog with great ideas for art journaling! Wow! This one is loaded!
First, the gift idea! I have heard folks say the only thing they don’t like about art journaling in their Bibles is that the 2-3″ margins aren’t big enough, and they don’t like to cover the words of scripture! The soon-to-be-available Interleaved ESV Journaling Bible might be just the Bible for you then! There is a blank canvas to compliment every page! It will be available March 11, 2016 but you can pre-order now at a reduced rate. You can check out all the details on move-the-mountains.com. (I recommend exploring that blog too — great resources and ideas!!)
Second, here’s a resource for art journalers and anyone else wanting to get creative with Advent: free downloadable Advent scripture cards from Displaying Grace blog. They support a wonderfully creative Advent study, also found on the blog. Tons of great family activity ideas and free printables to help make this a memorable and thoughtful CHRISTmas season. Continue reading
“As long as you find yourself drawn closer to the Lord through the art you produce, you are doing what you are called to do.”
~ Trisha Stern
(c) Trisha Stern
The topic of my next book is the artist on the healing journey and the artist as healer, so I was intrigued when I found a Christian Artist Feature on Trisha Stern on The Artistic Christian blog. After experiencing severe wounding trauma in her life, art became the way out of the depths of her grief and pain.
In the words of Trisha, “Art changed my life.” She has much more to say about the power of art!! I encourage you to read the whole feature here. It will inspire you!
(c) Mara Bochart Design marabochartdesign.blogspot.com
I’d like to introduce you to the scripture inspired art of Mara Bochart through her BEaUtiful site Shine Living.
This is a great example of an illustrated sermon. The story of Mary and Martha is told through dance. And dance alone. No lyrics, no words, no dialogue. Yet it beautifully illustrates the scripture passage found in Luke 10. Continue reading
Easter Devotional and Creative Prompt (i.e., Challenge)
We are two weeks into Lent; Easter is only a month away. It’s important to journey through this season intentionally with your heart open to what the Holy Spirit has for you creatively. So take a deep breath, saying a prayer of openness, and move ahead letting Him move you as you read…
As you read the passage below, imagine the scene as part of a larger drama unfolding. Think of the setting (Ancient Israel; very early in the morning at sunrise; Springtime, chill still in the air), the plot (Mary finds tomb empty; brings Peter and John to investigate; they find it as she reported; the body of Jesus is missing), the characters (Mary Magdalene, angels, Jesus) and the dialogue (try to hear it as you read). Continue reading
Mark Lawrence is an artist with a heart on a mission! In Mark’s words:
My vision is to encourage and strengthen everyone who views my scripturally inspired art, through sharing the amazing love and grace that God has poured into my life. The closer I grow to God through Jesus Christ, the more I feel compelled to share with others the reality of my risen Lord and Savior.
Song of the Beloved reflects the love of Christ our Sacred King for His Beloved Bride, the Church and its people. This simple acoustic recording, with readings from scripture and The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis, is designed to lead you through a time of confession into quiet meditation and rest in the arms of your Savior.
The idea for a devotional CD was birthed in the early years of motherhood, when there was little time to spend in God’s Word and presence. As I “taxi-cabbed” my children from activity to activity or waited in the school pick-up line, I thought how great it would be to have a CD that had scripture or devotional material with accompanying songs to give me a few moments “alone” with God — something simple that would lead me into quiet rest with my Savior amidst the craziness of life as a busy mom. That is my intent behind this recording.
Six of the eight tracks are original songs and two tracks are original arrangements of traditional hymns. Many of the songs begin with scripture or readings. Tracks include: In the Garden, an arrangement of the 1912 hymn written by D.Austin Miles; Steal Me Away, a prayer of the heart set to song by Nate Bebout; My Adulteress Heart, a song of confession based on the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8; It Is Well, an original arrangement of the 1873 hymn by Horatio Gates Spafford and Philip Paul Bliss; Remedy, a song of healing co-written with Aaron Wardle; Song of the Beloved, a love song based on passages from Song of Songs; Dance Before You, an uplifting song of God’s redeeming power based on Psalm 30; and Kingdom Song, based on Psalm 45, which according to the NKJV is a song of “The Glories of the Messiah and His Bride.” You can give them a listen on YouTube!
Other artists and musicians included on this album include: Nate Bebout (guitar, vocals); Glenn Black (reader); Jeremy Harrison (piano); Paul Stoffer (guitar); and Jillian VanDuyne (keyboard, vocals).
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Marshall Green, Marshman Studios, Ashland, Ohio.
Cover design by Allison Barnhart Design with photo by Carly Eger.
Dedicated to the loving memory of my best friend, Lynn Hill (1968-2013).
You can preview all songs* and purchase my album through CDBaby, iTunes, or from My Square Shop. May God meet you with grace and peace as you listen. Blessings!
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Jody Thomae is the author of God’s Creative Gift—Unleashing the Artist in You, a devotional book with Bible studies to nurture the creative spirit within and to serve as a resource for creative Christians and artists. She has been involved in worship arts ministry since 1997, serving as worship arts ministry pastor, worship leader and creative arts director. She performs, teaches, choreographs, preaches, coordinates and leads workshops in the area of creativity, spirituality and embodied prayer. She also leads worship at local seminars, retreats and women’s events.
Her passion is for the revelation of God to be made more real through the prophetic use of the arts in church and formational ministry. It is her desire to portray the message of Christ’s desperate and unfailing love for His people to help sustain the hearts of the broken and weary. She is particularly interested in the way in which God uses the arts to bring formational development and healing to His people.
You can read more about Jody here.
Nurturing the Creative Spirit Within 