The Elijah Project Extra: Owning My Story

This weekend I took a big risk.  I co-taught an art class with my friend Destiny Jackson.  I do not feel confident in my art creating ability.  I have not drawn with acrylic paint since second grade.  I painted with a brush and a plastic plate of paint this weekend. 

This is me with my painting at Altered Ego Art Studio, Eau Claire WI.  Wow!  Look at the freedom and joy on my face.

This weekend we did two different projects:
First we created a collage of being.  We cut pictures and words to create a picture that refelcts who we are.  Notice my eyes are "circles of love."  I really want to look at people through love.  And my mouth says:  "A smile is the shortest distance between two people." 

My daughter asked: "why the sandy foot toward the bottom of the picture?"  I had to think and ask myself: "Why the foot?"  I think I liked the sandy foot picture because it was fresh, adventurous and messy.  I feel like my life is like the salt water drenched foot dipped in sand.  And no matter how hard I shake my foot, I can't get the sand off. 

"There is no remedy for love but to love more."  Henry David Thoreau.

Finally, let me share my painting.  I decided to attempt to paint a broom tree... since afterall we are walking through Elijah's story and he found himslef alseep under a broom tree.  My tree is divided down the middle and drawn together with a heart.  This is kinda like my life.  Elijah calls out the people on Mount Carmel for "limping between two opinions."  I limp all the time.  When I am wrapped in the roots on the left of my picture - I find myself tangled up in pleasing, perfectionism and disconnection.  When I find myslef in that tangle my leaves look like a cage, a mirror with a horrified expression and a heavy weight on my back and shoulders.
On the other side (the right side of my tree)... when my roots are in God's word, living in His protection and provision my tree looks healthy.  My branches bear flowers, sparkles, birds tweeting truth and strength and my posture is open, with my heart enlarged and tipped toward God.

Faith is Courage!

When I truly trust God as my protector and provider... He fills me with courage to continue my journey of faith!

The Elijah Project #6: What am I Feeling?

After youth group a few weeks ago one of our students asked to show me something.  Her instructions were to fashion fear from pipecleaners.  I sat at the table and she placed a black blob spidery looking creature in front of me.  She then slowly pulled each pipe cleaner apart and assembled the word FEAR, pictured above. 

I love the fact that the figure of fear was a blob like spidery creature.  I think our feelings often feel like a blob.  It is difficult to figure out how to unpack our feelings.  Which are the primary feelings versus the secondary feeligns.

Today feel?

Feeling is dangerous.  It is scarey and sometimes we don't respond the way we want to when we open ourselves to our emotions.  It is easier to stay numb... then to truly feel.

I have a formula for feeling as an adult that is allowing me to process my emotion with less regret.  I am trying to LIVE the Fruits of the Spirit.  When I allow myself to feel within the fruit of love, joy, peace, pateince, kindness, gentleness and self-control, I live more freely and with less regret and guilt.  When I respond to fear with self-control... I stop and breath.  I walk away.  I close my mouth.  I pray in my head.  And then... I get in my car ALONE and let it go.  I yell, scream, rant, rave, cry and moan... and then through that I find the root which is usually not the symptom or the leaf that I was reacting to.

Stop.  Pause.  Breath.  Pray.  And then FEEL!

Below is my fear picture.  I drew solid black lines over my head... covering over the blue and green (the calm).  Fear clouds my mind so that I feel disconnected and alone.  God says He is peace!

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you.  I give to you and not as the world gives.  Don't be troubled or afraid."  John 14:27

The Elijah Project #5: The Idol Limp

"What's in your wallet?" Capitol One hopes you have their credit card in your wallet.  What are you leaning on?  Our culture sends us messages all the time the encourage us to provide for ourselves, our family and our businesses.  We are encouraged to take out life insurance policies, credit card protection, Life Lock!  And although there is nothing wrong with being responsible, it is easy to confuse worldly protection with God's protection.

We tend to think of idols as those small wooden statues that people bow down to in other cultures.  Americans have plenty of idols.  We have the worst idol of all The American Dream.  Now, before you get concerned that I am not a true American, rest at ease.  I love the philosophy of freedom we have in the United States.  What I am challenging is that the American Dream is God's Dream.  For a long time my dream was to get married, have children and secure a white picket fence.  I believe that God can be within those dreams.  The danger is... and I am guilty of it... is to take the credit for making the dream happen.  God's econoly is like this:  1) Trust Me; 2) Obey Me; 3) I will protect and provide; and 4) Give Me the credit (Glory).  That is what is missing in the American Dream.  We confuse our own industriousness with success and forget to give God the glory.

After Elijah's offering was incinerated on Mount Carmel the people responded:  "God, He is the God!"  God promises to protect and provide for us.  It often does not look the way I might hope, but His provision bring a prosperity of peace that rivals any temporary accomplishment the American Way.

What are you leaning on?  How are you providing for yourself?  Where can you invite God to protect and provide for you and your family... TODAY!