Artists' Listening Group: Update

Hope everyone had a Happy Holy Week leading into a blessed and Happy Resurrection (Easter) Sunday and Monday! (See my Holy Week 2012 posted earlier)

4-10-12
Yesterday at the Artist's Listening Group , we were asked how we used our God given talents and skills and discipline to partner with the Holy Spirit to create our works of culinary, visual, musical, spoken word, written and/or fine arts. We discussed how God blessed Bezalel with the Spirit and the gifting to build the Tabernacle in the Book of Exodus.

Exodus 35:30-35
30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-- 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers--all of them master craftsmen and designers.

Then we discussed how our spirit-filled process flows for each of us. Responses included lots of references to the help of praise music in creating an atmosphere fitting for the Holy Spirit(try Terry McAlmon's The Glory of His Presence live worship CD guys).

Then we talked about how the great masters of fine arts like Michelangelo and Di Vinci depicted Biblical scenes and how fine art is inspired today including the Pageant of Our Lord which is similar to the Pageant of the Masters but with Biblical artworks by the masters depicted by live actors with live choral music. For more on the pageant visit www.PageantOfOurLord.com.

The masters have always inspired me and my own last drawing in my Kenya series has a nice old world feel to it and I named it Mona-Alyssa in homage to Di Vinci. We commented on Christian painter and fine artist, Thomas Kincade's passing on Good Friday , too. Thomas proved that one can do Holy Spirit inspired work and it will sell and be profitable both spiritually and financially.

We talked about print journalism, TV and all media as a creative outlet but we forgot to mention the death of Mike Wallace, the noted journalist from the 60 Minutes TV News show on CBS who passed on Saturday (may they both rest in God's heavenly peace). We did talk about how everyday words and images from street signs, billboards (see the "Transformers Are Coming" link), TV or any media or even musicians or actors themselves can influence our creative work in this modern era and how to keep God in the mix.

We closed out the night with lots and lots of individual and group prayers for our current art and anything in our lives that was concerning us. Well, Nichols Fellowship was on my mind and on the minds of most of the writers in the group so we got prayer for our submissions. I also got great prayer and encouragement for my artwork and more prayer for more healing.

Wow, next week is the last of the 8 group sessions so it will be the last time the group will meet. I thank God for the Artists' Listening Group and its originator and sponsor, Melissa Smith of Epiphany Space. I pray for all who attend this group and they have become people I care for deeply. My own trust and faith in God has only grown stronger since attending the group and I even got a healing of my right leg and hip which have plagued me for years. Hallelujah!

A Creative Artist's Ode to Father, Son and Holy Spirit:

I'm thanking God today that the Holy Spirit does not work on the usual 9-5 time-table of man. However, that means that sometimes I am inspired to write the best scene or draw my best art at 2 am or 4am (try telling any boss that as an excuse for being late for work-lol).

My Process:
So since I can't put the Holy Spirit on the clock, I just let Him be AMAZING! Hours fly by as the praise music plays and I praise Him as I create under His tutelage... He gives me the very words I type and improves my fine arts techniques. He even returns motor skills and vision to my eyes. Most importantly, I feel no pain until I've completed the work as assigned and even then I believe as His word says, “by His stripes I am healed!”.