But .... Where Will Wisdom Be Found?

As some of you have probably already figured out .... I have this obsessive / compulsive side of me. Especially when it comes to something I enjoy or want to create ..... or buy! Well, when I get something to create in my head and it doesn't leave me alone .... I obsess over it and if it involves money ..... I spend too much money looking at what to buy to use ..... because as I shop I am creating in my mind and thinking of all the possibilities of that little thing or things I need to buy! Then I spend too much, then I can't sleep, laying awake at night thinking how I'm getting all this stuff..... WIRE and "GEMSTONES" that are coming and I will HAVE to create and sell to justify it!!!! I was sick on a Sunday afternoon several weeks ago and a little down...... and I just prayed and ask God to please help me with this obsession I was having over making jewelry, shopping and buying gemstones ......and I just kept saying...."Why ?? Lord....Why jewelry?!?.... It has to have a worthy purpose...... Please help me understand ..... help me to know what to do? ... what is it? .... please. I reached down and grabbed an old Bible that I bought to cut words out of for collage and it flipped open to Matthew 4, specifically "The temptation of Christ", especially verse four....and then the comfort that comes after resisting temptation in verse 11. I was "WOWED' BY WHAT I READ....so I decided to sit up and read more!!! As I adjusted my position the Bible flipped over to JOB 28 .... a book I would NEVER CHOOSE to read ..... but as I read it ..... I wasn't only WOWED..... I was AMAZED ..... I mean REALLY amazed....!!!! TO THIS DAY!!! .....because..... in that chapter it talked about silver, gold, copper, stones, sapphires, flint rock (jasper), gold of Ophir, precious onyx, glass, jewels of fine gold, coral, crystal, pearls, the topaz of Ethiopia .... and then the question in verse 12, ....""But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?" The answer was there .... in 23 ....it says "God understands the way to it, and He knows it's place ...... and none of these things can compare to it......and then finally in verse 28 ....... it has the answer. You don't even have to know the history of JOB .... to get what God is trying to tell us (specifically me) in this chapter 28 in the Book of Job. For me it was ..... don't let your obsession and compulsion take you over .... because it is not true wisdom .....enjoy what "I" (God)have created , use your creativity, but never forget where it comes from ... and that it can never be compared to the real wisdom from and of God. Knowing that God is sovereign and active in our lives and alive and well and with us in everything we consider ..... considering Him ..... who He is .... and why He is .... and accepting and believing it....IS WISE..... that should be the focus in everything I do. I've been debating for the last few weeks whether this is too much to write about ..... but I really must because, it spoke to me so strongly and I hope it has something for you. Through Him only does anything have purpose...... I just couldn't get over that I had asked ..... why .... and I got the answer He sent me!! Even details about the gems of the earth!!! .... where in the whole Bible would you find anything about the gemstones!?? He knew exactly where it was and for me to find it!! An accident?....I don't think so! Be careful what you pray for.....now each piece of jewelry I create will have a completely different feel to it as I create it!! WOO HOO !!!! As some of my friends say! If I was going to give the jewelry line a name it would be ..."JOB 28 JEWELRY "...... So here it is........ This is the first jewelry I have ever created, the wire wrapping and chain and link making and twisting is my favorite part. Now I am waiting for the jewels to come in the mail and a little more studying and practice! ..... I will describe the stones on each (Carnelian, aquamarine, pearls, crystal, glass,mother of pearl, etc..) if you just ask me to.....I love Deryn Mentock's jewelry designing techniques, who has inspired me, and a book or two by some jewelry artists I found on her blog .... where I saw the twisted link design. Deryn has a ton of great information on her blog for books and advice. Check her blog and enjoy her beautiful art! I have been inspired by so many other artists this year to stretch myself and do different kinds of art ......but giving Him the glory! THANKS TO YOU ALL!! YOU TOO GOD! ...... then there is a whole "other" teaching on how the gems have come through fire to become so beautiful.....

FINALLY, A NEW PIECE!

I was so tempted to do Misty Mawn's 31 Day Challenge ..... but with a 24" x 24" area to do art on until my studio is ready .... I felt it might be too much pressure ..... but I kind of wish I'd done it anyway! I am going to pretend I'm doing it just for my own sake and see what I produce under pressure ..... I am even going to try a self-portrait. You should check out Nelda's self portraits she has done for the challenge.... I will post as I go. I have been reading where a lot of artists have picked a WORD for the new year and have made it their word to try to live up to for the year 2009. Well, I came across this word "CONSIDER" ..... and I decided it would be my word for the year 2009. It is a word with a lot of possibilities for anyone ..... so give it some thought for your self and feel free to share any profound thinking you've had on it. This is a journal page ... to be put into a journal when I have enough pages done .... I do everything backwards! I always find a fabulous old funky frame and then create art for it. Frame shops don't make much money off of me! This piece is watercolor, pencils, oil pastels, water based markers, black ink and some cut out leaves and flowers .... on a heavy watercolor paper. I'm new at this, the collage part and mixed media with new materials part.....and just being spontaneous is new for me.....my art is usually over planned.....so just enjoy it for what it is and I'll continue to experiment and learn how to use more new materials.....my most familiar medium has been ink and watercolor and prisma color pencils.....and I'm also trying to shed the fact that everything needs to be perfect. Funny, I don't know why because I have never produced perfect work!?!