"Mom, I've never heard God's voice..."

A friend of mine had her daughter (who is now in jr. high) go through all of their dvd's and they gifted us about 20 new movies/cartoons/games/etc.  My kids got a whole set of Veggie Tales dvd's and they've been watching one after the other (could get just a wee bit annoying haha!).
Well, my youngest child Marco (age 5), was watching the Jonah one and "Jonah" must've mentioned "hearing God speak" or "hearing God's voice" and my boy, who is so thoughtful always, looks at me and says: "Mom, I never heard God's voice.  I really tried, but... NOTHING." As he said it, he had his hands going and his face was all scrunched up. He was really worried.   Awwww.  I almost started crying.
I told him that there are different ways that he could hear God's voice.  He could hear God's voice when he gets that feeling in him to do something right or that nudging that says 'no' when he's about to do something that he's not supposed to be doing; he could hear God's voice when Mom and Dad are talking to him and telling him how much they love him or how special he is, because God uses people we love to feel His love here on earth...
I continued giving him different circumstances where he might hear God's voice and he listened intently.  I also told him that one day he might actually hear God's voice in his heart or in his dreams - who knows?
He was very glad to know that he could hear God's voice.  My boy takes things literally and I am so glad I didn't not shrug off this question.  He seemed content after our talk and happily went back to watching the show.
Of course, I felt like I might just have a cry after that because of his tender heart.  Oh, how I want to protect it.  There are so many evils out there, so many hurts, so many lessons to learn, so many temptations and choices that we are faced with day to day.
Then I also thought about how I, as an adult, also want to hear God's voice.  It is something I CRAVE.  I don't want to hear a 'still, small voice' either.  I want to hear Him loud and clear!!  I have to be transparent here and admit that there were times that I was more concerned about what others had to say to me regarding my relationship with Christ or what THEY thought would make me a better "christian".
I am so glad to say that I no longer depend on any person to be THAT voice.  I have heard the Voice of TRUTH and it is a voice of GRACE and MERCY.  It is a voice of UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.  I hear it when I read His Word, when I commune with Him, when I worship Him, when I listen to music - all kinds of music, I hear His voice when I see beauty around me in an otherwise ugly world, I hear His voice when I have paint on my brush or ink under my fingernails and I hear His voice through those that love me just the way I am.
Yes, often times His voice is one that teaches, corrects and even chastises - but I always know when it is HIM because it is spoken in love - not condemnation.  It is convicting and firm, yet I know it is Him and not just guilt...
Isaiah 30:21
Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, "This is the way you should go," whether to the right or to the left.
Do you hear God's voice?  How do YOU hear Him?  How do you know it's Him?

Strut like you mean it!

Yesterday was the 15th of the month, so you know what that means! New prompt over at A Year in the Life of an Art Journal with Rachel Whetzel...
THE PROMPT: Confidence Shot
THE SONG: Strut by Adam Lambert
Written Lyrics HERE
PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: eye shadow

I started by making a background page that I started prepping before I even knew what the prompt was going to be. I made a pattern using Hole Reinforcement Stickers on my dry, blank page. Then I gave it a light coat of gesso. After it dried, I started playing with a wash of acrylic paints. I really enjoyed the process of watching colors blend and develop with each layer. I also liked how the stickers gave the page more texture.

Then I read the prompt which always has THREE parts. I had never heard the song before, but I liked the words. I decided right away to go with the word Strut because my thoughts started swirling around as soon as I read the word. I reflected on how I may strut or walk with confidence on the outside, but I am usually filled with insecurities inside. I am learning to change this mind-set. It's a journey though - that is for sure.

I don't wear much make-up and certainly did not have a variety of colors of eye shadow to choose from. However, I did have my Bare Minerals eye shadow in Radiant Rebecca and decided I would use it the same way I use the Perfect Pearls powder. I used foam stamps and stamped them on Perfect Medium and then lightly brushed the area with the golden brown eyeshadow. I really like how it turned out!

Beautiful Again...

A Year in the Life of an Art Journal prompt for February 28th:

THE PROMPT: I'm Beautiful

THE SONG: Real Love by Regina Spektor

Written Lyrics HERE

PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: Self-portrait

I haven't touched my art journal in over a week. It was way over due. I had fun with this and was able to really write on this subject (gesso'd over it)...

Somebody asked me why I bother to journal and then cover the words. Well, I can keep my thoughts private that way, but I still get to express my feelings. I still struggle with writing down my thoughts due to a time when my privacy was totally violated and I felt like I had no place safe for my "voice". I don't always cover up my writing - it just depends.

This prompt really helped me to focus on how much I want to feel beautiful - physically, spiritually and emotionally. I don't want to be afraid to be who I am. I want to love people without wondering if they will love back. I want to laugh and feel free without worrying how I am perceived... I want to be BEAUTIFUL AGAIN.

She will be loved...

A lot of emotion as I wrote lines and lines and lines before I lightly gesso'd over it. Watercolor crayons and oil pastels came next. All you need to know is She Will Be LOVED...no matter what.

Love is Free.

In celebration of LOVE, Connie at Dirty Footprints Studio is have an Art Journal Love Day!! Head over and join in the fun!LOVE is FREE. It is not something that you have to earn. I still struggle with being "good enough". I still struggle with conditions being put on love and acceptance. I never want to do that to anyone. I want to love - no matter what. If I say it - I mean it - I show it. It's free. You don't have to do any more to get more. I'm thankful for an Unconditional Love from my Heavenly Father. I want to love like Jesus loves.

I did these pages in an old, hard-backed Discovery and Exploration Atlas History. A friend of mine gave it to me to use for the text pages in my art work. After looking at it for a while, I decided that I would rather use it as a journal. This Love prompt was my first piece in it. Here's what it looks like.

Here's the outside...

The inside cover...

This is what some of the pages look like...

I know...some of you must think it's a pity to paint in a book like this - but I LOVE it. History and geography are some of my favorite subjects and now I get to mix some art into it?? Perfect!