Seeker of all things brave

Colossians 3:12

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

Source: http://biblehub.com/colossians/3-12.htm

I especially like this bible verse because it speaks of how God wants us to act; how we should treat each other. With compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Sounds nice and cozy but yet my brain screams out "WAIT...that means I'm going to be tested". Because in actuality we cannot practice these behaviors unless we are put to the test. Meaning I cannot show compassion unless I find myself engaged with a person who (from the outside) appears as they are not respectful and do not deserve compassion. 

For example a person who disrespects you, speaks to you with unkind words because they are holding hurt emotions and find you in close range and unload on you. Your brain again would want to shout out "HURT THEM BACK, yell back, hit, kick...and so on" but if we are to be followers of Jesus we are to look into our Heart of Worship and show compassion for that person. Not stand in the line of fire to keep getting abused but remove ourselves from that moment with a forgiving heart for our offender. We should pray for that person. We should hold patience in our heart for them and visit them in the future with a fellow christian brother or sister and ask the person if they would like to talk. If they are okay, if they need help. If they would like to pray.

Many times the enemy tries to confuse us by sending hurt people our way to see how we react to them. When we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus we can live out Colossians 3:12. When we are confused by the enemy that is when we might be tempted to disobey God. It is that time that we need to stop and pray and turn to Col. 3:12 for a reminder of how God wants us to tackle these trials and tribulations. This takes a brave heart. But God wants you to be a seeker of all things brave.

Blessings,
Sandra

Heart of Worship

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

1Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

2Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

3Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his^a ;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

5For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Source: http://biblehub.com/niv/psalms/100.htm

Fix My Eyes On Jesus

Hebrews 12:2

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Source: http://biblehub.com/hebrews/12-2.htm

Seeds Planted

Mixed media artwork in progress. Layering tissue paper, painted pages, metallic acrylic paint,  Japanese handmade paper, doodle transfers on wood. Now I start to add details with micron 01 ink pen.

Silence

Combining my love for drawing and doodling. Artwork in progress.

Heart of Worship

Artwork by Jerenis, age 11 (DO SOMETHING CLUB leader) collage heart used to create prayer cards for Children's Ministry Sunday School - Imparting Grace Ministry at Restoration in Christ Church, Mount Joy, PA. August 2014 theme is HEART OF WORSHIP. The lesson for August 17th was on the Holy Wedding.

This past Saturday the leaders of the DO SOMETHING CLUB created beautiful collage hearts. We spoke about Psalm 100
and how God wants us each to praise and worship our Savior Jesus Christ. For through his actions of love we were all saved. He gave His life on the cross so we may all be forgiven from our sins and have a personal relationship with our creator, GOD.

To have a personal one-to-one relationship with God is the act of WORSHIP. When we praise we celebrate with our voices, our hands, and feet and make a joyful sound to the Lord. But when we worship we do this on a one-to-one connection. YOU & GOD. This is done when we pray and mediate on the words of scripture, when we pray directly to Him and share all that our heart has to offer.

The more we read scripture and meditate on the truth the more our heart grows with spiritual strength. The more we pray and give thanks, and ask for forgiveness for our sins of the flesh (for we are all a work in progress... we are still in the PROCESS OF BECOMING); the more God reveals our purpose in life.

We want to fill our heart with love, peace, joy, truth, forgiveness, faith, trust, and all things worthy of our Lord. Leave no room for the enemy to take up shelter.

We want to be ready because Christ is coming to receive his bride, the church. The holy wedding is an event meant for all who have their eyes on Jesus and their hearts full of worship for God. For God created Jesus and us. For He loved us most!

Blessings ~ Sandra
(Mentor to the DO SOMETHING CLUB Leaders: Jerenis, Ryan, Justin, Yaneiris, Kayloni, Sasha, and Anthony)

God Sends Special Messengers

Bookmarker size 3 x 8.5 inches (free to download and share)

Curious Girls/Bible Explorations

A is for Angel

God Sends Special Messengers

{ Luke 1: 28, 30-31 }

28 The angel came to her and said

“Greetings! The Lord has blessed

you and is with you.”

30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be

afraid, Mary; God has shown you

his grace. 31 Listen! You will become

pregnant and give birth to a son, and

you will name him Jesus.

Exploration Questions:

When an angel delivers God's message to you 

how do you normally respond... with fear, doubt, 

worry? What does God expect for us to do when

he guides us with the angels he places in our life?

What are the consequences of believing or doubting God's message? Are you open to receive his message and live your life upon his will or do you still hold tight that you are in control of your destiny?

Life Learners Know Creativity COUNTS!

If you have ever experienced any change in your life either with your family relationships or friends, or at your job you are very aware that CREATIVITY COUNTS! It takes creativity to have a positive transformation experience. God created us to be creative beings. But of course it takes WORK and practice. Much, much practice to come up with a variety of problem solving solutions that can be agreeable to more then one person. Making art is a process that has helped me to keep my creativity alive. It has helped me think outside the box when working in community collaborative projects and it has also helped me when keeping my household happy with dinner recipes that are sure not to bore the Foodies in my life. Variety is key and change, transformation should not be feared or even worse IGNORED. 

 Mainstream society would have you believe that creativity stops after elementary school or at best when you are done with a formal educational engagement (high school, college, etc...). YES, Creativity is as important in education as literacy but let's not stop there. WE ARE TO BE LIFE LEARNERS not just formal brick and mortar learners. This means that we never stop learning, or thriving to learn more, to be creative, to overflow our artist tool belts with tools for how to make positive changes in our lives and in our world. 

It has been my life experience that by keeping my creative mind active (by art journaling, painting, drawing, making STUFF...) I keep my my brain in a healthy function tapping into my Art Memories for resources and exploring the lively world around me for inspiration. We do not live in a vacuum nor create in one, thus why I became a blogger and follow other bloggers. 

I salute all the men and women who feed their creativity. More I SALUTE those who use it for the good of  humanity. God bless ~ Sandra

Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters"

Do SOMETHING!

Years ago I prayed to God and asked him the question.. what are my "gifts, my blessings from you?". How should I use those blessings? God has been good to me and answered my prayers through the creation of my art ministry (Alchemy: Art Memories) and as of a year ago lead me to serve on the ministry team of Ministry Minjah Elohim as the Webpage Graphic Designer. My husband serves as the Treasurer. What a blessing this call to action has provided me. My personal relationship with God has grown tremendously and I see no end in sight. Only new adventures to discover, explore and enjoy for the GLORY OF GOD. Below is the something new God has called me to be involved in. ENJOY ~ Sandra

DO SOMETHING CLUB

The DO SOMETHING CLUB is a group created to share how families, friends and communities share God's message of Love to empower the little children to come closer to the kingdom of heaven. We are nurturing the next generation of disciples to continue where Jesus left off - to fore fill the Great Commission.

Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you."

Matthew 28:19-20

Group theme is ... DO SOMETHING! 

Question: What are you doing to show God's love to the little children in your life? All acts of love count.. from a hug, a kiss, to reading the bible and praying together and teaching your child how to say grace before a meal, how to ride a bike or clean their room... we are blessed with the time God provides us. How are you using that time to glorify and honor his name in the heart of a child? Please share your stories, pictures, videos here on our facebook group page. When we unite as a body of the church and share our stories of victory we bear good fruit and build his kingdom. God bless ~ MME Team

A child's prayer postcard. A reminder of what God wants children TO DO. Print size is 5x7 inches.

Share God's blessings. Please download and print this sweet postcard size reminder that GOD is calling you to DO SOMETHING to build a heart of worship in the life of a child. Post it at home in your child's room, in your kitchen, at your church youth room or anywhere children gather in your community. Better yet, give it to a child to invite them to have a relationship with God and learn about Jesus. When you do please take a  photo of what you did with it and share it here. 

God bless ~ MME Team

Digital Art Collage

Digital Art Collage created using original handmade doodles, monoprint, and vintage scanned wallpaper. Three layers created using Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0.

Time to Change Your Mind

I love this bible verse: Romans 12:2. It speaks of change and transformation. God changed my mind and transformed my heart one early morning in the summer of 2011. I was experiencing a second job layoff a year after being laid off from a 3 yr grant contract. 

The first layoff was a shocker (since age 16 I had never been without a job; in college I had 3 jobs... so being unemployed was an overwhelming concept to me). Needless to say I went through a great depression during the first layoff experience. I did not have a strong relationship with God at the time. Oh yeah, I was a praying woman - I was raised Catholic and believed in the father, the son, and the holy spirit. So I prayed. But I was not a Christian; I had not yet handed over my life to Christ and so my mind still belonged to ME and the WORLD. 

The time I spent the summer of  2010 was pretty much sad and wasted. I did very little except trying to find a job that I thought I needed to be in. When you pilot your own plane without a parachute or a pilot's license the outcome is inevitable... you are going to crash and it will hurt! So that summer I trusted no one, not myself, not my former employer to get me a new contract and worst of all not God. 

It was by God's grace and mercy that in the month of September 2010 I received a phone call to ask if I was interested in applying for a new position with a new agency under a new government grant. I immediately said yes and I preceded to do what I needed to do to land the job. 

So I became "happy" again. I was employed and gave thanks to my professional skill abilities for landing a new contract. The job went well but it felt a bit hollow...what was missing? I began to ask some very strong personal questions of myself in my prayer time with God. Why was I still not authentically satisfied? I had a job, there was money to pay the mortgage. What had I missed in my planning? I seeked counsel from my church pastor, family and friends. All good resources but I'd yet to understand that I needed to submit and seek counsel from the one who created me. GOD!

In May of 2011 I was informed of the second layoff. I was told by my employer to be hopeful that a new grant would appear in the fall just as last year. By now I was praying more to God, I was speaking more with him and he had given me gifts of creating art with my hands. In my home attic art studio I surrendered myself to God. To tell  him of my fears, my needs, my anxieties and emotional strains of the uncontrollable situations the world presented me. Of course he knew all that my heart unveiled for he knew me before I was born and he created me. But my Father wanted me to speak the words to him; for me to confess my heart's weakness and to declare that I am not in control, I do not live my life for me, that I need Him to lead me so that I may live my authentic life - the life he created me to live. God was good. He was my autopilot. 

Nothing shall I fear when I have God on my side. When the holy spirit is housed in me.

This was the creation of ALCHEMY. A friend asked me what is alchemy? I said a gift from God; a metaphor for living my life in grace, in transformation, to do something (work) to glorify and honor God. 

July 1, 2011 I created this blog and Alchemy: discovering, exploring, enjoying is the gift God provided me to share with the world. Here is the first blog post. 

The summer of 2011 I spent it in my attic studio praying and talking to God; creating art and sharing it on this blog. I met a lot of wonderful women that summer; many who were suffering from health or unemployment concerns and we bonded through the process of creating art. Just as God had promised I discovered who was out there, like me who needed healing, how to share my Godly gifts with them and them with me. I explored the strengthens God provided me by reading bible verses and I enjoyed the summer sharing God's love and was once again blessed by God in September 2011 with a new grant contract. This time the contract was for three years. God had shown me his mercy and directed my pathways. 

Here I am today and I will experience my third job layoff on June 30th but I will be still and let God be in control. I am grateful for where he has lead me and my faith walk will continue with him as my leader. I had a very nice compliment the other day at a grant partner meeting. When I announced that my job would end next Monday; the reaction was commendable on my grace in character since layoffs are not desirable yet my actions were calm and of joy. I replied that God was leading me. 

This July 2014 God is leading me to host the first Alchemy (home studio) Christian Art Classes for children. 

Thank you Lord for your leadership. May I never conform to the wants of this world but be lead by your mercy and grace. Direct me for I seek you. 

Blessings,

~ Sandra

Create!!!.. to share the power of God's love.

Alchemy is a faith focused social enterprise, a gift from God. Created to share the power of God’s grace to transform a life. Promotes empathy, social-emotional connection, teamwork, and creative problem-solving to serve the good of humanity; to encourage the development of changemakers for social impact. To glorify and honor God.

Alchemy instructs faith based art workshops for youth and adults. Alchemy sells upcycled furniture, home decor, handmade (art, books, crafts) and offers custom upholstery to sustain free or low cost faith focused educational creative programs. To study the scripture of the bible and learn how God’s grace; gift for life can impact humanity. To go beyond doing “good works” to praise the one who empowers our efforts in life.

Blessings, Sandra Granthon-Roman (owner/founder)

Alchemy is currently offering a Mixed Media Workshop: Mini Works of Art see details below.

To get registration forms click on this link: http://alchemy-artmemories.blogspot.com/p/summer-art-classes.html

Summer is here... DO SOMETHING!

http://alchemy-artmemories.blogspot.com/p/summer-art-classes.html

BENEFITS OF CHRISTIAN ART EDUCATION

1. "MORAL EDUCATION & THE BIBLE"

"By studying the Bible (or any religious text), students will encounter a vocabulary and framework for thinking about morality and the human condition that will quite properly provide them with critical distance on the secular ideas and ideals they acquire from elsewhere in the curriculum—and from popular culture." 

2. DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS THROUGH 

ART ACTIVITIES

Art may seem like fun and games -- and it is! -- but you may not realize that your child is actually learning a lot through exploring the arts and doing art activities. Your children will gain useful life skills through art, so encourage them to get creative, and you will quickly see that your children are picking up these skills:

Communication Skills

 Problem-Solving Skills

Social & Emotional Skills

Fine Motor Skills

Self-Expression and Creativity 

Registration is now OPEN!!

Registration for Alchemy - Art Memories Christian Summer Art Camp & Workshops are now OPEN!!! 

See forms (front and back: 2 pages) below for details.

*********************************************************************************

Space is limited: will run class with a minimum of 3 students, but with room for only 6 total per class session.

You may print, complete, scan and email to sgranthon88@yahoo.com

The classes will be run from my home Alchemy studio (garage). I will post pictures in the coming days and will offer an OPEN HOUSE on Friday June 20 and 27th by appointment so you may visit the studio setting and be reassured that it will be a good fit for your child. Our home does have two dogs (they will be safely housed in their kennel room away from the children). We have never had any concerns with our dogs but it is best to be safe then sorry. Also an awareness if your child has allergies.

Alchemy - OPEN STUDIO

Getting myself organized to finalize the summer art classes I will be leading from my home studio in July. Planning to offer a special one day (2 hour) ALCHEMY-OPEN STUDIO class on Friday, June 20th and June 27th. Great way for you and your child to experience the Alchemy studio to see if it is a good fit for your child and enroll for the July classes. Space will be limited (no more then 6 students per class). More info details to follow. Have a blessed morning and get out there and MAKE ART!

Art connects people

Have you ever wondered why people make ART? Why people take precious time to slow down and explore their creativity? Why care about art, the process of art making and art history in any form; besides just as a medium that might make you happy or not?

God lead me to create this mixed media artwork in 2009. When I was asking "what is the purpose?"

I use to ask myself those questions. Why do I create? Before my relationship with God the answer was egocentric; focused on the I, the ME, MYSELF... you know what I mean. We've all been there. You draw or make something that catches someone's interest in a positive way. The viewer praises your talents, perhaps even requests to buy the artwork. Your self esteem and ego grow a bit. If the occurrence repeats itself .. boy then you're motivated to MAKE ART and the root of the motivation is short lived... it's money, it's fame, it's all the things that God did not create you for.

But ... before my relationship with God I did not understand that.

I understood that I liked the nice comments about what I put my time, my emotions and my pride in... MY ART. Now don't be confused with what God has put in my heart to share. God wants you to take your time, to invest your emotions and to be pleased with your artwork. But more then that God wants a relationship with you; where you acknowledge that it is GOD who created YOU with gifts and talents. He invested in you when he created you as a child of God. He supports and guides your efforts to develop the gifts he has provided. God wants to bless you through your ART; financially and spiritually.

Does that mean you will become a billionaire or make it to the top 100 artist list on the 2014 museum curator's forum? Only God knows what his plan is for your life. Pray to God and he will guide you and reveal his blessings into your life. Build a relationship with God. Don't allow your own limited personal view of yourself to influence your capacity of how God may bless your life. God sees you as more then an earthly being. He sees you as part of his heavenly kingdom. It is with that purpose for your life that God not only wants to bless you but desires for YOU TO BE A BLESSING to OTHERS. 

God leads me to create and teach art. He wants me to be a blessing upon someone else. God has transformed my life and brings richer meaning to the word ALCHEMY. I pray that the art he allows me to create will be lead by the Holy Spirit. I no longer want to view my art as MY ART... God is teaching me step by step, day by day to create not for man but for Him. To humble myself and give thanks to him for every art memory that is discovered, explored and enjoyed. TO YOU I GIVE THANKS, my LORD.

"What you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men" ~ Colossians 3:23

God is calling for his people to share his Good News.

Amelia started making art at age 5. She is my blessing.

Below is a link to a blog post from a lovely lady who made an impact during her trip to Haiti. The children of Haiti were a blessing upon her during that trip just as God blessed her to provide the opportunity to make art with them. Below is a picture of one of her art students. The caption reads "He was SO proud of the final product!" 

On the left is a picture of my niece Amelia, my first little art student. She would sleep over on Fridays during the summer and Saturday morning we would make breakfast, talk about making art and then we'd revert to my small tiny attic, the "art studio". She taught me so much that summer and I am blessed for our time shared together. She is a child of God. I thank God for her.

This is why God leads us to make art.
We plant seeds of love with art.
God bless,

~ Sandra


Here is the link: http://redthreadpromise.blogspot.com/2013/12/haiti-visible-red-thread.html

He was SO proud of the final product!

Zen Leads to Truth

Anything is possible ONE STROKE AT A TIME...

My hometown of Lancaster, PA. 

          I love to create Zentangles yet sometimes I only have five minutes or less and my hand is anxious and wants to create lines without too much attention to pattern details or too much thinking at all. I just draw my border and put on my favorite worship music and I zen out.

          To "zen out" might sound like my brain just goes to mush...but the opposite appears to be happening. Because when I step back afterwards and see where the process lead me I discover my visual environment (what I see outside my window) has found its way into my art forms. I see rolling hills, farmer's crop lines, patterns, nature's leaves, trees, and even the power lines of the humming cityscape nearby. 

          Not only does the process calm my mind; but most importantly the worship music allows my spirit to express itself in a pure and truthful pattern that would not have been possible if I gave myself the task to "draw my environment"... especially not in the short amount of time given. I would of stressed, analyzed icons, patterns and double guessed myself on what was the "correct" creative art answer to the task. WOW! I'm tired just thinking about it.. definitely not zen at all.

         Zen, to me is freedom to fall into the word of the worship of God. For it is he who gifts me the art that I create. My efforts are inspired by his love for me to push forward to use his gifts. But the outcomes are best when I submit to his word and praise him in the process. There are no mistakes in creating art; just as there is no mistake that God created you. When we trust God to lead us all creations lead to joy. 

          Enjoy your art ministry and share God's truth.

Freedom is the priviledge of those who are willing to obey.

Life is complete and happy when we surrender ourselves to God, whose yoke is easy and burden is light.
- Lucille Sollenberger

77 gorgeous JEWELRY DESIGNS

WOW! I never knew stringing beads could bring me so much joy. Jewelry Stringing magazine is my first buy into the world of jewelry design. What an incredible art form. The possibilities are endless. 

Amy knows color fun!

Color theory is a new discovery for me and I have found a great blog that truly is a visual color party for the eyes and a great tool for newbies like myself who are overwhelmed on what color combinations to work with for new projects.

This is one of my favorite Color Palette Fun boards from Amy's blog site.

http://amybeads.blogspot.com/p/color-palettes.html


Enjoy :-)