rise to Bethel

Today is the start of new beginnings created and inspired by the word of God.

Today God has spoken and said get prepared to share my WORD for the Good News is alive and transforming lives. Rise to Bethel. Bethel is the House of God.

Today I invite you to rise to Bethel. To take time daily to discover the WORD of God, the scripture, the Bible.

Yesterday our pastor preached on the topic of Rising to Bethel, to return to the house of God. To remind ourselves of where God found us and what he has done thus far. Where he has led us out of, where he leads us daily, and where he wants to lead us in the future. This blog entry is in honor of the new beginning God has created in my heart. He has reignited a fire in my heart and it's all about LOVE.

Where God found me...

My blog page started back in 2011 after I had experienced my second layoff from work (the 1st layoff was a shock and drew me into depression quickly). My family and prayers helped me sustain that fall. It was also painful because in June 2010 I opened my creative business ALCHEMY at Building Character, an artisan market located in downtown Lancaster, PA. We opened to success making rent and profit all in one month! But the JOY was short-lived. By the start of July 2010 (yes, the next month after launching ALCHEMY) I had to close everything down because I received word that I was being laid off from my full-time job. And although ALCHEMY had made a profit in its first month of business, the future was not sure and it was just a part-time business and I needed full-time finance. So I closed ALCHEMY and I must admit my prayer life was not as strong as it is now (so glad God never gave up on me). So that summer of 2010 I was very depressed - I had never been unemployed since age 16. It was during this time in the summer of 2010 that my father helped me turn my small attic into a working art studio. My father knew his daughter! He knew that my mind, body, and soul were suffering and that I needed to be allowed to have the freedom to create. In later years a good artist friend would share with me that what my father did for me was help me CLAIM MY SPACE. I am so grateful that my "daddy" Abel was born as my father and he was so aware of the needs of his daughter (even as a full-grown woman, I needed my dad's love and support).  Every day I would awaken to spend time in that small secret space "attic art studio" discovering how to transfer my anxiety into an expression of faith through the process of creating abstract artworks. YES, expressions of faith that were inspired through the many empowering, encouraging words of scripture. For just as I needed my birth father's love and support, I required my heavenly father's spiritual leading to help me through the many stages of emotional unbalance that I was experiencing. STRESS IS A KILLER, not just of your mind and body but of your soul; your spirit. Thus, began my daily art practice. Later in 2022, a wonderful lady named Deb would provide me the appropriate name for this practice which is healing arts. Scripture and artmaking as one process allowing my every movement of creativity to be Spirit-led. God's word transformed me, changed me! I began to understand that I was called to be a changeMAKER, a person who loved the Creator above all things and sought his Spirit to be my helper to provide me Godly wisdom to make changes that would heal and transform my mindset (from sadness to joy), my physical aches and pains (my migraine headaches disappeared), my soul/spirit breathed in freedom to know that I actively, consciously was choosing to walk with Jesus. To devote my first love to  Jesus Christ, my Savior. By the end of August of 2010, I was rehired to work full-time again.

The 2nd layoff was ALL GOD in the details. FYI: my full time work was PA grant funded through Dept. of Education. I was a Community School Director employed by nonprofits to work in the public school systems of Lancaster City. Thus, the many layoffs. This was the 2nd and there would be a 3rd  but then God had that already worked out for me... BUT THAT'S A LATER STORY :) 

What I discovered during this wonderful time was that God had turned something meant to harm me (like a job layoff) into a blessing. With very little funds my primary time was spent at home. I used that time to dive deeper into the word of God and color, paint, draw, cut, glue, stitch, and stamp my expressions of faith into a daily spiritual discipline that would continue to provide me spiritual care.

Where God is leading me daily...

I love 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

My creative business is called Alchemy and it's inspired by this scripture. The relaunch of ALCHEMY from a retail business to a full-time creative, reupholstery business came about after my 3rd job layoff. God's leadership, support from friends and family, and especially the love of my husband, Alexis, have made it possible for Alchemy to grow into a full-time time job for me and a true blessing. As I spend my daily hours transforming old, forgotten furniture into new creations of new value in design and fabric. I take the time daily to worship my lord in songs of praise and prayer as I deconstruct, sew, and tack on new life to these furniture art forms. My favorite part is releasing the finished project back to its owner. The joy is abundant as both the client and I reflect on the journey and the end results. The work is not easy; very labor-intensive, and physically demanding and I give my best on every project. I turn to my father a retired upholsterer, for advice when I get stuck and I turn to God daily for inspiration and spirit to put forth my best heart in every project. I spend time praying over each project during the process and asking the Lord to bless the homes of each client, to bring forth peace, love, and purpose to each household.

I remind myself of 2 Corinthians 5:17 as I start (rise) to read the Bible and daily devotional. It speaks about a new creation, turning my heart over to God. Surrendering my life. To believe in Jesus Christ as my savior; Jesus is Lord! This is tough stuff. Submitting to anyone or anything is not a popular modern-day approach to living life. Especially not in American society which tells you to be self-reliant, and sufficient. When the world wants to take over my spirit I remind myself of where God found me in the summer of 2010.

I submitted that summer to what God's plans were and He began to transform my spirit into one of love. I surrendered feelings of depression, sadness, and anger. I learned that when you are submissive to God's plans ALL IS GOOD. God will always give you his best. He just was waiting for me to give him my best...my time, my attention, my heart! My life! To be made new is to say goodbye to the old and set your eyes on the new; to heavenly places. A place where good fruit is abundant and God's love rules over all of His perfect creation. 

Where God will lead me in future...

Being a follower of Jesus, a believer of John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

It is not an easy path to take but that summer of 2010 I began to take the first steps to surrender my life to God. To allow His will to take over my life. I no longer live, but Jesus lives in me.

It is now 2023 and so many amazing things have occurred. I am now married to my best friend, Alexis Roman-Rodriguez, I am self-employed with my own creative business, and I get to share my love of God through a creative community called ChangeMAKERS found through my creative business website (click here for info).

GOD HAS BEEN MORE THAN GOOD...HE HAS BEEN FAITHFUL!

His faithfulness is a reminder to me to continue to rise to Bethel. To continue to discover, explore, enjoy the transforming word of God that inspires my art-making. Glory to God for his faithfulness to His creation. For he loved us even when we were sinners. In a messed up broken world, only He has the power and full authority to redeem and restore us. There is only one peace and true love - its name is JESUS!

I encourage YOU today to allow God into your heart, to take that first step to submit to his pathways.
God dreams bigger, better dreams than we could ever dream for ourselves. I am a testimony to that. When I tried to organize, plan, and develop it on my own, my life, was a wreck or at best a falsehood of good lucky days and at its worst dark days of sorrow. Now with God as my pilot, I am flying high in the clouds with JOY, rooted in the WORD to keep me from self-destruction. The WORD is powerful and it transforms.

Thank you heavenly father for the gifts, talents, and love you bestow upon me and my household. I ask that these words shared here will be a seed in the hearts of others to grow their faith. To welcome you into their hearts so you may develop those seeds of Good Fruit to glorify your name and be a testimony to the power of a LIVING GOD that still reigns today. The Lord is healing power and full authority over my life. Allow Him to love you. If you are interested in receiving a free workshop on Healing Arts please register here. 

Amen
Sandra Granthon-Roman

Quiet Contemplation - "Here I AM"

This past week I have been meditating in the wonderful things the Lord has done for me and my family. And it's not just the good times that come to mind but also the trials and tribulations that He has guided me through. For it is said that we don't truly learn how to walk in faith unless our faith is tested. It's easy to give praise and glory to the Lord in times of happy circumstances. But the true mature spiritual living is found in the praising of our God during the times of upset, disappointment, and uncertainity. In the times of abstract living where nothing looks as it should; which is truly how the Lord guides my Art Memories. 

I find a peace that brings me a spiritual joy when I surrender to God's word. It's a joy that is not dependant on circumstances but only on my faith that God is working His best for the children who He loves. I am that child! You are that child! 

It allows me to tread deeper into the water with Jesus; totally dependent on Him to direct my heart and mind to draw, paint, collage the artwork that will become my Art Memories.

Mini Artwork Mixed Media Collage "Here I AM" size 3x3 inches

This latest mini artwork is titled "Here I AM". It's my artistic response to the meditation of the following scriptures in my current situation of buying a new home (when all houses we view are vacant boxes and what my husband and I are searching for is a HOME). We pray, Lord, bring us HOME. We pray, Lord, let Your presence be found there. We pray, Lord, let it be a blessing to our hearts so we may use it to bless others. 

This artwork is an abstract storytelling of how the dark gray clouds and crimson red blood waters flowed over Egypt during the days of God's anger towards Pharaoh. For Pharaoh did not honor God's name, the great I AM and hear the words of his servant, Moses.

Exodus 9:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: "Let my people go, so that they may worship me."

The colors in the background collage painted papers is a remembrance of ancient times when things appeared bleak to the Israelites. Where even Moses doubted if he was the right person for the job. But God answered Moses to remind him and reassure Moses of who it was that Moses served.

Exodus 3:14
God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM."

It was by faith that God lead Moses and the Israelites from Eygpt and parted the waters of the Red Sea to bring forth a new joy to His people. For when things appear impossible God does the possible. 

Psalm 92:4
For You have made me rejoice, Lord, by what You have done.

The foreground is collaged with painted papers of various shades of green and blue; a tree grows. There is a joyful movement of a winding path set before mountain peaks. The pathway beckons to follow by faith towards living waters yet its end is not in sight. Kind of like our house search. We started in May 2016 and now it's August and with our house (the house we are selling) under contract and our settlement date scheduled for end of September we pray for God to do the possible and lead us HOME (to the house we will buy).  

In my meditation of the word and through my art practice I become made new and pray my heart's prayer to God with a new found spiritual joy. 

MY HEART'S PRAYER 
(This I pray when in doubt and in anixousness)

In the stillness, in the quiet, in the surrender of all worldly things I find God. 
Here I AM...

In the present, in the now, in the HERE, the great I AM, my Father God, my Lord, my Rock, my Redeemer takes me by His powerful right hand and guides my pathways. Anxiousness has no power within my heart and mind. For my heart is not consumed with earthly falsehoods. Instead I meditate my mind in quiet contemplation on the words of my God. 

Exodus 3:14 God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM."
Psalm 92:4 For You have made me rejoice, Lord, by what You have done.

In my Father's hand I am in the Spirit; in power and glory. All wisdom onto my soul is sowed through the grace of the Lord that saves me. My joy is aboundant and my soul's desire to come closer to the Father has come full circle. It is the Alpha and the Omega that I trust my life to. For the seeds He has sown within my heart have developed into the harvest of Love that saves me from the fire of the wicked. 

In light we travel. My Savior and I. Hand in hand. To where? Heaven only knows but God is my guide. That is enough. My JOY is found in HIM, here I AM.

In Jesus name I pray.
~Sandra

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am GOD.

God has been so good to me. He gave me an art ministry that brings me spiritual refreshness to make me into a NEW CREATION each day. My prayer relationship with God is my lifeline and that is why I make Prayer Pillows designed and inspired by scripture to encourage others to pray daily. When we PRAY we are living Psalm 46:10 Be Still and Know That I Am God. Praying is DOING, by slowing down to allow for a prayer life you are opening yourself up to surrender to God's will and ministry over your life. In today's times we are often too busy and too rushed to honor and value what it means to be STILL in the word of God. After I PRAY I often meditate in the word of God by making artwork inspired by God's ancient words. Below is a mini artwork 3.5 x 2.5 ATC card I created inspired by Psalm 46:10 and what it means to me to be STILL and be made into a NEW CREATION. The ARTWORK is titled "NEW CREATION"
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"NEW CREATION" mixed media size 3.5x2.5 inches

STORYTELLING - When I rise in the morning I trust in the Lord who has prepared the day for me. The seeds have been planted and are growing according to the power of the Holy Spirit that guides my pathways. Seeking the will of God as my teacher I surrender to Him and kneel, with folded hands, my eyes on Him only. He is the Savior that I cannot see in flesh but I put my trust in the abstract, the spiritual, and believe He is a living God that desires a personal relationship with me. My prayers are heard in the oneness I experience when I am STILL in the presence of my God. ~ Sandra

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Below are 2 Custom Prayer Pillows I created using this mini artwork and scripture as my inspiration.

GROW 18x18 mixed media Artisan Prayer Pillow.

Custom Prayer Pillow made as a gift for a male teenager.  The artwork was scanned and printed on cotton fabric using Spoonflower as my digital printer. I added a wooden fish as a reminder of how Jesus taught his disciples how to become FISHER of MEN. He developed them into men who would share the gospel so everyone may be saved by the word of God. It's tough to be a young person growing up in today's time, even when you grow up in the church. There are tons of questions and worldly temptations that can lead a young person away from living a Christian life. But it is okay to have doubts and concerns when you are in the process of becoming a mature Christian. When those times come take everything to God in Prayer. He will lead you to the TRUTH.

NEW CREATION 18x18 mixed media Artisan Prayer Pillow.

Custom Prayer Pillow made as a gift for a woman who recently bought a new home. The artwork was scanned and printed on white canvas using my personal HP Inkjet printer. I added the glass beads to reflect the raindrops that God provides the land so that it may bear good fruit and be fertile. Just as God provides for nature He provides for our needs such as a need for shelter, a home we can serve the Lord in. It's a BIG responsibility to buy a new home and money might get tight at times but God always provides for His children and through prayers we can stay connected to His peace and love to keep us afloat during times of tribulation.







To view current Artisan Prayer Pillows up for sale click here. To order your own custom prayer pillow email me at alchemymanager@yahoo.com.

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.