awake my soul...

today I took a prophetic journal class. a contemplative art journal, by aletheia Schmidt. I want to share with you what I learned, felt and loved about this time of art and prayer.

at first I was overwhelmed, since I can't even draw stick people. but as I looked at all her art and images in the journal, I was almost becoming emotional. each one speaks something different to everyone who sees and looks. it wasn't about the art. or if you can paint or draw. it was about the heart and what God was saying, doing, moving, the fluid motion of his presence in a reflective way, using creativity.

this is just the cover image from the journal. doesn't it just speak to you to come alive, awake or to seek deeper?

 

first we were challenged to find a image in the journal that was really speaking to us.

let me tell you, that was hard.

I kept seeing a new image and thought with each turn of the page. every image someone else picked, I wanted. until I found the tree. 'rooted' it was called. it seems to be a theme God is speaking to me.

 

What drew me to this image of the tree?

the tree - always a tree

so many parts speak

rooted and grounded

branch - I am a branch

branches produce fruit, leaves, shade, covering

 

the beauty of a tree, the color, the shape, the history

just the word rooted to me bring hope, healing and peace

future, grace and mercy

 

what did I notice about the color or texture of the image?

what caused me to stop and 'soak' in this painting,

what experience does the image of 'rooted' give me?

 

it's my life's journey

deeper

rooted to me means going deeper

 

rooted and grounded

what doe it feel like to be rooted deeply ? in the word?

in the Lord?

in His presence?

 

each leave full of life

swaying with the wind

always following the wind of the spirit

 

the whole tree system supported by the roots

what is not seen is so important

the hidden growth

the struggle to push down deeper and deeper

to go higher and higher

rooted deeply to go higher

 

also a conformation of my call to be rooted in the word

 

what is the feeling that I am noticing in me as I study the image ?

 

feelings of want

wanting to know more

wanting roots to go deep in me, from me

to feel the depths of the roots

 

excitement for what the roots produce

strong roots can hold many branches, leaves, storms

 

it roots are there, even though the stump looks dead, even at the scent of rain it will produce

 

take it back to God

Aletheia not challenged us to take all that we were thinking and feeling and give it back to God

create what you are feeling

 

so I wrote more

 

it scares me

and thrills me

wanting to go deeper

and wanting to be so rooted in Him

 

it makes me feel alive

 

I can feel myself go deeper, the word going deeper

 

it is almost like as the roots go deeper,

they push past or push through what is in the way.

 

roots never end or stop

they keep rooting

keep pushing dirt and debris out of the way

to go deeper

hmmm

 

removing what is in the way to be rooted

 

so  this was my morning.

amazing

creative

contemplative

growth

roots

 

thank you aletheia for sharing your gift

 

 

the awake my soul journal is available at: www.accordingtoaletheia.com