Opportunities

After several months of rest and slower art production, the month of May seems to have kicked everything in to high gear. 
Back in November, I was asked to help a colleague out of Louisville, KY plan three Art and Church Track sessions for an upcoming CIVA conference.  After several months of discussion and my colleague deciding to take a once in a lifetime trip to Israel, I was left finalizing the details of the conference sessions on my own.  What a great test of trust and faith in God’s plan.  I feel way out of my league, but am excited for God to do His thing through my own willingness to let Him lead.  He is bringing together a great group of speakers / presenters and as a friend of mine prayed, may we stay open to those who need to be invited to share and speak into this discussion.  I look forward to sharing with people about building an arts ministry in their own context coming in June.

​So with, the weight of three, ninety-minute sessions on my shoulders, I decided, why not also submit a paper to the conference.  I’ve never written a scholarly paper before and in trying to do so I reached out to CIVA’s executive director, a friend and fellow artist.  He said I should think about my musings as a blog and proceeded to put me in contact with someone at CIVA to help make that a reality.  Funny how God works through just opening up and being vulnerable!  It led to a blog on the website which posted yesterday:  http://civa.org/civablog/making-art-in-the-mall/
This blog is a precursor to the very paper I will share late Saturday afternoon at the CIVA conference highlighting the story of how building relationships led to the opportunity to work with Hope Venture and Gateway Mall last summer.

I can’t believe the ride God has me on right now.  And all I can do is hang out tight and trust in His unwavering ability to provide strength and energy. 

So what else, could be added?  Well God also placed me in the path of a non-profit in Lincoln called LPPAD.  Their purpose is to oversee the fundraising, acquisition, and placement of public art in the city. Through a friend connecting me with LPPAD, I was invited to paint live this coming Thursday in Lincoln’s Tower Square (15th and P Street) for the annual Give to Lincoln Day.  I will be painting from 10 am to 2 pm on a painting that is inspired by sitting in the space a few Monday mornings ago pondering the man-made elements and plant life there. It leaves me thinking about man’s creations in harmony with God’s creations and how we often miss the beauty of both.

But, I see it and God keeps moving in ever surprising and amazing ways.  Over the past two years, I have learned an important lesson about perspective, humility and position.  God’s Word is True.  He opposes the proud….and exalts the humble.  God changes the heart if we let Him in and are open to sacrificing this life for His way.  Easy when said on this side of the Refiner’s fire – not so easy 8-10 months ago right in the middle of it.  God has humbled me to authorities He has placed in my life and given me a heart and passion to serve Him regardless of the cost.  May He be seen, may He speak, and may He receive the glory this week, in June at the CIVA conference, and in each new opportunity He brings my way.