Does God Use Artists?



"Church Folks" by Phebe Smith


In the religious sector, there is often a discussion to be heard about how God has powerfully used a prophet, a preacher, an evangelist, a minister or teacher to minister to His people. But did you know that the first person described in the Scripture as “filled with the Spirit of God” is not a prophet, preacher, evangelist, teacher or minister- but an artist?

 

Exodus 31:1-6 says,

“See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri… and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving, and to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, indeed, I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach… and I put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they should make all that I have commanded you:…”


Exodus 35:35 – 36:2

“He has filled them (Bezalel and Aholiab) with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker… and of the weaver- those who do every work and those who design artistic works. And Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, shall do according to all that the Lord has commanded."
Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab and every gifted artisan in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work.

Yes, God does use artists. Will you allow Him to use you?

The Birthday Dinner

OK, so I didn't get the drawing finished that I started for my husband's birthday. Since time AND money were limited, I took another route. I made him a delicious birthday dinner that was simple, yet nice. Baby back ribs (falling off the bone good!), mac n cheese and a fresh green salad. To top it off, I made a Homemade Birthday Cake- Triple Chocolate Fudge with creme cheese and whipped topping frosting, decked with chocolate almond bar, pecans, Snickers, luscious caramel and cherries on top! We had a nice time just relaxing at home. Family, food and peace! Priceless!

Johnnie’s Portrait

Tomorrow is my husband’s birthday and as usual, I really don’t know what to buy. Therefore, I decided to give him a “special” gift- a portrait painting. We’ve been married 15 years and I have attempted to draw and paint  him on several occasions. To be honest, I never have gotten it “right.” So, for me to attempt this on the eve of his Birthday is asking a lot of myself. At this point, I have made a preliminary charcoal drawing on canvas. I took a photo of it so that I can see all my flaws. Seems there are several, especially toward the bottom portion of his face- nostrils, mouth, chin. Back to the drawing board!

A Great Artist, A Great Price

As an artist, when people see your work, they think you're great. When they see your price they think you're a NUT!

Sunset

Sunset in Hattiesburg, MS on Thursday, March 11, 2011

Today, I took a walk just before sunset. Sometimes, you can learn a lot by just taking a walk. I got a small message concerning the sunset. You can read it at http://phebesaidwhat.blogspot.com/2011/03/is-sun-setting-in-your-life.html.

Baby Shoe Makeover

I purchased a pair of walking shoes for my baby girl, but I thought they looked very PLAIN. To spruce them up, I purchased a package of flower shaped buttons at a local craft store and slid them over her shoe strings on the tops of her shoes.
Of course, when she first learned to walk, there were times when she decided she'd rather crawl. When she crawled, the toe portion of her shoes scrubbed the floor and wore the paint off the front. To solve this problem, I stopped by a shoe store and purchased some shoe polish. I dabbed it on her shoes and they looked new again!
Adding buttons or other embellishments (ribbons, beads, etc.) is a good way to spruce up a pair of baby shoes. Shoe polish is useful in keeping shoes looking new and avoiding spending extra money on a new pair, before it's necessary.
Hope this helps! Have fun sprucing up YOUR baby's shoes

I Promise

Recently, I made a painting from one of my old wedding photos. I named it "I Promise." One can make many promises (called vows) during a marriage ceremony. Unfortunately, some forget or "take back" those promises when they feel inconvenienced.
I've learned that it's easy to keep a promise when you love someone. But I've also learned that by keeping a promise, even when you don't "feel" the love, you will plant a sacrificial seed that will spur into a strong love that grows and grows over time.

"I Promise" (Oil on Canvas) by Phebe Smith