Yesterday, I mentioned that I've been inspired to express what God is showing me through a scrapbook form of art. Today I will share my first attempt.
I've been looking over the International Justice Mission website lately. Just looking around and finding out what they do. I found a story of Manna, a girl who was deceived into becoming a prostitute in South Asia. To read a brief version of her story, click here. It is beautiful.

I am beginning to understand that Christ came to set the captives free. Honestly, we have probably all faced captivity. Most of us are actually in captivity to someone or something if we are honest with ourselves. Anytime you are hindered from experiencing the benefits of God's covenant relationship, you are in captivity. Here are some of the benefits God has offered us in Isaiah,

Benefit 1: To know God and believe Him
Benefit 2: To glorify God
Benefit 3: To find satisfaction in God
Benefit 4: To experience God's peace (Like a river, not a pond!)
Benefit 5: To enjoy God's presence

So the Enemy has come up with all manner and sorts of lies to hold us in captivity rendering us powerless to know the wonders of our God. I think my heart was pricked by this story of Manna I found on the website because she has been set free from a physical captivity. Many of the words used to describe her release from captivity are the same that Isaiah used to describe what Christ was and is coming to accomplish.

This is a photo of a South Asian street in the red-light district. People are going about their afternoon business. The sad reality is that young victims of sex-trafficing are kept out of site for fear that they will run away or attract police attention.

Here is a photo below of my new art (Click to enlarge). The scripture came alive to me as I begin to see it applied to a very real situation. Yes, the verses apply to my life, but a clarity came when I could see that my God loves to set the modern day slaves free and He is doing it! What is impossible for man truly is possible with God!

Pray today for Manna and girls like her who need to experience freedom from the abuse and oppression they have dealt with.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God... Isaiah 61.1-2

Labels: Justice, Scrapbooking

Art. Art teaches. I was walking around my home this afternoon taking little snapshots of the good things in my life. Taking pictures helps me be aware of life. It helps me reflect on things. It helps me realize. Enjoy my pictures.

I created this cross about 4 years ago. I found all the materials around my house and went to work. But today, my piece of art found a new meaning in my heart. Last night, at bible study, I received a fresh word from God. I found truth for lies I had been believing. I learned a very clear lesson. Here is a simple visual explanation. If your hungry for more, send me an e-mail or a comment and I'll share the whole lesson with you!

My 'truth' + 0 = INCOMPLETE
My 'truth' + Satan's lies = CAPTIVITY

God's Truth > my 'truth'

My 'truth' + God's Truth = FREEDOM!!!

This simple cross is made with broken chains. I've been a child of God for 16 years, but friends, He is choosing now to break some chains away from my life. Hallelujah! That's about all I can say.

This is a picture of my first day of food journaling from a happy heart! Having struggled with food-related strongholds for quite sometime, this is a beautiful picture to me. Isaiah 44 says,

He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
"Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"
Remember theses things, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel.
I have made you, you are my servant;
O Israel, I will not forget you.
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

So much of finding true freedom is not only receiving truth from God, but telling the truth to myself. Self-delusion is a very real way to stay captive to whatever struggle you may face. In Isaiah 45, God says...

I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right.

Isn't it beautiful that He will never lead us astray. God doesn't have a heart to selfishly make us do it His way. No, out of the depths of His love, He calls us to His heart as deep calls to deep.

So this little journal is a visual reminder that my heart is changing.

I've been thinking about using my love for scrapbooking to express a bit of what God is doing in my life. You are seeing the baby-beginnings of some new art.

Over the years, I keep returning to this copy of la Biblia. I think my heart has just found a home in its pages over and over. This little snapshot shows a little of the loving on the page. I love that at the bottom, Jesus says, 'I tell you the truth.' My Savior tells me the truth. Amen!

Labels: everyday art, Scrapbooking, truth