08/31/2008 10:14:11

Thank you for the kind words about my work....

08/27/2008 07:10:28

 

 

Ummm...your mailbox is full...Anyway. Thanks for the note. Im just sharing my personal life story. Felt like maybe someone who might be where i was might save themselves alot of heartache learning from my experience. Dramatic version of life...hmmm... Id have to say after the battle with cancer Ive learned to slow down, take things one step at a time, stop and enjoy Gods paintbrush work on the fields of Texas wildflowers...stop to watch the colors of a sunset dance on Lake Dallas as the waves roll in. I think ive learned not to take myself and this life so seriously. I used drugs, alchohol and sex to numb the pain of a violent daily life-threatening childhood. ive overcome it because of Christ. But i see the effects it had on me, still has on my older brother who took the brunt of my fathers abuse, the effects on my sisters too, who are both in denial to some extent, and its hard, believe me, its tough. SO i try to share alittle here alittle there with them, hoping they too will break through. then there are times i have to sit on the peninsula at the lake and forgive my father all over again when some awful memory comes to mind. I dont know if thats dramatic or just real life. I paint what i paint with the hope of eternal life, a place where the burdens and ghosts of my past here on earth pass away, evil passes away. I paint what i paint to take me away from the pain i suffer in my body from an ugly accident i was in that changed my life...from an ugly divorce i was involved in...so i can think instead on the joy, peace, rest, the undying love the Father gave of His Son to die for me, for us. That might be dramatic, i call it reality...i see dreams and visions, i paint what i see. others have dreams and visions and hire me to capture them on canvas. I am awakened with songs in the night...im writing them and hope to be blessed financially to record them someday. Ive done some already though i dont know the first thing about music, but im just painting with sound... www.Myspace.com/ToddLThomasMusic ... Whether a dream or vision is from the Lord or not, He is in me, we are one. The talents are His (see the parable of the talents). I just invest them so He can have the interest (touching peoples lives and sharing His love for them). I hear God's voice daily. he leads and guides me. Whether someone believes you or thinks your nuts isnt really your concern is it? Paul teaches to check the spirits when we feel we've heard from God. The Word is specific on this. You dont have to be a nut. just be in love with the Lord. Why would the lover of your soul not talk to you? I have marketed my art as best as i can. I have so many websites now that its a job just to maintain them and keep them updated. My job according to the Word is to invest these talents. People are blessed and tell me so. I share the testimonies from others in my blogs (i need to update them but im getting there). Whether paintings sell or not, God - Jehovah Jireh) is my provider. I have need of nothing. he has blessed me. This is more of a ministry than fine art business. Im ok with that. it would be nice to sell lots of paintings and giclee prints. Thats in God's hands. the secular world persecutes me for being christian. The christian world persecutes me for being prophetic. Many "fine art purists" criticize me because I have to paint by computer these days because of neuropathy in my hands from having bionic shoulders and spinal issues because of the accident i had. What can i do? I cant worry about pleasing man. I live to save their souls through art, music and nature photography (www.Myspace.com/DreamscapePhotography). I used to be a satanist, then a new ager. then God left the flock to recover me. What else can i do, but like Paul, go and share the truth of God's love? yes, i too have a thorn in my flesh. The paint used to bother me. Interestingly i feel it in the same places Christ did from the wounds He was inflicted with. Slowly im getting better, but its the pain (suffering) that reminds me of where i was and where i am now in Christ. It keeps me at His feet. And im grateful i didnt have to hang on a cross. Greek scribes who witnessed the crucifiction wrote that Jesus was beaten beyond recognition that He was a human. Not like the many painters painted it. What more can i ask Him to do for me to show me He loves me? Anyway, didnt mean to preach there...I believe if God wants my paintings to sell, He will bring buyers. I have 12 or so sites, i do shows, i was in the most popular secular gallery in California and Plano (Oh My Godard galleries) as a light in the midst of the darkness, until recently...i dont know how much more visible i can be. Lockjaw...well, you know, i think that when you fall deeply in love with Christ, you will be too excited to keep your mouth shut. its not about serving (Martha), its about being His bride, sitting at His feet and drinking from His cup. being intimate with Him (see Song Og Solomon). you do that through deep heartfelt worship...which breaks the yoke of this world off of you. I would say to you my friend... go to these sites... www.Myspace.com/BrianDoerksen , www.Myspace.com/MarieBarnett , www.myspace.com/jupton ,

and listen to every song on the pages... then check out these youtube videos... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU87wmwWdn8 , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3GijrnfStk , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FObjd5wrgZ8&feature=related , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t2q0XDDf90&feature=related get on your face before God, cry out to Him to open your mouth, give you the Words, give you the paintings, give you dreams and visions...ask Him to glorify Himself through you, fill you with His Holy Sopirit like never before... "lockjaw" will be a thing of the past you will laugh at later... then go find someone else who has "lockjaw" and share with them and watch God set them free...then tell them to do the same for someone else... and so on... be fruitful and multiply... bless you... I pray God is filling you with His Spirit even now in Jesus name. the power of the blood of Jesus Christ is overtaking you right now, right where you are...sweep her away Lord...into Your loving arms... now thats something that will bring you joy...Holy laughter, tears of joy... cause He loves you so much He's blessing you right now, before God and man... go, be a light in the midst of this dark world...

 

08/20/2008 18:39:55

thank you so much! what a great compliment!

07/16/2008 08:50:06

Ya, I love the idea of a tiger on the wall.   Patients will be thinking they will have a peaceful entrance to a Dr's office and WOW!  HA!

07/15/2008 19:15:42

Ooops! Ms. PaintsWithStick! I just have a few minutes here on a friend's computer...and I will be gone again! My housekeeping is simply atrocious! Hey Deb...paint a tiger in your husband's office...that will wake up anyone going in there! I miss talking with my buds on this site...but sometime in August, things will settle down, and I will be back to the drawing board, or the wall, whatever I get backed up into first! God bless you all!

07/08/2008 08:29:59

Your message box is full; I can't get through.

07/02/2008 15:40:03

HI.  I see you paid me a visit!  You have been painting up a storm.  Must not ever sleep.  I am busy painting my husbands office-boring-but at least it will look better.  I cannot believe how we stayed with the same color in there for so long-now it is bright and cheery.  I have much to do so I will be checking in now and then.  Busy summer-that's for sure.    tata4now.    Deb

06/28/2008 17:13:44

Wow! You have uploaded a ton of work since I visited last. And you have that little gold star thing going on...what's that about  You are quiet productive. I have found that is one of the best ways for me to learn... keep doing the work.

Thanks for your comment on the native American... I've been trying to do a few paintings in a series of people, people made in the image of God. And personally, I am still amazed that Christ died for us all, the Creator reaching out to the created ones...

May God bless your work.

sm 

06/28/2008 13:40:43

Thanks for the comment about "Megan."  We both seem drawn to the face and figure - nice work!  Warmest regards, Lucinda

06/28/2008 02:32:22

Thanks for the comment about my "Dream of Trees" painting....I definitely was "feeling" VanGogh-ish.  Is it good or bad to paint "straight"??  LOL