A Bit on my Faith

It's been awhile since I've added anything new to my Print on Demand shops (i.e. Society6, TeePublic, Redbubble ), because I've been so focused on other projects. This week though I decided it was about time and so I scanned and edited this lovely little design.

It is inspired by John 15:5. "“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  --> The whole idea of practicing the presence of God, of living out of his strength and not my own.

I don't really talk about my faith much on this blog, and it really doesn't show up much in my art either. But it's such a core part of who I am.  I often wonder if/how to express that here and in my art.

There is just so much cheesy Christian art in the world.  That makes me hesitant. Also, I don't want to just try and get sales by creating something Jesus-y -- using God's name in vain i.e. for my own benefit.

I'll at least say it on this post.

I follow Jesus.  I put my hope in him.  My identity as a daughter of God is above all my other identities -- as a wife, mother, artist, etc.  It's the one thing about me that will never change.

So I strive to abide in him everyday, and to create habits in my life that cause me to turn my thoughts and actions towards him and his way of life -- which I believe to be the best way to live. (I'm reading a good book about that -- The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard )

So yeah, that why "abide." 

And then cherry blossoms are pretty.

And if you just like the cherry blossoms but don't care much about the word, I used my fancy computer skills for you.