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Monday, May 16, 2011

Feeling Yucky?

          Have you ever had a time when you just felt yucky? There's nothing wrong, it's just a feeling. I find this to be a problem on an emotional level. Sub-consciencely  we  feel as if something is going to happen, some kind of big change in life which we may not be comfortable with. When I dig deep into this feeling thats what I find, an uncomfortable feeling. So, this is what I did. I prayed to God to let this pass. I then analyzed the day, the feeling, what do I think is upcoming, why? Well, a lot of it is personal. The main point of sharing this is the solution, not my insanity,lol. We are constantly growing in life. For me, it's with the Lord. He has plans for me and the devil is waiting to attack this will for me. Certain times in life, I'm not used to. Family is something new for me. Growing up I was always quiet and to myself, trying to be the perfect kid, as per my dad and mom. Now that I'm near family, they do things that I am not accustomed to. Some of these events I feel I am not worthy to be involved with. This is the mind talking, not the real Jay who is alive with Christ. You see, Christ and knowing His Word bring me out of this funk. All I have to do is recognize these moments and call out to Him. I am grateful that God even allows me to be aware of these times. Before, I would drink them away with a passion. I didn't want to face the reality that I had distanced myself from everyone. Now, I have a few beers and it just isn't the same anymore. I see this change in me and so does my ex wife. Well, we now know why she is an ex, me. So, now that I don't escape to beer, I'm now left alone in my own mind on how to deal with life as it is presented to me. I look to the Lord and He provides all I need, and that is the very family and friends I would hide from all those years. This morning, I called my ex-wife and an ex-girlfriend. I called to just talk. I had the best time of my life. We are truly connected by a love only God could provide. The respect is still there. The relationship may of happened because we were both lonely, but it was not meant to be. We were meant to love each other the way we are doing it now. A time to learn what TRUE LOVE is. The love that Jesus wants us to know. It took heartache to learn this, but wow. I am so grateful for the chance to learn this instead of going through life hurting those around me and being hurt by the very same people I tried to love in my own way. It's not my, it's Gods way and I better start listening if I want to bask in His Glory, here on earth and in HIs kingdom. May I also add that writing your thoughts out really helps. It works just the same as calling that loved one. The only problem with the call is that you must ,first, make sure that they understand that they are to be a wall to bounce off your thoughts of the day. A sounding board for you to get it off your chest. Don't be afraid to share. This sharing will increase your amount of love toward others because you will have developed a sense of trust. I know, man is hard to trust, and rightly so. Man will always let you down, if you let them. It's your expectations of them that let you down, it's not really them. We put so much emphasis on others, that we don't look our own way. In improving ourselves, they get better also because we have a different outlook on life. We now see life with the eyes of God, with His love. Now, because I have shared, the devil will try to attack me



















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Sunday, May 8, 2011

Careful of Your Walk

          In Deut 34, Moses went to Mount Nebo where the Lord showed him all the land He swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God was showing Moses what he and his people could of possessed had they listened to God and not turned away to false idols during their time of being impatient with God.
          Moses was not able to 'Glory', fully, in the promise of the Lord. God used Joshua instead to cross into the promise land with the children of Israel. God was going to be with Joshua as He was with Moses.
          Therefore, think upon this. Are there promises from God that you may be missing because of your walk with God. It's a fear we should all have, for without the reverent fear of the Lord, we will vere to the left or to the right in our daily walk with God. This is a state of being 'luke warm' for His will.
          Even thought the children of Israel whom had been freed from Egypt, repented and returned to God, they still were not able to 'glory' in His promise of the land of milk and honey. However, through the living sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, we have been freed from such heartache. Through Jesus' Word, we can be forgiven of those tragic times when we ignore His will for us. It isn't easy though. We must still have the fear of the Lord and walk forward in this life, Blessing and Praising Him through the gifts of the Spirit. 1Cor 13 explains Love and how it will never fail us. A love we must apply to our everyday walk. In Phil 4, there are things that Paul explains we must do to walk with the Lord. He also tells us to stand fast in the Lord. God told Joshua that he must be strong and of good courage, so that he may observe the law He commanded to Moses and that in doing so, he will prosper wherever he went. I have seen a change in myself by doing this. I'm not perfect, however, I strive forward feeding the Spirit with His Word so that God will never forsake me nor take His hand off His will for me. His promise of everlasting life with Him is what I seek. I hope you will too.
                                                  Love, Jay

The Cross

  In 2006 I was browsing through an art book and I saw an oil by Mr. Weistling, and I saw this oil painting. It captured my artistic abilities so I gave it a shot and here it is. It took four hours straight. The reason I was able to dive right into the drawing was that I was listening to Third Day music at the time. Their music is so uplifting to me and it puts me in another place spiritually. This drawing was done with a black ink pen and I will show you the technique I use to do the shading. I fell into it through trial and error. My dad has the original, which I added color to. I have given a lot of these away at church when I was living in Indiana. I hope you find  this art refreshing to your spirit. Every time you look upon it, you'll find something new. God Bless.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Never Give Up

          Starting a new career is tough but I know that my art is truly inspired by God, therefore I can't give up. Even when it looks like this is all it will ever be, a blog and a web site showcasing my art, I have to continue onward and forward. I must trust in God that this is where I'm at for the moment. He knows what He is doing. I will not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ and will continue to share this art with the world. I have to stay strong for Him. may this work be an inspiration to others and may they believe that they, too, can and will live their dreams for the Lord. Third Day, the Christian Band, inspired me to pick up a guitar and start playing and writing music. If He can do this for me, then I know that He can do this for you. You CAN do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you. Christ will work through you to do all He has for you in this world. I'm speaking to myself also, because I am only human. I falter time to time, but in sharing the Word and the life He has taken me from and the life I'm leading now, I remind myself that He is real. He loves me and I love Him. So, I will not give up on the dreams I feel He has given me and will continue to go forward, as I pay it forward with the Love He has put in my heart. Follow the path He has laid before you, for it is lit with His love. Be patient, for in due time, you will reap a reward for your continued diligence. God Bless....Jay

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Art Collection

Blessings of Obediance

          Every command of the Lord must be observed carefully in order to receive such great blessings. Delight in doing what is right and your life will be filled with increase. There is one important item to remember though, you must never forget who gave this increase, this prosperity. you must  never forget the Lord your God, your Father whom loves you and is happy to bless your life richly. Remember how He first humbled you and He lead you out of your own Egypt's of the world. Never look in the mirror  and declare yourself the one who made your life what it is. Never turn your face from the Lord and honor yourself. God is the one who gave you the power to attain this wealth. If you forget, it is written that you shall surely perish. So, I'm thinking, if you surely enjoy the state of your life right now, would you be willing to give it all up because of your self? Your life could be richer by committing all your way's to the Lord. You will never conquer your situations in life that are even greater than you could of realized you even had the knowledge to.
          God goes before you as a consuming fire. He makes things all possible. It's not because of your righteousness, it's because of your trust  and fear in God. A fear deep in respect. My dad would teach me his way's. I would listen, and when he told me to do something and how to do it, I did it. Yes, I feared him. I also thought as a child, but now that I think as an adult and look back on the situation, I see that is was not fear at all. It was Love; Love for my father. It was respect and he was teaching and correcting me because he loved me back. He didn't want his son to grow up to be an idiot. So, the Lord our God, our Father in heaven, does the same for us. He wants us to have wisdom and understanding, so that when we attain the life He has been preparing for us, that life will be blessed. We will have the tools to accept that life, the blessings, and appreciate them. We will know what to do, and we will do it with His Love. All because we trusted in Him and never forgot Who taught us to ride our first bike.
                                         I love you Father God and father Skip,
                             Jay Burleyhttp:/www.wix.com/crosseffect/cross-effect

Trust

" God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble . Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea." Psalm 46:1,2 .
          God will always be our refuge if we trust in Him at all times. When we pour out our heart to Him and declare His glory ( Jer 3:23). We then walk forward with no fear and speak boldly before the world. Even in these last day's, we will not fear. It speaks of the earth giving way and the mountains falling into the sea. Our trust and faith in the Lord brings us  peace in the fact that we will meet our Lord face to face when He returns. 
          What are you willing to do to see Him in all His glory? Are you tired of living in fear? Fear of the unknown? Well God reveals Himself throughout the Word. You would be amazed how your life can turn around and how the most troublesome times are just that...Time. Time passes on and the next minute appears before us. All of a sudden, the trouble was yesterday. The mourning only lasted a night, and this wonderful, explicable joy comes in the morning. Just by applying the word of " Trust " to your life and vocabulary in the name of Jesus, your life will change. 
          Step though your fear of the unknown and receive His wisdom and understanding. Live your new life  with peace and Love. To do all of this, just trust. Now that wasn't too hard?, was it? I know, because I have. 
                                          Love ya all,,,,,,,Jay
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Monday, April 25, 2011

Photo to Canvas

      

 Jesus    
I truly love the way this photograph came out. The program I use is simply amazing. 

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Take Up Your Cross And Follow Jesus

MT 16:24-28   " Then Jesus told His disciples, 'If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever losses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?  For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father,  and then He will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.' " I had a conversation with my neighbor today and this topic came up. He talked about a preacher who left the pulpit because a woman had enticed him to sin. Sure, it takes two to tangle, but he should of had the conviction to say "No". I have the same decision in my life. I am alone and want companionship. there are some women who are single and yet, I find myself stepping back and saying "No". No to myself, because I don't just want a companion, I need someone I can share the Love of Christ with. I'm not a prude, sure I would love to have sex, but that's all it is, sex. What happened to searching for a relationship? A communion of like minds. 'Just sex' will not lead me down the path God has set before me. I know I've done wrong in the past and I will have to suffer for that, but you see, I asked for forgiveness and as long as I don't venture down that road again, I do have His promise of everlasting life with the Lord. I can't afford to lose His love and His blessings, so I fight the good fight and I do my best not to give up. It's  daily battle, but I'm still here. thank You Lord for calling me. I'm here for You, let's do this.        Jay

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Jesus on the Cross

This is a collage of the framed art I have to offer.www.wix.com/crosseffect/cross-effect

Guitar Art

I love the way this one came out. This is a photograph of a guitar my cousin has on his wish list. I ran it through that art program I have and I turned it into an oil painting. I would love to have this hanging on my wall. 

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The Rose

This was done with an ink pen.
I then added color using pencils.
This is one of my favorites.

A New Day

    Welcome to the first word's to appear here on this blog. This will become my journal site. A place where I will share what I will be drawing next as it comes to me. You see, the art is inspired and if I don't acknowledge the vision right away, I lose it. I have to draw within a day of what was given to me. the same hold's to my music. I have songs now that I've written and now don't remember how they go. I had chords, but it always changes if I don't practice them. Sometimes  believe that is God's way of maturing the song, as He did me through time. There is so much to do, but so little money right now. I broke my leg Dec 29th of last year and I just had another surgery and the doctor's believe I will be out another four months. I go back for a follow up the 27th of April and I hope I get the all clear to put weight on the ankle. i may be in crutches , but I still believe I can find work. With God's blessings, I hope to continue to create music and art for His glory. Oh how wonderful it would be to work for God. The power of having a boss as Him would be truly remarkable. Therefore I do hope that you will be inspired by the art and that it may touch your heart, then share the experience with others. you see, that's what it is all about to me. I'm sharing the love He has bestowed upon me with the world. I want the world to feel the love and passion I feel. This gift isn't just for me, it's for the chosen. Those who are wanting to open their eyes to a new way of life. those whom this art will open their hearts, if only for that moment. For in that moment, the seed is planted. then, as they go through life, that picture will, from time to time, appear in their heads and they will remember the moment and the feeling they received. If you feel this, you will want to pay it forward, for this feeling is too much to handle all alone. be safe and may His blessing rain upon your life.  Your fellow traveller,
                                                          Jay