Inside the Spin-Mosaic Studio

What story is worthy of a 100th Illustrated Blog Article? Konda's.

Your story is, too. Your life, also, has the fingerprints of God's touch.

Since February of this year (2020), I have been trying my best to follow God's lead. Words were planted in my head one morning, "Relay. Start now." After 30 years, I began writing again. As Art is my natural forte', illustrations hold hands with my stories comfortably.

It is time for a shift.

A ring now rests on the 4th finger of my right hand. It is a custom silver creation commissioned by my friend and kindred metal-smithing artist, Carol Stroud. Her voice was present when I took the leap of faith 10 months ago to post my 1st article for the public eye. That was the first time we met---in the comments-bar of my 1st post. I wrote her words down on a sticky note that...still sticks!

She did not know me, but spoke that my Art was "outside the secular realm". Something rang deeply true. I didn't even understand at the time. Within her words, and my act of believing, something felt set free. It's hard to explain. Such is the way when God is speaking through the words of others. I think you know.

Each time my fingertips have overflowed into an article and illustration, there is a certain resignation that embeds in the split-second moment before my index finger hits "post". See, I don't write because words feel smooth and fluid. I don't write because words ooze out of my heart like the silky, twitching, air-curling float of a spirited ribbon dancer in a song of worship.

Not me. I write to untangle. I write to remember an essence. I write to smooth out the bumps and savor the flavour of "what really happened that day" behind the actions, between the words and despite my humanness. This year, writing has kept my head above water, my faith from stagnant waters, and I pray a breath of fresh air.

But, it's not about me. It's about what God is doing.

These first 100 stories were shared freely from my reserves. Can I help you share yours?

I am not alone! Another artist has come alongside to help draw illustrations. Meet Marianne, the artist behind the featured watercolor artwork above. My friend, Konda, freely shares her story below. My heart was so lifted. Yours will be too!

Carol's words affirmed a direction I felt my heart was leading as I step into my second year of writing. Her masterful artistry created my one-of-a-kind silver ring by request and commission.

I wished to possess a reminder within my immediate view of both a blessing and a truth. As Carol shared her artistic journey with me (always an honor to be on the receiving end of sharing), a mutual kindred calling to help "stories be told" surfaced between us.

I'm going to say it like it is---if we believe that the Bible is the Truth of God, if we believe that Jesus IS who He said He IS, and if we believe in the part we play in shining the light of Truth into this world, than we also must believe and choose to act on the truth of Revelation 12:11.

This involves speaking up and speaking out. Sharing.

Let's say it out loud so there is no mistake.

Satan, evil and darkness is defeated in Revelation 12:11 by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and the word of testimony of God's people. Pray over this. Can you catch the Call that there is a part we play in this story?

We, also, are to be carriers and speakers of truth. There is no greater passion in the speaking of truth and no greater source of contagioun than when sharing first-hand stories that we have seen, felt, tasted and experienced with our own eyes, ears, circumstances, timing and our very souls.

There is no closer or louder witness to our stories...than us. If we don't share, who will know? If we don't speak, who will hear? This is how faith grows...through each other and by the grace of God's blessing.

Is there a better time to share our stories of faith than today? Is there a better time than now?

I do not pretend to have any of this figured out. But, choices are made one at a time. Days are lived one at a time. Stories are shared one at a time. That, I know. That, we experience.

The men who surrounded Jesus the closest once got up the nerve to ask, "Grow our faith?" (Luke 17:5-10).

Jesus, in his own graceful way responded that "it doesn't work that way." He shared a story or two in response.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the order of stories written in the Bible are revealing as our imaginations are still freshly sifting what came before, and what comes after. Sequences of learning are important. I know that from being both a teacher and a life-long student.

Shortly after this passage, Jesus meets ten hearts whose bodies are afflicted with leprosy and the death sentence of social isolation that came with it.

He healed all 10, but only one returned to speak his thanks. Jesus told him, "Your faith has healed you."

Can we string these two pearls together on our strand of a faith necklace? Can we take this truth and wear it around our neck, in the same way I wear my silver signet ring on my finger every day now?

A faith that heals is a faith that thanks? Thankfulness speaks out. Is this not the perfect season for such?

Today's featured story is not my own, but my friend, Konda's. Her artistically gifted daughter has been a joy to get to know in my Art classes recently. Their dog...well...is a miracle. 

Here's Konda's story in her own words. We all like the mantra that, "Behind every dark cloud, there is a silver lining? On this day, Konda's view of sky and clouds held an entire dog--a dog straight from heaven!"

Jesus said that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without the knowledge and caring of the mind and heart of our Father in heaven. How much moreso a frail woman in a pink robe? Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy a smile in your day!

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"I’ve never been a real dog person. I’m an animal lover at heart, but dogs are kind of in a category all their own.

Barking, licking, jumping, dog hair...all in your business. They always seemed too needy and too in-your-face for me. I had resisted the urges from my children for 18 years and I had no plans to change. Until 2017.

My sister called me and said her dog had just birthed puppies, a great Red Heeler breed, perfect for around a mini-farm. My 15-yr -old daughter wanted a puppy and she was definitely responsible enough. I even had a younger daughter who would be more than excited to play with the dog.

I wasn’t sure. I prayed about it for months---finally somewhat open to the idea. But, I wasn’t a dog person. And, I wasn’t sure I wanted to take on that big of a project.

I knew I had to make a decision. So, one morning I said out loud, “Lord, how can I know for sure what to do about this dog?”. I didn’t expect an answer that day. But, I got one.

As I was driving home, I turned onto the road before my house and my mouth fell open. There was a shape in the leaves of a tree that looked just like a dog! I laughed out loud.

This was ridiculous, to say the least. But, I took a picture to see what everyone else would say. They all said it looked like a dog. (The dog-image is circled in the picture below.)

So we got the puppy from my sister.

Fast forward a year and a half. It was a bitterly cold morning, snow on the ground, windy, 20 degrees. I heard our dog, Red, barking.

15 minutes later he was still barking and looking across the road. I got up and strained through my window to see if I could tell what he was looking at.

There, in a tiny pink heap, was my 90 year old neighbor. I would never have seen her if not for the barking. We raced over and carried her into her house. She was wearing nothing but a pink nightgown.

Her hip was broken. But surgery fixed it and she recovered.

Miraculous? Definitely. But would God really take the time to make a tree look like a dog to save an elderly woman’s life? I think so. God can do whatever he wants to do!

I was amazed at God’s mercy to my neighbor. I can’t imagine how it would have felt to know she had laid out there in the cold and probably frozen to death with me sitting right across the road in my house. God was merciful to me as well!"  ---Konda Koorey

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Do you have a Small-Big Miracle Faith Story you would like to share within my blog platform complete with illustration? Please email me at [email protected].

For more on Jesus' words (Luke 17) about faith, see John Piper's Article here.