(It is not necessary to have art that is specifically “sacred”, since God can speak through any artwork. The artwork may be a painting, sculpture, photography or an actual scene in front of you. Remember, your goal is to find a quiet place to create stillness allow space to hear the “still small voice” of God.)
​

Find a quiet place to do this Visio Divina exercise. You will find that journaling the answers to the Visio Divina prompts will deepen your experience-
​so grab a journal or a pen and some paper for this exercise. To further enhance a contemplative experience, you might play soft music and/or light a candle.

* Take a few moments to sit in stillness and openness before God.
​ * When you feel ready, ask God to help you see what he wants you to see or what he wants you to notice.
* What are your first impressions of the painting as a whole? What thoughts, feeling or reactions do you have to the painting?
* Now let your gaze move around the painting and allow yourself to linger where you find interest or where you feel uncomfortable.
How do you feel and what thoughts come when you linger in these areas?
* Imagine yourself in the painting? Where or who are you? What is happening and how does it effect you? Where is God in the painting?
* This painting is entitled "The Visitation". What does the title speak to you?
* How is this painting speaking peace to you?
* Take some time to read over what you received from this practice.
Ask God how you might respond or what awareness you might take from this time of prayer.



Cody studied Fine Arts at Cornell University and animation at the Art institute of Pittsburgh and Columbus College of Art and Design. He is an Illustrator/animator in Columbus Ohio, where he lives with his wife and two sons. Find his work on Instagram @donquicody​

The splendor light of Heaven's glorious sunrise is about to break upon us in holy visitation, all because the merciful heart of our God is so very tender. The word from Heaven will come to us with dazzling light to shine upon those who live in darkness, near death's dark shadow. And he will illuminate the path that leads to the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79 (The Passion)

The Splendor of Heaven came to us in Holy visitation in the form of a precious baby. Weak, helpless, cherished by his mother, but of little consequence to others.
This was the gift sent from the merciful heart of our God, whose love is so very tender. We often expect the splendor of Heaven to be bigger than life and out of the ordinary. We look past that which is present all around us to something grander and more significant. And yet, today, in our very circumstances,
God is breaking through in Holy Visitation. But we miss it because we have our ideas as to what the Holy looks like. We believe the Holy will bring peace by relieving us
of our current circumstances and raising us above the hard and the mundane. We believe peace is where darkness no longer exists. But we are deceived.
The Holy is here right now, in the midst of our current situation, with the hurt and the sorrow and the hard.

But how can we see the Holy? We begin to see the Holy when the striving to escape ceases and we settle in surrender to the place the Lord has allowed us to enter.
This hard space of surrender is where we begin to see, where our eyes are opened, and our path is illuminated. As long as we continue writhing in pain and looking
for an escape, we remain blinded to the peace that is offered in the here and now. St. Luke reminds us, it is in the very darkness, near death's dark shadow,
that the Spirit of God illuminates our path and leads us to peace.

Today, take notice of where you are striving for change. Where do you believe life would be better if only? These are the spaces where God wants to enter and bring peace. But you must stop looking for an escape: pause and surrender. Surrender to the life you have been given; surrender to the hard and unwanted. Surrender into the arms of the God who loves you with such a tender heart. And in this surrender, as the striving ceases, your eyes will be opened and you will finally be able to see:
to see the very light of God in your darkness, to experience his tender touch bringing comfort to your hurt,
and to know that you have been ​visited by the Holy.

​
Beloved daughter of God, cherished wife, and proud mother of five. Denice is also the creator and host of the "Hope and Healing Encounter",
a sacred space created for encountering the Holy amid the hard places in life.
She also enjoys her time offering Spiritual Direction. You can find more information about Denice at her website:http://paracletepresence.com.


All works in this series are the private property of the artist or writer.
All work in the series "2021 Advent Artist Series" is copyrighted by Art and Soul Ministries.​

(It is not necessary to have art that is specifically “sacred”, since God can speak through any artwork. The artwork may be a painting, sculpture, photography or an actual scene in front of you. Remember, your goal is to find a quiet place to create stillness allow space to hear the “still small voice” of God.)

Find a quiet place where you wont be distracted. You will find that journaling your response to the Visio Divina prompts will deepen your experience-
so grab a journal or a pen and some paper for this exercise. To further enhance the contemplative experience, you might play soft music and/or light a candle.

* Take a few moments to sit in stillness and openness before God.
​ * When you feel ready, ask God to help you see what he wants you to see or what he wants you to notice.
* Notice what speaks to you. Notice anything that bothers you.
* What is going on in this painting? Where are you in the painting? Where is God in the painting?
* How does this painting speak to you about God?
How does this painting speak of joy?
* Sit for a few moments with your eyes closed and imagine the painting in your mind. What do you remember most?
* As you open your eyes and look at the image again, do you see anything new? Has your awareness changed?
* Take your time with this and allow God to speak through your journaling. If you don’t journal, spend some time reflecting on the experience.
* Is there some way God has invited you to respond
​to what you’ve heard today?
* As you end this pray time, thank God for anything He has spoken to you through this Visio Divina exercise.

Michelle Morris is a trained and certified Spiritual Director, an artist and founder of Art and Soul Ministries. To learn more about Michelle or Art and Soul Ministries, see the home page of this blog.

Joy to the World!

When you read the word ‘joy’, what do you think of? For me, the word joy has special meaning for a number of reasons. One, Joy is my middle name.
My parents already had a daughter and a son before I was born. When my mom was pregnant with my brother, she was diagnosed with sarcoma.
She had surgery and God in incredible ways brought her back to health. That’s another story in itself. But, she was told to not have any more children because the doctors believed that it could cause cancer to come again. So, she had a tubal ligation. Lo and behold, she went to the doctor’s one day thinking she had the flu.
To her shock, she found out she was pregnant. My parents were so excited! When I was born, they decided to give me the middle name “Joy” because
I brought such great joy to them! I am so thankful to have been born! My parents had ‘joy’ at my birth and they would continually remind me over the years
of this story and why they named me Joy. This kind of joy isn’t dependent on circumstances but is a joy found by what was given.

So, the word “joy” has a special meaning for me personally. But, even more so, I have found joy because of what I have been given through Jesus Christ.
As we are in the Advent season, we are remembering the truth that Jesus came to earth as a baby to bring joy to the world.
I’m reminded of the familiar Christmas carol, Joy to the world!

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing”

Take a look at the scriptures, Luke 2:7-12
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Jesus came as a baby to bring joy to the world. The joy that comes through Jesus Christ is beyond words! It changed Mary’s life, Joseph’s life
and countless people over the years. Jesus has changed my life. It is through Jesus Christ that we can have joy no matter what our circumstances.

May we find ourselves shouting out the news of the great joy that is found in Jesus Christ. Psalm 98:4-6 says it very well;

4 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;
Be cheerful and sing for joy and sing praises.
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
With the lyre and the sound of melody.
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
Shout joyfully before the King, the Lord.

This season of Advent, may you make room for Jesus. He came to bring you joy. But, we have to invite Him in and allow Him to be King,
the Lord, of our lives. There is no greater joy found in any other.

Take a few minutes and ponder the truths of these scriptures.
Where do you need to give Him room? Has your life gotten full of other things? Other relationships? Other activities that take up your time?
If so, allow yourself time to re-prioritize so that Jesus comes first. He is the One that brings joy in the midst of any of our troubles, sorrows, challenge, or difficulties.
Reflect on ways that Jesus has brought you joy when you have made room for Him.
Tell someone what Jesus has done. Look for someone that also needs to hear this good news, Jesus has come and has brought joy to the world.


​

Linda Reiter is a Vineyard pastor on the “Eastside” of Columbus, Ohio. Linda is also a trained spiritual director, Stephen Ministry Leader, Precept Ministry Leader, and life coach. She has a passion for people to experience the life-changing presence of God from the inside out. Linda is married to Richard and are blessed with two sons and five beautiful grandchildren.
You may see more about Linda at lifeandjoyforme.com and her church website at vccoh.com


All works in this series are the private property of the artist or writer.
All work in the series "2021 Advent Artist Series" is copyrighted by Art and Soul Ministries.​