TWISTED FIGURES

Something BIG has been Brewing!!

2016-03-25T11:58:00.003-07:00

I'm so excited to share this news today!!

As you may know, I am co-owner of His Kingdom Come with Diane Marra. We are proud to launch our newest endeavor- in person faithart classes! Retreats, women's events, painting classes- we are ready to travel and share our passion and ministy- faithart!

Diane and I got together in Florida last week and created a wonderful in-person curriculum that will meet both individual and Women's ministry needs!!

Here is a little bit about us and detailed information about what we offer:

HKC is an online faith based ministry that helps people document their spiritual journey while growing deeper in faith through art. We know how busy everyone is with work, family, children, and volunteering. We also know how hard it is to find time to spend in God’s word. Shonna and I help women creatively worship, study God’s word and go deeper in their personal relationship with God in a unique side by side experience. You will be amazed at how God uses His word combined with faithart to draw women closer to Him in a short amount of time!

Contact us at admin@his-kingdom-come.com to discuss customizing a retreat, class or event!

Take Me Deeper-DNA Week 6

2016-02-04T22:18:00.001-08:00

This month at His Kingdom Come we are going to be exploring how we are created in the image of God and how being creative plays into that.

This week Deb Baker wrote the devotion and she did a fabulous job. She spoke about how we are made in God's image. The Hebrew word for image is Tselem and it comes from a root word meaning to “shade.” Genesis’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon further explains: an image, a likeness so called from its shadowing forth. What does that mean for us? His shadow – cast over us. That is so cool!! I have been struggling lately with feeling "qualified" with what God is calling me to do. But I realized that if I am doing what He wants, created in His image (His shadow is cast on me) then how can I doubt myself. Does God make mistakes? I don't think so. I can rest in the fact that He doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called and He gets the glory for it. If He made me – and He did – then He owns me. I am not my own. Not only did He make me. But He purchased me though Jesus and what he did on the cross. And He resides within us. I have been bought with a price. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Here is my piece for this week. Since this month is about creation and being creative, I really wanted to make this piece colorful.

If you would like to join us for bi-weekly devotions and bi-weekly creative prompts, it is free and easy to join. Here is the link.

TMD-DNA Week 5 (Rewind)

2016-01-29T09:49:00.000-08:00

This month has gone by so fast and I am loving that we at His Kingdom Come are exploring our DNA in Christ this year. The first month's theme has been "Come as You Are" and we have had some wonderful devotions and creative prompts about being forgiven and chosen by God. I have heard people say they want to get their lives together first before they go to church or start following God, but the fact of the matter is, God loves us just the way we are: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."-Romans 5:8. Have you heard the saying "Church isn't a museum for saints, but a hospital for the sick?" That is so true, I don't follow Jesus, go to church and read my bible because I think I am better than anyone else, I do those things because I need Him. Period.

The first week was about how we are Forgiven and the focus verse is Isaiah 1:18. Here is the front and back of my piece.

Week 2 was a Creative Prompt week. Creative Prompt weeks will feature a guest artist who will share a photo or video technique based around an "I am" statement (of who we are in Christ). Week 2 featured Diane Marra and I and the "I am" statement was "I am Forgiven." You can view our videos here and here.

Here is my finished "Creative Prompt" piece (I am making a tag book for all of my "I am" statements).

Week 3 was a devotion week that explored the fact that we are chosen by God. Actually everyone is chosen, this isn't an exclusive club. 2 Peter 3:9 says: "The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." (NLT)

Think about that for a second. He is patient for our sake. I often wonder why God just doesn't destroy the earth and everyone who mocks and has turned their back on him. He surly has the power (and right) to do so, but he is "patient for our sake" and the famous John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only son that none should perish, but have everlasting life." He is patient because he wants as many people as possible to come to him so He can give them life. That my friend is love.

Here is my devotion piece for week 3:

Week 4 was another Creative Prompt week and our Featured artist was the very sweet and talented Susan Hiles. Her video was done in her Bible Journal (I am still working on her technique in my Bible). You can watch her video here.

Here is my "I am Chosen" tag for week 4.

And here we are Week 5...This week is a "Rewind" week. If there are 5 weeks in a month, the last week will be a week called "Rewind" where we will summarize the month and take the time to go deeper (by exploring a few questions of reflection) that month. It can also be a time to get caught up if we need to. For this week, I did a creative study and really reflected on what I learned this month. I love just sitting down with the Lord and listening to what he really has to say to me. And this month was rich with His word.

It isn't too late to join us, in fact, this "Rewind" week would be the perfect time to get caught up. You can join us here and I hope you do.

His Kingdom Come Creative Prompt Week 2 "I Am Forgiven"

2016-01-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

This year the His Kingdom Come community is exploring our identity in Christ. We are creating bi-weekly devotions and then creating art based on those devotions. On the "off" week, we are further exploring our identity in Christ through art by featuring guest artists who are covering the topic: who are we in Christ? or "I am" statements. The "featured" artist will share an art technique based on one of these "I am" statements.

This is the first Creative Prompt week of TMD-DNA and I am one of the Featured Artists (Diane Marra is the other Featured Artist)! Our theme this month is "Come as you are" and the statement for this week is I am forgiven.

There are so many bible verses that talk about forgiveness, but the one that stands out to me is Ephesians 1:7 which says: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."

As a Christian, I am forgiven by the Grace of God and not by anything that I have done. Forgiveness of sin is given by the shedding of blood by the one who had no sin (Jesus). The original sin that I was born into was forgiven the day I accepted Christ as my savior and my daily sin is forgiven and forgotten as I repent. Verse 8 of Ephesians chapter 1 further states "that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding." When you put the two verses all together, the impact is moving.

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. That he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding."-Ephesians 1:7-8

While researching this verse I found an amazing sermon online that I would like to share with you by a Pastor by the name of Steven J. Cole. He goes into great detail about this verse and I found it very intriguing. If you would like to listen to the sermon click here for the link.

Here is my Creative Prompt video. I hope you enjoy it and learn something new.

Come and join the faithart journey at His Kingdom Come! FREE weekly devotions, faithart inspirations, technique videos, faithart classes- combining techniques and bible study! Lots of faithart products– stencils, stamps, thermofax screens, canvas, and coloring books! If you were part of Take me deeper in 2015, please sign up for the 2016 Take me Deeper, so that you have access to the devotions, techniques and discussions! Free planner/journal pages are found here. Take Me Deeper will be continuing in 2016 with the “I am statements” of Jesus and our Spiritual DNA. Looking for your “word” for 2016? His Kingdom Come has prepared an EBook for free containing the idea of living one word, worksheets and all the prompts for 2016! Get it for free here Logos365 www.his-kingdom-come.com

Logos365 What is your word for 2016?

2016-01-04T11:47:00.002-08:00

My word last year was "Trust" and boy that one was a doozy!! I had to trust God and others in many situations last year and boy did I learn a lot!! I think I will still be learning how to trust as it is a lesson God seems to give me often. I guess I will continue to live out that word until I really "get" that he "has" me and any situation I come across, he will always "have" me.

This is my word this year:

Yes..."Transform" in ALL areas of my life. Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually!! These two verses are my focus verses for the year. Philippians 1:6 and 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Do you choose a word for the year? If you would like to, it isn't too late. On His Kingdom Come, we offer a group called "Logos365" and a free E-book that has worksheets to help you choose your word as well as monthly art prompts to help you LIVE out that word.

Well I'm about to get to it...

Take Me Deeper-DNA Starts today!!!

2015-12-31T23:55:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!! It is time for a fresh start!! I have just the thing for you "Take Me Deeper-DNA." Do you want to know what your identity is in Christ? We are going to explore this topic throughout the entire 2016 year.

Starting today we are offering Bi-weekly devotions written by some amazing Christian women and artists. We will read the devotion, see a worship video and then have the whole week to interpret what we have learned through art. Any type of art you like: Art Journaling, Bible Journaling, Crafts, Watercolor, Abstract, Digital etc. Just worship Him through whatever medium you would like. Don't do the whole art thing? That is fine too, just read the devotions and do a Bible Study in a lined notebook; there is something here for everyone!! And everyone is welcomed!!

But that isn't all!!! I said the devotions are "bi-weekly" so what happens in the "off" weeks? Well, we have plans for those weeks as well. To continue with the "DNA" theme we are going to explore "I am" statements (I am forgiven, I am chosen, I am blessed to be a blessing etc.). These weeks we will have a "Featured" artist share an art technique based on these I am statements. We have some fabulous artists lined up for that!!

The devotions and art techniques can be found in a private group here. The first devotion has already been posted! I hope you are able to join us!!

Waiting Here for you Bible Journaling video

2015-12-16T11:03:00.001-08:00

Just a quick Process video to share. This page is from Mark 13 where Jesus talks about not knowing the day or the hour of His second Coming. I wrote an Advent devotion about this topic:

Mark 13:33-37

“Take heed; keep
on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It
is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting
his slaves in charge, assigning to
each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. Therefore, be
on the alert—for you do not know when the master
of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when
the rooster crows, or in the morning— in case he should come suddenly and find
you asleep. What I say to you I say to
all, ‘Be on the alert!’”

It amazes me how fast the time goes by during the Christmas
season. Even though retail stores set up holiday displays months in advance, it
still seems to go by in a blink. This year I was brought into the realm of this
reality while browsing Facebook. I see a photo of “Buddy” from the movie “Elf”
and below it says the words: “Only 6 more Fridays until Christmas!” I
immediately snap out of my internet haze and say out loud: “What? That soon? I
better get busy.” And so the preparations will begin: Christmas decorating,
baking, shopping, school events, church events and the list goes on. I am
actively preparing to make Christmas memorable for my family. And so the time
passes very quickly. For my son, Jordan on the other hand, the time between now
and Christmas seems like an eternity. He
is involved with some of the Christmas time activities, but for the most part,
he is passively waiting. When you are
passively waiting, the time can drag on.

As Christians, Advent is the time of year we give thanks for the
birth of our savior Jesus and anticipate His second coming. Unlike Christmas,
we have no “Buddy the Elf” to remind us how many “Fridays” there are before
Jesus returns. In our passage today, Jesus says: “Therefore be on alert, for
you do not know which day the Master is coming.” (NASB) We wait for our Lord to
come, but are we actively waiting or passively waiting?

Even through the Christmas hustle and bustle, we should make it a
priority to “actively” wait for Jesus or like my Pastor likes to say: “Get
ready, to BE ready.” If you haven’t been “getting ready to BE ready”, Advent
season is a perfect time to start. But what does it look like to “actively”
wait for Him?

1. Spend time with God by reading His Word.

2. Pray and listen to Him.

3. Worship and Praise Him.

4. Love and serve Him.

5. Share His love with others.

The sense of urgency I feel when “Buddy the Elf” reminds me that
Christmas is just around the corner is the same feeling I desire to have waiting
for Jesus to return. When He does come back, He will want to know what kind of
Christian I have been. He will not only want to know if I had faith and trust
in Him, but what was the evidence of that faith?

So, as we begin this Christmas season, let us be reminded that the
great reward of eternal life with Jesus will far surpass the most grandiose and
well-prepared Christmas morning.

Come quickly Jesus; we are actively waiting.

Join Us for 2016 Take Me Deeper-DNA!!

2015-12-10T18:49:00.001-08:00

Last year was our first year of Take Me Deeper and we had such a fun time going "deeper" in God's word each week, we decided to do it again this year!!

I would love to invite any of my friends and family to come and join us at His Kingdom Come for our 2016 Year long project -- Take Me Deeper DNA.... a look at "Who I am in Christ." Does the enemy ever lie to you? Of course he does, he always does! Does he try to convince you that you don't count? That Jesus can't possibly love you, that He forgives everyone else, but just forget about THAT sin .... and on and on and on? You've heard that tape play in your head, right? Okay, so it's time to learn the truth....learn who you REALLY are in Christ according to what the Truth of God's Word says!

There will be devotional studies provided bi-weekly and then on the "off week" you'll receive information for a creative prompt to remind you and really bring to heart what you studied.

The cost for all this? FREE! The results? You will go deeper in your walk with the Lord! Click here to join this wonderful year-long study starting Friday, January 1, 2016.

Note: You must become a member of the His Kingdom Come community in order to join the Take Me Deeper-DNA Group; don't worry though, it is quick, free and easy!!

Here is some of the artwork I created from last year's Take Me Deeper project.

HKC Advent Day 1-4

2015-12-02T22:08:00.001-08:00

I have been participating in His Kingdom Come's Advent and today I was blessed to be able to write the devotion. You can read it here. We are also responding creatively to the devotions so I thought I would share the first 4 days of my artwork.

Cover of my Advent art journal:

Day 1:

Day 2:

Day 3:

Day 4 (I did two pages for this day)

Advent Season is Here!

2015-11-29T22:24:00.000-08:00

At His Kingdom Come, we have started our daily Advent devotions. Every day through December 25, we have guest writers write a devotion and provide artwork to go along with it. We are basing the devotions on songs this year and I am loving it so far. It isn't too late to join in. Click here to view the devotions.

Here is my handmade journal I made with an old Hymn book.

Each week is a different theme; This week's theme is "Hope" so I created a mini page with the theme. My art is based on the devotion for the day and then the back page has the printed out song lyrics.

I have also completed day 2:

I hope you can participate in this Advent journey and draw closer to the one who came to change the world.

HKC Birthday Blog Hop!

2015-10-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a very exciting blog hop. This week His Kingdom Come is celebrating its first birthday. Can you believe that we only launched our community on November 1st 2014 and we have grown to over 2000 members. This week we have a special blog hop and event to celebrate. Keep reading!

Thank you, everyone of you, for making this journey with us. We had no idea what we were taking on when God called us to build a new Christian creative online community. And it is totally thanks to him that we are where we are today.

If you have been with us the whole time then thank you for your support. It has been most appreciated by the Foundation Team. If you have joined us during the last few months then you are very welcome. To find out about our history visit the His Kingdom Come website where you can read our story.

The Foundation Team are already planning new classes and new products for 2016 and we hope you will continue to belong to the His Kingdom Come community.

To celebrate our first birthday each day this week the Foundation Team is blogging about their experience of HKC and showing some of their faithart.

Each blog has the complete list of participants so if you miss a day you can go back and read our blogs.

Monday 26th Diane Marra

Tuesday 27th Shonna Bucaroff

Wednesday 28th Merri Dennis

Thursday 29th Mary Brack

Friday 30th Bernice Hopper

Saturday 31st His Kingdom Come

As you visit each blog please leave a comment. Each of us will choose one person at random to win a prize. Please leave your comments by noon PST (8pm GMT) on Tuesday 3rd November.

Shonna's experience this past year:

Over the years, I have found it very difficult to find people that share my love for God and art, so last year when Diane Marra approached me about collaborating with others to start HKC, I knew God was directing our paths to cross. Everything Diane was saying to me was already something I had been praying about for awhile. HKC is a Christian art site, yes, but God has made it into something much more. It is a community of people that have blessed me personally beyond what I ever imagined. Not only do we share our art projects, but we share so much more than that. Through these beautiful people I have had the pleasure of getting to know, I have found encouragement, support, prayer, knowledge, sisterhood and love. I am so excited to see where God takes HKC this upcoming year and my prayer is that we can expand and reach more people for His Glory!

Here are some of the art I have produced at HKC this past year:

And there’s more!

To celebrate our birthday on Sunday November 1st we are offering you a discount of 25% off these classes: Faithart 101 5 class bundle, Faithart 102 God’s Aviary class, The Zigzag Postcard Book and the Altered Books: The Promised Land 3 class bundle.
The classes will be on sale from late evening 10/31/2015 to early morning 11/2/2015.

You will be given a full refund if you buy one of these classes on Sunday 1st November and then win the class from your comment on a blog.

You can also receive 10% off any HKC Faithart products you buy from the HKC shop by using this code: bday2015

You will be given a full refund if you buy one of the products on Sunday 1st November which you then win from your comment on a blog.

These discounts apply between 12.01am PST and midnight PST on Sunday 1st November. (Sunday 8.01am GMT to 8am Monday)

Prize winners will be announced on the His Kingdom Come Blog on Wednesday 4th November.

Prizes to be won by leaving comments on the Foundation Team members’ blogs

Diane Marra A God’s Aviary Dove stencil & a set of Doves stamps

Shonna Bucaroff Faithart 102 God’s Aviary class

Merri Dennis Faithart 101 5 class bundle

Mary Brack A God’s Aviary Eagle stencil & a set of Wings stamps

Bernice Hopper Altered Books: The Promised Land 3 class bundle

His Kingdom Come A set of Promised Land stamps & a set of Sparrows stamps

Gratitude Journal Online Class!!! "Eucharisteo"

2015-10-26T11:27:00.002-07:00

Eucharisteo—comes right out of the Gospel of Luke: “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them … ” (Luke 22:19 NIV). In the original language, “he gave thanks” reads “eucharisteo.”

The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning “grace.” Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks.Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning “joy.” Charis. Grace. Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. Chara. Joy.

Join me in my brand new online video class "Eucharisteo"-A gratitude Journal. I will teach you to make your very own 26 page journal and then how to complete a page in it. I will also give you tons of examples of completed pages for inspiration. The videos are available with forever access, so you can watch them at your convenience.

Only $15

Some Page Examples:

This class is hosted on His Kingdom Come, an online Christian Art Community. This community of people has been such a blessing to me personally. I have met such wonderful people who love God, People and Art!! There are many things on the site that may be a blessing to you like: Free weekly devotions, a prayer forum, Let's Chat forum, free art techniques, other online classes and much more. I would love for you to join this community so we can bless and learn from one another (it is free to join).

Peace, Joy, Thanksgiving-Eucharisteo!

Shonna

TMD-Rewind!

2015-10-09T13:49:00.002-07:00

We are so blessed at His Kingdom Come to have talented and blessed writers who have created wonderful weekly devotions. Beginning January 1, 2015, we launched Take Me Deeper™ as a free weekly devotional, bible verses and videos that prompts us to spend time in His word. It is about each of us encouraging, sharing and studying the word.

Each week this year we have had the opportunity to translate bible study into art- mixed media, a journal, a photograph, or a digital page, poem, music. We have a gallery of examples of how our members interpreted bible study into faithart.

October and November you get the opportunity to join us on the going deeper journey with Rewind! If you are new to HKC and TMD, this is a great opportunity to jump in and spend time in God’s word with us. Each week in October and November, we have condensed the monthly topics from January to September into a weekly devotion, list of all the videos, and questions if you are new or if you have been on the journey with us! For those who have been on the journey with us there are rewind questions for you to spend a little more time on the topic or on a different aspect of the study.

Our prayer continues to be that TMD changes how you approach, engage and apply God’s word in your life and art. At the end of 2015 regardless of how many weeks you participated, you will have created a legacy of your faith walk. This legacy will show you how God has moved in your life! Joining HKC is free and the first step in accessing all the creativity!

Here was my take each week in January for the theme transformation:

February was "Love" and here was my take on that month:

God's Aviary and Festive Soul Food!!

2015-09-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

There are two online classes that I am involved in that are starting this week!!

Festive Soul Food has already begun with lesson 1 starting yesterday!! My lesson will air this Friday (Sept 4). Festive Soul Food is really neat because there are 13 different artists teaching a variety of classes based on any holiday of their choosing!! I chose to create a "Gratitude Journal" that can be made now and when November (Thanksgiving month) rolls around, you will have an artistic journal that you can document what you are thankful for each day. I had a blast making the book and I cannot wait to share the process with people.
Here is a little sneak peak of my project (shhh, I'm not supposed to show you this, so don't say anything to anyone).

Here is a video with a little more information about Festive Soul Food and Mystele talking about a bonus video she made to share in addition to the class. It isn't too late to sign up for this class. It is only $32 (about $2 per lesson...what?). Follow this link to sign up.

The second class starts on Saturday and it is called Faithart 102: God's Aviary. If you are a new Faithartist, or are looking to improve your art techniques, this class is for you! Faithart102: God’s Aviary is designed for beginners to intermediate level skills. You don’t need to have done Faithart101 before taking this class – but do check it out here. Each class can standalone, or be purchased as a bundle - all 5 classes for only $35!

Each class within Faithart102: God’sAviary is a combination of a bible study or research paper and a technique based project. The 5 classes each start from the theme of birds in the Bible and the symbolism and meaning we can discover.

Each standalone class is only $8 with unlimited access and is included in the Faithart102: God’s Aviary bundle for $35.

Each class is by a Foundation Team member.

Here is a video with more information and class samples!!

HKC Take Me Deeper Devotion (August Week 2)

2015-08-13T23:56:00.002-07:00

This month on His Kingdom Come, we are focusing on gratitude in our devotional study called Take Me Deeper. The verse for this week is from Philippians 4:8-9.

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

I like using the main verse of the devotion and picking it a part and see what God says to me (first I pray and ask God to open my heart and give me wisdom to hear what he has to say). Then I use the study method that Anne Graham-Lotz uses which is called the 3 question study method.

Question 1: Facts (write down the facts of each verse)

Question 2: Truths (what are the verses trying to say to the reader/world)

Question 3: Listen to God (What is He saying to me personally)

Anne has a wonderful video explaining this type of study if you would like to view it.

This week’s study I went through each question and when I got to question 3, I just began to write what God was saying to me.

Here is an excerpt of what came to me in my study:

“The word peace is thrown around in this world a lot, but what is peace…real inner peace? Peace is something that I feel everyone in this world truly longs for- a deep and everlasting peace. But I think this kind of peace is typically hard to come by in this fallen world. So people (myself included sometimes) try and fill up that empty hole where peace should reside, with “things,” anything from drugs, alcohol and sex to shopping, careers, and exercise.

It is easy to get wrapped up in these things and lose focus on what really brings peace (or who)…God. He has given us His word to help us know Him…The God of Peace. Jesus is called the “Prince of Peace” so it is easy to conclude that God is all encompassing peace. He has given us His word to help us know Him. If we focus on all things that encompass who God is and live that out, then we will find true and everlasting peace, a peace that surpasses ALL understanding. –Philippians 4:7”

I decided to do a bible journaling page this week with one of my stamps from my new stamp line called “God’s Girls.” There are 4 different sets available on the HKC site store if you would like to check them out.

Also, a reminder that registration has opened up for Festive Soul Food a collaborative workshop that I am part of. This is going to be such a fun class; I am so excited because I am going to teach a class on how to make a Gratitude Journal and I am very proud of how the class turned out. Also, the other teachers in the class are so amazing!! Come join now at Community Thrive!

Festive Soul Food + more!!

2015-07-23T09:53:00.005-07:00

I can't believe how fast summer is going!! Less than a month and my son will be starting school (at a new school nevertheless). So much has been going on and it is sometimes hard to balance, but with a little planning and some help from above, I manage to make my deadlines.

I have been teaching like crazy and now teach 6 classes at The Making Place here in my hometown of Escondido. I teach a Mixed Media class, 3 Art Journal classes and 2 Bible Journal classes. I'm going to possibly teach a Bible Journaling class at my church as well. I never would have thought in a million years that I would be teaching. I was the kid who was terrified to get up in front of the class and give my oral report. I never finished college, but was very close to getting my general AA degree. One of the last classes on my list was speech. I kept putting it off because I was so afraid of speaking in front of people. But I have to say, God makes us able. My prayer before my classes is that I show His love, patience, grace and joy to each of the students I teach.

Here are some pictures of some of my classes:

I have also been busy with His Kingdom Come. We put out "free" amazing devotions every Friday (we call it "Take Me Deeper") and then make art based on those writings. The authors of our devotions have blessed me so much with their wisdom. I don't always get the "art" part done, but I ALWAYS make sure to do the devotion study. It isn't too late to join us, we have new people starting all of the time!

Here are some recent pages from Take Me Deeper:

Last but not least!! I am part of the upcoming collaborative project called "Festive Soul Food." There are 12 teachers that are teaching and they are so amazing and talented. I am humbled to be among them. The really exciting part is we are asked to teach a project based on a holiday or religious event/holiday that has some meaning for us. Since I just did a study on Anne Voskamp's book 1,000 gifts, I knew exactly what I wanted to teach. AND...I get to giveaway a free spot the class!!! So stay tuned for that!

Here is my interview for Festive Soul Food.

Registration opens August 1 and it is only $32.

Free Digital Download!!

2015-07-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

I have been pretty busy working on my new stamp line I have coming out with His Kingdom Come. I have had a dream for awhile to turn my God's Girls into stamps that were large enough to be used in Art Journaling and also Bible Journaling. So all of the drawing, scanning and digital clean up has been done and now it is time to wait. In the meantime, I have created a free digital download of one of my "God's Girls" who didn't make the stamp line cut. Click on the image below to get your freebie. I have listed it on the HKC site, so you will have to become a member to receive it. Becoming a member is easy and free.

His Kingdom Come Stencil Blog Hop!! With Video!

2015-06-20T00:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a very exciting blog hop. Today His Kingdom Come is celebrating the launch of a brand new Faithart stencil & mask line “Praise Him” designed by Diane Marra.

His Kingdom Come has created tools to draw you into God’s presence and lead you deeper into creative living. Faithart tools help us create art with the intention of connecting with God.

His Kingdom Come faithart tools help you exercise the artistic gifts God has bestowed upon each of us. These faithart tools allow you to work together with God to discover the creative, holy and abundant faithart He has placed upon your heart! Join His Kingdom Come in creative expressions of faith!

His Kingdom Come showcases faithart products designed by Christian artists who know and love God and are passionate about sharing their faithart! Our faithart product includes canvas ephemera, stamps, stencils/masks and Thermofax screens.

A team of talented HKC artists have come together to launch these exciting new stencils & masks. This blog hop is your chance to get to see how these artists have used them in their faithart.

It doesn’t matter where you start within the blog hop. Or you can start at the beginning at His Kingdom Come. Each blog has the complete list of participants.

As you visit each blog you will be given a letter eg. D. When you have collected all the letters they will make a word. When you have worked out the word email Bernice with the word. We will randomly choose 4 people who have the correct answer to win a free stencil of their choice. All entries must arrive by Noon (Pacific time) on Tuesday 23rd June.

The letter to collect from my blog is: R

How I used the “Glory Be To God” stencil/mask

I used the Stencil's "negative" image in my Bible Journal.

I used the Stencil's "Mask" in my art journal.

Click here to view these products in the His Kingdom Come Store.

Gifts all around us!!

2015-05-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

We just finished up a pretty heavy women's bible study at my church so we decided to do a simple one for the next 5 weeks. My bible study leader (the Pastor's Wife) chose 1,000 gifts by Ann Voskamp. In a nutshell, this study is challenging me to look at my life and the things around me as gifts from God. The little things, like the birds chirping outside the window of my art room, morning coffee, stories from friends that make me smile and my son's laugh. So often we get caught up in the busyness of life; rushing from here to there, deadlines, baseball games and much more. Negative things happen and we focus on those things (I know I do) and let them get to us. But for every 1,000 fears and negatives in our life, there are 1,000 gifts that God has for us...if we just take the time to look around and notice them.

I have decided to start a gratitude journal and list the things I am grateful, and thankful for. I'm not really looking to write 1,000, I am going to just write down as much as I can for as long as I can. Here is a list of my first 20:

Forgiveness on a daily basis
Godly women in my life
A family who loves me
A healthy son
A giving husband
A nice home to call my own
Talents God has given to me
A beautiful city to live (San Diego)
the ability to see
the ability to hear
the ability to think for myself
Freedom
A quiet house
Time to myself
The ability to share myself with others online (HKC)
The breeze that is coming through my back door right now, refreshing my lungs and skin
Transportation of my own.
A mother that I share a strong bond
Morning Coffee
My Bible

What are you grateful for? Do you keep a gratitude journal? Have you read this book or done the bible study?

Also, my last post was about my new coloring book download. This is so fun and I'm glad that I can create something that may help others. Coloring books are not just for kids; many adults find coloring a way to escape and to calm their anxieties. My Pastor's wife recently confessed to me that she often buys children's coloring books and has completed many of them. I remember as a teenager, my step-dad and I would sit on the floor in the living room and just color; it was a bonding experience for us.

I have a bigger vision for these "books." I would love to be able to help people in nursing homes, hospitals etc. by providing them a way to escape their troubles for just a moment; all the while giving them a message of peace and hope through God's word.

If you are interested in buying my very first coloring book, here is a link for you (only $6). I have also created a mini-class that gives you some ideas on how to color your book (colored pencils & Gamsol, and watercolor). I also show you a way to create a note card for someone. This class is $12 and includes the coloring book download. The link for the class is here.

Peace & Blessings!

Shonna

Introducing...God's Girls..The Coloring Book!!!

2015-05-07T11:22:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited to finally release my very first coloring book PDF download!!! God's Girls Volume 1!! The coloring book PDF includes 6 pages (including the cover) for you to color along with Bible verses with the themes "Joy, Hope, Love, Faith and Peace." The PDF download is only $6 but... I decided to create a class that includes the download for only $12.

Adult Coloring Books are the rage now! And wonderful news is that you can deepen your faith walk and color at the same time! I have created a technique class to demonstrate a variety of ways you can color in your “God’s Girls Coloring Book.” You will learn how to color with colored pencils and Gamsol (a great solvent that helps blend your colored pencils) as well as using watercolors (tubes, pans, etc.)You will also learn how to print the book on different types of paper for different uses and I show you how to make a card to give to your friends too! A great bargain for the coloring book and technique class!

Sign up today at www.his-kingdom-come.com

Class is self paced and starts tomorrow (May 8, 2015)

Thankful Thursday!!

2015-04-30T00:13:00.000-07:00

1. I am thankful for Mary Brack urging me to draw more diverse girls. I took her "urging" into consideration and painted her beautiful god granddaughter!! I love the way she turned out!

2. I just have to say it....I am thankful for coffee!

3. The Lord and how he speaks to me through His word and His people (this happened a lot to me this week...and I needed to hear his voice).

4. Where I live. San Diego is the best city in the world (IMHO).

5. Last but not least...I am thankful that my mom's surgery went well and she will no longer experience pain associated with gall stones.

What are you thankful for this week?

I am also auctioning off a painting along with Mystele Kirkeeng for the Water Project. Click on the link here to find out more information about this amazing project. The auction is being held right now on my Facebook page (click on the link to make your bid).

Here is the painting I am auctioning...

Thankful Thursday!!

2015-04-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

Thankful Thursdays is a new meme from His Kingdom Come.

Each Thursday I will list 5 things I am thankful for from the previous week. So here goes!

I am thankful that God has put these 4 wonderful women in my life and that we have the same vision for His Kingdom Come!

2. That I got home safely from Florida (I'm not a good flyer).

3. My son and his baseball team for finally winning a game after weeks and weeks of losing. They all have had such an amazing attitude and have never let "losing" get them down one bit!! They are a wonderful group of boys!!

4. The amazing group of women in my Bible Study!! I couldn't ask for a more Godly group of women around me who are always willing to pray for me, encourage me and allow me to share my struggles openly with absolutely no judgement.

5. My daughter who continues to impress me with her strength, beauty and resolve!!

Come and join us at His Kingdom Come for free faithart projects and community with other amazing people!!

Peace and Blessings,

Shonna

Sunday Mornings 2...I'm a guest Artist!!

2015-04-08T00:36:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to announce that I will be a guest artist in the new online Faithart Journal class, "Sunday Mornings 2" with Mixed Media artist Mindy Lacefield.

Last year, I took Mindy's first class "Sunday Mornings" and God really used the class to speak to me. I had been lukewarm in my walk with Him for some time and He was pursuing me to put my faith and art into action for Him. Mindy's class really brought me closer to God and helped me to completely surrender my life to him once and for all. Soon after the class was over, I felt God calling me to offer my own online faith journaling class, "Kingdom Come" (available here). My class "Kingdom Come" prompted Diane Marra to get in touch with me about being part of a group of Christian women who wanted to start a Faith Based Art Community. That started my journey with His Kingdom Come and being part of the wonderful Foundation Team!! Isn't it great how God works in our lives??

When I found out that Mindy was offering "Sunday Mornings 2," and was looking for a few guest artists, I had to contact her. Mindy was already aware of how her first class affected my life and I'm happy to say she was extremely excited to have me teach a lesson in her course. I highly recommend this class. Mindy has a very unique style that is loose, intuitive and playful. She really has a way of helping students loosen up and get in touch with how to have fun with art (like we did in childhood).

To learn more about how to sign up for the class (and to view my artist profile), visit this link (Early Bird special is $19 if you sign up before April 20).

Peace and Blessings

New Online Class...Faithart 101!

2015-02-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

On Saturday February 28^th, His Kingdom Come is launching its first collaborative class prepared by the 5 members of the Foundation Team. Faithart 101 has been developed for beginners to Faith Journaling. The 5 classes cover basic journaling information, how to translate scripture into art, the basics of drawing people, using scrapbooking techniques and mixed media techniques.

Each of the 5 classes can be purchased individually or all 5 can be bought together with a discount. The individual classes are $8 each but you can buy all 5 together for $35. PayPal will sort out the currency for you if you live outside the United States. Once you have purchased your classes and have been added to the class site you can work through the classes at your own pace. You will have unlimited access to the classes you have purchased.

The Foundation Team consists of Bernice, Mary, Shonna, Merri and Diane and each day this week you can find out more about each of us on our personal blogs. We will also tell you about the class we are teaching as part of Faithart 101.

Bernice at Newly Creative on Sunday 22^nd Feb.

Mary at Me, With My Head in the Clouds on Monday 23^rd Feb.

Shonna at Twisted Figures on Tuesday 24^th Feb.

Merri at Connecting Faith and Creativity on Wednesday 25^th Feb.

Diane at Adore Him Creations on Thursday 26^th Feb.

My class is "God's Girls." In this class I will go over a simple 3 question Bible Study (created by Anne Graham-Lotz) and how I create a faithart journal page based on that study. Part of the faithart journal pages will incorporate step by step instructions on how I draw a simple girl (PDF included) and then watercolor her. We will finish the page with some doodling and lettering.

Let me tell you a bit about myself:

I live in San Diego, Ca. I have been married for 14 years (Dan) and have two children Reeana (my stepdaughter) who is 21 and in college to become a Sonographer and my son Jordan who is 9. I became a Christian when I was 18 when a group of friends took me to church. I remember we were studying the book of Revelations and after about a month of going, it was like my eyes were opened and it all started to make sense. I have had some ups and downs in my walk with the Lord. But he has always been relentless, patient and faithful in his pursuit of my soul. In the past year I have re-dedicated my life to him and he is working through me for His glory every day.

How does your faith impact your creativity? I can only create things that mean something to me, so my faith always seems to show up in one capacity or another (even when I wasn't walking closely with Him). This is how I know that even when I was far away, he was always near.

What is your preferred medium of creativity? Mixed Media/Watercolor/Stylized Portraits

What appeals to you about this? (Mixed Media):I get bored very easily and with mixed media there is always something new and different you can play around with. (Watercolor): Lately I have fallen in love with watercolor. I love how unpredictable it is and I really feel the results are just beautiful. (Stylized Portraits): Drawing portraits is my first love! In 2007 when I picked up a paintbrush for the first time, it was because of a portrait of a girl, I saw online. The artist was Emily Martin of The Black Apple. I just loved her style and was intrigued on how to draw girls the way she did, so off I went on my journey to learn all I could.

The work of Emily Martin:

Who is your favorite person in the Bible and why? Of course Jesus is my favorite person in the Bible, he is the one I love most but if I had to pick someone else, I would have to say Paul. Who doesn't totally love Paul's story! A man who was dead set on persecuting Christians and then ended up becoming the one who wrote most of the New Testament. What a conversion story! Paul, in his love for God, went through so much to spread the Gospel and encourage churches through his letters. The persecutor became the persecuted, but Paul never wavered one bit. His encounter with Jesus was so powerful, he lived and died to tell others of that power. Yes, definitely Paul.

What Bible verse do you regularly rely on? Lately, it is Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." My Logos365 is "Trust" so I have been meditating on that word for months now. I have created a few faithart pages that reflect that verse.

Join us on February 28th in taking Faithart101 at His Kingdom Come and learn more about Faithjournaling. If you are not already a member of the His Kingdom Come community then please sign up. You can purchase the class or classes today.

Individual Classes are $8 each.
Full 5 Class Bundle is $35

Here is a little promo video showing my portion of the class!! All of the classes are going to be excellent and I highly suggest purchasing the bundle (it is a great deal at only $35).

Check out Merri's blog post at Connecting Faith & Creativity on Wednesday, February 25th.

Peace and Blessings,

Shonna

Continuing with the Theme of Love!!

2015-02-19T20:40:00.001-08:00

The TMD verse this week is from John 13:34-35

I used watercolors (which I have totally been into lately) for most of the piece. The clouds and church door are acrylics. I used charcoal and a blending stump to shade everything and an Ultra-thin Sharpie to write the verse.

Peace and Blessings,