WITNESSING MIRACLES 101
How Do We Gain a Glimpse of Heaven?
Faith is important, because you must first believe that heaven exists . . . and that it's available to you.
The best way to experience this is to adopt a state of heart, mind, and lifestyle that encourages the presence of the Holy Spirit.
But, how?
I wrote a list of the habits I developed during my 'spiritual journey,' and you may find them helpful in beginning your own. Each one added its own unique blessing to my life.
1. Take time to spend with the Lord each day, starting the day in prayer and Bible study and ending the day in prayer.
2. Take time during the day to meditate and apply the Word of God to various aspects and challenges in your personal life.
3. Keep a journal and make notes in church about the messages and the Scriptures that were shared so you can study them later. Then, add your own notes from your Bible study and prayer time.
4. Stay focused on loving feelings and avoid angry or hateful thoughts.
5. Find creative ways to worship, honor and celebrate God's love, especially within the creative arts, literature, music or motion picture.
6. Commit to seeking and accepting God's will for your life.
7. Be open and willing to change.
8. Share your journey and experiences with others.
9. Believe the messages in the Bible and know that they are for You.
10. Enjoy and be thankful for the miracles that follow.
When A Tragic Loss Occurs
First . . . Handling Unspeakable Grief
Step 1 - Run to God
When I was trying to harness the unbearable grief of losing my two partners, I turned to the Bible and spent countless hours praying and trying to find answers.
Why had these tragedies happened?
The Lord revealed many amazing things, providing remarkable insights and 'secrets' in the Bible that I never expected to learn.
Be receptive to what he shows you and ask for wisdom to help you understand it.
Early Response to Grief and Shock
Step 2 - Painting Away Your Pain
Then, I turned to an old habit I'd used before . . . the paintbrush. When the world looks bleak and you feel like you've lost everything, there's nothing more comforting than creating something beautiful!
I played wonderful Christian music and started working on projects to help, not only myself, but others who were experiencing difficult challenges. I attended Art & Healing Symposiums and researched the subject and found that there was a great deal of evidence supporting the link between art and healing. I began to incorporate the idea for use in ministry work, as it seemed like the ideal therapy for recovering addicts.
Surviving The First Year . . .
Step 3 - The Search for Miracles
I began to reach out to people who offered testimonies of miracles because I needed to hear and share them. I knew that my fiance had longed to experience a miracle in his life, and knew first hand about the power of inspiration. Although my writing partner and I had formed a production company shortly before her death, I decided to form a new company to develop inspirational books, films and documentaries. I began to research and work on a documentary about miracles. To view some of the testimonies that touched my heart and prompted me establish a 24-hour source of hope, visit: www.miraclesandangels.org
To learn more about RisingStar31 Production Company visit: www.risingstar31.com
Be Passionate About Reaching for Christ
Step 4 - Make Him Your #1 Priority
The greatest miracle was in witnessing the many ways in which God confirmed his presence in my life. Be receptive, and be willing to see life a new way, while always seeking confirmation of it in the Word of God.
Reach Out to Others Who're Suffering
Step 5 - Experience Healing Through Serving and Sharing
Seeking and giving support to others benefits everyone who's involved, and it enriches our lives. The love and faith we share with others comes back to us in a multitude of ways: new friendships, new insights into our lives, and a strengthened faith which grows stronger from the testimony of others.
Then, I turned to an old habit I'd used before . . . the paintbrush. When the world looks bleak and you feel like you've lost everything, there's nothing more comforting than creating something beautiful!
I played wonderful Christian music and started working on projects to help, not only myself, but others who were experiencing difficult challenges. I attended Art & Healing Symposiums and researched the subject and found that there was a great deal of evidence supporting the link between art and healing. I began to incorporate the idea for use in ministry work, as it seemed like the ideal therapy for recovering addicts.
Surviving The First Year . . .
Step 3 - The Search for Miracles
I began to reach out to people who offered testimonies of miracles because I needed to hear and share them. I knew that my fiance had longed to experience a miracle in his life, and knew first hand about the power of inspiration. Although my writing partner and I had formed a production company shortly before her death, I decided to form a new company to develop inspirational books, films and documentaries. I began to research and work on a documentary about miracles. To view some of the testimonies that touched my heart and prompted me establish a 24-hour source of hope, visit: www.miraclesandangels.org
To learn more about RisingStar31 Production Company visit: www.risingstar31.com
Be Passionate About Reaching for Christ
Step 4 - Make Him Your #1 Priority
The greatest miracle was in witnessing the many ways in which God confirmed his presence in my life. Be receptive, and be willing to see life a new way, while always seeking confirmation of it in the Word of God.
Reach Out to Others Who're Suffering
Step 5 - Experience Healing Through Serving and Sharing
Seeking and giving support to others benefits everyone who's involved, and it enriches our lives. The love and faith we share with others comes back to us in a multitude of ways: new friendships, new insights into our lives, and a strengthened faith which grows stronger from the testimony of others.
Art Therapy
A Sample: Wearable Art Project
Arts & Healing: Experiencing God's Miracles from Within
After experiencing a life-changing tragedy, starting over can be painful, especially when one has experienced a great deal of loss.
God can heal all forms of brokenness. He's given each one of us a special purpose, and the skills and gifts to accomplish them.
Miracles Abound in the Season of Giving
Hand-painted Wearable Art by RisingStar
I was blessed to have the opportunity to participate in the 2010 Christmas fundraising banquet and silent auction held for Loving Hands, a Christian Recovery Ministry based in Florida.
When You Create Art with Loving Thoughts . . . God is Near!
Art Begins...in the Center of the Heart.
Here's a Wearable Art Project You can Wear!
Wearable Art - Display
Step #1
Begin with a paint-brush and two beads.
Steps # 2
After using some exciting paint colors and a coating or two of gloss, select jewelry findings . . .
Step #3
Arrange all of the components to complete a wonderful earring set.