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!
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.
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.
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 atHis Kingdom Come! FREE weekly devotions, faithart inspirations,
technique videos, faithart classes- combining techniques and bible study! Lots
offaithart 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 foundhere. 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
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.
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!!
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 appointedtime will come.It
islike a man away on a journey, whoupon leaving his house andputting
his slaves in charge, assigningto
each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert.Therefore,be
on the alert—for you do not know when themaster
of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, orwhen
the rooster crows, orin the morning—in case he should come suddenly and find
youasleep.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
