Scripture For Artists and Designers

This morning during my daily Bible reading,  I read this passage in Exodus 35 (NIV version)

 ³⁰ ...“See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel... ³¹ and he (God) has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— ³² to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ³³ to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts... ³⁵ He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designer.

Scriptures like this get me excited when I realize afresh how much God wants us to be successful in the things He's called us to do. If your calling in life is to be an artist, designer, photographer etc, be assured that God has equipped and anointed you to excel in your field.

Here is a way I made this passage more personal to me:

The Lord has chosen me and has filled me with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze (or Photoshop, Gimp, photography etc.) to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. He has filled me with skill to do all kinds of work as an engraver, designer, embroiderer, (photographer, graphic designer etc.) in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—as a skilled worker and designer.

Or more simply:

The Lord has chosen me and has filled me with His Spirit. He has given me wisdom, understanding, knowledge and the skills to make artistic designs for work in (Photoshop, Gimp, photography etc.)   He has filled me with skill to become an outstanding designer (artist, photographer etc.)

Happy creating!

How to Set Goals For Your Life

By Lorene Troyer

If you want to be successful in your life, you will need to know how to set goals for yourself. Setting goals can determine whether your life is mundane and boring (aka as meaningless) or exciting and rewarding. Statistics show that people who write down goals have a much greater success rate (more than 80%) than people who don't and yet only 3% of people write down their life goals and 1% regularly read through them. Can you see how writing down your goals will give you an edge in life? 

If you do not set goals, you will likely let circumstances and other people decide how you spend your time, energy, money and other resources. Setting goals will keep you from drifting aimlessly through life.
One of the reasons why people do not write down what they want to accomplish in life is because they don't know how. Here is a simple way to get started.

Take a few days or even weeks to think about what you really want to achieve in the future. Keep a notepad and paper handy as you go about your day. Maybe as you are getting dressed, you start thinking about how you need to get new clothes for yourself. Make a note of it. As you watch your husband drive to work you wish you had a better marriage. Write it down.

Consider the desires of your heart-God will often lead people through the desires He has placed in their hearts.

Do you want to be able to stay at home with your children? Do you wish you could make a full time living as a graphic designer? Would you like to spend more time helping out at your church? Write it on your notepad.

In a few days you may have several pages of things you want to change or accomplish. Look through them and decide which of the items are really something you want to pursue and get rid of the ones which ones were just passing whims. 
 
Decide which goals you will work on this week, this month, this year and beyond. If you have a larger goal such as creating $500 of passive income a week from your selling designs or photos, you will have to break it down into sub goals, giving each of these goals a deadline as well.

Read through your goals and do something every day that helps you move closer to reaching your most important goals. It may not seem like you are getting much done but as you work on your goals day after day, you will be amazed at how much you accomplish in a year’s time.