more pics and drawings...

Hello, I have a few more pics for reference photos.  The angels is a definite, and the others are maybes.  I will be canning in a few more drawings this next week also.

This little chinese angel was getting a snack at a park  on my way home a few days ago.  She was too cut e to pass up getting a pic.This will definately be one of the drawings.

Angels - Pt. 3

     This picture below could not have had more perfect timing.  While walking home yesterday, I saw this little girl wearing angel wings.  She was so cute, I could not resist asking her parents to let me take a photo.  I will probably include her in my drawing project for this year, The 110 Faces of China.  It goes very well with today’s question, “Do people become angels when they die?” 

     I have heard others say, “He/she earned her wings today and went to heaven.”, “He/she is in heaven now guarding over you as an angel.”, and He/she will be with you as an angel from heaven.”  While those who made these statements had good intentions in trying to console those who have lost loved ones, this is not what the bible tells us.  Let’s look at Hebrews 12:22-23 first.  Here we see “company of angels” and “the spirits of just men made perfect” are two different groups in heaven.  While in the Old Testament, angels are often referred to as “Sons of God”.  They are never referred to in the Word as “Sons of Man”. 

     In Matt. 22:30 Jesus is answering a question posed by the Sadducees.  Jesus says that “in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”  Notice that is says “as the angels of God in heaven”, not that they are angels.  Heb. 2:5 (Amp.) says, “For it was not the angels that God subjected the habitable world of the future, of which we are speaking.”  Two different groups are mentioned in all these verses.  There are more, and I encourage you to research this for yourself. 

     I think it is fitting here to also point out that angels are not cute little cupid looking babies or children.  No one in the bible is recorded reaching out to tickle or pinch the cheek of a cute little baby angel.  Rather, they always appear as adults.  When they are seen in the Word people are recorded falling on their faces in awe.  We will discuss more on their appearance, and maybe, get into the classes of angels in the next post.  ---joy

Angels - Pt. 2

The study of angels is called “angelology”. In Greek (New Testament), “angelos” means “messenger”. In Hebrew (Old Testament), “mal’akhas” means “messenger”. These are the words in the original text of the bible used for our word “angel”. The word “angel(s)” is mentioned in the Old Testament 108 times. It is also mentioned in the New Testament 165 times. This gives us the opportunity to go to the Word and see what it says about angels. We do not have to guess or imagine who they are, what they are, where they are, why…and so on. We also can see what they are not, who they are not….and so on.
When I ask if someone believes in angels, they usually say yes. However, they tend to treat their existence much like they do God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. They know of them from what they have heard in the world and a little from the bible. They even believe angels exist. But they do not treat them as real. The reality of a heavenly being can be difficult, because most people want to see, feel, touch, smell, and hear for themselves before reality sets in to them. The Word tells us that we are to “walk by faith, not by sight”. 2Co 5:7 KJV. Read in John 20 the story about Thomas who wanted to see with his own eyes rather than believe. Waiting for and seeking after the manifestation of an angel for you to see with your own eyes, is not walking by faith. It is walking by sight. Do angels manifest? Can people really see them? Why do some people see them and others don’t?
Do angels appear? According to the Word, yes. Luke 2:9-15, Mt. 28:2-7, Luke 1:11-20 are a few examples. Heb 13:2 says “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” I like the way the Amplified bible puts it: “ Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood--being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. [Gen. 18:1-8; 19:1-3.]” . My question is: How can one entertain an angel unless he can appear for us to see him?
Why do some people see them and others do not? First, you may have seen an angel and did not know it, just as it says in Heb. 13:2 above. Second, angels are spirit beings and operate in the spirit, for the most part. When they have appeared in God’s Word, there was always a purpose for this appearance. We will discuss why angels exist and their work in a later post.
I want to remind everyone, we are not to worship or idolize angels. Only God is worthy of our worship. (Rev. 19:10). Jesus is the way to the Father (Jn 14:6), and salvation can be found in no one else (Acts. 4:12).
The next several posts to this blog will continue to explore the subject of angels in God’s Word. If you have specific questions about angels, ask them in the comments section of these posts. ---joy

P.S. At the end of the series of posts about angels, I will include references from my research.

Angels

A very good friend’s son (whom I knew and love very much) died last week in a military duty related vehicle crash overseas.  During the process of talking with several friends, supporters, and others back home, the subject of angels arose.  

     Walk into any gift shop, department store, etc, and what do you see?  You will find Cute little figurines, toys, etc of angels.  Often, they are portrayed as little babies or young, cute children with wings and/or halos.  At Christmas time, the holiday section of these same stores carry tree toppers and ornaments of angels ranging from little cupid type baby angels to beautifully dressed and adorned young women. 

     A few of the questions that were raised while talking with those back home were:  What do angels look like?  Do you become an angel when you die?  Do angels take you to heaven when you die? 

     Over the years, I have answered many questions by children, in my care at the time, about angels.  Children can ask the funniest questions:  Do angels eat food?  What color is an angel’s hair?  Do angels have black, brown, or white skin?    Do angels eat with God?  I have learned that most of us, adults, tend to have the same questions, but we dare not ask them for fear of what someone else might think of us.  Angels, often, tend to fall into that category. 

     I will take the next several blog posts, to share with my friends, supporters, others back home, and anyone else who would like to know about angles, the results of my study about angels from the Word of God....the bible.  ---joy 

death of a friend...

Getting ready for bible school and service for today, with no sleep.  I guess one of the hardest things to deal with as an overseas missionary is the death of friends and loved ones.  It is not feasible to always make it back for the funerals and to show support in person.  Yesterday, a good friends son (who grew up with my son) died in a weather related vehicle crash while on duty in the Air Force overseas.  So, today's post is in his memory....Christoffer Johnson.  A wonderful young man, whom I will always remember.  My prayers go out to his family.

Here are two new drawings, with the progress of the third.

This is a drawing of a woman sitting on the steps near the street in Beijing, around the time of the 2008 Olympics.  I am definitely not happy with the drawing and may redraw it later.

I am almost finished with this one, I just need to get her arms and the background.  This is a friend of mine in Guangzhou,whom I enjoy visiting from time to time very much..  She is a teacher in the middle school in Guangzhou.  And, she is also an oil painter, who also enjoys painting murals.

I eat often at a restaurant where this little girl and her sister work with her family.   I think I eat there so much, just because of the girls.  They are very pleasant servers, and always seem to have a smile.  In this drawing, her and her sister had stopped to take a lunch break.

Barbecue Party Went Well

                                  

The barbecue party (Asian Style) went over very well and was a great end to holiday break.  Two of the attendees, though were not enjoying themselves (above), because we were all told not to feed them.  This made for two very sad looking puppies.  Awwwww.

 

 Everyone had a great time!

Yes, dogsitting falls under the category of MISSIONARY ;-)

Add caption

Well, I said I wanted to sleep all day in yesterday's post.  It is the last day of vacation for Chinese New Years.  I ended up dogsitting today (which did enable me to sleep as much as I wanted today).  You never know what being a missionary means from day-to-day.  It is not as glamourous as most people think.

I actually ended up studying (again), Kenneth Hagin's book "Understanding the Anointing", working on a drawing (which I trashed because it came out all wrong, but that is okay, I know what not to do now), and sleeping with two really great old puppies.  Tomorrow is back to work :-). My job tomorrow is to attend a barbeque (we are easing in getting back to work with a Barbeque Party--rough life huh!)  ..what a great job I have !!!  Gotta love my Boss!  God is Good.  ---joy

Dreary past two days...

I needed a pick-me-up from a dreary past two days.  So I got out my camera and took a photo from the balcony of the flat (apartment) that I rent..  The view of the farms and the mountains is beautiful.  To the left (not in the pic) is spanish-style villas.  Great views from my place.  No one would ever know that the people on the otherside of the building get to look at factories and highways.  I was very blessed to get a place on this side.  I love to get up early in the mornings, sit out on the balcony (my flat is on the 18th floor), and draw before I have to get out and about for the day.  Only one more day of vacation left.  I think I am going to sleep ALLLLLL day.

In a day or so, I will be posting three new drawings for The 110 Faces of China Project on the blog.  Today, I posted a few new reference photos that are in consideration for drawing.

Time to get started on that sleeping project for tomorrow.  :-) .  Then, it is back to work, on Thursday.  I actually missed it this past week...ministry work that is.   ---joy

New drawings will be posted soon.

I have three new drawings to post as soon as I can get near a scanner.  Two are finished drawings from below.  I also have a few more reference photos that I may consider using in the near future.

I am really enjoying photographing and drawing the people I am getting to know here.  Most of the time, they like it too.  For those supporters who contributed in January this year (2011), I will be sending out the ATCs for the three drawings from January, when I go to Hong Kong around the 22nd of this month.  It will take about two weeks or so to get to your mailbox, so keep an eye out for them.

Those who would like to contribute can go to the link at World Outreach ministires on the upper right of this blog and they will let me know that you contributed.  All those who contribute for February 2011 will receive free ATCs of the February drawings.  There are three so far, with many more to come this month.

Happy Chinese New Years!!!

Happy Chinese New Years!!!  This is probably the biggest holiday of the year in China, and kicks off the beginning of it.  It actually lasts two weeks, with one week of it where everyone is off work all over China.  Here are a few pics of the fireworks that go on all night tonight  ---JOY

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Valentines is coming up quick! Right on the tail end of Chinese New Years.

Here is the heart of my latest Squidoo lens.  It is a gift to my kids for Valentine's Day.  I decided to share with them my recipe for my Strawberry Confetti Cream Cheese Cake.  Here is a copy and past of the lens.

Happy Valentines to my babies!

I am creating this lens as a valentines gift to my children, Jeremy, Andrew and Cassie. Since I am in Asia at the moment (check out the end of the lens to find out why), I have to get creative to share holidays with my (now adult) children. This lens is to share with them one of their favorite dessert recipes from when they were growing up.

"If you guys make this for Valentine's this year, think of mom. I miss you!"

Recipe Module 

Ingredients

• I Box of Betty Crocker vanilla (not white) cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup of oil
• 1/4 cup of water
• 2 cans Betty Crocker Cream Cheese Icing (not whipped)
• 1 small size box of vanilla pudding
• 1 pint of heavy cream or whipping cream
• 1 tbsp. sugar (two if you prefer)
• 1 quart of fresh strawberries (pick out the med sized best looking ones for thedecoration and set aside
• cut the remainder of them into slices)
• 1/4 cup sprinkles (any color you like)

Instructions

Prepare the cake as directed on the package with two round pans to create two layers. Then, add the pudding mix into the batter. Mix well. Last, carefully fold in the sprinkles into the batter. Cook as directed on the package.

While it is cooking, place a mixing bowl and the beaters to the mixer in the freezer. When the Cake is finished cooking cool as directed on the package. Take the mixing bowl and the beaters out of the freezer, and pour the heavy cream/whipping cream into the bowl. Add one or two tbsp of sugar and beat until thick and peaks form when you lift out the beaters. Do not over mix.

In another bowl, empty the two cans of cream cheese icing. Slowly fold in small amounts of the whipping cream until you reach your preferred taste and consistency. Be careful not to get it two thin, or it will not stay on the sides of the cake.

Now, get the sliced strawberries and the cooled cake. Put a thin layer of the whipped icing on the first cake layer. Then, layer the top of that with sliced strawberries. Add, the second cake layer, Ice this layer with the whipped icing. Use three of the best strawberries and place in the middle on the top. Cut the remainder in half, and place them at the bottom all around the side with the points facing up.

Keep refrigerated. Enjoy. It is delicious and moist.

For a printable version of the recipe go to Mom's Strawberry Cream Cheese Confetti Cake