Penguins???

It's Penguin Season at Everyday Gratitude... 

   

Original piece is available here.

 "I love the challenge of not putting in the details that I do in my drawings by creating these little guys in abstract. Getting the impression of the penguins and resisting the urge to detail it out goes against my detailed mind, but I enjoy it." joy 

     This original piece is part of a series of 11 or 12 pieces that Joy Is creating for a series prints to be included in a series of napkin fold greeting cards. 

     The proceeds from this painting go 100% toward Joy's missions work in Asia and the "Empowering Children Today" Children's ministry materials. 

     Penguin Special One is 5 1/2" by 5 1/5". Is is one of a series of 11 or 12 in the creation process. Acrylics (picaso acrylic color) on Canson Watercolor paper, 300g/m2 (140lbs), cold pressed. 

Empower Me! Survey of the Bible Introduction

This blog was created with the goal of sharing the creation process for Empowering Children Today Children's Ministry materials. Keep in mind, the materials you see here have not been edited and are subject to change before the completion of the project.

In the near future, Empowering Children Today will have it's own website with materials available for everyone, including the core curriculum lessons as free printable downloads in pdf format.

The English version might also be in published form for those who to prefer to purchase the books on paper, or in digital forms for iPads, etc. (we are looking into the various options at this time).  The main objective of the creation of the materials is to Spread the Gospel Message in Asia.  These materials will be adapted and translated into the local language and culture of the people in which it is designed.

Here is a sample of the Empower Me! Survey of the Bible Curriculum Introduction etc.  

Empower Me!  Survey of the Bible  (rough draft only and subject to change)

Sample format for each book of the bible curriculum

Pg  1:  Credits (thanksgiving) (this part is a work in process)

a.       God for the vision and the ability and all provision from creation to completion of the project

b.      Special people who gave into life to get me to this point

c.       Other creators who joined in the vision of the creation of Empowering Children Today, artists, writers, editors, marketers, etc,,,,etc (get bios from each)

d.      Adaptation and translation teams in Asia

(note be sure to include references and credits for all artwork and photos in the books).

e.      Statement of rights for the copy rights.

Pg  2:   Table of Contents (each book of the bible will be a stand alone unit:  For example this could be TABLE OF CONTENTS for Empower Me!  Genesis, or Empower Me! Exodus...and so on)

a.        Introduction

b.      Title of lesson within this book and each lesson to follow…..

c.       ….

d.      ….

e.      …

Pg ?:  Appendix

Overview of Reading and links for view online, also links for purchase of books

The Art of Story Telling insert

Ideas for how to use this curriculum in both house churches with multi-age groups of children   and large churches with classrooms/ also ideas for homeschooling units inserts

Resources and Inspiratoin

Biographies of those involved in the project

***********************************************************

Sample Introduction to the Curriculum 
(rough draft only and subject to change)

Empower Me! A Survey thru the Bible features easy to follow and complete weekly lesson plans.  The lesson plans are designed accommodate busy teachers/volunteers and students so they may simply provide a balanced, doable, and enjoyable approach to reading through the bible. 

The Basics

Each unit in Empower Me! Survey of the Bible (book of the bible) focuses on gaining knowledge of the bible as a whole at each age level presented:  ages 3-5, ages 6-8, ages 9-11, ages 12-14, and ages 15-17.  Every unit is an independent book and contains at least one book of the bible providing focused study.

      Storytime (younger students)/Messages (youth)

      Story-time sessions for the younger students, preaching/teaching sessions for   

      the older students, bring excitement and a desire to dig deeper and read further. 

The bible story books and bible story cards are created to be printed for the children to take home with them.  They can read the Bible Stories every night with their parents all week, encouraging family fellowship.  Each book of the Bible can be purchased or printed as needed for the older students to take home are read through-out the week also. 

Journal Activities

Students are encouraged to not only gain knowledge, but also draw upon what they are gaining for application in their daily living as they “Journal through the Bible”.  Each week class opens with a two-page spread journal activity from the previous week.  Students journal as they reflect on the Bible Stories/Bible reading they given to take home throughout the week.  The journal activities are designed to aid and bring about thought-provoking revelation from within their reading of the Bible Stories/Bible.  Students are free to express this revelation in writing, artwork, or mixed media means within the pages of their journals. 

Got Scripture? (details not finished yet)

( to meditate on the Word of God and beginning to memorize scriptures and passages ……. God’s word in our hearts… “it is the the Word that we know…”  The verses selected contain ….  )   Each student (in class) will write and/or illustrate the memory verses in their journals. 

Simply Prayer (details not finished yet)

      (How to pray short lessons, and also application of prayer through use of “Operation         World” prayer calendar and materials.)

        Project/Craft/Skit or Drama/ Games (details not finished yet)

        (each unit contains easy to implement projects or crafts, some units will include a skit         or drama or games rather than a project or craft)

Easy, Flexible, and Enjoyable to use

Empower Me! Survey of the Bible is flexible, in that it may be customized to suit the needs of every children’s ministry:  adapted for mid-week services only, a full-weekly plan, or even used as 1-2 hour daily biblical teaching in a home-school setting.  The activities require very little planning and preparation.  Art and writing, in both journals and other activities encourage the students to reflect and draw from each lesson in a meaningful, yet practical way.  

Leadership, empowerment, encouragement, vision, values....

As I am working on putting together the lesson plans for the book of Leviticus, I have prayed through some of the details of "Empowering Children Today". 

Below is a general plan to share with you the direction Empowering Children Today is heading.  

We have played around with several titles for the core curriculum, and have finally found a name that agrees with the mission and vision of Empowering Children Today. 

Empower Me!

Hearing the Word of God is what builds faith.  Knowledge of the Word and who we are in Him transform lives by giving boldness, authority, and power, and a life of abundance in every area to us.  The focus of this project is to empower children the youth through the Word of God.

Empowering Children Today

THE PLAN

The basic plan for Empowering Children (and Youth) Today covers a well-rounded selection of materials designed to take a small or large church from selecting and Children’s Pastor/Leader to a fully functional Children’s and/or Youth ministry. 

Materials in the making and in future plans:

·         Senior Pastor’s guide to choosing a Children’s pastor/leader & how to start a children’s/youth ministry in your church.

·         Teacher/Volunteer Orientation Training & ongoing training modules

·         Core Curriculum:  Empower Me:  Survey of the Bible OT

      Empower Me:  Survey of the Bible NT

·         Other Core:  curriculum to offer at a much later date will cover topics such as Men and Women of the Bible, Topical Bible Studies, Word Studies, and more.

·         Children’s bible story books in three sets:  Ages 3-5, Ages 6-8, Ages 9-11

·         Youth Bibles:  Ages 12-14, Ages 15-17

·         Journals designed for each age group and each core curriculum. 

·         Accompanying materials that will follow the lessons in the core curriculum in the future may include:

ü  A book of messages for youth that follow each lesson in core curriculum.

ü  Craft Ideas – The youngest three age groups

ü  Games, skits, and other fun stuff – each age group

ü  How to Journal through the Bible for the two oldest age groups

ü  Book of weekly teacher/volunteer Short pep-talks for the Children’s Pastor/Leader

ü  Daily Encouragment Devotional for the Children (each age group)

The immediate focus is to create the basics of the materials necessary to get a children’s/youth ministry up and running.

ü  The Senior Pastor’s guide to choosing a Children’s pastor/leader & how to start a children’s/youth ministry in your church.

ü  Teacher/Volunteer Orientation Training

ü  Core Curriculum:  Empower Me:  Survey of the Bible OT

                                    Empower Me:  Survey of the Bible NT

ü  Children’s bible story books in three sets:  Ages 3-5, Ages 6-8, Ages 9-11

ü  Youth Bibles:  Ages 12-14, Ages 15-17

ü  Journals designed for each age group and each core curriculum.

Rules and Regulations??? What???

Leviticus... Rules and Regulations do not appeal to children.

It has been a challenging week, physically and in putting together the core curriculum.

No, I am not frazzled, but I could not resist the picture... it was too cute.

Leviticus is a book full of how to's according to the law... rules and regulations for the Isrealites to live life God's way at the time.  

These laws point us to Jesus.  Through all these laws the we discover that we are unable to live a sinless life.  Enter Jesus.  He paid the price, our debt, so that we can live a redeemed life as a child of God.  

As inspiration hits, I have an art journal with me at all
times for this project.  I use it to record raw ideas for the
accompanying materials illustrations and content.  

My challenge is to make all this appealing to children who tend to be 'rules and regulations' adverse.  I have created the basic lesson plan for Leviticus, but it may change as I create the artwork and things that go into the accompanying journals, children's bible stories, and preteen-teen bibles.  

As I create the artwork in the near future for the above accompanying materials and more, I am going to make the original works available on a website to raise money for this project and missions in Asia.  

The Art by Joy Neasley website is up and running.  The site will contain only original artwork, and is designed for all the artwork associated with Empowering Children Today and sales (or even auctions) to raise funds for the completion of the project.

Hello... Call Me...

Yes.. It really is that easy... Call Him.

Left:  Jer. 33:3 during prayer and worship time
Right:  Preparing a lesson for the upcoming
 "Empowering Children Today" Children's Ministry Materials.

During my personal worship and prayer time this morning, I began to think upon Jeremiah 33:3.  It is so simple.  Most of us do not realize how easy it is to talk to God.  

It is as simple as talking on the phone with your family and friends.  

God tells us to "call to Me and I will show you great and might things which you do now know," in the above scripture passage.  (NKJV)  He wants to show us more of who we are in Christ Jesus, and all it requires is that we call Him...  prayer and worship mixed with thanksgiving is a recipe for creating more of Him and less of us.  

Of course, we must read and know what God is telling us.  We do this by reading and meditating on His Word, the bible.  He talks to us through it.  As we read it, we find out how alive and transforming the Word, the Bible, really is.  Enjoy a scripture today, and add to the recipe a little time to talk to God in the process.  It always seems to add a little spring in my step when I do this.  Have fun.

Hello, call me please.

Left:  Jer. 33:3 during prayer and worship time
Right:  Preparing a lesson for the upcoming
 "Empowering Children Today" Children's Ministry Materials.

During my personal worship and prayer time this morning, I began to think upon Jeremiah 33:3.  It is so simple.  Most of us do not realize how easy it is to talk to God.  

It is as simple as talking on the phone with your family and friends.  

God tells us to "call to Me and I will show you great and might things which you do now know," in the above scripture passage.  (NKJV)  He wants to show us more of who we are in Christ Jesus, and all it requires is that we call Him...  prayer and worship mixed with thanksgiving is a recipe for creating more of Him and less of us.  

Of course, we must read and know what God is telling us.  We do this by reading and meditating on His Word, the bible.  He talks to us through it.  As we read it, we find out how alive and transforming the Word, the Bible, really is.  Enjoy a scripture today, and add to the recipe a little time to talk to God in the process.  It always seems to add a little spring in my step when I do this.  Have fun.

Hello.... Call me.

During my personal worship and prayer time this morning, I began to think upon Jeremiah 33:3.  It is so simple.  Most of us do not realize how easy it is to talk to God.  

It is as simple as talking on the phone with your family and friends.  

God tells us to "call to Me and I will show you great and might things which you do now know," in the above scripture passage.  (NKJV)  He wants to show us more of who we are in Christ Jesus, and all it requires is that we call Him...  prayer and worship mixed with thanksgiving is a recipe for creating more of Him and less of us.  

Of course, we must read and know what God is telling us.  We do this by reading and meditating on His Word, the bible.  He talks to us through it.  As we read it, we find out how alive and transforming the Word, the Bible, really is.  Enjoy a scripture today, and add to the recipe a little time to talk to God in the process.  It always seems to add a little spring in my step when I do this.  Have fun.

Urgent Prayer Request...

A very important young lady to this ministry needs our prayers.  Her mother has possibly had a stroke. I can update you on the details of exactly what the doctor says it is when we get them.  But, there is not time to wait.  Pray for her please.  I cannot use her name on the blog because she is one of the local people in this country and security is an issue.

Joy's Prayer Journal...

What have I been up to lately?  Among many other things, my prayer journal.  Of course, there are many pages that I just can share do to privacy issues for those whom I pray, but this will give you an idea of what the others look like too.

Some people sing and pray, others add a little dance in there.  Some write a full journal account of their prayer times.  I draw and pray.  Why?  I am a visual person.  I see in pictures.  When I am praying for someone, I may or may not list their names and the prayer request.  I do, however, usually apply a scripture to the prayer for them, and allow God to enlighten me with eyes of understanding into their situation to pray even further.  My prayer journal includes artwork and scriptures that I pray, and sometimes images of what I see (Other times just images to help me remember or that goes along with the directionof the prayers).

My prayer journal was purchased at Starbucks.  It is difficult to find good western-style journals in Asia like I am use to in the USA.  I saw this one while I was sitting in a Starbucks and purchased it.  I actually like it, but for watercolor and some other mixed media, it is best to glue two pages together to provide the right thickness, preventing color leaking to the back side of the pages.

I did not like the white pages just inside the cover though, so I did what any artist would do, create pages that I did like.

In the images on these two pages, I was praying for the ministry future, and remembering the past four years here.  It has truly been an amazing time here.  It is always good to be in the right place at the right time according to God's plan.

The Pastor recently quoted from the movie "Field of Dreams", "Build it and they will come."  We built it, and they still continue to come.  Hallelujah!



While praying, I realized that I should draw each year we have been in operation here.  This is 2013 and soon to be 2014....work in progress...neither page is finished yet.

2013 was coined early on as "The Year of Increase."  The church body learned throughout the year what God's Word says about Increase.  This include why we are to increase:  in short,  "We are blessed to be a blessing."

I still need to work on the top of 2013 and the right side of 2014.  I will let you in on this year's Word for the church here in 2014 soon.  I also will go back and add color to the pages.  And, I need to create 2011 and 2012 pages.

This is a reflection of my listening to videos the past few weeks from Kenneth E. Hagin preaching.  The topic of FAITH is in everything he said, did, and preached.  There are so many aspects to learn about faith.  This is the reason for the puzzle pieces on the image.  The silloutte is "walking by faith, not by sight."



Do you journal your prayers, dreams, visions, scriptures, or study of God's Word?  I would love to be inspired by your journal.  

Debt, Vessels, Oil, and Thanksgiving

I am still awake, so I decided to spend time in prayer for two of this past week's prayer requests from local friends.  I am sharing my prayer journal with you tonight.  

Here is what I often end up doing when I pray, read and meditate on the Word, and pray the Word.  I draw, doodle, what ever you may want to call it.  The page with the many scriptures about prayer I showed you yesterday.  However, the page on the left begins the session tonight.  

These two drawings are a result of prayer for the first prayer request.   They are based on a few illustrations I have seen before and stuck with me.  They went well with the verses, and I pray out the Word while I am drawing the images.  

If debt is an issue for you, review the bible account in 2 Kings 4:1-7 that tells about the woman with two sons and the debt collector coming to take her sons.  

At the same time, do not forget or get too busy to tell God, "Thank you" today.  Read Psalm 92:1-2.  

Debt, Vessels, Oil, and Thanksgiving

I am still awake, so I decided to spend time in prayer for two of this past week's prayer requests from local friends.  I am sharing my prayer journal with you tonight.  

Here is what I often end up doing when I pray, read and meditate on the Word, and pray the Word.  I draw, doodle, what ever you may want to call it.  The page with the many scriptures about prayer I showed you yesterday.  However, the page on the left begins the session tonight.  

These two drawings are a result of prayer for the first prayer request.   They are based on a few illustrations I have seen before and stuck with me.  They went well with the verses, and I pray out the Word while I am drawing the images.  

If debt is an issue for you, review the bible account in 2 Kings 4:1-7 that tells about the woman with two sons and the debt collector coming to take her sons.  

At the same time, do not forget or get too busy to tell God, "Thank you" today.  Read Psalm 92:1-2.  

Sneak Peek Continued... Got Scripture? Genesis

A few days ago, I released a sneak peek at the reading schedule (the first part of the curriculum) for The book of Genesis.  Six weeks of creation, floods, plagues, birthrights, and much more.  The resource information for the younger age group's printable bible stories were made available to you also.

Today, I want to share with you another tidbit of what the curriculum includes.  Got Scripture?

I encourage the children to keep a jar, jug, etc at home for their 'Got Scripture?' Memory verses.  Each child gets a jar, after they have successfully learned the scripture, let them place it in the jar.  During "Family Fellowship" time at home throughout the week, the children can pull out a verse (without looking) and see if they and the parent still remember it.

Here is your sneak peek for today.  I will continue to release portions of Genesis over the next week to give you an idea of the curriculum, bible story books, Children's Bibles, Leadership Training materials, teacher/volunteer staff materials we are creating, adapting, translating, illustrating, and producing in Asia.  The core curriculum, Discovered Treasure: A Survey through the Bible, will be available, free and printable, on an upcoming website for Empowering Children Today.  (Note:  The title is tentative...a work in progress.)

Got Scripture?

The Book of Genesis Memory Verses 

(this version still needs editing and adaptation/translation into the local language here in Asia)

	Ages 3-5	Ages 6-8	Ages 9-11	Ages 12-14	Ages 14-17
Week 1	Gen 1:1	Gen 1:1	Gen 1:1, Gen 1:27	Gen 1:1, Gen 1:26-28	Gen 1:1, Gen 1:26-28
Week 2	Gen 6:9(b)	Gen 6:9(b), Gen 9:13	Gen 6:9(b), Gen 8:22, Gen 9:13	Gen 6:9(b), Gen 8:22, Gen 9:13	Gen 6:9(b), Gen 8:22, Gen 9:13
Week 3	Gen 15:1 (b)	Gen 15:1 (b), Heb 11:8	Gen 12:2-3, Gen 15:1 (b),Heb 11:8	Gen 12:2-3, Gen 15:1 (b),Heb 11:8	Gen 12:2-3, Gen 15:1 (b),Heb 11:8
Week 4	Prov. 3:5,6	Prov. 3:5,6	Prov. 3:5-6, Gen 22:16b-17a	Prov. 3:5-6, Gen 22:16b-17a	Prov. 3:5-6, Gen 22:16b-17a
Week 5	Gen 26:24 (b)	Gen 26:24 (b), Eph 4:32	Gen 26:24 (b), Eph 4:32, Gen 28:15	Gen 26:24 (b), Eph 4:32, Gen 28:15, Ps 34:18-19	Gen 26:24 (b), Eph 4:32, Gen 28:15, Ps 34:18-19
Week 6	Gen 41:6	Gen 41:6	Gen 41:6, Gen 50:24 (b)	Gen 41:6, Gen 50:24 (b), Gen 45:7	Gen 41:6, Gen 50:24 (b), Gen 45:7