J.E. Solinski
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
  • About
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • My Favs!

Happy Thanksgiving!

11/25/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
I am taking this week off to rest, relax, and reflect on all the Thanksgiving holiday means. I hope you are as well. Enjoy your family, friends, and, of course, good food. See you next week.

0 Comments

Scratchboard . . .

11/18/2023

5 Comments

 
Picture
As you probably know by now, I am fascinated by art and in awe of artists — how they can look at a blank canvas, a lump of clay, or a piece of wood and then create something beautiful.

A week ago, I went to the reception for the November North Valley Art League’s exhibit. People attend each month for a variety of reasons: they know the artists; they are the artist; they enjoy local art; there are free hors d’oeuvres. (I hit two of the four.)

Most of the mediums I saw I was familiar with: mixed media, ceramic, mosaic, watercolor, acrylic, photography.

But one was new to me. Scratchboard. I had never seen nor heard of it before and had to talk to one of the artists to understand it. I was fascinated.

Perhaps you are already familiar with this art form, but if you aren’t here is a brief explanation: Scratchboard is a type of engraving where the artist scratches off the dark top layer of ink to reveal the white beneath. From my viewpoint it is extremely intricate with little room for error.

A local artist had one in black and white, but on the other two he had added color and the finished work looked like a photograph. I couldn’t take pictures of this artists, but I have supplied two examples of scratchboard art from the internet. The black and white is from Carrie K. King’s website and the one in color is by Nicolas Delort.

I know I say it again and again, but it is always worth repeating. We are God’s handiwork. He is the master artist, and the Bible reminds us of this:

Isaiah 64:8: We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s handiwork . . .

Philippians 1:6: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion . . .


We have been created in God’s image. We have the ability to imagine and create, and if human artists can create such beauty from the such base beginnings, imagine how much more can God do with our lives if we only let Him.


Picture
5 Comments

The Take Away . . .

11/11/2023

2 Comments

 
Picture
Last week we took a look at Israel and its place in history as God’s people.

Israel was chosen, set apart, so that the world could see how God interacts with His people. What it means to belong to God.

One thing it meant was that they were to live differently than the rest of the world. They were to be obedient to God. If they were, they would be blessed. If they weren’t, they would be disciplined, (though sometimes God extended His mercy in both cases.)

But, as discussed last week, regardless, the promises of God would always be kept.

As Christians, we, too, have become God’s chosen. We, too, belong to God. We, too, are to live differently than the rest of the world. And we, too, can be assured that God will keep every promise He has made to his followers.

This past Sunday at church, we sang “Goodness of God.” It reminded me of this awesome fact: that despite my own rebellion; despite the hurt and pain that we often experience; despite the world seeming to fall apart, God is faithful. This is a song of worship meant to be sung directly to God.

I hope you enjoy it. I hope you sing it.


2 Comments

Israel . . .

11/4/2023

5 Comments

 
Picture
A lot is happening in the Middle East.

Again.

And most of it is focused on Israel.

Again.

Why does such a small country garner so much attention and so many emotions and opinions? Because the Jews are God’s chosen people. The people He chose to be an example to the world of His love, mercy, justice, and faithfulness — and through which He chose to provide salvation to the world.

Just because Israel doesn’t seem to get it sometimes. Just because they stray and rebel and . . . (just like the rest of us), doesn’t mean God reneges on His promises. God NEVER reneges on His promises.

Israel has always been important and always will be important in fulfilling God’s purposes.

For those of you not familiar with the history of the conflicts and claims surrounding Israel, I have provided a link that will give you a brief, but thorough, rundown of both (The Middle East Crisis in Biblical Perspective).

I have also included a site that you can either watch the video or read the accompanying transcript regarding Israel in the End Times. It runs around 5 minutes. (What is Israel's Role in the End Times?)

God is certainly working — as He has always worked — in the world and through Israel.



5 Comments

    Author

    Jody Eileen Solinski spent her career teaching in the California public school system where she enjoyed helping young adults take their place in society. A native Californian, she enjoys the outdoors and so loves living in Northern California where she can enjoy the beauty of God’s creation up close.

    Picture
    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    Categories

    All
    Anger
    Appreciation
    Art
    Attitude
    Balance
    Beauty
    Belief
    Books
    Bravery
    Bullies
    Calm
    Change
    Christian Bloggers
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Cleansing
    Conflict
    Consistency
    Coronavirus
    Costs
    Demands
    Disappointment
    Discontent
    Easter
    End Times
    Evil
    Faith
    Fatigue
    Fear
    Fires
    Focus
    Foolishness
    Forgiveness
    Frustration
    God's Protection
    God's Sovereignty
    God's Timing
    Good Intentions
    Grace
    Grief
    Healing
    Hell
    Holy Spirit
    Hopes
    Hymns
    Hypocrisy
    Ingenuity
    Isolation
    Jesus
    Legacies
    Listening
    Love
    Memories
    Money
    Mornings
    Mothers
    Music
    New Years
    Opportunities
    Order
    Pain
    Patience
    Peace
    Perfection
    Perseverance
    Perspective
    Prayer
    Pressure
    Promises
    Purpose
    Readiness
    Reading
    Reduction
    Refreshed
    Relationship
    Relevance
    Relief
    Remembering
    Renewed
    Reset
    Rest
    Sacrifice
    Salvation
    Science
    Seeing
    Self-Centeredness
    Service
    Sin
    Sleep
    Spiritual Diet
    Spiritual Life
    Storms
    Strength
    Suffering
    Summer
    Talents
    Temptation
    Thanksgiving
    The Bible
    The Tongue
    Troubles
    Trust
    Truth
    Unity
    Water
    Weaknesses
    Wise Counsel
    Worry
    Writing
    Youth

J.E. Solinski ©2015