I made this two sided blessing after our book club a week or so ago. We're going through Beth Moore's book on Esther. And it was about taking courage. I didn't realize that the most frequent command in the Bible is "Don't be afraid." I got this symbolic picture in my mind of us as vessels and pouring out all our fear rooted junk, letting go. And then turning it over for God to fill with His loving presence and goodness. 

"This is my command - be strong and courageous! 

Do not be afraid or discouraged. 

For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9

"Use me, my Savior, 

for whatever purpose and in what way you require.

 Here is my poor heart, an empty vessel: fill it with your grace. 

Here is my sinful and troubled soul: 

bring it to life and refresh it with your love."

~ D.L. Moody

Here are some the steps I took to make this visual blessing:

1. Find, tear out a dictionary page and glue it onto a piece of watercolor paper using "Yes" glue, spreading it with a used plastic gift card. Then I brushed a coat of acrylic medium on top.

2. Next I Painted an uneven wash of Titan Buff Golden Acrylic fluid paint.

3. Then I drew my basic image with a pencil and then wrote the letters with a pitt pen.

4. I continued to paint, adding colors phthalo turquoise, quinacridone crimson and nickel azo gold, and bone black, and wrote more words until I filled the area.

Here is a step for the "Take Courage" side. The steps were basically the same as above, except I used a gold pen and white gel pen for the letters.

All images & text (except quoted) ©

Valerie Sjodin

2010.