Description It's funny how the Lord speaks through the most common things in life, isn't it? Jesus made comparisons of precious faith with a tiny, mostly overlooked, grubby mustard seed. In the books of Isaiah and James, the brevity of life here on earth is likened to a vapor that is here for an instant and then gone.Sometimes I get so caught up with the details of life, forgetting that in the long run, very few of these issues are really going to matter. Too often, I find myself getting so focused or carried away with my own desires that everything (or everyone) else has to settle for whatever is left. Other times I find myself overcome by the unexpected inconveniences of the day, a caustic word that is directed my way, or even just how I happen to feel physically or emotionally. Life can seem so frustrating and overwhelming sometimes!One day, as I was crocheting, I noticed there was a little knot at the end of the string connected to yards and yards of yarn rolled up beside it. And it struck me. Our life on earth is just like that little knot. It is a very small portion of the big picture. I could stretch my yarn out across the field beside our home and that knot would be a speck in contrast to the rest of the fiber. And yet, the ball of yarn is just an illustration. How much more lasting is eternity!It occurs to me that I spend much too much time 'sweating the small stuff'. Those things that trigger my reactions, that I feel impatient about, that burden my heart, that cause my life discomfort. They are hard to endure, but they are also fleeting. They are just the fluff on my knot. I want to put my life into perspective. Is what I am worrying about or complaining about really worth it? Is it really going to matter? I want to start appreciating the blessings more, knowing that there is an eternity of joy ahead. And somehow, I want to patiently endure the hardships I face now, confident that next to an eternity surrounded by God's pure love, they are just fleeting.
Jyvonne Inman, Lancaster County, Pa. Member Since March 2008 Artist Statement Jyvonne Inman grew up doodling in the margins of her papers and making simple cartoon figures to teach children in church, but she could never figure out how to draw realistically. Then, in the final months of 2004 she picked up a pencil and a photograph of a cat... and discovered she could create realistic looking pictures, too. Having no formal training, she considers this a gift from God, and has, as time progressed, begun to use her artistic abilities as a means to express those things that are closest to her heart.
As she grew as an artist, Jyvonne decided to start to take her own reference photos. Without any background in photography, she became captivated by the intricacy God had placed in nature and the delicate balances of texture, color,and contrast she began to notice in the everyday scenes around her. Thus, a new avenue of artistic expression was opened up for Jyvonne to pursue.
Jyvonne is currently writing an inspirational book which will feature many of her drawings, paintings, and photographs.