In the summer of 1995 I came totally broken before the Lord and claimed His promise in Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you…plans for a future and a hope." I had been a believer in Jesus Christ most of my life, but had not made much of an effort to follow Him. My life had been charmed for many years, and I had done just fine on my own, or so I thought. As it turned out, my house had been "built on sand," and I soon found myself at a devastating crossroad. The life and home that I had felt so safe and comfortable in were gone forever, leaving me emotionally shattered. The new home I then found myself in, though beautiful, was covered by a black cloud of despair. No, I would find no peace or joy in this house no matter how elegant its décor. "Who would ever take me seriously again?" my confused and hurting soul wondered. 

Feeling no hope for my future, I recalled a time twenty years earlier when I had started to walk with Jesus. Unfortunately, most of the seeds planted back then had been quickly snatched away. Although I started out with Bible study and church participation, I too quickly had found myself distracted by the snares of the world. And, yet, some of those early seeds of God’s truth had managed to dig themselves deep into my heart. Years had passed as they lay dormant, but a new season of Light was now calling them to the surface. God’s Spirit was stirring up the soil of my hardened heart, reminding me of His sweet love for me. Coming to the full realization that Jesus was "the way, the truth, and the life," I dropped to my knees one summer night in June and confessed, "God, if You will forgive me and show me Your plan for my future, I will make You not only my Savior, but my Lord as well." He met me that night right where I was. I felt His peace fill me and replace my depression with hope. Thus began my Spirit-filled walk with Jesus Christ. 

When I asked God to reveal the first step of His plan, I felt a strong prompting to start reading the Bible again and return to church. "What church?" I wondered. Not wanting to make this choice for myself, I asked God, "Please direct me to the church You would have me attend, Lord, the one where I will hear Your truth!" I told no one about my prayer, yet within days strangers started mentioning a church I had never heard of, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. Remembering my prayer request, I went to investigate the following Sunday. I wasn’t in this church more than an hour when the Lord revealed to me that this was His answer to my prayer. He had led me to my new church home where I was now eager to get involved. Another of my prayer requests was to meet Christian friends who would help me in my new lifestyle of faith. The Lord heard and answered that prayer as well. 

I was one of those new believers who could not get enough of the Scriptures, and, like a sponge, I soaked in everything I read. One evening Pastor Bob Coy gave a message about using our gifts and talents to glorify God. I was very impressed by his words because, up until that point, my goal for my artistic talent had been to bring acknowledgment and recognition to my name. I had been very competitive in the secular art arena, winning numerous awards both locally and nationally. My work had graced the pages of County Woman Magazine as well as local publications. Yet things were changing in my heart. I was starting to re-evaluate my motives for painting. I no longer had a desire to paint only to gratify myself. Realizing that my artistic skills were a talent God had given me, I now wanted to glorify Him with my brush. I had no professional training, but like the central character in the film, Chariots of Fire, I too felt God’s pleasure when I painted. 

A few months passed. I got plugged into the Women’s Ministry and started experiencing the Lord’s healing touch in my circumstances and emotions. I had seen Pam and Mike Rozell’s presentation of "The Potter and The Clay" one evening in church. I could identify with the broken pot as I watched Mike remold it and turn it into what he termed "a vessel of honor." Remembering the message about using our gifts and talents for the Lord, I suddenly felt a strong desire to use my artistic ability to depict biblical scenes. That evening I prayed, "Lord, if You will give me Your vision and inspiration, I will paint for You." I offered up my dedication prayer and told the Lord that from that point on, I would paint "For His Glory." 

Weeks passed, and I found that Isaiah 64:8 was becoming dear to my heart as I realized that God was re-molding me, a once very broken pot: "Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." I had a newfound passion to illustrate the heart of this verse, but again I mentioned it to no one. The next day I volunteered in the Women’s Ministry. The director came to me and asked, "Mary Ellen, we have a conference coming up in Orlando. I prayed about the upcoming event and felt the Lord leading me to ask you a favor. Anne Graham Lotz is the keynote speaker, and the theme is "The Potter and the Clay." Do you think you could do a painting for the cover of the conference book? 

Wow! Isn’t that just like the Lord to plant a desire to do His work and then open the door for us to do it! After two failed attempts (my first experience with spiritual warfare!), my third piece found its way onto the cover and into the hands of over 500 women attending the conference. I gave the original painting to Anne. What a blessing to receive a letter from her telling me that she had hung it in her home. She wrote, "It’s the first thing I see each day, reminding me to be moldable in the hands of the Master!" 

That painting, titled "The Broken Pot," was the first piece in my new series, "For His Glory." My personal walk with Christ became the inspiration for each piece in this collection. What a blessing it has been for me to see Him use these images to touch others as well. 

Thinking that my gift was visual arts, I was quite pleased to settle into this area of creativity. But the Lord had more for me. As I continued my journey with Him, I found myself often times writing poetry pertaining to a trial, a prayer request, or a sermon from the pulpit. Sharing these poems with friends, I understood that the message of comfort or guidance found in their verses was not for me alone. Many times I heard, "You’re writing about me!" when I finished reciting one. 

In recent months, I have started doing digital photography and am enhancing my computer skills in order to create entirely new images. These new pieces incorporate my original paintings, poetry, photography, and graphic art designs. It seems that the sky is the limit when I get a burst of inspiration! 

Then there are those quiet times when my heart pauses to reflect back on the memory of a once very "broken pot" who invited Jesus Christ to be her Lord and Savior. Recalling my journey through the remolding process, I cherish my memories of each trial and lesson along the way. My eyes, though moist with gratitude, look upward in anticipation to see where His Shepherd’s Staff will lead me next. Whether I walk through a valley trial for a season, or experience a mountaintop blessing, so long as He goes with me, I know I’ll have everything I need. I pray that He will continue to be glorified by the work of this heart and these hands. And finally I pray that all those who see these works will see only Him!