As you travel down the path God has put before you, look for opportunities to bless others.
God wants you to share your heart, your wisdom and your experiences to help to others.
Things
that have made
a difference in my life...
As
you travel down the path God has put before you,
look for
opportunities to bless others.
God
wants you to share your heart, your wisdom
and your experiences
to help to others.
Testimonies
Written by the Artist in 2003
One of my
past Sunday School teachers and a dear friend speaks at Christian
Women Conventions. There
are some stories that Kim Crabel has shared that I’ll never
forget that has really made a difference in my life. One of them
was about her son. She said that when he was little she noticed
something was wrong so she asked, “Trey, what’s the
matter?” Like
most kids, his response was, “Nothing.”
Trey didn’t realize that talking about his problem
might make him feel better. And if he would only talk about his
situation his mother might be able to give him some valuable
advice.
Kim realized
that Trey had a hard time opening up and he might be
willing to talk if she approached him in a more caring and
spiritual way. So she put Trey on her lap, wrapped her arms
around him and asked, “Trey, what hurts your heart?” By approaching her son this way he opened up to share with
his mother what was bothering him.
Sometimes we have things that concern us about our loved ones but it may be uncomfortable to talk about it. If we pray about something and it stays with us after a period of time, I believe God will show us when and how to talk about it. Kim's story helped me realize that we need to let our feelings out. It also helped to know how to open the door to conversation when someone is hurting. Ask for God’s advice and direction, then follow through with what He puts on your heart.
Even though I terribly miss my parents, I can be at peace knowing that they are both safe in the loving arms of Jesus. One of Mom’s favorite songs that she loved to sing around the house was, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken, By and By Lord, By and By? There’s a Better Home a Waiting, In the Sky Lord, in the Sky.”
Above
all things that I could ever ask for, I pray that my loved ones
and those of you reading this letter have taken the time to do
the most important thing in your life. Have you got
your Eternal Life in order? If not, I
pray that you will hear God speaking to your heart through these
words.
A
year before cancer took his life, Dad was in the hospital waiting to
hear from Dr. Hammer in the Springfield, IL Hospital. I thank my Father in Heaven for the opportunity He
gave me to lead my Earthly Father to Christ. It totally took me
out of my comfort zone but I knew that this was not about me.
It was about being used as an instrument on Dad’s
behalf and for those who Dad would
soon leave behind.
I
was at home in Georgia doing my morning workout while I was in
prayerful thought for Dad waiting for a phone call to hear what
Dr. Hammer had to say so that I could make the necessary
arrangements to go be with him. In the middle of
my exercise, I was stopped in my tracks. God
said to tell Dad, “There’s something more important than
what the doctor’s have to say…..and more important than
what’s wrong with you…… and even more important than how
long you have to live…..and that’s whether or not you know
Me.”
I
was hoping that I had called him before the doctor came in but
it was God’s will that I call right when the doctor was
breaking the news. I broke down and could barely speak by now,
and was shaking like a leaf, but I had to tell him what God said. I also told him, “Daddy,
don’t you want to know that when your time is up here
on this earth that your home will be waiting for you in Heaven?
I can’t bear the thought of loosing you and not knowing that
you have things right with the Lord.”
Even
though Dad’s answer was YES with no hesitation, I was asking God to let me know
that he was not just responding this way to go along with what I was
saying. I needed to know that Dad was answering God’s calling
and not mine. So at that very moment Dad let me know that he
wanted to ask Jesus into his heart. I offered to call him back
after the doctor left so that he could concentrate more on his
decision. But he said, “You know what? The doctor just left!” I knew
that this was God’s way and Dad’s way of letting me know
that he wanted to be saved and he wanted it right now! What an
experience and awesome gift that the good Lord blessed us with!
I guess we can look at Dad’s cancer as a blessing in
disguise to save his soul. I would never have wanted him to
suffer but had he never experienced something this emotional he
might not have ever come to know the Lord as his personal
Savior.
My
heart aches for any of my loved ones who refuses God’s love and
forgiveness. The bible tells us that the unsaved will enter the gate of
Heaven when they die to hear God say, “Depart from Me, I
know you not,” and they will spend Eternity in hell. Your
body dies, but your spirit will live forever. Your
spirit will leave your body when your time is up, and it’s up
to you whether you spend eternity in Heaven or hell.
The
beautiful things created by God was where Dad found his
Sanctuary. I feel the same way. I love to go and worship and
learn in the church but I’m also inspired by the great
outdoors. I can’t go outside without feeling the presence of
the Lord. Anytime I’d spoke to Dad before about being a
Christian he told me that he prays the same as anyone else but
he does it when he’s down on his property. He said he was
as good a person as those that went to church. What he didn’t
realize since he couldn’t read and didn’t have an
understanding of what it takes to be a Christian is that you
can’t get to Heaven by being a good person. All you have to
do is repent (acknowledge your sin ask God for forgiveness) and ask Jesus into your heart.
(Claim Him
as your Lord and Savior so that when your life expires on this
earth, you will enter the gate of Heaven to spend Eternity.
During
those earlier days, I blamed myself for not knowing how to
witness to Dad without offending him. What I didn’t realize is
that during those times, along with everyone else who had a
burden for his salvation, is that these days were only for
planting the seeds. The harvest time would come only when Dad
was truly ready for it and in God’s perfect time.
Remember
that the only earthly possession we can take to Heaven is our
children, our parents, our friends, our neighbors, and even
strangers who we have led to Christ. Our life is not our own. If
you are lost and miserable Jesus can take your burdens away if
you only ask Him to. Let go of the control over your life.
Suffer no more. Let go – and let God take control. Feed your
faith and starve your doubts to death.
Study the bible alone with God and with other Christians, go to church with your
family, and it’s very important to spend time with God daily
in prayer.
Everyone
on this earth has sin in his or her life. But the bible tells us
that Jesus was bruised, beaten, crucified, and died a cruel
death on the cross to pay the debt of our sins. Forgiveness is a
free gift and it only supplies good benefits. There is only one
gate to Heaven and the path is narrow. Without God, there is no
hope and there is no future for an Eternal Life. With God, there
is hope and there is a future. Being a godly example for our
families is the greatest gift that we could ever give them.
The things that mean the most are the things that money can’t
buy. Forgiveness is the key.
Remember
that unless we are willing to forgive those who have wronged us
or hurt us, Christ will not forgive us. Forgiving and being
forgiven is the greatest thing that we can do to be an example
for others, especially our own children. Forgiveness brings a
peace, a freedom, and a joy that passes all understanding that
only God, Himself, can supply. Unforgiveness creates hard
feelings, hard hearts, bitterness, loneliness, bad examples, and
even health problems. Physical problems are a result of
emotional problems.
We
need to spend quality time with God. Don’t just give Him your
left-overs. You can pray when your driving down the road or when you’re taking a
walk, but God also wants us to be still. He is with you
wherever you are, but He also wants us to go to a place where
there is absolutely no distractions so that He can have our
undivided attention. Once you ask Jesus into your heart He will
never leave you nor forsake you. He wants to be your best friend
and He cares about you.
Something
that I've come to understand recently has helped me with a problem that I’ve had since I was a
child. I’ve always been tender
hearted and emotional. On many occasions I’ve had the ability
by the Grace of God to turn the other cheek when someone has
hurt me. But, on many other occasions I have acted out on my
emotions (in the flesh instead of the Spirit.) I have said and
done things that were totally out of the will of God. There were
times when I felt I had the right to hurt someone back for
hurting me. I was wrong. Acting out of my emotions is the same
as acting out in the flesh (in a worldly way.)
The devil uses my emotions to hurt myself and to hurt others. When I take it upon myself to get even with someone for hurting me, I am not being a Godly example. “Revenge is Mine, sayeth the Lord.”
Emotions stem from fear, worry, anxiety, anger, frustration, disrespect, doubt, and depression. These things are not of God. Emotional instability is a flesh problem. It’s a person controlled by the flesh and not the Spirit. Before I get into a conversation with anyone I must make a decision to be ruled by my spirit and not by my flesh (not by my emotions.) I must walk in love; I must forgive; I must not hold a grudge or be sarcastic.
Bad
emotions produce bad decisions. Is having an emotional problem
going to ruin my life? No… But, having emotional problems is
going to lead me to bad decisions, and bad decisions are going
to ruin my life.
The
choices I make and the decisions I make are what determine the
outcome of my life. What has been done to me is not what
determines the outcome of my life. It’s how I respond to it
and the decision I make after it happens to me.
Example: The
same thing could happen to 2 different people but they respond
in 2 different ways.
God
has created me to master my emotions instead of my emotions
mastering me. I don’t have to live on an emotional roller
coaster. Instead of feeling that I have to control everything
around me, I can learn how to control everything in me. The
things that people say won’t matter anymore.
How
do I get my emotions under control? My thinking controls my
emotions. Depression is not a feeling first. It’s a thought
first. It comes to me in the form of a thought – I’m not
going to make it…I’m not worth living. As I meditate on that
thought, that thought becomes an emotion. At that very moment,
take that thought captive.
My
words have greater authority than my thoughts. Speaking words
– subdue thoughts. When a negative thought comes to mind or
someone is hurting me with his or her actions or words, take
those thoughts captive by saying, “I am healed by the stripes
of Jesus. No weapon formed against me is going to prosper.”
I
HAVE TO STOP THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT IS DESIGNED BY THE DEVIL
to produce an emotional response. When I think I’m not going
to make it, say, “No, I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me.” Take thoughts captive with words that
are inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:6 tell us…. For to be carnally minded is
death; but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace.
(Peace is a feeling of calm, cool, whole, freedom, nothing
missing and nothing broken.)
I
have said things out of anger before and regretted what I’ve
said. I will never have to deal with that again. The devil will
use my emotions to destroy my life.
John 6:63 ”It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh
profits nothing; the words that I speak to you, they are spirit
and they are life.” (Being
emotionally ruled will profit nothing except financial ruin,
emotional turmoil, anger, anxiety, frustration, loss of control,
worry, pain, suffering, depression, doubting, fear, and
sickness. But being spiritually ruled will give life and peace.)
Dr.
Charles Stanley was preaching about "Success Blockers"
recently. It was a divine message from God as a gift to
share with Ralph, not only to teach us, but also to encourage us
to live our lives differently than the way we’ve been living
and to even pray differently.
It
was one of those "light-bulb" moments. Dr.
Stanley explained, "When
we live in fear and doubt it is a form of bondage that we
put ourselves in that sets us up for failure."
Isaiah 41:10-11 says,
“Fear is a roadblock on the way to success.”
God wants us to have dreams and to be
successful and He will make our dreams come true. But we have
been setting ourselves up for failure with doubt and fear and
negative thinking and even negative praying. We both have
a hard time with this and I explained on the way to church how
this has come natural to us because it was instilled in us
as children. I know that fear is the opposite of faith, but to
be different, is against our grain. Only God can change it.
I
asked Jesus in my heart when I was 10 years old in the 6th
grade at New Liberty Baptist where Lonnie Tipsword was preaching
at a revival. In fact, it was the same night that my 5-year-old
niece, Cathy Allison, and her cousin, Tina Allison, had already
gone to the Alter of the church to be saved. Even though I asked
Jesus into my heart and repented of my sins and felt the Spirit
of the Lord that night, I feel I was so young to fully
understand what it meant to be a Christian. I have broken nearly
every Commandment in the Bible in some way. I feel that I have
treated His precious blood so carelessly.
I realized that I
have made a mess of my life. Even
though my values were Christian grounded, I was still able to do
and say things that I knew were wrong. I couldn’t live that way
anymore. I was so miserable. I had to look over my
past and ask God to forgive me of any sin that had not, yet,
been confessed. When I spoke with the pastor and asked him to
pray with me as I rededicated my life I was amazed at the load
that was lifted, and how easy it was to get rid of it. I'm
ashamed of my sin but I know that God doesn’t even see it
anymore. When I ask Him to forgive me of my sin, He said,
“What Sin?” just like the song. He forgave me and forgot about it as if it never
happened.
Can
we be this forgiving? If we can’t, then our prayers will be
void. Not only is forgiveness the right thing, but also it’s a
healthy thing – spiritually, physically, and mentally. Don’t
misunderstand and think that I am saying that forgiveness means
what someone did to you is OK. Their sin is between them and God.
Take care of any unfinished business and get things right
with the Lord. If there's someone that you need to go to that
you have wronged, do the right thing and God will free you from any
bondage you may be feeling.
They
gave her a Bible asked if
there's anything else they could pray about. She
held up her two hands that were crippled with arthritis and asked that they pray for the great pain she was in.
Rhonda said, "As I started to pray, the Holy Spirit
told me to ask her about resentment and unforgiveness. I
told her that some times, but not always, when a person has
arthritis, there is a spiritual root causing the arthritis and
it is unforgiveness and bitterness. I asked her if there
was anyone that she needed to release forgiveness to before we
prayed for God to heal her. She right away said,
"Yes, the man that killed my two sons."
Rhonda said her heart just
ached for her. She went on to cry with her and explain that
God still requires us to give up those things and let Him take
the responsibility for the person that has wounded us.
She was ready to give it up and wanted to repeat a prayer of
forgiveness for the man. "As I was praying, I
remembered that the Word also tells us to bless our enemies,
so I included in the prayer a blessing over the man and prayed
that he too would come to know Jesus Christ. She
hesitated a moment before repeating after me and then did it. It was the most precious thing.
Afterwards I told her
that we would now pray for God to heal her. We started
praying and after awhile, I asked her, "is it
better?" She said "si" and I said
"a little better or a lot better" and she said,
"it is gone" and held up both hands and stretched
out all her fingers -- the arthritis was GONE!! It was a
glorious moment. God is big and is doing great
things in all the earth. We give Him all the glory and I am
so blessed to be His!!" says
Rhonda.
If you are already a Christian, I hope these stories have encouraged you in your own walk. If you do not have things right with the Lord then follow your own heart. Please call me if there’s anything you don’t understand or if you need someone to pray with you. Or call your own Pastor or a mentor that can answer any questions you may have. Just be sure to seek Wise Council from someone who will council you as the bible instructs.
Thank
you for letting me share my thoughts and experiences with you.
Please
share this letter with anyone who could benefit from our
testimonies.
With
all my love,
Testimonies
Written by the Artist 8-4-05
My Eye Doctor’s in Memphis and Augusta have warned me about a
disease in the back of my eyes that can cause me to go blind. They
told me what to look for and if it starts to surface, get to the
doctor immediately. If the disease takes my vision, there’s nothing
they can do to restore it. Both times it was mentioned, I disregarded
it and knew that my eyes are in God’s hands.
God
was showing me that I don’t love Him as much as I should. If I did,
I would TRUST Him more.
Before I opened Chapter 25 “Transformed by Trouble” where
Rick Warren says in his book that God has a purpose for every problem,
I started experiencing the things I had been warned about. I was
seeing double and I started to loose my vision.
I realized at that
moment I could do nothing but TRUST him.
I
called Ralph at work to come and take me to the doctor. Although my
vision was very blurry by this time, I thought about what I wanted to
look at if this was, possibly, the last thing I will ever see. As much
as I’m moved by God’s creation, I’m surprised I didn’t go
outside to see what I could see since his handy-work is always
medicine to my soul. But, I felt God had a
message for me in Rick’s book! I had no idea what this
chapter was about but I asked God to please let me see what he wanted
me to see. Ironically, it was just what I needed. Rick said in this
chapter, “God uses every circumstance to develop our
character.” He also mentioned in a recent chapter that God
will not allow anything that he can’t use for good. Satan
will do everything he can to destroy us and even people will
intentionally hurt us, but God will not allow it if he can’t bring
something good out of it.
Within 30 minutes, my vision was a total blur. I asked God, “Are
you telling me that I will be more useful to you blind than I am with
my eyes?”
God was preparing me for what was about to be a life changing
experience that only He had control over. I closed my book and just
cried out, “God, please don’t take my eyes! ” The first
thing that crossed my mind was, “There
were so many paintings that I’ve, yet, to do!”
I didn’t want to burden family, long-term.
And, I didn’t want to let down the ladies at Peachtree City Baptist
Church. I was asked to be their Guest Speaker at their banquet the
very next day. They had been planning for this event for months. I
was covered with an unusual peace that I knew was beyond my own
ability and strength. I just sat there for little while and
meditated on what I had just read and what I was experiencing. When
I opened my eyes I could see! In that very moment, God restored my
vision, completely!
The
following Saturday I was asked to be a guest speaker in Charlotte at
Thomas Kinkade’s 20th Anniversary Celebration. I was
asked to share my recent experience so I took my book for a visual. I
also shared chapter 9, “What Makes God Smile?” This chapter
spoke volumes to Ralph.
The
author mentioned the film Chariots of Fire and the Olympic
runner, Eric Liddel. Eric said, “I
believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast, and when
I RUN, I
feel God’s pleasure.”
Later he says, “To give up
RUNNING would
be to hold me in contempt.”
Ralph
has never understood my great desire and determination to paint since
it hasn’t made sense, financially, yet.
He said, “God really spoke to me in this chapter. I
finally understand why it’s so important for you to paint. I took
the words RUN and RUNNING
and replaced them with PAINT and
PAINTING. I finally understands why this is something that
you can’t give up!”
Mr. Kinkade didn't know me until that night, and of
course neither of us had any idea of what the other was going to speak
about. He was schedule to come on stage right after I spoke, but his
flight was a little late. The Thomas Kinkade Gallery owners were just
as surprised as I was at the first thing he mentioned when he walked
out on the platform. It was about a book that he had been reading in a
40-day study along with his church in California. He said it had
really been making a difference in his life. Guess what it was. Yes, "A
Purpose Driven Life." This was truly a “God Thing.” I’m
sure everyone thought that we had planned what we spoke about.
No words can express how awesome it is to experience
God’s mighty hand at work. Mr. Kinkade and I had nothing to do with
this evening coming together as it did. God orchestrated every detail
to show HIS audience, that evening, that he really does
work everything together for good and that each individual there was
created for a purpose. It wasn’t until after this event that I
realized, had I not lost my vision for that short period of time, my
testimony would not have been near as meaningful. In fact, I’m
pretty certain that the experience I had was the only reason I was
asked to share my testimony. I will be eternally grateful that I can
see. I suppose God felt my testimony would be most powerful by healing
my eyes. I will try to be more obedient to trust God more in all areas
where I struggle. I will also try to spend my days looking with Spiritual
Eyes to see what God has prepared for me. I celebrate each new day
as I delight in him and what he has so graciously restored.
I've
come to realize that God was
not just using my paintings to teach and minister others, but they
were also to minister to me. I’ve spent weeks, and sometimes months,
on a painting while asking God to use me to speak to the heart
of his children, not realizing that the
message was as much for me as it was for anyone else. (Read
I Corinthians 15:58)
God
has taken an uneducated, unworthy, ordinary, and shy country girl with
low self-esteem from Southern Illinois and told her, “This,
you can do for me.” You see, He not only gave me a
gift to paint to minister to His children visually but He has
equipped me with a testimony, a voice of experience, to share
with others along the way. However large or small the groups are, even
though its far from my comfort zone, the Holy Spirit gives me the
words to say.
Each person on earth
is created for God’s pleasure whether we are doing something that we
find pleasurable or whether we’re going through a difficult trial.
It’s during those trials that we are the most impressionable. We
must be like Jesus, never in a hurry and always about our Father’s
business. Serving the Lord with a glad heart and ready to put a smile
on our Father’s face. We must put on the whole armor of God and
serve Him as we are designed to do. As a soldier in the Lord’s army,
we must not waver when the going gets tough. We must watch for every
opportunity to Win One More For Jesus!
God is watching every move we make, especially the attitude of our
heart. What we do for God pleases him, but what He is most concerned
about is a personal and intimate relationship with Him. There should
be a balance between serving God and spending quiet time with
Him. He longs to have our undivided attention every day. To get to
know someone, the more time we spend with them the better we get to
know them. We want to know God and His thoughts and His will for our
lives, but He also wants to know us. We can only do this by spending
time with Him in His word, in prayer, in fellowship with other
Christians, through the pastor, and in our circumstances.
Carole
Camak, a Sunday School Teacher, book author, and speaker says, “When
difficulty enters my life, I have the practice of asking two
questions. The first being, “Lord, did I do anything to bring
this on?” In other words, am I being confronted with my own
unacceptable behavior? If God reveals that this is the case then I
only have to confess my sin and receive his forgiveness. Of course, I
may have to suffer the consequences of my action while learning a
costly lesson. Next,
if the Holy Spirit does not make me aware of anything I’ve done,
then I rest in HIS plan and allow Him to be magnified in my life.” (Read
I Cor. 6: 19-20)
I’ve
seen God use every one of my difficult experiences
to help others. I’m sure there have been times that I didn’t even
notice. I couldn’t have been as helpful and my testimony would not
have been as powerful had I not experienced similar hardships. I’m
reminded that my suffering and my rejection is nothing compared to
what Jesus experienced on this earth and on the cross to pardon my
sins. (Read Galatians 3:20) God didn’t say it would be
easy but the rewards are great. He wants us to live victoriously. We
will experience some of our rewards here on earth and others will be
waiting for us in Glory. We must run the race and keep our eyes on the
prize, which is Jesus Christ.
I
love the Lord with ALL my heart and ALL my soul and ALL my mind.
(Matthew 22:37) So, of course, the enemy has tried to break me in
every way imaginable to keep me from spreading the Good News of Jesus
Christ through my paintings. (Read II Cor. 2:11) Satan wants me to
give up and quit fighting the good fight but I will not!
Without a shadow of doubt, I know this is my calling. (Read I Cor.
16:9)
Like most artists, I paint what comes from deep within my heart
and what I am passionate about. We artists take the risk of critical
judgment by painting our deepest thoughts. We set ourselves up for
either the support of our critics or rejection and
persecution. But, we follow the dream that is deep within our heart to
be used as a vessel to get a message out. We trust that the support
will follow with those who believe in the same message illustrated in
a particular painting.
I
BELIEVE the Bible is the infallible Word of God and I BELIEVE and
claim the
5 Statement Pledge that Beth Moore has taught though “Believing
God”:
God
is who He says He is !
God can do what He says He can do !
I am who God says I am!
I can do all things through Christ !
God's word is alive and active in me !
No
matter what happens to me or my loved ones, or what people say or
do,
I have made a choice and I will not waver.....
I'M BELIEVING GOD !
Will
you claim it for yourself ?
Joyce
Girgenti
Michael
Brantley
Let me conclude by saying that I have highly recommended your work to many of my friends. Anyone who purchases your art receives a blessing.
Claudia Mazzola
First of all, let me
start off by saying that all of Joyce Girgenti’s paintings are
beautifully detailed, Spirit-filled works of Art from the Heart!
The
print I have of hers, “Mamma’s Little Man”, is one of my
favorites. At first glance of this print, you’ll think to yourself
how beautifully done it is. But then you’ll find yourself being
drawn back to it over and over again (much like a good book you just
can’t put down) looking at every detail and searching for the
meanings behind them. At least that’s what happened to me. As a
mother of two sons, I feel like Joyce reached down into my heart and
captured my innermost thoughts and feelings for them. In this print,
she depicts the past joys, the present prayers, and the future hopes
and dreams a mother has for her son’s life. It also depicts her
adoration and especially her love for him. However, most of all,
“Mamma’s Little Man” depicts the mother’s love and dependence
on God and His great love for her (Because as we know children are
truly a blessing from Him)!
All
of this is what made this print come alive to me. I just love it and I
know other mothers will as well!!!
Thanks,
Joyce for being the sensitive and loving artist you are and for using
your God-given talents to touch others.
Aurora,
Glenn, and Hunter Hubbard from Martinez, Georgia
I
purchased “Magnolia Memories” several years ago as I am inspired
by the elegant beauty and symbolic stages of a child’s life from
birth to his/her wedding day and how throughout the past, present, and
future, Jesus’ love is portrayed.
My
husband and our son recently purchased “Momma’s Little Man” for
me as a Christmas present. I
was overwhelmed with emotion as my son explained the meaning of this
print – how it reflects his love for me and mine for him and above
all, Jesus’ love for all of us.
This print and all Joyce has done through her works of art,
brings even those who may not know Him, to a face-to-face view of
Jesus, albeit subtle. Human
nature is made up of curiosity and all her prints arouse interest by
all who see it. Once
viewed, they too will purchase…and not just one time.
They will become repeat buyers.
Patricia Gilliland from Martinez, Georgia, wrote February 2, 2005
I have been a friend of Joyce Girgenti’s for quite some time. My first “had to have” print was of Everlasting Promises. This particular church has been an all time favorite of mine. I had previously purchased a watercolor of this church from a local artist, and it’s gorgeous, but something was missing. When I first laid eyes on Joyce’s Everlasting Promises, I then knew what was missing. A story, a meaning, a love. A meaningful love story. A husband and a wife, the joining of their families, their life together from beginning to end, serving under Christ. Wow!
Then came the day that Joyce told me about Momma’s Little Man. I remember being in her studio, listening to her tell of what she envisioned for this painting. I knew then that this would be my second “had to have” print.
I am a mother of two small boys and the love a mother feels for her child in indescribable. When I look at my print, I get lost in the picture. Remembering my children as infants and praying that one day, they too, will find that special someone to propose too. I am a sentimental person at heart and love family heirlooms. My problem is wondering which child I will give the painting too. Will it be the first son to get married, or the first son to have a son of his own?
Each painting in Joyce’s
collections has a special place in my heart.
Just ask my husband, who continues to ask, “now exactly where
are we going to hang this one”?
Each hang with pride in our home and I’m honored and excited
each time I get to show the paintings to all who walk through my
doors.
Jamie
Wyatt from Fayetteville, Georgia,
wrote
Dear Joyce, I am
pleased to recommend you as a talented, God-inspired, artist.
When
I set out to find out more about the print, and about the artist, it
led to my speaking to you, and to your being asked to speak and share
your art with several women's groups. Now, many of my friends own your
art, and their friends and acquaintances are also blessed by it.
The blessings continue on!
I
also have your "Magnolia Memories" and several other pieces.
They are beautiful to look, when you take them at "face value" as
lovely art work. However, their "hidden"
Christian messages make them even more special to me.
Thank
you for blessing my life through your art.
Jamie
Barnett from Birmingham, Alabama,
wrote November 2003: "I so enjoyed meeting you and talking
with you today. I loved all your artwork and so believe in what
you are doing. So many people believe that you have to have the
title "Missionary", "Minister" or "Evangelist" to
be able to spread God's word and love to people effectively. I
believe that people like you have a much greater impact on the lost
that would not darken the doors of a church, etc. There is a
lost and dying world out there that is hungry for God's love and His
word. Your art is a wonderful medium in which to convey such. Thank
you for being faithful to God's call on your life..."
Julia Donoho from Salem, Illinois,
wrote: “I have so enjoyed the print of "Rise Up, Oh
Nation, and Follow Me" and "Legend of The Dogwood".
Both of these have touched my heart. I especially like the one of
how Jesus sees our nation today. I am amazed at the symbolism and
detail that went into the painting. It had to be a God inspired
creation!
I
have had the opportunity to share your art with many people.
It never fails that they will find something else in the picture that
hasn't been noticed yet. Many have been blessed by the message in
them and that you would include the name of Jesus in them.
I pray
that God will continue opening doors for you that will allow you
to share this awesome gift and message with others. He has put
something so precious in you...His love, a desire to share it, and a
wonderful creative ability to express it.”
Virginia
Rhodes from Evans, Georgia,
wrote: “Thank you for being such an extra special person. Your
painting puts love and joy in my heart. It makes my house so
special!”
Susan
Williams from Advance, North Carolina,
wrote: “You are such a blessing and an inspiration to me.
Christ’s love shines though you. God is really working through you
and I’m praying many lives will be touched (I know mine has) and all
the glory will be to his name! He is using you in such a special
way!”
Therefore,
my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give
yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your
labor is not in vain. I Cor. 15:58
Connie
Rhyne from Gastonia, North Carolina, wrote 11-17-02: “I
enjoyed talking with you today at the Christmas Show. Our hearts were
moved as you shared Jesus with us through your art. We all had
goosebumps and shed tears, there was a real presence of the Holy
Spirit. I bought my daughter "My Little Sleeping Beauty" and
she loves it. I am looking forward to the new print for my son. I came
home and called a friend, Brenda White, and told her of your paintings
and the testimony each one tells. Brenda is over or ladies'
ministry. I hope she will get to meet you on Thursday. I also shared
with her you spoke to ladies' groups and shared your testimony. My
friend who was with us doesn't attend church but she was so touched as
you shared the stories behind the pictures. She said, "If she
comes to Bethlehem, I want to be there." God bless you!”
Rhonda Jackson, Destino del Reino, Honduras wrote
8-10-2004: Mrs.
Girgenti donated one of each available print for the homes, school,
and church being built in Honduras. She also paints the large
originals to represent what each home is named after. The paintings
are to inspire the children who’ve been taken from their families
and their homes, to encourage them that God has brought them here to
do great and marvelous things in their lives.
The first home is “The House of Joseph.” She painted two large scenes: The first represents Joseph as a young boy with the coat of many colors and the second is Joseph as the Prince of Egypt. Joseph is surrounded by his jealous brothers in both scenes. But, the second painting shows their humility for discovering that that their young brother was still alive and doing great and marvelous things.
The
second house is “The House of Moses”. The first painting will be
of Moses as an abandoned baby, floating in a basket on the water. The
second will be of Moses parting the Red Sea.
“I
just can't thank her enough for her paintings on our wall. It is
amazing and everyone is so excited about them. I love her and am
thankful for her WONDERFUL love and spirit for the Lord Jesus and for
sharing her talents with us.”
April Meredith from Valdese, North Carolina, wrote December 2004: "Your ministry truly is a blessing. You show us, through all of your paintings, the beauty of God's love, that He loves us all. He is everywhere, in everything we do. You have reminded me to never give up hope, and to lift my head. Thank you so much for sharing your faith, and your testimony with our family. Isn't it awesome that when sharing the love of Christ, you can touch a life, and that person can tell another person and soon you have touched hundreds that you've never even met? That is part of the beauty of your ministry. You touch the hearts of those of us who meet you and then we want to share that joy. Thank you for being a mighty woman of God."
(What started this ministry? What
Inspired Joyce to Share Her Faith in Her Paintings ? )
I share my story
to:
Inspired Brushstrokes Front Page
The Artist
Joyce Girgenti Studio # (219) 841-9743
Inspired
Brushstrokes, 2277
Lake Street, Portage, Indiana 46368
To make a
purchase on available (framed or unframed) art, copy
Order Form
and mail with check.
The artist
can create your own personal
scene with your photographs or even a combination of pictures
to pull together an unforgettable memory or something you envision.
