Deeann Rieves, an artist I cannot keep my eyes off, makes work that has true depth with sincerity and meaning. Though it is not only her work that inspires me, but the heart she creates it with as well. Rieves is an old friend I have known since high school. A few years older than me, she was one of the star AP legends my classmates & I in AP Art had to live up to. When I set out to go to art school at Memphis College of Art, Deeann was the reference my teacher pointed me to because that is where she was going. Yet Deeann's influence didn't stop there- she was a role model at my church too. Hosting painting parties and sketchbook classes, she taught us all how to make prayer sketchbooks. Leading the senior girls at Turning Point weekend, she hand drew our entire devotional for the weekend- a pamphlet from 2008 that I still have! When she found out I was going to MCA, she wrote out an entire list of churches in Memphis so I would have some direction, but even more, she wrote down the names of the girls that were christians at MCA that she started a Bible study with so I wouldn't be without fellowship. To this day, those girls are some of the best friends I have ever had.
I know many women who love the Lord with all their heart, but I know very few who are not afraid to conquer their field of gifting like Deeann Rieves. I've watched this woman for some time now and I am just so inspired by the fervor, confidence, individuality, passion, humility, & beauty she exudes. What is so compelling about Rieves is not that she has unique gifts, but that she actually uses them. She doesn't conclude herself or her gifts inferior to the cause of the furtherment of Christ, rather she plays to her strengths with joy & uses the talents God has given her. She doesn't waste her gifts, but she doesn't just simply use them either. She champions them with what appears to be consistent gratitude, joy, & integrity. Who does that!? Not many. Which is why I think I have been stalking her and studying her art techniques for so long. So I have decided I just need to expose such a role model & quit hoarding all this inspiration to myself. May Mrs. Rieves be a motivation to us all to use what God has given us.
To the woman of God who sits in the same boat- do not fear dancing to the beat of your own drum! Not all of us were created to teach, sing, preach, etc- all those churchy gifts as one might call them- but do not miss the richness in the gifts God has created within you & do not underestimate the impact they can have on others. Deeann Rieves is a woman of God that truly inspires me & she's not Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Christy Knockles, or Joyce Meyer- not to say she couldn't be if she wanted to because she is just as wise- but I am glad she is an artist. Through Deeann's life I see a glimpse of how God intends artists to be, but more over, through her work I see the rich fruit God intends to produce through artists and all of us with such unique gifts as these.
Check out Deeann Rieves work at her website:
http://www.deeannrieves.com/
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10
"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:6-7
Matthew 25: 14-30, (Parable of the Three Servants) :
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
For a greater understanding of this scriptural passage in Matthew, I included below an excerpt from a commentary by theologian, Matthew Henry, that focuses on the servant that was afraid to use his one talent (one bag of silver). It is very convicting to me, so I encourage you to read it:
"...Observe, The returns were in proportion to the receivings. [1.] From those to whom God hath given five talents, he expects the improvement of five, and to reap plentifully where he sows plentifully. The greater gifts any have, the more pains they ought to take, as those must that have a large stock to manage. [2.] From those to whom he has given but two talents, he expects only the improvement of two, which may encourage those who are placed in a lower and narrower sphere of usefulness; if they lay out themselves to do good according to the best of their capacity and opportunity, they shall be accepted, though they do not so much good as others.
2. The third did ill (v. 18); He that had received one talent, went, and hid his lord’s money. Though the parable represents but one in three unfaithful, yet in a history that answers this parable, we find the disproportion quite the other way, when ten lepers were cleansed, nineof ten hid the talent, and only one returned to give thanks, Lu. 17:17, 18. The unfaithful servant was he that had but one talent: doubtless there are many that have five talents, and bury them all; great abilities, great advantages, and yet do no good with them: but Christ would hint to us, (1.) That if he that had but one talent, be reckoned with thus for burying that one, much more will they be accounted offenders, that have more, that have many, and bury them. If he that was but of small capacity, was cast into utter darkness because he did not improve what he had as he might have done, of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, that tramples underfoot the greatest advantages? (2.) That those who have least to do for God, frequently do least of what they have to do. Some make it an excuse for their laziness, that they have not the opportunities of serving God that others have; and because they have not wherewithal to do what they say they would, they will not do what we are sure they can, and so sit down and do nothing; it is really an aggravation of their sloth, that when they have but one talent to take care about, they neglect that one.
He digged in the earth, and hid the talent, for fear it should be stolen; he did not misspend or misemploy it, did not embezzle it or squander it away, but he hid it. Money is like manure (so my Lord Bacon used to say,) good for nothing in the heap, but it must be spread; yet it is an evil which we have often seen under the sun, treasure heaped together(Jam. 5:3; Eccl. 6:1, 2), which does good to nobody; and so it is in spiritual gifts; many have them, and make no use of them for the end for which they were given them. Those that have estates, and do not lay them out in works of piety and charity; that have power and interest, and do not with it promote religion in the places where they live; ministers that have capacities and opportunities of doing good, but do not stir up the gift that is in them, are those slothful servants that seek their own things more than Christ’s.
He hid his lord’s money; had it been his own, he might have done as he pleased; but, whatever abilities and advantages we have, they are not our own, we are but stewards of them, and must give account to our Lord, whose goods they are. It was an aggravation of his slothfulness, that his fellow-servants were busy and successful in trading, and their zeal should have provoked his. Are others active, and shall we be idle?
III. The account of this improvement, v. 19. 1. The account is deferred; it is not till after a long time that they are reckoned with; not that the master neglects his affairs, or that God is slack concerning his promise(2 Pt. 3:9); no, he is ready to judge (1 Pt. 4:5); but every thing must be done in its time and order. 2. Yet the day of account comes at last;The lord of those servants reckoneth with them. Note, The stewards of the manifold grace of God must shortly give account of their stewardship. We must all be reckoned with—what good we have got to our own souls, and what good we have done to others by the advantages we have enjoyed. See Rom. 14:10, 11. Now here is,
(1.) The good account of the faithful servants; and here observe,
[1.] The servants giving up the account (v. 20, 22); "Lord, thou deliveredst to me five talents, and to me two; behold, I have gained five talents, and I two talents more.’’First, Christ’s faithful servants acknowledge with thankfulness his vouchsafements to them; Lord, thou deliveredst to me such and such things. Note, 1. It is good to keep a particular account of our receivings from God, to remember what we have received, that we may know what is expected from us, and may render according to the benefit. 2. We must never look upon our improvements but with a general mention of God’s favour to us, of the honour he has put upon us, in entrusting us with his goods, and of that grace which is the spring and fountain of all the good that is in us or is done by us. For the truth is, the more we do for God, the more we are indebted to him for making use of us, and enabling us, for his service.
Secondly, They produce, as an evidence of their faithfulness, what they have gained. Note, God’s good stewards have something to show for their diligence; Show me thy faith by thy works. He that is a good man,let him show it, Jam. 3:13. If we be careful in our spiritual trade, it will soon be seen by us, and our works will follow us, Rev. 14:13. Not that the saints will in the great day make mention of their own good deeds; no, Christ will do that for them (v. 35); but it intimates that they who faithfully improve their talents, shall have boldness in the day of Christ, 1 Jn. 2:28–4:17. And it is observable that he who had but twotalents, gave up his account as cheerfully as he who had five; for our comfort, in the day of account, will be according to our faithfulness, not according to our usefulness; our sincerity, not our success; according to the uprightness of our hearts, not according to the degree of our opportunities. ..."
If you would like to read more of the commentary on Matthew 25 by Matthew Henry then click HERE!
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