Google, God and an Artist Named Gayle

My mother and I were talking one afternoon a few months ago. As usual, our conversation was full of sharing about friends, family and our faith. Although we live in different cities, we are incredibly involved in the details of each other's lives.

We are ever aware that all we take with us when we leave this earth are our relationships. We do all that we can to strengthen our ties before we are parted.

I have come to know, through conversation and visits, my mother's closest friends. Many are as dear to me now as my closest friends. One in particular, though, I consider as dear as if she were my own sister.

My mother was sharing with me, this particular day, how this "sister" was dealing with the flotsam and jetsam of life choices. She was cleaning out the cobwebs of her past and clearing the path for greater spiritual growth.

"She used to make jewelry," my mother said. "She spent a lot of money on jewelry supplies, and now, they are just collecting dust."

My mother teaches, in her church family, about financial stewardship and of using money wisely. Her friend had come to her with a dilemma. The jewelry making supplies had cost a great deal of money but, unused, were good for nothing.

This "sister" had come to my mother with, what to some might seem, an odd request. Could my mother find a way to dispose of the supplies in a way that they might glorify God?

My mother said she would see what she could do. The jewelry supplies were delivered and my mother prayed for direction. She was still pondering the situation when I called.

She shared the story of this "sister's" burden and asked if I might join her in prayer for an answer. I promised that I would.

As I went about my day at work, I kept a running prayer or conversation with God in the back of my mind. How would God be glorified by jewelry making supplies? I was surprised at how quickly and clearly the answer came.

As I typed away at my keyboard, a Google search string kept running through my mind. I was anxious to see what the search string would net. But, I was at work. I surely would not be glorifying God, my own self, if I did this personal task on my work time. I waited and waited for my afternoon break.

Finally, I opened the Google search bar and typed: "glorify God" "jewelry making".

Less than one thousand results were presented. I scanned the screens and was repeatedly drawn to one singular result. The others did not appeal so much as to even click them open. I was literally mesmerized and energized by a link to a blog entitled "This Artist's Journey". But, it seemed too easy a result so I passed it over a few times. Yet, it drew me back, like a magnet.

I quickly read and scanned her site. The Artist is Gayle.

Her profile reads "Gayle loves being with her husband and two daughters. She likes dabbling in all things artsy and creating things that will inspire others."

I was immensely touched by a collage she had entitled "Morning's Glory". I was drawn to it and uplifted. I knew, instinctively, that this was our artist. But, did she make jewelry? Did she need jewelry making supplies? She did and, of course, she did.

A necklace, bracelet and earrings set she had created was called "Blossoms" which was designed around Isaiah 35:2; "The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy."

I love the words of Isaiah!

I emailed my mother the link to the site. I could not influence her in any way. I wanted God to take her on the journey Himself. I wanted Him to confirm this choice Himself. I called and told her to open her mail. Then I left it alone.

For days my mother was unable to access my email. Her computer had suddenly "gone on the fritz". She was on the phone with technicians in India for hours. They finally helped her resolve the situation.

When she finally got there, she turned that blog site upside down!

Every screen and every link only excited my mother the more.

Gayle bases her artistry on the scriptures and inspiration there from.

"Morning Glories" was the name of the woman's morning Bible study group for our "sister".

The collage, "Morning's Glory", had one of my mother's favorite Psalms in the piece.

My mother and Gayle both love the Christian singer, Sara Groves.

Gayle donates a portion of her proceeds to a mission in Africa.

On and on, the discoveries confirmed that this was the artist who could make the jewelry making supplies Glorify God!

Contact was finally made and the items were shipped.

Gayle is using the supplies to create the most incredibly exquisite pieces of jewelry. She calls this new line of jewelry "The Gift".

As Gayle states with every piece she creates "One hundred percent of the proceeds ... will go to "Tractors for Our Daily Bread" to be used to purchase a tractor for the orphanage we visited in Tanzania, Africa. With the price of fuel and the world food crisis, many people in Tanzania are struggling to pay for food. This is the likely scenario of many countries around the world in the near future. Yes, metaphorically the land may be parched, but together we can be God's hand to help it rejoice and blossom."

My mother and I have also since discovered the truly remarkable "rest of the story". Gayle had only launched her website two weeks before I found it. Her dear friend had convinced her of the need to go "global" with her efforts.

Note: Some of my favorite pieces created from "The Gift" have included:

"Wisdom's Worth" from Job 28:18 "Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; and the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls."

A bracelet called "Refined by Fire" designed around Zechariah 13:9:

"This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'"

I hope that this article will inspire you to visit Gayle's Kit and Kaboodle Shop on Etsy and to return often to witness the inspiration of God in an artist's hands.