Helping Hands

This past weekend was a very special moment for me.  It was a mark in time where God allowed me to see a desire come to reality.  He allowed me to see a wish transform into action and action (covered in grace) transform into amazing fruit.  

...

I fell in love with Busboys and Poets over five years ago.  Busboys became my work zone- my place for creativity and late night papers.  I loved the ambiance- from the books to the seating to the music.  About two years ago, the thought came to mind about possibly submitting work to be on display.  I felt under-qualified:  I didn't have enough pieces, the sizes of my pieces were smaller than I thought was acceptable, and I didn't have a website or central location for people to look up my work.  So, I put the thought on the shelf and said, "One day..."  "Another day..."

Well, Sunday morning at 7:00, my "one day" became TODAY.  About a year ago, I started buying larger canvases to paint on.  My collection began to grow.  I was just doing life...and painting about it.  On January 1, 2015, I started this blog- a central location to post my work.  One day while working on applications, the thought came to mind again about applying to submit work at Busboys.  This time instead of telling myself, "not now," I asked myself, "why not now?"  My logic was: if I still wasn't ready and my work wasn't accepted, I'd just keep working and resubmit every six months.  

On March 3rd, I received an email from Busboys and Poets' curator, Ms. Carol Dyson.  She wanted two of my pieces!!! AND a poem!  I was ELATED, excited, encouraged, motivated...

As mentioned before, on yesterday, Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 7:00 AM, I installed my first two pieces and a poem for display at Busboys and Poets Hyattsville location.

GOD IS GOOD.

And He's faithful.

And He cares.

At the beginning of this blog, I posted the picture of the hands working together to put my picture up because it is symbolic and significant to me.  These two sets of hands mounting my picture are not my hands.  They are the hands of a loved one (my Alabama) and Ms. Dyson.  To me this is a reminder of all the hands that have helped me be who I am...

all the hands that have uplifted me along the way...

all the hands that have been tangible representatives of God's very present help and hand in and on my life...

We can see these natural hands with our natural eye,

but I see what the camera could not capture.

I see God's hands and all the human hands He's used to help and uphold me.

I

AM

GRATEFUL.

What more can I say?

I.  AM.  GRATEFUL.

Praise wells up in my heart.  I am so grateful.  I am about to post the pictures from the installation below, but what I need you to know is this:  His hands are present in your life too. So...

Keep dreaming.

Keep believing.

Keep doing.

Keep growing.

Keep getting back up.

Lift your eyes and heart to HIM.

And in time...

You will see HIM connecting the dots in your life.

Be encouraged.

I pray you soar.

Sincerely,

a humble heart welling over with gratitude:

AJM

The Lion Within

Sometimes, I feel 

there is a lion roaring within...

There is a lion within

There is a lion within all of us...

Sleep at times...

Roaring at others...

Caged in some cases...

Loosed in others...

Sometimes its roar is muffled and misconstrued...

Crowded out by the noise and sights of life

However,

Discontentment and Frustration

Reoccurring Dreams

Undying Desire, Passion, Inclinations

Inescapable Graces, Talents, Tendencies

Remind us of the lion within

A lion within

An essence in-tuned with purpose, design, passion, instincts...

There is a lion within

And I am now aware

I see

I hear

I feel

I roar

More fully alive

because I am now aware

More fully alive

as I allow 

the roar to guide me

pass bars

into the wild

into life more abundantly

The One I've Been Waiting On...

It Begins With Me

Change and Greatness are hugely impacted 

by our own thoughts, decisions, and actions.  

"BE the change you want to see," as they say...


A song:  "This is the Time" by SuperChick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aECjWjsz_Ow

A Leaf that Won't Wither...

Look closely.  Can you see the woman in this picture?  

Look for the leaf.  

(Hint:  She has an afro and has on a scarf and skirt.  She's dancing.)

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 

4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 

6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. 

http://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/1.html

Blackbird

"Greatness Variation"

Langston Hughes has a poem called Dreams and another entitled Dream Variations.  I'm not sure if there is a connection between the two poems.  I'll have to research it.  Nevertheless, the titles came to mind as I was working on this current piece.  The piece below is in response to a previous work of mine called, "Greatness."  Well, here's a variation of my idea of greatness:

Greatness Variation

not always on the right beat

a chord from out of this world

swinging

laughing

dancing 

skipping

cartwheeling

sledding...at thirty LOL!

slipping

sliding

sharps and flats

both treble and bass

dreaming

believing

doing

being

when I allow myself

I'm

GREAT

at being 

ME

"New Beginnings"

"Surrender"

"Lost"

Nothing Wasted...

It's times like these that I am reminded that God is with me.  He's using every piece of me-  every piece of my life- and transforming it all into a great masterpiece.  I am a witness that God has a way of taking every part of us and using it to produce greatness.  I've seen how God has taken pressure and pain, interrupted sleep, frustration, tears and fears, thoughts and feelings that I can't seem to articulate...I've seen how he's taken these things and used them to compose visions for poems and paintings.

Images in my head and stanzas to poems serve as witness to me that HE IS WITH ME.  They remind me and reassure me that He's working with my pieces.  

This morning, I rest in that space.  I rest in the space of "process."  I rest because I am assured that NOTHING WILL BE WASTED.  Every piece and every process will be used for the greater good.  I rest knowing that I AM OK....just as I am, right where I am.  I AM OKAY, because He is with me; keeping me; growing me; and working in, on, and through me.  I rest because of His love.  I rest because of His faithfulness.  I rest because of His presence and the greatness within the process.  I rest because I am assured that He's arranging my pieces for an amazing masterpiece, and nothing- no piece- will be wasted.  

THIS MORNING'S PIECE:  "Every Tear"

THE THREE SONGS ON MY ROTATION THIS MORNING:

"I am Light" by India Arie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ism8dBjxKvc

"Fly" by Nicki Minaj featuring Rihanna

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n71KUiWn1I

"Over and Over" by Trin-i-tee 5:7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OHI5PBA9n4 

Running with Time

Standing on the Word...Variations

 Standing on God's Word

In high school, I drew a variation of the first picture.  The concept was the same, but the woman's hair, clothes, and style were different. Last year, I found the picture drawn in high school and recreated it.  As I reflected, two more images came to mind.  The lady in the first picture is standing strong and smiling- sunshine and rain- firm on the word. 

 The first picture would be ideal, but it's not always the case.  For me, sometimes standing on the word has looked/felt/been more like this:

 And sometimes like this:

Though each picture is different, there is a common theme in all three pictures:  the woman remains ON THE WORD. 

Even more true for me would be the following picture.  I've posted it before, but I'm posting it again with this series.  This remains to be my truth:  I am IN HIS HANDS.

Greatness...

"Greatness"

This piece was inspired by a conversation I had with Jeremy Ellis, a man of greatness.  He endeavor's to live a life composed of thoughts, choices, and actions within the realm of the 3%.  He's a man of intention, enlightenment, and purpose.  

I'm a visual learner.  As he described his analysis of where most people operate in life and where he wanted to operate (within the 3%)...an image came to fruition in my mind.

The picture above is created in honor of Jeremy as well as in honor of the idea of living beyond the mediocre- living a life of greatness.

Check Jeremy and his partner, BG out at:  http://www.freelunchpodcast.blogspot.com/ .  Share in one aspect of his greatness and be inspired to pursue your own version of greatness.

Do more than exist.
Live!

With love and passion,
Ashley


Other modern men of greatness:  my cousins, Amir Usher and Jason Wiley.  Check them out!

Amir Usher:  Under 30 and has his own clothing line:  http://www.amirjames.com/

Jason Wiley:  Listed as one of the 40 under 40:  http://whartonmagazine.com/jason-wiley/

untitled...A Piece for Arrie...

Pieces...Pieces in the Potter's Hands

I remember nights, ailing over heartache...ailing over what didn't work and the time it was taking God to make things happen for me.  One night, I was wallowing in sorrow and decided to put the "pieces" of my heart onto a canvas.  I had told God that I felt like my life- my heart- was in pieces.  My attempts of FIXING, ADJUSTING, and REASSEMBLING pieces seemed futile.  I just couldn't seem to make things work or make things better.  I felt like a mess...

So...that night, God allowed me to use the creation of the collage/painting above as a means of RELEASE and THERAPY.  I laid down after finishing, thinking my work was done.  Not long after I laid down, I was prompted to get up and start another piece.  I felt God wanted me to know that laying out my pieces was not the end of the process.  Now that I had cried, vented, and turned my pieces into an ART piece...NOW it was God's turn to speak.  Thus...the second work posted above:  "Pieces in the Potters Hands."  I felt God teaching me that if I would just place all my pieces into his very capable hands, then He could transform my pieces into HIS masterpiece.

We may not be able to fix everything or always gain the type of closure we are looking for. We may not be able to see how things are going to work out or come together, but one thing I feel God has been trying to teach me time and time again is this:  If you would just trust Me and entrust ALL of you (and your pieces) to Me; I will take care of you far better than you could take care of yourself.

Flowers for Mom...

Dancing on Water...

This piece is called "Dancing on Water."

This pieces was inspired by reflections on Matthew 14:22-33 when Peter walked on water.  How much TRUST and FAITH would it exemplify to be able to not just walk on water but to dance on water?!

Not distracted or deterred by the winds or waves of life...

Trusting

Resting in God's presence and intent 

The purest form of a child trusting her Father's protection and care

Dancing

on water

In places beyond your natural capability to be in

In spaces deemed "impossible"

In places that demand FAITH and TRUST to stay afloat

Dancing on Water

I Am Spaghetti

I Am Spaghetti
by Ashley Jataun Moore
3.1.10

I am spaghetti

Sometimes sticky with emotions

Brittle when dried out

Coming to life when refreshed by Living Water

Expanding rather than breaking in boiling water

Resilient, growing, developing

Flexible, wanting to accommodate and please

Other times congealed and settled

Not always making sense

Sometimes tangled up on the inside

Rinsed in the Spirit, I am clean

With the right combinations and connections – ground chuck, Ragu, Pesto –

I reach my fullest potential

Green peppers, onions, tomatoes – I go to higher heights

A little brown sugar, dash of salt and pepper – life is more full

I am spaghetti

Though at times fighting against the nature of pasta

Trying to make my noodles into waffles

Thinking that life would be easier if I felt, acted, thought differently

Thinking I should and could have a better handle on things if I were different

Having a different kind of strength, a different type of structure, a different mode of thought and expression

Nevertheless, I remain to be pasta

I am spaghetti

At times it’s necessary to go against the current of life

Moving beyond the status quo

Pressing to reach the fullness of potential

Endeavoring to be in the heart, the center of God’s will

Choosing to live the life of one chosen, set apart, “in the world but not of the world”

Nevertheless, intuition and discernment are necessary

Discerning the tide, identifying the current

Not fighting against who I AM

Knowing what habits and cycles must be changed and broken

Yet realizing the core, the essence of me is to be developed and nurtured

So…

I am spaghetti

Meant to have a life intertwined

Jesus all day, flowing all throughout my veins

Love and compassion 24/7

A mind alert

Birthing poems at 7, 3, 12, and 1 AM or PM, it doesn’t matter

On napkins, in notebooks, in the margins of programs

Wisdom never resting, but ever growing

A student and teacher simultaneously

Humble and confident

Weak yet strong

Passionate yet disciplined

Free yet knowing when and how to submit

I am spaghetti

The Spirit within

Offering to regulate and call forth what’s needed to be

When it’s needed to be

The Spirit within, my on and off switch,

My indicator and dictator of when and what features are to be dominant or recessive

I am spaghetti

Entrusted with the task of practicing and continuing to be led by the Spirit

Continuing to develop me

Every aspect

Letting myself evolve and develop into all God called me to be

Not fighting against the core of me, the calling on me

Not trying to fit a different mold

Rather being okay with who I am

Making decisions that will help me fully develop into all of me

I am spaghetti

For My Sis...

Just Me...

I Am Enough

by Ashley J. Moore

4.1.12

I am enough

Just as I am

No need to look around me

Comparing and contrasting

Trying to alter, adjust, measure up, and make up for

Trying to win and keep...my stuff, "his" eye, “his” heart, my place, my position…

God has settled me

He settled me in His truth

The truth that makes me free

The truth that reminds me who and whose I am

The truth that reminds me that what God has for me is for me

The truth that reminds me that HE is the one who's keeping me and preserving my destiny

The truth that reminds me that in Him I am enough

The truth that reminds me that it's IN HIM that I "live and move and have my being"

The truth that reminds me that "my sufficiency is in Him"

The truth that frees me to develop the me that I was created to be

Rather than looking about me, checking myself, uncertain, unsure, afraid, always trying- Never settled…

NOPE.

Not anymore

I am enough

My sufficiency is in Him

He's not only keeping me, but He's also keeping the things, places, positions, and people He has for me

So...

"I fling my arms wide...dance...and whirl" as Langston Hughes might say

I delight in me

I delight in His love

I am okay

I am enough

I am free

I am now free

Not only to love and develop "me"

But also free to love, encourage, and uplift my sisters and brothers

I am now free to love and live and be

No fear

Just love

and liberty

Free to be

Free to embrace

Me

Rain

Sunshine

Blackbird...Born to Fly

Below are the two songs that played on repeat as I completed this piece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rpcQrxakRA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51NVWg4JhIo

The melancholy lyrics resonate with something within me.   From that same melancholy place,

stirs hope, strength, and a knowing...

that I was not only born to fly, but also that I shall fly...that I shall soar...above and beyond the things within and without that would hold me down...