Feeling God's love and running by faith on light feet

I woke up with the first alarm at 5:00 am and prepared myself for the usual Friday morning run. I distinctly remember turning my phone off with plenty of battery, but when I powered it up, there was zero battery life. I found Krista's iPod, turned it on to find half the battery life and enough songs to keep me moving. 

I laced up my shoes, got ready to go and the moment I hit play, the battery dropped to less than 5% and I knew that the distance I travel would tax that little amount before I even broke a sweat. So I psyched myself out and felt peace with the fact that I don't /need/ music to do what I do and perhaps God wants my ears to be quiet so He can speak to me. 

I left the house to a chilly morning - in the 30s with frost on the roofs of all the cars in the development - but I was comfortable. I hit the trail and adjusted my path because of the frozen and dangerous wood bridges. I figured going a little further wouldn't kill me, so I began. 

Early in to the run, I felt the tugging and discomfort of the enemy trying to discourage me and get into my head but I remained undaunted and prayed through it. I found my pace and rhythm and continued. My usual route takes me roughly 2.5 miles through pretty trails and natural surroundings. I kept the rhythm of feet-to-breath and tried not to think about it too much. 

About half the way through my normal route, I felt it - the Lord was speaking to me, into my heart, ears and mind. It was incredible; I needed to be quiet and truly hear things. Among the things He told me is that He would make my feet lighter and I can go further than I've ever gone before. 

I passed my usual turn to go back home and embarked on my 'exercise' of faith; He spoke to me under the crisp light of a bright morning moon. What I experienced next nearly brought me to my knees but I felt compelled to keep running, feet as light as He promised. 

I felt the presence of my mother, who went to be with the Lord in 2008. I can't explain how it sounded but I knew it was her, just like you know that someone is watching you or have a sense of deja-vu. In my extension of faith and break from the norm, I was treated to a wonderful gift. 

My feet still light, I rounded the corner for the path home and felt the encouragement and love from my sweet Lord and my beloved mother cheering me on. The affirmation "I'm proud of you" reverberated my soul. I know for a fact that had I been wearing earphones and went my usual way, I would have missed out on this glorious occurrence; I was led to read Ephesians. When I got home, I did like I normally do - change clothes and sit down at the computer to unwind, and wait until it's time to wake up Krista.

When I tried to use the computer, the keyboard wouldn't type. The mouse worked, everything was connected, but I couldn't type anything in any program. Internet browser, MS Word, even simple Notepad. It was brought to my attention in a still small voice that I was supposed to read Ephesians as soon as I got home.

I went to the car, got my Bible and read the entire book of Ephesians and it was eye opening, the things that were told to me on the trail and what I was reading meshed in an amazing way. I was specifically led to read Ephesians 1:9 (and10). 

(9) He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, (10) to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 

I was reminded of the strength we have as believers to the world and as people in relationships with one another - especially husbands and wives. When I was done reading the chapter, I gave thanks in prayer and went to the computer and it worked perfectly.

I don't plan on forcing it or doing similar things to make the visit happen again. I want this to be like seeing a shooting star or making pleasant eye contact with a smiling baby in a car driving by. 

I was given a gift this morning and I'll never forget it. With light feet and a joyful heart, I got over the stumbling block of running my first 5k before the sun came up.

Enjoy the daily miracles and love people while you can. 

- Troy Vera
April 5, 2012
(Good Friday)

Photo Credit: Lorenzo Comolli, 2002

Nickelodeon's Contribution to the Gulf Cleanup

I got to thinking and who better than our super absorbent buddy SpongeBob? or Bob Esponja for our spanish reading fans ...

Printable Version for plastering everywhere

Nurses' Icebreaker

Hey dear readers. this was inspired by Dede Dodge and Kari Botts. Two awesome friends who make people feel better and need some fun expression in their lives. Share it with friends and have some fun.

Inktober Illustrations E-book

Hello dear readers. As part of the whole Facebook experience and one of the other reasons this part of my digital empire has gotten a little out of date, I wanted to offer you a fun piece of my mind.

The whole month of October, I did a drawing a day ... some illustrations, some cartoons and all fun and creative. There was such a flow of comments and positive feedback I thought it would be fun to compile them in an e-book.


[ CLICK TO DOWNLOAD 6,500k pdf ]

Just so we're clear, there's a method to the madness. Inktober was a way to expand my daily norm to include hand drawn line art. Originally shared on Facebook, the collection took on a following and as more friends and family enjoyed it, I wanted a way to show and share it in a more organized manner.

So in the following pages, you'll see what I have done on a daily basis to keep the creative wheels greased. Thank you for the kind comments which can still be seen on the Facebook album 'Inktober' on my page. If you aren't online or in the list, Some are cartoons from my ever-evolving series "The Irony is Devastating".

Share with your friends, laugh, ponder and have fun like I did making these drawings. Printed book copies, art prints and originals will be available for sale very soon. Thanks and enjoy!

In the creative median with my blinker on

Hello dear readers...

I'm enjoying growing in my skills and learning new technologies and staying on the cusp of existing ones, all that being said... I miss painting and illustration.

I'm putting on a developer hat (more like a hardhat) and knocking out custom solutions and having a blast. I'm crafting solutions and value added solutions and positioning Kingdom Graphics as a multifaceted solution for the progressive businessperson.

Also I get the chance to create designs and corporate identity for our clients so that lets me stretch the ol cerebellum with artistic expression.

CurvyGirl got me oil paints for Christmas and a Japanese sumi-e painting and calligraphy brush set a few years ago. I'm going to dip some bristles very soon and hope to parlay that into a gallery presence.

Whatever your creative expression, painting, drawing, music, sewing, writing... share it and be proud of it because when you don't get a chance to put it out there it's easy to feel creatively constipated.

I am going to show my sweet blue-eyed muse the power she has over me.

To quote Staind, 'It's been a while'

Hello dear readers, with the advent of broader communication on LinkedIn and Facebook, plus a bevy of development projects on my drawing board, I've been pulled away from the Because Things Should Look Good blog.

Kingdom Graphics is about to roll out an exciting new self-promotion service that's going to serve as a value added service to out clients and strategic business partners. I'll share more as soon as the curtain is ready to open on that project. But also we have had the chance to help our long-standing clients develop new e-commerce catalogs, and some new avenues into the stone and tile care markets all over the north bay.

So in short, we're clickin along and appreciate the attention the Steelers Groundhog cartoon has given us as well.

Thanks and we'll talk to you again soon. *waving happily*

Groundhog Day and Steelers' Victory

I was inspired this morning and though I'd do up a nifty cartoon honoring the Pittsburgh Steelers' victory in Super Bowl XLIII (or 43 for you non-Romans out there). So Punxsutawney Phil poked out of his hollow, feelin' good from last night and made this declaration.

Available as FREE desktop wallpapers:
Click link, open image and right-click to save to your desktop!

• 600 x 800 (171k .jpg)
  
• 1024 x 768 (272k .jpg)
  
• 1600 x 1200 (905k .jpg)
  

If you want it on a t-shirt, baby shirt, mousepad or anything else, please contact me at troy@kingdomgraphics.biz and I will let you know where to get them.

I also tried to get this in to the Pittsburgh area newspapers but they stonewalled me so I thought I'd share it here!