Seems to me this is now the second time you have so encouraged me. God willing, that is my intent, Thru the Bible.
God gives me fresh inspiration and blessing every day through this. Because an unexamined project is foolhardy, I'm going to think aloud here about those gifts, emulate Browning and count the ways (also known as revealing how the sausage is made):
* the thrill of the hunt, as true online as afield
* the continual surprises in finding artwork new to me--each one is like opening a present
* the energizing mental stimulus of dozens of daily decisions
* the responsibility for faithfully and accurately and fully representing Scripture
* the challenge of organizing and maintaining the data
* the fun of creating new forms to suit the message
* the daily confirmation that God prepared me specifically for doing this and enables me
* the hilarious enjoyment of cooperating with God on His project, being carried along by His Spirit (the goofs, blunders and foolish mistakes are mine, obviously, and the bright ideas His)
* the deeper understanding of Scripture prompted by the art and by the commenters
* the opportunity of praying for both viewers who respond and silent viewers who do not, and then interacting with all the Ezekiels who chime in
Undoubtedly there are other blessings which I didn't think to mention or which I will discover, for He has no end of them.
That's it right there. Is Isaac is Abraham's seed called.
Sincere, honest, whole-hearted people -- each with their unique talents and artistic impressions and placement in this world -- can get a whole lot accomplished just by taking their own one-of-a-kind "temple" blueprint, and running with it. It's not any work at all if it is love.
Everyone arrives in life with a special mission designed especially for him (or her). The miracle is that somehow all these "oddball" pieces (assignments) are designed to fit together effortlessly. The Messiah is the chief "oddball" as the maverick solution to business.
That's pretty funny - the pattern is actually quite flexible -- that what's good is golden so it'll work. Get 'R Done. On your mark, get set, paint!
The God of Abraham is the God of the living. :)
Keep having fun!