A bad selfie of the author and artist with her new book, Surrender All.
Walking with Jesus
If the 2020 election cycle (in America) has shown us anything, it is that we can all hear the same words, but receive them differently. Factors like family history, geography, religion and life experience can shape our perception. For us Christians, the challenge is to not let those differences cause us to turn on each other, but to remember we are all part of one body, one bigger plan. We are all called to surrender to God’s Will for salvation and resist relying solely on our own understanding in times of trouble.
“Surrender All: An Illuminated Journal Retreat through the Stations of the Cross,” Ave Maria Press
From the desperate prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane to the painful heights of the cross on Calvary, the last day of Jesus’ life on earth is a deep study in what that “surrender” looks like. Examining the final events of this day, we see that God never leaves us to walk alone and He shows us the way through our own pain to ultimate redemption. He shows us how to Love unconditionally.
My book, Surrender All: An Illuminated Journal Retreat through the Stations of the Cross, is launched on November 20, 2020. The book is designed to be used as a prayerful opportunity to walk more closely with Jesus in challenging times, and is intended to be used at any point in the year, not just during Lent.
It features my original artwork for each Station of the Cross plus the entrance to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the encounter with Mary Magdalene on Easter Sunday, a corresponding painted verse, a chosen bible verse to read, and a short essay of reflection to tie each piece together. Each chapter prompts you to practice “Visio Divina” (the practice of using visuals to go deeper into scriptural meaning), and ends with journal prompts, an activity and a closing prayer. It is a giftable book, designed to be read and pondered more than once!
Making art is a form of prayer for me, and painting each piece gave me time to reflect on the story, deeper meanings, and where the points of the most pain were. It gave me the opportunity to see each scene from multiple points of view. We usually center our attention on Christ, but what would it be like to be in the crowd, or one of the women or a Roman soldier? How would we respond to the scene? I have used color and design to examine these questions.
Working with my publisher, Ave Maria Press, was a pure joy! They imagined the potential of this book after seeing my artwork in one of my exhibit booths. They gave the work wings, allowing me now to share it with you in a longer-lasting form. I hope you will use this book to go deeper into your own walk with Christ in your life!
“Surrender All” is available directly from Ave Maria Press here. Use coupon code NORTON13 to buy it at $13 each on the publisher’s site!
Buying 5 or more copies? Use coupon code NORTON11 for $11 each on the publisher’s site.
“Surrender All” is also available now on Amazon here.
