Beautiful Chaos

So, this one is pretty different.  This is a family production and required group effort to complete, but I wanted to share a little about it on here anyway. 

I wanted to do a group project for two reasons.

1) It's late summer and we are all in desperate need for more creative outlets and 2) we're all in this together, so..why not?

The process went a bit like this. I put down papers of various types on the ground outside, brought out all kinds of materials the kids could use to paint, draw, and just be free to make crazy and fun art.  It honestly lasted all of 15 minutes though, as the kids started to paint their hands and arms and feet and... it was just a big, hilarious mess. I am thankful we were outside and I could hose them off! 

Anyway, we let these smaller art-works dry for awhile and then ripped them up- much to the kid's dismay- with the intention of creating a larger, even more beautiful picture.

The finished painting feels super crazy to me- because it is! The ripped shreds of paper peel off the canvas and in some places, even fall over off the edge of the canvas. There are bumps, imperfections, and crazy energy.  Total chaos- and yet, there is also something super fun and wildly beautiful about it. You can almost hear the laughter in it, can't you? There, in the midst of chaos, is joy!

It honestly didn't turn out as anything I expected it to be.  But I accept it anyway and I am finding so much joy in it and in the journey that got us here.  

That's life, right? 

Accept joy.

Allow yourself to be wildly free today.

Posture

Like most artists, I often begin with a blank canvas. It makes sense, right? However, this time I instead began to paint over a lovely, yet undone, painting. Let me explain why.

I am realizing lately in my life that all my thoughts and preconceived notions- particularly about myself and about God, need to be undone in some ways.  I have long believed the same lies about myself, and although perhaps lovely on the outside, a massive reconstruction needed (needs) to happen. My thoughts need to be realigned, recentered, around the truth.  The lies I have believed need to be covered with new thoughts, new truths. This reality is only found through the cross and what Jesus accomplished for us, and the freedom He offers us.  

I am realizing that although I have known/known of Jesus my entire life, I have not yet truly known Him or experienced the freedom that He came to give. I have instead gotten sucked into cycle after cycle, lie after lie- about myself and about God himself- what He thinks of me and who He is.  

I have had glimpses of that freedom, even seasons at times, but I consistently return to my chains; namely- fear, pain, and shame. Living in freedom doesn't/didn't seem realistic or practical for me.  Yes, I was granted moments...but a LIFE of freedom? It didn't seem possible. At least for me.  And yet, that's exactly what Jesus said He came for- to loose our chains and set us free, totally and completely. Life is not about me, has never been about me, will never be about me.  And yet, I live 98% of my time as though it is, getting caught up in worries, fears of the unknown, schedules/plans, material desires, distractions...

So what does freedom look like, for me?  Honestly, I'm not sure yet, but one thing I do know is that I need more of Him and less of me. I can do nothing apart from Him. Life is so much bigger than our small human feeble minds can even begin to comprehend. Our lives are a speck, a breath, a blink, in the grander scheme of eternity. ETERNITY. A word I cannot even begin to grasp in its entirety.

God is so much bigger too, than our worries, fears, pains, and shame.  And He is calling to us. To you. To me.

Listen. 

Respond.
Receive.

This is the posture I want to be in.
At the cross, always at the cross.
That's where freedom is found.

"He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30

Be Set Free

This painting was really fun for me to create. I sometimes put a lot of pressure on myself when painting, wanting everything to look and feel the way I want it to.  This time, however, I went back to my painting roots-- think less, feel more, let my hands do the work.  I am really happy with the result, and even more, with the process. 

For those who know me know I have quite a few tattoos.  One of my favorites is the birdcage on my right forearm.  The birdcage is open and you can see the birds flying out and up my arm, eventually landing and resting on the branches of the tree that covers most of my back and shoulder.  I really like the symbolism of the open birdcage.  It reminds me of the verse in John 8:32- "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

So often in life we feel caged- by emotions, expectations, past regrets, fears, you name it.  And yet, through Jesus, we have been set free; we are un-caged, per say.  However, it is important to note that being free, even staying free, is ultimately a choice.  The cage can be, and is, open.  The birds have a choice to fly out though.  They can remain in the cage their whole lives, knowing full well and seeing that it is open, but choosing to live there instead, in bondage essentially.  They can also fly out, get a glimpse of freedom, only to return to the cage, and thus placing themselves in bondage once again.  OR they can leave the cage, perch on the branches of the tree, and experience true freedom, for the tree gives life- the birdcage does not.  They may be tempted to return to the cage; afterall in an odd way, it feels safe, even comfortable.  However, if they never take the chance to fly away, to really leave the cage behind, they will never experience real freedom.  

I challenge you to think about the things, the places, the fears that you hold onto that keep in you caged- or that entice you to return to the cage.

Do you want to live in freedom?

Be brave, be daring, step outside the cage.

Freedom is yours.

May the truth set you free today.

Choose Hope

I have been thinking a lot about (and feeling) anxiety and fear lately.  I find that it is terribly easy to get caught up in fear and despair, even, at times.  For me right now, it's mainly in regards to my own health, but often it's other things too.  Anxiety is a life-sucking beast and can be so debilitating at times. So one day recently I got really caught up in this fear and decided to paint through it instead of sitting in it.  I remembered that I have read in a devotional earlier to "make the choice to rejoice."  And that's just it- to live in fear is a choice.  To live in joy, with hope, is a choice.  Jesus constantly tell us, "do not fear."  This is not a suggestion, but a command, and ultimately a choice.  To rejoice in our sufferings, to be thankful in all circumstances, to trust God despite what we feel.  The choice to rejoice.  To choose hope instead of fear and despair.  Easier said than done but this is what I have been trying to focus on instead of fear an anxiety- but it is definitely a moment by moment choice! 

I hope it can serve as a reminder for you all, too.

Choose hope.

Healing will follow.

Summer Rain

If there’s one thing that refreshes my soul in the hot summer  months, it’s a good rain.  A lot of people tend to grumble about the  rain, often deeming rainy days as gloomy, depressing, and even  useless because rain can often get in the way of the activities and  plans we have for ourselves that day.  However, what we often  forget, and even take for granted, is that rain, and water itself, is  essential to life.  At our house, we pray and thank God for rainy  days, praising Him for sending the rain that makes the flowers  grow. Like flowers, we also need rain.  Rainy days refresh the earth,  and, if we allow, slow us down, make time for rest, and feed our  souls.  

Allow your soul to be refreshed by the rain today.