I am NOT speaking of "prisons" where criminals go to be locked up, but of those we create in our own lives. It is the choices we make or uncontrollable events in our lives that capture us and "lock us up" on the inside. It is the "prisons" from childhood models that taught us not to speak or to not be who we real are in God's eyes. It is the prisons that the world places on us to be "just so" to fit in. It is the prison's of the media images of the perfect body or designer clothes.
I have thought about these prisons for quite sometime in my life. I have worked to "reprogram my mind" against what the world and others are saying to entrap me into their prisons of life. It has been a hard fight. It is a struggle that is not yet over. I struggle each time I look into the mirror, or strike out to do something, when that small, yet powerful "inner child" voice begins to speak out to tell me I am not worth it, I am not good enough, I am not pretty enough, I am not smart enough and I will always fail!
But I choose to renew my mind against the evil one and His lies, for I am God's best! His masterpiece! YOU ARE GOD'S BEST too! We are ALL His masterpiece! We must stand against life's prisons so we can walk in the light of our Savior's love.
Did you know that when God's looks upon us, He sees His Son, His child? Yes, it is true, He sees us perfect and forgiven as His child because of having Jesus Christ in our lives. What a gift! What a victory in our lives! If we could only continue to view ourselves in that way...through the eyes of our Savior, washing us with His love and presenting us to the Father as whole and perfect, without blemish. WOW! Think of that! What a gift! Can you hold that in your mind? Can you fully grasp it? I am still trying too.
I have added a few attachments to my page because this subject as inspired my art and heart. My friend and awesome talented singer, Alisa Childers has just written a new song titled: Pretty Prison. It speaks to the image the world places upon us and much more. It talks about how woman are taught to NOT say what we really mean. How we always try to please others. I am awaiting her permission to post the blog she wrote that inspired the song. I know it would really touch your heart and speak to many of you, especially women. So until I can download Alisa's song, (you can hear it on her webpage for now.) I have added to my downloads the music of JJ Heller, called "Love Me', which speaks to our desire to loved for who we really are. I felt it was very fitting. It is a song that will touch your heart. You can hear it on Truthvine or on her webpage.
I have also attached my artwork titled: "The Gate" to speak to the gates in our lives that lock us out and hold us prisoners. You see, this painting was inspired as I took care of a child with autism. She was trapped in her world, not making eye contact with life. Each day, she would make her way to the big rugged gate in the back yard. She would reach up and touch the gate, saying, "Want out, want out!" She yet, would never look at the gate directly. It spoke to my heart deeply. It is here, she is trapped in her world and she so desperately longs to find away out, to find a way to escape her bondage...A way to be free of this world's prisons, her world of autism.
This experience began me to think of all the "gates" in our lives that keep us prisoner. I thought of the courage it takes to move forward in action as well as, the willingness to first look straight in the eyes all the gates in our own lives that stop us from being ALL that God has called us to be. One gate can lead to another gate...there may many in our lives.
I thought about the "gates" in my life and the prison it has built in my life. I have thought of how it stops me from moving forward with so many opportunities in this world. I see how it keeps me locked up inside and places a fear blocking from what I truly can be. So I began my journey by painting "The Gate" and began thinking of ways I can have the courage to look my gate straight in the eyes, to step forward and reach out to open that gate and see what God has for me beyond the gates of my prison.
If you notice in my painting, I placed a garbage can behind the little girl. I did this to remind us that has we have the courage to go forth and step through the gate and to give it all to God, allowing you with God's help to place the trash of our lives where it belongs to never imprison us again!
So what are the prison's in your life? What "gates" stop you from being all God has called you to be? Let's discuss them and encourage one another so we can go forth in boldness and touch this world with God's freedom, hope and love!
P.S.
I hope many of you will be willing to share the "gates or "prisons" in your lives. I think it can be an awesome tool in our lives to encourage one another to let go! Let's build one another up as God instructs us too! We can walk with a renewed mind, prison/gate free!
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If you would like to see more of my art go to: http://laurieh.myexpose.com
JJ Heller's music can be found at: http://www.myspace.com/jjhellermusic
Also Alisa Childers site can be found at: http://www.myspace.com/alisachildersmusic
Be blessed!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Curve Balls of Life's Journey
Life's Journey continues and boy oh boy is it full of "curve balls"! I continue to learn how to allow God to take the bat in every circumstance of life, but it isn't that easy. If you are like me, you have preconceived ideas of how to right a problem, find a solution or the steps it will take to make things o.k. again. It is not often I want to just sit back and roll with the punches. No, not me! I must find the answers, search for the solutions and take some control of the situation. If you are truly honest with yourself, I bet there a few of you out there who can relate to what I am saying.
We are the "doers", the ones who get into the game and strive to win at all costs. We do not want to just sit at the sidelines as a spectator. Most of us want to be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. We are the ones asked to join the team. We do not sit idle as we see the curve balls of life pass on by. Instead, we are determined to catch the curve ball no matter how difficult it is to catch. We do not easily give up, but welcome the challenge.
We are the ones that have experienced success in finding solutions, whether others notice or not. If by chance someone does notice, it is like a bonus win that cheers you on to do it again. The bigger the challenge, the bigger the reward to find the answers, the solutions and to never give up.
Personally, I think God loves cheering us on to never give up, to face the trials of this life and to meet each challenge with open arms. Yet, I also believe that there comes a time in life we must surrender and take a backseat. We must face the fact that we do not have all the answers and that sometimes in this life there isn't a solution. We must admit that we are merely human. It is time to let God be the solution, to let Him be the hero and allow Him to bring victory.
During these past years, this is exactly what God is teaching me. He has allowed me to strike out, to miss catching the curve balls of life and to finally realize in my human weakness He is made strong. We all know life is not a game, but we often live it as one. We view the problems and trials of this life as the curve balls of life. We allow ourselves to believe that if we only try harder and keep practicing that we can win over any life's challenge. We don't stop to listen to God still small voice saying, "You don't have to go it alone. You do not need to have all the answers. You can rest in my strength and let me grant the victory."
I am no exception, for as each curve ball has headed my way, I have stretched out my arm with mitt in hand, determined to catch that curve ball and stop it dead in its tracks - never to affect my life again. Other times I have readied myself with a solid bat, determined to hit each ball out of the park. But to my surprise as I looked up to deal with the first curve ball, there before my very eyes was a second curve ball and then a third, a fourth and even a fifth! Soon it looked like a hailstorm of curve balls and my mitt and bat became the only shield to block each balls blow to my head.
Fear over whelmed me as I questioned how I could have the strength to continue to block each curve ball from their blow. No longer was I thinking how to catch them or hit them out of the park as they rocket down from the sky like an intense meteor shower. I felt this was the end. I could see no hope in sight. I had no answers, no solutions or strength to continue at such a pace. I had to look beyond myself and ask for help. I had to reach out to other believers and lend on them for strength, for encouragement and to borrow their hope. I had to say to God, "Here I am, I must trust in you to met my needs, to help me survive this storm."
It was time for me to surrender my mitt and hand over my bat. It was time for me to sit on the side lines, to rest in my saviors arms and let Him have control...trusting fully in Him for the outcome no matter what it may be...To know He does work all things for good for those whom love Him whether or not the storm continues for a time or stops to shine forth a ray of light.
My storm is not yet over, there are more dark clouds ahead as the curve balls continue to fall. Yet, I will not give up, but I also know my in my weakness He is made strong. He will protect me, grant me hope and bring the victory. I must know with Him there are answers and solution, but I must patiently wait, for His timing is perfect. He knows how many curve balls I can handle. He knows that each one serves a purpose and will bring blessing for all those who wait.
So as I sit here with all my bumps and bruises of lessons learned, I patiently wait...God is my strength, my victor and I will hide myself in the shelter of His wings. I will not be afraid of the curve balls ahead, I will not go it alone, but trust in each moment of life God has given me...to count my blessings and to rest in Him, trusting that He has the answers. God is on my side. He is the captain of my team. He has victory over every storm. Aaaah, peace be still...catch some joy and let the curve balls reign for I will not fear...I am journeying on!
We are the "doers", the ones who get into the game and strive to win at all costs. We do not want to just sit at the sidelines as a spectator. Most of us want to be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. We are the ones asked to join the team. We do not sit idle as we see the curve balls of life pass on by. Instead, we are determined to catch the curve ball no matter how difficult it is to catch. We do not easily give up, but welcome the challenge.
We are the ones that have experienced success in finding solutions, whether others notice or not. If by chance someone does notice, it is like a bonus win that cheers you on to do it again. The bigger the challenge, the bigger the reward to find the answers, the solutions and to never give up.
Personally, I think God loves cheering us on to never give up, to face the trials of this life and to meet each challenge with open arms. Yet, I also believe that there comes a time in life we must surrender and take a backseat. We must face the fact that we do not have all the answers and that sometimes in this life there isn't a solution. We must admit that we are merely human. It is time to let God be the solution, to let Him be the hero and allow Him to bring victory.
During these past years, this is exactly what God is teaching me. He has allowed me to strike out, to miss catching the curve balls of life and to finally realize in my human weakness He is made strong. We all know life is not a game, but we often live it as one. We view the problems and trials of this life as the curve balls of life. We allow ourselves to believe that if we only try harder and keep practicing that we can win over any life's challenge. We don't stop to listen to God still small voice saying, "You don't have to go it alone. You do not need to have all the answers. You can rest in my strength and let me grant the victory."
I am no exception, for as each curve ball has headed my way, I have stretched out my arm with mitt in hand, determined to catch that curve ball and stop it dead in its tracks - never to affect my life again. Other times I have readied myself with a solid bat, determined to hit each ball out of the park. But to my surprise as I looked up to deal with the first curve ball, there before my very eyes was a second curve ball and then a third, a fourth and even a fifth! Soon it looked like a hailstorm of curve balls and my mitt and bat became the only shield to block each balls blow to my head.
Fear over whelmed me as I questioned how I could have the strength to continue to block each curve ball from their blow. No longer was I thinking how to catch them or hit them out of the park as they rocket down from the sky like an intense meteor shower. I felt this was the end. I could see no hope in sight. I had no answers, no solutions or strength to continue at such a pace. I had to look beyond myself and ask for help. I had to reach out to other believers and lend on them for strength, for encouragement and to borrow their hope. I had to say to God, "Here I am, I must trust in you to met my needs, to help me survive this storm."
It was time for me to surrender my mitt and hand over my bat. It was time for me to sit on the side lines, to rest in my saviors arms and let Him have control...trusting fully in Him for the outcome no matter what it may be...To know He does work all things for good for those whom love Him whether or not the storm continues for a time or stops to shine forth a ray of light.
My storm is not yet over, there are more dark clouds ahead as the curve balls continue to fall. Yet, I will not give up, but I also know my in my weakness He is made strong. He will protect me, grant me hope and bring the victory. I must know with Him there are answers and solution, but I must patiently wait, for His timing is perfect. He knows how many curve balls I can handle. He knows that each one serves a purpose and will bring blessing for all those who wait.
So as I sit here with all my bumps and bruises of lessons learned, I patiently wait...God is my strength, my victor and I will hide myself in the shelter of His wings. I will not be afraid of the curve balls ahead, I will not go it alone, but trust in each moment of life God has given me...to count my blessings and to rest in Him, trusting that He has the answers. God is on my side. He is the captain of my team. He has victory over every storm. Aaaah, peace be still...catch some joy and let the curve balls reign for I will not fear...I am journeying on!
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