Prisons of Life

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!