Transforming Art

Have you ever had fear consume you?

It can take you over if you let it.

Years ago my cousin shared a story of God’s great love and compassion in her life during a time she was struggling.

I Decided To Ask God For A Story Of My Own.

One day a friend called me out of the blue and asked to come over. She wanted to talk.

I told her I was open only for a couple hours that afternoon before I had to leave home. That was all the time she had open as well.

When she came over the girls were down for a nap and we began to visit.

(As moms know, it was a miracle that the girls were sleeping and our visit was uninterrupted!)

Almost immediately, my friend jumped into telling me about her grandma Ruby and how amazing she was and what an incredible walk with Jesus she had developed over her lifetime.

Her grandma had recently passed away so I thought this talk was for her to process her grief.

Soon I Realized That This Was My God Story.

He was addressing my greatest fear, which was losing my husband and raising the girls on my own.

Grandma Ruby had five kids that she raised on her own for thirteen years after her husband had died.

Through this lady’s amazing story, God encountered my fear with the fullness of His love.

I knew that should anything happen to James, I would never be alone and God would fill our every need.

The peace that overcame me after hearing this story was amazing and I ceased to worry over being alone.

This Was A Turning Point For Me And I Began To Seek Him Differently.

As I remember, that same week some amazing things happened. I took the girls to the library and we checked out some books on butterflies.

Later, as I was reading one of the books to the girls, we were in awe as we read that the caterpillar completely breaks down into goo before it rebuilds and emerges a butterfly.

God really spoke to me through this kid’s book.

As the caterpillar’s body is broken down, its “self” is broken down and then remade, just as we’re remade in Christ, completely transformed into a new creation.

A Day Or So After Reading This Book, The Girls Come Running Into The House Screaming.

The excitement was over a butterfly that had just emerged from its chrysalis.

They told me they had witnessed the caterpillar climb the tricycle and make its chrysalis there on the handle 10 days before.

How amazing that they then saw the butterfly break free.

We watched the butterfly find a high place to dry off. The picture above is that butterfly.

Like The Butterfly, We Are Transforming Works Of Art In God’s Hands.

Thank goodness He doesn’t leave us where we are.

The butterfly and Grandma Ruby’s story were “pictures” for me when God encountered me with His love. His perfect Love casts out all fear.

God gives me pictures to paint and share with others that will remind them of a promise, encourage, or inspire them by His never ending love and presence.

Unsure of how they would be received, I remember being nervous about giving paintings at first.

After giving several and seeing how God is moving through the paintings and their lives, it made it easier to get myself and my ego out of the way so that others can have their picture and God story.

God is all knowing and all seeing.

I know this and yet I’m still blown away when a painting that seems simple and not powerful at all is so impactful for someone.

I’ll Always Remember My First Paintings.

They were on paper and I knew nothing about painting.

Even so, the messages were powerful.

One was encouragement to a couple, reassuring them that God’s hands were around them, protecting them so they could relax.

This was in a time when they were struggling.

Another was a promise to a husband and wife that they are “one” in their marriage and in God.

The painting shows their marriage is a strong bond of three cords. Because one cord is the husband, one the wife and the third and strongest cord is God’s.

This promise shifted perspective and was a part of stopping an affair.

With these two paintings, the friends who received them shared with me what was going on and how God spoke to them through the picture.

I don’t always know or find out how God was working.

Even so, I give the pictures I get with the words God gives me knowing that He is at work in a powerful way.

This Is My First Painting On Canvas.

It’s a picture God gave me for my husband, James.

I was just learning color gradation.

After working on this painting for weeks and not finishing it, a friend offered to keep my kids so that I could complete it.

It was done that afternoon.

An Urgency Drove Me To Finish It And Give It To Him That Night.

After typing out all the words and verses that went with the painting, I gave it to James.

It was the very next morning that we wrecked our Yukon off of McClure Pass on the way to pick up a puppy.

The shield about James was a reminder of God’s protection over him and we were reassured that James would survive and recover.

We’re so blessed to have James alive with us today!

That’s a long story for another time.

It’s Amazing What God Can Do With One Picture!

Jumping right in has been an adventure. Unfortunately, I let my perfectionism hang me up for a while.

Currently, I’m moving past that and I’m learning new skills from artists on YouTube. One of my favorite artists that I follow is Chuck Black.

His attention to detail is incredible and I aspire to reach such skill in my art work someday.

I’m humbled that God uses me to give Transforming Art to encourage, inspire, and breathe life into people, transforming their perspective and faith in the One who loves them.

I’m Continuing To Break Out Of Fear and Perfectionism.

I’m setting up a website so that all my paintings will be available.

Our local photographer has two of my paintings and is getting professional pictures to me for the Transforming Art website.

Prints will eventually be available for purchase.

What Fears Are You Currently Facing?

Will you ask God for your “story”?
Will you be aware and recognize Him when He encounters you?

Please join us and like Transforming Art facebook page for continuing encouragement and updates on our website

Have a blessed week!