FLY!!

SO excited!  God is opening so many doors here in Oahu!  I have joined an on-line CREATIVITY class Michelle Perry is doing (she wrote "Love Has A Face" about her journey of love in Africa caring for orphaned children that I couldn't put down - she inspires me to no end!), it's for all who want to "unleash" their God-given creativity!  And OH, has God been calling me back to my art, especially in the last few months!  KNOW this is part of my healing process.  This is so GOD and His planning and timing are perfect!  I couldn't think of a better person to help inspire me than Michelle and I am so grateful to my Papa God for linking us together in this journey!  

I was an "artist" growing up, constantly drawing with my pencil and pen & ink...markers, crayons and paints and loved it! But as I got older, something happened and I would become overwhelmed by that blank piece of paper in front of me.  I would sit in front of it and my heart would pound and I just had to put it away because I became so full of anxiety and unrest.  It became something negative for me, instead of wonderfully freeing and pleasurable as it was when I was young.  I couldn't figure out WHY, but instead picked up the camera and explored my creativity there.  That lasted for many years, but that too become a negative...something that I couldn't just go do anymore on a whim...something I felt had to be "perfect" and a great "work of art."  Coming here to Oahu 7 months ago, I brought all my photography gear with me and do you know, I've only picked it up about 5 times??  I just feel this RESISTANCE to it...it's like a writer's block kinda feeling...just draw a blank and feel "anxious."  YUCK!  And very frustrating because I LONG to do it!  (But in the meantime, I discovered my iPhone4 camera and the simple apps and oh, has that opened a whole new wonderful avenue of creativity for me!  This is why you see all my images shot with my iPhone here on my blog and not with my Nikon!)

I have discovered, through my quiet/devotional time with God, that I used my art to prove my worth when I was young and growing up...the older I got, the more I became aware of how others saw me...and I so wanted them to see that I was more than "sickie Sue" .... that I mattered and I got that through their praises of my art.  The more I sought those praises, the more perfect my creations had to be!  To the point where I could no longer measure up to the level of perfection that I had set up for myself (unknowingly!)  Oh, I have cried many a tear over these last few weeks as my Daddy God is showing me this!  And He is showing me how to release these restrictions I have imposed upon myself and to create for HIS sake, not for my worth!

In this class with Michelle, our first assignment is to go out and buy a box of child's watercolor paints and cheap paper.  I LOVED this, because it gives me the freedom to just play like a child!  When I try to create in the past, I always had to use the BEST professional grade materials and of course that just added to the whole stress of having to make something perfect and worthwhile!  With this $5.00 box of Crayola paints and a regular school grade HB pencil and paper, I can draw and throw away if I want!  And I made a vow to not show it to anyone (except my hubby) so that I am doing it for God and for me...so there's no expectation on my part to receive praise.  Hallelujah, I'm excited!

This free on-line class is open to anyone and you can start now!  Go to www.weavingthewind.com and sign up.  It's a wonderful place to let your creativity flow and shine and is supported by a lovely group of God loving folks!

Here is a B E A U T I F U L annointed song and video that someone posted on Michelle's website today that totally brought me to tears and brought out such longing and emotion to create freely! I love the words and I resonated with it all - this is what Michael and I did...we jumped off that cliff to come here and left it all behind! We are living our lives for Him, FLYING with Him, and I wouldn't want it any other way! Praise Him! I encourage you to watch this all the way through and allow God's Spirit to set you free on your own journey of discovery!



So here's to getting my hands wet in my new box of Crayola paints!  Whoot!  God is good!