September 04, 2016

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Processing

Artists often use life events/situations to inspire their work.  The beauty, pain, joy, and sorrow of the day to day all can change the direction of their art.  Sometimes it is the process of creating that allows the artist to truly deal with life's ups & downs.  After my father passed suddenly from a late diagnosed cancer, I had sketched many drawings depicting the disease as a villainous monster chocking out the beauty of life.   However, when I finally sat down to create the work...I was in a different place, and could no longer paint the image I had originally thought I would.  My heart & mind were no longer obsessing on what took my father from me,  and I could only focus on the life he lived that impacted myself & others for good.  My perspective on cancer had not changed, but I realized through my sketching & processing that I could no longer allow the disease to rob me of my memories or cast negativity on my thoughts of him.  I ended up never creating a finished piece from this time period, it was more about the journey it took me on & not the final destination. 


So do not fear, for I am with you;  do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10

Being a believer is not about having a "perfect" life.  Accepting Christ as your Lord & Savior does not mean that you will get a "pass" on life's difficulties.  We see in Isaiah that there will be times that  cause fear, situations that will try to knock us down, a need for greater strength than we have, & that we will truly need help.  We can not wish away the struggles of this world.  However, God says....I AM WITH YOU!  Knowing that God is with me in every situation allows me to process the hard times differently.  There will be times I ask Him if He is really there.  I will tell Him how unfair it is & He is.  I will stomp my feet and cry.  And when I am done with all of that..He will STILL be right there with me in the midst of it all.  God being with me through all life's ups & downs allows me to process things differently.  I know I am loved.  I know I am not alone.  This knowledge is comfort.  This knowledge is strength.  This knowledge is peace.  I do not look forward to the difficult times, but I know that I can get through them because HE IS WITH ME!

PRAYER
Dear Lord..help me to be real as I process through
life's ups & downs.  Allow me to turn to you quickly, and not
rely on my own strength.  May I share the process with those
around me so they can see you in my life in the
good times & the bad.
In Your Name, Amen

6 comments:

  1. Thank you, I really needed to hear this this Sunday morning. Sometime I feel hurt with lots of pain of being alone. My mother changed her phone number and I have no connection with my 4 brother and 2 sisters. I chose to live my life differently that works for me. However, it hurts every now and then and that separation really bothers me. I was never close with family, except my father and he died 18yrs ago. All I ever wanted in life is peace and joy. I am a Art Teacher in middle school and I really enjoy it. When I am not working this is when I am struggling, still new to this area and trying to get connected with friends. Today I feel so lonely, I know my God is here. Sometime, I just pray to have a love one to cry on their shoulder. Yes, I am praying.

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  2. Dear Anonymous Middle school teacher. You are not alone. Find you siblings and reconnect in time aside from your mother. Make new connections and family and let them be your strength. Your friends will be your support circle, lean on them and build these ties. You deserve to be loved and accepted exactly as you are. Blessings this beautiful day on Earth. Dear God in heaven, bless this lonely soul and fill it with light, laughter, love, and belonging. Bring joy to its life and a family to embrace it. Please heal old connections while building new ones. Hugs.

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  3. Dear Mr. E. Many blessings to you and your family after the long grieving process over you father's illness and loss. Much love to all of you. Your art is a lovely snapshot of the journey and destination of your faith and healing.

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  4. Amen Mr. E. Thanks for sharing your devotional a. I always enjoy the connection to Art.

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