Welcome my friend Jeanne to the blog. She’s one of the most creative people I know with such a savvy sense of doing business with heart. I’d love to live closer to her to just sit in her studio and listen and learn. She’s is such a talented artist with a passion for helping others uncover the art they were made to create. I know you’re gonna love her. (Also, check out phase one of her kitchen remodel!)
I adore Edie and when she asked me to guest post I was so honored to have just a moment to spend with all of you.
One of my favorite things in the whole world is to create in my studio early in the morning. That early morning light is energizing and addicting. The warmth and glow of the light can not be denied and it changes my space. It changes me. It changes how I feel about everything in that moment. The light makes the windows, floors, paints, brushes more noticeable and allows me to see them differently. Everything in my studio has beauty that can be lost without the early sun.
When I was in my studio this morning trying to capture the light for you it just reminded me of Christ.
He changes my space. As a wife, mother of three, daughter, sister, friend, business owner there are more times than I can count that I have needed to remind myself to keep my eyes on Christ. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what to say. I may have felt like a failure. I may have been so angry I didn’t know what to do with my emotions. I didn’t know what the next step was. The list is endless.
Just as the early morning light changes me and can’t be denied so is the power of Christ on me when I trust him. I like to think I would have been brave like Peter and asked the Lord to call me out upon the waters. I also know that I would have been scared and would have looked down. Things that are different and scary can throw us. Our hearts and minds can race and leave us looking aimlessly around. We can look everywhere but where we need to be looking.
Matthew 14:25-31
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
I wanted to share with you one of my favorite songs. I am an artist and a very visual person so music and powerful lyrics can wreck me . I hope you love these lyrics as much as I do.
“Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now
So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
[x6]
I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine
Thank you so much for letting me talk with you today, share my studio early in the morning and talk to you about my love of the Lord.
I would love to get to know you better too! You can visit my blog, jeanneoliverdesigns. I also have an online creative lifestyle network that has over 10,000 members enjoying our current 24 online free videos, paid for courses, and free interview series. You can explore the site at jeanneoliver.ning.com.