Courage Requires...

One of my absolute favorite quotes right now that I heard my first mentor teacher say to her students all of the time is;

"Who cares if we make mistakes, as long as we have courage."

I just think it is brilliant! What a wonderful ideology to instill into young minds! As this thought has percolated in me for the last 3 months, I come to more and more reasons that support the truth of it that resonates in my heart.

How have I learned the big lessons of life... by trying and making mistakes.
In music when I have I learned and created the most... by making big and confident choices.
How have I come to painting... by grabbing supplies and seeing where they lead me.
How have I made my closest friends... by not fearing taking a chance at sharing my heart.
How have I come to have faith... by admitting my humanity and having the courage to say I can't do it alone.

These are defining moments of who I am. This is where I have been me to the core of who I was created to be.

Often though the cloud of anxiety or fear speaks louder. It wins the call of my heart, it keeps me from learning, from joy, from love, from living. It will call the dark parts of my heart. It pulls up the walls. I am human, I am sinful, I do have faults.

So how do I choose courage? How do I choose to tell that voice the truth? In my search for the answer to these questions I made a list that you see in the photo, of what I believe courage requires. When there is a word that challenges me that I feel God calling me to, I often brainstorm a list of words that brings about a clear meaning of how I have seen this played out in my life or in the ordinary people in my life that inspire me. It helps me reach out to the tools to make the change in my heart, then my mind, then my actions.

I wanted to share this in hopes of inviting you to join me in choosing courage. I would love to hear your thoughts, words, or images of what courage is to you. What do you think courage requires?

To come a painting...

Breath

Breath © 2013 2.5x3.5"

I know this isn't like most of the stuff I do. I needed to just breath though. I needed to just create without the planing without all of the fine details. I needed to get out of my head, and release all of the creatures that were swimming in my mind.

Sometimes it is so easy to for me to get caught up in self-doubt an critisism. So I knew I had a to make an ATC for the monthly swap. (Thank goodness for these swaps they keep me painting even when life is sooo crazy! They have really been a blessing in disguise for me. J)

So I just went for it and grabbed the things that were closest to me, and just started to create. Releasing the scrambled thoughts of what is to come, job applications, test scores, insecurities, and faith struggles, to just be in the moment. Breathing and moving, creating. This was the end result.

Spreading Joy

Spreading Joy © 2013 8"x8"

This is a painting I created during student teaching at my elementary placement.

I created this piece as a thank you gift for my wonderful mentor teacher. I am so blessed to have been placed with her and in that school! I will feel forever indebted to her and my time there!

Thank you!

Forward into Community

Here is the finished painting I started during finals week, before Christmas. As I said in the previous post about this painting my original intent was to portray the promise that we are never alone throughout any stage in our lives. That God places people in our lives to walk alongside us through every season whether we see them or not at the time. Placing my trust in Him rather than the fears I have about what is to come.

"For I hold you by your right hand - I, the LORD your God. And I say to you,'Don't be afraid. I am here to help you."
Isaiah 41:13

 Though as the last few months have gone by I think God had other plans for what He wanted me to understand about this work which center around.... community. The last few years have been a struggle for me to understand the importance of community and fellowship with other believers. It has been hard for me to trust that other believers will help me to better understand the character of God, and provide support and love that bring about encouragement in faith. But Christ has just begun to chissel away at my fear and hurt in this area, slowly pulling away the barriers around my heart, and providing me with His protection.

"The heartfelt counsil of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense."
Proverbs 27:9 NLT

"As iorn sharpens iorn, so a friend sharpens a friend."
Proverbs 27:17 NLT

"People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will recieve mercy."
Proverbs 28:13 NLT

So I want to take a minute and thank freinds and family for their grace, patience, and support.Without you there is so much I would never have learned about myself and about Jesus. I am unbelievably thankful for your prayers and the battle we have done together. This one goes out to you, the greatest of blessings!

All my love,
Carliann

Flying Forward 12x12" © 2013

"His Eye is on the Sparrow"

"His Eye is on the Sparrow" 2.5x3.5" © 2013

This small ATC is a test run for a larger painting that a friend is asking me to paint for a prayer room in her house of eight college girls. As I was thought about my friend’s request I was thinking about what I wanted them to know and see as they go to pray in this room. All I could think of is that Jesus loves, cares, and wants to speak freedom into their lives. Understanding these women I knew that the piece also needed scriptural backing. The first thing that popped in my head was the hymn His Eye is on the Sparrow, and the New Testament verses about the God watching over sparrows. 

I also decided I wanted to have the bird flying as an expression of god wanting them to live to their potential and take risks for Him. Knowing that He will ultimately pick them up and be there for them no matter what happens. 

For the larger painting I think I will do several sparrows in many different positions, to show the different places in our walk with Christ. I have really enjoyed this little painting and have had quiet an ordeal with him. I almost threw out the whole thing and started over many times. I made mistake after mistake on this tiny portrait, which i think brings out the meaning even more. Each time I wanted to give up God gave me another chance to make him more beautiful, and with greater depth than I had planned. I want to leave you with the lyrics to the hymn and the verses that fuel the meaning and inspiration of this piece.

"I long yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the LORD. With my whole being, body and soul, will shout joyfully to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your alter, O LORD of Heaven's Armies, my King and my God!"

Psalm 84: 3-4 NLT

"What is the price of two sparrows- one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without the Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are much more valuable to God that a whole flock of sparrows."

Matthew 10:29-31 NLT

 His Eye is on the Sparrow - Hymn

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,

When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

I sing because I’m happy,

I sing because I’m free,

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,

And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

Christmas hiatus

© 2012

I am sorry I have been neglecting you so much lately but life just seems to be getting in the way lately with little to no prep time. I have just been oober busy getting Christmas gifts ready. Which is the picture shown here of a tenor saxophone I did for my uncle who is also a saxophonist. His bachelor pad needed some more decoration he said. This painting has taken me a lot longer than most of my paintings do with such intricate detail, I probably spent close to 15 or 20 hours on it! Then the day after Christmas I was scheduled for a wisdom teeth consultation that was scheduled just on Christmas Eve. Then I promptly had them removed on the 27th and have been recovering slowly. Well I just thought I would share this latest painting, and let you know I. Haven't disappeared.

Flying Forward

Just thought I would share quickly what I have been working on. This is the unfinished painting I just started last week that represents the change from student to teacher that is beginning as I just finished my last week of finals ever!