Today was the deadline I made for myself to get everything shipped out. I hate deadlines. Seems as soon as I have one the stress just piles on my shoulders, but with a huge sigh of relief I'm officially done. The paintings are wrapped and ready to be sent out. The school parties are over and we are on break! Yay for breaks:)))
Tomorrow we will celebrate Christmas at our house. Our little family will get up and hit the local donut shop...come home and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and then open some gifts. Then later in the week we'll pack up and head home to Illinois...and celebrate again! Whew tired just thinking about it, but I'm not going to stress. I refuse. It's time to have fun.
Remember that "mask party" I went to recently?? You can see it here. I finally painted mine this week. It just came to me what it should be. The Lord has really been working on me lately. I've noticed some ugliness, and to be honest I'm grateful that I've noticed it. How often do we walk around unaware of sin in our lives. We just go through the motions completely oblivious. One of my very favorite scriptures in the Bible is Psalms 139: 23Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
So I painted my face black to represent the old sinful nature. I wrote in some sin that I've been struggling with...pride, discontentment, impatience, selfishness...you get the drift. BUT those things are covered by His blood. I'm washed clean and made new right?? My sins are forgiven...PRAISE GOD!!! That doesn't mean I want to wallow and live in that sin though.
I felt that a brightly colored butterfly should represent the things that are coming. The things that are emerging in my life...like surrender, mercy, grace, love, truth and compassion among others. It's a beautiful reminder to me that I'm a work in progress. He loves me too much to let me stay in that sin. I'm a new creation. So grateful for that truth. I encourage you to examine your own heart. You may need a visual too. Take off that mask and ask God to open your eyes and be prepared to be humbled.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified Bible (AMP)
17Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
Have a blessed day.
314. a big birthday to celebrate
315. truth and love in big doses
316. recognizing people...my new people at school yesterday
317. sore muscles
318. accountability partners
I love the whole concept of this mask...I need to do one myself. Also, we're going to Illinois next week too! :) I'm looking forward to the relaxation, but the stress leading up to it is always hard!! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! :)
ReplyDeleteI like your mask. I love the washing clean with the blood of Christ. I love focusing on how God sees me and not finding all my faults and sending them up the flagpole. I posted on "eating a frog" today and when I saw you lament about deadlines I chuckled that it seemed we were on the same wavelength. I'm from IL, too. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteYou know.... I pretty much love everything about you. We start break today at 1:30! I can't wait!!! Maybe we can chat before our day ends?! Love you sweet thing.
ReplyDeleteyour mask is gorgeous. what a perfect picture of taking off the old, dark and ugly, and putting on the beauty of a new creation. LOVE it!!!
ReplyDeleteyour week ahead sounds so so so FUN! i'm slightly jealous. kelly has to work Christmas Eve and Christmas morning (since Christmas is on a Sunday, there's still church of course!) so i feel like ours will not feel relaxing at all. oh well! we'll enjoy it still.
have fun being home and take tons of pictures for me!
Merry Christmas Beck
ReplyDeleteI love all that your mask represents....and how open you are to examining the sin in your own life and working to change. We are all works in progress aren't we? What a beautiful reminder.
ReplyDeletethank you for the encouragement to get personal with myself and examine. so good to do this time of year (well, all the time, but especially as we prepare for christmas!) enjoy your family christmas and safe travels! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful metaphor! So grateful He has made all things new. Enjoy your festitivites that will last all week long!
ReplyDeleteLove your art....
ReplyDeleteHey ..is that a shihtzu???
I love your open heart, Becks! I love you, period. I've been praying more for my own sins to be revealed to me. YIKES. That's one scary prayer. :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and happy donuts!
We all are works in progress. I have said this MANY times. God has a way of breaking you down so HE can rebuild. Thank you Jesus for new beginnings.
ReplyDeleteI think what's so great is that God has brought you to a place where you are aware of what needs to be changed, but then He's using YOU to help others realize the very same. I love that Psalm 139 verse.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a stress-free Christmas (as much as possible on the road with kids!)...the way it should be. :)
Have a safe & Merry Christmas from Tremont, Illinois!
ReplyDeleteI love this. every bit of it. be safe on the roads. xoxo
ReplyDeletethis is something i love about art... it gives us time to be introspective and to really explore our inner selves. i think this was a fabulous idea for your mask, too...
ReplyDeleteemail coming soon!
xo
Merry Christmas to you and yours!!! :) BTW love my bracelet I ordered from ya!!
ReplyDeleteLove how you painted your mask ~ the butterfly is perfect! I popped your package in the mail yesterday so it sounds like it may arrive while you are away ~ hope it comes before you leave. Happy week-end!
ReplyDeleteYay for going home to Illinois! I remember your pics of your grandmas house on Thanksgiving last year..I will look forward to seeing more pics of your beautiful home area! Love that verse, I think it could speak to all of us!
ReplyDeleteLove it Becky! It goes perfectly with what we talked about earlier. You're a gem. Have a very Merry Christmas tomorrow!
ReplyDelete"I am a work in progress...." I love that, Becky. This post was a gentle reminder to me that I, too, need to search my heart for sin - which I know will be easy to find - and give it all up to God to wash away. :) Thank you for being such an inspiration to me, sweetie. ♥ Have a fun week celebrating!
ReplyDeletexoxo laurie
I am always so amazed at what care and value you place with individual words. A great reminder to us all. Merry Christmas to you and your family and I wish you safe and joyous travels.
ReplyDeleteI love your mask and all that it represents. You are quite the artist!
ReplyDeleteI hope that you and your family have a wonderful time at the donut shop today. :)
Mary
love how your mask turned out! and how fitting and perfect to design it that way. i love it. hope you're having fun today with your peeps. sophia asked me yesterday when we're coming back to your house :) i love that she misses y'all too.
ReplyDeleteoh i LOVE the amplified version!! what a clear take on the old self being the previous moral and spiritual condition. that can just as easily mean morality and spirituality on our own terms, not just being "bad."
ReplyDeletethank you for your honesty in sharing your journey. have a blessed Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Becky.
ReplyDeleteFondly,
Glenda