Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11. Wow, what powerful words. I have recited that verse for years and have to admit that I still work to claim ownership of that verse.
I think we all have areas in our life that we have conquered and can say, I have that one covered. We have worked hard to earn a degree, master a cooking class, or walk with a mentor to master an area of weakness. But we find we still have an area or areas we just still need work on. It is like my house. As soon as I have worked through getting each room done, painted, furnished the way I like it, I have to start back at the beginning as time has spilled coffee on the carpets, or the hardwood floors need redone!
Right now in my life, I have a personal situation that has tentacles! Daily I struggle with at least one area and finding total contentment is hard. The word content means: “satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.” This includes peace in our life. I want my mom to be healthy again, to remember our conversations. I want my son be be out of harms way and not worry about him. I want to know where my new job will be and …. on and on.
But, as I go back to the verse from God, “for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” I have learned that if God gives us this verse, then He has already provided the peace that goes with our struggles. If we trust in Him with contentment, NO MATTER WHAT, then He will provide the tools to handle whatever we are going through. Even those little ones we keep to ourselves.
How powerful is our God! I love you all my friends.
Posted by:
Cheryl Wilson, Abstract Christian Artist
I paint intuitively by embracing spontaneity to allow passionate paintings to be born through a transforming layering process of acrylics and inks. Each layer informs the next story of paint. In addition to layers often you will find sand, coffee, glass beads or perhaps even a gum wrapper invoking the question of what story is being revealed. I paint what I feel, how I feel, and each found object in my art continues that story. It is my hope that you find a connection to my work and might, if only for a moment, become captivated and feel something within yourself. The art I create are visual expressions of my inner soul, spirit and passion. Once a corporate entrepreneur trapped inside a suit and wearing heels, the desire to put my feelings, thoughts, and emotions on canvas became too powerful. The life-changing event that turned the corporate pen into a paintbrush was the dark world of Alzheimer’s that struck my mother. I could not wait any longer to paint in the event that world captured me as well. Leaving the boardroom behind, what has emerged is a new language expressed on canvas. This language expresses the freedom and unbound passion to create and let my art direct itself without fear or influences that has previously stifled my intuitive style.
Constantly moving around the world, staying in one place no longer than three years at one time, living in the back of a musician’s studio, provided the opportunity to meet vast numbers of different people from all walks of life.
These experiences set the canvas for the style of abstracts I paint because I find these people, locations, and experiences are represented in each painting in some way.
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