Write2Ignite Conference

Broken Crayons Still Color

“Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” 2Corinthians 12:7-10 (Msg)
While preparing my heart for this painting – I kept seeing a broken pitcher…a pitcher that couldn’t hold water anymore because of the cracks and holes in it. The pitcher, simply, leaked. In this weakness, the light was able to shine through. In this weakness, living water was able to be released through the cracks- rather than fleeting, temporal waters contained within.
Broken crayons still color – most times better than a brand new crayon. The new wax coating has been removed, over time and use. The softer underneath of the crayon is exposed allowing it to interact with the world. Most times the crayons loose their wrappings, as we loose our grave clothes as we come into the presence of Christ. Broken crayons usually break in half from too much pressure applied. We break too. The promise is that we are made strong in this weakness. We are made strong as we fall into the strength of Christ. Our brokeness becomes our testimony and our witness. Our brokenness does not define us, but glorifies Him, as His light redeems, repairs, patches and restores. We may not look like the shiny new crayon- we may have a few cracks and breaks, our papers may be torn and we may have no sharp edges… all for the grace of God. Our cracks and breaks allow His living water to pour out of us…what was meant to be our defeat is now our strength and our victory – leading others, helping others, ministering to others. Our torn papers have been replaced by garments of white, as He redeems that which the enemy tried to steal. Our sharp edges have been replaced by grace- freely given to us, we freely lavish His grace on others and we color in His world with love and compassion and grace… because we have been broken, we live out loud.
The painting has an undercoat of oranges and yellows- representing Fall. As we stand on the brink of the precipice of change, it feels like everything is changing too fast. The colors or our world are morphing into brilliance – and then fading away to nothing. The season is over and the rest is beginning. We can hold onto the past – we can wish it back- we can hurt with our sharp edges, and we can wrap our defenses tightly around us. -or- we can rest.
The girl in the picture is resting on that which carried her through the last season of her life, she has found rest in the comfort of that which is familiar. We will find rest in that which we know. How sweet is the time of rest, when we know Jesus. When we can saddle up onto His lap and rest in Him. Rest in His grace, love, mercy, compassion and gentleness. He gathers our tears and he draws near to the broken-hearted. She rests on the love of Her Savior, and she weeps… and she is made strong. With each tear her grave clothes shred and fall off. With each prayer of thanksgiving her sharp edges are smoothed by His grace. Just because she has entered into a dormant season, it doesn’t mean she is finished, and that her masterpiece is completed. In her time of rest, in the times of transition and change- there is always something coming. As we rest in Him, as our roots grow deeper into our faith, trust and love of the King of Kings… He is developing fruit while He prunes our branches.
The guitar resting on her is a sign that there is much music and ministry to come, in His timing. It is the promise that He works all things out for good for those that believe. It is the truth that HE WILL be found by those that seek Him with all of their hearts. Our little broken crayon cries in the arms of her Savior, in the midst of a dormant season… and He is already planning and preparing a symphony to accompany the colorful masterpiece of her heart.

Encouragement Cafe - Take 2

 I just realized that I have never posted out the backs of the canvases that were done for the Joy Conference, through Encouragement Cafe...

The front of Mt. Moriah - I painted over Genesis 22
I did not get a picture of the back of Mt Moriah and the scriptures  that were written,,,,

The back of "The Well"

Encouragement Cafe - Unspeakable Joy Conference 2015

What an amazing conference- the women at Encouragement Cafe and the team at Joy FM are the real deal - real women walking out their identity in Christ through all of the hiccups and circumstances that befall us - with their eyes on Him and their hearts centered on His word.  In hopes that the two women that bought these paintings find their way to this site - I wanted to share my vision for you in doing these two paintings - my you both be blessed by His heart and His message for you - through the paintings------

The Well....
This woman knows her Savior, she carries her cross daily - but, she carries her burdens with earnest and commitment. She lives like a chicken, pecking at the ground for morsels from heaven and pecks for scraps given from those around her.  While, in fact, she is invited to dine at a BANQUET TABLE, in the presence of her enemies!!   He died so that we can live abundantly...not be crippled by our service and our responsibilities, crippled by "what we should" and "What we haven't". He met you at the well - at your well - where you were most thirsty- He went out of His way to find you, to minister to you, to die for you....do you see the woman in the clouds - that is your true identity - that is who you were created to be....That is the identity that was created for you before there was an earth, before there was time....unleash that which has been burdening you and look UP.  He met you at the well to give you living water that transforms and restores.  Drop the burdens that weigh you down and look up - so that you can soar like an eagle!! Look up to who you are and who He is calling you to be.  I release, through the power of Christ's promises,  dreams and hope back into your atmosphere- the living water is splashing at your feet - drink deep and know that the heavenlies support and surround you in all that you do - where you seek to magnify Him and His Kingdom. Both women are shrouded in orange - the color of hope, my prayer is that hope finds its way into your heart and restores dreams that have lain dormant for far to long.   Be blessed - much love and I pray that the painting ministers to you!!  <3

Mount Moriah....
It's been a journey, hasnt it?  He has asked for it all and you dont know why, you cant understand the journey or all that He has asked from you.  You have been asked to climb your own Mount Moriah - just as Abraham was asked to sacrifice it all to his God.  The journey has been perilous - and sometimes you have slipped and fallen and felt like you started at the beginning time and time again - but, what you didnt realize was that there was living water for you at each step in the trial....that when you were overtaken and overwhelmed - the rocks cried out of His majesty - He made Himself known to you in a thousand little ways.  Look and watch for the daily manna that HE showers over you - He is there every - single - step - of - the - way.   In the midst of the trial as you climb over obstacles - know that He is as close as a prayer - Psalm 116:1 says, "So, I will pray as long as I have breath, because He bends down to hear."  There is one tree in the painting that stretches into the heavenlies - one tree that is alive and sporting new growth.  There is always life in the trials and re-birth from that which was deemed dead. Look where the tree ends up - in the heavenlies where there are countless stars - which are promises of His faithfulness - that you will be blessed for countless generations and what you are investing in today will have eternity consequences....don't give up - pray and walk on -carry your sticks and wait on Him - He will provide a ram for the sacrifice ---much love to you my sister in Christ <3

And to the woman who needs to pick up her violin again - remember that "....music lives in this place forevermore!"  <3

Thank you for sharing your hearts and your stories with me - I am honored and humbled to have gotten to pray with so many of you - I will continue to pray and lift you up.  <3

"Not Yet" by Lisa Albinus | Redbubble Order

Peacocks symbolize immortality and resurrection, this woman becomes the very essence of something new- letting go of the old and embracing the new…..When asked if she is finished, her response? Not yet.

"Not Yet" by Lisa Albinus | Redbubble
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