Seasons....

I was taking a walk this afternoon and pondering this season and the beauty in it. I attempted to take notice of all the details around me. Which lead me to reflecting on the details of my life and how God has woven so many things together just this year.

I am in a season I have dreamed and thought about for the last 3 yrs. The things I prayed for and envisioned have come to pass and I am SO over the moon thankful for it! But now I find myself in a very interesting time because I don't know what's next. 

In my walk I began to think about friends who thought they had more "seasons" left and sadly their season of life ended sooner than they expected. I felt the nudging in my spirit to sit on that for a bit. Sadly I don't take in and appreciate where I'm at and what I have because I can get so wrapped up in my planning and forward thinking. Sometimes I have to make myself sit, be still, and be thankful. Taking time to reflect and see all the details God has orchestrated to put me in this particular place for just this moment.

When I painted this it was for someone I didn't know. God showed me all the details of each item as I went along, as it created a story. It was in this He spoke to me about the details of my own life....
The Painful Season = I needed to know that He is my strength.
The Lonely Season = I needed to know Him personally.
The Beautiful Season = I needed to know His goodness.
The Quiet Season = I needed to learn how to sit and be still to be closer to Him.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 It lists all the different seasons that life has for us, the good and the bad. Know that God has you in this season for a reason. Seize it and suck every opportunity and lesson from it! Don't perceive your season as a curse but a time of blessings. I love that as this passage continues in verse 11, it promises that God makes EVERYTHING beautiful in its time even though we can't perceive it here on earth.
Hold close to God who has a great plan for you, with hope for your future, where His power is made perfect in our weakness, and that He will never leave you.

 I hope this encourages you to find a quiet moment to count your blessings and see your season as a gift of love.

(((Hugs,Luvs,&Blessings)))

 

The Figurehead

Within the last couple years I have been truly blessed by the relationships God has given me. He has been showing me things about myself through some very strong and Godly women. I never saw myself as a leader, but more as a loner. It has been through heartache, struggle and love that God has shown me who I am in Him. 

As His daughters,each one of us has been called out to stand tall representing Him in confidence, to speak truth, to shine the light for others to see the way, and need to be prepared to fight the good fight of faith. It is also choosing to surround yourself with people who will come along side you, pray with you, encourage you, and allow them to be your armor bearers of strength. Because you weren't designed do it alone! 

(Self Sufficiency is a lesson I'm still working on)

I was inspired to paint this in honor of the women who have walked with me, been examples to me, shown love to me, prayed with me, cried with me, and saw something in me that I couldn't see in myself. 

It is upon the bow of the ship, that she sails,

A strong oak figure that fights through the gales.

She stands firm with truth around her waist,

She is guided by her captain, who doesn't move in haste.

Her lantern in hand to light the way,

With bow and arrows ready to slay.

She takes up the shield that guards her with faith,

That protects and encourages her along the way.

She is confident and at rest in her direction,

For she know and trusts the Great Sea Captain.

She is a princess with a warrior’s spirit,

She carries a message for all who want to hear it.

“It is true love that calls out to you,

You are chosen dear one, my beloved - I love you!”

                                    -Jenn Bryan 3/14/15

                 

Is there any god like our God?

Are we not at bedrock?

Is not this the God who armed me;

then aimed me in the right direction?

Now I run like a deer,

I'm king of the mountain.

He shows me how to fight,

I can bend a bronze bow!

You protect me with salvation-armor;

you hold me up with a firm hand,

caress me with your gentle ways.

You cleared the ground under me

so my footing was firm.

Psalm 18:31-36 MSG

A fun side note: It was after I did this painting that I had watched the new Hunger Games movie, "Mocking Jay" and realized that all my arrows were painted red. Just as Katniss was given some very special and explosive arrows, so has our God given them to us!