"Once we clearly acknowledge the soul, we can learn to hear it's cries. - Dallas Willard, Renovation Of The Heart."

It takes courage to pursue our dreams. It takes time and patience to unearth buried treasure. But I believe with all my heart that we must do both.

6.25.2013

courage to look


John Eldredge reminds us that we cannot get to the answers that heal and restore until we have asked the questions that penetrate our hidden desires.

If we don't take the time to slow down and look at our hearts how will we even know the questions to ask?  Even then, it's sometimes hard to formulate the questions.

Some of us have buried our longings and desires so deep we don't even know they are there. So we can start there. Asking God to help us see them, even asking to feel them.  

Some of us have walled off our hearts against any further pain and refuse to feel the ache, the pain. But if we wall off our hearts from the pain, does that not also wall off our hearts to love and joy?

A wall is a wall.  



 "Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (what pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son."

Ephesians 1:4-5 
The Message

You are totally and deeply loved!

Even though it may not feel like it!

Even though it may not look like it!

And we need to look within, but it does not start or end with us...dear ones we cannot heal ourselves. Healing requires a greater power than ourselves.  

We can trust...trust the One who made us!

He is for us, He really is!  

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Greetings from Virginia! I just wanted you to know how much i truly love your website. I start my day looking & reading. Your art work is absolutely beautiful too. So many layers & colors, it really is inspiring. I just wanted you to know that there is this struggling christian girl in Virginia that adores your work & I wanted to say Thank You for so much inspiration. Have a wonderful day!!!

Mary said...

Thank you Dawn! I think, if we are really really honest, we all struggle. Especially if we are looking, seeing, growing, grappling with what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Knowing we are loved and accepted as we are now, but also knowing we are still in process.

That process, as God weeds out the parts of us that need to go...that...that is most often a painful process. But I have learned it is worth whatever it takes to make us free.

In the struggle with you dear one!

Anonymous said...

Mary, what lovely work and His beautiful message that comes through it all. You are definitiely a channel for His love and truth. This process of pruning is very painful at times. I am experiencing this personally as I struggle with chronic Lyme disease and my access to the world becomes more narrow. Now is the time to cozy up in His healing cocoon and wait patiently. While I do that, your work helps remind me of this process. THANK YOU! :) Gwyn

Odd Chick said...

Wow! You have an amazing blog and a wonderful home and lovely, lovely art and good thoughts! I can't believe you follow me but I'm so grateful because its a friendly reminder to stop by your front (blog) porch!

Nancy said...

The questions, the feelings, the desire to be whole. You are my hero of transparency....Love the pages.....

Sue Marrazzo Fine Art said...

So Cool!

Bren Graham Thebeau said...

Terrific post! Walls are walls indeed. Love the journal pages too

jodi said...

thank you for sharing mary!

Kim Mailhot said...

Enjoy the love flow, Brave and Beautiful One.