Video – https://youtu.be/NweAnEfaYPE
Hello friends,
Welcome to Sunday’s ART of Truth. Did you know that you are dearly loved? Not because of what you do, what choices you have made or what experiences you have had. You are dearly loved because you are. As always, I come to you with the truth that is rooted in me. I come to share my humanity in hopes of lending some hope, truth, and courage.
When things are going well, it is easy to believe that we are dearly loved. We turn our face up to the sun and we absorb it in the moment and our hearts fill with gratitude for all that we have and how much we are loved.
It is a universal need to be loved, feel love, and give love. We were made for this. We long for it from the people that we walk our daily lives with. I know that sometimes, I thirst for it like water in the hot desert. I look around me for it. I watch for it in the faces of the people I love and who love me. I suspect it is missing when the waters get rough. Afterall, we are all human and we cannot be all to anyone. We aren’t even called to that. I have learned this in great measure over the years.
When the crying is ‘ugly’, the face is gaunt, the mind spins and reels with untruths…we are not rational. The past and present mix in a nasty way and it can be hard to separate. We look to others to reflect our value and our ok-ness. We often want them to love our pain and struggle away. Sometimes, people are there, and they can convey acceptance and such. Sometimes, they are not. Sometimes, they hurt us. Sometimes, we hurt them.
I have a decision before me that has shaken my foundations. It has swept me into deep places of doubt and tunnels of memory. Part of that involves the deep recesses of lack of love, and the need to be loved. Sometimes, I feel love as this sharply euphoric feeling that feels indestructible. Then, it crashes down.
Where do I go? I go to my core love experiences. My experiences with my parents, my siblings, and other influential adults in my life. I begin rehearsing every lie I ever believed about my value. I feel every stab of what was missing and how I interpreted it. The euphoric feeling of ‘love’ disappears amidst this ugly-snot running-treacherous spin place. I go to memory, long ago memory.
In the tunnels of memory and longing, sometimes truth doesn’t translate well to the human heart, especially when we are hurting. A few words can feel like utter rejection and down the tunnels we go. The emotional spiral begins. I do know my way out, but it is a nasty and grief filled place. A place of truth, half-truth, distorted truth, and painful truth. I tread lightly there. I work to separate things to get to a place of peace.
In my strong self and the place where Jesus walks with me, I know that we all love the best we can at the time, and with the tools that we have. We are all cracked, just as the art expression in this journal spread. We are a compilation of all our experiences. We are all the layers. Layers that are mixed with mistakes, pain experienced, and pain inflicted on others. However, we are all laced with gold and goodness because God made us. We are created in his image. We are all precious and royal. Even those who hurt us the most.
The things I am talking about are universal. We all feel it on some level with someone. We have hopes and dreams, fears, and lies that we believe. We have pain and walls that keep us from being loved wholly and loving in the same way.
We all long to be seen and loved and anticipated. We all want to be chosen. We all want to feel inextricably connected to someone. We want to be seen and valued.
The truth is that people will fail us. We will fail others. It is part of being human.
The inspiration for this journal spread and this writing is to talk about a love that is greater than Mama love, greater than sister love, and even spousal love. It is greater and more real than any fairytale and it stands the test of time. It is perfect and never-ending.
In those places of disappointment and pain, I am reminded to go back to the source of all love. The birthplace of the most perfect love that ever existed. Jesus.
It is my faith journey that has taught me that Jesus is the one who can love us exactly the way we need to be loved and when we need it. He knows the measure, just as he knows the number of hairs on our head. He knows our deepest griefs, our biggest fears, and he knows all our buttons. He knows and He gave all, he is the one who can love us the way that no human can.
I am “dearly loved” by him. I am inextricably connected to him, the one who can never hurt me. He is incapable. He is love.
No, he is not here physically to hold us, to talk to us, to hang out with us…but he is here to love us so that we know how to love ourselves and others. It is not a magic pill, and we still live in this world, but when I turn my face towards him, I know love. I retrain my heart and my eyes to see my value in him. Every other love is just icing on the cake.
It can be a sorting and painful place to move through the hard feelings to get to a place of truth. Truth can be different for each of us. How we travel to get there is personal. What it looks like is also personal.
My hope in sharing is that in reading and being here, you can know that you are not alone.
My friends, you are so loved.
You are laced with gold. You are worthy of the greatest and deepest love ever know to mankind.
You are beautifully imperfect, just as I am.
You are growing and healing.
You are learning to love and be loved.
You deserve love that will never break you, never betray you, and never lie to you.
Again, I know this was deep, but it is the only way I can do this. I must be real. I must share my faith and I must convey how amazing each of you are. I must translate hope and an anchor in the storms.
Sending my love and blessings to you all…
Until next time,
Beloved – Reborn
Supply list under photos!
Supplies used:
Opal Magic Paint – Teal Pink – https://www.amazon.com/Prima-Marketing-Inc-966096-Paint-Teal-Pink/dp/B07FRGYJ8L/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3BCGZ7GRXF0EA&keywords=opal+magic+paint&qid=1649527393&sprefix=opal+magic%2Caps%2C1615&sr=8-5
Lindy’s Stamp Gang Sprays – Yellow Rose of Texas, Mission Bells Brown & Salt Water Taffy – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lindys+stamp+gang+spray&crid=2VAWM3VP7ZCRS&sprefix=lindys+stamp+%2Caps%2C3774&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_13
Golden Fluid Acrylics – Raw Umber & Iridescent Gold Fine – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=golden+fluid+acrylic&crid=2WRV31KR81OPB&sprefix=golden+fluid%2Caps%2C2294&ref=nb_sb_noss
Golden Glazing Medium – see Basic Mixed Media Supplies below
Distress Crackle Paint – https://www.amazon.com/Ranger-TDC31888-Holtz-Distress-Crackle/dp/B005FY5HCW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3AVUPWIUTGW3X&keywords=distress+crackle+paint&qid=1649527244&sprefix=distress%2Caps%2C2050&sr=8-1
Art Alchemy Wax – Sweet Rose – https://www.amazon.com/Prima-Marketing-Finnabair-Art-Alchemy-Metallique/dp/B07MY4952D/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3RCZW70OLMESZ&keywords=art+alchemy+wax+sweet+rose&qid=1649527280&sprefix=art+alchemy+w%2Caps%2C3379&sr=8-1
The Crafters Workshop Modeling Paste – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+crafters+workshop+modeling+paste&crid=3HRKTT0CD9TR2&sprefix=the+crafters+w%2Caps%2C3454&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Liquitex White Gesso & Fluid Matte Medium – See Basic Mixed Media Supply list below
The Crafters Workshop Stencil – https://www.scrapbook.com/store/cf-tcw771s.html?w=the+crafters+workshop+two+hearts+stencil
Mini Carte Postale Stencil – https://www.scrapbook.com/store/cf-tcw626s.html?w=the+crafters+workshop+Paris+stencil
List of basic mixed media supplies:
TCW Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=light+and+fluffy+modeling+paste&crid=3PFDSLJUPLGOO&sprefix=light+and+flu%2Caps%2C272&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_13
Shoresua Script Stamp- https://www.amazon.com/Shoresua-Transparent-Silicone-Scrapbooking-Embossing/dp/B07PGN3MR3/ref=sr_1_77?dchild=1&keywords=bo+bunny+stamps&qid=1601231832&sr=8-77
Golden High Flow Acrylic – Transparent Yellow Oxide – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=goldenhigh+flow+acrylics&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Liquitex Matte Medium- https://www.amazon.com/Liquitex-Professional-Matte-Medium-8-Ounce/dp/B000IYWYNE/ref=sr_1_1?crid=74CDOKRUL040&dchild=1&keywords=liquitex+matte+medium&qid=1586229506&sprefix=liquitex+ma%2Caps%2C291&sr=8-1
Liquitex Glazing Medium- https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Multi-Purpose-Acrylic-Polymer-GAC-100/dp/B001YJPX58/ref=sr_1_46?dchild=1&keywords=golden+glazing+medium&qid=1586230065&sr=8-46
Liquitex Heavy Gesso- https://www.amazon.com/Liquitex-Professional-Super-Surface-Medium/dp/B001UNREO6/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=liquitex+heavy+gesso&qid=1586229647&sr=8-1
Penny Black Script Stamp- https://www.amazon.com/Penny-Black-Script-Unmounted-40-470/dp/B01HNO5R08/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Penny+Black+script+stamp&qid=1586229678&sr=8-1
Shawn Petite Stencils- https://shop.shawnpetite.com/Stencils-c14287046
Decoart Crackle Paint – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=decoart+crackle+paint&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Rembrandt Soft Pastel – Black – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rembrandt+soft+pastel+black&ref=nb_sb_noss
Golden Fluid Acrylics – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=golden+fluid+acrylics&crid=1140N398O4PP1&sprefix=golden+fluid+%2Caps%2C520&ref=nb_sb_ss_ac-a-p_1_13
Junk Journal Basic Supplies List –
FabriTac Glue – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=fabritac&ref=nb_sb_noss
Art Glitter Glue – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=art+glitter+glue&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Ranger Archival Ink – Vintage Photo – They no longer make the pad so I bought the reinker and a DIY ink pad – https://www.amazon.com/Ranger-AIP48077-Empty-Archival-Pad-Empty/dp/B016A88EAI/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=ranger+diy+ink+pad&qid=1626104364&sr=8-4
Https://www.amazon.com/s?k=vintage+photo+reinker&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Your message is very heartfelt and thought provoking. Thank you for sharing. I am thinking about starting a journal but unsure about writing things down. I may start with a prayer journal and see what I think. Your work is beautiful and really love the texture and layering in this.
Thank you Evie 💛 it can be scary to start writing things down. Journaling was my salvation through my journey. Sometimes, I will write what I want to say on the very bottom layer and then I cover it up with everything else 🙂 I hope that you can find a way to write things down. It is so healing 💛 blessings
Thank you my friend ❤️. I decided to try it and will make a simple journal using some beautiful paper with art for inspiration to help me along the way. Perhaps you have seen the Cross and Resurrection collection from Raindrop Lila. I have alot of her collections because I love the artful way she designs. This collection really spoke to me in some way. There’s so much in the world to pray about as well as closer to home 😟. I am thinking and praying for you as things move along with your family. 💕
I am so glad to hear that Evie 💛 thank you for the prayers 💛
This is just beautiful, the journal page yes, but the words you used to express Jesus’ love for us. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. You are such a blessing!
I always pray for the strength to forgive. If I can forgive whatever hurts were inflicted intentionally and unintentionally~ then I can find peace. After all, peace frees our minds from anger and resentment, and allows the warmth of grace to bathe our soul. I feel beautiful when the warmth touches me. I learned to forgive my parents long ago for the years of loneliness, and I thank god for the strength to do that. I wish you peace, Cara ~Renee.
Me too 💛 the intensive history rears its ugly head and sometimes are harder than others. Forgiveness is a regular practice for me 💛 I love your words. Thank you