Hey Friend!
Hope your Spring is off to a nice start. I am loving the warmer weather and watching the whole world bloom with life is such beautiful scene.
The pollen is thick and potent currently in the Lowcountry, but I’m looking forward to being able to open my studio doors soon and paint while the marsh breeze blows in. I’m currently working on some new pieces for my gallery, always painting Prayers in Color and also recently had the joy of painting some champagne bottles for friends birthday’s! I had intended on launching my Spring Collection the first week of May but an unforeseen obstacle has it delayed a bit. I’ll keep you posted though, don’t worry.
On another note, if you are a member of The Lovely Crux Community, I posted some exciting updates yesterday including the news that I am able to offer community membership for free! Yahoo! If you’re not a member yet and you are looking for a faith-filled community to grow with, you should consider joining us.
On a more personal note, cause ya’ll know I love to go deep…I never cease to be amazed at the Faithfulness of the Lord to me! Why is it that I don’t yet expect the goodness that He always provides?! Even through my recent health struggle He has been faithful to provide new mercies every morning as He steadily increases the trust I hold in Him.
At the beginning of each year, I go through a planning phase and one of the things I do is prepare a prayer that I commit to praying for the entire year. This year my prayer was for revival; emotional, physical and spiritual revival, a prayer felt deep in my soul from many months of despair. I wish I could share all the many ways this prayer has already proved fruitful and how many others I encountered that perhaps needed my prayer more than I did. I wondered, did God place this in my heart for me or for them? And so I prayed it for all of us. Through His faithfulness, He has even used this prayer to remind me of His call to rest and the need for my obedience to do so. (This was quiet the opposite outcome I envisioned this prayer having as I was longing for more activity, not less). No matter the reason this prayer bubbled up, I have seen the Lord working in it and through it in beautiful ways, reminding me always, that His ways are higher than mine, that He is forever faithful to the best for me, and indeed I can trust in His provision.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
2 Corinthians 4:7
I hope that you are experiencing Faithfulness + Trust in your life. I can’t imagine a world where these things don’t exist.
xoxo,
Michelle
Things worth Sharing
READING . LISTENING . WATCHING
I’m currently reading Called to Create by Jordan Raynor
Every Easter I love to rewatch The Ten Commandments. It reminds me of childhood and I love the dramatic interpretation of the Biblical story.
NOTICING . WITNESSING . MEDITATING
Noticing how often the Lord has been calling me to “rest” the last several months and this article struck a chord.
REMEMBERING . CREATING . HOPING
Being reminded how grateful I am for opportunities to share my story with the world like in this recent magazine feature.
*All images were captured by my precious friend and neighbor @christinehamrickphoto
Parting Words
REFLECTION QUESTION
What is the most challenging thing you’re dealing with right now?
QUOTABLES
To be joyful … try less and trust more.
-Richard Daly
I hope something here put a smile on your face + warmed your heart! If it did, I would love to hear your response.
See you in your inbox next month for the next monthly newsletter all about
Simplicity + Harmony!