EMBRACE

Creatives Collaborate ! I had this piece half finished when a friend saw it and immediately had words to respond with that God had been speaking about this concept of "Embrace.” Kristi Ahrens shares her beautiful thoughts reflecting on this piece and word, followed by another powerful response by poet Joanna Hess. Both amazing faith filled women who are passionate creatives, have their own thought provoking blogs you should visit, in which I will leave the links at the bottom. I hope you will be encouraged to embrace all God has for you, as well as be inspired to create your own collaboration of sorts with those around you, whatever it may look like! I love when the 'Body' works together to discover more sides of God’s love and unique expression.

Embrace

by Kristi Ahrens

Embrace Guarded. Closed-off. Shut-down. Rigid. These are all things I can tend to slip into. When my heart and mind are held captive by fear, I clam up and isolate. Whether that’s fear of man, fear of the future, fear of the unknown, or fear of my own incompetencies, it’s easier to turn away and hide. But over and over I have met God in that place. His Holy Spirit is so persistent in gently beckoning me out of that place of being in a guarded state of emotional lockdown. It usually takes more than one gentle nudge because I’m notoriously stubborn, and praise His name that He doesn’t give up on me when I resist. When I do finally turn and embrace what He’s calling me to it’s always more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. My mind and heart are free when I move forward and look ahead at what He is promising. The fear suddenly becomes quiet in the vast color and possibility and beauty that He spreads before me. He drowns out the noise of my trepidations. The work of Embracing the beauty that He brings out of our filthy and fear-filled situations is not easy but it’s glorious. I was reminded by a friend the other day, that for the believer, even when we feel like we are stuck in the mud, we are actually in the process of moving from glory to glory because HE SAYS SO. As we stay rooted in Him and embrace His good plans even when we are sad or terrified, we bloom

Kristi’s blog found HERE

EMBRACE

by Joanna Hess

An invitation gently calls

While the morning glory falls

Beckoning a breaking down of walls

While entering into His holy halls

Though the cold outside is crushing

But in Him your heart is hushing

Wrapped and held and even blushing

Filled with love; so much it's gushing

As you enter into the deep Embrace

For this is your purpose and this is your place

Seeing Your Lover face-to-face

And allowing Him to fill every empty space

Just as creation is held in the deep

Roots grow down; their mysteries keep

Beauty and bounty may seamlessly sleep

And the weary warriors wrestle to weep

But all are held. All have their place.

In the mystery of the great Embrace

Joanna’s blog found HERE