Sometimes things don't go as planned…

If you've seen my recent how-to video or visited my website, you read or heard that I would have an online mini workshop to sign up for in May. It's been a real time of growing for me, both the good parts and the hard parts. Developing an online course has been challenging. I am so enthusiastic about the content and teaching, but the technical parts are new to me. There have been  more obstacles and roadblocks than I anticipated, both common and uncommon. At the moment I am at the end of myself in regards to the project and need to step back. It's hard for me because I said I would have it ready in May and I won't, even though the content is there. Admittedly, I am disappointed and I don't want to disappoint other people. I haven't given up hope for it, but it will likely look different than I thought. I'm okay with that (with some grieving). I am taking the the rest of the week off from the web world to restore and refuel. It is a good thing to know my value does not rest in what I accomplish, but in God who made me. So I release my hopes and dreams, my heart to the God who sees and loves me.

Sunday I visited Rock Creek Church and joined their worship. It was an incredible blessing to be able to paint in worship. Pastors James and Lisa said the theme was Freedom and Presence. Over a year ago, in one of my art journals, I painted a process of freedom through the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit. It seemed like just the right time to paint it. Below is the same painting at two different stages. The first one I painted ahead of time in my studio. I wanted to express the heart of a person, captive, but surrendered, unable to free itself. Then as God, the Holy Spirit comes, the person is set free, with a heart able to soar like a bird freed from the cage, confident in the Presence of God.

Valerie Sjodin© www.valeriesjodin.com - Before Freedom

Freedom in Presence Valerie Sjodin© www.valeriesjodin.com

"Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV

"Praise the Lord!

I have escaped like a bird.

The cage is opened

and I have been set free,

free to fly.

My deliverer is the Lord,

maker of heaven and earth."

-my hopeful proclamation based on Psalm 124:6-8