“I will praise You
because I have been remarkably
and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful,
and I know this very well.”
Psalm 139:14 HCSB
“I just want to live my life
less like a list and more like a lyric.”
Emily Freeman
“What might it mean to live life like a lyric rather than a list?
Maybe it means releasing yourself to live as the person you most deeply are rather than who you think you should be.
It could mean embracing your smallness by bringing your ordinary work to Jesus, knowing He does miracles with little offerings.
It could also mean releasing the outcome of your interactions with people and the results of your work.
Would your shoulders relax? Would your jaw loosen up? Would your fists open up in your lap?”
Excerpt from Seven Little Ways to Live Art by Emily Freeman.
“As you learn to recognize, nurture, and protect your inner artist, you will be able to move beyond pain and creative constriction. You will learn ways to recognize and resolve fear, remove emotional scar tissue, and strengthen your confidence.” Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way
The Garden
by Kari Jobe
“I had all
But given up
Desperate for it
A sign from love
Something good
Something kind
Bringing peace to every corner of my mind
Then I saw the garden
Hope had come to me
To sweep away the ashes
And wake me from my sleep
I realized
You never left
And for this moment
You planned ahead
That I would see
Your faithfulness in all of the green
I can see the ivy
Growing through the wall
‘Cause You will stop at nothing
To heal my broken soul
I can see the ivy
Reaching through the wall
‘Cause You will stop at nothing
To heal my broken soul…”
Freed to Fly 
Beautiful post, thank you sister!
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Thank you, Lisa Beth. I’m glad it spoke to you. May we relax in the grace and unconditional love of our Savior!
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Dear Trudy,
Thank you so much for sharing your art here with us! I love the beauty of how you have combined such precious thoughts, words, and artwork into a beautiful offering. God has been stirring in my heart to offer my art back to Him also–and it does become a lyric, music from the heart, when we give it back as praise to Him. Thank you for this beautiful confirmation today, my dear sister! Blessings, love and hugs to you!
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Thank you, Bettie. I’ve been reflecting over the years of sporadic artwork. I get a streak and then it wanes again. The perfectionist in me thinks it’s not good enough, or else I wonder if I’m wasting time. I’ve torn out pages and painted over paintings, but I believe God wants me to get past those fears. So thank you so much for your kind encouragement. You have confirmed it for me as well. Blessings, love, and hugs to you, too! May we allow ourselves to be creative and may we give it back to Him as a lyric of praise!
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Trudy, this thought from Emily Freeman is definitely speaking to me this morning: “It could mean embracing your smallness by bringing your ordinary work to Jesus, knowing He does miracles with little offerings.” I’m so glad that we don’t have to do things that the world considers huge or important for God to use us. I love the way that you have presented these truths to us today. Love and hugs, my friend!
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Thank you, Lois. I’m so glad, too, that God does miracles with ordinary, little offerings! Love and hugs to you, too! May we offer our hearts and our lives to His glory!
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Thank you for these beautiful, inspiring thoughts, Trudy! It’s some time since I read ‘A Million Little Ways’ but that line stuck with me. Maybe it’s because the poet in me often has to bend the knee to the picky perfectionist, instead of being given free reign. And now you’ve encouraged me to receive the free Seven Little Ways To Live Art pdf. Although I already receive Emily Freeman’s weekend newsletter, I had somehow missed this. It sounds delightful! Just what we need to encourage our hearts to open up to the art God wants to create through us, perfectly imperfect or otherwise. Blessings, love and hugs! xo ❤
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Thank you for your kind words, Joy. I’m so glad you were inspired. I identify with you to too often bending the knee to the picky perfectionist in me. I had forgotten about that pdf until after I had given up on sending a post out this week. I was deleting some unnecessary weather aps and there it was. It was a God-thing, because my search was for “weather!” So after reading some of it, I knew what God wanted me to take to heart and to share. And that He didn’t want me to delete the drawing either that I was afraid to share. Yes, the “perfectly imperfect.” 🙂 Blessings, love, and hugs to you, too! May God open us up to the art He wants to create through us!
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I love your drawing, Trudy, and the fact you felt bold enough to share it. Well done, you! And I’m awed by the way God clearly led you to write such an inspiring message this week when you thought you might have to wait. Amen to this: “May God open us up to the art He wants to create through us!” xo 😊❤
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Thank you, Joy. God brought another lesson to my heart about taking one step at a time. To keep my heart open even to the day before posting. Otherwise I usually have it prepared by Monday when I again read it over and revise if need be before I schedule it. May we trust His guidance and timing! 🥰 ❤️
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This was incredibly inspiring, Trudy! Yes, I want to live my life as a lyric, not as a list, and allow God’s creative spirit to flow through me in my writing. He does want us to use our gifts and talents for His glory, of that I’m convinced.
Blessings, my friend, and keep up the great art work!
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I’m so glad you were inspired, Martha. And thank you for your kind words. Blessings to you, too! May we together allow God’s creative spirit to flow through us!
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I love that description of living our lives more as a lyric rather than a list! And thank you for sharing your artwork – you have beautiful writing! I always love how you collect so many great songs and quotes to share. Love and blessings to you!
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Me, too, Lesley. Our lives would surely be different if we’d live them like lyrics, right? Thank you for your kind words. Love and blessings to you, too! May we live like a lyric of praise to God and His amazing love!
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Awww, Trudy, I love that line. What would it look like to live life as a lyric rather than a to-do list? For me, living life as a lyric would probably look like a person more attuned to the Father and His promptings and less concerned about all I feel like I have to complete. I’m definitely going to be thinking about this. 🙂
And I’m with Lesley…so glad you shared your art!
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Yes! Being more attuned to the Father and His promptings! I love your definition, Jeanne. May our hearts and lives be more attuned to our Father and His voice!
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Such a pretty drawing and your shares here have brought God’s peace to my anxious mind. “It could mean embracing your smallness by bringing your ordinary work to Jesus, knowing He does miracles with little offerings.” The winter blues, and uncertainties has my lists full of undone’s that get heavier on my mind. But yes, in the ordinary like spending an evening with my grandaughter or being on-time for appointments are bringing offerings to Jesus showing love and respect for His brothers and sisters. I may be behind in my projects and my writing but can start with the little things as there is nothing small when it comes to offerings to Jesus! Thank you Trudy!
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Thank you, Lynn. I’m so glad God brought peace to your anxious mind. I’m sorry about the winter blues and other uncertainties weighing down your mind. Yes, I’m certain your granddaughter loves it when you spend an evening with her! 🙂 And there are other things, too. I love how you describe them as “bringing offerings to Jesus showing love and respect for His brothers and sisters.” May we keep reminding ourselves and each other that there is nothing small when it comes to offerings to Jesus!
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Oh Trudy, that little bird you drew brings me to tears. Truly. Because I see myself, no longer wishing for it, but beginning to live that. I wrote Bettie today, sharing how God hasn’t given me what I wanted but what I truly deep down desired and didn’t even know I needed. I was smiling from head to toe yesterday, thanking God for who He is in our home and how He has opened my heart and filled me with such glorious peace, even amidst storms that used to fell me. He’s done such deep heart work in me, so that ever so slowly I have become that singing bird, that I was as a little girl, but lost amidst all the people pleasing and being “good” and numbing my fears. Only God can do that in us. I am still on a journey of discovering those true heart desires that make us live life like a lyric, but I am also seeing the blooming coming and it excites me. He truly is our mighty Healer and I am so thankful for how He has used you to bring that about too. Each post you write brings me such encouragement. Keep writing and drawing too (that bird is glorious) in God’s beautiful prompting, as He infuses you with fresh strength. Much love from afar.
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It warms my heart that God has brought you this far, Anna. I’m with you on that continuing journey of discovering those true heart desires that make us live like a lyric. I’m so glad you were encouraged here. Thank you for your kind encouragement. May we keep fixing our hearts on our Mighty Healer and be attentive to His voice and leading!
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I love the beauty of Kari Jobe’s voice! I didn’t know this song so I’m glad you embedded it here, Trudy. Listening now. I’m guilty of living more like a list than a lyric on many days.
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I love her voice, too, Lisa. 🙂 This song is new to me as well. I’m trying to let go of the lists I pressure myself with. To let go of this feeling of failure if I don’t “do” more. I’m trying to just “be” in Christ. It’s hard, isn’t it? May our shoulders relax and our fists open up as we rest in Him and trust His unconditional love for us!
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Whenever anyone begins a post with words from Psalm 139, I’m in. Then you quoted Emily Freeman in “A Million Little Ways.” That book changed the way I looked at my writing. The idea of living our lives less like a list and more like a lyric is the power of story. Thank you for diving deep into what this looks like. Blessings!
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Blessings to you, too, Mary! Psalm 139 is so comforting, isn’t it? I’m glad Emily’s book influenced the way you look at your writing. May our stories be lyrics to the praise of God!
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