Meet Lou from Messy Heart Studio

Messy Heart Studio!!!

I have a friend from highschool who paints some amazing pieces!! The reason I love her work so much is because every piece has a positive and Biblical message with it. Not only is her work wonderful but she's a real life sweetheart!! Here are a few of her pieces:

There Will Be A Day 16 x 20 Canvas Painting

Reflection Series Canvas Painting with Mirror

Inner Beauty 16x20 Canvas Painting with

Come on in and meet Lou!!!

Lou with her husband, Rob

Lou and her beautiful family

Okay, Lou, tell me a little bit about yourself:

This is a harder question than it seems :) Let's see...I am married with three little kids, two of which are twins. I love the roles God has blessed me with as wife and mama. I enjoy studying Scripture and especially teaching it to young people. Any spare chance I get, I paint something!

How did you get into painting?

I had not painted since I was a little girl, but a few years ago, as I watched my sister-in-law, who is an artist, I felt drawn to giving it a shot. I fell in love with painting immediately and have not stopped since. It is relaxing and stress relieving.

What is your favorite thing to paint?

I like to paint flowers, but not realistic ones, mostly abstract and "messy."

What is your favorite thing to do when not painting?

I love taking the kids to the beach in the summer time. We get a "slurpee" drink every time! I also enjoy reading and learning about God.

What is your inspiration?

My greatest inspiration for my style of art is Saint Augustine's quote, "We were made for you, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you." I desire for my art to reflect the beautiful mess that is a heart, broken and redeemed at the same time.

Where can we find you on the web?

http://www.messyheartstudio.etsy.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Messy-Heart-Studio/98694557509?v=wall&ref=ts

http://www.messyheartstudio.blogspot.com/

Where I Find My Strength

When my Mom goes for her tests I have her very own playlist loaded on my ipod so she doesn't have to lay there silently. Just recently she asked me if I had the song "Everything Falls" by Fee. I did not, so I purchased it and I loaded it onto my ipod. Not thinking much more about it the days went by. Then just a day or two ago, I was driving and that song I had downloaded came up on my playlist while I was driving. I understood why my Mom wanted it. I listened to the words and just cried. I kept it on repeat. I have found great strength and comfort from the words.

Here are the lyrics:

You said

You'd never leave or forsake me

When you said,

This life is gonna shake me

You said

This world is gonna bring trouble on my soul

This I know

Chorus:

When everything falls apart

Your arms hold me together

When everything falls apart

You're the only hope for this heart

When everything falls apart

And my strength is gone

I find you mighty and strong

You keep holding on

You keep holding on

When I see

Darkness all around me

When I see

The tragedy has found me

I still believe

Your faithful arms will never let me go

And still I know

Chorus:

When everything falls apart

Your arms hold me together

When everything falls apart

You're the only hope for this heart

When everything falls apart

And my strength is gone

I find you mighty and strong

You keep holding on

You keep holding on

Sorrow will last for the night

But hope is rising with the sun

(It's rising with the sun)

There will be storms in this life

But I know you will overcome

But I know you will overcome

Chorus:

When everything falls apart

Your arms hold me together

When everything falls apart

You're the only hope for this heart

When everything falls apart

And my strength is gone

I find you mighty and strong

You keep holding on

You keep holding on

I have had some days, especially lately that I really have felt that my world was falling apart, but I'm so thankful that I have a God that is bigger than anything I could ever go through!! All I have to do is bring it to Him!! All I have to do is cling to Him and He will be my strength, how awesome is that!!!

Psalm 28:7 says, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song."

and

John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

I do not know what tomorrow holds. I do know that this will not be the last hard time I will go through. But I am so thankful that I have a Heavenly Father that I can turn to because I know that He will carry me through!!

Please have a listen to Fee's "Everything Falls" (there are also many wonderful verses in this video)