December 2009 – Page 3 – Broken Believers

My Paintings, Vol. 2

by Bryan Lowe

Here are some more, I hope that they bless you somehow. All were painted out of a long season of deep depression. Painting these (and a lot of others) was the only thing that kept me sliding off the edge. Some might ask, how can you create these out of your Bipolar Disorder? To be honest, I am just as mystified as you.

“An artist has been defined as a neurotic who continually cures himself with his art.” (Lee Simonson)

All of these paintings have been given to various non-profit organizations, for the handicapped and the mentally ill. To me, that is the place they belong.

“If you have two loaves of bread, keep one to nourish the body, but sell the other to buy hyacinths for the soul.” (Herodotus)

1painting5 — Kachemak Bay, with moonlight

Doing my best, and feeling my worst. I make no pretense to being an “artist” so if you don’t care for these paintings I will understand. But for me one painting is worth 20 Zoloft.

: Holding on, with a makeshift easel…it doesn’t matter

May God’s presence come near to you today and may you understand his outlandish love for you.

“Artists are just as important as doctors and nurses. People need nourishing of their souls as well as their bodies; in Navajo culture the word for ‘medicine man’ and the ‘artist’ are one and the same.” (Marni California)

One Small Step, For One Large Life

We have a built-in a deep, voracious hunger for God and nothing can change that fact. You will never find anything that will satisfy this craving. My lovely wife loves chocolate, and I love my lattes. But they absolutely pale in the light of Him; there is no comparison. Fact #1, we were made to walk with God.

“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus”–Blaise Pascal

Life unfolds before you, and your life has a definite purpose. Fact #2, God wants to connect you to himself. In the Garden-of-Eden days, Adam and Eve had this incredible relationship with him. The Bible tells us that God desired to “walking in the garden in the the cool of the day.” He has not changed. He wants to go hiking with you!

C.S. Lewis once said, “Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.”

Some of us who are reading this suffer from mental issues. Others struggle with broken relationships and divorce. There are those who deperately live out of their physical difficulties, illnesses and addictions.

I invite you to consider a life with God through Jesus. Fact #3, your load will not be any lighter nor your path less challenging. But walking with God will fufill your dreams of purpose and meaning. His love and forgiveness can surround you and give you a new life. It would be a honor to help you make this step.

Please pursue this further, http://www.4laws.com/laws/englishkgp/