What if our desire for safety and security – as the world describes it – holds us back from the adventures we deeply desire?
Living Safe & Secure in the arms of Jesus.
Re-discover why our hearts, lives, and desires are the safest and most secure when they (and we) are placed firmly, securely in the very able care of God as we pray and paint through Psalm 91.
What makes you feel safe & secure these days?
Do you have a sense of a sure foundation under you, in you, grounding you...the kind of foundation that feels like a launch pad, allowing you to propel into your days and seasons with joy and anticipation for good things ahead?
Maybe a better question is, what is stealing your sense of being safe and feeling secure?
Only when we are safe can we experience freedom. Living securely, we are free to run and reign as we were designed to.
We know safety and security are essential.
It isn't a bad thing.
We are wired to want and pursue and have security. In our hearts, our lives, our families, our communities.
We try to build safety and security in the external world: through relationships, marriages and romances, careers and bank accounts, well-kept homes and a busy social calendar or serving in various groups at church or in the community.
All good things.
But.
When we think the things themselves keep us healthy, whole, and safe, trouble awaits.
Not only has it been a futile search, but in trying to be safe and secure, I realized I was missing out on being part of the adventure of life.
What if our desire for safety and security – as the world describes it – holds us back from the adventures we deeply desire?
Can you have it all?
Is life separated into two camps?
I've lived like this for years. Thinking I had to make a choice.
Have an amazing life, chasing after what God might have for me.
Or, white picket fence. Comfortable and secure, albeit a tad dull.
Okay, what if we could have it all?
Safety and security + the adventure.
What if it wasn't a choice of either or, but switching what we base our sense of safety and security in SO THAT we could live with at least a sense of adventure?
Jesus has adventures for us to go on with Him and it'll probably cause some interruptions.
But when we look back at our lives, don't we want to know we really jumped in and lived in even in the middle of massive interruptions, inconveniences, and even some heartache?
And isn't that what we wanted? To be part of a great adventure?
And He is constantly on the move, NOT sitting on the front porch for decades with our pots upon pots of coffee with piles and piles of comfortable books.
Which is why it's important to keep our desire for safety and security grounded completely in Him and not in changing what culture and society (even church culture sometimes!) tells us is safe and secure.
There are many areas in my life where my decisions led to trying to grasp safety and security in my own efforts instead of choosing to trust Jesus and step into the adventure. I wish I could go back.
But I can't.
And the wisdom of Gandalph from Lord of the Rings speaks to me.
My life is right here in front of me, not behind me with my "books and doilies." What I have is to "decide what to do with the time I am given."
We can't change the past, but we can change how we live and the decisions we make moving forward.
We can't change the past, but we can change how we live and the decisions we make moving forward.
There is so much Jesus has for us.
The Path that Actually Leads to TRUE Safety and Security
The only proven, tested path I wanted to be on was one that was following Jesus. And not only following him but experiencing friendship and life with Him.
Jesus doesn't promise us a safe journey. He tells us so. There will be trouble. And problems. People won't like you. Some will hate you. There will be division.
But he also said that only with Him is there true life, eternal life.
And so I can seek safety and try to make my life as secure as possible. That life will keep me comfortable but will be void of a lot of Jesus.
Or seek Jesus.
The beautiful part is that when you seek Jesus you get safety thrown in plus adventure.
Psalm 91 is a foundation for adventurous living.
It sets us up for adventure by reminding us the way to full living without fear is where we put our trust. It's a story and a call from a wise sage to the younger ones.
After all, we were made for adventure.
Release the idea that adventure looks like camping in the wilderness, braving lions, fighting traffickers in India, starting a business, going to Paris, climbing up a mountain.
The adventures in your life in this season may be something quieter (but no less significant), but they are your reason for being here, "for this time, in this hour."
What's included?
We're going to dive into Psalm 91 and re-experience why God is the best place to find every bit of shelter, safety, and security that we desire.
We're going to spend time with Jesus, talking with Him and listening to Him.
We're going to spend time with Jesus, talking with Him and listening to Him.
You'll have a list of all the supplies as well as supplemental help to support you in the creative sessions.
We're going places in this "paint and pray" that we haven't gone before. Painted things we haven't painted before.
-Castles.
-Eagles.
-Peonies.
-Fields of flowers.
-Snapdragons.
-Secret Gardens.
-Castles.
-Eagles.
-Peonies.
-Fields of flowers.
-Snapdragons.
-Secret Gardens.
3 Exclusive BONUSES!
1. Quick Start to Painting with Watercolor: Grow Quickly in Confidence.
2. The Artist Guide – A Written Devotional Accompanying the Course
3. Stickers
Hi friend!
I'm Melissa!
"Make it your intention to go deeper with less portions of the Bible, than shallow with a wide section of Scripture."
While you have not in any way, shape, or form given up on Jesus, it feels – and there are signs- of a loss of vision, purpose, and trouble in your soul that can't be shaken off.
I also wrote this in mind for women who have journeyed with the Lord for a long time and believed there were certain things He had for them, callings, and purposes. For reasons that elude you, there is no sign they are coming to pass. Now it seems only a miracle will bring them about.
I don't know IF those things WILL happen, but I do know the Lord is not finished with us (see Philippians 1:3) even if the calling on our lives appears to be thwarted and outcomes appear permanently derailed.
Let's take a peek inside...
- Session 1 – A Time to AdoreDive into an overview of Psalm 91 and discover the rich provision and goodness of God. We'll paint a luxurious peony and add the different descriptives of God on the delicate and beautiful petals. A wonderful way to inhale the depth of the psalm.
- Session 2 – The ConditionRemember the stories of your youth? Most of us read about castles and battles of some sort. I never wanted to be part of the battle. My preference was to be safe and secure in a tall, gorgeous castle with a book, a cup of tea, and a cat on my lap! In this session, we'll create a castle on a precipice in the middle of an oncoming storm, all based around the condition set in the beginning verses of the psalm.
- Session 3 – Faithful CoverThe most well-known verse of Psalm 91 most likely is: "He will cover you with his wings," invoking the image of the majestic eagle, wings spread, watching over the earth as he soars effortlessly above. We'll create an eagle (I'll teach you how! I've got a "trick") soaring above fields of gorgeous, color-drenched wildflowers?
Do you feel like a delicate flower, at the mercy of the next storm coming your way? As we paint, we'll consider the promises of our God who watches over the weakest among us and promises to not only protect us but make us strong. - Session 4 – Oh, to be Fearless
We return to the theme of protection. This time, the focus is on us – what happens when we make our home and stay with God. We become fearless.
Explore this concept with me as we paint an umbrella of God's protection over us as we are tucked away, safe and secure from the storm. Make this session extra personal with a prayer of protection for the specific storm you are going through.
- Session 5 – Tenderly Cared For
Life is a journey. Sticking on the path with Jesus keeps us calm, even when the storms rage. We continue to go deeper with this theme by painting a winding path, journeying with Jesus and painting flowers representing God's gift to us: snapdragons (hedge of protection), peonies (deep rooted love and protection), marigolds (resilience in the storms, especially wind), and coneflowers (endurance through drought conditions). - Session 6 – Perfect Protection
We move from painting flowers in the wild to painting a garden scene that might come right out of our own homes (real or the homes of our imagination!). We'll consider the symbolism of the snapdragon and ponder God's gift of protection through his presence and the protection of his angels. How are we to live out these bold promises? - Session 7 – Plethora of Promises
We return to where we started, resting in the rich promises of God and savoring in the beauty of peonies! Instead of one peony, we create a beautiful bunch of peonies, representing the beauty and grace of God's "plethora of promises" he extends to us in the final verses of Psalm 91!
We add in a few snapdragons to remind us of the "hedge of protection" we always have with him and consider what we might be called to in the next season of adventure in our life with Jesus.
BONUSES INCLUDED!
BONUS #1
Quick Start to Painting with Watercolor: Grow Quickly in Confidence Mini Course
In this course you'll paint zinnias and mountains with a bonus session of hydrangea painting thrown in!
This course is designed to be completed quickly (in a weekend) and it will provide you with all the skills you need to start "Safe & Secure: Paint & Pray through Psalm 91" with well, confidence.
This course is designed to be completed quickly (in a weekend) and it will provide you with all the skills you need to start "Safe & Secure: Paint & Pray through Psalm 91" with well, confidence.
Bonus #2
The Artist Guide – A Written Devotional Accompanying the Course
This downloadable pdf is full of all sorts of goodness:
-Additional devotionals to accompany each of the sessions
-List of supplies
-Going Deeper
-Behind the Scenes: Get a sneak peek into all the resources I used.
-Additional devotionals to accompany each of the sessions
-List of supplies
-Going Deeper
-Behind the Scenes: Get a sneak peek into all the resources I used.
-Links to all podcasts, articles, books, etc.
Bonus #3
Stickers
I'm creating lovely stickers that will be mailed out to all course participants. The art on the stickers is inspired by the art we create in the course.
These stickers are hearty, great for your water bottle or journal, water and sun resistant.
These stickers are hearty, great for your water bottle or journal, water and sun resistant.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
Psalm 91:1-2
Are You Ready to Start?
I'm so excited to paint with you and pray with you through this beautiful psalm. Insecurity has been a dragon in my life, a bitter battle that's been fought again and again.
Psalm 91 redirected me back to the only one who is worthy and ABLE to hold me in and out of life's storms. Jesus is my source of life, the one who keeps me so I can live and move in freedom instead of fear.
I'm not completely there yet. Days of fear and failure haunt me. But as the psalm reminds us, "He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find shelter."
When I realize I'm trying to find my sense of security from anything else in life, I quickly run back to the warm and safe arms of Jesus.
I'll see you inside the course!
How has this impacted you?
"Taking Melissa's course was so fun and helped me to finally pick up the paint brush again! I forgot how much I loved to paint. I felt like a part of me came alive again."
- Kendra C
"As a beginner painter I felt relieved by Melissa's encouragement that my paintings will look differently from her examples because I am finding my own style."
- J.D.
"Easy to follow directions, quaint and bright pictures that aren't too overwhelming. I've had the best time growing my skills with the tutorials from The Creative Season!"
- Jenelle
"The time in reflection and prayer, expresses itself in each piece you paint. Melissa does a beautiful job expressing her faith and transferring it to paper and paint!"
- Lucy
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don't know much about the Bible?
No need to be a biblical scholar. This is perfect for those wanting to deeper their faith
You mentioned you read several books in preparation for this study. Do I need to purchase books?
No need to have a vast library of study materials – this creative, reflective, thinking course is focused on women who may not have a lot of time, but are willing to set aside some time each week to go over and over in the word of God. While I read through various books about the Psalm (for example, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 was an especially helpful resource), the ultimate resource is the psalm itself.
Can I do this with my small group or for a weekend retreat?
Sure! If you want to launch this course on a shared screen for a group, that is okay with me. If you want each member to have their login, please reach out to me for individual discussion.
What if I don't know how to create or paint very well?
I specifically designed these projects for each level of artist. I wanted the focus to be on the psalm so I intentionally did not create especially detailed or highly structured work. A bit of comfort with watercolors will make it easier to jump in to the lesson, but it is not a requirement.
Also, I am including a bonus workshop, "Getting Comfortable with Watercolor: Tips for the New Watercolorist" as a bonus in this course.
What if I don't have a lot of time?
Not a problem. Each lesson is meant to be completed in less than an hour and can be broken into chunks. I'm a stickler about giving you what I think is essential, without fluff. Some lessons are shorter than others.
Melissa AuClair
thecreativeseason.com
