Marydean Draws

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August 28, 2014 gospel•identity

The most real thing

I just finished reading Ted Dekker’s novel, Eyes Wide Open. I like his books because they get to the heart of life and, in crazy and sometimes disturbing ways, point to the Gospel. These books always get me thinking.

This book was about a pair of friends stuck in a world of their own imaginings, a world that is very real, and scary. The only way out is to grasp and hold onto a greater reality–of who they really are. It’s all about finding identity.

“Life is a cycle of remembering and forgetting,” the character Outlaw tells the two protagonists.

I was thinking about this as I fell asleep last night and work up this morning: I must remember what is real. 

There are competing truths constantly spinning me into the cycle of forgetting–what others say about me, what I think others are thinking or saying about me, what I want people to think of me, and what I think I need to be or accomplish.

Kind of a swirling mess of me, right?

But this is what is singing to my heart today: The most real thing today is God’s love for us.

It’s simple, and I’m letting that sink in today. Where are you today in the cycle of remembering and forgetting who God is, and who you are because of Him?

This has been our homeschool memory verse for the week: “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10

PS! I added a new print to the shop today! Here it is!

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I’m Mary and I’m glad you’re here! Since 2014, I’ve been sharing encouraging words, fun Bible printables, and accessible art activities.

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I'm going to be introducing new prints from my new I'm going to be introducing new prints from my newest print collection over the next few weeks. The gorgeous "Be Thou My Vision" hymn has always been one of my bestselling hymns , so I decided to add an additional version to my shop. This hymn was translated into English in 1905 by Mary Elizabeth Byrne (July 2, 1880 – January 19, 1931) from the Old Irish Hymn, "Bí Thusa 'mo Shúile." 

You can find all my new prints on my website here:
https://marydeandraws.com/product-category/new
I'm going to be introducing new prints from my new I'm going to be introducing new prints from my newest print collection over the next few weeks. Today, meet my print of the 1907 hymn "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" by Henry Van Dyke. Does anyone else immediately have the amazing Sister Act 2 version of this in their head? 

I've never done an abstract, layered watercolor design around a hymn, but I really love how this turned out. I wanted it to look like a stained glass window in a church, but with a not-so-literal take. 

Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God's own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.

You can find all these on my website here:
https://marydeandraws.com/product-category/new
I'm going to be introducing new prints from my new I'm going to be introducing new prints from my newest print collection over the next few weeks. Today, meet my watercolor nature color wheel and color mixing chart! 

Each little creature and plant in the color wheel was hand-painted and then scanned and edited to fit in its slice of color. This is inspired by my watercolor classes, where I love to give an introduction to color theory. The second print is a simple watercolor mixing chart and shows the beautiful colors you can create just by mixing a few basic colors together! 

Lastly, there is also a sticker version of the nature color wheel! 

You can find all these on my website here:
https://marydeandraws.com/product-category/new
Another pretend podcast/weekly newsletter is up. T Another pretend podcast/weekly newsletter is up. This week you'll hear:
⬛ a REAL podcast update (with branding I've created)
⬛ history from the Boy Jesus in the Temple study this week
⬛ recommended articles and a podcast episode
⬛ two sports comeback stories and why I think they're encouraging

You can listen here or search for "Marydean Draws" on Substack:
https://marydeandraws.substack.com/p/marys-friday-newsletter-61226
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