Greetings, creatives! We’re switching up our newsletter format this week with the goal of keeping things short & easy to digest, while also ensuring that we continue to provide you with valuable content that meets your needs. Tell us what you think about this change via the survey at the end of this issue. Happy reading! 😉
💖 DEVOTIONAL:
📖 SCRIPTURE:
"Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me."
- Matthew 26:10 (ESV)
When I was faced with the decision to choose between a practical programming job or a full-time job as a graphic artist for my local church, it felt like I had to choose between my passion and practicality. As someone who spent four years studying computer science, it was hard to justify choosing a lower-paying job in ministry. But deep down, I knew that visual arts was my true calling, and I felt compelled to pursue it.
I can relate to the disciples in the story of Mary anointing Jesus at Bethany, who questioned why such an expensive ointment was being used on Jesus when it could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor. It's easy to question the value of pursuing something that may not seem practical or financially rewarding to others.
But Jesus' response to the disciples has given me comfort and courage in my decision to pursue my calling. He told them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me." Just as Mary's actions were a beautiful and symbolic gesture of preparing Jesus for His impending burial, choosing to follow our calling, even if it may not make sense to others, is a beautiful thing in the eyes of the Lord.
As we celebrate Holy Week, let us reflect on the beauty of Mary's offering and how it relates to our own calling. Just as Mary gave her best to Jesus, may we also offer our talents and passions to Him.
🙏 PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of creativity and for the unique talents and passions that You have given us. As we reflect on Mary's beautiful offering, may we have the courage to pursue our calling and trust in Your plan for our lives. Help us to remember that the value of our calling lies not in its practicality, but in the beauty of doing something for You. As we look forward to celebrating Your resurrection, may we offer our talents and passions to You as a way of preparing the way for your coming. Thank you for the beauty of pursuing our passion and using our gifts to glorify You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
🤔💭 APPLICATION QUESTION:
Are there any fears or doubts that are holding you back from fully embracing your calling? How can you overcome them?
💡 TIP OF THE WEEK:
🎨 Build your skills while staying grounded in your faith: Continuously work on improving your craft by creating and generously sharing your work. Seek out opportunities to learn from others, whether through mentorship, classes, or exploring new techniques and mediums. It's also important to make time for the spiritual disciplines of prayer, reflection, and worship to stay connected to God and seek his guidance in your artistic pursuits. By remaining open to growth both artistically and spiritually, you can cultivate a deeper understanding of your calling and purpose as a Christian artist.
❓ Ask Us Anything!
We’re adding a new Q&A section to our newsletter where we answer in detail 1 or 2 selected questions every week. We want to hear from you and help you with any burning questions you might have! Simply send us your questions via Instagram by clicking the button below. We can't wait to hear from you! 👇
Hey, creatives! 👋
What do you think of this new compact format? As you might have noticed, we've made some changes to make our weekly efforts more efficient, including trimming down on some of the low engagement segments. Don't worry though, if you missed the Beginners' Feature section, we're moving it to our Instagram feed where it can be more visible and helpful in boosting the visibility of rising talents. We've also decided to put the Creative Challenge section on hold for now since we haven't found the perfect recipe for it yet.
But we want to hear your thoughts! So if you have a few minutes, please take our survey below and let us know what you think about the changes.
Thanks for your continual support!
Blessings,
Brian Vee,
Founder, Indie Beginning
Thank you for this brother! You’ve offered me a different perspective when it comes to my art, giving me a bit of courage. I get nervous that my talents won’t be received well by others in the faith that I forget why I do it the first place, which is to bring glory to God. Just as Mary anointed the Lord out of love and appreciation, so must I with my art.