Hi, I'm Jennifer Blair.
There are few things I enjoy more in life than creating art. My aim is to create as a reflection of the Creator. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Here you'll find my recent work, glimpses into my life and the inspiration behind my art.
Barely grown, yet standing at the alter
We were so young then, all those years ago
White with innocence and green with youth
So much life to come - what did we know?
If there is one thing motherhood has taught me, it is that my children learn more from what I do than what I say. If I find true enjoyment in something, they seem to enjoy it also. If I complain about something, I find they mimic my complaints later. They mirror the way I treat them, the way I talk to others, and the emotions I express. To my dismay, they often mirror my negative qualities along with the positive. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” they say. And it’s true. So what kind of apples am I growing? What kind of tree am I?
There is a beautiful principle found in nature: life from death.
Just because it is beautiful doesn’t mean it isn’t hard. Death is painful. Even these stunning trees will watch every bloom die, every fruit wither, and every leaf fall. They’ll be left with a red scar where life once was. And yet, new life will come. Without the surrender to the death of what was there could never be another beautiful Spring.
When the soul is wounded, it needs care just the same as a wounded body. I’m learning this deeply. Jonathan has a large physical wounds from this, but my soul has invisible wounds. It needs care just like a broken down body. It needs rest and things that will do it good. A wounded soul needs the medicine of the Truth, for nothing brings comfort and healing like God’s Word. It needs quiet and stillness to heal. Most of all it needs the care of the Good Shepherd, the only one who can bring true healing.
On Sunday February 19th, 2013, my precious husband collapsed leading worship at our church, Awaken City. He said he felt something like a shockwave go down his spine. I was helping in the babies area that day, but someone came and got me pretty quickly. By a miracle of God’s grace a nurse with a cardiothoracic background and her husband who is a PA were on the front row, rushed to help him, and quickly called 911. He had symptoms of a stroke from what they could see, but something just seemed off to them. They hoped it wasn’t a dissection (more on what that is exactly later) but they suspected it might be the worst case scenario.
Have you ever seen something so beautiful that it took your breath away? I wish I could transport you all to the moment I took the photo above. The sky was on fire with the brilliant last rays of the sun, acting like a highlighter to the vibrance of the Aspen leave all around me. It’s one of the few moments I remember being truly awestruck. But I wouldn’t be able to see all of that immense beauty if not for something so small and seemingly insignificant: a seed.
For the past year or so I’ve been trying to get rid of stress in my life. I realized a while back that I am often choosing my stress. Now, with five kids (including twins) life can get stressful pretty quickly with just the normal day-to-day things! Even so, I’ve been trying to get at the root of my stress. It’s not good for my body, my family, or my walk with the Lord. After many months of examining, I believe the root of most of my stress comes when my priorities aren’t right.
“This job [of motherhood] has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.” (Elisabeth Elliot)
For months now I have been praying for a double-portion of the boldness my mom had in sharing the gospel...which is ultimately a request for more of God-Himself. As we have been discovering our calling here in Utah, I have desired that I would be bold when opportunities come may way, just like my mother (and your Amma) who has now gone to be with Jesus. I believe God has answered me, in part, with you two! I have indeed received a double portion.
Only God could have known and planned our family. As I look back to my days of longing for a home full of children, I’m grateful for His timing. I don’t understand exactly why children come when they do. Some are surprises, and some wait with longing for years and years. Some go through loss after loss. It doesn’t make sense to me, but it does make me grateful. I look at them, fully aware they are a gift and a reward I don’t deserve and did nothing to earn. I think scripture puts it perfectly: