Kelly Bermudez: IF: Swamp

Friday, March 23, 2012

This week’s Illustration Friday topic, “Swamp” was a bit of a challenge for me, as I am not too fond of swamps:) It definitely wouldn’t be on my list of places to visit. Trying to find the beauty in a swamp was difficult, but somehow my mind made its way to the dragonfly. Some may not think they are much to look at but I find them beautiful. This made me think of the importance of looking for the beauty in the not so pleasant experiences in our lives…there is beauty that can come from these places…Isaiah 61:3 says “To provide for them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

God desires to use those difficult moments of our lives to bring forth something wonderful and beautiful! In my life personally, I thought of how I had struggled with sickness for the last 4 years. Although it had been the worse 4 years of my life in many ways...I have also seen the amazing hand of God moving in so many other ways...I have grown deeply in the areas of mercy and compassion for others...which I am not so sure I would have had it not been for the journey...Today I renamed my Dragonfly to “Beauty Fly” J

14 comments:

Monika Roe IllustrationMarch 23, 2012 at 7:15 PM
SImple and beautiful! You made the swamp topic elegant!
MYSAVIORMarch 27, 2012 at 6:29 PM
Beautiful words, Kelly.

I used to hike in the woods way back when I could walk and even in the darkest, dankest spots there was beauty.

♥♥♥
Sue
AloquinMarch 27, 2012 at 6:37 PM
It is amazing, positively amazing, that you can take an IF topic like "Swamp" and come up with this. You, my friend, are a TRUE artist :) God bless you, and KEEP IT UP!!!
Luella NewkirkMarch 27, 2012 at 9:46 PM
Beautiful, Kelly. Your words really touch my heart. It would be so sad to miss the love in God's words, His heart of compassion and desire to reveal to us His character, especially in times of deepest sorrow and hardship.
AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNaMarch 28, 2012 at 4:43 AM
Oh this post was for me today too! I absolutely love dragonflys....I will look at them in a different way now...as Beauty Flys! The beauty for ashes scripture is one of my favorites...there is a wonderful song using that scripture...thanks for reminding me of it...I will be singing it all day!
MalaikaMarch 28, 2012 at 7:26 AM
Your art and your thoughts are beautiful, thanks so much for sharing! You're right, the Lord does always use our hard times to make us more beautiful in His sight.

Be blessed,
Malaika.
Creations By MitMarch 28, 2012 at 8:03 AM
You certainly did capture beauty in the swamp through your dragonfly! Lovely colors!
myeuropeantouchMarch 28, 2012 at 8:53 AM
What a beautiful thing to share, God's love! It is everywhere we just have to look. ♥
Monika
SandyMarch 28, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Your dragonfly is beautiful and you did a great job capturing the beauty of the swamp.
Kelly BermudezMarch 28, 2012 at 12:04 PM
Thank you all so very much for your kind words and encouragement!

Kelly
UnknownMarch 28, 2012 at 2:39 PM
What a beautiful post -- I enjoyed reading it.
MechelleMarch 29, 2012 at 7:12 AM
You are truly amazing to turn an image of swamp into an amazing analogy! The Lord does turn not such great looking things or difficult experiences into ways to grow us.
Zuda Gay PeaseMarch 29, 2012 at 8:09 AM
It is a "Beauty"!!!
Cherished.WifeMarch 29, 2012 at 9:07 AM
Simple, lovely, and profound!