Happy New Year!
Long time, no post... with good reason for it too.
It's been over a year I've gone without posting ... well... anything... until more recently last month (see my social media pages for more).
A lot has happened in this gap of time. It did not turn out how I dreamed it might. Instead things seemingly chaotic in life were orchestrated for good in the end where it's not really the end... but the beginning of a new for me... despite the undesirable circumstances and obstacles.
One night I dreamed I was walking
Along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.
Other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed that
During the low periods of my life when I was
Suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints,
So I said to the Lord, "You promised me,
Lord, that if I followed You,
You would walk with me always.
But I noticed that during the most trying periods
Of my life there have only been
One set of prints in the sand.
Why, When I have needed You most,
You have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied,
"The times when you have seen only one set of footprints
Is when I carried you."
"Footprints in the Sand" poem by Ella H. Scharring-Hausen
A very relevant poem to this time as Jesus has been helping me walk through my life to face my past, to overcome my fears, resurrecting my destroyed dreams, and to build me up for the future ahead. Rather than trying to ignore, relive, redo or replace the past I have learned to walk with Him and listen to Him without fear so He can show me how I need not bear undeserved shame, confusion or fear-induced guilt or to instinctively react based on fear; but how my own life with all the ups and downs, trials and torments, the good, the bad and the ugly was all meant to be and resulted in more good than I imagined and that I can come out of this stronger now than if all the bad stuff never happened to me at all.
Like a complicated detailed work of art so God orchestrated my life.
God had a plan all along. I did not know my life was living poetry.
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Matthew 5:3-12 NIV
also known as "The Beatitudes"
As You Like It Act 2 scene 7
"All the world's a stage, the men and women merely players..."
but God is the director...
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9 NIV
I've learned to embrace everything about my past and to embrace who I am, all my gifts and abilities despite all the lies that echo. In a way I feel like a "new me" except I'm still me... just lifted up and given truth about myself.
"...with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
My dearest "Lion" (as I've nicknamed him) helped me revise my ABOUT intro which is below and on my ABOUT page.
Brittany Anna Wittmeier is a multi-talented versatile Canadian Visual Artist and Fashion Model. If you saw her in person you would never believe she is from the "wild wild west" of Canada, the province known as Alberta. She started drawing from a very young age, she had a natural talent for it. Discouraged, downtrodden, abused and put to shame needlessly by her foes in life (for no good reason) gradually caused her to turn away from drawing then eventually all her passions for a few years. She was a rose in a garden of thistles. But more recently, in 2016, her passion was rekindled and she does NOT plan to give up on drawing, painting and pursuing her dreams any time soon. The way of visually expressing herself freely with a pencil was almost like finding a long lost love, a realization of the truth and her purpose. This fierce warrior lives and breathes creativity. So if you don't see her meticulously creating works of art on paper or canvas you will likely see her singing, dancing, writing, sewing, designing her own wardrobe, mending the broken and unwanted things in life including the hearts of others, fighting the forces of evil and other adventures.
Speaking of other adventures. I recently decided to re-enter fashion modelling and to pursue acting professionally while still being a visual artist. I am open to singing too (just throwing it out there) as I've also dreamed of becoming a recording artist as well. I've been an unpaid caregiver for several years now (since I graduated high school) while trying to do my art business, plus family difficulties kept me from achieving my dreams and I'm deciding to pursue my once destroyed dreams with boldness with God's help.
Resurrected dreams... one step at a time.
NEW! I recently made a modelling portfolio page on my website. New photos and more information will be added soon. Check it out! https://artbybaw.wixsite.com/artbybaw/model
If you want to read more about "Lion" check out my other blog post Strong: The Story Behind "The Lovely Lioness"
Mere days ago I changed my profile picture everywhere. If you've read my older blog post Windows: A Visualization of the Creative Process you'll partly know why I was reluctant to share my face to the world. In retrospect I wanted to hide behind my artwork perhaps mostly because I was afraid of the cruel things people might say to me as I've been victim far too many times to brutal slander throughout my life. Life's not been easy for me. I've learned I'm not doing anything wrong to show my face, it certainly does not make me vain if I do. Clearly I've heard too many false accusations; too many people trying to cut me down with the painful blades of their lies, insults, manipulation and abuse; that it made me want to hide. It's the people with malice in their hearts that look to falsely accuse me and accuse others too, it's their fault not mine. I always try to keep it classy. Why should I be afraid?
Remember it's the evil ones who want to say all kinds of filthy smack and twist the truth (or aptly put as "speaking death") against the good ones (the ones who are for the pure untainted truth). That's why it's good to get down to the truth about things. Investigate! Never settle for the just the headlines or titles or mere hearsay. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Proverbs 18:21
God has helped me learn that though there are many people online using... or rather abusing their God-given beauty for disgusting and evil things, In sharp contrast I can use my beauty for good, to draw people to the good things... or rather God can use my beauty to draw people to the truth.
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ...'" John 14:6 NIV
Knowing me I'm likely to touch up and add a few details here and there to my ABOUT intro over time. Speaking of touching up... I admire how Dove did those commercials where they showed how extreme the retouching on photos of models can be. I like to be real. So I thought I would show a couple unedited pictures from this "self-photoshoot" of mine where I set the timer on my camera and posed... it's not as easy as it sounds. I was intentionally NOT wearing makeup in these pictures so you all can know what fashion models really look like underneath all the "fake cake face". Good thing you can't zoom in much... it makes my blemishes invisible. Yes real models have real blemishes! I did the black and white colouring myself on paint.net
Photos and original writing by Brittany Wittmeier (c) excluding other writings where the original author/source is credited. I do not gain money from this blog post.
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