This moment. This moment means a lot to me. I’ve failed. I’ve failed a lot over the years. I’ve made mistakes. Whether I was set up for failure from the outset of my life, or whether that set up caused me to learn the hard way or not, I learned a lot from those mistakes.

Never give up. Never give in. Never hold on to shame, judgment, guilt, disappointment, opinions, criticisms or the mistakes of others. Keep going.

This moment is a result of that tenacity. Several years ago (six and a half to be exact), I submitted a piece for this publication. Denied. Not long after, I sensed the need to stow away my easel, paints, brushes, pens and tubes in the attic. I chose to focus on shaping and molding the masterpieces in my home, in hopes the Sculpture would craft the lives in our home, in a way only He could.
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He did. A home was made warmer. A marriage became stronger. Two children who’ve become young women over the years have consistently done well in school, respect adults in their lives, have creative and free minds, and genuinely care for others. Are they perfect? Not by a long shot. If learning the hard way to embrace what needs to change is inheritable, both girls received the birthright. Ultimately, we all do our best to learn from whatever may come our way, and keep on living and loving.

When I was asked to exhibit earlier this year, I was nervous. I know what it is like to pour into something only to have one or two people show up. I know what it is like to scribe, edit and scribe again for hours, only to have no one read. I know what it is like to have folks who do show up, be critical, convinced they could do better. I acquiesced to the invitation with a tinge of uncertainty in April of this year, yet charged and with renewed confidence. I submitted another piece to the publication, ten days after accepting the invitation. Not this time. Not this piece.

I kept going. I continued to create. I shared only with the works of art within my home. After a few days before the artist reception, I submitted another work. I waited. People came. I shared with others Christ is my heart, along with my husband and children – those were the pieces I created, highlighted and shared. Near the end of the exhibition, I learned the piece had been accepted. I was elated.

I was delighted because the piece chosen means so much. It is of one of the three most loved people in my life. It depicts simplicity of a moment, among what may be perceived to be as chaos. It captures my desire to pause, and combine, and layer, and create, and appreciate, and love. It is a true reflection of who I am as an artist, and the authentic eye God has given me. Over six years ago, I did not possess a unique vision. I liked to mimic what I saw. But transformation causes us to set aside all we know and learn, to step into something new and bright and bountiful. This is what I see in this piece titled “New Life”.
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Good gravy God is good! He continues to create connections and opportunities to minister to more people in a way that truly utilizes the strength I've grown into through weakness, and the gifts He continues to bless lives with. I pray you have a blessed day and were blessed by this piece!

Welcome! I’m glad you’re here. I am Shanon Roberts. This site is fairly new, although I’m not new to blogging. In fact, I set my first trembling foot into the blogging world just over three years ago, when I began liveeatsweat.com

If you check it out, you will walk with me through my journey to becoming whole in spirit, soul and body. The premise, hypothesis in my mind, was to see if I would in fact feel whole as a result of daily getting into the Word of God (yes, I’m a Christian-wife-mommy-working-blogger), eating whole and clean foods, and finally moving my body. I also wanted to one day participate in a figure competition (ha! God had a different plan!), while healing my body.

Over the course of three years, my key relationships grew stronger, along with my spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical muscles. My husband and I went from struggling, to thriving. My children and I went from close, to oh so much closer. I grew from flippantly getting into God’s Word, to daily not being able to live without it (plus publishing a few devotionals). My heart was reshaped from being swept up in the tide of circumstances and feeling like I was physically drowning, to seeing most circumstances through the lense of God’s Word (albeit not 100%, we’re all a work in progress). My mind transformed from thoughts of worry, fear and concern of the opinions and judgments of others, to knowing who I am in Christ and being able to stand tall regardless of what others may conclude. Physically, I travailed Spartan races and crossed finish lines. However, my composition is about the same as three years ago, with a few additional nicks and bruises. These scars come partly from growing older, but also from a skin cancer diagnosis and a biopsy confirming I did not have breast cancer.

With increased strength and a few blemishes, it is time to do something new. My hypothesis has in fact been confirmed, I do feel whole when daily in God’s Word, eating well and moving my body. In fact, I feel more than whole, I am whole. However, those elements of my life are the background, what goes on behind the scenes, to enable and empower me to be who God has called me to be, with the gifts He has blessed my life with.

With being whole comes feeling more connected to God, and more creative. This creativity, a gift from God, is what He desires be at the forefront. Not for my fame, but for His glory and to utilize His gifts, to creatively and passionately serve others, by encouraging, supporting and edifying others on their journeys. The vision for this next chapter in life (and my hope and prayer), is to begin creatively helping others move beyond places where they feel stuck, by coming alongside them, and walking through a creative process with them. This voyage will result in an outcome and place in life perhaps never imagined, or perhaps, always longed for.

As with the past three years and the initial goal of the first blog, this new chapter will likely take twists and turns. However, I know all roads will lead to glorifying and loving God, while serving and loving others. This will be the constant heart of the creative process that pulsates from any works of writing, design or art created (and possibly consulting or speaking) by Him, through me, for others.
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Please introduce yourself by leaving a comment below, sending an email, or connecting on Instagram.
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Take care and God bless!