When I decided to turn my art hobby into a serious online business, I started diving into research. I wanted to see what other people were doing in the digital world and what I needed to do to catch up.

And I got overwhelmed very quickly.

I know I needed an artist’s website and to do some social media posting, but strange words like funnels, landing pages, and email marketing threw me into the rabbit hole.

I knew I needed help.

So I posted a job description on a freelance website for a social media consultant. I needed someone who knew how to package and market my art. I don’t know much about marketing, but I do know in this day and time, an artist can’t afford just to stay home and paint. It’s an artist’s job to get her work out in the digital marketplace. 

Several agencies replied. And I was very excited. But after I gave them the details about my expectations, I heard crickets.

Only one agency kept in touch with me, but they asked for an excessive amount of investment I was not planning on spending.

During all this, a thought crept into my mind: You are not marketable. Those people are professionals, and when they don’t want your business, they must think you suck.

This thought was like a poisoned apple lingering in my mind. But I didn’t give up.

I have consulted God many times, and He made it clear that He wants me to use my gifts fully, including getting my works out there for His glory.

Then I accidentally heard this saying from a marketing agent: “we are not magicians. We can help a client with his mission. But the client is the magic, not us.”

Yes!! That’s why I didn’t hear back from those marketing agencies. Because of my niche: Christian artist and Christian writer is probably too unique for them to market. They don’t know how to market my art business. I need to prove that there is a market for Christian artists to strive for. And my art and my writing are special. I am the magic. Not them.

So I started right back to work. Today, I have built a successful art business with my own hands. 

Friends, if you have been overlooked, felt defeated, or don’t have the confidence to pursue your dreams, don’t give up without a fight.

Ask God’s permission and advice first. Because sometimes, what you want is not in His plan.

But if you are sure about His will, then, by all means, go ahead and give all you got.

May God bless you!

Ying

To know more about my art and spiritual journey, go to this page: https://yingmclane.com/about/

To know more about Christian artists and Christian art, check out this website: https://christian.art.com

The post Chase Your Calling appeared first on Ying McLane.

1 John 4:16 NIV

I just finished this long-overdue painting of my boys. Because my hands and eyes are rusty from not painting oil for an extended period, this is not an easy start for me.

Often I was frustrated and discouraged. I had to repaint some areas over and over. But in the end, I am reasonably pleased with the final product.

When I think about how my creator sees me, I am still amazed and sometimes in disbelief— that despite the rough and far-from-perfect image I see in myself, my God sees me as the lovely and wonderful child of God He has made.

Like my final painting is far different from the beginning and middle stages, He sees the final product I am meant to be.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

Yes, it’s hard to believe that the times we mess up, again and again, the times we don’t even like ourselves, the times we are broken and full of remorse, our God still loves, forgives, and cares about us as His precious newborn babies. We are masterpieces in our Father’s eyes.

Let this truth sink in, friends, hope it will refresh your heart today as it does to mine.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for blessing us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm. You designed each of us with a special purpose, and you already know what we could become, not what we have done.

Please enable me to use my gifts to encourage others and inspire their walks with you. Continue to give me good works in my hands so your glory will shine through all of my efforts.

In Jesus’s name

Amen

Ask yourself

What difference did you see in yourself before you knew Jesus and after?

How can you draw on Christ’s power even more in your daily walk with him?

The post Come As You Are appeared first on Ying McLane.