From Clinical Depression to Finding Purpose, Joy, & Love Again

Finding Deeper Connection with Jesus Through Creativity

When God Gives You Something You Love, Invite Him In What if the very thing you love doing could become a sacred place to meet with God? In this heartfelt conversation, Kim Pepper shares her journey from depression, unexpected life transitions, and heartbreak to a vibrant creative faith community that helps women connect with God through art, prayer, and creativity. Kim opens up about the power of inviting God into the activities we already love, whether that's painting, journaling, baking, gathering people, gardening, or simply noticing beauty in the world around us. Together we explore: • How creativity became a pathway to healing and intimacy with God • The surprising connection between art journaling and prayer • Why creativity doesn't have to be perfect to be meaningful • Moving beyond scarcity and embracing collaboration in ministry • The role of prayer in everyday life • Learning to linger, savor, and notice God's beauty in the details • Why your creativity matters, even if you never sell it, teach it, or share it One of Kim's most powerful insights is this: "God loves me so much that He gives me something I love and asks me to invite Him there." Whether you consider yourself artistic or not, this conversation will encourage you to see creativity as an invitation to draw closer to Jesus and experience His presence in everyday life. Kim has a FREE OFFERING just for you! https://www.kimpepper.com/paperworkshop [https://www.kimpepper.com/paperworkshop] If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a comment/review, and share it with a friend. Connect with Kim: Website: https://www.kimpepper.com/ [https://www.kimpepper.com/] Creative Club: https://www.kimpepper.com/the-creative-faith-club [https://www.kimpepper.com/the-creative-faith-club] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimpeppercreative/ [https://www.instagram.com/kimpeppercreative/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimpeppercreative/ [https://www.facebook.com/kimpeppercreative/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KimPepperCreative [https://www.youtube.com/@KimPepperCreative] Connect with Melanie: Website: www.melaniefaganart.com [http://www.melaniefaganart.com] Patreon: www.patreon.com/melaniefagaart Instagram: www.instagram.com/melaniefaganart Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/melaniefagancreativecommunity [https://www.facebook.com/groups/melaniefagancreativecommunity] FREE OFFRINGS: https://www.melaniefaganart.com/free-library [https://www.melaniefaganart.com/free-library]

From Clinical Depression to Finding Purpose, Joy, & Love Again

What if creativity could become a sacred space for healing, prayer, and transformation? In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with therapist, artist, and workshop facilitator Hyatt Fields to explore the powerful connection between faith, creativity, and emotional healing. Hyatt shares her journey from clinical depression to renewed joy and purpose, and how art journaling became a prayer language through which God met her in profound ways. Together we discuss intuitive art, art journaling, gathering community, finding beauty in suffering, and how God faithfully brings beauty from ashes. Hyatt also shares how she incorporates creativity into her counseling work and offers practical ways anyone can begin using creativity as a tool for healing and connection with God. Whether you're an artist, journaler, creative soul, or simply walking through a difficult season, this conversation offers hope, encouragement, and gentle reminders that God is present in the process. In this episode: • Hyatt's journey from depression to healing • Art journaling as a form of prayer • The connection between creativity and emotional healing • Trusting God's process through difficult seasons • Gathering others through workshops and creative community • Finding God's beauty in nature and everyday life • Simple creative practices to deepen your faith Hiatt has a gift just for you! Download Hiatt's Journaling Guide - Awaken to Beauty here: https://delightful-field-82730.myflodesk.com/wzn5qsyaea [https://delightful-field-82730.myflodesk.com/wzn5qsyaea] Connect with Hiatt: Website: www.beautifulbecoming.com [http://www.beautifulbecoming.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.beautiful.becoming/ [https://www.instagram.com/a.beautiful.becoming/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiattfields [https://www.facebook.com/hiattfields] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiattFieldsArt [https://www.facebook.com/HiattFieldsArt] --- Connect with Melanie: Website: www.melaniefaganat.com [http://www.melaniefaganat.com] Patreon: www.patreon.com/melaniefagaart Free Library of Classes and Resources: www.melaniefaganart/free-library

Trusting God One Page at a Time: Art Journaling Through Life with Faith

In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with art journaler and teacher Casey Turner of Express Your Artsy Soul to explore how creativity can become a pathway to healing, prayer, and deeper trust in the Lord. Casey shares how art journaling became a lifeline during her mother's battle with early-onset Alzheimer's, helping her process grief, pour out prayers, and discover God's presence in unexpected ways. She also shares the remarkable story of how God guided her family through a season of waiting, through faith, surrender, and divine orchestration. Together we talk about: * Art journaling as a spiritual practice * Creativity as a way to process grief and difficult seasons * Trusting God when the path ahead is unclear * Childlike faith, messy creativity, and letting go of perfection * Finding rest, peace, and renewal through creative time with God If you've ever wondered whether creativity has a place in your faith journey, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that God meets us right in the middle of our paint, paper, prayers, and everyday lives. Casey has a special offering for listeners: Join her in making a sweet art journal page that anyone can make! Have fun with collage, inks, and paint. July First Tutorial [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_po-mS4LuBo] Connect with Casey: https://linktr.ee/Expressyourartsysoul [https://linktr.ee/Expressyourartsysoul] / expressyourartsysoul [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmhVRTJoTFcxLW1oUzVSOFF2SXpHU1ZPVTFld3xBQ3Jtc0tsUWpEOGw2LUJfZVVueUdFVld6bzAwSmpab3BfakJ5Zlc0Rzk2TEZYQjZEUkJLSFJOeURjckxuLWl3alpXZVduT3hOLU8xWElJR244Y1RlSVN2bV9iSHJHbkNSUGZ3SFhvYml4YzVaQmloVE9jcU9VNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patreon.com%2Fc%2FExpressYourArtsySoul&v=RwO7TSdqWdY] / expressyourartsysoul [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbndWcUNXOE1VZWpYdEFxRHJjVVRjM2tEOVFwUXxBQ3Jtc0ttNHpMWFAzMnlxNzRGa0h4NFdTTEUtRk11UTllZjZQZFk4Sk1rWGt1NWRmWWJvR25Rdlc0d3MteE5QNHlTVkZEWko5RHZMcXU0N1F0TWdFQ0VKYWxVbE1lSDlqSXdPVnhDbmtLUDdFZ1ZSQUp5MmM5UQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fexpressyourartsysoul%2F&v=RwO7TSdqWdY] / @expressyourartsysoul [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKm7NPpzto6XffFTHejTEhA] --- Connect with Melanie Website: www.melaniefaganart.com [http://www.melaniefaganart.com] Patreon: www.patreon.com/melaniefaganart Free Online Library of Goodies: https://www.melaniefaganart.com/free- [https://www.melaniefaganart.com/free-]... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVV5aUxpa2xtalBCeFk4andWSEtxTlBDLXppd3xBQ3Jtc0ttaURsZVNGNk9oMUpreWZpSTFDWkc5ZVdTRkVPTFNRYi1MaHA3LXVKZm4wM0hDcGMtRGNsXzd1VEtnSVNlT0liczQ2dzlRcUtmSUJwNWl3a1E0Wm9fUzA0REFadnFRdWF6RkpfVU96Vno4d0hlNHBsYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.melaniefaganart.com%2Ffree-library&v=RwO7TSdqWdY]

Empowering Gratitude through Grief, Beauty, and Healing

In this inspiring and deeply honest episode of the Creating with Beauty Podcast, I sit down with artist, teacher, and soulful writer Stephanie Lee for an insightful conversation about gratitude, creativity, faith, healing, and learning to embrace life with intention and authenticity fully. Together we explore how beauty awakens us, how gratitude renews us, and how creativity becomes a sacred practice that helps us reconnect with ourselves, with God, and with the life we are living right now. Stephanie shares wisdom on: - Living with gratitude and presence - Creativity as spiritual practice - Journaling as conversation with God - Striving vs. surrender - Trusting your creative voice - Creating messy, authentic art - Healing through gratitude, beauty and intention - Loving yourself as God’s creation - Letting go of perfection and fear - Finding joy in everyday moments We also touch on how gratitude can sustain us through difficult seasons and help us continue seeing beauty even when life feels heavy. This conversation is filled with heartfelt encouragement, honest reflections, laughter, wisdom, and reminders that we do not have to wait for life to be perfect before we begin to live and create fully. “If you only do those things and you never actively choose gratitude in the moment, all of them pale in comparison to mindfully being grateful.” — Stephanie Lee If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who may need hope and inspiration today. --- CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE LEE About Stephanie: Bio - "I believe our creative power is meant to shape not only art, but the life around it. Through plaster, gesso, mixed media, and encaustic, I create luminous, tactile work that invites others to trust their creative instincts and make something—anything—of their own. My online courses and eBooks guide artists through metalsmithing, sculptural plaster, and encaustic with a practical, liberating, & rule-bending approach." Website: www.stephanieleeart.com [http://www.stephanieleeart.com] Instagram: @stephanieleemaker YouTube: Make & Grow with Stephanie Lee --- Connect with Melanie: Website: www.melaniefaganart.com [http://www.melaniefaganart.com] Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/melaniefaganart [https://www.patreon.com/cw/melaniefaganart] Free Collage Class: Unfolding Joy on the Path of a Beauty Seeker https://tinyurl.com/mrh4mxtd [https://tinyurl.com/mrh4mxtd]

Be Brave, Curious, & Creative - with Stephanie Lee

In this beautiful and reflective episode, Stephanie Lee shares her journey as an artist, teacher, gardener, storyteller, and creative encourager. Through stories about family, art-making, curiosity, and self-discovery, Stephanie offers wisdom for anyone longing to create more honestly and courageously. Together we discuss: * How curiosity is at the heart of creativity * The connection between creativity, family, and identity * Vintage photographs as storytelling and emotional memory * Gardening as “dirt medicine” and creative restoration * Midlife creativity and continuing to evolve as an artist * Authenticity versus trying to be “unique” * The role of courage in the creative process * Facing the inner critic with truth and logic * Why comparison doesn’t define your worth as an artist * Creating as an act of healing, honesty, and invitation Memorable Quotes “I wasn’t striving to be unique. I was striving to be authentic.” “What do I need to do to be brave and bold in life?” “The biggest gifts we can give are to cultivate authenticity.” “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” “You can do this. Look, I’m doing it. You can do it too.” About Stephanie: Bio - "I believe our creative power is meant to shape not only art, but the life around it. Through plaster, gesso, mixed media, and encaustic, I create luminous, tactile work that invites others to trust their creative instincts and make something—anything—of their own. My online courses and eBooks guide artists through metalsmithing, sculptural plaster, and encaustic with a practical, liberating, & rule-bending approach." Website: stephanieleeart.com [http://stephanieleeart.com] Instagram: @stephanieleemaker [https://www.instagram.com/stephanieleemaker/] Youtube: Make & Grow with Stephanie Lee [https://www.youtube.com/@stephanieleemaker] --- Connect with Melanie: Connect with Melanie Website: www.melaniefaganart.com [http://www.melaniefaganart.com] Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/melaniefaganart [https://www.patreon.com/melaniefaganart] Free Collage Class: Unfolding Joy on the Path of a Beauty Seeker https://tinyurl.com/mrh4mxtd [https://tinyurl.com/mrh4mxtd]