Art & Soul post #37 by guest author Michelle Chamberlain
Jesus is our chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20) upon His truth we stand. Our fortress (Psalm 18:2), our strong tower (Proverbs 18:10), our solid ground (Matthew 7:24) which secures our feet traveling through any storm. Jesus is our Rock (Deuteronomy 32:4) and His Word is the anchor of our lives (Hebrews 6:19).
How It All Started
In 2017, our 7-year-old son found two painted stones. One said, “Trust in the Lord” and the other was painted like a strawberry– fun treasures for any child to bring home and our first exposure to painted stone art. As I watched our son move these newfound keepsakes around his room, I remember telling him as well as our daughter, “We should do this sometime. We should paint stones with messages like ‘Jesus loves you’ and put Scripture on rocks for others to discover.”
Then in 2019, the kids and I started to do just that! We painted stones and placed them around town to share truths in the Lord. As we enjoyed doing this, I felt the Lord nudging me to start a social media group and call it “Cornerstones” with the purpose of inviting others from around the country to do the same. But it wasn’t until 2020 when things shut down due to Covid, that all my excuses were taken away and I finally started the Cornerstones online group. During this time, the Cornerstones web-based community released around 2,000 rocks sharing the love of Jesus all over the country. While I was still working my career as an occupational therapist in a major hospital, my kids and I actually painted over 1,300 stones! Little did I know that when I said“yes” to what God was asking me to do, it also improved my speed and talents as an artist– skills I would need for the plan He had for my life in the future.
Some of the many stones we painted and released for the Cornerstones online group in 2020
Into the Wild
Fast forward to May of 2021, I was sitting at a work computer inputting the upcoming days I would be working through the summer and I heard the Lord say, “This is the last time you are doing this.” This lined up with other words I had heard Him say throughout that summer like “lay down the familiar” and “you’re leaving the pools of Bethesda”. These words all confirmed I was to leave the hospital setting and that a change was coming my way for what I would be doing with my “career”.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
August 8th of 2021 was the first time in 31 years (since age 17) that I didn’t have my next step lined up or know the plan for my working life. But soon after this, it became clear to me that my hobby of painting stones with Scripture was to turn into a business and involve art workshops as well! Thus Cornerstones Global was birthed and it is still taking shape today. One simple step of obedience has turned into a calling and direction greater than I could have imagined!
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)
The homepage of the Cornerstones.shop website
Examples of some of the many “cornerstones” I have painted
Since those small beginnings, the Lord had us move to another state to give me a small art studio to conduct workshops on our property (which is still a work in progress). I also travel to organize stone painting classes with women’s groups and youth events. And a website was created along with an online store. These beginnings are small and even are moving along a bit slower than I would have originally planned or hoped, but the Lord has guided me every step of the way. Quite honestly, this business venture and His timing have helped me grow a child-like faith of trust, learn to manage emotions and my schedule, and I have been able to practice moving forward no matter what– just like a daughter of the King should do!
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:16-17 (NIV)
More examples of rocks I painted for Cornerstones (all have Scripture references on the back)
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:21 (ESV)
You may be wondering, why painted stones? Why include Scripture references on each one? Why do art workshops inviting others to paint on rocks and hear the voice of the Lord? Why start a business? Why dream again? Why? Because He calls us to step out! Because He says “this is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). Because when I say “yes” to Him it invites others to say “yes” to Him too. Because He has a plan for my life. Because He has a plan for YOUR life!
“He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!”
Deuteronomy 32:4 (NLT)
Jesus has revealed Himself as my Rock and strong foundation over the years, carrying me through the highs and lows of life. The Lord continues to highlight stones to me – actual stones on the ground in various shapes, stones and rocks that are talked about within the Bible, along with stones and rocks within words and locations in my life. For example, we just moved from a town called “Castle Rock” and we went to a church called “The Rock” for years. Now, in our new state of Nebraska (my home state to which I returned after 25 years), the Lord led me to a town where so many things are called “cornerstone” – the local bank, the sports complex, even a room at the college. It reminds me that the Lord has a sense of humor! I continue to laugh out loud when I see all of these “coincidences” and how His perfect plan for my life has come together.
Childlike Faith
The Lord has renewed my youth, not just back to young adulthood by starting over as a creative artist with a business plan, but more like a 5-year-old who shows up for kindergarten and shares what she wants to be when she’s an adult— “Hi, my name is Michelle and I plan to paint rocks when I grow up!” It is just like the Lord to take what’s fun and simple and turn it into something so much more!
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 (NIV)
Through this whole process of leaning on His chest and hearing His voice, He helped me remember a college professor decades ago who told me that my artistic abilities were lacking and not very good. He helped me look back on that now and come to the realization that I partnered with a lie. I laid down my creative side that I had been following by studying to go into advertising and public relations. Instead, I took the safer road with a career in healthcare. It is so important who we allow to speak into our lives and who we take advice from. My life working as a nursing assistant and then as an occupational therapist was fulfilling in many ways, but I realize now that I became comfy in the box I chose to put around me, “decorating it with comfy pillows and hanging curtains”, not taking a risk or exploring what was waiting for me outside my box. Now I know part of my life’s calling is to help the younger generation not do what I did, but instead, I want to ignite them and others to dream again with me.
The Ripple Effect
Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV) says, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” This verse makes me think back to the “Trust in the Lord” stone–one of the first my son found back in 2017. Someone listened to the voice of the Lord to paint and hide that stone. Such a simple act of obedience created a ripple effect that ignited the dream God had for me, which has changed the course of my life! Isn’t it just like God to take the simple to impact the complex? To take something small and use it to start a ripple effect to bring positive change in the world?
Now, as God’s Word on this early rock declares, I try my best to trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). I try to walk out my purpose to send out His Word with His promise that it will not return void, but will accomplish all that He intends it to! (Isaiah 30:21 and Isaiah 55:11). So, will you join me? Will you follow the dreams He has for you too? Will you write that book, create that masterpiece, start that business, design that invention, study for that skill, write that song, sketch that designer outfit, or do whatever else is in your heart? I invite you to be like that 5-year-old creative you again that is without limits!
Dreaming with you,
Michelle
Michelle Chamberlain
Michelle Chamberlain is supported by her loving husband, T.J. of almost 25 years and currently lives in Nebraska. Her passion is having the Lord's family hearing and acting on His voice to know who they are in Him. She is also a mother of two wonderful children.
Support Michelle and her dream of impacting the world one stone at a time! You can purchase her cornerstones or schedule a rock painting workshop on her website at cornerstones.shop
4 thoughts on “Walking In the Dream He Gave Me”
Michelle, thank you so much for sharing your story, your beautiful cornerstones, and for inspiring me to not only dream, but to DREAM BIG! I am so glad I met you at the Arise Summit in Colorado! I immediately felt a connection with you and I am so thankful for our friendship. I also look forward to how God will bring us together again in the future!
Elana!! You are such a treasure!! Someone I didn’t know I needed in my life – but He knew!! Thank YOU for giving me this opportunity to share my heart, His heart, and cornerstones’ story in these simple, humble beginnings!! Excited where the Lord is taking both of us!! Love YOU, my new found sister in Christ!!
Please see below words from worship songs we sing at the Salvation Army Cwmbran Corps.
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly trust in Jesus name. Christ alone! Cornerstone! Weak made strong in the Saviour’s love. Through the storm he is Lord, Lord of all.
Please excuse me for any errors and/or omissions I have made when typing words from songs as I remember them. I do have Asperger’s syndrome, an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), which causes me to struggle socially. I struggle with social communication, social interaction, and social imagination. There is nothing I can do about this only God can help me. Therefore, I pray.
God, help me! I ask this prayer for Jesus sake. Amen. Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief.
Oooo Yvonne – I love that song!! Thank you for sharing it!! You are special in His sight – I bet you are better at communicating than you even realize. Honestly, we all have things that could seem to make us different and pull back – but keep shining in all the Lord Jesus made you to be. I bet you inspire those around you as you keep praying and moving forward towards Him. Thanks again for reaching out and sharing that song!!