Beauty from the inside out
I woke to a dream of a woman I do not know standing by a lake. It was a high mountain lake and a light blue color. The woman was in awe of the beauty and she said “it’s beauty from the inside out”. I woke to those words… I said, “God, you’re speaking to me again aren’t you”. During my Bible study this morning I asked him to reveal the meaning of those words “Beauty from the inside out”.As I wrote, this all came to my mind. Lord, you are beauty. You heal us through beauty from the inside out. We grasp at things from outside of ourselves to find healing, joy and peace, but it never satisfies because it’s only temporary moments in time. It doesn’t heal the inside of our hearts.
But you, if we allow you to come in, give you permission, you heal the deepest pains, disappointment’s and longings in our hearts. This inner change then manifests outwardly in our physical bodies. Our anxiety and fears are healed. Physical illnesses can be healed, as often anxiety, fear and un forgiveness can cause physical illness and physical pain.
People around us can see a difference in us. They say we have a glow/light about us. We attract others to us. Because Jesus heals the inside with his beauty, we become beautiful on the outside as well. Not necessarily in a physical way, but a way that people can not really explain. We are just drawn to them. True beauty can not be taken from us. It continues to grow and flourish and give light to others. We become mirrors of the beauty inside.
Erika Masterson is a Fine Art Photographer, living her dream between two worlds, a lakeside cabin tucked in the Southern Appalachian mountains and a quiet beach town on Florida’s east coast.Erika and her husband Ed have 4 children and one granddaughter. Her children are often seen in her artistic works.
She received her degree in photography from the Southeastern Center for Photographic Studies in Daytona Beach, Florida in 1990. In 1999 opened her own commercial portrait business and has been working the past 20+ years in California and Florida.
In 2012 Erika expanded her Art including many exhibits and awards. Her most recent accolades; Solo Exhibition Soho Gallery New York; the Co-Jurors Choice award by Joyce Tenneson under the theme “The Intimate Portrait”; She was chosen as a Julia Margaret Cameron finalist for her series “A Message for my Daughter” and was selected as Black and White Magazine’s Portfolio Spotlight winner for her series Sara’s Sojourn.
Her quiet and soulful images have been published in numerous magazines such as Black and White Magazine 2014 & 2017, Victoria Magazine 2000 & 2016, Silvershotz Magazine, Shots Magazine, 5×5 Magazine, Bella Grace Magazine, Raine, Shadow & Light and In-Style Magazine. Erika recently has her images being sold around the world and on greeting cards with Palm Press and book covers. She has also self-published 4 books with her series of work.
