"No matter the weather"

"No matter the weather"

                Have you ever experienced being uncomfortably awkward around someone you do not know very well? what should I say?... um the weather been nice don't ya think? or maybe the last sporting event comes up. Even though I get caught in this weird pattern of not knowing what to say. It drives me crazy!

                How do you get quickly get pass this silly game of impersonal talk? In my way of thinking it's just so insensitive. That person that you are having idle chit chat with may really need a ear. What if that person is going through a hard time? Should I be asking myself, do I care? Maybe the reason this drives me so crazy is because I am a Christian. I am convicted to be an example of Christ. If time is precious and we are to be out there loving people and being an example of Christ how do we quickly get passed this silly game of talking about impersonal things?

                I lead a high school aged bible study once a week and on a good morning we have about 30 minutes together. This is why I decided to start asking" How's Your weather?" It's a way for people to share what is going on in their lives, but if they are feeling like it's just to personal to share details they can just answer in expressions like a weather forecast. This way we at least can be sensitive toward people and know better how to pray for them. It's fun too! I've had girls say their weather is "clear skies high of 75 with little chance of rain today! or some have had a rain cloud on the horizon in the shape of a test or paper due. There are times when someone can not quite express their weather condition because it is too difficult, but we all understand and are glad they came.

                "How's your weather" has become a favorite pass time of our group and over the years I have seen the benefits of being real with each other and praying for each other. We also have seen that no matter the weather, God is faithful to comfort you. Weather changes but God remains the same."Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8. So if your weather is fair today be ready for a change and if the weather is horrible get ready for it to change! God is so Gracious to comfort and give peace deep in our heart even during the fiercest of storms. If we ask Him for comfort.

                The umbrella in this painting represents Jesus. He covers and protects us in any kind of weather. Intense heat or cold rain, He remains the same.

Revelation 1:8 (NIV)

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Psalm 102:25-27 (NIV)

²⁵ In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
²⁶ They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
²⁷ But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.

"Worthy to be Praised"

 This is the start of "worthy to be praised"

 The verse that inspired me:Psalm 145:3
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.

Having full understanding of what Jesus Christ has done for You manifests a heart of authentic praise that supersedes any thing the earth has to offer! ~Dee

Lord Reign In Me (Over All the Earth)
Words and Music by Brenton Brown Performed by:

Song Lyrics

Over all the earth
You reign on high
Every mountain stream every sunset sky
But my one request Lord my only aim
Is that You'd reign in me again

Lord reign in me
Reign in Your power
Over all my dreams
In my darkest hour
You are the Lord of all I am
So won't You reign in me again

Over every thought
Over every word
May my life reflect the beauty of my Lord
'Cause You mean more to me than any earthly thing
So won't You reign in me again

So if you follow me, you won't be stumbling through darkness,for living light will flood your path.

"Where are my Accusers?" was painted late at night, which is where most of my paintings start. As I was putting the brush to the canvas I stopped. Rememering I like to pray before each painting I asked God to use this piece of art for His Glory and to use it how ever he chooses. But  I remember it was hard for me to pray just then. As I started working I really disliked the painting and just stopped and went to bed. The next day I found I was struggling with some old memories from the past till the point where I was just tired...tired of those old hurts and found that I was just ready to deal with them. I could feel the shame of my past rise like a flood ready to overwhelm me to the point where I almost pulled the plug. Then I prayerfully asked God to deal with me if only to be rid of this shameful feeling. I could feel the old demons scream "No! Too shameful! Keep it hidden! As soon as I felt the stuggle I thought "The Lord knows anyway". "I am ready to bring this into His Light." I could feel the peace almost like light on my back. I tore into God's word and He led me to these words.

Luke 12:3

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

³ What you say in the dark will be told in the light. And what you whisper in a private room will be shouted from the top of the house.”

Oh whoa!... does this mean people will know what I have done. As soon As I felt my heart wanting to cover everything up again Jesus reminded me of the time the adulterous women was brought before Him. Which I looked up in John chapter 8. It was like I read it for the first time with my sin being "the one" being accused.

John 8:7-12

New Living Translation

⁷ They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” ⁸ Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

⁹ When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. ¹⁰ Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

¹¹ “No, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

¹² Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

I didn't come back to this painting for three days and when I did finished it I found I still did not really like it. I believe my dis-like comes from the fact that the women is still on her knees in shame. So I painted "Worthy To be Praised" before I ever signed "Where are my Accusers?"

 

Jesus does not want us to live in shame, nor in darkness, He wants us to live and live life in all the fullness He has to offer. I urge you to pull out the things hidden in darkness.

Lord, Thankyou for the warm light surrounding me that exposes the darkness and eliminates it. Thankyou for the forgiveness you offer and what you did on the cross for forgiveness of my sins. Help me to walk in living light. Amen

Repentant Heart




My latest painting was inspired by taking a look at my heart and asking myself some tough questions. Truly where is my heart when I look at having complete sacrifice to the Lord? This took me to Deuteronomy 6. You should Read the whole chapter, but I will highlight parts of two verses; you must love the Lord your God with all of your heart...and you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly.
When I think about my commitment my mind goes immediately to the things I haven't given completely over to God yet. I just don't think it is possible to give my heart wholly by my own power, but I believe that with God all things are possible and so I have to give myself and my sins over to him yet again and ask that He  shows me a way to overcome this struggle. The figure in my painting is showing how vulnerable we are in front of our God. He knows all. He sees all.  The tree represents our life. When my life is over I want it to be a beautiful offering to God.
Maybe your focus has been on the naked figure in my painting and you see it as beautiful, but God sees the heart. And truly that isn't always as beautiful.   
Going back to Deuteronomy 6 gives some good ways to give ourselves wholly, first is "The Lord is our God, the Lord alone". No other god in my life and that includes me. And then there is a whole paragraph on leaving reminders everywhere! Write it on your forehead, teach it to your children, write it on your door posts etc. We need to be reminded over and over again who is the Lord of my life!
God’s word also led me to Psalm 51. This song was written by David after David has committed adultery with Bathsheba. David cries out to God “Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit in me.” The 17^th verse says that God desires a broken spirit and a repentant heart.
My Lord, May my life be a complete sacrifice to you, beautiful and pleasing. Change my heart make it clean and renew a right spirit in me. Amen

More verses on the heart~ Psalm 27:3, Proverbs 4:23, Mathew 5:8, Luke 6:45

Jesus the white elephant

December is full. The calendar is full. Bellies are full. It seems like every year I have at least three Christmas parties where there is a gift exchange. You know the game where you pull a number out of a hat and when it’s your turn you can steal someone’s gift. I think that game is best when you bring a White Elephant gift, you know, the gift that nobody really would want in their home but it’s just so crazy that you love it and it makes you laugh just looking at it. If it’s unusual enough it usually becomes a part of my home and is almost hard to give away at the next White Elephant gift exchange.
Crazy White Elephant gifts, good food, seeing friends and family those are my favorite Christmas memories. But if you know me well you would know that Christmas is not my favorite time of the year. I don’t like all the expectations, and feelings of guilt that come with it.
I get a little sad when I see all the business and hubbub of Christmas while people forget that it is Jesus Birthday celebration. Maybe people just don’t understand how amazing Christmas really is. God came in the person of His Son to live and die and then live again so we could be with Him in heaven forever.
 Maybe Baby Jesus is just a “Big White Elephant in the room” Nobody wants to mention, the real reason for the party was not to bring gifts but to get a White Elephant! Then bring Him into your home and into your heart and fall in love with Him show Him to people when they come over to your house and explain how wonderful He is until they love Him too! Then wrap Him up and take it with you and give it to someone as a gift. You might need to explain it a little at first but I bet they fall in love with Him too.

Hello

I was inspired to start a blog after my daughter started one. So here it is! In the past I have started journals and diary's but  inevitably the pages remain mostly blank. I am not sure why that is. life gets busy with other things I guess. I am most excited about sharing what  I am learning in my life right now. My art mainly comes from the things that God is teaching me at the moment. So the art I share will always reflect that lesson. Sharing with others is always a little scary, so I'll put in this disclaimer; You do not have to like my art, or understand it for that matter, I really only create for the approval of my Lord God Jesus Christ, but everyone likes an accolade or praise. Truely my greatest plessure is when people enjoy my art and that it points to the Glory of God. My daughter says the only reason I am a starving artist is because I wont sell them. But How do you sell the lessons you have learned ? How can I remember the lessons I have learned if I can't look back at them? :)