Painting His Word - Abstract Series
Breath / 2022
Painting His Word - Abstract Series 1
48 in X 60 in
Acrylic on Canvas
I'm excited to begin a series of abstract paintings titled Painting the Word! This piece, "Breath" is the first painting in this series and is filled with His word...praises to Him and proclamations of His promises of protection.
Breath is about releasing the word of God in praise, worship and in our actions.
Breath (Ruach) in our lungs is literally the breath of God within us, the wind of the Holy Spirit. God spoke and created the heavens and earth and all living things. His breath within us gives us life and enables us to speak. The word of God tells us our words are powerful and that "death or life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). When we speak, praise and worship Him and proclaim His word, His promises over our lives and the lives of others, we are speaking life. When we speak negative words over ourselves and others we are speaking death. No matter what your circumstances are, how dark they may be, discover what God has to say about it in His word, the Bible and speak, praise and worship LIFE in the authority of Jesus' name daily. God will surely move to perform His word in your life. Pray in faith, listen and wait...never give up!
What I've been up to...
As I write this blog post in my new studio it's hard to believe it's already September. This year has been a year of positive changes along with challenging adjustments due to a big move but there is so much peace knowing you're where the Lord wants you to be.
Mid year 2021 we were considering downsizing so prayed and asked God where He wanted us to be. We were prepared to go wherever He sent us so we stepped out in faith and spent many weekends driving to Texas towns getting further and further out while listening for His instruction. We were not really sure what to expect and not finding anything after so much driving...we decided to take a break and just wait... honestly just wondering if we were to stay where we were. Two weeks into our break I was in my studio painting, happy to be home for the weekend when I heard the Lord speak very clearly the name of a town in East Texas. Surprised, I spontaneously spoke the town name back to Him to confirm but I knew what I'd heard and was excited to hear our answer spoken so clearly. We prayed for instruction, we waited...did not charge ahead trying to make a move happen according to our plans. He honored the waiting, the stepping out in faith and answered very clearly and we obeyed quickly. He was teaching us to trust Him on a deeper level.
We drove to the town the very next weekend to explore and loved the quaint town square, friendly people and sense of community we discovered that day. By Thanksgiving 2021 we were in our new home with remodeling work underway!
Although the move and remodel was challenging at times and is still not complete, we've encountered His clear favor every step of the way and our trust, our faith has grown tremendously as a result. We're very happy and thankful for our new home, peaceful community and new church family.
The Studio...
As for painting since the move, I've spent much time in my studio but remodel activity has slowed my progress this year as well as my own stubbornness! Recently I completed a commission and have another one to start. I started working another piece weeks ago about the breath of God and the words we speak. I actually recreated the piece several times, struggling with it not coming together as I had envisioned..."I" being a key word here!
I had gathered collage that was to be a part of this piece and thought I had a solid plan as to how it would come together. As I continued to labor over the piece, I prayed about it and asked the Lord why I was stuck but just kept working...not setting it aside to start another piece and wait for His response.
Finally, I ran out of a much needed product that wasn't readily available and was forced to stop, totally frustrated. It was late in the day and not being able to finish it, I prayed again and asked God if I had misunderstood Him in what I was to paint because I had spent so much time on this one piece and was still not finished. Went to bed.
The next morning, I continued to question and plan my day, asking Him what He wanted for me to paint. He took me back to a time He had spoken a word to me, "You paint My word". As I started imagining that... literally painting His word, painting His word in freedom, abstract freedom...I changed directions and am no longer stuck! I'm very excited and already have more abstracts underway...truly a "Breath" of fresh air! Thank You Lord!
Lesson learned - I clearly didn't learn the lesson of praying, asking Him specifically for the direction He wanted me take regarding painting, wait and listen... as we did previously, ie. for the downsize and move... so the lesson was repeated. Different circumstances but same lesson.
He knows us, is always with us, teaching us His ways as we are willing, knows the plans He has for us and is in the fine details, no question is too small. Now, more than ever, we must fully surrender everything to Him in prayer in the secret place...especially when we're encountering resistance... and ask Him to show us the way forward...wait for Him and when we hear, obey quickly.
Blessings until next time!
(Genesis Chapter 1, 1:3) The History of Creation
Then God said (spoke), "Let there're light; and there was light.
(Jeremiah 29:11)
I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you to give you hope and a future.
(Psalm 150:6)
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
(Psalm 27:1-6)
The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me upon a rock. And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
(Proverbs 18:21)
Death and Life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat it's fruit.
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."