before God’s throne…

One of the reasons I decided to start writing this blog is because I felt prompted to share the incredible ways that I have experienced God ministering through my artwork.  This painting is another example of how God used my work to bring healing and peace….

I  painted this piece a couple of years ago and titled it Throne Room because I experienced being in the very presence of God while creating it….I saw visions of the heavens and the prayers of the people and the inner sanctum where God dwells….

I kept this piece in my studio until, while preparing to hang some work for an exhibit, I was prompted to include this one…..

During the exhibit, an elderly man approached me with tears in his eyes.  He was obviously a little uncomfortable and was being encouraged by his friend to come over and talk to me….He then explained to me that one year ago he had been pronounced dead in the hospital during a heart attack….during those few moments, he said he was in the throne room with God….that he saw exactly what I had painted in this painting….and he tearfully told me how much seeing this painting comforted him because he had lost his wife two years ago and was having private doubts that heaven was real, God was real, that what he had believed all these years was really true….he said because of this painting, he now knew that what he saw and experienced was real, and that he would see his wife again someday…..

He now has this painting, and it is a reminder to him and to me, that yes, God’s love is real.  He is listening and watching, and yes, He cares about every one of us, including you…

my father’s crown….

My father died in an accident 6 years ago.  He was a constant encouragement to me in my painting and spiritual journey and I still miss him desperately….I remember laughing with him, because though he loved my work, he never quite understood abstract art and was always asking me to paint him a boat.  I said, “Dad, even if I do paint you a boat, you won’t recognize it….it will be too abstract.”  But there was one painting that he completely understood….and it is the one pictured here titled “Crown”.  He said it looked like the crown he would someday receive in heaven with beautiful jewels in it.  And that he could also see shadows of the thorny crown that his beloved savior wore for him in the background…..and that is exactly what this painting is about….

He had a photo of this painting in his pocket when he died.  He carried it around with him wherever he went…I know my father is safely in the arms of Jesus now….and I’m very sure that the crown he received is much more beautiful than this….

broken but not abandoned….

Are you experiencing brokenness? you are not alone….I have experienced it….and am going through some brokenness even as I write this…we all do.  But we are never abandoned.  God is always near  and hears our cries….

This piece was painted a few years ago.  It is titled Broken Hallelujah.  I was feeling someone’s pain as I created it, but I did not know who….

A couple of years passed and a young woman contacted me saying that she saw the image on the internet and that it moved her so powerfully.  She felt like it was painted just for her….that it expressed the brokenness she had gone through, and yet showed the hope she held on to….it turns out, after we spoke, that I had painted it at exactly the time she was going through her painful journey….God had given it to her through me.  She now has the painting.  It is a sign to her, and to me, that yes, God hears our cries.  And He cares. And if we are open, He will use each of us to minister to each other in powerful healing ways….

always embraced….

The image shown here is a piece I created for a collection of works about the parable of the Prodigal Son. It is titled “Embrace”.  Here are my thoughts as I worked through this painting….

…the first word that comes to mind when I think of the Prodigal Son is ‘embrace.’  For it is in the act of finally embracing each other that forgiveness is at last given and received.  Receiving forgiveness is a choice to fall at the Father’s feet in total submission and completely trust Him to know what’s best and yield at last to His embrace.

The vision that the Lord gave me for this is seen in the many layers of darker textures around the edges of the painting representing struggle and brokenness – with light and softness in the center as a place of sanctuary and peace.  The sons are seen entering into this place of forgiveness, returning to the Father and choosing to leave their fears, guilt, and shame behind.

The calligraphic marks or prayer language which are usually very evident in my paintings are still here. They are woven among the many layers – just as I’m sure the Father must have saturated his sons in prayer even, and especially, as they struggled.

The overall color in the work is a shade of purple, which is the color of royalty for as children of God, we are joint-heirs with Christ.  We sometimes forget our identity, in our brokenness, but that doesn’t change who we are; and the Father always welcomes us back with open arms, just as we are, and covers us again in royal robes.

I see trees in this painting. I often see trees in my work.  They are symbolic of growth and change. In this piece there is a broken tree in the foreground – fallen to the ground – another symbol of brokenness, sorrow and defeat.

The larger entity is of course, the Father. He has beautiful shimmers of gold and purple flowing through him. He is filled with light. He is light.

The three entities, father and sons, are caught up in relationship – a dance, if you will – of life and love. There is tension, and communion…as in this life…all woven together…we won’t know complete and pure peace until we at last see the Father face to face.

Despite the darkness, there is an overall radiance and glow from within that shines through even the darkest dark. We are never without hope. God is always near and ready to embrace us, when at last, we yield to His love and grace.