WorshipArt
CLICK ON any of the images below
for more information about each painting,
To place an order, go HERE.
for more information about each painting,
To place an order, go HERE.
“Dreams are like the paints of a great artist. Your dreams are your paints, the world is your canvas. Believing, is the brush that converts your dreams into a masterpiece of reality.”
Art As Worship
WorshipArt is art done during worship in a live church service or at home in my private time with the Lord. If I am in a church, I set up with the worship team and paint as the music is played. I will sometimes have to finish the piece later when I get home.
Before I go to a church or conference to paint, I will ask the Lord what He wants me to release. If He shows me, I will look for photos to use as reference based on what I have "seen". Other times I will feel led to paint a photo I have taken or gotten permission to use from the photographer.
Sometimes I have no idea what He wants me to paint, so I will set up my easel and wait on Him. Usually, I just see a part of the image, but as I start to paint, more revelation comes. Sometimes I just have a "desire" to paint something because it is what I am feeling, or what is in my heart. Prophetically gifted people often times have to experience the "word" they are birthing. Other times the painting is for someone specifically at the meeting.
The image usually coincides with the speaker's message and/or worship songs, confirming what the Holy Spirit is saying for that specific service, or it is a corporate word to the whole body. It is truly limitless what God is doing or wants to do through the painting. It is just another way for God to express Himself through prophesy, for encouragement, edification and exhortation of the Body or to be a sign and wonder to unbelievers.
Before I go to a church or conference to paint, I will ask the Lord what He wants me to release. If He shows me, I will look for photos to use as reference based on what I have "seen". Other times I will feel led to paint a photo I have taken or gotten permission to use from the photographer.
Sometimes I have no idea what He wants me to paint, so I will set up my easel and wait on Him. Usually, I just see a part of the image, but as I start to paint, more revelation comes. Sometimes I just have a "desire" to paint something because it is what I am feeling, or what is in my heart. Prophetically gifted people often times have to experience the "word" they are birthing. Other times the painting is for someone specifically at the meeting.
The image usually coincides with the speaker's message and/or worship songs, confirming what the Holy Spirit is saying for that specific service, or it is a corporate word to the whole body. It is truly limitless what God is doing or wants to do through the painting. It is just another way for God to express Himself through prophesy, for encouragement, edification and exhortation of the Body or to be a sign and wonder to unbelievers.
Prints in canvas or on paper are available of any of the images below. Prices vary based on size of image desired. If you want either of the sizes below, please note which image you are interested. If you have a special order, just click here.
Fear Not
Sometimes, when life is extra hard, I run to be with the Lord, and when I do, He is a Lion. I am not sure why this happens, but when it does, I love it. One of my favorite things to do when I am with Him, is to run my fingers through His fur. I feel completely safe when I am with Him, maybe because the Lion represents authority and strength.
Recently I got a devotional book with quotes from the Narnia series. In the series, Aslan is a Lion and he represents Jesus. I came across this quote the other day from one of the books:
ASLAN, ASLAN. DEAR ASLAN,” sobbed Lucy. “At last.”
The great beast rolled over on his side so that Lucy fell, half sitting and half lying between his front paws. He bent forward and just touched her nose with his tongue. His warm breath came all round her. She gazed up into the large wise face.
“Welcome, child,” he said.
“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”
“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.
“Not because you are?”
“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.” —CS Lewis, Prince Caspian
I thought it was just so beautiful, a "true sign of maturity" the devotional book called it. See, the closer we get to God...the bigger we realize He is...and the smaller we become. We must decrease and He must increase. We also realize that it is important to become like a child to enter the kingdom of God.
While I was painting, this song came "randomly" on my spotify radio. It was an artist I had never heard, but it was perfect timing, as I had just been thanking God for always being there for me. For being a safe place I could run to when I am afraid. These were just some of the words. You can hear the song at this link. http://www.mp3olimp.net/grace-falkner-13-the-conquering-lion/
Conquering Lion to break every chain
He will wipe every tear away.
He will take all my hurt and pain.
He will lead me to, springs of living water 3x
He will Shepherd me.
I pray that when people look at this painting, they realize they can meet with Jesus as a Lion too. I pray they feel His gentle strength and authority. That they feel safe in His arms and fear not.
Symbols of the painting
I used pink for the woman's dress to represent the passion that she has for Jesus. I wanted to use all the colors I could in the mane to represent a coat of many colors. How God is multifaceted like that. I used black for the background because when I run to Him, it is sometimes in a very dark time...but I can always find peace and rest in His arms. Tucked under His head, much like being tucked under His wings.
Recently I got a devotional book with quotes from the Narnia series. In the series, Aslan is a Lion and he represents Jesus. I came across this quote the other day from one of the books:
ASLAN, ASLAN. DEAR ASLAN,” sobbed Lucy. “At last.”
The great beast rolled over on his side so that Lucy fell, half sitting and half lying between his front paws. He bent forward and just touched her nose with his tongue. His warm breath came all round her. She gazed up into the large wise face.
“Welcome, child,” he said.
“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”
“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.
“Not because you are?”
“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.” —CS Lewis, Prince Caspian
I thought it was just so beautiful, a "true sign of maturity" the devotional book called it. See, the closer we get to God...the bigger we realize He is...and the smaller we become. We must decrease and He must increase. We also realize that it is important to become like a child to enter the kingdom of God.
While I was painting, this song came "randomly" on my spotify radio. It was an artist I had never heard, but it was perfect timing, as I had just been thanking God for always being there for me. For being a safe place I could run to when I am afraid. These were just some of the words. You can hear the song at this link. http://www.mp3olimp.net/grace-falkner-13-the-conquering-lion/
Conquering Lion to break every chain
He will wipe every tear away.
He will take all my hurt and pain.
He will lead me to, springs of living water 3x
He will Shepherd me.
I pray that when people look at this painting, they realize they can meet with Jesus as a Lion too. I pray they feel His gentle strength and authority. That they feel safe in His arms and fear not.
Symbols of the painting
I used pink for the woman's dress to represent the passion that she has for Jesus. I wanted to use all the colors I could in the mane to represent a coat of many colors. How God is multifaceted like that. I used black for the background because when I run to Him, it is sometimes in a very dark time...but I can always find peace and rest in His arms. Tucked under His head, much like being tucked under His wings.
Kissed By Love
As I painted this, the Holy Spirit was on me in a great way...I painted this to remember a dream I had not too long ago.
Jesus is coming back for His Bride...
Revelation 2:17: "And the spirit and the bride say Come! And let him who hears say,
Come! And let him who thirsts, Come; and whoever desires, let him take the water of life
freely."
Revelation 22:20: "'Surely I am coming quickly.' Even so, Come Lord Jesus, Come!"
In the dream I saw a man under a white prayer cloth/blanket/tallit. Then, the next thing I knew...I was I under there with him. I remember looking at the side of his face.
I remembered that the cloth was thick, and soft, not like the prayer shawls you see today.
Then, the Lord was standing in front of us, He put one hand on my side and one on the man's side. Then He smoothed out the wrinkles in the cloth, rubbing down. When He did that, we fused together and our bodies became one physically. I woke up right then, had the thought. "Wow...I AM getting married, and it will be easy, because God is going to do it. " Then I went back to sleep.
When I thought about it later, I realized it was like this man was seeking God for me, and it was our prayers that would bring us together.
This happened a little while ago...but today I was curious if this was something that people have really done, gotten married like this. I knew about the chuppah, but I was very surprised to find paintings of Jewish weddings, and one was from the 15th century.
Seems it was a tradition that some still follow today. God is so cool the way He speaks to us and then confirms it!!! Another cool thing in my dream that God confirmed...
Also, the tallit was really thick...like a blanket. I knew the ones that are around today are really light...so I wondered if it was that way in the past. When I went and looked...turns out they were. They were woven, and a lot like a blanket. Even used to cover themselves when they slept. I remembered one of the first times I got to touch Jesus. I felt His outer garment, and it was thick and soft like that too. Almost a 1/2 inch thick...and that is how this cloth was over us too!
I have been waiting a long time for a husband, and have been starting to lose hope. Even had 2 sister's tell me very recently that they did not see me ever getting married, but now that God spoke to me in the dream, I have such a peace about it.
Here is some more information about Jewish customs in weddings.
http://www.opendoorministrieswv.org/ancientjewishwedding.html
This song below was in my heart as I was painting.
Jesus is coming back for His Bride...
Revelation 2:17: "And the spirit and the bride say Come! And let him who hears say,
Come! And let him who thirsts, Come; and whoever desires, let him take the water of life
freely."
Revelation 22:20: "'Surely I am coming quickly.' Even so, Come Lord Jesus, Come!"
In the dream I saw a man under a white prayer cloth/blanket/tallit. Then, the next thing I knew...I was I under there with him. I remember looking at the side of his face.
I remembered that the cloth was thick, and soft, not like the prayer shawls you see today.
Then, the Lord was standing in front of us, He put one hand on my side and one on the man's side. Then He smoothed out the wrinkles in the cloth, rubbing down. When He did that, we fused together and our bodies became one physically. I woke up right then, had the thought. "Wow...I AM getting married, and it will be easy, because God is going to do it. " Then I went back to sleep.
When I thought about it later, I realized it was like this man was seeking God for me, and it was our prayers that would bring us together.
This happened a little while ago...but today I was curious if this was something that people have really done, gotten married like this. I knew about the chuppah, but I was very surprised to find paintings of Jewish weddings, and one was from the 15th century.
Seems it was a tradition that some still follow today. God is so cool the way He speaks to us and then confirms it!!! Another cool thing in my dream that God confirmed...
Also, the tallit was really thick...like a blanket. I knew the ones that are around today are really light...so I wondered if it was that way in the past. When I went and looked...turns out they were. They were woven, and a lot like a blanket. Even used to cover themselves when they slept. I remembered one of the first times I got to touch Jesus. I felt His outer garment, and it was thick and soft like that too. Almost a 1/2 inch thick...and that is how this cloth was over us too!
I have been waiting a long time for a husband, and have been starting to lose hope. Even had 2 sister's tell me very recently that they did not see me ever getting married, but now that God spoke to me in the dream, I have such a peace about it.
Here is some more information about Jewish customs in weddings.
http://www.opendoorministrieswv.org/ancientjewishwedding.html
This song below was in my heart as I was painting.
Glory Road
One day I was walking by the lake, the sun was setting and the sun was reflecting off the water onto the trunks of the trees. It was so beautiful...breathtaking. It was as though the trees were declaring the Glory of the Lord.
Isaiah 44:23
Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, you earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel.
Isaiah 44:23
Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, you earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel.
♥ blowing bubbles ♥
The Hebrew word for ‘prophesy’ is naba which literally means to ‘bubble up’. When prophets of the Bible prophesied what God was saying to them, God’s voice bubbles up from within their spirits. When God speaks to us, His voice bubbles up from within our spirits.
A Time to Roar
I painted this to remember something God did for me.
Over Christmas, I went through a very hard time, I felt God was turning up the heat so that He could set me free from something. I called a sister that prays for me when I need inner healing, because I was feeling especially under attack that day, and I sensed God was going to bring some healing to me though her.
When she started, I saw the Lion of Judah growling, I thought it was interesting and mentioned it to her, but I did not understand why I had seen that.
I did however get some liberty as she prayed for me!!!!! Praise GOD!!!! So thankful for my sister who is so anointed to set the captives free!
Later, after I brought my outdoor kitty in because it was cold, he began to fight with my indoor kitty. They are both are males, jealous, because they love me, and are territorial too.
As I was listening to them hiss and growl at each other........
I realized something....
that was why I had seen the Lion of Judah growling, when my sister began to pray for me!!!!
God was showing me....
He loves me, He is jealous for me...because I am HIS and HE is territorial too!
No WEAPON formed against US shall prosper!!! \0/
ROOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!
After I posted it on Facebook, a sister, Yolanda Ballard, got caught up in the Spirit as she looked at it. She started writing what turned out to be 90 or so comments on my painting.
Here is what she wrote:
PREPARING FOR THE ROAR
February 20, 2013
After viewing a prophetic painting of The Lion of Judah, the anointing came over me and I wrote as I conversed with the Savior:
Now is the time and the hour for the Lord to pour out His power and through those who are made ready! Yes, I can feel it. Those who are in the third trimester, birth it forth! The breaking of the water, the rushing of the wind, it is coming! To sweep through us like a mighty waterfall busting down the dams and letting the River flow forth! It will come like fire and rain, the mighty anointing! Piercing through hardened hearts!
Stream forth, Mighty River! Press through the hindrances and the distractions. Come into that intimate union with our Lord! Deep calls unto deep at the sound of the waterfall! Like the heart pants after the water brook, so my soul pants after you, O Lord!
We feel your presence, and we are at awe with You, with Your glory! We rest in You so that you can build us up for the final run where you will release through us Your mighty power like no one has ever seen before! We lay our heads upon your brow and hear your heart beat!
Rest, My beloved! Rest in My faithfulness for I care for you! Breathe in My life and My love! And exhale! Like living waters flowing through you! Intimacy, sweet intimacy, bride with her Bridegroom, come dance with Me
The end of the age is upon us, and we must be ready for there will be mighty signs and wonders, but they will not be of Me. You must be able to tell the true from the counterfeit. You must be able to tell the light from the dark. I said that if I prolonged the stay that even the elect would be deceived. So draw close to Me in worshiping Me, not allowing anything to stand in your way
for that is where you will be made strong and be made ready in My secret place hidden in Me.
Escape the giants, escape the lies of the evil one, keep your eyes upon Me. Stay covered with My armor of Light behind My shield of faith, and you will not be hit by the lies of the evil one! Grace and truth shall be your banner, you will wave it high! You will not be afraid of those who will come against you.
You have made yourself ready.....loving not your life even unto death! What does the enemy have to take from you? You have lifted it all up to Me, your soon coming King! Escape the tribulation by hiding in the cleft of the Rock which is Me! Remain faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of Life!
Father, I look unto You, the author and finisher of our faith. You started a good work in us, and you are faithful to complete it. There is nothing for us to fear for you are with us. Your rod and your staff they comfort us. You prepare us a table before us even in the presence of our enemies. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives. And we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
Thank you for the peace that passes all understanding! For your great grace that sustains us! For your mercy that triumphs over justice!
You have vindicated us! You set us free from the prison walls! Like a bird set free from a snare you have made us to be!!!! So that we can soar in you high above all power and principality, seated with you at the Father's right hand!
We will not fear what man may try to do to us! You will supply all our needs; and if you choose to take us, we are ready! For absence of the body brings on Your holy presence in the fullest measure! You have made us all one in You as You and the Father are one!
Blessings, and glory, and honor be unto You, O Lord! We magnify Your holy name, we exalt You, lift you up for You are high and lifted up, and your train fills the temple. There is no one like You, Most Holy God! We place our trust in You from this day forth. We are set secure with heads set like flint. Your will is our will, Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!
Finish this deep work you have started in us, Lord! For you are faithful!
Mighty Lion of Judah, we love You! You have a heart of gold, full of such deep love, unquenchable love, burning fire love, penetrating deep! When you roar the heavens shake! All the powers tremble! You are King! Blessed Redeemer, Mighty God, we love You!
http://www.roarnworship.com/index.php?p=1_2_FRESH-MANNA
Over Christmas, I went through a very hard time, I felt God was turning up the heat so that He could set me free from something. I called a sister that prays for me when I need inner healing, because I was feeling especially under attack that day, and I sensed God was going to bring some healing to me though her.
When she started, I saw the Lion of Judah growling, I thought it was interesting and mentioned it to her, but I did not understand why I had seen that.
I did however get some liberty as she prayed for me!!!!! Praise GOD!!!! So thankful for my sister who is so anointed to set the captives free!
Later, after I brought my outdoor kitty in because it was cold, he began to fight with my indoor kitty. They are both are males, jealous, because they love me, and are territorial too.
As I was listening to them hiss and growl at each other........
I realized something....
that was why I had seen the Lion of Judah growling, when my sister began to pray for me!!!!
God was showing me....
He loves me, He is jealous for me...because I am HIS and HE is territorial too!
No WEAPON formed against US shall prosper!!! \0/
ROOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!
After I posted it on Facebook, a sister, Yolanda Ballard, got caught up in the Spirit as she looked at it. She started writing what turned out to be 90 or so comments on my painting.
Here is what she wrote:
PREPARING FOR THE ROAR
February 20, 2013
After viewing a prophetic painting of The Lion of Judah, the anointing came over me and I wrote as I conversed with the Savior:
Now is the time and the hour for the Lord to pour out His power and through those who are made ready! Yes, I can feel it. Those who are in the third trimester, birth it forth! The breaking of the water, the rushing of the wind, it is coming! To sweep through us like a mighty waterfall busting down the dams and letting the River flow forth! It will come like fire and rain, the mighty anointing! Piercing through hardened hearts!
Stream forth, Mighty River! Press through the hindrances and the distractions. Come into that intimate union with our Lord! Deep calls unto deep at the sound of the waterfall! Like the heart pants after the water brook, so my soul pants after you, O Lord!
We feel your presence, and we are at awe with You, with Your glory! We rest in You so that you can build us up for the final run where you will release through us Your mighty power like no one has ever seen before! We lay our heads upon your brow and hear your heart beat!
Rest, My beloved! Rest in My faithfulness for I care for you! Breathe in My life and My love! And exhale! Like living waters flowing through you! Intimacy, sweet intimacy, bride with her Bridegroom, come dance with Me
The end of the age is upon us, and we must be ready for there will be mighty signs and wonders, but they will not be of Me. You must be able to tell the true from the counterfeit. You must be able to tell the light from the dark. I said that if I prolonged the stay that even the elect would be deceived. So draw close to Me in worshiping Me, not allowing anything to stand in your way
for that is where you will be made strong and be made ready in My secret place hidden in Me.
Escape the giants, escape the lies of the evil one, keep your eyes upon Me. Stay covered with My armor of Light behind My shield of faith, and you will not be hit by the lies of the evil one! Grace and truth shall be your banner, you will wave it high! You will not be afraid of those who will come against you.
You have made yourself ready.....loving not your life even unto death! What does the enemy have to take from you? You have lifted it all up to Me, your soon coming King! Escape the tribulation by hiding in the cleft of the Rock which is Me! Remain faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of Life!
Father, I look unto You, the author and finisher of our faith. You started a good work in us, and you are faithful to complete it. There is nothing for us to fear for you are with us. Your rod and your staff they comfort us. You prepare us a table before us even in the presence of our enemies. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives. And we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
Thank you for the peace that passes all understanding! For your great grace that sustains us! For your mercy that triumphs over justice!
You have vindicated us! You set us free from the prison walls! Like a bird set free from a snare you have made us to be!!!! So that we can soar in you high above all power and principality, seated with you at the Father's right hand!
We will not fear what man may try to do to us! You will supply all our needs; and if you choose to take us, we are ready! For absence of the body brings on Your holy presence in the fullest measure! You have made us all one in You as You and the Father are one!
Blessings, and glory, and honor be unto You, O Lord! We magnify Your holy name, we exalt You, lift you up for You are high and lifted up, and your train fills the temple. There is no one like You, Most Holy God! We place our trust in You from this day forth. We are set secure with heads set like flint. Your will is our will, Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!
Finish this deep work you have started in us, Lord! For you are faithful!
Mighty Lion of Judah, we love You! You have a heart of gold, full of such deep love, unquenchable love, burning fire love, penetrating deep! When you roar the heavens shake! All the powers tremble! You are King! Blessed Redeemer, Mighty God, we love You!
http://www.roarnworship.com/index.php?p=1_2_FRESH-MANNA
Like a Little Lamb
I was talking to a sister and I saw her like a little lamb in Jesus' arms, just resting there, at peace and joyful. It was so sweet, I just wanted to paint it so i would remember it. It is much like the prophetic portraits I do sometimes for individuals.
God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.
God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.
King Solomon
Painted this at home, just for fun. After I got done, I realized it matched the one I had painted the day before from Song of Solomon.
The Voice of the Turtle
I am coming out of a hard winter season and at times, it was so harsh, all I could do was be very still and pray for spring to come. God seemed so far away. While I was in this cold dark place, I kept thinking about the scripture: “My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside”…just wanting to paint it, feeling like that was where I was…where I wanted to be.
I finally got to a place where I felt the purpose for my winter was about to be revealed. I called a sister and she prayed with me, as soon as she did, I was set free from something that had been tormenting me since I was a little girl. I believe, sometimes, God will turn up the heat in our lives to bring things to the surface, just like gold being refined, there is a process for cleansing. Sometimes there is nothing we can do, when we are in the fire, but just wait for His work to be done in our souls. I knew that on the other side of this dark winter, was spring…as well as a promotion. Testing always brings promotion.
Not long after that, a sister called and invited me to go to a conference at the beach, she said the Lord had prompted her to ask me to go with her in the middle of the night. I was excited but asked God if He wanted me to go, to have someone give me money for gas, a specific amount. Later that day I had to go to the dentist, and it was a new dentist, right by my sister’s home. I decided to surprise her. So with my face half numb, we laughed, and had dinner. It was good to fellowship with her and her family…to laugh again and be around people. She knew about the winter I had been in, and she was concerned about me. My sister, more than anyone has seen me go through the fire over and over. So I was grateful to be able to show her I was getting better. As I was leaving, she followed me out and then out of the blue said, I have a gas card, would you want it? She then told me the amount, it was the same amount I had asked God to give me. I knew I was to go on this trip.
I finally got to a place where I felt the purpose for my winter was about to be revealed. I called a sister and she prayed with me, as soon as she did, I was set free from something that had been tormenting me since I was a little girl. I believe, sometimes, God will turn up the heat in our lives to bring things to the surface, just like gold being refined, there is a process for cleansing. Sometimes there is nothing we can do, when we are in the fire, but just wait for His work to be done in our souls. I knew that on the other side of this dark winter, was spring…as well as a promotion. Testing always brings promotion.
Not long after that, a sister called and invited me to go to a conference at the beach, she said the Lord had prompted her to ask me to go with her in the middle of the night. I was excited but asked God if He wanted me to go, to have someone give me money for gas, a specific amount. Later that day I had to go to the dentist, and it was a new dentist, right by my sister’s home. I decided to surprise her. So with my face half numb, we laughed, and had dinner. It was good to fellowship with her and her family…to laugh again and be around people. She knew about the winter I had been in, and she was concerned about me. My sister, more than anyone has seen me go through the fire over and over. So I was grateful to be able to show her I was getting better. As I was leaving, she followed me out and then out of the blue said, I have a gas card, would you want it? She then told me the amount, it was the same amount I had asked God to give me. I knew I was to go on this trip.
Flowers appear on the Earth
Before I left, I felt led to prophesy to a new friend and I saw flowers appearing all around them as they were stepping out of the wilderness and walking into a new season…springtime had come. It was so beautiful to see…and I remembered there was a scripture about flowers appearing on the land in Song of Songs. I had also confided in this same person about the horrible winter I had been going through…asking them to pray for me. I knew they were safe to share with, because I could see they understood how harsh a winter can be.
The same day I prophesied to my friend, I chose to do a Bible cryptogram about birds. I love doing cryptograms, it is something I do to relax. I chose one about birds because I had been enjoying watching the birds at my feeder this winter. So many doves and bluebirds that were a new edition this year. They just look like spring to me, like hope manifested, and so full of that beautiful heavenly revelation blue. Well, when I finished the puzzle, it turned out to be the very same scripture I had heard for my friend: “The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;”. I thought…wow…that is really cool…but how strange, I did not know that turtles had a voice. I wondered what they would sound like? haha
The Singing of Birds is Come
That weekend, I went to the conference at the beach and the first night, they had us sing in the Spirit. For the first time in a long time, I sang. I finally felt like singing…and it felt good. The next day on the way to the meeting, I got a NEW song. When you have been in winter, you think you will never sing again. So I knew my spring had finally come again.
After the meeting that day, I went to the beach with my friend, and there were seagulls everywhere. We had never seen so many in one place. They had probably flown south to avoid the harsh winter storms in the north where they had gotten several feet of snow. It was so beautiful and almost supernatural to see. I felt God was speaking to me, encouraging me that not only will I sing, but I will fly again.
When I got home from my trip, I had been thinking about the turtle’s voice the whole weekend, so I went to see if I could learn more, and when I did, I discovered, it was a turtle DOVE!!!
The cryptograms I do are in King James, so that was why it said just turtle…and I rarely read JKV…so it did not dawn on me until I saw it in another version. Then I just laughed! As I looked I realized the scripture about the dove in the cleft of the rock was part of the same chapter.
Later that day, I prayed for a friend and I got a song in the spirit…it was so sweet to hear the Lord sing and be able to sing it over them. I felt His presence so strong. Then I saw that my friend that I prophesied to originally post a note on FB about how the birds always sing after the storm. It just blessed me. They did not know I had been singing that weekend.
After the meeting that day, I went to the beach with my friend, and there were seagulls everywhere. We had never seen so many in one place. They had probably flown south to avoid the harsh winter storms in the north where they had gotten several feet of snow. It was so beautiful and almost supernatural to see. I felt God was speaking to me, encouraging me that not only will I sing, but I will fly again.
When I got home from my trip, I had been thinking about the turtle’s voice the whole weekend, so I went to see if I could learn more, and when I did, I discovered, it was a turtle DOVE!!!
The cryptograms I do are in King James, so that was why it said just turtle…and I rarely read JKV…so it did not dawn on me until I saw it in another version. Then I just laughed! As I looked I realized the scripture about the dove in the cleft of the rock was part of the same chapter.
Later that day, I prayed for a friend and I got a song in the spirit…it was so sweet to hear the Lord sing and be able to sing it over them. I felt His presence so strong. Then I saw that my friend that I prophesied to originally post a note on FB about how the birds always sing after the storm. It just blessed me. They did not know I had been singing that weekend.
Emblem of Love, and so of the Holy Ghost
So yesterday, I had the thought to go and see what the turtle dove looked like, and to learn more about it.
Turns out it hides in winter, so it’s song is not heard then. When the song is heard again, in the beginning of May, it is a sign that spring has come. That LOVE is in the air.
The turtledove is migratory (Jer 8:7), and “comes” early in May; emblem of love, and so of the Holy Ghost. Love, too, shall be the keynote of the “new song” hereafter (Isa 35:10; Re 1:5; 14:3; 19:6). In the individual believer now, joy and love are here set forth in their earlier manifestations (Mr 4:28).
When I saw what they looked like, I was surprised to see that their wings form a heart, an emblem of LOVE. I felt led to paint it, to remember how spring came to me…especially right here at Valentine’s.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
Turns out it hides in winter, so it’s song is not heard then. When the song is heard again, in the beginning of May, it is a sign that spring has come. That LOVE is in the air.
The turtledove is migratory (Jer 8:7), and “comes” early in May; emblem of love, and so of the Holy Ghost. Love, too, shall be the keynote of the “new song” hereafter (Isa 35:10; Re 1:5; 14:3; 19:6). In the individual believer now, joy and love are here set forth in their earlier manifestations (Mr 4:28).
When I saw what they looked like, I was surprised to see that their wings form a heart, an emblem of LOVE. I felt led to paint it, to remember how spring came to me…especially right here at Valentine’s.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
Color Symbolism
The wings are what the bird flies with, what takes her high above the earth, giving her revelation from God’s perspective. The wings on this bird make a heart, because it is her desire to fly with Him. The heart is flesh colored, represents pentitant, contrite, heart…it is a heart that is tender, gentle and soft.
From this scripture…
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
When you are in a winter season, you sometimes can’t feel anything, you feel as though your heart has become like stone.
The tail is blues and purples, those are the colors of heavenly revelation knowledge, grace and royalty. It represents intercession, dominion and abiding in Him. The tips are white, for purity, righteousness, surrender and a pure hearted bride. There is also a tint of pink which is the passion that the dove feels for her King.
The eye is orange and yellow. The fire and glory is in the doves eye. The fire of winter has given her eyes to see and carry his glory!
10 “My love speaks and says to me, ‘Get up, my love, my beautiful one, and come with me.11 For see, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone. 12 The flowers are coming through the ground. The time for singing has come. The voice of the turtle-dove has been heard in our land. 13 The fig tree has its fruits. The flowers on the vines spread their sweet smell. Get up, my love, my beautiful one, and come with me! 14 O my dove, hidden in the rock, in the secret place in the mountain-side, let me see you. Let me hear your voice. For your voice is sweet, and you are beautiful.
Song of Songs 2: 10-14 NLV
From this scripture…
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
When you are in a winter season, you sometimes can’t feel anything, you feel as though your heart has become like stone.
The tail is blues and purples, those are the colors of heavenly revelation knowledge, grace and royalty. It represents intercession, dominion and abiding in Him. The tips are white, for purity, righteousness, surrender and a pure hearted bride. There is also a tint of pink which is the passion that the dove feels for her King.
The eye is orange and yellow. The fire and glory is in the doves eye. The fire of winter has given her eyes to see and carry his glory!
10 “My love speaks and says to me, ‘Get up, my love, my beautiful one, and come with me.11 For see, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone. 12 The flowers are coming through the ground. The time for singing has come. The voice of the turtle-dove has been heard in our land. 13 The fig tree has its fruits. The flowers on the vines spread their sweet smell. Get up, my love, my beautiful one, and come with me! 14 O my dove, hidden in the rock, in the secret place in the mountain-side, let me see you. Let me hear your voice. For your voice is sweet, and you are beautiful.
Song of Songs 2: 10-14 NLV
Our Bridegroom & King
I painted this during the Super Bowl…it was not a vision, or anything I sought Him for, but it was my first attempt at doing a small watercolor/gauche painting. I had seen myself painting with watercolor about a month ago, so I wanted to give it a try.
I almost quit in the middle…painting with watercolor is very different than what I am used to doing. But I persevered, and finally I stopped and was taken back when I saw His face...and cried.
The gold represents His Glory, the Purple…His majesty, the white…purity and the fire red in His eyes, the passion He has for His Bride.
I almost quit in the middle…painting with watercolor is very different than what I am used to doing. But I persevered, and finally I stopped and was taken back when I saw His face...and cried.
The gold represents His Glory, the Purple…His majesty, the white…purity and the fire red in His eyes, the passion He has for His Bride.
Writing With My Daddy
This morning in my quiet time I had a vision and
I wanted to share it, so I painted it with pastels tonight!
In the vision, the Lord kept putting a pen in my hand, and I would drop it, or throw it on the ground.
Then I realized I was acting like a child, and it was because I was afraid.
So…the Lord said, “Let me help you,” and He took the pen, put it in my hand and then wrapped His gentle hand around mine…
…and we began to write together.
The word “Love” did not come to me until after I started drawing the image.
The colors are symbolic. The pink is the passion. The white page is the purity of what we will write together. The blue represents heavenly revelation. And the tip of the pen is gold because it will be released to me in His Glory. I believe the word “love” is what I will write about.
I have been having a hard time writing, even though He has been asking me to.
But He knows how to motivate me better than anyone. After I painted the picture, I wanted to get a scripture to go with it, so I looked and found this one. It was so perfect. But of course it was!
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13 NIV
I pray it blesses you too!
I wanted to share it, so I painted it with pastels tonight!
In the vision, the Lord kept putting a pen in my hand, and I would drop it, or throw it on the ground.
Then I realized I was acting like a child, and it was because I was afraid.
So…the Lord said, “Let me help you,” and He took the pen, put it in my hand and then wrapped His gentle hand around mine…
…and we began to write together.
The word “Love” did not come to me until after I started drawing the image.
The colors are symbolic. The pink is the passion. The white page is the purity of what we will write together. The blue represents heavenly revelation. And the tip of the pen is gold because it will be released to me in His Glory. I believe the word “love” is what I will write about.
I have been having a hard time writing, even though He has been asking me to.
But He knows how to motivate me better than anyone. After I painted the picture, I wanted to get a scripture to go with it, so I looked and found this one. It was so perfect. But of course it was!
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13 NIV
I pray it blesses you too!
Dance in the Storms
Acrylic and Pastel on Canvas 24"x20"
The painting is not of a vision, but more of something I experienced. Recently I went through a horrible storm in the Spirit. It was such a hard time, I could not sleep for 3 days. The last night I was crying out to God...asking Him what I could do...and I heard a song by Jonathan Helser, "I Will Not be Silent". It was so loud in my spirit...I put it on and danced through my whole house. It was warfare...and it brought me peace. Black and White dreams are for intercession, so when I saw this photo online*, I felt it really conveyed what I had been through, and how I felt! Hope it blesses you and reminds you that it is MOST important to worship Him in the Storms!!!
Song of Solomon 6:13 Dance, dance, dear Shulammite, Angel-Princess!
Dance, and we'll feast our eyes on your grace!
Everyone wants to see the Shulammite dance
her victory dances of love and peace.
Here are some of the words to the song...
I WILL NOT BE SILENT
I was born to worship
I WILL NOT BE QUIET
the voice of fear
you can not hold me back no more
Worship is the Key
Worship is my Destiny
Worship is the Victory
that releases Glory
Yeeeeaaaaahhh!
I WILL NOT GIVE UP
what is my inheritance
I WAS BORN TO DO GREAT THINGS
and God is ALIVE
He is INSIDE OF ME!
6/10/11 I heard this song too and wanted to add the words. Significant day related to the earlier storm:
In the Middle
by Jonathan David Helser
In the middle of the storm you are the peace
In the middle of the dessert you are the stream
In the middle of my mess you wash my feet
In the middle of it all there you are, oh Lord
You never leave, you never leave
In the middle of my brokenness you are my strength
In the middle of my nothing you are everything
In the middle of my cry you answer me
In the middle of it all here you are, oh Lord
Song of Solomon 6:13 Dance, dance, dear Shulammite, Angel-Princess!
Dance, and we'll feast our eyes on your grace!
Everyone wants to see the Shulammite dance
her victory dances of love and peace.
Here are some of the words to the song...
I WILL NOT BE SILENT
I was born to worship
I WILL NOT BE QUIET
the voice of fear
you can not hold me back no more
Worship is the Key
Worship is my Destiny
Worship is the Victory
that releases Glory
Yeeeeaaaaahhh!
I WILL NOT GIVE UP
what is my inheritance
I WAS BORN TO DO GREAT THINGS
and God is ALIVE
He is INSIDE OF ME!
6/10/11 I heard this song too and wanted to add the words. Significant day related to the earlier storm:
In the Middle
by Jonathan David Helser
In the middle of the storm you are the peace
In the middle of the dessert you are the stream
In the middle of my mess you wash my feet
In the middle of it all there you are, oh Lord
You never leave, you never leave
In the middle of my brokenness you are my strength
In the middle of my nothing you are everything
In the middle of my cry you answer me
In the middle of it all here you are, oh Lord
BREAKTHROUGH!!! Moravian Falls
I was in Moravian Falls for the School of the Seer’s conference and one night, I had the thought, I want to go to the prayer mountain…but it was very late. I went into the lobby and there was a group of people talking about going. We decided to go the next night after the meeting.
When we got there, everyone divided up to “see” what they could “see”. I went down the side of the mountain a little ways by the prayer shack there and I looked over to my right. I asked the Lord if I could see something. I heard the sounds of Native American Indians…cries and calls, the sound of war drums. Then I saw and heard a stampede of horses and could see they were white. There were no riders. I had the thought, “It’s like a river.”
When I got back to the top of the mountain, I shared what I had seen with a small group of people. One of the women, after I told her about what I had seen, said something about “Breakthrough” and it stuck with me. As I shared, I started to smell a scent I began smelling when Bob Jones took me to heaven at a conference the week before, also in Moravian Falls. I asked them if they could smell it. They said, maybe, but they were not sure. I knew they did not smell it then…because it was so strong it was intoxicating. We chatted for a bit, but then they all decided to go back early.
When we got there, everyone divided up to “see” what they could “see”. I went down the side of the mountain a little ways by the prayer shack there and I looked over to my right. I asked the Lord if I could see something. I heard the sounds of Native American Indians…cries and calls, the sound of war drums. Then I saw and heard a stampede of horses and could see they were white. There were no riders. I had the thought, “It’s like a river.”
When I got back to the top of the mountain, I shared what I had seen with a small group of people. One of the women, after I told her about what I had seen, said something about “Breakthrough” and it stuck with me. As I shared, I started to smell a scent I began smelling when Bob Jones took me to heaven at a conference the week before, also in Moravian Falls. I asked them if they could smell it. They said, maybe, but they were not sure. I knew they did not smell it then…because it was so strong it was intoxicating. We chatted for a bit, but then they all decided to go back early.
Breakthrough...
Later when I got back to the conference center, I saw an artist, Jana Binning Green that came with Paul Cox from California, and I told her what I had seen, to see if it meant anything to her. She started laughing and said, “Let me show you something.” On her phone was a picture of a painting she had done recently and it was of a herd of white horses running through water, and it was called, “Breakthrough!” Oh wow…she and I were just undone by that.
Later at the conference a couple of the people that had been in the group with me on the mountain said when they got to the car to leave, the scent hit them like a waterfall!!! Glory to God! Oh how that ministered to me!
That smell was around me the whole conference. I stopped people in the lobby where there was something that seemed like a pool if it…it was where I first smelled it at the conference. I would stop people and ask them if they could smell it. They said they could and if I moved my hands toward other people close by, they could smell it too. When it first happened and I shared it with Bob Jones, he asked me if I knew what I was smelling? I did not. He took me to 2 Corinthians 2
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
Then he said, you are smelling yourself. Wow…I just wept!
On the last day of the conference, Paul Cox began to pray for Moravian Falls. As he prayed and Kevin Basconi “saw”, Paul discerned that there was blood on the land, that the American Indians had been involved in human sacrifice and shed blood. So we prayed for the land to be cleansed. For any sins that were committed against the Native Americans to be forgiven and any sins they committed to be covered. Then Paul said that now that the land was cleansed, the true evangelists could go forward. At the end, he said, “Breakthrough!” I knew that the vision I’d had was definitely from God. The Indians, the water, the horses representing the true evangelists!
Later at the conference a couple of the people that had been in the group with me on the mountain said when they got to the car to leave, the scent hit them like a waterfall!!! Glory to God! Oh how that ministered to me!
That smell was around me the whole conference. I stopped people in the lobby where there was something that seemed like a pool if it…it was where I first smelled it at the conference. I would stop people and ask them if they could smell it. They said they could and if I moved my hands toward other people close by, they could smell it too. When it first happened and I shared it with Bob Jones, he asked me if I knew what I was smelling? I did not. He took me to 2 Corinthians 2
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
Then he said, you are smelling yourself. Wow…I just wept!
On the last day of the conference, Paul Cox began to pray for Moravian Falls. As he prayed and Kevin Basconi “saw”, Paul discerned that there was blood on the land, that the American Indians had been involved in human sacrifice and shed blood. So we prayed for the land to be cleansed. For any sins that were committed against the Native Americans to be forgiven and any sins they committed to be covered. Then Paul said that now that the land was cleansed, the true evangelists could go forward. At the end, he said, “Breakthrough!” I knew that the vision I’d had was definitely from God. The Indians, the water, the horses representing the true evangelists!
Confirmations...
I left the conference and was painting at a different church a week or so later. I shared about the vision and the artist’s painting with someone at this other church. The woman said, “We have a print of that painting!!” I was like…”No way!” So the next night, she came up with the print, then she told me she wanted to give it to me. When I looked at it I realized, it was not the same print. But it was white horses in water, and this one was called, “Son’s of Thunder and it was painted by Leslie Marks.” I was so blessed!
And more confirmations...
A couple of weeks later, I went to Morningstar for Harvestfest to be a vendor. Beforehand, I asked God what to paint, and He said to paint the vision I had in Moravian Falls. So I was prepared.
When I was setting up, there was an artist right across from me and she was amazing. I thought to myself, “Wow, now that is intimidating.” I was watching her set up her huge display booth and wondering if anyone would even see what I had in my booth.
After the artist across from me was completely set up, I looked straight across from me, and what did I see? It was the very same print that was just given to me just a couple of weeks earlier. If I had been one direction or another, to the right or left, it would not have been directly in front of me. Then God spoke to me and very clearly said,” I am in this and you are in the right place. “ I knew I was. I would be painting in my vendor booth during the services, not to be seen, but to be obedient, to worship God...and the Lord told me to call it Moravian Falls “Breakthrough!”. During the breaks, I would hide the painting and put up a finished piece while people were in the vendor space. I only shared it with a couple of people.
When I was setting up, there was an artist right across from me and she was amazing. I thought to myself, “Wow, now that is intimidating.” I was watching her set up her huge display booth and wondering if anyone would even see what I had in my booth.
After the artist across from me was completely set up, I looked straight across from me, and what did I see? It was the very same print that was just given to me just a couple of weeks earlier. If I had been one direction or another, to the right or left, it would not have been directly in front of me. Then God spoke to me and very clearly said,” I am in this and you are in the right place. “ I knew I was. I would be painting in my vendor booth during the services, not to be seen, but to be obedient, to worship God...and the Lord told me to call it Moravian Falls “Breakthrough!”. During the breaks, I would hide the painting and put up a finished piece while people were in the vendor space. I only shared it with a couple of people.
Breakthrough Bracelet...
One day, near the end, a woman, Lora, that had a booth a ways down from me,
came and said, “God told me to make this bracelet for someone, but I did not know who, but when I saw you, I knew it was for you.” I opened the little box, and inside was a bracelet with a small copper shield, she had put the word “Breakthough” on it. She said she felt I was about to have my own breakthrough!!! Yes Lord!
Halleluiah!!!
When I got home and started to meditate on all God had shown me… I had the thought…”doesn’t it say you are the “God of the Breakthrough” somewhere in the Bible Lord?” But where? I did a quick search, and I found it. When I did, I got so excited! This is what it said:
1 Chronicles 14:11 And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there. And David said, "God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood." Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.
came and said, “God told me to make this bracelet for someone, but I did not know who, but when I saw you, I knew it was for you.” I opened the little box, and inside was a bracelet with a small copper shield, she had put the word “Breakthough” on it. She said she felt I was about to have my own breakthrough!!! Yes Lord!
Halleluiah!!!
When I got home and started to meditate on all God had shown me… I had the thought…”doesn’t it say you are the “God of the Breakthrough” somewhere in the Bible Lord?” But where? I did a quick search, and I found it. When I did, I got so excited! This is what it said:
1 Chronicles 14:11 And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there. And David said, "God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood." Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.
Golden Eagle: the Seer
I was invited to come to the School of the Seers in Moravian Falls, and I had a painting prepared but wasn’t sure if that was the perfect one, so right before I left, I felt led to look in a folder where I put images that I plan or hope to paint one day. When I did, I saw this image and I knew…THAT was the one I was supposed to paint.
A friend of mine is an amazing photographer, and he allows me to use his images for a fee. He sent this one out last year on 12/12/11 in an email, and when I saw it, I began to weep. Every time I would look at the eagle’s eyes, my eyes would feel something and I would cry. I asked God, what is it about this photo that is messing me up? He spoke very clearly to me and said, “It is what you are, because it is the eagle that represents the Seer.” I told my friend the photographer, I am going to have to paint this one…I can tell…because it keeps making me cry.
I went to the conference and got all set up, while I was getting ready a friend came up and asked me what I was going to paint. Generally, I don’t like to share, but I went ahead and told her. Another person came up and asked me, but I did not know this person so I said I just wanted them to be surprised. They said, “Well, I saw an eagle fly through here in the spirit, so that might be a confirmation for you.” Then another person came up and said they were hearing eagles crying. I was blown away with how God was confirming to me that I was painting what He wanted me to.
So the first night, I just got the background done and the outline of the eagle laid in. The teaching was about to begin, so I found a seat close to the front and my friend I’d told was on the same row. The main speaker, Kevin Bosconi got up and immediately started talking about the golden eagle. He had been seeing them and God had spoken to him too and told him they represented the seers! My friend looked right at me, with her eyes wide open and smiled. It blessed me. I joked with her and said, “What do you know? I’m a prophetic artist!!!”
A friend of mine is an amazing photographer, and he allows me to use his images for a fee. He sent this one out last year on 12/12/11 in an email, and when I saw it, I began to weep. Every time I would look at the eagle’s eyes, my eyes would feel something and I would cry. I asked God, what is it about this photo that is messing me up? He spoke very clearly to me and said, “It is what you are, because it is the eagle that represents the Seer.” I told my friend the photographer, I am going to have to paint this one…I can tell…because it keeps making me cry.
I went to the conference and got all set up, while I was getting ready a friend came up and asked me what I was going to paint. Generally, I don’t like to share, but I went ahead and told her. Another person came up and asked me, but I did not know this person so I said I just wanted them to be surprised. They said, “Well, I saw an eagle fly through here in the spirit, so that might be a confirmation for you.” Then another person came up and said they were hearing eagles crying. I was blown away with how God was confirming to me that I was painting what He wanted me to.
So the first night, I just got the background done and the outline of the eagle laid in. The teaching was about to begin, so I found a seat close to the front and my friend I’d told was on the same row. The main speaker, Kevin Bosconi got up and immediately started talking about the golden eagle. He had been seeing them and God had spoken to him too and told him they represented the seers! My friend looked right at me, with her eyes wide open and smiled. It blessed me. I joked with her and said, “What do you know? I’m a prophetic artist!!!”
Symbolism and Scriptures
So it got me thinking, why the Golden eagle? Golden represents the glory and something that is purified. And all eagles have an amazing ability to see, so they represent prophets. The bible says if we are mature, we can see in the spirit.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Timothy 2:19-21(NIV).
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Timothy 2:19-21(NIV).
Love & Honor
“Love & Honor” started with a vision and then became a treasure I found. In the vision, I was a young girl with a white horse, and I was in a stall, loving on Him, then I jumped on him and we began to run. I have noticed when I see horses in my visions; they never have saddles, bits or bridles. We rode past a waterfall on the right side, which I know means healing…and then to a broad place. When we got to the broad place, it was a beautiful vista. I looked out over the scenery, and I just lay down on the horse and began to weep and kiss him, telling him over and over how much I loved him.
I wanted to paint it, recreate what I had experienced…and so I went online to look for reference photos. I came across this picture and I was so moved, it was a treasure. I contacted the photographer and asked if I could paint it in church, and she agreed. Then she told me about the photo. Polar, the horse had just come from the vet, and little Monica had come to see about him. I was so touched how he bent his head down to let her love him and how her face is turned away, like she can hardly bear to look at this great work horse.
The painting represented so much to me, about what I believe God was speaking and this is what I believe it means. The little girl represents the younger generations, like my friend that posted about his granddad; the grey horse represents the older generations in the church that have been the work horses. The horse is honoring this little girl by bending down to let her love him, and she is honoring him by loving him. The grey in the horse represents wisdom, and the bit of gold and blue in his coat revelation and glory. It is faded, but the little girl’s shirt and shorts are bright and full. She has purple shoes on that represent the authority she stands in. The horse is experienced, strong and powerful, the little girl small, innocent and vulnerable. Together they make a great team; alone they cannot do what God wants to do. The stall with the open door is speaking about opportunity.
Originally I was going to call the painting, Honor, but the last night I was painting, the Lord said to call it “Love and Honor”…and I was thinking…that sounds like marriage vows. Then someone came up to me at the meeting and said, from across the room, her arms looked like a bridle (bridal). Then it hit me, yes…it did represent the marriage, between the generations that will happen through Love and Honor. I pray that we will let God marry the younger and the older generations, and that we will Love, Honor…and obey.
The last move of God will come from the younger ones as they embrace the older generations. And the older generations will have to bend down or humble themselves and let them get closer.
I wanted to paint it, recreate what I had experienced…and so I went online to look for reference photos. I came across this picture and I was so moved, it was a treasure. I contacted the photographer and asked if I could paint it in church, and she agreed. Then she told me about the photo. Polar, the horse had just come from the vet, and little Monica had come to see about him. I was so touched how he bent his head down to let her love him and how her face is turned away, like she can hardly bear to look at this great work horse.
The painting represented so much to me, about what I believe God was speaking and this is what I believe it means. The little girl represents the younger generations, like my friend that posted about his granddad; the grey horse represents the older generations in the church that have been the work horses. The horse is honoring this little girl by bending down to let her love him, and she is honoring him by loving him. The grey in the horse represents wisdom, and the bit of gold and blue in his coat revelation and glory. It is faded, but the little girl’s shirt and shorts are bright and full. She has purple shoes on that represent the authority she stands in. The horse is experienced, strong and powerful, the little girl small, innocent and vulnerable. Together they make a great team; alone they cannot do what God wants to do. The stall with the open door is speaking about opportunity.
Originally I was going to call the painting, Honor, but the last night I was painting, the Lord said to call it “Love and Honor”…and I was thinking…that sounds like marriage vows. Then someone came up to me at the meeting and said, from across the room, her arms looked like a bridle (bridal). Then it hit me, yes…it did represent the marriage, between the generations that will happen through Love and Honor. I pray that we will let God marry the younger and the older generations, and that we will Love, Honor…and obey.
The last move of God will come from the younger ones as they embrace the older generations. And the older generations will have to bend down or humble themselves and let them get closer.
Sow Honor and Love
God had really been talking to me about honor, and around that time I saw a friend’s post on Facebook about his Grandfather and it made me weep, so with his permission, I am sharing it here: “so my Granddad is going to be going up with God in the next few days but I can’t find myself being really sad because when I look at him; I see how God has used him to build a great army in our family. Through him missionaries, preachers, teachers, pastors, worship leaders, and evangelists were born to go throughout the world, helping make a difference. So without granddad even knowing it, God’s been using him to help change the world, because without this one man, my family wouldn’t be here to go out and change the world one man at a time ... it only takes ONE to make a difference.”
The way this young man was honoring his Granddad was so beautiful. It made me think of the church and how it is becoming rarer to see this type of honor. It is more common to see the younger ones talk negatively of the leadership than honor them. And the older ones avoid getting close to the younger ones because they are “above” that or see the “children” as too much trouble. Sowing dishonor will actually reap dishonor. Some people want to be promoted in the church but they talk about leadership, sadly, they will never be honored. And older ones dishonor the Lord in the younger by keeping them at a distance not helping them grow and mature.
The way this young man was honoring his Granddad was so beautiful. It made me think of the church and how it is becoming rarer to see this type of honor. It is more common to see the younger ones talk negatively of the leadership than honor them. And the older ones avoid getting close to the younger ones because they are “above” that or see the “children” as too much trouble. Sowing dishonor will actually reap dishonor. Some people want to be promoted in the church but they talk about leadership, sadly, they will never be honored. And older ones dishonor the Lord in the younger by keeping them at a distance not helping them grow and mature.
What is honor?
I know with the Lord, he honors me before men, by showing them who I am in Him. For example, my most recent painting, Promised Blessing, a couple people very close to me said I had ruined it by adding the rainbow, so it not only hurt to be criticized, but it was very dishonoring the way they were speaking to me, even mocking the rainbow, saying it did not even look like a rainbow, calling it a “rain bar.” I told them I paint for the Lord and so I did not care what anyone thought about my painting, besides I felt that the Lord Himself told me to put the rainbow in, so if they had a problem with it, they should speak to Him about it. I explained that HE is the rainbow and the coming promise. The next day one of these people emailed me shared their memory verse for that day, and I believe in that moment, the Lord honored me. He said to this person, listen to her, she is speaking my words…and don’t say negative things about her paintings.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24
Confirmation
God confirmed this painting several ways. I was invited to have lunch with Ken Helser and his beautiful wife, Linda on the way to the meeting in Moravian Falls. It was so prophetic; they had no idea what I was planning to paint. I love them because they are real people that let you get close enough to hug them. They have served the Lord for years and years, and to sit at their kitchen table was an honor for me. Actually, every time I see Ken, he honors me. We met several years ago when I wrote to him about his testimony and told him it messed me up…he actually wrote me back. That is how our friendship began, we were pen pals. How many ministers today will take the time to love the younger ones?
I cried most of the lunch, as Ken told me how much he loved me, and the more he knew me, the more he loved me. His wife made the loveliest lunch for me, and Ken told me that he had gotten strawberries just for me. Can I tell you, I felt like a princess? They did not have to do any of that…but they did…and that is why I love them so much…because they are people of Love and Honor.
I have friends in Moravian Falls that I have not seen for some time. I had told them I would be there…hoping we could get together, but not wanting to be any trouble. I considered leaving early the final day, but decided at the last minute to stay. So glad I did because my friends called and said they wanted to see me. I just cried. They came to the meeting and I wept when I saw them. The man is like a Papa to me as well. The very first time I painted prophetic portraits; he came up to me and said, “You bless me.” I only knew that this man was a “big time” prophet…I had heard people talk about him. When he said that I was kind of confused, so I asked, “I bless you? Why are you saying that?” He said to me, “Because you minister with so much love.” I cried, it meant so much to have this great work horse in the spirit encourage me and see my heart. He continued to encourage me and has been there for me when I was going through trials and fiery tests.
So we went to dinner after the last meeting, others wanted to join us but he told them that his family wanted some time with me alone. Again, I felt so honored…and loved.
All the way home I was just asking God, “why are you blessing me with these amazing relationships? It is a little overwhelming.” And He just said to me, because you Love and Honor me, I want to Love and Honor you.
I cried most of the lunch, as Ken told me how much he loved me, and the more he knew me, the more he loved me. His wife made the loveliest lunch for me, and Ken told me that he had gotten strawberries just for me. Can I tell you, I felt like a princess? They did not have to do any of that…but they did…and that is why I love them so much…because they are people of Love and Honor.
I have friends in Moravian Falls that I have not seen for some time. I had told them I would be there…hoping we could get together, but not wanting to be any trouble. I considered leaving early the final day, but decided at the last minute to stay. So glad I did because my friends called and said they wanted to see me. I just cried. They came to the meeting and I wept when I saw them. The man is like a Papa to me as well. The very first time I painted prophetic portraits; he came up to me and said, “You bless me.” I only knew that this man was a “big time” prophet…I had heard people talk about him. When he said that I was kind of confused, so I asked, “I bless you? Why are you saying that?” He said to me, “Because you minister with so much love.” I cried, it meant so much to have this great work horse in the spirit encourage me and see my heart. He continued to encourage me and has been there for me when I was going through trials and fiery tests.
So we went to dinner after the last meeting, others wanted to join us but he told them that his family wanted some time with me alone. Again, I felt so honored…and loved.
All the way home I was just asking God, “why are you blessing me with these amazing relationships? It is a little overwhelming.” And He just said to me, because you Love and Honor me, I want to Love and Honor you.
Scriptures and sayings...
I take you to be my wedded spouse. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to honor, 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.
Esther 6:6-11
When Haman entered, the king said, "What would be appropriate for the man the king especially wants to honor?"
Haman thought to himself, "He must be talking about honoring me— who else?" So he answered the king, "For the man the king delights to honor, do this: Bring a royal robe that the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crown on its head. Then give the robe and the horse to one of the king's most noble princes. Have him robe the man whom the king especially wants to honor; have the prince lead him on horseback through the city square, proclaiming before him, 'This is what is done for the man whom the king especially wants to honor!'"
"Go and do it," the king said to Haman. "Don't waste another minute. Take the robe and horse and do what you have proposed to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the King's Gate. Don't leave out a single detail of your plan."
So Haman took the robe and horse; he robed Mordecai and led him through the city square, proclaiming before him, "This is what is done for the man whom the king especially wants to honor!"
Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." Malachi 4:6 NIV
Esther 6:6-11
When Haman entered, the king said, "What would be appropriate for the man the king especially wants to honor?"
Haman thought to himself, "He must be talking about honoring me— who else?" So he answered the king, "For the man the king delights to honor, do this: Bring a royal robe that the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crown on its head. Then give the robe and the horse to one of the king's most noble princes. Have him robe the man whom the king especially wants to honor; have the prince lead him on horseback through the city square, proclaiming before him, 'This is what is done for the man whom the king especially wants to honor!'"
"Go and do it," the king said to Haman. "Don't waste another minute. Take the robe and horse and do what you have proposed to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the King's Gate. Don't leave out a single detail of your plan."
So Haman took the robe and horse; he robed Mordecai and led him through the city square, proclaiming before him, "This is what is done for the man whom the king especially wants to honor!"
Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." Malachi 4:6 NIV
Break Free and RUN!!!!
The other day I was in Stokesville, NC working and having an especially long stressful day when I drove past a sign that caught my eye. It said, "Camp Carefree: Where Kids Can Just Be Kids." When I saw it I thought it was cute...and it sounded really good after my long hard day. I needed a hug so I pulled into the drive.
It was beautiful inside, rolling hills, trees and fields. I saw sheep, llamas, goats and horses. There was one horse in particular that caught my eye. He had blue eyes and beautiful coloring.
As I was driving through, I ran into the caretaker of the camp and asked if I could just drive around and take photos. He said, ”Yes, did you see the lake?”. I had not, so he gave me directions down the hill, and I was off to watch the sunset over the water. It was beautiful and peaceful, an oasis of fresh water to satisfy my thirst for peace.
It was beautiful inside, rolling hills, trees and fields. I saw sheep, llamas, goats and horses. There was one horse in particular that caught my eye. He had blue eyes and beautiful coloring.
As I was driving through, I ran into the caretaker of the camp and asked if I could just drive around and take photos. He said, ”Yes, did you see the lake?”. I had not, so he gave me directions down the hill, and I was off to watch the sunset over the water. It was beautiful and peaceful, an oasis of fresh water to satisfy my thirst for peace.
Time to Run!
After the sun had set, I headed back up the hill and saw the horses again. The one I had seen earlier caught my eye again. This time he was walking up the hill, and the setting sun was backlighting him making his mane glow with the colors of the sunset. I grabbed my camera to capture the beauty of the moment when all of a sudden the horse turned around and began to run. I had just been saying to the Lord how I longed to see a horse running. I watched in awe as his mane caught the wind and his tail flowed like a river of fire! He was running to the caretaker that had begun to put out feed.
As I watched him run, I thought of so many in the church that can't run freely. They are bound by unhealthy relationships, religion, sins and compromises. It made me tear up as I watched this one run. When I saw this horse running, I was reminded of a vision I'd had a couple months ago.
In the vision, there was a horse, and he was in a field. He was stomping the ground and his tail was swishing back and forth. I could tell he was frustrated and antsy for something. Then, just like this horse, he turned and started to run. The sound of his hooves on the ground was so powerful; his face filled with determination…it was amazing to watch. Then all of a sudden, there was a fence before the horse, and he jumped right over it. The fence was white and perfect, your typical white washed picket fence. The vision freeze framed right as he was over the fence. The Lord spoke to me in that moment and said, “My horses are tired of being in fences, it's time for them to breakfree and RUN!” "Break free" usually means to get out of a traditional or montonous way of doing something. I felt the white washed fences represented churches that kept the horses confined and unable to RUN!
I felt led to paint the horse I had seen at the David Hogan conference Greensprings in Williamsburg, VA, where I had met someone before that was bound in an unhealthy relationship. I wanted to paint it as intercession for all those bound and unable to run. I found out as I was planning to paint, that Carefree Camp was a camp for children with handicaps and sicknesses that also keep them from living a life of liberty. This camp gives these children a place to be carefree!!!!
I did not know what type of horse it was, and had not taken time to look it up, but had a feeling that it would be relevant. After I posted a photo of the painting on FB, someone said, “notice it's a mustang lookin horse-totally free in life.” So, I went and researched, turned out the one I painted is actually called a “Painted" Mustang, and they are often referred to as wild horses. The US Congress recognizes Mustangs as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West..." Like the horses, God is calling His people to pioneer for Him, and to be free to roam the land again!
As I was driving home from the conference, and this song by Misty Edwards came on my ipod...
As I watched him run, I thought of so many in the church that can't run freely. They are bound by unhealthy relationships, religion, sins and compromises. It made me tear up as I watched this one run. When I saw this horse running, I was reminded of a vision I'd had a couple months ago.
In the vision, there was a horse, and he was in a field. He was stomping the ground and his tail was swishing back and forth. I could tell he was frustrated and antsy for something. Then, just like this horse, he turned and started to run. The sound of his hooves on the ground was so powerful; his face filled with determination…it was amazing to watch. Then all of a sudden, there was a fence before the horse, and he jumped right over it. The fence was white and perfect, your typical white washed picket fence. The vision freeze framed right as he was over the fence. The Lord spoke to me in that moment and said, “My horses are tired of being in fences, it's time for them to breakfree and RUN!” "Break free" usually means to get out of a traditional or montonous way of doing something. I felt the white washed fences represented churches that kept the horses confined and unable to RUN!
I felt led to paint the horse I had seen at the David Hogan conference Greensprings in Williamsburg, VA, where I had met someone before that was bound in an unhealthy relationship. I wanted to paint it as intercession for all those bound and unable to run. I found out as I was planning to paint, that Carefree Camp was a camp for children with handicaps and sicknesses that also keep them from living a life of liberty. This camp gives these children a place to be carefree!!!!
I did not know what type of horse it was, and had not taken time to look it up, but had a feeling that it would be relevant. After I posted a photo of the painting on FB, someone said, “notice it's a mustang lookin horse-totally free in life.” So, I went and researched, turned out the one I painted is actually called a “Painted" Mustang, and they are often referred to as wild horses. The US Congress recognizes Mustangs as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West..." Like the horses, God is calling His people to pioneer for Him, and to be free to roam the land again!
As I was driving home from the conference, and this song by Misty Edwards came on my ipod...
|
I Will Run All I want is You All I crave is You I will run the race set before me I will seek Your face as the prize of my life I will run, I will run My – soul – pants - for - God - and - God - alone The earth sleeps and slumbers Lullaby to the sounds of peace and safety The earth sleeps and slumbers; Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby... I will run, I will run, I will run All I want is You, All I crave is You |
|
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
“Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane? Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrifying. He paws in the valley and exults in his strength; he goes out to meet the weapons. He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; he does not turn back from the sword. Upon him rattle the quiver, the flashing spear, and the javelin…
Job 39:19-25 ESV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
“Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane? Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrifying. He paws in the valley and exults in his strength; he goes out to meet the weapons. He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; he does not turn back from the sword. Upon him rattle the quiver, the flashing spear, and the javelin…
Job 39:19-25 ESV
Sign of Promised Blessing
I painted this in Williamsburg, at Greensprings Chapel. The Baker's and Danny Steyne were there.
I had been wanting to paint a Bride for a while and this seemed to be the perfect image of what I felt God was saying, and the right place to release it. I believe it was a prophetic word to the church, that God has been saying it is time for the Bride to go out of the “house” to gather the rest of His Bride, like the Bakers have, they gather orphans every day, and have given themselves completely to the work God gave them to do. It was also a message that we are standing on the threshold of a door, that this is the beginning of something new. It is about the coming revival that will ultimately lead to the coming of our Bridegroom.
After I painted it, I kept seeing pairs of animals everywhere. I was asking God what it meant, and He reminded me of the animals going into the ark. I was also seeing the numbers 222 and 444, and after some research, I was surprised to find out that 2 meant, house and 4 door in Judaism; it was confirmation that I was hearing from the Lord and had painted His heart.
I planned to finish the painting, over the weekend of 3/23/12 so I could get prints done in time to take them with me back to Greensprings Chapel in April. The week before I was having a hard time...and one day in particular, I was not happy about being single. I started to write on my FB wall on the 21st. "Boaz, where are you? ~ Ruth"
Not a lot of people know this, but my first name is Ruth and I, like Ruth, am older and single...so sometimes it gets to be hard to deal with. To top it off, I met an amazing Christian man that day at work, he was so attractive and solid, but, he was also married. I got in my car after meeting him and I said to the Lord..."I want someone like him. Why can't I have a husband?" And began to weep over it.
I had been wanting to paint a Bride for a while and this seemed to be the perfect image of what I felt God was saying, and the right place to release it. I believe it was a prophetic word to the church, that God has been saying it is time for the Bride to go out of the “house” to gather the rest of His Bride, like the Bakers have, they gather orphans every day, and have given themselves completely to the work God gave them to do. It was also a message that we are standing on the threshold of a door, that this is the beginning of something new. It is about the coming revival that will ultimately lead to the coming of our Bridegroom.
After I painted it, I kept seeing pairs of animals everywhere. I was asking God what it meant, and He reminded me of the animals going into the ark. I was also seeing the numbers 222 and 444, and after some research, I was surprised to find out that 2 meant, house and 4 door in Judaism; it was confirmation that I was hearing from the Lord and had painted His heart.
I planned to finish the painting, over the weekend of 3/23/12 so I could get prints done in time to take them with me back to Greensprings Chapel in April. The week before I was having a hard time...and one day in particular, I was not happy about being single. I started to write on my FB wall on the 21st. "Boaz, where are you? ~ Ruth"
Not a lot of people know this, but my first name is Ruth and I, like Ruth, am older and single...so sometimes it gets to be hard to deal with. To top it off, I met an amazing Christian man that day at work, he was so attractive and solid, but, he was also married. I got in my car after meeting him and I said to the Lord..."I want someone like him. Why can't I have a husband?" And began to weep over it.
He is coming very soon...
I suppose, I should be encouraged, since I have been so getting prophecies about my husband coming “very soon.” That he will see me, like Boaz saw Ruth, as I am serving the Lord. So many words, that I joked with a friend, maybe I should get a t-shirt made that says, “Please, do not prophesy to me about my husband!" See...I have not decided...are they are an encouragement or a distraction?
After I met this wonderful Christian man, I just got very sad, and wanted to pour my heart out on Facebook and post the Boaz status. To just whine about it, but I decided to be positive instead, and so I wrote, “It feels like a rainbow kind of day...”
It had been raining a little, on and off throughout the afternoon, and I hoped I would see one; I had a feeling I might. So, after I put the status on, I just started to get upset again. I was crying out to the Lord, “I am having a hard time, and I really need to see a rainbow!!! Lord, I neeeeed to see a rainbow!!!”
Ever since I was a little girl, I have seen rainbows. They seem to come when I need them, and when they do come, God usually speaks to me.
So, I was just driving along, still crying out to God in my heart, when I looked over my left shoulder, because that is where I knew the rainbow would appear, and there it was, I saw the rainbow!
After I met this wonderful Christian man, I just got very sad, and wanted to pour my heart out on Facebook and post the Boaz status. To just whine about it, but I decided to be positive instead, and so I wrote, “It feels like a rainbow kind of day...”
It had been raining a little, on and off throughout the afternoon, and I hoped I would see one; I had a feeling I might. So, after I put the status on, I just started to get upset again. I was crying out to the Lord, “I am having a hard time, and I really need to see a rainbow!!! Lord, I neeeeed to see a rainbow!!!”
Ever since I was a little girl, I have seen rainbows. They seem to come when I need them, and when they do come, God usually speaks to me.
So, I was just driving along, still crying out to God in my heart, when I looked over my left shoulder, because that is where I knew the rainbow would appear, and there it was, I saw the rainbow!
Can you see?
It wasn’t raining at that moment, so it was a surprise, but I had hoped it would be there when I looked. It was hidden behind the trees, but I could see it, peeking through. I asked the Lord to let me see it fully, that I would come to a clearing soon,and sure enough, I did. Then I really started weeping! I stopped and took photos of it, and once it had faded, I got back in the car.
Your blessing...
I was still praising God over how good He was to give me a rainbow, when I saw a sign along the road, it said, “your blessing is a mile away.” I thought it was so cool, and sort of ironic considering my day…so…I stopped and took a photo of it. Then a little bit later, another sign, “Your Blessing is straight ahead.” And then the final one, “Your blessing is here”. This last sign was pointing to a church, His Bride.
I realized right then, after all the “signs” that I already had a Husband, He is my blessing, AND He is right here. He is also soooo much better than a man here on this earth! Sometimes I forget that I am already married, and I am never alone, so I repented to Him.
After that, on the way home, I was just blown away by all that I saw. It was like God was wooing me and showing me His treasures. I felt like I was being romanced by my Lover, and I was no longer asking Him where my husband was, because I was seeing Him and His love for me everywhere. So when I went to finish the painting on Friday, 3/23/12, as I was using the black and white paint, working on the folds in the dress, thinking about how the Lord is coming after a Bride without spot and blemish, when the Lord spoke to me, and He said, “I want you to add the rainbow you saw to the painting. I want her looking at it.” I was blown away. All my life I have looked for the rainbows…because He is the rainbow. He always speaks to me when I see them… Like a rainbow, He is always there…but it takes the water, the light and faith for him to be revealed.
I realized right then, after all the “signs” that I already had a Husband, He is my blessing, AND He is right here. He is also soooo much better than a man here on this earth! Sometimes I forget that I am already married, and I am never alone, so I repented to Him.
After that, on the way home, I was just blown away by all that I saw. It was like God was wooing me and showing me His treasures. I felt like I was being romanced by my Lover, and I was no longer asking Him where my husband was, because I was seeing Him and His love for me everywhere. So when I went to finish the painting on Friday, 3/23/12, as I was using the black and white paint, working on the folds in the dress, thinking about how the Lord is coming after a Bride without spot and blemish, when the Lord spoke to me, and He said, “I want you to add the rainbow you saw to the painting. I want her looking at it.” I was blown away. All my life I have looked for the rainbows…because He is the rainbow. He always speaks to me when I see them… Like a rainbow, He is always there…but it takes the water, the light and faith for him to be revealed.
Promises from the Word
Ezekiel 1:25-28
And then, as they stood with folded wings, there was a voice from above the dome over their heads. Above the dome there was something that looked like a throne, sky-blue like a sapphire, with a humanlike figure towering above the throne. From what I could see, from the waist up he looked like burnished bronze and from the waist down like a blazing fire. Brightness everywhere! The way a rainbow springs out of the sky on a rainy day—that's what it was like. It turned out to be the Glory of God! When I saw all this, I fell to my knees, my face to the ground. Then I heard a voice.
Genesis 9:12-16
God continued, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and everything living around you and everyone living after you. I'm putting my rainbow in the clouds, a sign of the covenant between me and the Earth. From now on, when I form a cloud over the Earth and the rainbow appears in the cloud, I'll remember my covenant between me and you and everything living, that never again will floodwaters destroy all life. When the rainbow appears in the cloud, I'll see it and remember the eternal covenant between God and everything living, every last living creature on Earth."
Isaiah 62:3-5
You will be a glorious crown,
a royal headband,
for the LORD your God.
Your name will no longer be
"Deserted and Childless,"
but "Happily Married."
You will please the LORD;
your country
will be his bride.
Your people will take the land, just as a young man
takes a bride.
The LORD will be pleased
because of you,
just as a husband is pleased
with his bride.
Revelation 22:17
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Let everyone who hears this say, "Come!"
And then, as they stood with folded wings, there was a voice from above the dome over their heads. Above the dome there was something that looked like a throne, sky-blue like a sapphire, with a humanlike figure towering above the throne. From what I could see, from the waist up he looked like burnished bronze and from the waist down like a blazing fire. Brightness everywhere! The way a rainbow springs out of the sky on a rainy day—that's what it was like. It turned out to be the Glory of God! When I saw all this, I fell to my knees, my face to the ground. Then I heard a voice.
Genesis 9:12-16
God continued, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and everything living around you and everyone living after you. I'm putting my rainbow in the clouds, a sign of the covenant between me and the Earth. From now on, when I form a cloud over the Earth and the rainbow appears in the cloud, I'll remember my covenant between me and you and everything living, that never again will floodwaters destroy all life. When the rainbow appears in the cloud, I'll see it and remember the eternal covenant between God and everything living, every last living creature on Earth."
Isaiah 62:3-5
You will be a glorious crown,
a royal headband,
for the LORD your God.
Your name will no longer be
"Deserted and Childless,"
but "Happily Married."
You will please the LORD;
your country
will be his bride.
Your people will take the land, just as a young man
takes a bride.
The LORD will be pleased
because of you,
just as a husband is pleased
with his bride.
Revelation 22:17
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Let everyone who hears this say, "Come!"
The Eagle's Cry
I prepared this eagle to paint at the end of November; I was going to paint it for a Bob Jones conference in New Bern, NC, but I got sick and was not able to go. So next I was invited to Savannah, GA to paint at Jason Lee Jones' new church, and felt that it would be great there too. But again, I could not go, I discovered my car was leaking gasoline from the tank, and it had to be replaced. My mother joked that maybe what I was seeing, the eagle coming out of fire, was a warning that I, the seer might catch on fire!
Finally, I was well, and my car was no longer a threat of becoming a fire ball and I had been invited to come to Augusta, GA for a conference. I prayed and felt peace that it was time to finally release this painting there. After I had decided to release it, I got this in my email:
SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns--01/16/12:
Listen for the sound of the eagle's cry, for it is time to take to the sky. I speak to those who move in the prophetic gifting as an eagle rises to the heights. Set yourself for an increased and profound anointing to bring My word to the Church. Position yourself by faith to come to a new spiritual level where you can see with clarity and hear with precision. Then, you will be able prophesy in purity. Come up here, says the Lord.
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."
I’d had the vision some time ago, and decided to paint the whole eagle. But initially, when I first saw the vision, it was just his face and it was so intense, it startled me. There was fire reflecting in his eyes, like he was coming up out of the fire. Later in the vision I saw the whole eagle so that was why I had decided to paint it that way, but still the face of the eagle was so clear in my heart I just wanted to capture the intensity of it too. So I decided to repaint it.
Finally, I was well, and my car was no longer a threat of becoming a fire ball and I had been invited to come to Augusta, GA for a conference. I prayed and felt peace that it was time to finally release this painting there. After I had decided to release it, I got this in my email:
SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns--01/16/12:
Listen for the sound of the eagle's cry, for it is time to take to the sky. I speak to those who move in the prophetic gifting as an eagle rises to the heights. Set yourself for an increased and profound anointing to bring My word to the Church. Position yourself by faith to come to a new spiritual level where you can see with clarity and hear with precision. Then, you will be able prophesy in purity. Come up here, says the Lord.
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."
I’d had the vision some time ago, and decided to paint the whole eagle. But initially, when I first saw the vision, it was just his face and it was so intense, it startled me. There was fire reflecting in his eyes, like he was coming up out of the fire. Later in the vision I saw the whole eagle so that was why I had decided to paint it that way, but still the face of the eagle was so clear in my heart I just wanted to capture the intensity of it too. So I decided to repaint it.
The heart of the Prophet and Seer is the Cry of His Heart
The Lord spoke clearly to me when I asked Him why He wanted to paint this, He said:
"Because it is time for the Eagles to rise up and go forth in power and strength, from the fire of refinement and testing, soaring into revelation...purified by My Love set on course by my Spirit...for Destiny!!!"
You can read the testimony and see the original painting here: http://www.christinecouncil.com/rise-up.html
When I painted it in Augusta, I was with a ministry from Alaska, I had not thought about it, but there are so many eagles there, it really ministered to the team that had come. Also, I just remembered, when I first got the vision, I was on top of a huge mountain, like one you would see in Alaska...as I was climbing it, He was teaching me about climbing mountains and how that was like building a church. And, at this conference, when I painted the leader’s prophetic portrait, I saw a mountain. That is all I saw, I was worried it was not God...but she said it was right on, that God sends her to the tallest mountains to declare things in the spirit, and God had given her awesome teachings about mountains.
I love the mouth on this eagle, how when it cries, it makes a heart!!!! That is truly the heart of the prophet and seers. And the more I paint the visions God gives me, the more I see how HE designed all of a creation with a purpose! Everything declares His Glory. The beak is golded which speaks of the Glory. The mouth has pink, the color of passion. The white head represents the purity. The blue around the mouth is the spirit of revelation. The orange represents evangelism and the refiner's fire!!! Black and white is the color of dividing darkness from the light, which is what the spoken word of the Lord, or the Sword of the Spirit does!!!!
"Because it is time for the Eagles to rise up and go forth in power and strength, from the fire of refinement and testing, soaring into revelation...purified by My Love set on course by my Spirit...for Destiny!!!"
You can read the testimony and see the original painting here: http://www.christinecouncil.com/rise-up.html
When I painted it in Augusta, I was with a ministry from Alaska, I had not thought about it, but there are so many eagles there, it really ministered to the team that had come. Also, I just remembered, when I first got the vision, I was on top of a huge mountain, like one you would see in Alaska...as I was climbing it, He was teaching me about climbing mountains and how that was like building a church. And, at this conference, when I painted the leader’s prophetic portrait, I saw a mountain. That is all I saw, I was worried it was not God...but she said it was right on, that God sends her to the tallest mountains to declare things in the spirit, and God had given her awesome teachings about mountains.
I love the mouth on this eagle, how when it cries, it makes a heart!!!! That is truly the heart of the prophet and seers. And the more I paint the visions God gives me, the more I see how HE designed all of a creation with a purpose! Everything declares His Glory. The beak is golded which speaks of the Glory. The mouth has pink, the color of passion. The white head represents the purity. The blue around the mouth is the spirit of revelation. The orange represents evangelism and the refiner's fire!!! Black and white is the color of dividing darkness from the light, which is what the spoken word of the Lord, or the Sword of the Spirit does!!!!
"Listen for the sound of the eagle's cry, for it is time to take to the sky."
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Acrylic 36 x 48
I started painting this live, at an event called Christmas for the City, where fifty churches came together to love on Winston Salem, NC, and I finished it this Christmas morning. The event was free for everyone and had dancers, musicians, singers, crafts for the kids, free cookies and snacks. Artists would be paired with ministries, and paint what the ministry represented. I was blessed to find out that the ministry I would be painting beside at the event was called, the Shepherd's Center.
Then later in the week, I was telling a new friend that I would be painting for a ministry that serves Senior Citizens, and she said, "the thing I love about Senior Citizens are they are so vulnerable, like Jesus when He came as a Baby".
Not too long after that...I asked someone to pray for me, that I would "paint God's heart" for the event and she said to me, "The Lord is your Shepherd, you are His sheep and you hear His voice." When I told her how confirming that was to me, she was blessed that God had used her...and said SHE needed that.
When I got to the event, before I even put a drop of paint on the canvas, a worshiper in a room right beside me, was warming up and he started singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb." I got so excited, I started jumping up and down. When he came out of the room, I asked him why he sang that and he said he had no idea, but I knew why!
God used so many to confirm that He wanted me to paint this and it blessed me. It was the body being the body...each of them were just being themselves, yet God used them all to touch and encourage me. He was confirming His will for this painting. I felt like Mary, and how she pondered all these things in her heart.
Interestingly, I had to drive two hours to the event in pouring rain. I was thinking of Mary and Joseph, and how it must of felt to be carrying the King of Kings, but have to travel so far to Bethlehem to just be told there was no place for them. I unloaded in the rain, then parked my car and walked back, it was still raining. I had been asked to come, because 2 artists had backed out, and they were short an artist. When I got there, my painting spot was the furthest place from the front door. I was given the least desirable place to paint in the whole convention center. I had also been told to bring art to share, and that I could interact with people looking at my art, but my painting spot again was the longest distance from where my art hung. The whole time I was walking back and forth, setting up...I was saying to God, I will be faithful to YOU, no matter what.
As I painted, I met the most amazing people. A family came up, and one of their daughters was so beautiful in the Spirit. I was compelled to prophesy to her, I could "see" her, and looking at her purity, made me cry. I saw her loving on children, especially orphans. Her mom told me, with tears in her eyes, that she had just come from a mission trip to Mexico where they had helped in an orphanage. I thought to myself later, this young woman was what I imagine Mary would have been like. The young woman wrote me later and said that so much of what I had said to her confirmed what God had been speaking to her.
My most favorite people though, were the children! They would come up and stare with wonder, then tell me how they liked my painting. I would ask them to guess the title, giving them little hints, they would get so excited when they figured it out, usually before the parents did.
I pray that this painting blesses you as you look with the eyes of a child on the innocent face of the Lamb of God and remember that He was the King of Kings, yet He humbled Himself and became the ultimate Sacrifice for everyone that will recieve HIM!
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:9-12
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6-7
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29 KJV
I started painting this live, at an event called Christmas for the City, where fifty churches came together to love on Winston Salem, NC, and I finished it this Christmas morning. The event was free for everyone and had dancers, musicians, singers, crafts for the kids, free cookies and snacks. Artists would be paired with ministries, and paint what the ministry represented. I was blessed to find out that the ministry I would be painting beside at the event was called, the Shepherd's Center.
Then later in the week, I was telling a new friend that I would be painting for a ministry that serves Senior Citizens, and she said, "the thing I love about Senior Citizens are they are so vulnerable, like Jesus when He came as a Baby".
Not too long after that...I asked someone to pray for me, that I would "paint God's heart" for the event and she said to me, "The Lord is your Shepherd, you are His sheep and you hear His voice." When I told her how confirming that was to me, she was blessed that God had used her...and said SHE needed that.
When I got to the event, before I even put a drop of paint on the canvas, a worshiper in a room right beside me, was warming up and he started singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb." I got so excited, I started jumping up and down. When he came out of the room, I asked him why he sang that and he said he had no idea, but I knew why!
God used so many to confirm that He wanted me to paint this and it blessed me. It was the body being the body...each of them were just being themselves, yet God used them all to touch and encourage me. He was confirming His will for this painting. I felt like Mary, and how she pondered all these things in her heart.
Interestingly, I had to drive two hours to the event in pouring rain. I was thinking of Mary and Joseph, and how it must of felt to be carrying the King of Kings, but have to travel so far to Bethlehem to just be told there was no place for them. I unloaded in the rain, then parked my car and walked back, it was still raining. I had been asked to come, because 2 artists had backed out, and they were short an artist. When I got there, my painting spot was the furthest place from the front door. I was given the least desirable place to paint in the whole convention center. I had also been told to bring art to share, and that I could interact with people looking at my art, but my painting spot again was the longest distance from where my art hung. The whole time I was walking back and forth, setting up...I was saying to God, I will be faithful to YOU, no matter what.
As I painted, I met the most amazing people. A family came up, and one of their daughters was so beautiful in the Spirit. I was compelled to prophesy to her, I could "see" her, and looking at her purity, made me cry. I saw her loving on children, especially orphans. Her mom told me, with tears in her eyes, that she had just come from a mission trip to Mexico where they had helped in an orphanage. I thought to myself later, this young woman was what I imagine Mary would have been like. The young woman wrote me later and said that so much of what I had said to her confirmed what God had been speaking to her.
My most favorite people though, were the children! They would come up and stare with wonder, then tell me how they liked my painting. I would ask them to guess the title, giving them little hints, they would get so excited when they figured it out, usually before the parents did.
I pray that this painting blesses you as you look with the eyes of a child on the innocent face of the Lamb of God and remember that He was the King of Kings, yet He humbled Himself and became the ultimate Sacrifice for everyone that will recieve HIM!
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:9-12
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6-7
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29 KJV
Behold, All Things are Made NEW!
36 x 48 acrylic on stretched canvas
This was painted at The Worship Center in Durham, NC Nov. 2011, at the God on the Move Conference with David Dodd.
I came across this photo a a year or so ago and contacted the woman that took it, Sue Boughton. I told her how I paint as worship and asked if I could paint it, thankfully, she said YES! I’ve kept it all this time in a special folder filled with inspirational photos I’ve taken or found online. This was week two of a move of God, not a planned meeting, but a continuation of what God did the week before, so I was not planning to paint, and had to prepare quickly. So, I went to my folder for inspiration, and immediately this image jumped out at me, and I knew it was the ONE I was to paint.
This butterfly seemed to represent what God was doing among us and in the body as a whole. It speaks of a completely new thing that comes from dying to the old so that the new can be born. It requires the caterpillar to hang from a branch upside down and die, how it changes is a mystery. It seems that God is doing a new thing among us, in this meeting and everywhere, and it will require us to let go of the old wine skins. The butterfly must press his own way out of the chrysalis, you cannot help it, same with this move, it has to be God, and it has to be birthed naturally, we have to let go of trying to control or force it, or it will NEVER fly. The color of the body, black and white is about unity that must come between the races, it also speaks of making things plain, or black and white, rightly dividing the word and about intercession that will hold the wings in place. The color in the wings, Yellow and Orange speak of His Glory, fire, evangelism and revival, all things we have been crying out for without which, we will have no change. Monarchs migrate miles and miles, and we will have to travel too, go outside the church walls to touch and bring in the lost. The fragility of the butterfly tells how careful we must be to handle this new move. Everyone knows you cannot hold a butterfly by its wings or you will remove the scales it needs to fly or risk breaking them. Like this next move, the butterfly is perched on the fingers of a child. David had preached on Sampson, and how a child led him by the hand to the pillars when he was blind, how that represented the church in the last days, how it has lost its vision and God will use the young to be her eyes. It is on the tips of the fingers showing that any minute now, it will take flight!!! It is time for all the believers to be mobilized and FLYING. That is my prayer!
I came across this photo a a year or so ago and contacted the woman that took it, Sue Boughton. I told her how I paint as worship and asked if I could paint it, thankfully, she said YES! I’ve kept it all this time in a special folder filled with inspirational photos I’ve taken or found online. This was week two of a move of God, not a planned meeting, but a continuation of what God did the week before, so I was not planning to paint, and had to prepare quickly. So, I went to my folder for inspiration, and immediately this image jumped out at me, and I knew it was the ONE I was to paint.
This butterfly seemed to represent what God was doing among us and in the body as a whole. It speaks of a completely new thing that comes from dying to the old so that the new can be born. It requires the caterpillar to hang from a branch upside down and die, how it changes is a mystery. It seems that God is doing a new thing among us, in this meeting and everywhere, and it will require us to let go of the old wine skins. The butterfly must press his own way out of the chrysalis, you cannot help it, same with this move, it has to be God, and it has to be birthed naturally, we have to let go of trying to control or force it, or it will NEVER fly. The color of the body, black and white is about unity that must come between the races, it also speaks of making things plain, or black and white, rightly dividing the word and about intercession that will hold the wings in place. The color in the wings, Yellow and Orange speak of His Glory, fire, evangelism and revival, all things we have been crying out for without which, we will have no change. Monarchs migrate miles and miles, and we will have to travel too, go outside the church walls to touch and bring in the lost. The fragility of the butterfly tells how careful we must be to handle this new move. Everyone knows you cannot hold a butterfly by its wings or you will remove the scales it needs to fly or risk breaking them. Like this next move, the butterfly is perched on the fingers of a child. David had preached on Sampson, and how a child led him by the hand to the pillars when he was blind, how that represented the church in the last days, how it has lost its vision and God will use the young to be her eyes. It is on the tips of the fingers showing that any minute now, it will take flight!!! It is time for all the believers to be mobilized and FLYING. That is my prayer!
_____________________________________________________________________
I also had something personal in my heart that the painting meant to me as well. I did not tell anyone, because it was for intercession. Then, on the very last night, a young man that I had spoken with before, walked me to my car and suggested that I paint something for a certain reason. It was the exact same reason I painted it this butterfly, what was in my heart before the Lord. He had no idea, but it confirmed and encouraged me, that the LORD my God saw, that He knew the cries of my heart, and He loved me. It was like He was winking at me…and saying, “I will do this for you Daughter.”
The caterpillar does all the work but the butterfly gets all the publicity. ~ George Carlin
What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly. ~Richard Bach
I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. ~Charles Dickens
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.
If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.
"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly."
What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly. ~Richard Bach
I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. ~Charles Dickens
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.
If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.
"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly."
Fiery Ruach
This was painted at The Worship Center in Durham, NC Nov. 2011, at the Awakened Love Conference with David Dodd.
Lately I have been upset by the number of people that I have come across that have a mixture in them. They are still playing with fire, even though they are called of God and anointed for His service. They want God to use them…yet they still are using things and people to feed and satisfy their flesh. Things like internet porn, dirty talking, lusting, flirting, fornication, coarse joking…
Some of them see nothing wrong with it, and when confronted, they defend it saying that they can’t help it. See, they are a sinner. What a lie from the pit of hell. Truth is, they can…you see, the same power that conquered death is living inside of them. Either they WERE saved or they were NOT. But, if they were saved, they will LIVE like they were.
You know, it is not ok with God. It is actually cancer in HIS body. The body of Christ that you and I are part of, that He is still the head of. Imagine if you heard from the Dr. that you had cancer somewhere in your body…imagine how that would break your heart...how it would grieve you.
The other day, I was talking to someone I had recently prophesied to. He was telling me how he was living a "Job" from the bible experience. He told me how he had lost his church, where he was pastor, lost his wife that had been healed and come out of a wheelchair, she even ended up back in that wheelchair, he lost his home, money...he had lost everything. He said God took them from him. Something about that just did not compute to me. I started getting angry in my spirit about it, so I asked him straight out, “was there any sin in your life when it happened?” He said…”what?” I said, “was there any sin in your life, when you lost everything? Like, did you cheat on your wife, did you embezzle money from the church...did you get on the internet brother?” Finally he confessed, it was an internet porn addiction.
I have to tell you, I was mad. I was furious. I was so on fire. I said, “you are not living a Job experience, Job was tested because he was righteous!” I said to him, “what you are living is a Sampson experience!!!! You were a blessed man, but you chose to serve your flesh and not God. So now you have been taken captive, your eyes have been blinded; you are in prison and going around and around the millstone because of the sin of lust in your life."
I was mad at him for being foolish and letting satan do this to him, to his wife, and church, but I was even angrier at the enemy for what he had done to this man, for what he had stolen from him.
He said, “I don’t know how to stop.” I said “put your computer outside and take a sledge hammer to it!!” You have to fight for your freedom!!! The Bible says to cut off your hand if it causes you to sin.
I felt the fire of God coming out of my mouth as I spoke to him, preaching for a long time as he humbled himself and wept. I encouraged him about who he was in Christ and reminded him Who He was called to serve! He thanked me over and over for preaching to him. He thanked me for caring enough to release the cleansing, healing, refining, restoring FIRE of God’s truth on HIM. He humbly received the correction of God and repented.
Since we talked that night God has given this man so much grace, and because of His humility he is now FREE from his addiction to pornography!!!! He said his life has turned completely around. He is amazed at all God has done, and the people at his church have commented that they can see a difference in him. He calls me his angel.
Lately I have been upset by the number of people that I have come across that have a mixture in them. They are still playing with fire, even though they are called of God and anointed for His service. They want God to use them…yet they still are using things and people to feed and satisfy their flesh. Things like internet porn, dirty talking, lusting, flirting, fornication, coarse joking…
Some of them see nothing wrong with it, and when confronted, they defend it saying that they can’t help it. See, they are a sinner. What a lie from the pit of hell. Truth is, they can…you see, the same power that conquered death is living inside of them. Either they WERE saved or they were NOT. But, if they were saved, they will LIVE like they were.
You know, it is not ok with God. It is actually cancer in HIS body. The body of Christ that you and I are part of, that He is still the head of. Imagine if you heard from the Dr. that you had cancer somewhere in your body…imagine how that would break your heart...how it would grieve you.
The other day, I was talking to someone I had recently prophesied to. He was telling me how he was living a "Job" from the bible experience. He told me how he had lost his church, where he was pastor, lost his wife that had been healed and come out of a wheelchair, she even ended up back in that wheelchair, he lost his home, money...he had lost everything. He said God took them from him. Something about that just did not compute to me. I started getting angry in my spirit about it, so I asked him straight out, “was there any sin in your life when it happened?” He said…”what?” I said, “was there any sin in your life, when you lost everything? Like, did you cheat on your wife, did you embezzle money from the church...did you get on the internet brother?” Finally he confessed, it was an internet porn addiction.
I have to tell you, I was mad. I was furious. I was so on fire. I said, “you are not living a Job experience, Job was tested because he was righteous!” I said to him, “what you are living is a Sampson experience!!!! You were a blessed man, but you chose to serve your flesh and not God. So now you have been taken captive, your eyes have been blinded; you are in prison and going around and around the millstone because of the sin of lust in your life."
I was mad at him for being foolish and letting satan do this to him, to his wife, and church, but I was even angrier at the enemy for what he had done to this man, for what he had stolen from him.
He said, “I don’t know how to stop.” I said “put your computer outside and take a sledge hammer to it!!” You have to fight for your freedom!!! The Bible says to cut off your hand if it causes you to sin.
I felt the fire of God coming out of my mouth as I spoke to him, preaching for a long time as he humbled himself and wept. I encouraged him about who he was in Christ and reminded him Who He was called to serve! He thanked me over and over for preaching to him. He thanked me for caring enough to release the cleansing, healing, refining, restoring FIRE of God’s truth on HIM. He humbly received the correction of God and repented.
Since we talked that night God has given this man so much grace, and because of His humility he is now FREE from his addiction to pornography!!!! He said his life has turned completely around. He is amazed at all God has done, and the people at his church have commented that they can see a difference in him. He calls me his angel.
“In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.
The earth trembled and quaked, the foundations of the heavens[c] shook;
they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. 2 Sam 22
Trust me, I am no angel, and it wasn’t me that set him free, it was the Fire of God, that I released over him. All I did was choose to get involved in this man’s dirty little secret and confront him in love.
This painting is symbolic for me of what God longs to do to HIS BRIDE! To rescue her…set her free, set her on fire, refine her, cleanse her, purify her.
I love the Narnia series. My very favorite part is when Aslan roars, there is one scene where the witch challenges him, questioning his integrity, whether He will come to the ceremony where he will be sacrificed, and Aslan just looks at her and roars…then she falls back. I get so excited in my spirit when I see that because you cannot argue with truth. It is absolute and will always be victorious.
Ruwa means to shout a war-cry or an alarm or to shout in triumph.
In the book of Numbers king Balak hired Balaam to curse Israel and each time only blessing would come from his mouth. During his second attempt at cursing he made the following declaration in Numbers 23:21:
The Lord his God is with him, and the shout (ruwa) of a King is among them.
Psalm 47:1 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout (ruwa) to God with the voice of triumph!
You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble." James 4:4-6 (MSG)
The night after I got home from painting, I found this song, I had heard it before. But it just amazed me, the words, it was like God put it in my path...and wanted me to put it with my painting.
Forgiven and Redeemed...
Painting/prints are not for sale
A couple of years ago, I attempted to paint prophetically up front at a church in Va. I painted the canvas yellow...and started to paint words with the color purple like, King of Kings, Glory...etc. I was so nervous...I messed up a word...and completely mispelled it. In a panic and so ashamed...I just started blending the 2 colors together to make an ugly swirl of shame...and then eventually...because I wasn't sure what to do, I just set the canvas aside.
Late last year, I was led by the Lord to paint For You! Liberty. To prepare I needed to see how the red "blood" would drip, so I used this discarded canvas as my trial run. I covered it with drips of red glitter paint and other red paint, to see how it would flow. When I finished, there were drips all over the canvas. I thought to myself, well, this canvas is ruined. It not only was covered in paint, but there were bumps and ridges from the drips.
This week I was cleaning up my art studio and I came across this canvas again. But this time, I started seeing something in it, on it. I felt the Lord say, take it out and look at it. I kept thinking, "I could paint something with the blood of Jesus dripping on this canvas". So I looked online and found this photo, from the "Passion of the Christ." It touched me. Moved my heart, so I considered painting it, but since it was a photo from a movie, I knew it was copyrighted, and I would not be able to sell prints without writen permission from the Production company. So I decided to go to bed and keep looking in the morning.
Then the next day, I got on Facebook and discovered, someone tagged me in that VERY same photo!! So there it was...I was tagged. Then I knew I was supposed to paint it as worship, whether or not I could sell copies of it mattered not to God, maybe people will be touched by just looking at it and possibly even saved.
So I started painting. I took this old discarded canvas, a canvas that had once been a source of shame for me. A canvas that had been used and set aside, that seemed to be good for nothing, and I began to cover it with a fresh coat of paint. As I did, I noticed that the texture, the ridges and bumps were the best part of the painting and I loved how the red glitter from the paint would shine through. As I painted the glitter started to cover the whole canvas. I marveled at how that horrible color I created, from my gold and purple mistake, coming through from the background, was one of the most beautiful colors of the painting.
As I painted it...I kept saying, I love this painting. I started to weep. "Wow Lord, I love this painting." Then He spoke to me. He said, "You were like this, like that canvas, you had made mistakes that were shameful, you had been trashed, used, set aside...and even labeled "a good for nothing failure." But then I, in My love, chose you to be Mine, I have covered your with My blood and made you beautiful and useful again."
If you let Him, he will take the very things that seem to be the biggest weaknesses in us, and made them the most special, unique part. And then...when anyone looks at us...they won't see the shame or mistakes anymore, how we were used and discarded...now when people look at us...they will just see Jesus.
Late last year, I was led by the Lord to paint For You! Liberty. To prepare I needed to see how the red "blood" would drip, so I used this discarded canvas as my trial run. I covered it with drips of red glitter paint and other red paint, to see how it would flow. When I finished, there were drips all over the canvas. I thought to myself, well, this canvas is ruined. It not only was covered in paint, but there were bumps and ridges from the drips.
This week I was cleaning up my art studio and I came across this canvas again. But this time, I started seeing something in it, on it. I felt the Lord say, take it out and look at it. I kept thinking, "I could paint something with the blood of Jesus dripping on this canvas". So I looked online and found this photo, from the "Passion of the Christ." It touched me. Moved my heart, so I considered painting it, but since it was a photo from a movie, I knew it was copyrighted, and I would not be able to sell prints without writen permission from the Production company. So I decided to go to bed and keep looking in the morning.
Then the next day, I got on Facebook and discovered, someone tagged me in that VERY same photo!! So there it was...I was tagged. Then I knew I was supposed to paint it as worship, whether or not I could sell copies of it mattered not to God, maybe people will be touched by just looking at it and possibly even saved.
So I started painting. I took this old discarded canvas, a canvas that had once been a source of shame for me. A canvas that had been used and set aside, that seemed to be good for nothing, and I began to cover it with a fresh coat of paint. As I did, I noticed that the texture, the ridges and bumps were the best part of the painting and I loved how the red glitter from the paint would shine through. As I painted the glitter started to cover the whole canvas. I marveled at how that horrible color I created, from my gold and purple mistake, coming through from the background, was one of the most beautiful colors of the painting.
As I painted it...I kept saying, I love this painting. I started to weep. "Wow Lord, I love this painting." Then He spoke to me. He said, "You were like this, like that canvas, you had made mistakes that were shameful, you had been trashed, used, set aside...and even labeled "a good for nothing failure." But then I, in My love, chose you to be Mine, I have covered your with My blood and made you beautiful and useful again."
If you let Him, he will take the very things that seem to be the biggest weaknesses in us, and made them the most special, unique part. And then...when anyone looks at us...they won't see the shame or mistakes anymore, how we were used and discarded...now when people look at us...they will just see Jesus.
Poured Out from the Mountain
Acrylic 16 x 24
The Lord started talking to me about making a place where He could come and paint with me. Others confirmed it saying, "Jesus wants to paint with you."
I got my art studio ready and bought fresh paints. I felt like a bride on her wedding night when it was time to go in and meet with Him.
I stood before the blank canvas and then He was there. He told me to take my hands dip them in the blue and purple paint and cover the whole canvas. Then He asked me to paint a small mountain on the upper left side of the canvas. Next He told me to take the red for the blood and had me pour it down...further, further...almost to the bottom...then stop. I completed the Mountain and tried to work on the clouds.
Each step He directed me. At moments we laughed and others I cried. At one point I started losing my joy and getting frustrated. I was so into what I was doing, I forgot all about Him. I looked around and He was behind me in the chair, acting bored, waiting and playfully smiling. It spoke volumes of how much we need His presence and assistance to be able to accomplish what He has asked us to.
I still did not know where the blood was going until the rest was finished, then I saw it, the earth. I asked him if I could use a reference photo, and He said yes. I painted it in one stroke and He said, "wow, that was great!" I said, "You are so encouraging!!" and He smiled at me and said, "You are too." That is how He is...loving and encouraging. He told me that day to start buying paint by the gallons because I was going to pour much at His feet.
Besides that one moment when I forgot about Him, He was right there with me, face to face for four hours. Since then I go to an art room in heaven, when I go, He always greets me covered in paint with a big smile on his face. He truly is the best Art Teacher ever!
I got my art studio ready and bought fresh paints. I felt like a bride on her wedding night when it was time to go in and meet with Him.
I stood before the blank canvas and then He was there. He told me to take my hands dip them in the blue and purple paint and cover the whole canvas. Then He asked me to paint a small mountain on the upper left side of the canvas. Next He told me to take the red for the blood and had me pour it down...further, further...almost to the bottom...then stop. I completed the Mountain and tried to work on the clouds.
Each step He directed me. At moments we laughed and others I cried. At one point I started losing my joy and getting frustrated. I was so into what I was doing, I forgot all about Him. I looked around and He was behind me in the chair, acting bored, waiting and playfully smiling. It spoke volumes of how much we need His presence and assistance to be able to accomplish what He has asked us to.
I still did not know where the blood was going until the rest was finished, then I saw it, the earth. I asked him if I could use a reference photo, and He said yes. I painted it in one stroke and He said, "wow, that was great!" I said, "You are so encouraging!!" and He smiled at me and said, "You are too." That is how He is...loving and encouraging. He told me that day to start buying paint by the gallons because I was going to pour much at His feet.
Besides that one moment when I forgot about Him, He was right there with me, face to face for four hours. Since then I go to an art room in heaven, when I go, He always greets me covered in paint with a big smile on his face. He truly is the best Art Teacher ever!
Tree of Life
24 x 36 acrylic on stretch canvas
Painted this at the Abner Suarez prophetic meeting at the Worship Center in Durham.
I had just come home from the mountains where autumn was in full color. I took so many photos as I drove along worshiping the Lord and His amazing artistry. I came across this one tree that stopped me in my tracks. It was soooo beautiful and just seemed to speak of HIS glory. I took several photos and thought I would like to paint it.
I didn't know what it meant, or if it was a prophetic word, it was just in my heart to do it. And honestly, as I worked on it, I wasn't very excited about it until I finished and got it home, that is when I noticed Jesus's face in it. It was there, right in the trunk, then I was undone. It wasn't planned, it was totally a gift from God.
I had just come home from the mountains where autumn was in full color. I took so many photos as I drove along worshiping the Lord and His amazing artistry. I came across this one tree that stopped me in my tracks. It was soooo beautiful and just seemed to speak of HIS glory. I took several photos and thought I would like to paint it.
I didn't know what it meant, or if it was a prophetic word, it was just in my heart to do it. And honestly, as I worked on it, I wasn't very excited about it until I finished and got it home, that is when I noticed Jesus's face in it. It was there, right in the trunk, then I was undone. It wasn't planned, it was totally a gift from God.
I started thinking about how many times trees were mentioned in the bible, so I looked it up, in the NKJV, it is in there 175 times, and the word wood, 119.
There were 2 trees in middle of the garden, and the fruit from one was forbidden to eat. The other was the Tree of Life. Both Arks, Noah's and the Ark of the Covenant were made of wood. Jesus was born and then laid in a manger which was made of wood. He was raised by a carpenter, so that would have been how he spent most of his life, covered in saw dust. He turned tables of wood over in righteous anger, and reclined at them for meals where He was anointed by a sinful woman. He says He stands outside the wooden door of our hearts and knocks. He is The Tree of Life, and we are grafted into HIM, into HIS Family, and we are the branches. Then He gave up His Spirit, and died to redeem us, while hanging on a cross made from a tree.
It was so significant and I had no idea, but God reminded me, when He put Jesus' face on the tree trunk. He reminded me, just like each tree we see, it was created to remind us of WHO He is and WHAT HE did for us!!!!
Acts 5:30
"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree".
"TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" - Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the Spirit of heaviness; that they might be called TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
Jeremiah 17:8
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Revelation 22:14 Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the {tree} of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
There were 2 trees in middle of the garden, and the fruit from one was forbidden to eat. The other was the Tree of Life. Both Arks, Noah's and the Ark of the Covenant were made of wood. Jesus was born and then laid in a manger which was made of wood. He was raised by a carpenter, so that would have been how he spent most of his life, covered in saw dust. He turned tables of wood over in righteous anger, and reclined at them for meals where He was anointed by a sinful woman. He says He stands outside the wooden door of our hearts and knocks. He is The Tree of Life, and we are grafted into HIM, into HIS Family, and we are the branches. Then He gave up His Spirit, and died to redeem us, while hanging on a cross made from a tree.
It was so significant and I had no idea, but God reminded me, when He put Jesus' face on the tree trunk. He reminded me, just like each tree we see, it was created to remind us of WHO He is and WHAT HE did for us!!!!
Acts 5:30
"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree".
"TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" - Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the Spirit of heaviness; that they might be called TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
Jeremiah 17:8
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Revelation 22:14 Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the {tree} of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Love's Sacrifice
Recently, I had a vision of a woman with a coat of many colors; like Joseph’s coat. She was dancing, worshiping, but it was more like warfare, reminded me of an Indian or something. She was by a fire and her coat looked like wings when she danced. I could hear drums; it was dark all around her. She was being illuminated by the fire...but she wasn’t on fire.
She was mad at the tricks of the enemy, and wanted the morning to come, for the light to shine and overtake the darkness. Her heart had been hurt and wounded. She was tired of being alone, always dancing alone, but it was easier because it is so hard to trust from all the years of betrayal. She fell to the ground, curled up, covered herself with the coat and wept.
She wanted to take the coat off and throw it into the fire. The coat represented all the gifts God had given her and she didn't want the responsibility of them any longer. People hated her, like they hated Joseph. She didn't want to hurt anymore; she wanted to be like everyone else. So she threw the coat in the fire, and after she did, several people showed up and danced with her. She looked just like one of them. She blended right in.
But then, the Lord came in from the left, and He had the coat, He was holding it by the shoulders. The coat was white on the outside, all shiny now, covered in sparkling jewels. It looked like something a Bride would wear and seemed to have been refined by the fire. Jesus looked into her eyes, and then asked her, “Will you wear it for ME, daughter?”
Broken she says “yes”, saying to herself, "how could I say no to HIM?"
Not long after I had this vision, I asked the Lord if I would marry. He said yes, and then began to describe my husband to me, I was weeping with joy and excitement, but at the same time, thinking, this sounds too good to be true. Then it hit me, it was HIM. He was describing Himself. So I asked Him, “It is You, isn’t it?” He replied “yes”. I then asked Him, “Are you saying that means I will not marry a man here on earth?” to which He replied, “yes”. Then he said I could have a husband, if I wanted one, but that He was asking me to give myself completely to the work He was calling me to. I know in the Bible, God had Abraham go to sacrifice His son, but he did not have to because God provided the sacrifice. So I don’t know if this is a test or for a season, or if this is because it will be best, I only know that I am certain He is asking me to crucify it.
I wish I could say I was excited that the Lord was asking me to be set apart for Him…but I wasn’t. I still am not. I actually told Him I was disappointed and did not want to talk to Him anymore...so I got up and walked away. See, since I was a little girl, I have looked for a man to love me. When I got saved, I found the Man I had been looking for and finally my heart was satisfied. But still, as a single mom, I always dreamed about the day I would marry, or the man God would bring that could give me more children. But, it never happened. There were relationships along the way, but no wedding dress. Since my son has left home, my “aloneness” seems to be amplified, and I am spending even more time by myself. The void makes me long for a companion to share the rest of my life with. It doesn’t help that recently someone came into my life and we had a very short but intense relationship. I saw a vision and he had a dream, we were both convinced it was God putting us together for marriage. But, it wasn’t…I think we were both just thirsty and ended up having to let it go completely.
After I had the vision, I painted the bird, “Healing on His Wings”. A week later someone prophesied that they saw a wing beside me, and there was an angel there blowing on me. She had not seen the painting so I sent her the link and she wrote back so excited saying the angel had sparkles in his wings, like the bird in my painting. She also did not know about the vision of the coat.
The night before I painted, the healing minister prayed that God would use my paintings to heal others. God touched me deeply that night and I cried out in the Spirit for a long time. One of the very first prophesies I ever got, a seer saw a huge hospital behind me. He told me that joy comes from doing the will of the Father, so do the work of an evangelist. I did not know what hospital meant, but over the years I have learned it means that I have a healing gift, and will have a ministry of healing. Since then, many have prophesied to me that I am a mother, healer and an evangelist. I can say that have seen many healed through my prayers, but I think it is just the beginning of what God is calling me to and lately people have been telling me God is going to take me all around the world. *
I watched Heidi Baker online this week and I believe God was speaking to me. He knows how much I love her, so He knew I would be paying attention! Before she came on, still trying to accept all that God is asking of me, as an act of my will, I took a coat and put it on, dancing before HIM, weeping, telling Him I would wear any coat He wants me to and do whatever He was asking me to. Then I sat down to watch her.
She spoke about so much that ministered to me. I wept the whole time. One thing she shared was about how people will say, when you have great faith, that you are being prideful, but it is not the case. Made me think of Joseph, I don’t like it when people say that he was prideful when he told his dream. I don’t think so, I think he was just being who God created him to be and others were just jealous, they hated Him like they hated Jesus. Her message was out of John 4, The story of the woman at the well. This woman was always looking for someone to love her, like me, she was so thirsty. She’d had 5 husbands and the Lord told her that this one she was living with now wasn’t even her husband.
She was coming to the well at a time when no one would see her, but when she met Jesus, she dropped the water container and ran into that same city and began to tell everyone about HIM. She was changed. She now had a call. In an instant, she had been set free of her shame, and become an evangelist. They might judge her and say, "Who does she think she is, we know who she really is…" But see, her thirst was finally satisfied, and she wanted others to experience this amazing living water.
It wasn't just water either, it was her food too. See, at the end of the passage, after the woman had run into town, the disciples asked Jesus, do you want something to eat and He said, “My food is to do the will of the Father.” It is our food to serve HIM.
At the very end, Heidi sat on the stage, turned away from the crowd and lifted her hands. She had finished her message and was just sitting before the Lord and she said something that seemed odd to me, so random it caught my attention and made me “wonder”. She prophesied, “Don’t be disappointed….don’t be disappointed with the call.”
Later, when I started to think and meditate on all she had said, I realized, that message was for me, all of it. The Lord was saying to me. Chrisie, you have looked to men to try and satisfy your thirst, but IF you just drink from ME, you will not thirst again. You are hungry, but your food is to do the will of the Father. If you take this sparkling coat, and choose to be my Bride, wear it for me daughter, I will put living waters inside of you that will heal many and I will use you for my glory. Don’t be disappointed, trust me.
* not even a week later, I prayed for a woman in Kenya over the phone, and she was healed instantly!
She was mad at the tricks of the enemy, and wanted the morning to come, for the light to shine and overtake the darkness. Her heart had been hurt and wounded. She was tired of being alone, always dancing alone, but it was easier because it is so hard to trust from all the years of betrayal. She fell to the ground, curled up, covered herself with the coat and wept.
She wanted to take the coat off and throw it into the fire. The coat represented all the gifts God had given her and she didn't want the responsibility of them any longer. People hated her, like they hated Joseph. She didn't want to hurt anymore; she wanted to be like everyone else. So she threw the coat in the fire, and after she did, several people showed up and danced with her. She looked just like one of them. She blended right in.
But then, the Lord came in from the left, and He had the coat, He was holding it by the shoulders. The coat was white on the outside, all shiny now, covered in sparkling jewels. It looked like something a Bride would wear and seemed to have been refined by the fire. Jesus looked into her eyes, and then asked her, “Will you wear it for ME, daughter?”
Broken she says “yes”, saying to herself, "how could I say no to HIM?"
Not long after I had this vision, I asked the Lord if I would marry. He said yes, and then began to describe my husband to me, I was weeping with joy and excitement, but at the same time, thinking, this sounds too good to be true. Then it hit me, it was HIM. He was describing Himself. So I asked Him, “It is You, isn’t it?” He replied “yes”. I then asked Him, “Are you saying that means I will not marry a man here on earth?” to which He replied, “yes”. Then he said I could have a husband, if I wanted one, but that He was asking me to give myself completely to the work He was calling me to. I know in the Bible, God had Abraham go to sacrifice His son, but he did not have to because God provided the sacrifice. So I don’t know if this is a test or for a season, or if this is because it will be best, I only know that I am certain He is asking me to crucify it.
I wish I could say I was excited that the Lord was asking me to be set apart for Him…but I wasn’t. I still am not. I actually told Him I was disappointed and did not want to talk to Him anymore...so I got up and walked away. See, since I was a little girl, I have looked for a man to love me. When I got saved, I found the Man I had been looking for and finally my heart was satisfied. But still, as a single mom, I always dreamed about the day I would marry, or the man God would bring that could give me more children. But, it never happened. There were relationships along the way, but no wedding dress. Since my son has left home, my “aloneness” seems to be amplified, and I am spending even more time by myself. The void makes me long for a companion to share the rest of my life with. It doesn’t help that recently someone came into my life and we had a very short but intense relationship. I saw a vision and he had a dream, we were both convinced it was God putting us together for marriage. But, it wasn’t…I think we were both just thirsty and ended up having to let it go completely.
After I had the vision, I painted the bird, “Healing on His Wings”. A week later someone prophesied that they saw a wing beside me, and there was an angel there blowing on me. She had not seen the painting so I sent her the link and she wrote back so excited saying the angel had sparkles in his wings, like the bird in my painting. She also did not know about the vision of the coat.
The night before I painted, the healing minister prayed that God would use my paintings to heal others. God touched me deeply that night and I cried out in the Spirit for a long time. One of the very first prophesies I ever got, a seer saw a huge hospital behind me. He told me that joy comes from doing the will of the Father, so do the work of an evangelist. I did not know what hospital meant, but over the years I have learned it means that I have a healing gift, and will have a ministry of healing. Since then, many have prophesied to me that I am a mother, healer and an evangelist. I can say that have seen many healed through my prayers, but I think it is just the beginning of what God is calling me to and lately people have been telling me God is going to take me all around the world. *
I watched Heidi Baker online this week and I believe God was speaking to me. He knows how much I love her, so He knew I would be paying attention! Before she came on, still trying to accept all that God is asking of me, as an act of my will, I took a coat and put it on, dancing before HIM, weeping, telling Him I would wear any coat He wants me to and do whatever He was asking me to. Then I sat down to watch her.
She spoke about so much that ministered to me. I wept the whole time. One thing she shared was about how people will say, when you have great faith, that you are being prideful, but it is not the case. Made me think of Joseph, I don’t like it when people say that he was prideful when he told his dream. I don’t think so, I think he was just being who God created him to be and others were just jealous, they hated Him like they hated Jesus. Her message was out of John 4, The story of the woman at the well. This woman was always looking for someone to love her, like me, she was so thirsty. She’d had 5 husbands and the Lord told her that this one she was living with now wasn’t even her husband.
She was coming to the well at a time when no one would see her, but when she met Jesus, she dropped the water container and ran into that same city and began to tell everyone about HIM. She was changed. She now had a call. In an instant, she had been set free of her shame, and become an evangelist. They might judge her and say, "Who does she think she is, we know who she really is…" But see, her thirst was finally satisfied, and she wanted others to experience this amazing living water.
It wasn't just water either, it was her food too. See, at the end of the passage, after the woman had run into town, the disciples asked Jesus, do you want something to eat and He said, “My food is to do the will of the Father.” It is our food to serve HIM.
At the very end, Heidi sat on the stage, turned away from the crowd and lifted her hands. She had finished her message and was just sitting before the Lord and she said something that seemed odd to me, so random it caught my attention and made me “wonder”. She prophesied, “Don’t be disappointed….don’t be disappointed with the call.”
Later, when I started to think and meditate on all she had said, I realized, that message was for me, all of it. The Lord was saying to me. Chrisie, you have looked to men to try and satisfy your thirst, but IF you just drink from ME, you will not thirst again. You are hungry, but your food is to do the will of the Father. If you take this sparkling coat, and choose to be my Bride, wear it for me daughter, I will put living waters inside of you that will heal many and I will use you for my glory. Don’t be disappointed, trust me.
* not even a week later, I prayed for a woman in Kenya over the phone, and she was healed instantly!
________________________________________________________________
I have often times heard the Chavda’s say, the daughter of a Lion is still a Lion, I had the thought that the daughter of a Lamb is still a Lamb. So this painting represents my submission to the Lamb that was slain, my willingness to lay down my life for the sake of the call, and for others. It represents drawing near to Him again and choosing to not be disappointed, knowing that He understands my struggle to die to myself so that others may live.
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion? Esther 4:14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
"Let us constantly bear in mind the roles and principles of Christian warfare, namely, that we conquer by yielding, we receive by giving, we overcome by being defeated and we live by dying. There is no other way except the way of the cross." George Warnock, in Feast of Tabernacles
Romans 12:1 (NAS)
Dedicated Service
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Psalm 40:4 (MSG)
Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships; The world's a huge stockpile of God-wonders and God-thoughts. Nothing and no one comes close to you!
John 12: 4-26 "Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal. "If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion? Esther 4:14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
"Let us constantly bear in mind the roles and principles of Christian warfare, namely, that we conquer by yielding, we receive by giving, we overcome by being defeated and we live by dying. There is no other way except the way of the cross." George Warnock, in Feast of Tabernacles
Romans 12:1 (NAS)
Dedicated Service
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Psalm 40:4 (MSG)
Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships; The world's a huge stockpile of God-wonders and God-thoughts. Nothing and no one comes close to you!
John 12: 4-26 "Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal. "If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.
Healing in His Wings
I painted this at an outreach with David Brennan Cordeau in Benson, NC and as I prepared for the meeting, I did not know very much about David, or his ministry.
I was seeking God about what to paint when I came across a 2'x4' blank canvas in my studio I bought a couple of weeks ago, immediately I saw wings painted on it. I was asking the Lord why He would want me to paint that and then the scripture, Malachi 4:2 came into my heart.
"... for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free..."
A couple of days later got to meet with David and the ministry team and was so excited to discover that his ministry was a healing ministry. He is a true apostle that signs follow, and he has seen thousands of healings and creative miracles in his ministry. As I listened to him, I was amazed and convicted by he (and his wife's) faithfulness to minister for 25 yrs. I knew God was speaking to me.
The day after I painted, I wanted to know what the word "wings" in this passage was in Hebrew. I found out it is "kanaf", which is a word that specifically means the fringe-like feathers or edges of a bird's wing, is not the whole wing and this word, therefore, had two meanings and could be translated wings, or fringes.
Kanaph kaw-nawf'
Throughout the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for wings in most passages is kanaf when referring to God.
It made me think about places in the word where people touched the "fringe" of the Lord's garment and were healed.
The woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20-22 knew, in her desperation, if she would just touch the edge or fringe of His garment, she would be healed. How did she know this?
Evidently, this woman had heard Yeshua was the Messiah and remembered this messianic promise from Malachi and thought, if I am to be healed, then will it be found in His wings...or His tzitziyot, the tassels found on prayer shawls. So by faith, she reached out and touched the fringes, and was healed, then Jesus said to her, "Your faith has healed you."
In another scripture, Jesus arrived at the town of Genessaret, where many people brought all their sick to Him and begged Him to let them just touch the fringe of His garment. The Bible simply reports, "all who touched Him were healed" (Mk. 6:53-56). These people were not healed simply by touching the fringes of Yeshua's garment in a crowd, but they were healed when their faith touched the power of God and the sun of Righteousness who could heal their infirmities.
These people all received from the Lord because they stood in faith on His Word and authority and came for refuge under the kanaf of the Lord.
Songs that inspired the painting:
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hail the heaven born Pince of Peace!
Hail the sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn king!
This song has been in my heart since I heard it a couple of months ago and it makes me think of the background of my painting...The Diamond Sea by Stephen Roach.
http://www.myspace.com/closertotheburning/music/songs/the-diamond-sea-19633339
I was seeking God about what to paint when I came across a 2'x4' blank canvas in my studio I bought a couple of weeks ago, immediately I saw wings painted on it. I was asking the Lord why He would want me to paint that and then the scripture, Malachi 4:2 came into my heart.
"... for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free..."
A couple of days later got to meet with David and the ministry team and was so excited to discover that his ministry was a healing ministry. He is a true apostle that signs follow, and he has seen thousands of healings and creative miracles in his ministry. As I listened to him, I was amazed and convicted by he (and his wife's) faithfulness to minister for 25 yrs. I knew God was speaking to me.
The day after I painted, I wanted to know what the word "wings" in this passage was in Hebrew. I found out it is "kanaf", which is a word that specifically means the fringe-like feathers or edges of a bird's wing, is not the whole wing and this word, therefore, had two meanings and could be translated wings, or fringes.
Kanaph kaw-nawf'
- wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt
- wing
- extremity
- skirt, corner (of garment)
Throughout the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for wings in most passages is kanaf when referring to God.
It made me think about places in the word where people touched the "fringe" of the Lord's garment and were healed.
The woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20-22 knew, in her desperation, if she would just touch the edge or fringe of His garment, she would be healed. How did she know this?
Evidently, this woman had heard Yeshua was the Messiah and remembered this messianic promise from Malachi and thought, if I am to be healed, then will it be found in His wings...or His tzitziyot, the tassels found on prayer shawls. So by faith, she reached out and touched the fringes, and was healed, then Jesus said to her, "Your faith has healed you."
In another scripture, Jesus arrived at the town of Genessaret, where many people brought all their sick to Him and begged Him to let them just touch the fringe of His garment. The Bible simply reports, "all who touched Him were healed" (Mk. 6:53-56). These people were not healed simply by touching the fringes of Yeshua's garment in a crowd, but they were healed when their faith touched the power of God and the sun of Righteousness who could heal their infirmities.
These people all received from the Lord because they stood in faith on His Word and authority and came for refuge under the kanaf of the Lord.
Songs that inspired the painting:
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hail the heaven born Pince of Peace!
Hail the sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn king!
This song has been in my heart since I heard it a couple of months ago and it makes me think of the background of my painting...The Diamond Sea by Stephen Roach.
http://www.myspace.com/closertotheburning/music/songs/the-diamond-sea-19633339
As I was painting, the Lord had me put a shimmering gold in the wings to represent the Glory. The star under the wing has 8 points that symbolize a new thing or new beginnings. The sea represents the humanity or world, that is why the bird is flying over it. The diamonds in the sea represent beauty from ashes, because diamonds come from coal that has been under pressure. The purple is the color of the authority that Jesus has over sickness that He bought when He died on the cross. White symbolizes His righteousness and
the blue in the wings represent bringing heaven to earth, because in heaven, there is no sickness or death.
the blue in the wings represent bringing heaven to earth, because in heaven, there is no sickness or death.
The Invitation...to Come Up Higher
I painted this at The Missionary Church International in Columbia SC. Sept 21-23 2011.
Several of the speakers used the same scriptures God gave me to go with the painting.
Seemed that God was giving an invitation to come up higher where we receive the mind of Christ and heavenly revelation that comes by the Spirit.
1Cor 2:9-12
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”[b]—
the things God has prepared for those who love him--
10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.[c] 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”[d]
But we have the mind of Christ.
The garden is an intimate place where it all began with Adam and Eve, and where Jesus bled before He got on the cross, as He laid down His will for us. The most important part of receiving revelation by His Spirit is INTIMACY!
This painting represents taking the steps to get "higher" in Him. It requires effort and faith on our part…but not self effort. We must take the steps, prayer, fasting, worship and time spent seeking Him...resting in His presence.
1 Chron 22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God;
We must have faith to take each step. That is why the steps are curved, we cannot see where we are going, because we walk by faith and not by sight. We must know that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.
Heb 11:6 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
Each step brings us closer to Him...the steps get smaller as we go higher... because it requires less of us and more of Him to be able to trust Him to take us where we receive Heavenly Revelation. The stairs are blue representing that heavenly revelation, and the flowers blooming at the top of the steps. represents the Life and Passion that comes in and by His Presence...
The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don't make anything happen. Every word I've spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. John 6:61-62
Several of the speakers used the same scriptures God gave me to go with the painting.
Seemed that God was giving an invitation to come up higher where we receive the mind of Christ and heavenly revelation that comes by the Spirit.
1Cor 2:9-12
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”[b]—
the things God has prepared for those who love him--
10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.[c] 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”[d]
But we have the mind of Christ.
The garden is an intimate place where it all began with Adam and Eve, and where Jesus bled before He got on the cross, as He laid down His will for us. The most important part of receiving revelation by His Spirit is INTIMACY!
This painting represents taking the steps to get "higher" in Him. It requires effort and faith on our part…but not self effort. We must take the steps, prayer, fasting, worship and time spent seeking Him...resting in His presence.
1 Chron 22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God;
We must have faith to take each step. That is why the steps are curved, we cannot see where we are going, because we walk by faith and not by sight. We must know that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.
Heb 11:6 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
Each step brings us closer to Him...the steps get smaller as we go higher... because it requires less of us and more of Him to be able to trust Him to take us where we receive Heavenly Revelation. The stairs are blue representing that heavenly revelation, and the flowers blooming at the top of the steps. represents the Life and Passion that comes in and by His Presence...
The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don't make anything happen. Every word I've spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. John 6:61-62
My Beloved
30x40 Acrylic on stretch canvas
I painted this for a gathering of Apostles and Prophets in NC at the Worship Center. Before I went, I prayed and I saw something completely different. I was preparing all week to release it, with the word God had given me. The day before the conference, there was so much warfare, almost unbearable. I could not seem to find any relief until I called a sweet sister and my spiritual Papa and they prayed for me, then finally the peace came.
As I drove to the meeting, I was telling the Lord that I did not want to paint the vision He gave me, I did not have peace about it. I don’t know if it was because it WAS His will for me to release it, or if it was because I was NOT supposed to paint it. I just did not have a confidence that I could release it in a way that would glorify Him.
So, as I drove, I just told the Lord, I really want to paint the horse. The first time God opened my eyes, in 2006, at a Mountain of Worship meeting, the Lord showed me a horse. I was praying, just standing there, asking the Lord to open my eyes, and when a very large presence that felt like a ball came from above and hit my stomach. It pushed me back about 10 ft or so, causing me to gasp for air. No one touched me, or prayed for me...but I ended up flat on my back on the floor.
God's presence was very heavy on me, and while I was there, I saw a horse. It was not a horse from here. It was blues & purples and its mane was long and moved like it was under water. The Lord very clearly said to me in that moment, "Get up and paint it", I said, "I can't do that". In my years of professional painting, I always used a photo, never painted from my own inner vision, but then the Lord spoke again and said to me, "I will help you." I got up and went to the area where they had oil pastels and paper out for people to use, and I started. When I would get stuck, He would gently lay me down and take me again in the Spirit to the horse. I was able to study the horse very closely, He let me look deeply into the eyes, I still remember them. When I finished, I heard the Lord say to me...
As I drove to the meeting, I was telling the Lord that I did not want to paint the vision He gave me, I did not have peace about it. I don’t know if it was because it WAS His will for me to release it, or if it was because I was NOT supposed to paint it. I just did not have a confidence that I could release it in a way that would glorify Him.
So, as I drove, I just told the Lord, I really want to paint the horse. The first time God opened my eyes, in 2006, at a Mountain of Worship meeting, the Lord showed me a horse. I was praying, just standing there, asking the Lord to open my eyes, and when a very large presence that felt like a ball came from above and hit my stomach. It pushed me back about 10 ft or so, causing me to gasp for air. No one touched me, or prayed for me...but I ended up flat on my back on the floor.
God's presence was very heavy on me, and while I was there, I saw a horse. It was not a horse from here. It was blues & purples and its mane was long and moved like it was under water. The Lord very clearly said to me in that moment, "Get up and paint it", I said, "I can't do that". In my years of professional painting, I always used a photo, never painted from my own inner vision, but then the Lord spoke again and said to me, "I will help you." I got up and went to the area where they had oil pastels and paper out for people to use, and I started. When I would get stuck, He would gently lay me down and take me again in the Spirit to the horse. I was able to study the horse very closely, He let me look deeply into the eyes, I still remember them. When I finished, I heard the Lord say to me...
"Delight yourself in Me...
and I will give you the desires of Your heart."
I remember after I put the drawing up, people came to me and said, that is a horse from heaven. So many people asked me if they could have it. I ended up giving it away, but gratefully I got a photo of it before I did. One woman came to me and said, “That is your horse in heaven.” She said, “We all have horses in Heaven.” I thought that was so interesting. Later in that same meeting, I saw a different horse, this one was running towards me, and He was a Pure White. I knew that one must be the Lord’s.
The other day I came across a photo that looked like the horse I had seen, and a sister recently had encouraged me to repaint it. So as I drove to the meeting, I said to the Lord, “I want to paint the Horse!” I felt so much peace when I did. So I decided to just go ahead and follow my peace. To just delight myself in HIM. It was a sweet reminder of that day when God touched me, opened my eyes to see in the Spirit, and He gave me a promise. I am amazed and humbled by what the Lord has done and is continuing to do as I just move forward, just saying "yes" each step of the way.
I wasn't sure if the painting would minister to anyone or not, because I was doing it for me to worship HIM, but so many people were touched by the painting, many came to me and said God was really speaking to them about horses in this season. Then God had one of their members bring a saddle into the church and people were taking turns sitting on it and as they did, God’s spirit would touch them. So many are seeing horses in the spirit and even at the meeting, people were seeing a white horse come in with Jesus riding on it. One of them said she saw Him come in as a bridegroom and pick up his Bride and put her on the horse with Him.
I think what God is saying is there are horses in heaven that need riders. It is about us taking our place in the Kingdom. God needs each of us to be and do what He has called us to. And as we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our heart, the desires of HIS heart too.
I call this painting, “My Beloved” because that is what He is to me and I am to Him. I am my Beloved’s and He is mine. As we become who He created us to be… His desires become our desires, our desires become His desires… His will, becomes ours…ours His...and then we become ONE.
About Benjamin he said: “Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.”
Deuteronomy 33:12
How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how charming!My beloved spoke and said to me... “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.
Song of Solomon 2:9-11
My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies.
Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you— if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him I am faint with love.
Song of Solomon 5:7-9
This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.
Song of Solomon 5:15-16
I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he browses among the lilies.
Song of Solomon 6:2-4
I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.
Song of Solomon 7:10
Deuteronomy 33:12
How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how charming!My beloved spoke and said to me... “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.
Song of Solomon 2:9-11
My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies.
Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you— if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him I am faint with love.
Song of Solomon 5:7-9
This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.
Song of Solomon 5:15-16
I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he browses among the lilies.
Song of Solomon 6:2-4
I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.
Song of Solomon 7:10
The Lamb Who was Slain is the Lion that will Reign
I painted this at a Graham Cooke/Jamie Galloway conference at Grace Church, in High Point NC. I have not heard either of them in person before and it was so radical, their teaching, so anti religious, so pro-love and about dying to self. In the words of Graham...it was "Brilliant"!
"The Lamb who was Slain is the Lion that will Reign." Worthy is the Lamb!!!!
I woke up the next morning after painting and this is what I heard. I have been asking God for the complete revelation on the painting. When I was there at the church, I felt led during a break to take a drive. While I was out, I saw a sign for a church. It jumped out at me, in a “hey, look at this!” kinda way. The church was called “True Love”. It made me think of my painting…for some reason, it seemed to be part of the puzzle or treasure hunt God takes me on when He gives me something.
Recently, I was listening to my mom, and she was telling me how some people like my dad, but don’t like her. She was also telling me how she tried to exhort these people to change for the better. My Dad doesn’t do that. I realized that he is the gentler, more relational of the two of them, he accepts people and loves them where they are. Now, my mom is an amazing woman of great compassion. She was a nurse and held babies in her arms as they died, and brought many back to life with her love, but my mom also has strength in her that is much like a Lion. As I started to ponder it, and think of other couples I knew, there seemed to be a lion and a lamb in each of them. I mean at sometimes they could be either, but predominantly they were one or the other.
I thought about the Lion and Lamb being one, like a couple, and the relationship between the two. They are both needed and both beautiful. Like Solomon in Ecclesiastes says…there is a time and a place for everything. You know, the whole Bible is about that? Intimacy, being one with the Father, LOVE manifested on earth…relationship. That was my heart for painting this, I have seen so many paintings of the Lion and Lamb, but none where they were interacting.
So, I spent a lot of time with the Lord and prepared my reference photos, creating something that expressed what was in my heart. I prepared it months ago and would ask the Lord periodically, can I paint it this time? So, as I getting ready for this conference, I asked Him again, "What do you want me to paint?" And this time He said to me, "What is in your heart?" <3!
The day before the conference, I had the reference photos printed to take with me, and as I was looking at them, the crowns just appeared on the Lion and Lamb, like they were super imposed there. Yes LORD! I remembered a spontaneous prophetic pastel I did at a church where I saw purple, it was like cloth draped, then I saw a gold crown on the top of the page. I painted it then heard the word, GLORY, so I put it above the crown. Next I saw the crown of thorns and the Lord had me draw it on the bottom of the page, then I heard, "HUMILITY". I put that on the very bottom of the page. It made me weep when I had to get on my knees to put that word in. When I stood up, I heard the word, INTIMACY...and the Lord told me to put that in the very middle.
We have to remember, in our lives, and in relationships, like Jesus, there was a time for Him to be the Lamb, and lay down His life for us. For Him to say, not my will, but your will be done Father. For Him to be carried away, not opening His mouth, not crying out as He was beaten, and then dying on a cross, bearing all our shame and sin, reconciling us to the Father. And there is also a time coming soon where He is coming to rule and reign where He will roar fiercely, carrying the authority of the King of Kings! Where He will be like Aslan in the Narnia series…when He comes and ROARS…oh how I love that part!!!! And when He does, order, change, peace, righteousness and HIS Kingdom will be established!!!! The Key is to stay in intimate relationship with the Father to know what He desires! Jesus only ever did what He saw the Father doing. Hallelujah!
"The Lamb who was Slain is the Lion that will Reign." Worthy is the Lamb!!!!
I woke up the next morning after painting and this is what I heard. I have been asking God for the complete revelation on the painting. When I was there at the church, I felt led during a break to take a drive. While I was out, I saw a sign for a church. It jumped out at me, in a “hey, look at this!” kinda way. The church was called “True Love”. It made me think of my painting…for some reason, it seemed to be part of the puzzle or treasure hunt God takes me on when He gives me something.
Recently, I was listening to my mom, and she was telling me how some people like my dad, but don’t like her. She was also telling me how she tried to exhort these people to change for the better. My Dad doesn’t do that. I realized that he is the gentler, more relational of the two of them, he accepts people and loves them where they are. Now, my mom is an amazing woman of great compassion. She was a nurse and held babies in her arms as they died, and brought many back to life with her love, but my mom also has strength in her that is much like a Lion. As I started to ponder it, and think of other couples I knew, there seemed to be a lion and a lamb in each of them. I mean at sometimes they could be either, but predominantly they were one or the other.
I thought about the Lion and Lamb being one, like a couple, and the relationship between the two. They are both needed and both beautiful. Like Solomon in Ecclesiastes says…there is a time and a place for everything. You know, the whole Bible is about that? Intimacy, being one with the Father, LOVE manifested on earth…relationship. That was my heart for painting this, I have seen so many paintings of the Lion and Lamb, but none where they were interacting.
So, I spent a lot of time with the Lord and prepared my reference photos, creating something that expressed what was in my heart. I prepared it months ago and would ask the Lord periodically, can I paint it this time? So, as I getting ready for this conference, I asked Him again, "What do you want me to paint?" And this time He said to me, "What is in your heart?" <3!
The day before the conference, I had the reference photos printed to take with me, and as I was looking at them, the crowns just appeared on the Lion and Lamb, like they were super imposed there. Yes LORD! I remembered a spontaneous prophetic pastel I did at a church where I saw purple, it was like cloth draped, then I saw a gold crown on the top of the page. I painted it then heard the word, GLORY, so I put it above the crown. Next I saw the crown of thorns and the Lord had me draw it on the bottom of the page, then I heard, "HUMILITY". I put that on the very bottom of the page. It made me weep when I had to get on my knees to put that word in. When I stood up, I heard the word, INTIMACY...and the Lord told me to put that in the very middle.
We have to remember, in our lives, and in relationships, like Jesus, there was a time for Him to be the Lamb, and lay down His life for us. For Him to say, not my will, but your will be done Father. For Him to be carried away, not opening His mouth, not crying out as He was beaten, and then dying on a cross, bearing all our shame and sin, reconciling us to the Father. And there is also a time coming soon where He is coming to rule and reign where He will roar fiercely, carrying the authority of the King of Kings! Where He will be like Aslan in the Narnia series…when He comes and ROARS…oh how I love that part!!!! And when He does, order, change, peace, righteousness and HIS Kingdom will be established!!!! The Key is to stay in intimate relationship with the Father to know what He desires! Jesus only ever did what He saw the Father doing. Hallelujah!
Revelation 5 New International Version (NIV)
Revelation 5
The Scroll and the Lamb
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[a] of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign[b] on the earth.”
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 17:14 - They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
Family Tree
30"x40" Acrylic on Canvas
In April '11 I went to New Orleans for a Creative Love Mission and I invited 4 other artists to come along with me. While we were there, our hostess, someone that is part of my spiritual family, took us to "the tree" in a park by the Mississippi. It was a place that meant a lot to her. This particular week, the Mississippi was the highest it had been for almost a decade, peaking the day we left.
Once we were there, we all hung out under the shade of the tree. Our host laid down, others walked around, I was busy with my camera. This shot I got of the tree was so beautiful to me, I decided to paint it.
I went away with my family for my birthday in May '11. My mom and dad have a place on the inter-coastal waterway of NC that my mom affectionately calls "the river" and decided to bring my art stuff along. I set up my easel and paints, so during the weekend, I could stop throughout the day and paint a little as time allowed. I had so much fun with my family, it was a very special time. We have been through so much together and over time, have all come to know the Lord. There was such a peace the whole weekend as we spent time sharing about the goodness of God in our lives!
One day, during the weekend, as we were all fishing, we saw a rainbow. There was no rain, it was nestled between two clouds. It went away and came back, this time coming out from the middle of a cloud. Again it disappeared and reappeared, this time reaching from under the cloud to the ground. It reminded me of what the Lord had promised when He gave us the rainbow...He would not ever flood the earth again. My family stood on the fishing pier singing happy birthday to me, as I took photos of it with my camera.
While I was finishing up the painting, the title came to me, "Family Tree". I realized, just like my family in the natural and spirit, this tree was like a family's love, strong, bold, colorful, a shady resting place...and, although it had weathered many storms, it was deeply rooted and planted by the River.
Once we were there, we all hung out under the shade of the tree. Our host laid down, others walked around, I was busy with my camera. This shot I got of the tree was so beautiful to me, I decided to paint it.
I went away with my family for my birthday in May '11. My mom and dad have a place on the inter-coastal waterway of NC that my mom affectionately calls "the river" and decided to bring my art stuff along. I set up my easel and paints, so during the weekend, I could stop throughout the day and paint a little as time allowed. I had so much fun with my family, it was a very special time. We have been through so much together and over time, have all come to know the Lord. There was such a peace the whole weekend as we spent time sharing about the goodness of God in our lives!
One day, during the weekend, as we were all fishing, we saw a rainbow. There was no rain, it was nestled between two clouds. It went away and came back, this time coming out from the middle of a cloud. Again it disappeared and reappeared, this time reaching from under the cloud to the ground. It reminded me of what the Lord had promised when He gave us the rainbow...He would not ever flood the earth again. My family stood on the fishing pier singing happy birthday to me, as I took photos of it with my camera.
While I was finishing up the painting, the title came to me, "Family Tree". I realized, just like my family in the natural and spirit, this tree was like a family's love, strong, bold, colorful, a shady resting place...and, although it had weathered many storms, it was deeply rooted and planted by the River.
Later that year...
Hurricane Irene came through and took out my parents special place. They lost everything, just like the people in New Orleans, where this painting began. It was a long hard day for my parents when we went to check on the camp after the storm. But the Lord met us in our pain, and I was honored to be the one God told to go and be with my parents as they wept over their loss.
We stood together as a family and faced the storm together, we were stronger together.
My dad was a big fan of Scotty McCreery, and his song came on as we got in the car to head back home. We all just looked at each other and started laughing, only God could orchestrate such a perfect song for the end of a long sad day of saying goodbye to memories and things we all loved.
We stood together as a family and faced the storm together, we were stronger together.
My dad was a big fan of Scotty McCreery, and his song came on as we got in the car to head back home. We all just looked at each other and started laughing, only God could orchestrate such a perfect song for the end of a long sad day of saying goodbye to memories and things we all loved.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD
And whose trust is the LORD. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.
Love is invincible facing danger and death.
Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
The fire of love stops at nothing—
it sweeps everything before it.
Flood waters can't drown love,
torrents of rain can't put it out.
Love can't be bought, love can't be sold—
it's not to be found in the marketplace.
God's thunder sets the oak trees dancing
A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.
We fall to our knees—we call out, "Glory!"
~Psalm 29:9 msg
And whose trust is the LORD. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.
Love is invincible facing danger and death.
Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
The fire of love stops at nothing—
it sweeps everything before it.
Flood waters can't drown love,
torrents of rain can't put it out.
Love can't be bought, love can't be sold—
it's not to be found in the marketplace.
God's thunder sets the oak trees dancing
A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.
We fall to our knees—we call out, "Glory!"
~Psalm 29:9 msg
Jealous For Her
Recently, I went to my home church to paint, but I couldn’t, I mean, I could not see to paint. I prayed before I went, and when I got there, and I waited before the Lord, but nothing came to me. This was VERY unusual for me because I can usually always see something to paint. So why did this happen?
Earlier, I was confronted by my pastor with accusations from several other artists, accusing me of plagiarism because I am using reference photos. It took me back because I don’t want to do anything wrong, that is not my heart, plus they did not come to me in person. After he spoke with me and other artists came to my defense, he reassured me that I was fine and their accusations were most likely rooted in jealousy or insecurity. I had the thought, maybe even judgment and disobedience too. We can also see in the bible, that a spirit of religion and jealousy is critical, and will always look for something wrong you are doing, because everything they do is based on works/performance.
So after that happened, I had a very hard time painting at what I consider to be my home church…where the accusations had originated, while beforehand, it was my favorite place to paint because I felt most safe there.
I was standing in church, asking God to help me see, when a sweet sister, who totally gets me, and is a lioness in the spirit, came up to me. She came like a lion too. As soon as I saw her, I started weeping because she made me feel safe. She reached out her hands, and prayed for me, I ended up on the floor sobbing. And, as I lay there, I finally saw!!!!
I saw the Lion of Judah and He was not happy. He was ready to war and I felt like He was coming to my rescue. I watched as He marched towards me, asking Him, “What are you showing me Lord?” Then He turned ever so slightly to his right and over His shoulder was the city of Jerusalem. That was the end of the vision and I had no idea what or why He showed me this…I only knew it meant something.
In the couple of weeks after first seeing this vision, He has made it clear. He was showing me Jerusalem is His Favorite, He is jealous for her and He will defend her, but because she is His favorite, she will also be hated.
They did the same thing to Him, Joseph, David, Able, and that sweet giving woman lying at His feet, pouring out the greatest treasure she possessed. The sad thing is, everyone has the capacity to be one of His favorites, even Saul, Cain, Joseph’s brothers, the others at the dinner, they all did…and He gave them opportunity to as well. You know, even the countries and people that try to hurt Israel, they do too.
So this painting (when it is finished) will be the truest reproduction of the vision He gave me when I was laying there, weeping on the floor.
I felt led to release it at the Worship Center in Durham while a precious woman ministered in music; she told me later, she and her husband, who used to lead a messianic church in the area, are both citizens of Israel. She also told me about a dream she had where she encountered the Lion of Judah face to face! That was God.
Another thing that was totally God, was one of the most amazing artists I know, Dan Nelson, set up beside me, he wasn’t painting this time, he was playing as part of the worship team. I had no idea he would be there, and I truly consider it an honor to know him and call him my friend. I have seen him go through the fire for years, and give and give and give with a pure heart and gentle humble spirit. As I was painting, and using my reference photos, I realized he could see me, so I shamefully confessed to him, “I use reference photos”, but he just looked at me and said, “Of course!” Like, “duh, everyone does that”…more confirmation from a voice I trust, that God was ok with me.
Earlier, I was confronted by my pastor with accusations from several other artists, accusing me of plagiarism because I am using reference photos. It took me back because I don’t want to do anything wrong, that is not my heart, plus they did not come to me in person. After he spoke with me and other artists came to my defense, he reassured me that I was fine and their accusations were most likely rooted in jealousy or insecurity. I had the thought, maybe even judgment and disobedience too. We can also see in the bible, that a spirit of religion and jealousy is critical, and will always look for something wrong you are doing, because everything they do is based on works/performance.
So after that happened, I had a very hard time painting at what I consider to be my home church…where the accusations had originated, while beforehand, it was my favorite place to paint because I felt most safe there.
I was standing in church, asking God to help me see, when a sweet sister, who totally gets me, and is a lioness in the spirit, came up to me. She came like a lion too. As soon as I saw her, I started weeping because she made me feel safe. She reached out her hands, and prayed for me, I ended up on the floor sobbing. And, as I lay there, I finally saw!!!!
I saw the Lion of Judah and He was not happy. He was ready to war and I felt like He was coming to my rescue. I watched as He marched towards me, asking Him, “What are you showing me Lord?” Then He turned ever so slightly to his right and over His shoulder was the city of Jerusalem. That was the end of the vision and I had no idea what or why He showed me this…I only knew it meant something.
In the couple of weeks after first seeing this vision, He has made it clear. He was showing me Jerusalem is His Favorite, He is jealous for her and He will defend her, but because she is His favorite, she will also be hated.
They did the same thing to Him, Joseph, David, Able, and that sweet giving woman lying at His feet, pouring out the greatest treasure she possessed. The sad thing is, everyone has the capacity to be one of His favorites, even Saul, Cain, Joseph’s brothers, the others at the dinner, they all did…and He gave them opportunity to as well. You know, even the countries and people that try to hurt Israel, they do too.
So this painting (when it is finished) will be the truest reproduction of the vision He gave me when I was laying there, weeping on the floor.
I felt led to release it at the Worship Center in Durham while a precious woman ministered in music; she told me later, she and her husband, who used to lead a messianic church in the area, are both citizens of Israel. She also told me about a dream she had where she encountered the Lion of Judah face to face! That was God.
Another thing that was totally God, was one of the most amazing artists I know, Dan Nelson, set up beside me, he wasn’t painting this time, he was playing as part of the worship team. I had no idea he would be there, and I truly consider it an honor to know him and call him my friend. I have seen him go through the fire for years, and give and give and give with a pure heart and gentle humble spirit. As I was painting, and using my reference photos, I realized he could see me, so I shamefully confessed to him, “I use reference photos”, but he just looked at me and said, “Of course!” Like, “duh, everyone does that”…more confirmation from a voice I trust, that God was ok with me.
~Prayer for this Painting~
I paint this painting in honor and as a form of intercession for all those out there that know they are one of God’s favorites and have felt the sting of jealousy's bite. As intercession for Jerusalem and its people! As a tribute to those that loved God in that Bible and were after HIS OWN HEART! And I also paint it for all those that have yet to step into what God has for them because of lies, insecurity, judgment’s trap or jealousy!!! Remember, if you do well…will not your countenance be lifted up?
THERE IS A Roaring LION that is JEALOUS for YOU!!! HE will come and make WAR for YOU!!! The Battle Belongs to HIM, because HE IS the LION OF JUDAH!!! HE LOVES YOU, and HE will DEFEND YOU!!!!!!!
“When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.”
“And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.”
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,he has rejected you as king."
"They are going to do all these things to you because of the way they treated me, because they don't know the One who sent me. If I hadn't come and told them all this in plain language, it wouldn't be so bad. As it is, they have no excuse. Hate me, hate my Father—it's all the same. If I hadn't done what I have done among them, works no one has ever done, they wouldn't be to blame. But they saw the God-signs and hated anyway, both me and my Father. Interesting—they have verified the truth of their own Scriptures where it is written, 'They hated me for no good reason.
THERE IS A Roaring LION that is JEALOUS for YOU!!! HE will come and make WAR for YOU!!! The Battle Belongs to HIM, because HE IS the LION OF JUDAH!!! HE LOVES YOU, and HE will DEFEND YOU!!!!!!!
“When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.”
“And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.”
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
"They are going to do all these things to you because of the way they treated me, because they don't know the One who sent me. If I hadn't come and told them all this in plain language, it wouldn't be so bad. As it is, they have no excuse. Hate me, hate my Father—it's all the same. If I hadn't done what I have done among them, works no one has ever done, they wouldn't be to blame. But they saw the God-signs and hated anyway, both me and my Father. Interesting—they have verified the truth of their own Scriptures where it is written, 'They hated me for no good reason.
Children of Light
A Place for the Heart had another worship meeting and they had said last time that I could come and paint anytime. This meeting was called Cageless Birds. I was seeking God about what to paint, and on the phone with my sister one night when I opened the back door and there were lightning bugs everywhere. I tried to take photos of them, but none of them turned out, so I came on inside. As I was looking at the photos I remembered I had a jar that would be perfect for catching them under my kitchen sink. The idea wouldn't leave me, so I grabbed the jar and went for it, even though I wondered what my neighbors would think if they saw me--I was compelled. There were so many, I quickly I caught a jar full of them. Just marveling at their beauty and the skill of the Creator. I took several photos and then let them go. When I did, some of them just flew out immediately. Some of them stayed on the bottom. Others took their time but eventually took off. I meditated on this and the painting just came to me. It represents being released to Fly, by fly I mean, be and do the stuff that God called us to. Many Christians spend their lives in a jar, but God made us to FLY. The lightning bugs in the painting represent the different stages of being released to be a minister. There is one on the bottom, he may not have realized that he is free, another on the wall of the jar that is glowing because he has realized that he is not too far from freedom. The two on the rim represents those preparing to take flight, and one has his wings already spread. Some are already flying, one has just taken off, and the the one in front, he is one that knows he is free, what he was created for, and is flying fully now displaying the Glory of the Lord. The ones in the trees are in high places, already being fruitful and multiplying.
The first day of the meetings, I gave Ken the painting Safe Place. The Lord made it clear to me, it was his Prophetic Portrait. I didn't mention this before, but this time, he announced it at the meeting, so I feel ok to share it, he had been diagnosed with cancer, and is being treated for it. The painting, Safe Place was one of intercession and encouragement for him. I had such a burden for him as I painted it...even all the way to the meeting, I just wept over him.
When I gave it to him, he said he was going to share it the next day with everyone. I encouraged him not to because I did not want the attention, but as a Papa, he was encouraging me to spread my wings, just a little more.
So the next day he not only shared the painting, but then he asked me to come up and testify about it. Afterwards, he shared the testimony of his painting, Spread Your Wings, and sang the butterfly song from the CD God used to get me to paint. I was a mess...a puddle as I like to say, this was a true gift from God for me to experience.
After I testified, 3 women came up to meet me. They said they had travel 15 hours, from Boston, MA, to be at the meeting. I asked them what brought them so far, and they said they didn't know, they were artists and they just felt led because God just told them to come. I said, that is funny, that is where originally I had planned to go before I was led to stay home. Then I ended up painting Safe Place for Ken, I had just testified about. They said oh really, what church? I couldn't remember the name of the church right at that moment, but I remembered the name of the conference so I said it and they said...THAT IS OUR CHURCH!!! We all just laughed and marveled. They said they had felt so led to come and talk to me, they felt like I was their DNA, their family. When I didn't originally go to their church, one of the reasons was because I didn't know where I would stay. I didn't tell them that, but one of the ladies said to me, "When you come to Boston, you can stay with me." I had promised the Pastor, when I had cancelled my plans that I would come, one day...God was reminding me.
God wants us to Fly, He is always encouraging us to do what He created us and called us to be. So grateful this Father's Day for all the Papa's out there that are like Him. I will add to this testimony, one of the things Ken emailed to me when we first met before I ever started painting as part of the worship team:
"Pray that you do that which you love. Long ago I heard something from the writer and magnificent Christian, Watchman Nee, who said, "You know you are in the will of God when you do what you do and it is life back to you." That is what art has been to me: LIFE BACK TO ME. If it is to you, then do it with all your might. Blessings, Ken Helser"
Daniel 12:3
"'Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever.
The first day of the meetings, I gave Ken the painting Safe Place. The Lord made it clear to me, it was his Prophetic Portrait. I didn't mention this before, but this time, he announced it at the meeting, so I feel ok to share it, he had been diagnosed with cancer, and is being treated for it. The painting, Safe Place was one of intercession and encouragement for him. I had such a burden for him as I painted it...even all the way to the meeting, I just wept over him.
When I gave it to him, he said he was going to share it the next day with everyone. I encouraged him not to because I did not want the attention, but as a Papa, he was encouraging me to spread my wings, just a little more.
So the next day he not only shared the painting, but then he asked me to come up and testify about it. Afterwards, he shared the testimony of his painting, Spread Your Wings, and sang the butterfly song from the CD God used to get me to paint. I was a mess...a puddle as I like to say, this was a true gift from God for me to experience.
After I testified, 3 women came up to meet me. They said they had travel 15 hours, from Boston, MA, to be at the meeting. I asked them what brought them so far, and they said they didn't know, they were artists and they just felt led because God just told them to come. I said, that is funny, that is where originally I had planned to go before I was led to stay home. Then I ended up painting Safe Place for Ken, I had just testified about. They said oh really, what church? I couldn't remember the name of the church right at that moment, but I remembered the name of the conference so I said it and they said...THAT IS OUR CHURCH!!! We all just laughed and marveled. They said they had felt so led to come and talk to me, they felt like I was their DNA, their family. When I didn't originally go to their church, one of the reasons was because I didn't know where I would stay. I didn't tell them that, but one of the ladies said to me, "When you come to Boston, you can stay with me." I had promised the Pastor, when I had cancelled my plans that I would come, one day...God was reminding me.
God wants us to Fly, He is always encouraging us to do what He created us and called us to be. So grateful this Father's Day for all the Papa's out there that are like Him. I will add to this testimony, one of the things Ken emailed to me when we first met before I ever started painting as part of the worship team:
"Pray that you do that which you love. Long ago I heard something from the writer and magnificent Christian, Watchman Nee, who said, "You know you are in the will of God when you do what you do and it is life back to you." That is what art has been to me: LIFE BACK TO ME. If it is to you, then do it with all your might. Blessings, Ken Helser"
Daniel 12:3
"'Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever.
Safe Place
30x40 Acrylic 4/8-14/11
A couple of weeks ago in my quiet time, Jesus took me to a lush green field full of flowers. He took a yellow one and held it in His hand, then said, "the flowers never die here..." I looked at the flower...it was so beautiful, then I looked at the grass...and it was so alive, there were no brown places anywhere on it.
After He showed me that, it got me thinking, meditating about Heaven...how we, His children, like those flowers, are safe in His hand, and now we will never die since we are His. I thought about how Jesus prayed for us to bring heaven to earth... I even posted on my FB page "Heaven...where there’s no more death, no more disease, no more sorrow, no more sickness, no more hatred, and no more evil...let us bring heaven to earth!!!!"
After that, I started seeing a yellow butterfly already painted on a canvas, but I didn't know what God was showing me. I was telling my sister about it last weekend, and when one flew by us....the same one I was seeing. Yellow flower, yellow butterfly...God was speaking.
I kept hearing about Jonathan Helser's worship service in High Point, originally I had planned to be in Boston, MA so I knew I wouldn't be able to go. Then, after my plans had changed, someone else mentioned to me again...the day before, and all of a sudden, it occurred to me that I was supposed to go there and paint. It was in that moment I saw the butterfly, on the flower, in His hand.
I did not even know if they would let me paint, but I had a peace about it. I knew no matter what, I was going to release this painting...even if I did it at my seat. Then, while driving to the meeting God seemed to confirm it, when a butterfly, the very same one, flew right in front of my car.
When I got there, I asked and they were fine with it, because they are free, and full of love. As I was setting up, I was telling someone what Ken Helser, Jonathan's father, meant to me. God had used Ken as an encourager in my life...like a Papa. Although I had never met him, he had emailed me several times years ago and encouraged me to get up and paint that very first time. It was a testimony he recommended I hear about one of his paintings, a butterfly that was out of a mason jar, that got me to paint in the first place. http://www.christinecouncil.com/the-call--timeline.html It was the same butterfly that I had seen in the vision, and the same one that God has used repeatedly to encourage me to fly.
To my surprise a woman I was telling said, "Would you like me to introduce you to him?" I had no idea he would be there. Meeting him in person was both a dream come true for me...and an honor. It totally blessed me and broke me all at the same time. At one point we ended up just worshiping and crying out praises to God together...wow!!! Ken kept coming up to me as I painted saying, "I am so proud of you." He even asked me if he could get his photo with me. ♥ Father's heart love...
Getting to hear his son sing while I painted was so amazing. God has used his music to minister to me so deeply...and encourage me to move forward in the Lord. The last song Jonathan sang was "God is Love," the very song the Lord gave me recently that helped me step off the edge and fly... During the worship set, Jonathan spoke about the Lord's Prayer, and how we are called to bring Heaven to Earth. It was more confirmation to me that I was painting what the Lord wanted me to.
Children were so drawn to me as I painted. I had so many around me asking me questions, playing with my paintbrushes, making comments, encouraging me...sharing their heart... I was tempted to shoo them away, because I was trying to paint, but the Lord reminded me...."It is more important to love, than to paint something perfectly."
I saw a young woman sitting behind my canvas seeking God, I smiled at her...she came up to me later and she said, I hear the Lord saying, "Safe Place"... You are a safe place for the kids she said... They are drawn to you and you can share with them in a way that a teaching or song can't, so keep painting...♥
I said to her, :"I think you just named my painting." "Safe Place" That is what I want to be for the children. That is what Heaven is like, God Himself is...and people like Ken Helser have been for me. That is how I know he is a true Papa in the Lord...because of the love I feel...and because he is a "Safe Place"...even for a fragile butterfly like me...
John 17:6-12 You have given me some followers from this world, and I have shown them what you are like. They were yours, but you gave them to me, and they have obeyed you. 7They know that you gave me everything I have. 8I told my followers what you told me, and they accepted it. They know that I came from you, and they believe that you are the one who sent me. 9I am praying for them, but not for those who belong to this world. [a] My followers belong to you, and I am praying for them. 10All that I have is yours, and all that you have is mine, and they will bring glory to me. 11Holy Father, I am no longer in the world. I am coming to you, but my followers are still in the world. So keep them safe by the power of the name that you have given me. Then they will be one with each other, just as you and I are one. 12While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost, except the one who had to be lost. This happened so that what the Scriptures say would come true.
After He showed me that, it got me thinking, meditating about Heaven...how we, His children, like those flowers, are safe in His hand, and now we will never die since we are His. I thought about how Jesus prayed for us to bring heaven to earth... I even posted on my FB page "Heaven...where there’s no more death, no more disease, no more sorrow, no more sickness, no more hatred, and no more evil...let us bring heaven to earth!!!!"
After that, I started seeing a yellow butterfly already painted on a canvas, but I didn't know what God was showing me. I was telling my sister about it last weekend, and when one flew by us....the same one I was seeing. Yellow flower, yellow butterfly...God was speaking.
I kept hearing about Jonathan Helser's worship service in High Point, originally I had planned to be in Boston, MA so I knew I wouldn't be able to go. Then, after my plans had changed, someone else mentioned to me again...the day before, and all of a sudden, it occurred to me that I was supposed to go there and paint. It was in that moment I saw the butterfly, on the flower, in His hand.
I did not even know if they would let me paint, but I had a peace about it. I knew no matter what, I was going to release this painting...even if I did it at my seat. Then, while driving to the meeting God seemed to confirm it, when a butterfly, the very same one, flew right in front of my car.
When I got there, I asked and they were fine with it, because they are free, and full of love. As I was setting up, I was telling someone what Ken Helser, Jonathan's father, meant to me. God had used Ken as an encourager in my life...like a Papa. Although I had never met him, he had emailed me several times years ago and encouraged me to get up and paint that very first time. It was a testimony he recommended I hear about one of his paintings, a butterfly that was out of a mason jar, that got me to paint in the first place. http://www.christinecouncil.com/the-call--timeline.html It was the same butterfly that I had seen in the vision, and the same one that God has used repeatedly to encourage me to fly.
To my surprise a woman I was telling said, "Would you like me to introduce you to him?" I had no idea he would be there. Meeting him in person was both a dream come true for me...and an honor. It totally blessed me and broke me all at the same time. At one point we ended up just worshiping and crying out praises to God together...wow!!! Ken kept coming up to me as I painted saying, "I am so proud of you." He even asked me if he could get his photo with me. ♥ Father's heart love...
Getting to hear his son sing while I painted was so amazing. God has used his music to minister to me so deeply...and encourage me to move forward in the Lord. The last song Jonathan sang was "God is Love," the very song the Lord gave me recently that helped me step off the edge and fly... During the worship set, Jonathan spoke about the Lord's Prayer, and how we are called to bring Heaven to Earth. It was more confirmation to me that I was painting what the Lord wanted me to.
Children were so drawn to me as I painted. I had so many around me asking me questions, playing with my paintbrushes, making comments, encouraging me...sharing their heart... I was tempted to shoo them away, because I was trying to paint, but the Lord reminded me...."It is more important to love, than to paint something perfectly."
I saw a young woman sitting behind my canvas seeking God, I smiled at her...she came up to me later and she said, I hear the Lord saying, "Safe Place"... You are a safe place for the kids she said... They are drawn to you and you can share with them in a way that a teaching or song can't, so keep painting...♥
I said to her, :"I think you just named my painting." "Safe Place" That is what I want to be for the children. That is what Heaven is like, God Himself is...and people like Ken Helser have been for me. That is how I know he is a true Papa in the Lord...because of the love I feel...and because he is a "Safe Place"...even for a fragile butterfly like me...
John 17:6-12 You have given me some followers from this world, and I have shown them what you are like. They were yours, but you gave them to me, and they have obeyed you. 7They know that you gave me everything I have. 8I told my followers what you told me, and they accepted it. They know that I came from you, and they believe that you are the one who sent me. 9I am praying for them, but not for those who belong to this world. [a] My followers belong to you, and I am praying for them. 10All that I have is yours, and all that you have is mine, and they will bring glory to me. 11Holy Father, I am no longer in the world. I am coming to you, but my followers are still in the world. So keep them safe by the power of the name that you have given me. Then they will be one with each other, just as you and I are one. 12While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost, except the one who had to be lost. This happened so that what the Scriptures say would come true.
Reach Out
24x30 acylic 3/26/11
Mark 1:41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"
I painted this one on Duke campus for an outreach called Blue Flame Worship Explosion. I almost didn't paint because it was cold and rainy, so the gathering there was not very big. I was talking to a friend on the phone when I arrived, telling them about the situation, trying to decide what to do, and she said, "even if there was one, Jesus would go."
One of the coordinators came to help me unload my stuff...and I asked her, "do you think I should go through the trouble to unload since there are not too many here?" and she said the same thing my friend had said, that they prayed and said to the Lord, if it is just for one, then they would be faithful.
Once I was set up, His presence came on me so strongly, I just trembled and wept. It seemed like He wanted to encourage me for being obedient to paint even though it was not an ideal situation.
Originally, I had planned to paint a blue flame in His hand because it was a vision I had the year before, but as I painted it, I felt it was just like He wanted it without the flame.
Because it was cold and rainy, the paint was not drying, so I just started bringing the light into the darkness by removing the black paint. I wiped it, cleaned it off using paper towels, and used wet brushes to remove the dark. I loved the affect and it seemed to match what God was doing there. I was also encouraged when the speaker got up and his first words were, "Go to the dark places!!!!"
John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
I painted this one on Duke campus for an outreach called Blue Flame Worship Explosion. I almost didn't paint because it was cold and rainy, so the gathering there was not very big. I was talking to a friend on the phone when I arrived, telling them about the situation, trying to decide what to do, and she said, "even if there was one, Jesus would go."
One of the coordinators came to help me unload my stuff...and I asked her, "do you think I should go through the trouble to unload since there are not too many here?" and she said the same thing my friend had said, that they prayed and said to the Lord, if it is just for one, then they would be faithful.
Once I was set up, His presence came on me so strongly, I just trembled and wept. It seemed like He wanted to encourage me for being obedient to paint even though it was not an ideal situation.
Originally, I had planned to paint a blue flame in His hand because it was a vision I had the year before, but as I painted it, I felt it was just like He wanted it without the flame.
Because it was cold and rainy, the paint was not drying, so I just started bringing the light into the darkness by removing the black paint. I wiped it, cleaned it off using paper towels, and used wet brushes to remove the dark. I loved the affect and it seemed to match what God was doing there. I was also encouraged when the speaker got up and his first words were, "Go to the dark places!!!!"
John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
It's Raining, It's Pouring...
36 x 36 acrylic 3/21/11
I started painting this at Big House church in Va Beach. It wasn't a vision, it was just in my heart, especially for this church. It was actually a photo I found online that touched me, so I contacted the photographer, and she gave me permission to paint it in church.
When I first saw it, it made me think about worshiping in His presence, becoming like a child playing in the rain. This little girl wants to feel it on her skin and drink it in too. When I was at Big House Church, that was how I felt. His presence was like rain, soft gentle cleansing rain. Rains of refreshing, rains of His Presence for the Father's children, rain to play in. Rains of Love...
I believe He gave me this scripture to go with the painting.
Psalm 72: 1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. 2 He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. 3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. 4 He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor. 5 He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. 6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. 7 In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more. 8 He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts. 11 All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him. 12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. 13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. 14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. 15 Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long. 16 Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field. 17 May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. 18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. 19 Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.
A friend also gave me this scripture when he saw the painting:
Deut 32:2 May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb.
When I first saw it, it made me think about worshiping in His presence, becoming like a child playing in the rain. This little girl wants to feel it on her skin and drink it in too. When I was at Big House Church, that was how I felt. His presence was like rain, soft gentle cleansing rain. Rains of refreshing, rains of His Presence for the Father's children, rain to play in. Rains of Love...
I believe He gave me this scripture to go with the painting.
Psalm 72: 1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. 2 He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. 3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. 4 He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor. 5 He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. 6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. 7 In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more. 8 He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts. 11 All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him. 12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. 13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. 14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. 15 Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long. 16 Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field. 17 May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. 18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. 19 Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.
A friend also gave me this scripture when he saw the painting:
Deut 32:2 May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb.
Living Water
36 x 48 Acrylic 3/18-20/11
Painted this at Fire of the Altar in Silver Springs, Maryland. A white horse came to me and I rode on him to a pool of still waters. The Lord was there and dipped his hands in and let me drink. He said, "These waters are for refreshing." Then we rode to a water fall. The Lord put His hand into the water and said, "These are for healing."
As I was painting this, I closed my eyes and when I opened them, I saw the Lord's face appear in the Rock so I left it in.
After I finished the painting, Rick Pino (who as far as I know because of where I was painting did not see what I had painted) got up and started the set on Saturday night. He started by saying we needed to get under the waterfall. Then he spoke about getting in the river. Then he sang, blessed are the thirsty, and about the very scripture God gave me to go with the painting, the Spirit and the Bride say come. Rev. 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
As I was painting this, I closed my eyes and when I opened them, I saw the Lord's face appear in the Rock so I left it in.
After I finished the painting, Rick Pino (who as far as I know because of where I was painting did not see what I had painted) got up and started the set on Saturday night. He started by saying we needed to get under the waterfall. Then he spoke about getting in the river. Then he sang, blessed are the thirsty, and about the very scripture God gave me to go with the painting, the Spirit and the Bride say come. Rev. 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
Come Away with Me
36' x 48' Acrylic 3/9-10/11
I painted this at Mountain of Worship. The last couple of weeks, I just wanted to run away with Jesus. I felt compelled to get to a garden with Him and take my camera. The scripture about the winter being past, and spingtime being here was so rich in my spirit. So...I thought that was why I wanted to paint this...
Last year, I asked the Lord if I could go someplace with Him, with my camera, and He very clearly said, "Arlie Gardens". So I went 2hrs towards the coast and when I got there, it was like I was in heaven. His presence was on me all day. I wept and laughed, and enjoyed His Company. I took this photo of the arbor when I was there, the flowers/grapes were not part of the original photo, but I felt they had to be there. And the Bride is a photo I found online that represented how I felt that day when I was with Him.
While I working on it, the last thing I completed was the covering, so it was still white for most of the time I painted....one of the speakers said he thought the covering over her was a Chuppah...I was like, what is that? So I looked it up.
A chuppah (Hebrew: חוּפָּה, pl. חוּפּוֹת, chuppot, literally, "canopy" or "covering"), also huppah, chupah, or chuppa, is a canopy under which a Jewish couple stand during their wedding ceremony. A chuppah symbolizes the home that the couple will build together. It also is placed over the marriage bed on the wedding night.
The next night, Danny Steyne, my spiritual Father asked me what the title was for it...and I knew it had just had to be from Song of Solomon....but didn't know yet...
That night during worship, the Lord took me by the hand...and we ran away together...into a beautiful field. It was so precious, innocent and intimate. We ran together like children laughing and playing. At one point, we sat on the grass, and he brought out a picnic basket. Then He began to feed me. Eventually we laid down to look up at the sky, that is when He leaned over me...it was like He was covering me...and it was then that He told me how much He loved me. I did not want to leave, and I was not sure what He was showing me.
So the last morning I was set to paint...I went to be with Him, and was thinking about the painting...about the scripture, "His banner over me is LOVE"...wondering where it was. I didn't know where to begin, so I opened Song of Solomon looking for title of the painting, AND there it was...SOS 2:4 "He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love." Then it made sense, why He had taken me on a picnic.
I looked at a commentary about it and I read:
He has introduced her to the place where he royally entertains his friends. Well knowing that she, the poor and sunburnt maiden, does not properly belong to such a place, and would rather escape away from it, he relieves her from her fear and bashfulness, for he covers her with his fear-inspiring, awful, and thus surely protecting, banner; and this banner, which he waves over her, and under which she is well concealed, is "love." דּגל (from דּגל, to cover) is the name of the covering of the shaft or standard, i.e., pannus, the piece of cloth fastened to a shaft. Like a pennon, the love of the king hovers over her; and so powerful, so surpassing, is the delight of this love which pervades and transports her, that she cries out:
Then I remembered there was another scripture about Him being our covering, someone had shared it at the meeting...
Isaiah 4:2-6 (New International Version, ©2011) 2 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. 3 Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit[a] of judgment and a spirit[b] of fire. 5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory[c] will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
After all this, I asked the Lord what the word for the painting was, and this is what He said:
"Daughter of Zion, Tell them I love them, and I long to be with them. Come and be with Me. I have set a banqueting table before you and I desire to dine with you.
Fear not, for my glory is a covering for you. Fear not for my Love has covered you. It has made you whole. Soon we will be together at the Great Wedding ceremony."
I pray you will want to run away and go to be with Him when you see this painting.
Rise up...
detail of eagle's face
A couple of weeks before I painted this I prayed and asked Papa what He wanted me to release. In my quiet time, He took me to a valley. It was lush and green, safe... I felt like I could just stay there and rest. But then He showed me a mountain, over His left shoulder. He said, they are both beautiful. The mountain is hard to climb, but the the view is AMAZING!! It was as though He was inviting me to take the mountain. I felt led to start learning about mountain climbing, researching it, just seeking what He was trying to say to me. The next time I went to be with Him, He put a backpack on me and sent me up the mountain. It was hard work to climb...but when I reached the top, He was right, it was worth it. The view was amazing!!!! There were mountain peaks all around. I opened my backpack and inside it were art supplies and an easel. I set it up and waited on Him...asking if "this view" was what He wanted me to paint. Then I saw it. An eagle's face. It startled me, I jumped... This eagle was so determined, fierce and on a mission...there was fire in his eyes. I had the impression that he was coming straight from the fire. I asked Him, why do you want me to paint this? and He said to me. "Because it is time for the eagles to it is time for the Eagles to rise up and go forth in power and strength, from the fire of refinement and testing to soaring into revelation...purified by my love set on course by my Spirit...for Destiny!!!"
I painted this in New Day Church at the Glory Breakthrough Prophetic Healing conference with Georgian Banov, Patricia King, and Todd White. When I got to the church, there was an eagle that their artist had made right in the center over the band. She shared her vision with me...and said it was a confirmation for her to see me painting an eagle.
I painted this in New Day Church at the Glory Breakthrough Prophetic Healing conference with Georgian Banov, Patricia King, and Todd White. When I got to the church, there was an eagle that their artist had made right in the center over the band. She shared her vision with me...and said it was a confirmation for her to see me painting an eagle.
48x36 acrylic 2/24-26/11
Follow the Lamb
13 x 18 Pastel sanded pastel paper 1/14/11
This is a painting I did for my Spiritual Papa, Danny Steyne during a small MOW meeting.
I'd heard him say more than once that God had spoken to him, saying all we should see is the backside of the Lamb. He'd also said that although he had challenged many, no prophetic artist would paint it for him...So then I HAD to!!! I started praying about it and found this photo online. I contacted the photographer and he gave me permission to use it.
This image speaks to me because there is a narrow gate in the distance and a harvest to walk through. The lamb seems to be asking if we will follow Him. If we will be like Him and love so much we are willing to take up our crosses and become sacrificial lambs for the sake of others.
Revelation 12:11
They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
John 1:29 The very next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and yelled out, "Here he is, God's Passover Lamb! He forgives the sins of the world! This is the man I've been talking about, 'the One who comes after me but is really ahead of me.' I knew nothing about who he was—only this: that my task has been to get Israel ready to recognize him as the God-Revealer. That is why I came here baptizing with water, giving you a good bath and scrubbing sins from your life so you can get a fresh start with God."
For You!
20x24 Acrylic11/21-2010
I was invited to come and paint at an outreach in Raleigh at Master's Touch Church. As I was preparing, I had an idea and was moving forward with it, but wasn't excited about it. Then one day, I was talking to God about using the pourable red paint I had recently purchased when I remembered a vison I'd had at another church service 7 months earlier, it had been in my heart to paint it. I got so excited. I knew this was the one I was to release. Even though it was given to me at another church months earlier, it was still so prophetic. Before I even started painting the pastor gave the word. He Blessed it, Broke it and Served it. From John 6 where Jesus' heart is to serve the people. The church was taking a big step of faith by feeding people from the community that may not be able to have a Thanksgiving meal. The music was so perfectly orchestrated to go with the message. It was truly God's leading.
Here are some of my original notes from the first time I saw the vision:
"I first saw His hands...and they were open palmed...and the fingers were pointing downward...I thought He was handing me something...but then I saw the wounds on His wrist...the blood coming down over the palms and the fingers. I asked God what the "word" was, or title, because He usually gives me one. I heard, " FOR YOU!" It was loud and carried power with it that buckled my knees and touched my spirit. I was led to put it across the arms on the top of the page. The fingers were near the bottom of the page, and I wondered if there was something I should put at the bottom...but waited and nothing came to me, so I took that picture off of the easel and waited for the next image.
Here are some of my original notes from the first time I saw the vision:
"I first saw His hands...and they were open palmed...and the fingers were pointing downward...I thought He was handing me something...but then I saw the wounds on His wrist...the blood coming down over the palms and the fingers. I asked God what the "word" was, or title, because He usually gives me one. I heard, " FOR YOU!" It was loud and carried power with it that buckled my knees and touched my spirit. I was led to put it across the arms on the top of the page. The fingers were near the bottom of the page, and I wondered if there was something I should put at the bottom...but waited and nothing came to me, so I took that picture off of the easel and waited for the next image.
LIBERTY!!!
I saw 2 hands again. But these 2 hands were clinched into fists, and facing each other, as I drew them, I shackles on the wrists. I drew the hands and then the shackles. I could see that the shackles were being broken, but wasn't sure how to paint it, or what was breaking it. Then I saw it, I realized the second painting belonged under the first one...that His blood, dripping from His wrists...down his hands and fingers, was setting our own wrists, hands and arms free! After I painted the blood...I heard the "Word" for this one. "LIBERTY" and so I wrote it at the bottom of the page again across the arms.
I was at a MOW conference recently and one of the prophetic words for the conference was...2Co 3:17 -Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.And last night, I was thinking again about that verse. I have always associated it with freedom to worship. To a church that allows the Holy Spirit to move...but I saw that it was more than that...
It was to set people free! But free for what?
Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
John 8:36 "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
What does the word "Liberty" used in this scripture actually mean?
It is Freedom to serve the Body...that was why God showed me the blood from His hands coming down to set our hands free. Hands represent serving...
I was at a MOW conference recently and one of the prophetic words for the conference was...2Co 3:17 -Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.And last night, I was thinking again about that verse. I have always associated it with freedom to worship. To a church that allows the Holy Spirit to move...but I saw that it was more than that...
It was to set people free! But free for what?
Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
John 8:36 "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
What does the word "Liberty" used in this scripture actually mean?
It is Freedom to serve the Body...that was why God showed me the blood from His hands coming down to set our hands free. Hands represent serving...
For You! LIBERTY
Ga 5:1 -It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Ga 5:13 -For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
So I started thinking why did God show me hands? Why did He have me see His wrist...and then our wrists. What was He showing us? He was showing us that He set us free...so we can serve. The hands are symbols of serving, and the fingers to me represent the offices: the thumb is the Apostle, Pointing finger the Prophet, the Middle represents the Evangelist, that is longest so it draws attention to Jesus, the ring finger is the Pastor, who marries the church...and the little finger is the Teacher, which seems to be the least important, but is actually the most important of all.
James 1:19-27 19 This you know , my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Ga 5:13 -For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
So I started thinking why did God show me hands? Why did He have me see His wrist...and then our wrists. What was He showing us? He was showing us that He set us free...so we can serve. The hands are symbols of serving, and the fingers to me represent the offices: the thumb is the Apostle, Pointing finger the Prophet, the Middle represents the Evangelist, that is longest so it draws attention to Jesus, the ring finger is the Pastor, who marries the church...and the little finger is the Teacher, which seems to be the least important, but is actually the most important of all.
James 1:19-27 19 This you know , my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Narrow Way to a New Day
I heard this poem in my quiet time and wrote just as He gave it to me. When I went to the Gathering of Aritsans in Oct 2010, I felt led to put the poem on the canvas and then paint the "path". It represents taking steps from Glory to Glory. Each step bringing you closer to His Light. The first speaker at the conference got up and spoke about our path, and reaching our "desired end".
Acrylic 40 x 36
36x48 Acrylic 10/8-10/10
a path
a light
narrow way
The dawn of day
Initialize
first step
going forward
into the unknown
KNOWN
A new way,
a new day
new beginnings
not alone
led by Love
Efforts unwasted
every tear counted
resting, trusting
Obey
Keys to success
lead to life
knowing seeing
believing
Makes the way clear
to a new day
Longing
This was painted during a worship service, but it was from an experience I had in my quiet time months earlier. The Lord led me to release it at a MOW conference in Raleigh NC at The Worship Center. The first song the worship team sang invited the Lion of Judah to come. It was a confirmation from the Father that it was His will to paint the vision.
In the vision I was on the Lion’s back holding onto His mane and He was wearing a crown. We seemed to be in outer space because it was dark and there were stars all around. At one point, He banked to the right and then looked down below us. Out of curiosity I looked over my right shoulder to see what had captured His attention, that is when I saw the earth. It was so beautiful against the black sky, its colors were glowing in the darkness. It looked alive.
I turned back to see His reaction and when I did, I saw His face was being lit up from the illumination below. When I looked into His eyes, I saw the earth being reflected there. The longing I saw in His eyes reminded me of how a Groom looks when he sees his Bride coming towards him in a wedding. He began to share with me, without talking, how He longed to be with Her, she was His Creation, His Masterpiece, and the Love of His Life. His Bride. I could feel His longing and sadness. Then I saw a tear coming from His eye. For weeks after I saw this, when I would try to share it, the feelings and deep love He has for us would come back and overwhelm me bringing me to tears. I pray you will feel and know His Love for you too.
In the vision I was on the Lion’s back holding onto His mane and He was wearing a crown. We seemed to be in outer space because it was dark and there were stars all around. At one point, He banked to the right and then looked down below us. Out of curiosity I looked over my right shoulder to see what had captured His attention, that is when I saw the earth. It was so beautiful against the black sky, its colors were glowing in the darkness. It looked alive.
I turned back to see His reaction and when I did, I saw His face was being lit up from the illumination below. When I looked into His eyes, I saw the earth being reflected there. The longing I saw in His eyes reminded me of how a Groom looks when he sees his Bride coming towards him in a wedding. He began to share with me, without talking, how He longed to be with Her, she was His Creation, His Masterpiece, and the Love of His Life. His Bride. I could feel His longing and sadness. Then I saw a tear coming from His eye. For weeks after I saw this, when I would try to share it, the feelings and deep love He has for us would come back and overwhelm me bringing me to tears. I pray you will feel and know His Love for you too.