Painting, Poison, and Praise!

IT ALL STARTED WITH a leaking overhead pipe in my basement. My son just happened to be visiting from Alaska this spring when he heard water running. Unfamiliar with sprinklers going on late at night, his search led him to a growing puddle in my storeroom. He contacted a plumber who later fixed the leak, and we avoided a catastrophe!

Last week, I decided on some preventative medicine. Years ago, Conrad built a 3X5 ft. platform in the corner of our storeroom. To protect my paintings, I moved them on top of the platform and stored waterproof containers beneath it. 

Of course, catching the “while I’m at it syndrome,” I discovered a small plastic box of rodenticide pellets when I reorganized and swept. I carefully picked up the box and looked for another good place to put them. Suddenly, a scrunched corner of the box popped back, spraying little green poison pellets all over the room! My “velcro” pups are always with me, but thankfully not at that moment! I shut the door to keep them out before meticulously sweeping under, around, and behind everything. 

In the past, mice found their way into our storeroom, so Conrad had set a trap over the unfinished door frame. I had since placed a sticky trap next to it. So, standing on a small stool, I reached over the door frame to make room for the refilled pellet box. Suddenly, “SNAP!” Again, pellets flew through the air! At least the sprung trap held no mouse—dead or alive! All this to tell you that when I finally got to my box of paintings, I discovered a 2×3 ft. acrylic painting I had forgotten about. Years ago, Revelations 1-2 inspired me to paint it. 

So, I reread that passage. Imprisoned on the Island of Patmos, John was in the Spirit and heard a loud voice like a trumpet. He turned and saw seven golden lampstands and “someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance” (Rev 1:13-16). 

John sees this amazing Jesus and falls at His feet like a dead man! But Jesus lays His right hand on him and says, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I’m alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades” (vs. 17-18). He then tells John to write what he sees and says, “The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches” (v. 20). Then Jesus speaks to each church with commendations and warnings in the next chapter.

So back to the poison. “Most domestic rat and mouse poisons are anticoagulants; they affect the rodent’s blood, reducing the ability of blood to clot so that exposed rodents bleed internally and die.” I realized the poison flying all over the room provides a terrible picture of the poison of Satan’s lies and deceptions spreading worldwide. Many lies fall out in the open, but other deceptions hide in and around, under and behind everything.

Rodenticides kill rodents, pets, and people. Sin kills people. James 1:14-16 says, “Each one is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

Though sinlessly perfect, that same amazing Jesus took the poison into Himself and died a  horrible death, hemorrhaging for us on the cross. He offers His pure and holy blood in exchange for our poisoned blood. Each of us has eaten the poison, bleeds internally, and will die. 

But God made a way to save us from that death. We only need to receive the gift of His Son into our hearts. It’s so simple, yet so impossible in ourselves. Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). God draws us to Himself through Christ, by the power of His Holy Spirit. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph 2:8-9).

Graham Kendrick wrote, “Only by grace can we enter, only by grace can we stand. Not by our human endeavor, but by the blood of the Lamb. Into Your presence You call us, You call us to come. Into Your presence You draw us, and now by Your grace we come.”

Though this painting went through a complete transformation since I found it, there is no way I can paint what John saw in heaven! However, as I continued to work on this seemingly impossible task, I asked God for wisdom. He says in James 1:5-7 that if we ask for wisdom, we must believe and not doubt, or we can’t expect anything from the Lord. So, I decided to trust Him to do something with it, and before long, it came together. That amazing Jesus sent us an intense and pertinent message in the book of Revelation for such a time as this. 

Songwriter, Mark Altrogge, studied the attributes of God and wrote these words:

You are beautiful beyond description, too marvelous for words, too wonderful for comprehension like nothing ever seen or heard. Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom? Who can fathom the depth of Your love? You are beautiful beyond description. Majesty enthroned above.

You are beautiful beyond description, Yet God crushed You for my sin, In agony and deep affliction, Cut off that I might enter in. Who can grasp such tender compassion? Who can fathom this mercy so free? You are beautiful beyond description, Lamb of God who died for me!

I stand, I stand in awe of You. I stand, I stand in awe of You. Holy God, to whom all praise is due, I stand in awe of You.

Join me in worshipping the precious Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29) and commends and warns His beloved Church to prepare for His promised coming! (Rev. 2).

PICTURE PERFECT

Dear ones,
I discovered a new passion! My sister-in-law, Carolyn, sent me scratched and damaged childhood photos to fix with PhotoShop. These old black and white photos hold precious memories for Carolyn as they portray her and her cousin, born only hours apart. They grew up together and stayed close friends until Jolene passed into heaven at age thirty-two, leaving behind two little boys, ages six and four.

Of all God’s names, I especially love His title, “Redeemer.” But how can He redeem the loss of one so precious? I’m sure only heaven will tell, but redemption also portrays the very character of God here on earth. When we lift our losses to His throne of grace and ask Him to redeem those losses, He will. He promises to bring good and glory out of our pain, grief, and sorrow (see Rom. 8:28-29).

When I wonder how He can use seeming tragedy for good, I think of Don Moen’s words, “God will make a way where there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see; He will make a way for me. He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side, with love and strength for each new day; God will make a way.”

I entered the transformational process to restore these photos and sensed the pleasure of God. PhotoShop provides a variety of tools to restore photographs. The most magical is called the Healing Brush. How appropriate!

Restoring old, scratched, and damaged photos illustrates how God uses His “Healing Brush” to transform and redeem us and our losses. It comes totally from Him, and is nothing we can do for ourselves any more than a photograph can restore itself from the deteriorating effects of time, temperature, and humidity. Only the “magic” of technology can restore it. And only the miraculous and loving intervention of our Redeemer rediscovers our intrinsic value.

Today I worked to restore an overexposed photograph. Zooming in on it magnified the imperfections and damage, which brought another song to mind, “Search me, O God, and know my heart today, try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray. See if there be some wicked way in me. Cleanse me from every sin and set me free” (see Psa. 139:23-24). 

Applying the Healing Brush to every spot, blemish, and scratch on that photo is how God zooms in on every detail of my life, searches my heart, and exposes my offensive ways. A song by Graham Kendrick reiterates Psalm 130:3-4, “Lord if You mark our transgressions Who would stand? Thanks to Your grace, we are cleansed By the blood of the Lamb.” I also rejoice with songwriter and musician Michael Gungor, who writes, “You make beautiful things out of the dust. You make beautiful things out of us.” 

Carolyn also sent me another precious photo to fix—Jolene’s underexposed wedding photo. I found nothing in Photoshop or LightRoom to fully reveal those happy faces hidden in darkness. Those images never entered the camera lens in the first place. We lost the treasured photo, but the meaning still lives. We must expose ourselves to the light—the truth of who we are and who God is. Whoever does not come into that light remains in darkness. Forever. Even the radiant beauty of the bride and groom remains forever lost in this photo. 

When the Pharisees asked Jesus’ disciples why He ate with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick… For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mat. 9:11-13). If only… the self-righteous would humble themselves and allow the light to expose the truth, Jesus would heal them, too. Jesus only heals the sick and only heals sinners.

Job 40:13 says the faces of pride and wickedness are bound and hidden in the darkness—too proud to admit, confess, and come to the light. God alone knows what lies hidden in darkness (Dan. 2:22) and one day will expose the hidden motives of our hearts (1 Cor. 4:5). 

As I worked through this illustration, I wondered why it is so important to be cleansed and purified. Why can’t we just go about our ordinary lives and not worry about being so perfect? Good question, right? I know only God is perfect anyway, and He covers me with His perfection, so why bother? However, He knows we still need to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us so we can run with endurance the race set before us (Heb. 1:1-3). 

God created us for relationships, and our hearts remain lonely, detached, burdened, and insnared by sin without them. We can’t build relationships with God or people on our ability to appear perfect. The Healing Brush of Christ’s blood takes effect only by admitting and confessing our imperfections to God and one another. 

The Apostle John so beautifully answers my question about the need to ask God to search my heart and bring every imperfection into the light because then, and only then, will I experience a deep abiding relationship with Him and others, which is the very joy of life itself!

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7).

So, dear ones, together with me, “put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption” (Psalm 130:7).

WALK of FAITH

Since the weather cleared in spring, daily walks up and down my tree-lined street provides healthy exercise. If I walk east, I enjoy more shade in the early morning, but a steep hill to climb on the way back. If I head west, I start climbing immediately. It levels off before I hit another high hill and then a leisurely walk into the country. Either direction gives me an excellent two-mile walk. 

Some mornings, I do not feel like walking, but I ask the Lord for strength, and the next thing I know, I’m outside, going up or down the hills. The steepness of the hills causes me to take deep breaths and slowly blow them out again for lung power to climb. Sometimes I must stop, catch my breath, and ease burning muscles. However, walking provides focused time to pray, sing, and memorize Scripture.

Fifty years ago, I read Lamaze’s birthing information that said I would not be as aware of the labor pains if I focused on something else. However, when delivering a 9-pound, 10-ounce baby boy, I only remembered the first verse of Psalm 23, even though I knew the whole psalm by heart. The pain won, hands down!

Over the last year, I discovered that focusing on God and His Word on my walk makes me much less aware of my burning muscles and lack of strength. Somehow, before I know it, I’m at the top. Walking with someone and conversing does the same thing, but I seldom get that opportunity.

While I walk, illustrations often come to mind of how it takes the same effort and determination to do life. Life takes a lot of uphill exertion, determination, sweat, and tears. Other younger walkers and runners often pass me up, which also happens in life. Growing older provides some perks but disheartening challenges as well. Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 lb). 

I pray for overcoming strength every day to keep climbing physical hills and conquer daily challenges. I’ve had to learn so many things since Conrad left for heaven. Yet, daily, God provides the strength and courage I need. I ask Him for everything from what to do about my dead lawn patches, create a flag pole that fits the outside flag holder, find my glasses, keys, and phone, to pump gas, shop alone, find my way around, figure out technological problems, even sort through manipulative junk mail and emails. I must ask Him to guide my words and strengthen, calm, and take over during stressful times.

One beautiful encouragement the Lord gave me while puffing up the last hill one day was to imagine the crowds cheering me on. I imagined my sweet Conrad saying, “You can do it. Just a little farther.” I could see others: my god-loving parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends, all more alive than ever, cheering me on from the grandstands of heaven, not to mention all the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11. Then the next chapter says it all!

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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Heb 12:1-3).

Though I walk alone, He goes before me, comes behind me, and walks beside me whether these earthly eyes see him or not. Heb 11:27 says Moses “persevered because he saw him who is invisible.”  That whole chapter amazes me! Over and over, it says, “by faith…” 

By faith… (Abraham, Isaak, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab the prostitute, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah) David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies (Heb 11:33-34).

 Wow! And their faith stories go on (It is a must-read!).

So today, I illustrate this blog with a painting of the mountains of Israel, which I did as a book cover for my brother-in-law’s first published book, Living Inside Out and Upside Down––A Journey Through The Sermon On The Mount.

While painting from a photograph of the actual mountains of Israel, I became discouraged, so I decided to start all over on a new canvas. The second time was as tricky as the first, so I returned to the first and finished it. Ultimately, two paintings of the same thing sit in my studio. 

While writing this blog, I knew I needed an illustration, and the second painting came to mind. I just needed to add a footpath. So there you have it. Stay strong, and be encouraged. My memory verse this morning:

LORD, I pray that out of Your glorious riches, You will strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith (Ephesians 3:16-17).

Hopeful or Hopeless

I HAD TO LAUGH when GOD came through after I thought this painting was hopeless. This amusement isn’t the first time, and I’m sure it’s not the last.

Last week Allison MarJean, my eighteen-year-old granddaughter from Alaska, visited me. Artistically gifted, she joined me in my studio, where we enjoyed hours painting together. She did two modern, bright, wildly unique paintings. My attempts were the same ol’ sky, hills, trees, and water. Stuck in monotony, I sighed and almost resigned to being too old to learn new tricks. Yet God wanted to redeem my work (How many times does He have to do that for me!?).

Suddenly I saw myself in that painting, trying desperately to make it time and effort worthy.

I also thought about the persistence of hope and the tyranny of hopeless realities into which we so easily fall. The truth is, I still have tremors and will never be one of the Great Masters (tremors or not). Yet, hope says I can still be an illustrator. But if not even that, I must base my hope and expectations on something or Someone even more sure and steadfast.

When we take on a new career, job, or ministry, we expect it to grow and prosper. Yet sometimes, our plans go differently than expected, and we suffer disappointment. We anticipate falling in love, sometimes entangling that anticipation with fairy tale dreams. When we walk down the aisle toward our beloved to vow before God and man our fidelity “till death do us part,” we can’t fathom the grief of separation that eventually rips us apart one way or another. When we hold our sweet babies in our arms, we never entertain the thought of them turning from God and us. Yet so many parents experience heartbreak over the choices of their growing and grown children.

How long before our career or ministry thrives? How long do we hope for our long-awaited love? How long before our marriage heals? When will our wayward children return? Is there ever a time to write “anathema” over the door, shake the proverbial dust from our flip-flops, and move on? 

Anathema means “without hope of being redeemed.” Earthly foundations will most certainly crumble. But 1 Peter 1:21 says, “…your faith and hope are in GOD”. In 2:6, Peter says, “The one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” Hope remains steadfast during difficult times (1 Cor 13:7 AMP). Indeed the prodigal son appeared as a lost cause. Yet, his father’s hope remained alert to his return until the day his hope became a reality and the lavish celebration began. 

Anathema was much more of a possibility for the son who refused to celebrate, for the religious child who learns to pretend instead of confessing the sickness of his soul and repenting. There is more hope for a prodigal sinner than for a Pharisee. There is more hope for a struggling marriage than for those who grasp the delusion of greener pastures. There is more hope for a struggling ministry than one steeped in dead orthodoxy.

Hope is not something we can conjure up ourselves. Hope is evidence of the Holy Spirit within us, the fruit of His divine presence. He alone can fill us with hope and keep it alive. Only as we abide in Him—the Vine, can we experience the miracle of hope within our hearts.

A time may come when we experience a necessary ending in a career, ministry, reins on a grown child, or by the infidelity or death of a spouse. A time comes to let go of the controls and release our ideals. A time comes to move on and trust God Himself to complete the work He began in us. The foundation of our hope must lie in the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, in God’s promise to continue the work He began, to complete it, and to present each of us before His glorious presence without fault and great joy (Phl 1:6; Jde 1:24). 

We cannot base hope on our ability to control circumstances. Hope means releasing the reins and trusting God to do what we cannot do. Love always hopes in an all-powerful God. So, today, I again turn my eyes to the Redeemer who alone can fill my longing heart and give purpose to my life. He is enough, more than enough. Look at how He redeemed a dull, monotonous painting by allowing me to see myself striving to bring it to life! I still have to smile at Him. He is so good to me!!