Holy Worship

Holy Worship

6"x6"

Available

Oil and cold wax

We had a night of worship the other night. It was over-the-top, and more than amazing. The Spirit of the Lord was there. As the worshipers arose, Holy Spirit infiltrated, bringing many into his presence, into his goodness, and to truth, and into healing.  It was a night of Holy Worship, for sure.  This one is number 13 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  

 

Work in Progress

Work in Progress

I've been commissioned to paint a memorial type painting for a young woman that lost her baby.  I've been seeking the Lord for a couple of weeks, mulling it over in my mind.  The woman's sister in law (who commissioned me), mentioned that when she would see a Cardinal, she would be reminded of her baby.  Somehow, I knew the cardinal had to be in the painting, but I just couldn't feel peace about painting a pretty little cardinal eating out of a bird feeder or sitting on the fence.  Yesterday, the Lord showed me that this baby, in full Spirit is worshiping the King of Kings with fullness,  joy, and wild abandon.    I could just see Creed fulfilling his purpose in heaven.  It doesn't help with the loss and pain, but it does help knowing that he really is in the arms of Jesus.  I was just reminded this morning (after painting yesterday), that the scripture that this momma has held dear to her heart, is I Samuel 1:27-28.  I read it this morning, and was blessed beyond measure...that,  "I heard from the Lord", because it reads...."And he worshiped the Lord there."  Stay tuned, as it's not quite finished.  I can't wait to get to it!  

Path of Obedience

"Obedience"

Alcohol Ink on Tile

     I was walking my "Big Dog"  Ceezee, tonight.  We came upon some wild hogs.  He is a Great Dane and bread to hunt hogs.  So...he chased them.  It was big danger.  I screamed his name!  He stopped and listened, and obeyed.  Thank God!  You know, even though we are bred to lay hands on the sick, preach the gospel, we still need to listen and obey in the very moment!  It's a sermon.  Really. 

Aftermath

"Aftermath"

22"x28"

Oil and Acrylic on Canvas

I’ve just had a God moment. Some months ago, I painted this girl. I never intended to. I had no direction, and no reason. I just did it. While painting, I had difficulty concentrating on technique because of the emotion that was running through me. Upon completion, my husband came in and gazed at her. I asked him to title the painting. He called it “Aftermath”. It meant some things to me, but ever since I have had an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. Even last night, sitting by the fire I looked upon her face, and thought of what she may have come through. I had that feeling in my stomach. I’ve questioned the Lord as to the reason for the painting and have heard no answer.

Until now. Until now! Just now, I was reading in 2 Samuel 13. Why now? I don’t know. God’s always on time. That’s what I know. The chapter tells the horrifying story of Tamar, the daughter of a high king; the daughter that dressed in finery and was a well throught of woman in those days. She was somebody. King David was her daddy. She must have been beautiful as she baked bread for her brother, Amnon. The story goes that he fell in love with her devised a deceptive plan, and raped her after she begged him not to. He did it anyway. Then, he threw her out and bolted the door behind her. She was so distraught that she tore her beautiful robe and put ashes on her head as she ran away crying for help!

To make matters worse, her other brother (half) Absalom instructed her not to take it to heart; because it was her brother who had done this. He told her to be quiet. Scripture says that she lived in Absalom’s house, a “desperate” woman. She had no more hope. No hope of marrying. No hope of having a life, or children.

Tamar would experience the “aftermath” of not only being violated but being “shut up”, and having no voice. She would live in depression as her very soul was now rooted in the vile, foul sexual immorality passed down from the sin of her father. She would live with the rejection which scripture says was worse than the crime. She would have no one to stand for her, or speak for her. She was hopless.

I’m reminded that the holiday season often times, brings such depression for those people suffering in the “aftermath”. My heart grieves for those that are shut-up for whatever reason...whether it’s guilt, shame, threat, or helplessness. I know that confession brings freedom. My prayer is that all of those that are afflicted with depression from a wrong done to them would find their voice, and find freedom. There are resources today to help with that voice. I pray that they are found! Amen!

"Fire Come Down"

     This is my Number 7 of the Leslie Saeta 30 in 30 challenge.  Of coarse, it is a long way from being finished.  I wonder how many house this one will take?  I'm a worship artist, and tonight was our Night of Worship.  This piece is a 28X22 oil on canvas, taking shape.  I will post the progressions.

Essence

Number1 Sketch

Number 3 First attempt/ oil

Number 2 Inked

Number 4 Attempt/Oil

Number 5 Oil

Almost Finished!  Oil on Canvas

     I am being mentored by Pattie Ann Hale for another 3 months.  She's an amazing worship artist, whom I met and took a couple of classes from at the Gathering of the Artisan's in NC a couple of years ago.  She's assigned weekly assignments and this one has by far been the most difficult for me, but has truly been such a great learning experience. 

   My main quest over the last year has been to figure out who I am as an artist, and what my personal style is.  Her instruction has been on the spiritual side as it relates to art,  always relying on Holy Spirit to guide, and reveal.  This assignment started with an early morning doodle, which is number 1.  After analyzing it, she asked me to seek the Lord to reveal the meaning behind it.  It took me all week because I just wasn't getting anything.  Not until the very moment that I pulled out my colored inks to add a little color to it!  Then, I heard clearly!  (I'll keep that person message to myself, at least for now).  

   The next step was to try to create the "essence" with paint.  I had a very busy week, with very little painting time, so I  pulled out an old canvas to see if I could figure out what to do.  (At that time, I really wasn't terribly excited about the project).  I realized after  about 4 hours of painting that the previously applied texture on the canvas was not going to work for me.  This was only days before the project was due!  The night before it was due, I gave up the large old canvas and decided to meet the deadline, I would just do it small.  I'd run all over the place, given flight instruction and a million other things.  It was late and I was tired. I didn't have the brushes I needed and was just a little frustrated. That's Number 4.  

   When Pattie saw it, she asked me if I was frustrated or what emotion was having when I painted it.  She then gave me some pointers on getting in the Spirit rather than just painting.  My assignment for this week was to try to fix it...to go back into the emotion, back into the Spirit, and paint the ESSENCE.    I believe that I have!  I was at such peace when I began this last version, and my sweet hubby sat in the studio with me the whole evening, talking and giving me that much needed quality time.  I had some soft music going, and throughly enjoyed the process!  I have really learned a lesson!  I never ever, realized how much emotion really plays out in a painting, until now! 

  No wonder some paintings done during worship turn out so amazing!  No wonder just painting a pretty picture during worship doesn't carry the anointing!  I think I'm learning!  I might not be finished.  Time will tell.  Or, Pattie will!  Have you ever thought about the emotion going through the artist that painted the picture, or just the emotion that runs through you as you look at it?

Narrow Gate

"Narrow Gate"

28"x22" Original Oil on Canvas

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     I painted this during worship at Emmanuel Fellowship Church yesterday.  I did something different this time.  I used my newly loved medium, oils.  I had so much fun doing this.  I just love painting as I worship.  There is something to pairing while you have your mind on the Lord...  I couldn't quite understand what he was saying in this painting until now.  It's so clear.  Scripture tell us in Matthew 7 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  Do you see the narrow gate?  Is it the one that you will enter?  Or will you choose the wide gate that ends in destruction?  I pray that while you have time to choose, you choose the eternal, yet narrow one.  

All Encompassing Lion Of Judah

"All Encompassing Lion of Judah"

28x22" Oil on Canvas

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     I love to paint.  There are some that just really excite me, and some that are just more satisfying.  This one is one that stirs up such excitement in me!  I did the underpainting in acrylic about two years ago during a worship service.  I wasn't all that happy with it, and have just kind of looked at it in passing.  Yesterday, I decided to get it down and rework it.  This time I would use oils.  I've just discovered  my love for oils within the past two months after taking Nancy Medina's workshop.  My husband was a little leery of me reworking it.  I think he thought I would ruin it.  I told him that I felt like I had nothing to lose but canvas, so I began.  I painted intuitively, without a reference photo or anything.  I determined to use the paints that were left over on my palette.  I recalled some of the "rules" that Nancy imparted to me, and began to feel such excitement as the painting took shape and as I began to contemplate who the Lion of Judah is to me.  There aren't words, really.  He is my All.  He is the Beginning and the End.  He's the one that loves me and also fights for me. Do you know him?

Promises Reign

"Promises Reign"

16"x20" Original Oil

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     This marks another Mother's Day; one that I will mark down for all time in history.  It's the one that I will always remember.  For 19 years I prayed.  My heart grieved at the loss of my youngest son.  The one that I lost custody of.  In those days, it wasn't heard of to lose a child unless a mother was unfit as a mother.  But, I did.  For all those years I wanted relationship.  I prayed when I didn't even know how to pray.  Seems like everything came against me.  Then, I began to learn how to pray.  It was when I knew that something had to change or I wouldn't make it.  I had two older sons; it was for them that I lived.  Still, as a mother with a lost little sheep out there it was so very hard to hang on.  I learned to hang on to the One that would hold me...the One that would never leave me or forsake me. He was the One that would carry me through and teach me so many things.  I began to learn that all of his promises were yes for me.  I learned that God is all about restoration and relationships; between He and me (vertically) and between mankind (horizontally).  I learned that I can trust him.  That's what I did.  Things shifted and I traded my grief for trust and hope.  For those of you that have followed my blog, you know that my relationship has been restored with my son!  It's a miracle.  He's a miracle, walking out the plans that God has for him.  The other years were spent in prayer for him to come home.  This year it was spent in thankfulness, because he has come home! Thankful that I have three amazing, awesome, and wonderful sons that walk in the favor of the Lord.  They are reunited as brothers, and our family has been made whole.

     Today, I had to trade the box of kleenex for the roll of paper towels.  My heart runneth over with thankfulness, gratefulness, and joy.  

    Is there an area of your life that has lost hope?  Can I just tell you, that if you can verify in the Word of God, that it is his will and if you are praying his will...the answer is on the way!  Do not give up faith and hope in the One that can do all things.  Never, ever give up!  Amen.

Haven River Inn

Haven River Inn

Comfort, TX

     What a joy to spend a few days here to recharge and get ready for the summer ahead!  This cabin is newly built, and has only been open for about a month.  We have the whole place to ourselves.  It is amazing!  It's anything but a cabin!  Breakfast will be served down at the main place in a few minutes.  The table will be adorned with beautiful tea pots, pearls and lace and we will enjoy a former breakfast.  The homemade granola and greek yogurt is amazing.  We'll be joined by John, the Inn Keeper and resident minister.  Yesterday, He prayed for us and our family.  He celebrated with us in the answered prayers that we've had, and is agreeing for those that we are praying for now.  Holy Spirit is definitely hovering here, bringing rest to the weary.  

The Hill

"The Hill"

6"x6" Acrylic Pouring on Wooden Panel

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     For almost every single morning for the past 6-7 years my husband has walked up on the hill that is not far from our house.  This hill is the highest point on our property and you can see for miles all around.  He goes up there for a purpose; for prayer and worship of God.  He first started going up there to be alone with the Lord. As I left out one early morning, I looked back and I could see his silhouette against the early morning light.  My heart was humbled and so proud to be married to this amazing man.   He started a little tradition of picking up rocks and depositing them in the ruts of the road leading up to this hill top.  As he would pitch the rocks in the road, he would say a prayer for someone.  

     Today, if you go up to this holy place, you will immediately notice a rounded out spot that has no grass, because those faithful feet have been planted there for so many hours. You might also feel as if you are in a secret hiding place.   You'll  notice that the road can now be traveled easier because the ruts are full!  One can not imagine how many prayers are marked by these rocks.  If anyone has ever asked him to pray for someone or some situation, their name is under a rock.  It's a very humbling experience, walking up that road.  Many times it brings tears to my eyes as I think about all the prayers that went up in my behalf, in order that my youngest son be brought back home for reconciliation.  Still, rocks and prayers go in daily for those other ones that we love and that need breakthrough in their lives, along with all the other requests that we have.  Sometimes I think that a handful of people have a whole rut full of rocks because that man is faithful to continue to pray for them.  That's why I call him "Faithful Feet".  

With this being our National Day of Prayer, I pray that many other Faithful Feet find their secret place to pray for our nation...the one that is under ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD.

Promise

"Promise"

22x28 Acrylic on Stretched Canvas

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     I painted this during worship at Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Sweetwater, TX a couple of Sunday's ago.  It was one of those days in which I had no ideas.  I was busy that morning with other ministry duties and couldn't take time to focus.  I was about to take the stage, with brush in hand and no clue.  It can be a little frightening.  I think of the musicians.  They take the stage and have practiced and practiced and have music in front of them.  They have a clue!  It's different with us artists.  I look at this tree and even right now as I'm writing the Lord revealed something to me.  I realized that this painting might have been just for me!  It is when I go out on a limb, that He always comes through!  His promises are always yes and amen for me. Why should I ever worry?   I wasn't thinking about that as I painted.  I was just thinking...what now, Lord?  What can I do next?   

   Interestingly, the sermon was on blended families in our "Family Matters" sermon series.  It spoke to my pastor, Eric vonAtzigen.  He thought it expressed the beauty of blended families.  My husband, Paul thinks it looks like a pathway into Glory.  I love prophetic art, in that it has a Godly message that can be so different and so personal to different people.  

Keep your Eyes on the Prize

"Keep Your Eyes on the Prize"

Ink on Yupo

5"x7"

     I painted this tonight while thinking about the prayer and conversation that I had with a very special Loved one today.  We all have our past and it is what keeps us from our future.  That is why God says that he remembers it no more.  This loved one is more than Loved.  He is an amazing man of God with such a great future.  Bless him, Lord.

"Tristan"

"Tristan"

9x11 Watercolor

#34 Daily Painting

     This is our oldest Grandson, Tristan.  He's quite an amazing guy, in love with the Lord, and his PeePaw.  He loves to come and stay, and would stay forever, if given the chance.  He cracks me up, with his alarm setting in order to get up early and not miss a single second.  He makes every step his PeePaw makes and some of mine.  He loves to hunt, and is a darn good shot.  He has some really good God planted gifts inside of him.  He's going to grow up to be an awesome power house in the kingdom of God.

"In the Full of the Moon"

"In the Full of the Moon"

5"x7"

Alcohol Ink on Yupo

     This completes my number 25 of the 30 in 30 challenge.  I used some of the metallic blendables in the sky on this one.  In life, it's very beautiful and luminous.  I used to wonder why my grandfather meant when he would say, "in the full of the moon".  I always just thought he should say, "full moon".  Now, I see it.  One of the seven wonders of the world is the Grand Canyon.  I remember standing on one of the cliff's some years ago, thinking, "God, How Great Thou Art".  It was a moment in time that I had with Him, which still resinates within my soul.  Somehow, this painting reminds me of that moment.

"Gateway to Promise"

"Gateway to Promise"

5"x7" Alcohol Ink on Yupo

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     This is number 22 of the 30 in 30 Challenge.  I can't believe this challenge is coming to an end!  I think I have just now settled into the groove and routine.  Maybe I can continue painting everyday.  I enjoy these alcohol inks so much.  The colors and the vibrancy are so much fun to work with.  I love the impressionistic style.  I think that's just "me".  I did try to be more intentional with this one.  It was with the "what if", and "I wonder if" approach.  I'm learning a lot by just jumping in.  The central focal point speaks to me, in that there is a whole place of promises awaiting each one of us, as we stand at the gate to our  promised land that God has for us.  I think so many times we picture that as leaving a very bad place into a good place, but I think sometimes, it's choosing to leave a beautiful place into a place of more beauty than we can ever imagine; that being the glory of the Lord.  

"Grace"

"Grace"

5"x7"

Alcohol Ink on Yupo

     

     This is number 14 of the 30 in 30 day challenge.  Again, I almost didn't make it.  It's about all I can do to get this posted before falling into bed.  It has been a day, and looks like i am headed for some months in  a row in which I will need grace to get through.  Blessings.  

Portal

"Portal"

Alcohol Ink on Yupo

4"x4"
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     This is number 11 of the 30 in 30 challenge.  I didn't have as much time today, so I painted a little bit smaller.  Still, the beautiful colors and the distinct round shape just remind me of the portals of heaven being opened with our praise.  What's on the other side?  Is it for blessing coming through or for a blessing going through?  In my mind's eye, I can see....

"Get Ready"

"Get Ready"

6"x6" Alcohol Ink on Yupo

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     This is number 8 of the 30 in 30 day challenge.  Seems like the last few weeks of our holiday sure have been taken up in a storm.  I've done a couple of storm like paintings in the last day or two; not because I intended to, but just because it happened.  I notice that lots of times my art reflects what's going on in me spiritually or emotionally.  I love the colors of this piece, and am reminded that on the other side of a storm, there is usually a nice refreshing, gently, cleansing rain followed by a rainbow and sunshine.  I'm believing that the SON will shine and bring His treasure into his healing light.  How long will it storm?  Who knows.  But, better than the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, are the promises of God.  That, I can stand on.  Amen.

Waves of Worship