new things

New Song – oil and cold wax medium on 2x18x24 panel

I was repeatedly having the words NEW SONG coming in journals, sketches and stray paintings. I decided it was time to do something bigger with it and explore more what God had to say…

A dear friend would regularly say to many, “God is doing a new thing, do you not perceive it?”

See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19

God loves to create! He loves to change the things that look barren, desolate and empty. He loves to breath life to bones and yet we often keep Him in a box and say things are impossible. WHY?

If we were reading in His Word – we would see all through old and new, He was taking impossibilities and making something from them! He was using people that were not the norm to become a new norm. He took the simplicity of water and turned it into the most amazing wine. He died in a very unjust way to bring justice and freedom to all.

We have gotten so used to the world’s system instead of the heavenly promises. Did you know there ARE over 7,700 promises from God? And His words do not fall to the ground! Will you dare to believe these are for you and for today! His Word is eternal – it wasn’t just back then – it is for now!

9“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.
¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.” Isaiah 55:9-13

I pray that today you would find a promise of God’s that would speak richly to your spirit and reveal to you the wonders of His ways. That you would see with new eyes and begin singing your new song!

(Its also a good day to start a negativity fast. If negative thoughts or words start coming your way or out of your mouth, ask God to show you a word of truth or promise that will help you renew your mind! He wants to give us the best – not the worst. Will you receive it?)

into the new

New Movement

After not blogging for 18 months, where does one start again? My life has shifted tremendously to working full-time outside of my house.

2017 included a lot of gallery time and creating in a group project for ArtPrize. Five artists worked on a piece we did in honor of The Red Cross. You will find plenty of photos and info on the Zeeland Artists facebook page.

It was a very unique season to shift from the ministry of counsel to helping with a couple people with Alzheimer’s. They both recently passed into the freedom with God in heaven. God moved in many amazing ways in both of their journeys.

Writing has been much more of personal journal time and I have been creating a variety of new paintings. Expanding my encaustic (hot wax and oil) and emerging myself in coldwax medium that is mixed with oils. I’ll be sharing a bit from all of those areas.

I look forward to how God will bring new life, new words, new art in this season of NEW THINGS – in my life and in yours!

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19

Peace to you all – jude

seeing more

Have you ever heard Louie Giglio speak on the INDESCRIBABLE? Several years ago he spoke locally and it was very exhilarating to SEE through his descriptions of God’s creation. You might like to SEE in a refreshing way today! He has a longer message that might even touch your heart more.

Let us SEE with new eyes Lord. That each day, we will have further wisdom and revelation in our knowledge of You. That we will be further amazed at Your hand at work in every second of this world and our individual lives. Thank you Jesus for bringing us into this Kingdom on earth – as it is in heaven! 

listen to the rocks

As I’m painting rocks – His words are in my heart…
Lord, I praise you because we are fearfully and wonderfully made! You have created us in Your likeness and given us a heart that can love as you do! I thank You that there is nothing too hard for You and as we walk with You – nothing is too hard for us! Guide us in this week to walk with love and grace to all we encounter. Let our words be filled with encouragement and joy as we join the rocks in praising Your ways! 

They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.

Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:

Blessed is he who comes,
    the king in God’s name!
All’s well in heaven!
    Glory in the high places!

Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, get your disciples under control!”

But he said, “If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.”
Luke 19:35-40

goodness now

Blues

I admit to some envy for the Jewish ways of deeply knowing the Torah. I dig deep but there is so much more to discover! I think one of our biggest purposes in this life is getting to know the many facets of God through the Father, the Son and the Spirit. He desires that deep personal relationship with us. He desires to reveal mysteries to us. He desires for us to know the width, length, height and depth of His love. He desires to shepherd us and for us to know His voice. He desires to shelter us and encourage us.

We so often focus on what we can give to God or do for Him. We can even become prideful in our “doing” where we actually forget He is part in the relationship. It become us and our list of good deeds. The best relationship is mutual giving and receiving – and God is the Creator even of relationships!

I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:13-14

Lord we thank you that there is always more You want to share with us. Thank you that You are not distant but so very intimate with our lives, knowing every hair on our head and every hope in our hearts. Guide us to know You even more as we seek You through Your word, Your presence and Your voice. 

 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100

once again

Long, long ago I painted this scene large and vibrant. I ran across my photo reference and felt to create a little 5×7 of it. Such a peaceful place from a color tour in New Hampshire – Virginia area.

We all need peaceful places. A place to refocus on what is truly important. I find that through prayer, reading or listening to the word or worship, painting, or working in the garden. Sometimes even cleaning house! Often just in silence to say, “Speak Lord, I’m listening.” He is definitely a great encourager!

A few years ago I engaged in a negativity fast. It can be a difficult thing, especially since bad news sells and gossip is the general “Hi how you doing? Did you hear about so and so?” kind of conversations. A great verse to keep me in line was…

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

I do have bad days but I don’t hang on to the stress or repeat the negative parts to multiple people anymore. It is really liberating to live from that place of peace. Many things still do bother me and I occasionally need to release to someone, but I remember it takes 13 positives to overcome a negative, so I make sure I find the good AND keep it in front of me! I’m sticking to true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy!

Thank you Lord that there are always great things to the day! Thank you for the freshness of the snow cover. For time to paint, write, pray and dig into your Word. Guide us all in the paths of peace that we would know Your ways and walk in them Jesus. Amen

when plans burst

Lakey Sunset

Sometimes it’s simple things that speak loudly. Just after looking at a recipe, I heard a POP and knew it was something in the fridge. My imagination did not prepare me. The biscuit tube I had thought to use, was overflowing its diagonal lines…

How often are your hopes and ideas bursting before you get to them?
Do they seem useless, finished and better forgotten?

Do you ponder the fullness of God’s word and the depth of His promises or wait for it to burst out in revelation?

Think of Joseph, David, Ruth… They didn’t seem to have much to hope for anymore. The things God showed them seemed to expire, then SUDDENLY… life shifted!!

God loves the impossible! Nothing is too hard for Him! What seems impossible with man, is always possible to God!

Don’t give up on those dreams. Don’t stop those prayers. Be open to God giving them in an even bigger way than you could imagine, because He loves to outdo even our most creative thoughts!

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians 3:20 MSG

Maybe our ideas have been too small, our prayers a bit wimpy and our hopes past their expiration date – BUT GOD – He is not small, wimpy or late!!! He is faithful!!!!

We are saved by trusting. And trusting means looking forward to getting something we don’t yet have—for a man who already has something doesn’t need to hope and trust that he will get it. Romans 8:24 TLB

I pray you will see even more of God’s blessings and favor as you continue to HOPE and DREAM of even bigger things with Him!

noel

Wishing you a Christmas filled with awe, wonder, hope, joy and peace. May this beautiful song and video fill you with even more love for this one called Jesus as you celebrate this Noel “birth of God”.  God’s blessings to you and yours.

The birth of a child who is also a King, Savior, Redeemer, Shepherd, Lamb, Healer, Light and more. 

receiving your gifts

New Discovery

Tis the season of giving and honoring others. God is the most generous person and wants to honor His children. Think about these GIFTS (statements of His truth) given to you. If any of them feel a bit uncomfortable, look into the scriptures and ask the Lord to reveal His heart to you about that area.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN
WE ARE REDEEMED
WE ARE GIVEN NEW LIFE
WE ARE BLESSED
WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS
WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST
WE ARE CO-HEIRS WITH CHRIST
WE ARE SEATED WITH CHRIST IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS
WE ARE GIVEN AUTHORITY TO TRAMPLE ON SNAKES AND SCORPIONS
WE  HAVE ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS
WE ARE BLESSED WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING

These aren’t just simple gifts given because we’re Christians; they are part of our calling as believers in Jesus Christ and they came at great cost.

Jesus first had to give up all of His heavenly power and authority to be born of a virgin and then cry, nurse, grow up and mature just like us. He came as Son of God and Son of Man separating the chasm that was created in the garden. Then the bigger cost of the crucifixion. We have these gifts because of His many sacrifices and the following triumph on the cross. They are imparted to us through our belief in Christ. This isn’t just so we can live a happy go lucky life on earth but so we would continue His work. (That can bring even more discussion.)

To bring Kingdom and God’s will on this earth as it is in heaven. (Matt 6) Some of our heavenly inheritance is for now, some we must continue to grow into with the renewing of our mind (Rom 12:2, Eph 4:23), like Jesus, growing in stature and favor with God and man (Luke 2:52), being conformed into His image (Rom 8:29), going from glory to glory.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. 2 Cor 3:18

obstacles

This word brought more than I could “fathom”.

Do you feel earthly life should have no obstacles?
Can Christ followers expect an easier life? 
Are some obstacles acceptable?

As I study the Word, I see how my view of life on this earth has been in error. As I minister to and walk with hurting and stuck people, I recognize places I am still there too. I return to repent and seek His wisdom and revelation.

Thankfully He is generous through the Bible and sharing when we listen!

Yes, His Word does say we will do immeasurably more… Eph 3:20
But I also read those verses many glance past…

In this world you will have trouble… John 16:33
You are blessed when you are persecuted… Matthew 5:11
Count it all joy when you face trials… James 1:2

As we come into the Kingdom with our yes to Jesus, we are now not only of this world but also a threat.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16

God gives wisdom generously. His answers are the only ones that will bring the peace needed when the obstacles seem too large.  Ask – seek – knock…