Spending time that matters!

 

On Monday night Gwen and I spent the evening painting together!  Not painting walls.....actually doing art.  I had spent so much time painting with the kids (actually watching the kids paint) during the time that Gwen and Tim were away, so it was fitting that Gwen and I made plans to do some painting together.  As you all know, time is a valuable commodity.  Anyone with a family knows that an evening away from the kids is something to celebrate.  This special night was, in fact, a very delayed birthday present for Gwen.  The time together was wonderful.  Anytime that Gwen and I have a chance to actually sit and talk without the kids around is wonderful.  Add to that, the chance to try something very much outside of our comfort zone!  This was at the end of the evening.......

If you look closely you can see the painting that we actually did.  It was called Zen Mountain and Gwen thought it looked easy to paint.  Well, it was far from easy.  Gwen was worried about the branches of the tree and I feared the leaves.  Gwen's tree turned out great.....my leaves, not so much.  But it was such an enjoyable evening.  In the end, we were both satisfied with our paintings.  

It was one of those times that I was thankful for a long drive home as I was just basking in the evening.  As I was thinking about the painting, I realized that it was exactly something that I had been hearing from Jesus.  That tree was a splash of color against a grey/black background.  That is exactly what we are called to be.  A splash of the light of Jesus in the darkness of the world.  Even though my painting was in the back seat, I was remembering what I had painted.  Suddenly I was remembering some very important lessons I had heard from the Lord over the years.  Not only is that tree the splash of color in this painting, that tree is growing out of a large rock!  It is obviously rooted deeply in that rock!  Could there be a more clear Biblical application.  Jesus is the rock that we must be planted on.  Our roots have to go deep on that solid ground if we are going to be able to stand the storms of this life.  When our roots are secure.... when we are drinking from the stream of living water that is at the center of that rock,  WE are secure.  And we are a beautiful blast of color and joy in the darkness and despair that is all around us.  

Isn't it great how Jesus will use everything that we do to remind us that He is active in every aspect of our life?  Even when we plan an evening out to do something like this, there is a lesson in it!  It makes me feel secure knowing that even when I don't think about it, Jesus is aware of my plans!  I am so thankful that Jesus is my rock and I can bloom without thinking about it, because of HIM!   

Yes, painting is fun.  Lia, Ellie, Zeke and Anna certainly showed me how wonderful it can be during our time together.  I confess that I never painted at all during that time.  I was focused on keeping the kids painting exactly where they were supposed to be painting!  Alas, this was a mistake.  I most likely would have really enjoyed painting with them.  So the next time I have the chance, I will be picking up the paint brush.  I am very thankful for my Zen Mountain painting.  Every time I look at that painting on my wall, I will see Jesus and the wonderful light, life and joy that He brings into me!

Jesus, thank you for wonderful times together with Gwen.  Holy Spirit, thank you for showing me a wonderful lesson through this painting.  Help me to remember that no matter how dark it seems all around me, as long as my roots are on the Rock - Jesus will shine his light out into the world.  Amen

Painting a new picture......a new way!

One of the special presents that Gwen left for the kids, were these really amazing "paint" sticks.  They are actually solid tempra paints in a push up tube.  They work sort of like markers, but they look like paint on the paper.  And they dry quickly!  Needless to say, Anna loved them.  So did all the other kids!  During the week, we did lots of painting.  Finger painting, water color painting, special paint brush paints, paint stick paints, these dry paint sticks, and face paints....I'm sure that I am forgetting some.  These kids love to paint!

It is interesting watching a two year old paint.  They start with blank paper and then make a total "mess" and when they are done, they are so proud of their painting!  They don't think that they have to paint a certain way.  They just put color on the page.  It is a delightful thing to watch.

I've been thinking about how many times I force myself to "color inside the lines" or only worse yet, I don't even pick up that paint brush because I am afraid of what others think.  This fear of man is sometimes just so powerful.  Fear is an interesting thing.  Even when you know that you don't need to FEAR, sometimes it still changes how you act.  There is so much fear on the internet these days.  It is everywhere.  People are fearful of terrorists.  They are afraid about what is happening to our country.  They are afraid to speak....to be judged as intolerant.  Yet, those who are judging are often the ones who are being intolerant of those with conservative beliefs.  I can't tell you how often I hesitate to post one of these blog posts because I am suddenly hit with fear about what people might think and/or say about the views I have expressed.  Isn't that silly?  I don't really know most of you that read this blog...you live all over the world.  Yet, I know that if you have been drawn to read these posts, there is a reason.  And I am determined to share whatever Jesus gives me to share and to trust that the Holy Spirit will bring these words to whoever needs to read them. But I also want to be clear that it is not always easy.

So my encouragement to you today is to color those pictures.  Don't worry so much about what other people will think about you or your painting.  Listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and take those sometimes difficult steps to walk out your life picture whatever that looks like.  All through out scripture we are told.....do not be afraid or .....do not fear....  Now more than ever we just need to press on and not give in to fear.  Fear is from the enemy and not from God.  I don't think there is any more important message that I can give than that.  The devil is the author and instigator of fear and terror.   God is love and peace and joy.   There you go.  That is my thought for today!  

Jesus, thank you for reminding me that fear does not come from you.  Holy Spirit help us all to have the courage and boldness to go and to say and to paint all the pictures that you give to us.  Protect us from the overwhelming fear that surrounds us in the world today.  Jesus, help us to show the world who you are through our lives.  Let there be love and peace and joy in our hearts today.  Amen

Painting a new picture.........with some Spiritual truths thrown in!

This has been an interesting few days.  I have actually accomplished something that, quite frankly, I never thought I would ever do.  I painted an acrylic painting that I actually have hanging on the wall of my craft room!  Here it is, in the works, with my palette" sitting beneath the painting.

It was a really fun evening spent with Gwen, finding out that I can actually accomplish something that is worthy of hanging!

It was so interesting to see how different all of the final products turned out.  Each person put their own "spin" on the project.  I love that Gwen's has a more violet look than mine.  Some of the people put lots of flowers on their lily pads.  Gwen and I had a really wonderful time and I am sure that we will go to one of these events again.  

In reflecting on what I actually learned that night, painting, I realized that there were some really big spiritual truths!  No surprise since Jesus seems to speak to me in all of my day to day experiences...

1.  We started off covering our white canvas with dark brown paint!  I know!  Doesn't that sound just silly?  But the instructor told us that the blues and whites would not show up very well on the white canvas.  They were more opaque and it would take lots of layers of paint to get the colors right.  So we all took a big brush and proceeded to cover the entire canvas.   Yes, we all started off (in the Garden of Eden) with a perfect, clean white soul.  But sin covered over every part of us.  The amazing thing is that when Jesus comes, beautiful shades of colors of the rainbow fill us.

2.  We actually added RED to our paintings?????? We were all sort of wondering where we were going to use RED on this blue, green and white (with a touch of yellow) painting we were making.  But what we found out was that we needed that red to really make all those variations of the shades of blue.  Not only that, the red was used to bring depth to the edges of the lily pads and the shadows in the water.  The red was a very necessary addition to complete our pictures.  And we need that shed blood of Jesus to blend into every area of our life.  It brings out all those colors and highlights exactly what Jesus knows needs to be highlighted.  Sometimes the blood shows us things that we need to get rid of from our life.  Sometimes the blood shows us what is really important.  Always the blood brings us life and the presence of Jesus!

3. As we were making the lily pads, the instructor reminded us that we should not make perfect circles since the perspective of our paintings was from the side!  Therefore we should make longer, thinner ovals that would give our paintings the right perspective!   How many times I have been reminded that we need to see from Jesus' perspective.  He sees things very differently than we do.  His heavenly view is timeless and Jesus sees the perfect plan and destiny that is before us.  

4. Before we started adding those lily pads, we were told to divide our canvas into thirds.  We needed to remember that we would be adding a "focal" point to our painting that needed to fall somewhere in the middle third of the canvas.  Well, I love that the canvas was not divided into quarters....no it was thirds.  How can you not think of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?  And Jesus falls into that middle third!  Nothing else needed to say about that!  Our focus should be on Jesus.  

5.  We were actually adding white to the green and the blue as we covered over all that brown paint.  I never knew how much adding white to blue made so many amazing shades!  And the greens seemed to just come to life when you added white. Isn't it true that when we add the righteousness of Jesus to our life, we have a depth of compassion and peace that changes how the world sees us.  The interesting thing is that often, people don't know WHY we are different, they just know that we are not like everyone else.  

6.  The white flowers just brought a bright freshness to the painting.    That became the focal point.  Those pops of white just seem to spring up from the dark colors.  I love that the Holy Spirit just pops out of us (or flows out in that living water) and becomes a focal point for all to see.  I especially love thinking about the Holy Spirit being the main thing that people see in me!  Wouldn't that be just great?  

7.  And then there was that yellow.  We seemed to have a very large amount of yellow for just those little tiny blips in the white flowers.  But actually, we were adding yellow to the green to make the reflections of the lily pads in the water.  We were adding yellow to the green on the lily pads to bring a hint of the sunlight shining on them.  Yes, the light was everywhere.  Isn't that just like Jesus?  He IS the light of the world and He is everywhere!  

8.  And then we added some "finishing touches" to the painting.  One thing that was suggested was to add a small amount of a very light blue to the petals of the white flowers.  Suddenly they seemed so much thicker and more real and not so flat.  And then there it was, the white presence of the righteousness of Jesus, mixed with the blue, living water of the Holy Spirit with the golden glow of the glory of the Father!  A perfect picture of God.  

Yes, I love that painting now even more than when I completed it.  I am so thankful that it is hanging right above my desk where I can see it often and remember these lessons.  What an amazing gift!

Jesus, thank you so much for all that you have shown me in this wonderful experience of painting.  Help us all to see you everywhere around us....in nature, in our homes, in our lives.  Holy Spirit thank you for helping me comprehend and hold on to these lessons!  Thank you Jesus for colors and paintings and for the joy of creating!  Amen  

A rainbow kind of a day....

Ken and I had a very busy day today.  It was raining and not really very nice outside, so we decided to continue on with the painting project in the camera room.  Since there is not much room in there, we have to move everything into another not very big room.  Ken had painted the walls earlier, but now the ceiling was getting painted!  (I know, you are supposed to paint the ceiling first, but that just didn't happen....didn't make any difference since everything is white!).  I mostly helped move stuff and position the ladder so Ken could paint the ceiling.  I was also his "eyes" to be able to see exactly where he needed to paint.  And then he decided to paint the closet.  Wow, what a job.  This entailed taking everything out of the closet and then I began to go through storage tubs......

Yes, this was long, long process.  I found some pretty amazing things.  I managed to get rid of one trash bag full of junk and consolidate three tubs into two.  I have two tubs of stuff to take to Gwen's and a big stack of pictures to scan.  And Ken did get the entire closet painted!

We had a couple of things to return to the store and needed to get some dinner, so we set off in the rain.  On the way home there was an amazing rainbow.  The picture above is actually NOT from today (I confess in honesty...its actually from 2008).  But by the time we got to a place to get a picture, the rainbow had faded and you could hardly see it in the pictures I took.  But, trust me, it was there and it was amazing.  It was one of those very thick rainbows were you could actually see the violet line clearly.

This morning I saw this incredible video.......Perfect circle rainbow that was shot over Niagara Falls.  It is just amazing!  I had no idea that I would see a pretty neat rainbow myself today!

Yes, that freshly painted white room is certainly a pick-me-up.  The smell of paint is lingering in the house.  And it is a good feeling to have purged some things and found new homes for some things.  And it is good look back at old black and white pictures and even a newspaper from 1945 VJ Day!
Top that off with a rainbow!  Yes it was a good day in our house.

To me a rainbow reminds me that HOPE is alive!  It is the promise of sunshine on a rainy and stormy day.  It is the reminder that we have a God who keeps his promises.  A covenant keeping God.  There is so much joy in the colors that take your eye off of the dark clouds behind it.  I know that I need a bit of a reminder that there is more going on than those dark clouds and rain storms.  It is so easy to take your eyes off of that promise when the darkness closes in around you.  So I am thankful tonight for a productive day that ended with a rainbow reminder!

Jesus, thank you for rest after work and a rainbow after a storm.  Thank you for reminders of days long gone and also the hope for the future.  You are an amazing God that cares so much for us.  You know exactly what we need.  Holy Spirit, remind everyone reading this blog that there is hope in the storm.  Renew our faith and trust in our covenant keeping God!  Thank you Jesus!  Amen