The Cleansing

Perhaps this is what it looks like in the spiritual when we are baptized; we are immersed in water and then for always and evermore we are "covered in the blood of Jesus."

A most holy blood bath from a most awesome Savior.

When I looked at the cleansing title again, I saw "THE CLEAN SING."

And with that, let me share the lyrics of the old hymn "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus" (Robert Lowry-1876)

1. What can wash away my sin?
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   What can make me whole again?
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
   • Refrain:
     Oh! precious is the flow
     That makes me white as snow;
     No other fount I know,
     Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
2. For my pardon, this I see,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   For my cleansing this my plea,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
3. Nothing can for sin atone,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   Naught of good that I have done,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
4. This is all my hope and peace,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   This is all my righteousness,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
5. Now by this I’ll overcome—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   Now by this I’ll reach my home—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
6. Glory! Glory! This I sing—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
   All my praise for this I bring—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

The WELLing Wall-version 1

I wanted to do a "flip" version of the WAILing wall. Yes, the Wailing Wall is the place in Jerusalem where the wailing of people and their prayers occur. I am most thankful that our Lord hears those wails and prayers and that every tear is kept in His special bottle.

This is called the WELLing Wall because I wanted it to cause the onlooker to perceive what was and could be WELL in their soul. Some might say, "not one dang thing." Well, if you have eyes to see this, that is a blessing and that is what I want this painting to do for you, beloved; to cause you to SEE what IS good, lovely and a good report in the places where life can be dark, bleak, and ugly.

 Let the colors and textures minister to you; let any tears that might come flow in a sacrifice of praise and a broken contrite heart which the Lord will NOT despise.

If your world HAS been bleak and void of color, it is my heartfelt prayer that this painting will "awaken" what is good and lovely in your soul and your life...may it lead you on a journey to return to this WELLing Wall often to pour out both prayers and praises and to say and sing "It IS well with my soul; it is WELL."

The WELLing Wall-version 2

This is version 2 of the WELLing Wall.

The Heavens Declare Your Glory-version #1

Here are two versions of this one.

Here's the first one. I don't have a long post to make for these, but just to say "Yes Lord, the heavens DO declare Your GLORY!" I remain in awe of Your LIGHT SHOW to me in so many ways, Blessed Creator of the Universe and Lover of my soul!

Love you, Lord. Glory to you!

The Heavens Declare Your Glory-version #2

This is another version.

Mold Me and Make Me

I must admit the first title that popped in my head was "Soft and Chewy." LOL!

But then I saw and heard the following:

I saw a diamond shape. This reminds me that we ARE precious jewels to the Lord; we are priceless. It DOES look "soft" on the inside like candy would, but I am reminded that Jesus says that He will make a "heart of stone become a heart of flesh"-soft and pliable.

See the swirls on the left near the opening? Well, that reminded me of what CLAY looks like when the potter is working it on the wheel. My mindset of clay was stretched a bit here. I think of clay as pretty blah and plain in its raw form, but WHEN THE LORD IS "MESSING WITH IT" some wild things happen to the color and texture after He's done pounding it, FIRING IT and coloring it.

I used to feel like such a hypocrite when I sang the first stanza of the hymn "Have Thine Own Way Lord" (Adelaide A. Pollard 1907) but after completing this latest painting, I realize the Lord wanted to MINISTER to me through these very lyrics. Go God...thank You, Jesus. I'm yours to mold and make.

Have Thine Own Way, Lord, Have Thine Own Way

Thou Art the Potter, I am the clay

MOLD ME AND MAKE ME after Thy Will

While I am yielded, waiting and still.

Have Thine Own Way, Lord, Have Thine Own Way

Search me and try me, Master, today

Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now

As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine Own Way, Lord, Have Thine Own Way

Wounded and weary, help me I pray

Power, all power, surely is Thine

Touch me and heal me, Savior divine

Have Thine Own Way, Lord, Have Thine Own Way

Hold o'er my being absolute sway

Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see

Christ only, always, living in me

Ties-(based on hymn by John Fawcett 1782)

As I contemplated what to name this, I kept hearing the word "ties" followed by "ties that bind." Isn't there a hymn with those lyrics? There sure is. Blessed Be the Ties That Bind written by John Fawcett in 1782.

No matter what we're going through, the Lord keeps us tied to one another in sweet fellowship and support while being bound to Him. 
Read the lyrics again with new eyes:

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love
The fellowship of kindred minds
 Is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne
We pour out our ardent prayers
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one
Our comforts and our cares.

We share each other's woes
Our mutual burdens bear
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part
It gives us inward pain
But we shall still be joined in heart
And hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way
While in expectation lives
And longs to see the day.

From sorrow, toil, and pain
And sin, we shall be free
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.