Promises

2 Cor. 1:20 says "For all the promises of God in Him (Jesus) are Yes, and in Him (Jesus) Amen, to the glory of God through us."


Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that God is aware of our every need, our every heartache, and our every tear. He is FAITHFUL. He promised us that in this world we WOULD have tribulation, but He also PROMISES us that we would overcome because He overcame. He PROMISES us that we would overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. He PROMISES that He would wipe every tear from our eye and that some day we would understand the "whys" of this life.


He PROMISES to be with us in the fire, flood, and fight. He PROMISES to not give us more than we can handle when our faith is sorely tried. He PROMISES to never leave nor forsake us even when we are crying out, "Lord, where ARE you?" He PROMISES that His grace IS sufficient when our flesh would shout otherwise. He PROMISES that joy WILL come in the morning when tears endure for the night. He PROMISES that if we confess our sins we WILL be healed. He PROMISES that if His people will humble themselves and pray, seek HIS face and turn from THEIR wicked ways that He will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. He PROMISES that He is coming soon.


If you look closely you will see some swirls that look like the number 7 and 8. Seven means completion, eight means new beginnings. He PROMISES to end what needs to end and He PROMISES to begin a new thing. May you find the blessed assurance PROMISE found in Jesus-the PROMISE of God,  the Hope of Glory and  
our YES and our AMEN. 


I promise.

Psalm 85:10

Mercy and Truth have met together;
Righteousness and Peace have kissed. Psalm 85:10

This latest one makes me think of ocean life and the beauty that lies underneath the surface.

 Life can bring some pretty challenging waves that are downright rough: (illness, financial struggles, wayward kids etc.)  Then there are other days where the water might be relatively calm, but the NOISES of life (fault finding, complaining, criticizing, doubt, scorn, scoffing) steal the wind from our sails.

I have never been snorkeling or deep sea diving, but I have noticed that just floating on my back in a simple pool where my EARS are SUBMERGED brings me great peace; all I hear is my calmed down breathing and gentle water sounds... "a womb with a view" comes to mind; I can hear the Lord's voice and see His ever watchful eyes upon me in His mercy and truth. His righteousness and peace have kissed me tenderly in the Living Water and I am safe, sound, and secure.

There is a time in our lives when we must go deep SEE diving and find what's really below the surface. Without fail, we will discover that underneath ARE the Everlasting Arms that keep us afloat and moving all the while taking us deeper.

Metamorphosis

This picture has artist "tension" in it. There's "tension" because of the vibrant colors next to the duller colors. Ever feel "tension" when you're going through a metamorphosis, transformation, CHANGE?

The Lord wants you to lift your head and see your TRUE COLORS-you ARE vibrant, you ARE bright, and you ARE strong. You are all of these things in Him.

And when you get yourself SATURATED in Him, take your vibrant, bright strong self and go color someone else's world.

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

Battles. We're called to "take up our armor and fight the good fight..."
but a very cool thing is that THE BATTLE belongs to the LORD! HA!

I love in 2nd Chronicles 20 where it says, "Do not be discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours but God's. You will not have to fight this battle. TAKE UP YOUR POSITIONS; STAND FIRM and see the deliverance the Lord will give you (O Judah and Jerusalem); do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to FACE THEM tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you."

TWICE the Lord said "don't be discouraged." Discouragement keeps us in the bed rather than on our knees.

TAKE UP YOUR POSITIONS-our position is one of confidence and though your body may tremble, your HEART can still be confident in the Lord.

STAND FIRM. You can stand firm even while weeping. There are days that I THANK GOD for the release and relief of stress filled tears. I have stood firm and praised His Name in the midst of my weeping. Standing firm isn't the stiff upper lip; it's the bended knee that helps us "stand" and stand strong in the Spirit.

DO NOT BE AFRAID. We're human. We become fearful; but the Holy Spirit whispers to OUR spirit in that "still small voice" that reverberates in our heart with His kindness and strength.

GO OUT AND FACE THEM. If you are a child of the Lion King, you have your Daddy's eyes. Stare into the enemy's face with all blessed assurance and even laughter because the Lord, your Father, LAUGHS at His enemies. So can you.

Your God is WITH you. Period.
Fight the good fight; the BATTLE belongs to the Lord. Amen.

Jeremiah 20:9

My friend Alicia had sent the following profound statement from The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer:  
"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."
Alicia then asked me, "What comes to your mind?"


My first knee jerk response was His KINDNESS and that He was my DELIVERER. But then I took it a step further and "got all hung up" on the word ABOUT. I thought it should have said TO-ie-'is the most important thing TO us' not 'the most important thing ABOUT us.'  So I told her I would have to think about that one and perhaps my answer would come either through a song I wrote or my art.


This latest piece you see today is what I believe to be my answer and I am blown away and delighted that I hear a "Yes and Amen" in my heart and spirit. I was not even thinking about Alicia's question while I was creating. As ALWAYS, the Spirit of the Lord surprised me and whispered, "This is what you're ABOUT."


If the most important thing ABOUT me is that His Word in my heart is like a burning fire shut up in my bones and that I cannot contain it, then glory BE to God.