Advent Unborn

Jesus Hears Mary's Song

Digital Illustration For

Rejoice! Advent Meditations with Mary

Companion Video

By Ascension Press

Advent is a time of waiting. But we don't wait for just abstract ideas, hopes and dreams. We wait for a person, Jesus. We wait for "God with Us," the Word made Flesh who will laugh with us, cry with us, hold our hands, guide us, and ultimately, save us.

This is a follow-up image from yesterday where Mary sings to Jesus. This image shows Jesus hearing Mary's song. I am so thankful that Ascension Press asked for this image to be rendered. It was a real challenge and I have never really seen anyone attempt to portray the Christ Child BEFORE his birth. Most importantly, working on this picture reminded me of the humanity of Jesus and his total dependency on his family. 

God humbled and poured out in such a way is hard to imagine. I hope this uncommon portrait of Jesus helps you to ponder in that mystery in your own heart—if even for just a little while.

40 Days, Day 10: Refuge

5"x7" Acrylic on Paper

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Psalm 43

Prayer to God in Time of Trouble

Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
    against an ungodly people;
from those who are deceitful and unjust
    deliver me!
 For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
    why have you cast me off?
Why must I walk about mournfully
    because of the oppression of the enemy?

 O send out your light and your truth;
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
    and to your dwelling.
 Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with the harp,
    O God, my God.

 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my help and my God.

40 Days: Day 7: Echoes

12x12 Oil on Canvas

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My life flows on in endless song;
above earth’s lamentation,
I catch the sweet, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.

Refrain:
No storm can shake my inmost calm
while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
how can I keep from singing?

Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing? [Refrain]

What though my joys and comforts die?
I know my Savior liveth.
What though the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night he giveth. [Refrain]

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
a fountain ever springing!
All things are mine since I am his!
How can I keep from singing? [Refrain]

Author: Robert Lowry

Tune: HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING

40 Days: Day 37: The Basin and the Towel

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

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And the call is to community

In an upstairs room, a parable
Is just about to come alive
And while they bicker about who's best
With a painful glance, He'll silently rise

Their Savior Servant must show them how
Through the will of the water
And the tenderness of the towel

And the call is to community
The impoverished power that sets the soul free
In humility, to take the vow
That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel

In any ordinary place
On any ordinary day
The parable can live again
When one will kneel and one will yield

Our Saviour Servant must show us how
Through the will of the waterAnd the tenderness of the towel

The space between ourselves sometimes
Is more than the distance between the stars
By the fragile bridge of the Servant's bow
We take up the basin and the towel

And the call is to community
The impoverished power that sets the soul free
In humility, to take the vowThat day after day we must take up the basin and the towel

-Michael Card

-- LISTEN TO THE SONG --

John 13:1-17

40 Days, Day 32, I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

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I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto me and rest;
lay down, O weary one, lay down
your head upon my breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
so weary, worn, and sad;
I found him in a resting place,
and he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
the living water, thirsty one,
stoop down and drink and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s light;
look unto me; your morn shall rise,
and all your day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in him my star, my sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk
till traveling days are done.

Text: Horatius Bonar, 1846

40 Days: Day 18: Morning Song

5"x7" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

O Lord, open my lips. 

And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Psalm 51:15

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Options

Unframed $75.00 USD Framed (3" black frame) $100.00 USD

Or email me to purchase.

40 Days: Day 12: Psalm 100

6"x6" Oil on Deep Edged Canvas

with Palette Knife

Commissioned

Psalm 100

A psalm of thanksgiving.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

    Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come into his presence with singing.

 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he that made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him, bless his name.

For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

Anthem

11"x14" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife

Commissioned

Happy New Year! Since it is the new year, I can now safely share some of my holiday commissions with you. This abstract was commissioned as a gift for a choral director. Simply titled "Anthem" I tried to convey all of the colors and textures one might find in a good choral presentation. 

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow 20x20

20"x20" Acrylic 
on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

with Palette Knife

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My little hymn painting based on the Doxology is now bigger and bolder. 
This is a 20'x20' Acrylic enlargement on gallery wrapped canvas. 
Nothing like adding a bit of forte to your work.

A Mighty Fortress

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: September 2014—Day 10

A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,

our striving would be losing,

were not the right Man on our side,

the Man of God's own choosing.

You ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is he;

Lord Sabaoth his name,

from age to age the same;

and he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever! 

Author: Martin Luther (1529); 

Translator: Frederick H. Hedge (1852)

Tune: EIN FESTE BURG

O Master Let Me Walk with Thee 24x24

24"x24" Oil on Deep Edged Canvas

with Palette Knife

Click HERE to Purchase

On display now thru September 30 at the Connections Gallery at 
Belle Meade United Methodist Church.

O Master, let me walk with thee
in lowly paths of service free;
tell me thy secret; help me bear
the strain of toil, the fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move
by some clear, winning word of love;
teach me the wayward feet to stay,
and guide them in the homeward way.

Teach me thy patience, still with thee
in closer, dearer company,
in work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
in trust that triumphs over wrong.

In hope that sends a shining ray
far down the future's broadening way;
in peace that only thou canst give,
with thee, O Master, let me live.

O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 29

O Master, let me walk with thee

in lowly paths of service free;

tell me thy secret; help me bear

the strain of toil, the fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move

by some clear, winning word of love;

teach me the wayward feet to stay,

and guide them in the homeward way.

Teach me thy patience, still with thee

in closer, dearer company,

in work that keeps faith sweet and strong,

in trust that triumphs over wrong.

In hope that sends a shining ray

far down the future's broadening way;

in peace that only thou canst give,

with thee, O Master, let me live.

Prayer

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 19.

Let my prayer rise before you as incense,
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Psalm 141:2

Go Tell It

18"x24" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife

SOLD

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord...

...let us walk in the light of the Lord!”

Growing up, my Cumberland Presbyterian church family richly embraced Appalachian carols during Advent and Christmas. The sanctuary, filled with evergreens and candles, was especially warmed by the heart-felt strains of fiddles, hammer dulcimers and the upright bass. The refrain “Go Tell It on the Mountain” ran through our hearts like a mountain stream and lifted us up to higher ground. 

For this Advent’s art, the image is a sunrise on Isaiah’s “mountain of the Lord.” The sun is breaking over the ridge and beginning to overcome the dark. Our diverse and colorful world, which once appeared as a mass of shadow, is being beautifully revealed. 

May we all climb up to the mountain of the Lord and be illuminated by the Word of God. May we shout that gospel Word for all to hear. May it echo all the way down to the deepest valley—over the hills and everywhere.

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 30.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Author: Thomas Ken

AMEN! Another 30 paintings in 30 days is completed. For today's final painting, I chose to do another hymn abstract. I have had the most fun painting these. It is such a refreshing change to paint completely from feelings and impressions. I can think of no better finale than the Doxology.

I have learned a lot in the past 30 days. Interestingly enough, I find myself in a completely different place, as a painter, from where I had expected to be at the beginning of the month.

Many thanks to all of you who have followed along and commented on my paintings. Your comments mean more than you can ever know. I have more projects in the making and many other small painting subjects still yet to do. So keep checking in to see new works.

Blessings be with you all.

The Gift of Love

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 29.

Though I may speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love, my words are vain,
As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.

Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be given by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.

Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,
Our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed;
By this we worship, and are freed.

Author: Hal H. Hopson (1972)
Tune: O WALY WALY

Be Thou My Vision

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 28.

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
Great God of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Crown Him with Many Crowns

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel
with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: September—Day 21.

Crown Him with many crowns, 
The Lamb upon His throne;
Hark, how the heavenly anthem drowns 
All music but its own!
Awake, my soul, and sing 
Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King 
Through all eternity.

Crown Him the Lord of love; 
Behold His hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above, 
In beauty glorified:
No angel in the sky 
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye 
At mysteries so bright.

Crown Him the Lord of peace;
Whose power a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease, 
Absorbed in prayer and praise:
His reign shall know no end;
And round His piercèd feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend 
Their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown Him the Lord of years,
The Potentate of time;
Creator of the rolling spheres, 
Ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! 
For Thou has died for me;
Thy praise shall never, never fail 
Throughout eternity.

Matthew Bridges (1851)

Praise To The Lord, The Almighty

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: September—Day 15.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
The King of creation
O my soul, praise Him
For He is thy health and salvation
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near
Praise Him in glad adoration

Praise to the Lord
Who o'er all things so wonderfully reigneth
Shelters thee under His wings
Yea, so gladly sustaineth
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e'er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth

Praise to the Lord
Who doth prosper they work and defend thee
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
If with His love He befriend thee

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him
All that hath life and breath
Come now with praises before Him
Let the 'amen' sound from His people again
Gladly for aye we adore Him