ADVENT WIND

Journey to Bethlehem

Oil on Panel for 

Rejoice! Advent Meditations with Mary

Book and Video

By Ascension Press

With every birth of a new child, parents go through a uniquely powerful journey together. It’s a whirlwind of emotions, anxieties and hopes.  As I imagined Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, I could not help but wonder how their “Birth Journey” might have been like.  I imagined Mary, trying to balance on the back of a donkey while Joseph leads them both through a harsh environment. In this painting, Mary relies on Joseph for support, both physically and emotionally. Joseph walks boldly and steadfast. Internally, however, he may be full of fears and anxieties of his own. Both of them showing their resilience, their trust in God, and the loving support they have for each other.

In this painting there are two, personally, favorite moments. The first one is Mary’s hand on Joseph’s shoulder. It’s such a sweet moment that brings the both of them together in a very loving way. The other moment is the blowing wind. The wind not only alludes to the harsh adversity of their experience, but it also hints to the presence of the Holy Spirit as they journey together.

40 Days: Day 6: Water & Spirit

5"x7" Acrylic on Paper

email me to purchase the original art

John 2:1-15, Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signsyou are doing if God were not with him.”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.  You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believesmay have eternal life in him.”

40 Days: Day 10: Quiet

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

O  Lord, my heart is not lifted up,

    my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
   too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,

    like a weaned child with its mother;
    my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.

O Israel, hope in the Lord

    from this time on and forevermore.

Psalm 131

Heron Flight

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

30 Paintings in 30 Days: January, 2015—Day 21 

Today is my son's 15th birthday. If there are such things a s spirit guides, My son's would be a Blue Heron. (See previous post here) So, here is a graceful heron gliding over the horizon of the lake. Happy birthday, son. 

Spirit

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

30 Paintings in 30 Days: September, 2014—Day 29

Spirit, spirit of gentleness. 
Blow through the wilderness, calling and free. 
Spirit, spirit of restlessness. Stir me from placidness. 
Wind, wind on the sea. 

You moved on the waters, You called to the deep, 
Then You coaxed up the mountains. From the valley of sleep, 
And over the eons You called to each thing, 
"A wake from your slumbers and rise on your wings."

You swept through the dessert, You stung with the sand, 
And You gifted your people With a law and a land, 
And when they were blinded With their idols and lies, 
Then You spoke through Your prophets To open their eyes.

You sang in a stable, You cried from a hill, 
Then You whispered in silence When the whole world was still, 
And down in the city You called once again 
When You blew through Your people On the rush of the wind.

You call from tomorrow, You break ancient schemes, 
From the bondage of sorrow The captives dream dreams; 
Our women see visions, Our men clear their eyes. 
With bold new decisions Your people arise. 

Cherry Spring

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

Spring is here! The bitter cold is finally gone and the trees are blooming. One of my favorite spring trees are cherry trees. Their blossoms are so delicate in both texture and color. More than than their visual beauty, I prefer listening to the ever-so gentle whisper they make when the wind blows though. It reminds me of God's spirit blowing and whispering through us.

The Gift of Love

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

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

Blue Heron

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 28.

The Great Blue Heron will always hold a special place in my heart. On the day that my son was born, the bird mysteriously showed up in a field that backed up to my yard. Ever since then,  the Great Blue Heron has made his presence known around milestones in my son's life. This graceful creature reminds me that my son is part of a larger community, and belongs to someone greater than all of us.

And the Spirit of God Moved Over the Waters

Since this is my genesis as a blogger, I thought this would be the appropriate starting piece. It is an idea on a passage from the first verses of Genesis. When the world was formless chaos, the spirit of God moved over the waters. Like a rising dawn, God's Grace conquers the darkness and calms the tidal forces of chaos. This passage begins a long history of special relationship between water and Grace. From the flood, to the calming of storms, to baptism, God continues to use this element of life to remind us of God's creating, and re-creating, love for the world.

There are actually two versions of this painting in existence. One was bought by a church, the other was commissioned to be reproduced at a larger size for a family. The husband is a Sea Captain. Whether you are on land or at sea, I hope you find peace and comfort in the loving God who is Lord over the chaos of life.