40 Days: Day 21: Sight

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John 9:1-41

A Man Born Blind Receives Sight

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.  We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.”  His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.  Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.”  He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

Spiritual Blindness

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir?[f] Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

40 Days: Day 19: Daily Prayer V

5"x7" Acrylic on Paper

The next few posts will be examples of daily prayer with paint. 

40 Days: Day 18: Daily Prayer IV

5"x7" Acrylic on Paper

The next few posts will be examples of daily prayer with paint. 

40 Days: Day 17: Daily Prayer III

5"x7" Acrylic on Paper

The next few posts will be examples of daily prayer with paint. 

40 Days: Day 6: Water & Spirit

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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.”

A Walk in the Light

10"x20"x1.5"
Oil on Deep Edged Canvas

with Palette Knife

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My last new painting of 2016. This is an abstract which I think exhibits many of the lessons learned from this year's painting experience. This is also a taste of other new works soon to come. This painting is an abstract expressing the feelings of walking from darkness to light. Whatever paths we take in the new year, may we make every effort to walk in the light.

Happy New Year!

40 Days: Day 29: I Am the Way

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

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Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

40 Days: Day 25: I Am the Gate

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

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“I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.”

John 10:9

40 Days: Day 20: Rugged Cross

5"x7" Oil on Canvas Panel

with Palette Knife

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When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51

40 Days: Day 16: Glow

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“No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light."

Luke 8: 16-17

40 Days: Day 14: Transformed

5"x7" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

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I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Romans 12:1-3

40 Days: Day 8: Evensong III

3"x3" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife
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May the Lord, who is our peace, give us peace at all times and in every way. Amen.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

40 Days: Day 3: Let There Be Light

5"x7" Acrylic on Canvas

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Last fall, I visited our local Synagogue. During one of the prayers, there was a line about God creating light. There was a footnote on the page that explained that the line is more accurately translated as a "mixing" of light—as a painter would mix color. As an artist, I just loved that image of God mixing the cosmos like colors on a palette. It is also a beautiful way of thinking about the Incarnation—the Light of the World mixing into the lives of humanity. And what does that mean for us when Christ tells us that WE are light to the world?

For this meditation, I played with simple black and white acrylic—starting with the black and mixing in the light with a brush. 

40 Days: Day 2: Luke 18:9-14

6"x6" Oil on Panel

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Luke 18:9-14New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

40 Days

Tomorrow begins the season of Lent for 2016. Many people traditionally give up something for the next 40 days. My goal this year is to create something every day.

Beginning tomorrow, I'm attempting to produce 40 inspired works in 40 days. It's like the 30 paintings in 30 days challenges that I have done. But this time, I'm throwing the creative door wide open to include painting, illustration, photography, design and who knows what else. 

Stay tuned to see what happens.

What Wondrous Love Is This 18x24

18"x24" Acrylic on Deep Edged Canvas

with Palette Knife

As the lesson of Lent begins, I'm posting an enlargement of the hymn abstract of "What Wondrous Love Is This". You can see the original 8x10 here.


What Wondrous Love Is This
American Folk Hymn

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing His love for me,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Not Available

30 Paintings in 30 Days: January, 2015—Day 23

Feeling grateful today.

Prayer of Illumination

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days: January, 2015—Day 14

Whether it's seeking a word from scripture or finding God in our everyday lives, we all need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit to see and to understand.

Prayer of Confession

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

$75.00 (Unframed) + Shipping

$100.00 (Framed) + Shipping

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30 Paintings in 30 Days: January, 2015—Day 12 (Make-up) 

Let's face it. Nobody's perfect. And here's my confession: I did not do a painting yesterday. Therefore, to ensure that I actually complete 30 paintings in 30 days, I'm adding a second painting today. This one is aptly a prayer of confession.

Prayer of Supplication

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days: January, 2015—Day 13

"My Shepherd shall supply all my needs." Our daily bread includes more than just food. We all need portions of patience, creativity, compassion and courage to survive each day.  May this prayer help you to rely upon God for the things you need today.