WOCIC

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” –Psalm 27:13

Hope is the anchor of our soul! I believe great hope is inside our hearts, but we always have so much more to look forward to! When hope reaches our land, it will cause a ripple effect that will produce waves. These waves will continuously flood the land with goodness.

This was the day Pastor Jesse DiMartino came to speak.

I was not really sure what this one signified, but I wanted to paint it. The dark colors seem to be encroaching on the butterfly, but a thin layer of yellow prevents any intrusion. The butterfly and the white represent freedom and purity, while the yellow represents joy. Joy becomes a barrier, protecting freedom and purity. April Ducas titled this painting “Within”. She added that our strength truly comes from within.

”He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.” –John 21:6

Although there is only one fish in this painting, it is one among many. The background specs of gold and blue represent the netting. The hook represents the catch.

This painting accompanies the other painting entitled “Springtime in the Winter”. Like the previous painting, something is happening that is very rare: flowers are blooming in the night. They are growing quickly, as if a firework has burst them into a blooming frenzy, making them eager under the moon’s light. In actuality, this is the same tree in the night season (the other is growing in the day under the sun’s light). The tree still represents a believer. The blooming of the flowers (or fruit) takes place during the night hours, or during the dreaming hours. It is also under the moon’s light. The moon is a reflection of the sun, as the church is a reflection of  the Son. I think this signifies the growth of the individual (the tree), the Father’s dream (the fruit), and creativity (the leaves) in the context of the entire body’s light (the moon).

I was not really sure what this painting meant until I talked to Pastor Vin. It looks as though fresh snow has fallen. In the time of winter, many trees lose their leaves. It seems almost impossible for a tree to display any sign of growth under such harsh conditions. However, this painting makes it seem as if the tree and grass is beginning to sprout and grow. It as if spring is coming forth in the midst of winter. P. Vin began to talk to me about the number of inventions that happen in the northern hemisphere. Many people have to stop working for the winter season and in the midst of their time of rest, they dream. They discover and imagine witty inventions. They have time to think of solutions to problems that have existed or currently exist. For us, I believe this means that we will be able to see creative ideas for holistic sustenance come to the body of Christ at a time that looks like we should be in lack. We will see the springtime emerge in the midst of winter! (Hope, as in Song of Solomon 2:10-12)

Looking at it now, I see that it has a small cloud in the background. The church has spoken on a number of occasions about the coming cloud. I also think the cluster of leaves looks like a cloud. The neat thing about clouds is that they may seem to take the shape of so many things. One night I was looking at this tree and its cloud of leaves; I imagined I saw a lion and an eagle. While those images are not concrete, I think clouds hold potential for someone with limitless creativity and imagination. They seem to conform to whatever shape the imagination permits, whatever perspective the viewer holds.

  As I stared at a blank canvas, the Holy Spirit told me to paint a blue oval. I began to paint it, curious as to what would come forth. I painted more blue shapes around it, now well aware that I was composing a rose. I began to cry because it was significant to me. When I was little, I used to draw all sorts of things. I would give most of them to my Dad. I distinctively remember two sketches: one of his face and the other of a blue rose. I’m not sure what happened to the sketch of his face, but I still have the other drawing. I drew it in fifth grade (1998), which was a really difficult year for me. I wrote a poem about it entitled “Rose”. It read “Flower/Fragrant, beautiful/Grows on bushes/Elegant, colorful/Rose.” I find this significant for a few reasons. First, Jesus knows everything, even to the smallest details. Second, He has known me before the foundations of the world. Even when I was young, I was drawing and writing poems. I had no idea that Jesus would develop the creativity inside of me. When I was little I drew pictures for my Dad, but now I paint and write for my Heavenly Father. He is my Papa! He has turned my ashes into beauty; He has brought joy in the morning (the rising sun in the painting)! He has brought healing to my heart (the streaks of green) and a passion for creativity (the streaks of orange). He has been maturing the talents He has given me as the Father of lights. Every good thing comes from Him!

This particular painting went through a number of changes. Originally, I was going to paint a night scene at the beach with the moon hovering over the water. I painted about one-fourth of the canvas sky blue until I stopped. I took the canvas to our church meeting, hoping for some inspiration. I turned the canvas upside down and decided to use what had previously been the top of the painting as the bottom. Isn’t it like the Lord to turn something completely upside down? He made the sky, or the Heavens, be on the bottom (the earth). It became “on earth as it is in Heaven”. The blue now looks as if it is an underground river or aquifer.

The tree, which I believe represents believers, draws water from the river. The roots push through a dry, dull-colored sand. In part of the painting process, I had intended to paint a few Bible verses about ascending the hill of the Lord (Psalm 24: 3-6). The verses also spoke of seeking the Lord’s face. I remember hearing Pastor Vin talking about digging for oil. At first, the oil is plentiful and easily accessible. Over time, the oil has to be sought out through a much more rigorous process than at the beginning. I believe this somewhat relates to our walk as believers, continuously digging deeper to know the depths of His love and the mysteries of His Kingdom, continuously seeking His face.

Although the tree looks like it is dry, it is drawing up water with its roots. There are signs of growth (the small dots of green among the branches) as the boughs reach up toward the sunlight. The branches are surrounded by pockets of water; there is life all around the tree.

I had a number of people talk to me about this painting. Every single one of them commented on how the pockets looked like glimpses of the human heart and the branches like arteries.

(Stephen Swan helped me paint this particular piece.)

“The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul  in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

-Isaiah 58:11