Caressing Sovereignty
This painting is about the full paradoxical nature of God. God has a ferocious holiness or absolute intolerance of unrighteousness. But, He also has patience, mercy and gentleness that goes way beyond our comprehension.
God is the Master Potter. The potter’s pressure right hand corresponds to the roaring, ferocious lion, and the gentle holding left hand with the gentle lion. These two forces come together to form the pot. One can see the Refiner’s Fire with the fingers of the potter that applies pressure. The pot is being shaped into the image of Christ symbolized by the cross on the pot. There is also a pure gold wedding band for the Bridegroom being fashioned out of the opening of the pot. All of the universes and all that happens in our lives happens between the hands of the Master Potter. Nothing is outside of Sovereign God’s sight and ability to work good out of it.
Over all the Potter’s work there is the banner of love. The banner has three segments - Father, Son, Holy Spirit. It also gives some the impression of the Torah.
As for those dry bones the question remains, “Can these dry bones live?” (Ezekiel 37:1-14) God commands the prophet Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones, and then to prophesy to the winds to raise up a mighty army for the Lord. God could ask of the prophets today, “Can Israel be brought to the foot of the cross in recognition of their true Messiah?” The command of God could come to us, “Prophesy over Israel that she may breathe the living breath of this revelation!”
The menorah has been burning until the Messiah comes in all His glory. In Revelation 21:23 "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp." The seven “spirits” of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2) are represented by the menorah bowls. After the King of Kings, Lord of Lords comes there will be fullness of this revelation of Him... the lamps do not have to be lit any more.
The shofar blasts out the prophesy and heralds the coming King.
There is triumph over all that caused bondage.
The lamb leans into the untamed but gentle lion in full trust and rest. The lion welcomes the leaning lamb nestled in his mane. Both enjoy the intimacy and the lamb takes on the color and the nature of the lion.
King of the Universe
The first six words of Jewish blessings are: Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam. This means: Blessed are You, O Lord, our God, King of the universe. These words remind the speaker that one is connected to God on a personal level, a corporate level, and finally a universal level.
Through Christ we have been given a position with Abba God like the little lion cub has in this image....right in the heart of his father with ear at Father’s mouth. There is great protection here. It is a fortress.
Just as Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing, so this cub has his paw on Father’s. The sphere represents our sphere of influence. This sphere is being impacted and transformed by the cub, simply because of the cub’s position in his father. The breath of the King is gold and very much the major cause of this transformation of the cub’s sphere.
One can live out this image by entering into intimacy with Christ. I wonder, "Do you know this place?” and “Are you staying in this place?”
The King's Obsession
The word “obsession” means: to be preoccupied or fixated on something ……to have passionate desire for that to the point of not being able to think about anything else.
God created this planet for His pleasure. He is totally good. So, all that He created He wants it to come into His perfect goodness. All was created for that purpose.
The greatest pleasure God created for Himself is humankind, male and female. He created human beings for intimacy and love, first of all for Him and then for all that He created in right alignment with His order.
Love seeks to give itself away wholeheartedly to its “object”.
Jesus Christ laid down His life, before the foundations of the earth were laid. Before humankind sinned Jesus took full responsibility for redeeming mankind.
Jesus Christ’s passion to redeem, restore, reunite God’s creation to its Creator was enough to push Him through the hideous suffering of the cross, dying a torturous death. He has not changed.
The New Testament tells us that Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom and those who acknowledge/follow/love Him are the Bride.
THE BRIDE IS THE KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS, JESUS CHRIST’S OBSESSION.
As we move closer and closer to the time when all will see with their physical sight this ferrous obsession, it is as if the King is already mounted on the great white horse, looking to Father who will give the command as if asking, “Is it today, Father? Is it today I get to go get my Bride?” His heart is so full of the Bride that there is room for nothing more. She has taken His breath away!
As He gazes to the Father for the command the Holy Spirit blows winds of encouragement and strength to wait until the “fullness of time”.
We would be strengthened to see ourselves dancing within His heart and in watchful gazing as He is. We would feel the union between Bride and Bridegroom in this watchful gaze. We would be strengthened and equipped by Holy Spirit. We would suffer less from all the stressors that are trying to rob us of such life-giving revelation.
Painting this painting for me was one of the hardest of all, not only because of the challenge of the image but also by its intimacy and implications of the revelation. Many victories have been won through the delivery of the painting. I am most grateful. I am learning to live here in His heart.
Between Tender and Terrible
Christ is the Mercy of God. He sits on the throne at the right hand of Father God. His throne is the Mercy Seat. Christ manifests in two ways....as the slaughtered lamb and as the Lion of Judah. (Rev. 5: 1-8)
God is above time as we know it. The Lamb took all evil (past, present, future) on himself in silence. The roar comes with the Day of Vengeance....it draws near. There is an accounting right now for all who bear Christ’s name. Time is running out. “Choose you this day whom you will serve.” (Josh. 24: 14,15)
The Lion of Judah has white as snow hair, eyes of fire and a sword coming from His mouth. (Rev. 1: 13-16)
Justice rolls like a river. The Lamb’s blood flows. Mercy and Justice flow from the throne of God.
This painting encounters the viewer and challenges them to fear the Lord God Almighty as manifested through the Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder if you will let that happen to you.
Lamb of God (Version 1)
When I received this image layer by layer I originally saw the first layer as the old town of Bethlehem, because I knew God was wanting me to identify Jesus’ place of birth in the background.
As days passed I felt a disturbance with that image of Bethlehem. I still felt the prompting to paint the place of birth, however. So, I asked the Lord, “Why the disturbance? Jesus was born in Bethlehem.”
I got a sense of His reply. That Bethlehem was Jesus’ earthly location of birth, but not His spiritual location in being birthed into this realm.
HE WAS BIRTHED IN JOY.
Well….. that was a surprise to me.
I knew God called His people into His Rest, as if it were a place…… a “state of being” kind of place in God’s heart…… a place that you can only be in when you are right with God and completely trusting Him.
So this was not that much of a stretch to consider JOY a place to be born into and to live in. It is a fixed spiritual place, but all spiritual places require a huge struggle on earth to realize.
The apostle Paul said, “I have learned to be content in all circumstances…. whether in suffering and lack or in restful plenty”….. It was a learning out of the struggle and suffering for him, but he did it out of his intimacy with Jesus.
So all that allowed me to hear God take me into another sense of reality here in all the Christmas messages.
JOY! Its location is in the heart of God.
Hebrews 12 says …….“for the JOY that was set before him, Jesus endured the cross.”
There it was………. I saw Jesus remembering His birth place to be able to take us to be birthed in that same place of JOY. Christmas is about being birthed in that place of JOY with Jesus.
That is why in this painted image JOY emerged out of the star-filled cosmos. It was announcing the place of Christ’s birth just as the angels tried to sing it. YES, JOY TO THE WORLD. This very real place is now accessible through this one called the LAMB OF GOD.
Jesus was not just coming as a baby. Why was He born in a stable? “Behold, the LAMB OF GOD” said John the Baptist. Lambs know such environments and feel right at home there. Did we miss that revelation?
The stable was not fitting if Jesus was only a baby, but very fitting if He was the sacrificial lamb…………. AND HE WAS THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB FROM BEFORE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD. So the stable was only another proclamation or prophetic word from heaven to earth.
So that is why in this painting the lamb is in the “strawed” manger instead of the baby. This baby came with sacrificial destiny all over Him. It over-shadowed Him from before conception. Yes, there would be the walking out of what happened before the foundations of the world. And yes, suffering is part of what will reveal the true birth place.
Joy is not an emotion/it is far deeper than that. It is not happiness, yet it can cause happiness.
REALLY TRUE, STRENGTH-PRODUCING-JOY is a hidden place. It is the suffering and struggle that opens up that hidden place and allows others to see THE REAL THING……. THE JOY THAT IS ABSOLUTELY VICTORIOUS. It is a very rare gem. Unfortunately most Christians are NOT willing to pay the price for this rare gem.
The crown of thorns, the cross……… well, they will produce gold…… gold that will make the crowns that on the other side of this so-called reality we get to one day throw at Jesus’ feet crying out with all of heaven’s angels, “WORTHY……. WORTHY…….. WORTHY IS THE LAMB WHO HAS BEEN SLAIN FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD……. WORTHY…. WORTHY…. WORTHY!!!!!!!”
Yes, THIS IS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.
IT IS AN INVITATION TO ENTER THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR OF JESUS CHRIST AND FIND ABUNDANT LIFE IN THAT PLACE CALLED JOY…………. ENDLESS, LIFE-GIVING JOY.
This is Jesus’ gift to you this Christmas season…….. It is offered with all the love of Father-God’s heart.
May Holy Spirit counsel and teach you how to live out of the place called JOY.
MAY JOY BE YOUR HOME PLACE.
Lamb of God (Version 2)
Christmas Eve Painting 12/24/08
This version 2 was painted 'live' in front of my church's congregration on Christmas Eve as an interactive process and experience.
There was much for me to overcome within myself to open up that way and share a very vulnerable and intimate process with 'an audience' accompanied by 'performance pressure' to produce the painting within a limited amount of time.
The painting captures the energy of that unique and intense experience. It turned out to be a highly emotional experience all around...
Version 1 shown further above was the original revelation, my chance to 'practice' creating the painting before the 'live performance'. I believe each has a different feeling and nuances that make them an interesting study in variations on the same themes...
Longing
This painting describes the longing of Father God’s heart. He has been longing for the restoration of His creation since the Fall. Pictured here is the country of Israel standing out from the sphere. If you look closely you will see the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. Father’s mane touches Jerusalem as if He is holding an appointment there for His Son’s return.
The menorah I call the "Menorah of Promise", because it is in the same design as the one I saw in Jerusalem waiting to be placed when the new temple is built. As the Jews long for the new temple and God’s dwelling there, so God longs for His people to receive His plan of salvation....the gift He has already given in Yeshua the Messiah.
There is a hint that the Menorah of Promise is being filled with oil as Father’s mane flows over it. The time is drawing near when His longing will be satisfied. Deep calls to deep. Many people feel a stirring of the buried longings in their own heart as they gaze into Father’s face. He has a design and a plan lodged deep within us all. That would be His longing for us. It all fits into His bigger plan and His ultimate restoration of all that He has created. I wonder what would stir in your heart as you would gaze into this window.
Israel
In 1978 at Moravian Theological Seminary, at the close of one of my courses studying the book of Isaiah, reflecting on the history of Israel, this painting emerged. Touched by the verses, Isa. 11:1 and following...... “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse, from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.........” and Isa. 53:2 “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground........” I saw Israel’s history as like the history of some trees.
The single seed of Abraham, the sapling years, the maturing years and then the peek glorious years with King David and the beginning rule of King Solomon. Then came the years of turning away from God so as to cause such extreme decay, as the hollowed out dead tree, Israel got cut down and carried off to Babylon.
BUT, GOD FOREVER IS FAITHFUL! Out of a seemingly lifeless stump comes the shoot of hope. How might our lives look like this? Can you relate to this amazing story?
Fully Enter In
Deuteronomy 8:1-2, 7 - "Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart…… For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land – a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; A LAND WITH WHEAT AND BARLEY, VINES AND FIG TREES, POMEGRANITES, OLIVE OIL AND HONEY;…………."
For Israel the seven “species”, as it is called, (WHEAT, BARLEY, GRAPES, FIGS, POMEGRANITES, OLIVES, DATES ) are called the symbol of FULFILLED PROMISES OF GOD. They remind the Jews that God has and will fulfill ALL of His promises. It is a symbol of eternal hope. Artists of all kinds creatively set this symbol before the people of Israel. Gentiles would be wise and fruitful to inherit such wealth through Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus, the Messiah) and being grafted in heart into Israel. It is a symbol of God’s faithfulness in being a “more than enough” provider.
The archway in this painting was constructed out of painted tissue paper. The structure was inspired by the gate known as Zion Gate in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 28:16 - …….this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; ………your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the grave will not stand.”
“FULLY ENTER IN!” invites our God. His promises are as good as done (maybe not in our expectations or time frame of reference).
Enter into the FULLNESS of the MYSTERY, the unknown of God …..finding security ONLY IN HIS PERFECT LOVE AND PRESENCE where no fear can inhabit.
The risk of this is only a perception shaped by fear.
GOD IS ABSOLUTELY GOOD AND FULLY TRUSTWORTHY to make good on His promises.
FULLY ENTER IN!
His Final Roar
I was in Tel Aviv, Israel in a color symposium meeting when I saw in the heavenly realm this image now on canvas called His Final Roar. Later I found out that my brother in the Lord also saw this vision at the same time.
Translating it from the amazing radiance of light/color into acrylic paint was quite a struggle on many levels.
Fairly obviously the Lion of Judah being of white hair is from His portrait description in the book of Revelation.
Rev. 1:14: His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire…
The Lion of Judah is our covenant keeping God. He has shown Himself faithful to the 12 tribes of Israel (represented by the 12 stones in the priestly breastplate which He holds firmly in His mouth…His very breath raises dry bones).
On that day as the 12 tribes are gathered in and they say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” His final roar will cause all the beauty intended for Israel to shine over all the earth, becoming a life-giving blessing to all nations, all of creation.
Zeph. 3:20: At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home.
Micah 2: 12,13: I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their king will pass through before them, the Lord at their head.
Rev. 1: 7,8: Look, he is coming with the clouds, and EVERY EYE will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.
Matt. 23: 37-39: O Jerusalem, O Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, YOU WILL NOT SEE ME AGAIN UNTIL YOU SAY, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD’.
We watch God’s work with His people, the Jews, to know how close we are to Yeshua’s return.
The new Jerusalem is also represented here in the squared 12 gem stones. There shall be 12 gates with each gate naming one of the 12 tribes. Rev. 21:12
Some viewers have identified the teeth of this lion as the horns on the altar. Refugees ran to the horns on the altar for safety and protection. Here the 12 tribes find themselves in the 'horn of salvation' and on the altar as the mighty One roars through them. Each casts a different color and sound of the roar sounding much like a symphony. Each color speaks of a distinct attribute or facet of His nature.
One viewer said, “The sounds/colors converge in intensity and become a multi-faceted ‘ROAR’ of color and sound that breaks through time and space – backwards and forwards.”
ALL THAT EVER EXISTED WILL KNOW HIS FINAL ROAR! GET READY!
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
