The Dove 8/20/12

"Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.  And I say, 'Oh, that I had wings like a dove!  I would fly away and be at rest." Psalm 55:5-6

"He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark.  And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf.  So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth." Genesis 8:10-11

Heart of Flesh 7/25/12

"And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them.  

I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,  

that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them.  

And they shall be my people, and I will be their God."  

Ezekiel 11:19-20

These Things I Remember 7/23/12

So it's been a long time since I've made a piece of artwork.  I think about it almost everyday.  Part of the reason was I recently gone on a 3 week trip to China.  The trip involved some sweet time with a good friend of mine who lives in Henan, some sight-seeing, adventure, and interactions with people, culture, and history.  The trip also challenged me in ways that I'm still figuring out.

As you can imagine, I took a ton of photos.  This piece was inspired by one of my photographs.  I've also been thinking about trying other mediums lately, so I decided to give watercolor a chance.  I can't remember the last time I used watercolor.  Probably High School.  So I don't claim that this is an exemplary watercolor, but I enjoyed doing something different.  I think I may do more after this.

Here's the photo:

And here's my painting/drawing:

"My soul thirsts for God, 

for the living God.

When shall I come and appear before God?  

My tears have been my food day and night, 

while they say to me all the day long, 

'Where is your God?' 

These things I remember, 

as I pour out my soul: 

how I would go with the throng 

and lead them in procession to the house of God 

with glad shouts and songs of praise, 

a multitude keeping festival." 

Psalm 42:2-4 ESV

Made Alive 6/6/12

"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.  This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."  Colossians 2:13-14

Water 5/15/12

I've become part of an arts group that has started up through my church and this month, we were challenged to interact with a symbol.  I had a hard time with this at first, but a symbol that I've always been drawn to that shows up a lot in scripture is water.  So here's my interpretation:

“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:2

“They will neither hunger not thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun bet down on them.  He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.” Isaiah 49:10

"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" John 4:13-14

"let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:22

Outwardly Wasting Away 5/5/12

Sometimes I think I put a lot of pressure on myself to make art that has meaning and significance.  Then when I'm feeling uninspired, I will not make anything even though I probably would benefit from the time spent being creative.  Perhaps in these times, it's good to remember that there is beauty in simplicity and that just making something is better than nothing at all.  This week was like that.

"So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

4/27/12

"I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched.  My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God... But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.  At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness."  Psalm 69:3, 13