The Miracle of Rising Above Lies

Sometime amazing happened as I painted at the Prophetic Conference at Living Stone Christian Church last month -- something far beyond anything I could have imagined. As I brought the images to life that the Holy Spirit had placed on my heart to draw, the Lord began to break deep-rooted lies in my life -- things that I thought I had dealt with. But there was another level of freedom HE was bringing me to.

As a child I loved art, and wanted to be an artist when I grew up. But adults discouraged my dream. They said art was a frivolous luxury for the rich -- nothing important -- just a decoration -- not anything useful -- and nothing anyone could make a living out of. Three times in my life I walked away from art. Three times the Lord brought me back. Slowly, I began to see that the Lord had a purpose for His artists, and that the gifts HE gave us were meant to be developed and used as the Holy Spirit directed.

So I began to illustrate, paint and create art books with Jesus leading the way! And I saw time and time again, how the Holy Spirit moved with loving-kindness when hurting people saw the art HE prompted me to make. But at this Prophetic Conference, as people came forward and expressed how they were touched by what the Lord gave me to paint, the Light of God and the Truth of His Word seeped deeper into those dark, hidden, secret places in my heart, and God’s love rooted out the pain from my past. A new freedom and a greater understanding permeated my entire being. The taste of freedom was in my heart and in my hands. I felt light, uplifted, and FREE to be the artist HE called me to be!

So don’t be discouraged and think the talent or gift you have isn’t valuable. It is! And so are you! Jesus Christ has a plan and purpose for you that is greater than anything your mind can conjure. Seek Him first, and HE will bless you with a plan for your life that is written in Light -- the Light of Truth that breaks every lie, every hurt, every wound, every curse, and sets the captives FREE!  

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The Miracle of Painting in the Dark

It was exciting to have the opportunity to do a piece of prophetic art at church the Sunday before Christmas. Three other artists would also be painting in various sections of the large sanctuary. And since I would be off to the side and near the front, my painting needed to be big enough to be seen from across the room. Although I had done prophetic worship art before, it was my first time painting at Living Stone Christian Church.

God is faithful when we trust Him, so when I sought the Lord for wisdom, direction, and what image Jesus wanted me to paint, the Holy Spirit placed a wonderful idea in my head. As I sketched it out, it became apparent that the 24" x 36" painting needed to be worked on ahead of time, so I could finish it during the 45-minute worship and drama time.

When Sunday morning arrived, I made sure I was at church early enough to set things up. As the music began, I picked up the paintbrush and started to fill in the sections that needed to be completed. With joy and enthusiasm, I painted in an atmosphere of lively worship, letting images of dancing trees emerge from the background. This was such a fun way to worship Christ, using the art talent HE had given me.

Then the drama started, and that’s when something unexpected happened. The lights went out. I waited for them to come back on again, only to discover that a spotlight would be used to highlight the actors, while the rest of the sanctuary remained dark. It was then that I remembered something about the drama director mentioning that I should bring a light. Why hadn’t I paid more attention to her words?

It was too late to find a light to paint by, so I asked the Holy Spirit for help. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I noticed that the white spots on the canvas, where the holly leaves needed to be filled in, were slightly visible. Since the palette of green paint was already in one hand, the paintbrush in the other, I aimed for the white spots, trusting the Lord to guide my hand. When the lights came back on, all the holly leaves were finished. I quickly rinsed the brush, added more yellow ochre to the rock, threw golden glitter on it, and quietly slipped out of the sanctuary.

As I was washing out the paintbrushes, my heart was filled with joy because of what the Holy Spirit had done. HE gave me the idea, guided me along the way, and prompted me ahead of time to outline the holly leaves, knowing that the lights would go out, and then HE enabling me to paint in the dark. All honor, glory, and praise to the Lord God Most High! Thank you, Jesus Christ, for this opportunity to see your Hand at work and to paint for You.

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The Miracle of Snow!

Only a highly creative God could design water with properties that turn liquid into ice crystals when temperature drops. Only a wise, imaginative God can create a fluffy white blanket that not only buffers the ground and delicate plants from frigid air, but also lightens and brightens young hearts with a substance to sled upon and make snowmen.

Have you ever thought what kind of mind it takes to create a frozen substance that easily blows in the wind, packs tightly enough to make blocks for an igloo, and crunches loudly beneath our feet? Have you ever thought that snow might be a gift, a means, or a way to slow down, to practice quietness, or to be amazed at something beyond our control?

How often do we marvel at the splendor of the sparkling crystals that twinkle in delight when the sun shines upon them? Or ponder on the symphony of softness as snowflakes descend from the sky?  Or enjoy a winter walk through an opened field or sleepy forest? Or follow tracks left in the snow? How often do we embrace a snowfall as an opportunity to step out of our normal, everyday schedules to enter the wonderment of winter?

The mysteries of life are never solved in the busyness of life, but rather discovered in the forced moments of quietness that connect us with nature and with God.  An abundance of beauty and peace surrounds us when we open our eyes to perceive and our hearts receive, instead trying to squeeze more things into an over-packed day. May each snowfall become an opportunity for you to quiet your mind, lighten your load, and embrace the miracle happening around you.

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The Miracle of Provision

Two weeks before our tax was due, our accountant gave us the bad news. The amount we owed was way beyond anything we had on hand.  My husband and I didn’t know what to do. Yet Scripture talks about God providing for HIS people and declares that God feeds the sparrows, and that we are more valuable to God than the birds. In Matthew 10:31, Jesus Christ says, “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

So I took advice I read in a book by Nichole Marbach, about Jesus’ name being above all names: I wrote down the tax problem, plus a list of other issues, challenges, worries, concerns and fears. Then I wrote “Jesus Christ” in large letters at the top of the page, above the long list, acknowledging that HE is indeed higher than all things. I gave my list to the Lord and thanked HIM for being above all things and thanked HIM for being my Provider.

The day the bill was due, there was enough money to cover it. I took the envelope to the post office, asked for it to be hand-stamped to show the date it was mailed, and went home praising the Lord. For HE is never short on miracles.
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The Miracle of Faith

The strong wind is blowing continuously outside, as temperatures drop below freezing. The slushy driveway of this afternoon has iced over, and the car is safe in the garage. The warmth of my husband’s office – where the door remains closed to keep heat from escaping, is warm and toasty.

The difference between the frigidness outside the house and the pleasantness inside, symbolizes the difference between the physical and spiritual worlds. The physical world we live in can be harsh, cold and threatening. Christ’s realm is joyful, comforting and protective.

Every day we have a choice. We can let the bitterness of wrongdoings, the frigidness of angry words or the harshness of unforgiveness in people and situations around us, pull us down, or we can snuggle under the warm, protective safety of God’s wings. Choosing the later, is the miracle of faith. For where our thoughts are, our heart is.

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Happy New Year

Happy New Year! The focus on this blog for 2014 will be twofold: Miracles and prophetic art. Because miracles are amazing, and they give honor to God, they are important to talk about. Miracles also strengthen our faith and draw us closer to Jesus Christ, who did the greatest miracle of all – He reconnected us with God the Father.

And what a miracle it is to know that Yahweh is smiling at us every time we look at Him. For Ephesians 2:6 says that God the Father raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in heavenly places, to show us the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. This is an amazing miracle!

And the fact that you are still here today is a miracle, too. If you are alive, God has been watching over you. He has plans to prosper and grow you in ways beyond your imagination. This is the year to let Him do that, as you yield to the Lord. And as you grow closer to Christ, you will see more miracles happen.

Prophetic art is also a type of miracle. Prophetic art is art the Lord uses to speak to people’s hearts. This is a supernatural thing – a divine touch. And being an artist myself, I love to see how the Lord touches people’s hearts through art. And so this blog for 2014 will also talk about and include prophetic art.

The Miracle of Understanding through Prophetic Art

The Lord can speak to our hearts through the art we create. And that is what happened with a doll I made out of tissue paper, at a transition art class. It was a fun project and I came home happy. But when I climbed into bed, worry and fear about a recent problem, invaded my thoughts. It was a restless night and I woke up feeling terrible. I knew that the only place to find refuge was in the Lord. As I sought His comfort and advice, Jesus brought my thoughts back to the tissue paper doll. He showed me that I was fragile, like the paper doll, and that was OK. I may be lacking, but He is more than sufficient for all my needs. And growth in Him, represented by the green cloak, comes as a result of the joy of Jesus that springs up from within – represented by the happy, yellow color of the doll’s dress that is hidden under the green cloak. The tissue paper doll is also carrying a golden Christmas poinsettia, showing that the Lord uses fragile containers to carry His glory.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your wisdom and understanding. Thank you, for Your assurance that You are with us and that we can face any problem together, with You leading the way. You are more capable and more powerful than any obstacle before us. And thank you for turning this doll art into a piece of prophetic art – something that You used to speak to my heart.

Lynn is an established author/artist/speaker who not only continues to attend art classes, but also leads a prophetic art workshop every month. To find out more about her workshops or discover more encouragement and inspiration, sign up for Lynn's email newsletter.

Emerging Abundant Life

Beneath the chaos, confusion and lies, life is waiting patiently to arise. Darkness cannot keep it. Chains can't hold it down. Distance cannot prevent its passage, for God has called it to abound. Not in remote places, nor unreachable, rugged hills, not across the mighty waters, but in the hearts of those who sit still. For out of quietness and trust comes strength, and in repentance and rest comes salvation through Jesus Christ, the Giver of life in abundance.

May the wonder working miracles of God's power bring a breakthrough in your life.

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