Fruit of the Spirit

24 x 24
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Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Note: Each fruit of the spirit is buried in each flower.

My initial fruit of the spirit painting was the first one in which I incorporated scripture. The idea that came to mind was to paint a flower arrangement with each fruit of the spirit painted or glued in each flower. Halfway through the painting, I started wondering if it made any sense. After all, flowers are not fruit so why was I painting the fruit of the spirit on flowers? At the same time, I was really falling in love with painting, so much so that I feared it could become a major distraction in my life and take time away from family and God, but I was finding so much joy in painting, and really felt that God had put the desire in me to paint and create. Therefore, I asked my husband to pray with me and asked God to confirm for me if He was in this. That night after praying with my husband, I picked up a devotional and read the following devotion of the day.

"In a Ralph Connor book, a wild, wilful lass, Gwen, always accustomed to having her way, meets with a terrible accident which cripples her for life. When she is in a rebellious and aggressive state, a sky pilot, or mountaineer missionary, tells her the parable of the canyon.

"At first, there were no canyons, only the broad, open prairie. The Master of the Prairie one day walked through its tall grasses and asked the Prairie: "Where are your flowers?" The reply was: "Master, I have no seeds".

The Master spoke to the birds. The birds carried seeds of every kind of flower and strewed them far and wide. All summer long the prairie bloomed with crocuses, roses, buffalo beans, crowfoot, wild sunflowers and red lilies. The Master was pleased, but he missed the flowers he loved best - the clematis, the columbine, sweet violets, windflowers, ferns and flowering shrubs.

Once again the Master spoke to the birds. Again they carried all these seeds and strewed them far and wide. But the winds swept fiercely, the sun beat mercilessly. The flowers did not remain. They either flew or withered away.

Then, the Master spoke to the Lightning, who in one swift blow cleft the prairie to the heart. The prairie rocked and groaned for many a day in agony, mourning over its gaping wound. But, the river poured its waters through the cleft, bringing rich, dark soil with it.

Once again the birds strewed seeds, this time in the canyon. The rough rocks were soon covered with soft mosses and trailing vines. Clematis and columbine grew from every nook. Great elms lifted their huge tops high up into the sunlight. At their feet clustered low cedars and balsams. Violets, windflower and maidenhair bloomed. The canyon became the Master's favourite resting place for rest, peace, and joy. Then the "sky pilot" said to her, " 'The fruit or "flowers" of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,...gentleness', and some of these grow only in the canyon."

Gwen softly asked, "Which are the canyon flowers?" The missionary answered, "Patience, kindness, and gentleness. Yet even though love, joy, and peace may bloom in the open spaces, the blossom is never as beautiful, or the perfume as fragrant, as when they are found blooming in the canyon." Gwen sat very still for quite some time, and then longingly said with trembling lips, "There are no flowers in my canyon-only jagged rocks." The missionary lovingly responded, "Someday they will bloom, dear Gwen. The Master will find them, and we will see them too."

The devotion above not only confirmed some things God has been teaching me over the past year, but also confirmed the concept behind the flowers of the spirit painting. I realized it had not been my idea to paint the fruit of the spirit on the flowers but His. Knowing that He was speaking to me concerning these paintings confirmed for me that God does desire that I express my faith through painting and art. I never imagined that God would allow me to express my faith in a way that brings me so much joy! Genesis 1:27 tells us that we were created in God's image, and God was certainly creative when He made the earth. He "painted" the flowers and animals, and saw that his creation was good. He delights in his creations. Its only natural that his creations, human beings, love to create, and I believe he desires that we use our creativity to bring glory to Him. My prayer is that these paintings would bring life and joy to those who view them and that they would be constant reminders of the truth in the homes where they hang. I pray that as Deuteronomy 6 tells us, they would be like God's word "written on our doorposts and on our gates"-a constant reminder of God's word and his love.

My three year old namesake ended up with this painting. When her mom showed her the painting, she asked if she could smell the flowers. Maybe next time I'll paint her a scratch and sniff version of "Flowers of the Spirit." I pray that the fruit of the spirit would naturally flow from her life as she grows closer and closer to Christ and that when she comes to her "canyons", she would remember that God is working in her life in ways she may not understand, but all that He has for her is good. Amen

Singing Flowers

14 x 24 Isaiah 55:12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you and the trees of the field will clap their hands.

I painted "Singing Flowers" while staying in my aunts home in Highlands, NC and brought it home with intentions of finishing it and putting it with the others to be sold. I had been praying about a scripture to put with it, and the verse, "you will go out in joy and be led forth in peace" kept running through my mind. So I settled on that scripture and put my finishing touches on it. When my seven year old, Mary Helen, saw the painting, she fell in love with it and asked if she could have it for her room. I didn't take her seriously at first because if it was up to her, none of my paintings would ever leave our home and her room would be her mom's art gallery. I didn't think the colors were right for her room, because there was no purple in her room, and I told her I would paint her another one that would match her room better. But she persisted and seemed incredibly determined that the painting was to go in her room. She said she didn't care if the colors matched, and I began to think that maybe she had a point. She was starting to become a little testy about it, and I could see that I wasn't winning this battle without a fight. Choose your battles, they say, so I told her we'd take a look and see if it worked in her room. When we put it on her wall, she looked at it and then looked at me with the biggest smile you've ever seen. I looked around her room and realized it matched perfectly. I had never noticed the purple in her curtains-the other colors had overshadowed it. It was made for her room. Then I remembered the scripture God had given me. "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you and the trees of the field will clap their hands." Then it hit me. Without knowing it, I had painted this painting for her. Mary Helen has a deep love for nature and is fascinated by creation. She is amazed by every flower, every insect, every animal, and all that God has made. On our last trip to the beach, we were looking for shells and stumbled upon a dead jellyfish covered with sand. I wanted to cover my nose, but she and her sister bent down and scraped every ounce of sand off of him so they could see his true colors. Then, she looked at me with eyes as big as canonballs and said, "Oh Momma, he is beauuuuuuuuuuuuutiful". God's creation truly "bursts into song" before her. The day after we hung the painting in her room, she drew a picture of some flowers and said "Mom, look, they are singing." So I chose to name her painting "Singing Flowers". Now when I lay down with my girls at night, I look at her painting and pray that she would "go out in joy and be led forth in peace" and that Gods creation would continue to "burst into song" before her. I pray that she would know the inexpressible joy of the Lord that causes us to see things from the eye of the creator, that when she looks at his creation, it would burst into song with evidence of who has made it. Isaiah 55:13 goes on to say that "instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lords renown..." I pray that for God's fame and glory, the soil in her heart would grow "pine trees and myrtle", and I claim that verse for my child because the Lord has now spoken it to me through his word. Amen.

For I know the plans I have for you...

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24 x 24

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I painted this for my godchild. She is an adorable child with a godly mother who is raising her in a loving christian home. I love to know for whom I am painting so that while I paint I can pray the scriptures that come to mind for that person. I pray that my godchild would always know that the Lord has plans to prosper her and that every time she looks at the words in this painting, she will be reminded that God "knows the plans he has for her" and that they are good.

Note: if you look closely , the words, "For I know the plans I have for you..." are written in blue circling around the inside edge of the vase.

Under His wings you will find refuge

14 x 16
Sold Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers and, and under his wings you will find refuge...

I paint on wooden frames that are constructed by a good friend who goes to church with us. He is an excellent wood worker and builds beautiful furniture. I painted this as a gift to he and his wife for giving their time and resources to build the frames. Daniel and Jenny live on a farm and this past year, they raised sixty baby chickens. They have two adorable boys and are raising them in a Godly home. They are surrounded by nature and all of the wonderful lessons that can be learned through raising animals and planting gardens.
I had been praying about a painting for them and one night while I was reading a mother goose book to my 2 year old, I came across an adorable picture of some chickens. Daniel and Jenny's painting immediately flashed through my mind. I could see it beginning to come together. When I finished the book and put my child to bed, I asked my husband if he had any thoughts about what I should paint for Daniel and Jenny and the boys. He said, "How about chickens?" So chickens it was. I pray that like baby chicks under the wings of its mother, Daniel and Jenny and their boys would always know that they are safe and secure in the refuge of our loving God. Amen

..the joy of the Lord is your strength

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24 x 24

Nehemiah 8:10 ...for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

24 x 24

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Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is Good

Recently, I had a craving for chocolate chip ice cream, so I treated myself to a carton from the nearest grocery store. One night, after tucking my three girls in their beds, I reached into the freezer and placed the tub of ice cream onto the counter. The plan was to have just a few bites, but it tasted so much better than I had imagined. Before long, my "tasting" turned into a heaping bowl of ice cream. Knowing and experiencing God is a lot like tasting ice cream. Once you have truly tasted the goodness of the Lord who relates to us in a real and personal way, you desire to experience more and more of him. Like ice cream, my life with Christ has proven to be far richer than I had imagined. Taste and see that He is good. Then, your hunger for Him will cause you to dig even deeper.

Note: If you look closely at the ice cream cone on the far left, you will find the scripture "Taste and see that the Lord is good," buried in the cone. The background color in this photo is not totally accurate. It is actually a lighter more olive green.

Clothes

12 x 24
Sold Matthew 6:28-29 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Fruit of the Spirit

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24 x 24

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self control.

This was the first fruit of the spirit painting that I created. It belongs to my close friend, Michelle. She is a beautiful picture of Galatians 5:22-23. She has been an incredible encouragement to me with these paintings and throughout my entire christian journey. She has an amazing gift in encouraging people and building relationships. I am thankful for her friendship, and all the joys and trials we have walked through together. Thank you Michelle for all your encouragement!

Project for Mary Helen's first grade class

The children in my oldest child's first grade class helped me paint this for their teacher's birthday. Each of the children painted one of the flowers, or added fabric and paper. Their flowers are always so interesting, and I love to see their different styles of painting!

Sing for joy at the work of His hands

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9 x 9 Psalm 92:4 For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

Lucy, a close friend of mine bought this painting for the dedication of her baby, Lulie. When Lulie came into the world, her mother almost died in childbirth, but God used a close family friend to save her life. I chose this scripture for her because she is an incredibly grateful and joyful person. She has been made glad by his deeds in saving her life and she "sing(s) for joy at the works of (his) hands". Her precious daughter, Lulie, like the rest of us, is the work of God's hands, and we are thankful for her life and her mother's life.

Gather in my name

24 x 14
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Matthew 18:19-20 Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

The Flowers of the Field

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9 x 9 1 Peter 1:24-25 For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."

This painting is special to me because it was the first one I sold. I had not yet started incorporating scripture into paintings when this one was sold. My friend, Olivia bought this painting. She is a very talented painter and has been an inspiration to me in so many ways. She exudes godly confidence and just in watching the way she lives, it has encouraged me to put myself out there with my paintings and be confident in my own style of creativity.