2/02/17 PAINTING PARABLE:  FROM ADOLESCENCE TO MATURITY

I have been painting now for almost 2 years.  One year 30 years ago and then part of 2016.  I am still learning techniques and practicing with mixed media.  Today as I created the above painting, its process reminded me of a parable I read recently about painting.

To create this painting, first I did everything in a cheap brand of watercolor.  I am not very good at W/C yet as I have very few paintings I have actually done in full W/C because I keep trying mixed media.  Anyway when I was done with the background (wash) layer of W/C it was blurry, messy, runny and just didn't look  good at all.  That was because I added too much water and didn't let the layers dry.  It kind of reminded me of a mirage of what it was supposed to be.  I was frustrated with it and it didn't look good and I didn't know what to do to fix it!  I was ready to tear it out of my journal.  That was when I remembered a parable I heard someone say in a painting tutorial.

She was talking about a background wash on the canvas and she said something like, at this point you feel like giving up.  It is like being a scrawny teenager before it matures.  Next you have add layers of depth and details to it.

As I remembered that I realized there was a possibility I COULD save this painting and not throw it away.

I decided that layers of Inktense blocks would be the best choice for the details because they are much crisper and stay in place and don't re-instate and move around when re-wet.  Thus if there was a part of the blocks that I didn't like, I just kept adding new layers to it.  When I was done I was really BLESSED by the rich colors this method produced and the details that were missing in the watercolored layer.

Sometimes we feel like giving up because we aren't where we are supposed to be.  We just have to remember that God has more maturity to add to our layers of lessons and when He is done with what He wanting us to learn, we will have a wonderful blend of color in that area on our life!

Ephesians 4:13-16 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14 That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body being fitly joined together and knit together by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

1/25/17 HEARD:  Bringing up a daughter into the full measure and stature of Jesus Christ. How do we do that?  Very valiant daughter.  What you put your mind to, you can do it.  It’s not about will power, it’s obedience. 

WORD TO PONDER:  LEARNING YOUR LESSONS 2/02/17

Precious one, I hear your discouragements regarding the lessons I AM teaching you.  Yes I do bring you around the barn enough laps so that your heart, attitude and behavior is lined up with My will for your life.  I don’t judge you as you see your own miserable failings.  Precious one, I am working in your life, layer by layer and detail by detail until it finally creates the beautiful rich color I want to bring out through your life. 

Yes I want your obedience to be crisp, sharp and within My boundaries.  I have been working with you since childhood to bring your conscience and thus behavior to an acute attention to what is holy and what is not.  I see your improvements, lessons learned and growth.  Yes I am still working with you on these lessons, but I am encouraged as I see you grow into adulthood and maturity in Me.  Keep up the good work beloved one! 

Ephesians 4:13-16 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14 That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body being fitly joined together and knit together by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

As I was writing the above Word to Ponder I heard:  Keep up the good work beloved one!  [He is so precious to me!]