Becoming

The Müggel See spoke of spiritual transformation to me. I unknowingly saw myself as an icy lake with dry brittle grasses at its shore, sitting next to barren branches against an overcast sky. However, God sees the sun breaking through the clouds to melt my icy heart allowing life to flourish and move within me as life moves within water. God sees the trees blooming and grasses reseeding. The divine sees what we will become.

Beauty in Tension

As we seek God, He breaks through in our lives with love and revelation when we're experiencing doubt and discouragement (gray area) due to unexplainable life losses. The lower white area is the past, full of clarity but now clouded with current hurt. The area of text and bright color represents the moment God breaks through this place of tension with his words. His perspective becomes our focal point in the midst of difficulty. Threads of light can be our source of strength.

Risk of Faith

Risk of Faith is a comparison between overcoming doubts in my painting process and working though anxieties of unexplored paths. The intense red represents the constant loud voice of worry and fear when approaching something new. Fear can keep me from experiencing the beauty of the unknown. The yellow circles speak to moving forward in faith. The warm colors and hopeful text at the base of the piece give voice to the peace that is possible on the other side of uncertainty. Moving into the realm of the unseen can result in surprising delights.

In Humility

Unraveling

Bold Certainty

Not having control on the canvas and watching something bold and beautiful transpire is a good reminder that I can trust that God goes before me on this journey and can use my life circumstances to reveal unexpected joy.

Encourage

Sometimes I just need a reminder to let myself be bold….to look at life and take a chance with something that I’m passionate about. This painting gives me an encouraging push toward what might be next on the horizon.

Layers

The cracks in rocks draw my attention. While painting this I thought about how God's strength holds us together when we face tragedy and sorrow. In a similar way, a rock, when exposed to extreme weather is held together by the strength of the surrounding rock. The cracks become a part of our story. The cracks are touched by the sustaining, comforting presence of God. They become a bookmark of God's help and refuge during troubled times. "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2

Walk in Freedom

Walk in Freedom with devotion to the Lord’s commands. Find joy as you stay on the road revealed; His instructed plan. And on this path you will find wisdom follows close behind. Strength it gives to He who lives with Christ first in mind.

The water and mountains of this painting embody the stillness of nighttime where clarity and wisdom are nearby. The colors black, grey and blue are intended to illustrated peace-filled strength and calm wisdom. The words are held in by paths of black ink which symbolize roads taken in life. These roads run parallel to the mountains. As the mountains represent the majesty of God, it is my hope that your paths will run parallel to his glory.

Be Still

This painting represents a peaceful stillness that comes from understanding God's majesty as it presents itself in nature. Blue, black, gray and white resemble how mountains and water might look in the moonlight. The stillness of this landscape and time of day remind me of words found in Psalm 46:1, 10 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. He says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Sacred Place

This painting is a story of how a flood of overwhelming and sometimes grievous circumstances (black) intertwines with our daily commitments (blue). Even when the day to day seems good, sometimes the mix of stress threatens to pull us under. But there can exist a sacred place (white) in the midst of tumultuous times which is the peace of God entering our story as a point of calming grace. All of theses factors exist together to create a picture which is beautiful while filled with tension.

Allegra's Dream

My daughter dreamt that I painted something square with a lot of reds for our friend, Mat. As I had been thinking about what to paint for him, I began with her dream and added a song that was his favorite at the time. The colors and thread of light gray through the middle reflect the lyrics of the song.

Diverging Paths

Sometimes growth means going in a similar but separate direction. The past is in sight and remains an important part of our story. The rich lessons we learn from our previous years can create a rich foundation to inform our future.

Planted

We are surrounded by a consistent reminder of growth as we look to the promise of abundant life through Christ. If we allow ourselves to place our circumstances in the presence of God’s perspective, our life moves along like a stream held at the banks by love and grace.

Blooming

At times we find ourselves in a long period of layered growth. In retrospect we realize all those layers were moving in a distinct direction. The intensity or color and the upward movement of this painting are reminders that we are free to flourish and can expand toward the next steps in our journey with trust in God’s purposes.

Bold

This series is meant to show how strength can be found in the organic growth of relationships. In the overlapping colors there is boldness, movement and texture. Similarly, when our life intersects with another, a new beauty and richness can be experienced.

Overlap

This series is meant to show how strength can be found in the organic growth of relationships. In the overlapping colors there is boldness, movement, and texture. Similarly, when our life intersects with another, a new beauty and richness can be experienced.

Progress

One color moving into another reminds us of the fluidity of transitions. During the demands of change, each day can seem separate; disconnected and insurmountable. As time moves forward, we can find that change may be progress. God is constantly moving around us to blend our experiences with his beauty and purposes.

Retrospect

When looked at in retrospect, the obstacles in our paths can take on new meaning. Stepping back and taking in an overall picture reveals clearer perspectives. What seemed like obstacles become stepping stones along our journeys. And near to each stone or obstacle exists flourishing movement.

Psalm 23

Rock Series

Each layer represents a distinct moment or stage of our overall story. Every crack and crevice, no matter how disruptive, is an undeniable layer of our life. Building from one chapter to the next, our stories take shape and create an overall picture of something full and intricate as years progress.

Calm

A marriage blessing to friends. May this marriage be a place of calm. And may many layers of love, peace and joy overflow here.

Beauty in Transitions

Layers. Storms, calm and times of vibrance create the layers which build our individual stories. Each part, although separate by color and line, is part of the overall piece. This analogy to our own lives touches on the idea that looking back over time gives us clarity about our journey and its various seasons. Each season interacts with and builds upon the next.

The Gift of New

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