My painting to represent 2016!

My painting to represent 2016!

  "I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground." Isaiah 41:18
"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Isaiah 43:18
Have an amazing New Year!

A Light Has Come

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Isaiah 60:1-2 NIV

When you look and see darkness all around, even
thick darkness, look up and trust in this promise.
It is then that the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
His glory will even appear over you.

See another translation:
Arise, shine; for thy light is come,
and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee.
For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
 and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee,
and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Isaiah 60:1-2 ASV

I believe wherever we go, if we are filled with Jesus,
His light and glory can shine through us and even be
seen on us. People who need hope, who need help,
who are wallowing in gross, thick darkness, are
brought into our path.
Choose to shine, draw close to
Christ, He will heal people through you.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."
 Matthew 5:14 NIV

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
1 Corinthians 12:27

His Hallelujah Lasts Forever

Psalm 111:10 in the Message Bible says, "The good life begins in the fear of God- Do that and you'll know the blessings of God. His Hallelujah lasts forever." In the Amplified Bible the last part of the verse says, ""A good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever."
What does this look like? As my mind was exploring this verse I imagined all of history, people's voices intertwining in the heavens. The picture was voices going up all the praise meeting together in a great flow, a great river of sound and praise, every "Hallelujah", every "Praise you Lord" coming up together never fading, a constant reverberation in the heavens. Every praise literally lasting forever, a great swell of adoration; coming to crescendos as chosen times in history. The dedication of Solomon's temple, the birth of Christ, the Resurrection of our Savior, being just a few but also the greatest. Imagine every praise, starting with Adam, King David's Psalms, Deborah, Moses' Mother when he was saved from the Nile, the small sounds of a joyful child, the singing of choirs, the voice of Jesus Christ on Earth, reverberating forever in the heavens, eternal. The words of saints throughout history, many names, lives, and faces forgotten by all on earth going on forever in the ears of our Lord. The "thank you God" of George Washington, the prayers of my 6 year old son, the dying breath of an old woman meeting her Lord, and the "Amen Jesus" of my one year old. The promise of Psalm 111 is that every praise of the righteous endures, resonates, forever; for the rest of eternity. Praise the Lord!  

Arise and Shine!

Arise and Shine!

Now is the time to seek the Lord and be filled with His presence. In His presence all darkness flees quickly. Then you will shine.

Meditate on the words below from the prophet Isaiah.

1ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.
3And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4Lift up your eyes round about you and see! They all gather themselves together, they come to you. Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried and nursed in the arms.
5Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and tremble with joy [at the glorious deliverance] and be enlarged; because the abundant wealth of the [Dead] [a]Sea shall be turned to you, unto you shall the nations come with their treasures.
Isaiah 60:1-5 (Amplified Bible)