My goals for the coming year … I want to create a series of paintings that represent some of my favorite bible stories, and maybe some you are not so familiar with. When I am reading scripture, I become immersed in the story, so much so, in fact, that I can see the entire scene playing out in my head. I can’t help but “stop” on occasion and take notes about what I envisioned while I was reading, and can see how it would make a beautiful, interesting, or powerful painting. This painting of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, is the first in this series of paintings I hope to create of the Bible’s most recognized stories, and also some that are not so recognized. I want to tell a story with my paintings, not just the ones we all know, but others that aren’t so well known. A journey through scripture you might say, that pulls people into the painting wanting to know more. If I can do that, in what life I have left, I will have more than achieved my purpose in this life.

I just finished reading 1st Samuel and am now in 2nd Samuel. It’s like a great novel you can’t put down! It is also “deep” in the context of the stories, the violence, the disregard for others at times, the insufferable need for power and inhumane justice. The other night I actually went to bed upset, crying, and speaking to God telling Him how much I did NOT understand the barbaric justice and power grabs of that time. Why were whole nations destroyed? Even King David was a sinner, and a number of his choices leave a lot of questions in my mind. But, I have a number of ideas for paintings from the stories within these books that hope will materialize. Like 1st Samuel Chapter 17 … breathe in and read about David and Goliath. It will give you chills! Or, 2nd Samuel Chapter 12 about how the Lord punished David for taking the wife of another man who was below his status as King, for his own, had her husband killed intentionally, married her, got her pregnant, and the baby boy, born full term, dies while King David is in a room on his knees, head to the ground, weeping and praying for a week with no food or water. You’ll just have to read it. It is intense. All of these stories are heart wrenching, exciting, incredible, powerful, and worthy of our questions and our time to reflect on God’s purpose and message within each story … from his blessings to his judgments. Many you will find harsh, as I have, but of course, this was a different time, and life was by far more barbaric. Power was everything.

So, that’s where my head has been lately … in God’s Word, fully immersed in stories that have me scratching my head “why?” and “I don’t understand why God did this” to “WOW, God sure took care of that!!!” From the blessings to the judgments, the stories of faith and redemption, and PATIENCE, are powerful and speak to the power of our Lord and Father, the maker of all the heaven and earth. There is nothing more incredible than actually having a personal relationship with Jesus, God the father, and being clothed with the Holy Spirit. It is life changing on so many levels.

I look forward to creating some beautiful paintings this coming year, and I hope you will follow me on this journey through scripture. In the meantime, I wanted to share this first painting with you, the one that began my creative journey through scripture …

My painting “Silent Adoration: The Word Made Flesh” 18×24 oil on canvas. I took the painting to a professional framer, and it has been donated to Weddington Methodist Church, Weddington, NC. I’m honored that my painting will be enjoyed by many at our church.

NOTE! PRINTS are available of this special painting of the Nativity. To order yours, please click HERE