Refuge

"The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned." Ps. 34:22
TFL!
Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - April Week 4

It was the first week back at school again this week after over two weeks holiday and returning to routine seems to be getting harder! Life has kept me away from the computer a lot and there's been a lot of driving around, but we're planning a movie day and some relaxation for the weekend!

Each day I see or experience something that makes me stop to give pause and realise how much we have to be thankful for. I love that I'm more aware of these things now - just as it should be! One of the things I am regularly inspired by is the kindness and creativeness from everyone at His Kingdom Come! The sense of community, the artwork, the kind words and thoughts and the pure caring so evident there is so uplifting! If you'd like to be a part of this and join in the fun you can find His Kingdom Come HERE!

So with that in mind, here's my piece for April Week 4 - have to say this is possibly my favourite piece of the year so far!

April Week 4 - A Living Hope

I did all the suggested reading and found the following passages from various sources that really spoke to me:

- It is nothing less than an almighty power that will bring a soul to believe in Christ, and to venture its all upon his righteousness, and upon the hope of eternal life.

- If God can spare His Son from defeat by death, he can spare us from defeat by life.

- Here then is the new community, the called-out ones, from both Judaism and paganism, that now constitute the church.

- The fulfilment of the Father's purpose for the Son is his lordship over the church. Jesus, who fills the whole universe with his presence and governs the entire creation with his given authority, finds his completion as Head of the body, the church.

- God wants us to know what is the hope of this calling - your salvation does not rest on you choosing Christ but on his choosing you.

I think the three commentaries I found that really inspired me are these:

- Knowing you are saved because in eternity god purposed to save you, and that His purpose is certain, will give you assurance when struggling with doubt or failure. It will encourage you to go on. It will fill you with thanksgiving, joy and hope.

- The hope of His calling is the certainty of increasing blessing and joy in Christ, beginning now and lasting through all eternity.

If we are the called according to God's purpose, then we know that he is actively working all things together for your good, both in time and in eternity. So even in the most difficult trials, we can be filled with hope.

- ...that God should set such high value on a community of sinners rescued from perdition and still bearing too many traces of their former state, might well seem incredible were it now made clear that he sees them in Christ, as from the beginning he chose them in Christ. (FF Bruce).

Again, I had absolutely no image in my head with which to illustrate hope! I looked up what is said to be the colour of hope...I knew green was was surprised to see also blue and white mentioned. So I wanted the piece to be in those colours.

I again used textures, blended, to create a background 'scene', then added some waves and birds as it seemed to fit better to have a seascape than a landscape this week! As well as hope I wanted to illustrate the almighty power of God as mentioned in the first commentary's words, so I quite liked it being more of a 'rough' image (as opposed to refined!). I darkened the sky on the top right a little and then added stars across the piece to represent the 'whole universe' and 'entire creation', also mentioned above. I also added more tiny birds, in white.

I'm hoping this piece comes across as hopeful and powerful combined!

Created with CU textures and brushes.

TFL!

Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - April Week 1

Holy Week, leading to Easter. Such a momentous time; I can hardly believe it's here! 

I'm so lucky to be surrounded not only by family and friends IRL, but also by the lovely people at His Kingdom Come who are such an inspiration and a help on my journey of faith. I'm very thankful for them, especially at this time, when I'm reminded of how much I need Him..and how much I need to let go and trust that He will nurture and save, and also trust that He will work out every situation according to His will.

So to business!
April Week 1 - He Is Alive

I looked up definitions of the words given and was quite surprised! Just shows how you hear and say these words without knowing the full impact of them sometimes!

I found the following commentaries on a couple of them that drew me in...

Hosanna: "So as Jesus rode the donkey to Jerusalem, the crowds were correctly shouting 'Hosanna!' and acknowledging Jesus as their Messiah. A cry for salvation and a recognition that Jesus is able to save. The people cried out for salvation and that was exactly why Jesus had come. Within a week Jesus would be hanging on a cross."

Hallelujah: The words 'praise the Lord' are used over 50 times in the Bible but not as a translation of the word Hallelujah. Hallelujah is only used in Revelation 19. The scene opens in Heaven where a great multitude has gathered before the throne in the immediate presence of God himself, after the final overthrow of the enemies of the Church and the triumph of the Gospel. A song of thanksgiving is uttered in which all beings could unite. Hallelujah is the only word grand enough to express their rejoicing.

An image then came to mind of the path that has been in my March pieces, leading towards Easter, finally reaching its destination of the Cross. There would be light and the light rays as in previous weeks, as well as the path with flowers. I wanted the Cross not to seem sad and horrid, although of course it was. I wanted to pick up what was said in the devotional - that without Good Friday we could not celebrate Easter. Plus the feeling of Jesus being recognised as Messiah and being able to save. So I wanted it to be more positive, strong and not something looking like defeat.

I went on to read Revelation and in Rev. 22 found Jesus described as 'bright morning star.' So I added that to the piece as even more of a positive sign!

The colours are bright, not morbid, although I left some dark in the sky to acknowledge the evil and sadness. I drew out the size of the shadow of the cross to add impact and bring it right up to the viewer - drawing us in.

I'm hoping the light around the cross conveys a feeling of power and hope - all these feelings mixed up in one image for me! Yet having prayed before starting, this piece just flowed!

created with CU brushes and a CU cross and layer style.

TFL!
Bernie x