Unexpected Journeyfeatured

Let’s all just agree that God has a sense of humor!  He has to!  Otherwise, he wouldn’t ask a 67-year-old grandmother-type with 6 months of painting experience to write Christian devotionals inspired at least in part by her art work. 

In Isaiah 55: 8 God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways.” As I thought about this, it occurred to me that God has a habit of asking the unqualified or unlikely to do something that seems ridiculous from the world’s point of view.  Some examples:

• He told a “slow of speech” fugitive from justice (Moses) to lead His people out of Egypt.
• He told an adolescent, shepherd boy (David) that he would make him King of Israel.
• He asked an unmarried, teenage girl (Mary) to bear His Son.
• He called a persecutor of Christians (Paul) to become His agent in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.

Clearly his ways are not our ways!  Now, what He has called me to do is hardly of the magnitude of these Biblical examples but let me just share my lack of qualifications!

• I had my first art class ever in November of 2017.
• No one would ever use the words “Biblical scholar” in the same sentence with my name.
• While I have been a Christian a long time, I’m an extremely slow learner especially when it comes to applying the truth of God to my life on a consistent basis
• My devotional writing has been limited to a few mini-devotionals for my Bible study small groups.

But God in His gentle way has made sure that certain Bible verses were absolutely “in my face” as I contemplated this journey with Him.

• Philippians 4:13 – “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
• 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

So, let the journey begin!

For each of my paintings, I find a Bible verse that seems to capture something about that painting.  At the top of this devotion, there’s a “slice” of  “Grace Flows.”   The verse for this painting is 2 Corinthians 9:12, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

I am clinging to that promise as I start this journey. By the way, this promise applies to you too, so grab ahold of it with me!

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