Bride's Song

  On September 5, 2021, during Sunday worship I had this impression that Jesus was walking down the aisle by me with a lion at his side.   I began working on this painting.   I never know quite what will happen when I paint.   I thought the lion I was to paint would be majestic and wise looking but the lion instead was youthful, with eyes of anticipation.    I knew the painting wasn’t finished so I kept seeking Holy Spirit for what belonged in the fore ground.   The following week in Sunday worship I had the impression that Jesus was handing me a container of oil.   As I pondered many ways to depict oil in this painting an ancient oil lamp settled into my spirit.   This painting was emerging during the Jewish feasts of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.    I sent this painting out to my tribe, Incense Rising to see if they had any insight as to the meaning of this painting.  I certainly had my thoughts but I knew the richness of God...

  Are there times in your life you feel like God has abandoned you?   Prayers seem to be unanswered and heaven appears to be silent.   You wonder if you can take another loss, disappointment or crisis in your life.    In the middle of it all you ask yourself, “how did I end up here?” In the book of Ruth, Naomi, Ruth’s mother- in- law finds herself in that place.   She left Bethlehem in Judah with her husband and two sons during a time of famine seeking better provision in the land of Moab.   He husband, Elimelech died and Naomi’s sons married Moab women.   After 10 years both sons died and she was left a widow with her daughter- in -laws in a foreign land.   They were her only family in Moab and being a widow in their time in history was truly a crisis.   They had no one to protect them, no means of support and were at risk of starving if they did not find others husband or family to reside with.   There is much more to Naomi’s ...