The Journey

Below is a video in response to my art titled, “The Journey”:

Below is a video to describe my art, along with some general encouragement and a prophetic word for the body of Christ. Topics include learning to embrace and enjoy the present moment; getting our hearts and minds ready for God to use us on the mission field at any given moment; surviving perilous times with joy and peace; and receiving the promises of God with a posture of worship and gratefulness. This video was made on Sunday, November 13, 2022 (Sorry, I’m not sure why it came out so large, and I don’t know how to make it smaller.)

Some notes about my video

The prophetic word applies mostly to the body of Christ, but salvation is available to all: Although these words apply mostly to those who choose to follow Christ and dedicate their life to serving Him, anyone can be a believer and follow Christ! God wants all people to be in his family and receive eternal life (2nd Peter 3: 9-10.) All you have to do is ask, and God will be your Lord and Savior (John 3:17-20; Matthew 7:7-8.) When you ask, God will also give you His Holy Spirit as a deposit (2nd Corinthians 1:22) who will guide you into all Truth (John 16: 12-13). All you have to do is believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, was crucified on the cross as atonement for our sins, rose again on the 3rd day, and as a result set us free from the curse of the law and the curse of death (Galatians 3:13). This means you will go to heaven when you die, but you will also receive salvation and deliverance on this Earth. By believing this, that Jesus’ blood was shed on the cross for redemption of mankind, you will be set free from the bondage of sin and sickness…but you must believe this to be true. It is a choice whether or not to believe. You must also do what God tells you to do and make God first in your life; You must make God your first love and priority (1st John 5; Exodus 20:3-5). You can receive instructions on how to live your life in the Bible, and you can also learn to hear God speak to you (John 10:28-30), but what you hear must line up with the Bible and what it says about who God is and what He’s done (Jeremiah 29:8). Otherwise you could get our own thoughts mixed up with God’s voice or even hear the enemy and think it’s God, so the Bible will help you discern and walk uprightly (2nd timothy 3:16-17; James 1:5; Hebrews 4:12) If you fall short (Romans 3:23-24) then you can repent, ask for forgiveness, and receive forgiveness (1 John 1: 9; 2nd Corinthians 7:10; Psalms 103:11-12.) It’s that easy! You just have to be sincere when you ask and make an earnest effort to turn away from sin. God’s Holy Spirit will help you (John 14:15-18).

A note about “all things working together for good” for clarification: In the video I said, “All things will work out for the good regardless of whether or not we are following God.” What I meant was that God’s Kingdom is going to advance with or without us, whether we cooperate or not. If we don’t cooperate God will find somebody else to use or keep “adjusting” us and our life until we do what he asks (Read the story of Jonah). If we are not following God we could miss out on the blessing, so OUR life may NOT work out for the good (for us), but God will find a way to still make it good for His body of believers. That’s all I meant to say. But just to add to that quickly, sometimes God does make things work out for the good whether we deserve it or not or are following Him or not-just to show us His love and woo us to Him-but its not guarenteed. He only guarentees to work our life circumstances out for the good (for us) if we love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28. )We always have a choice. We can choose life or death; to follow God or not follow God (Deuteronomy 30: 15-20.) But either way, God will accomplish everything He set out to accomplish and His words will not return void (Isaiah 55:11; Philippians 1:6)

“Mission Ready“: I referred to this in the video. To read the prophetic word God gave me on this topic go here.

Below is an illustration of how God can orchestrate time and events to speak to us and show us His awe-inspiring nature and loving kindness as well as how we are all connected. This is an example of one such treasure or gift I referred to in my video:

I was hiking this past Sunday and snapped this photo among many.

Later that evening I posted this image to my facebook account along with many other images of my hiking excursion, which very much relates to my journey in life. One of my artist facebook friends, Lee Melton, commented and shared the following:

“I painted this in 2011, after my mother died. When it was done I hung it in my son’s bedroom because it didn’t fit in any other place in the house. Years later, after many trials, he told me it gave him strength because he could look at it and find hope in the future. He lost his battle with earth when his truck hit a tree in 2019. His hope for the future was in God’s amazing grace. Your photograph just floors me.”

She gave me permission to post this and her story.

Although the pictures aren’t identical, you must admit they are similar enough to suggest that a supernatural being like God orchestrated every aspect of my hiking trip including when I snapped the photo to get the very size of the hiker; to include what the hiker wore that day (dark pants with a red shirt); to include where some of the trees lined up and also the color of the trees and overall photo; to include a very similar path as to the one shown in Lee’s painting. The similarities are remarkable and illustrate that there is all knowing, divine presence (God), who did all that to match a painting Lee made 11 years ago, for no other reason then to bring Lee comfort and show her He loved her.

This illustrates the mystery of God, which is what I was trying to capture in my painting. God gives us an open invitation to dive in to these mysteries. Like for instance, I’m wondering is there a special significance to the fact that Lee painted this in 2011 and it is 11 years later in 2022 that God is doing this sign and wonder with this painting? God weaves together events, numbers, signs wonders, people, time, etc into this wonderful tapestry of the universe which speaks of God’s sovereignty. There is so much more revelation and mystery around us then we could ever fully tap into it, but its there for the taking. All you have to do is ask. God will tell you in the secret place, in His presence. My life is full of such signs, wonders, and synchronicities, only I have not fully grasped it all.

God is giving us an open invitation to explore the mysteries of the universe with Him in the secret place. He wants to show us many wonderous things and perform signs and miracles. He is an awesome God, and He wants us to share the journey of our lives with Him. He makes it fun and exciting, and He makes it all worthwhile!

To learn more about how this artwork called “The Journey” was created, go here.

Supporting Scriptures:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called  according to his purpose (Romans 8:28, NIV).

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33 NIV)

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21, NIV)

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20, NIV)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

“Go,” the Lord said to me, “and lead the people on their way, so that they may enter and possess the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” (Deuteronomy 10:11, NIV)

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.(Isaiah 43:19, NIV)

 The Lord said to Moses,  “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” (Exodus 16:11, NIV)

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? (Matthew 6:26-27, NIV)

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.  Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people (Exodus 13:21-22, NIV)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17, NIV)

Psalms 145: 1-21 NIV

1 I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. 2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. 4 One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. 5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works. 6 They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds. 7 They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. 9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. 10 All your works praise you, LORD; your faithful people extol you. 11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. 14 The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. 16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. 18 The LORD is near to all who call on him to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. 20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.