The following two paintings are very unique as they represent creative unity. Our Women's Network hosted a retreat entitled "IMAGINE". We encouraged the women to dream, imagine.. create. We left two art easels set up with brushes and paints. Throughout our worship time and the weekend ladies were encouraged to simply come up and paint/create whatever they felt to do. It could be just a single brush stroke, a dot, whatever and with whatever colour they chose.. no artistic experience was necessary. What a neat experience with incredible results. A special Thanks to Madga for providing the supplies and also for seeking God regarding the significance in what was painted.
THE DAWN = Oct 12-14 2007
Three years ago a new day began for Desert Stream.
In scripture a new day begins in the evening, not in the morning, so the night comes first. The night is also darkest right before the sun begins its rise from the farthest side of the earth.
This painting is of the dawn. At first it looks as though we are looking out a window, but we are actually looking into a window, a church window (the shutters are on the outside).
The light of dawn is breaking through the storm clouds and illuminates a colourful landscape. The landscape is marked with the path of redemption and new life (red and green) and the river of God’s glory (gold). This river of glory was painted onto the canvas around the same time as the prominently placed Star of David, which represents Davidic anointing (scripture tells us that David was a person after God’s own heart).
The landscape shows an abundance of new life (green fields), humility and beauty (orange field) and communion and revelation (blue hill). Its significant that communion and revelation is represented by a hill, as scripture tells us that only those with clean hands and a pure heart may ascend to the high places of the Lord. This is why, when we take the symbolic elements of Christ in communion we must ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts to ensure that we are of pure heart toward one another.
Once again, Christ is in this picture, it is through Him that all things are possible.
The light dawning in the church makes the tattered shutters fly open and the light will shine from the inside out. This represents a shedding of grave clothes (much like a cocoon).
There is a gold and blue butterfly taking to flight on the horizon, it represents the forerunner anointing, the first fruit. The blue is evidence of intimacy with the Lord, which in turn covers the butterfly in the gold of God’s glory.
THE JOURNEY Oct 12-14 2007
As I asked the Lord to give me the interpretation for this painting the following words began to come to me:
Convergence
Boldness
Working together
Understanding
There is much symbolic imagery in this work so I will only highlight what the Lord asked me to share.
The foundation colour of the painting is magenta (a deep pink) and is symbolic of Love. For the above elements to function in the Body of Christ the foundation we build on must be Love, as God is Love.
The orange colour on the left represents fire, the heat of which brings the butterfly to maturity; it is then that it can shed its cocoon.
The cocoon is a safe place of transformation, it’s dark and the creature hibernates. When sufficient transformation has taken place heat is a required catalyst for the butterfly to emerge. Emerging and shedding its cocoon is the most difficult season of its life.
The bow symbolizes a gift. It’s important to recognize that cocoon time is a gift, a necessary part of spiritual living. If we persevere we will be able to experience the ultimate gift.
The cross reminds us that Christ must always be in the picture.
The white in the top right corner represents a bridal veil, self-explanatory.
The Rainbow is an important reminder that God is faithful.
The musical symbol between the cocoon and the flying butterfly:
It’s the time between the emerging and the flying that we are most vulnerable. We feel like Israel in the wilderness, but it is during that time that we are given the opportunity to truly learn what it means to worship. When our hearts have learned to worship it is out of that transformed heart that the mouth will speak and sing the high praises of God.
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"Blessings on All Women - Break out of your cocoons and may you experience incredible freedom, creativity and long lasting fruit!! Enjoy!!"
From my heart to yours
Shari
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Our team from Ontario spent a week in the fishing village of Malita. .jpg)
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My husband, Kevin (top middle) and his roomate, Colin. They have just completed one week in Malita - are currently in Davao until Thursday when they will fly onto their next adventure.
