The pumpkin is a fruit. It can be used to make many delicious things but without different seasonings, it is very bland. Trust me, I know!!! Inside are the “pumpkin brains” or the fibrous strands and seeds.
When I look at the pumpkin it reminds me of myself, actually all of us. Pumpkins come in different shapes, sizes and colors. As an artist I love that because I love things not all being the same. It also reminds me of how Heaven will have all different kinds of people there.
The inside of the pumpkin reminds me how gross and yucky we can be due to all of us having sin. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. I hate cleaning out the pumpkin because it’s so gross, but if I want to be able to use it for what it was meant to be used for, that “yuckiness” has to be cleaned out.
When we sin, it’s like those fibrous strands wrapping around those seeds. Sin grabs hold of our lives. We need help to clean out our “insides”, our sin. That’s what Christ did for us when He came and took our punishment for our sins. He took our place. When we put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, He cleanses us. Will we still sin? Yes unfortunately, while we’re here on this earth, but because the Holy Spirit indwells within us, He makes it known unto us and the need to confess it before our Heavenly Father. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
The vine brings nourishment to the pumpkin as it grows and Jesus represents that vine in us. John 15:4-5 says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”  We cannot bear fruit without Christ!
When we have accepted Christ as our Savior, we are to walk in the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit indwells within us. The fruits of the Spirit are LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONG-SUFFERING (patience), KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, MEEKNESS (gentleness), and SELF CONTROL. Do we display these fruits in our talk?
When I think of my speech, do I use it towards others the same way as I use it to praise my Lord? Do I encourage others with my words, do I speak truth, and am I patient with my words?  I can go on but what I want to get across is my words need to express the Holy Spirit inside of me. Those are the seeds! The seeds in the pumpkin are used to eat and enjoy but also to plant so more pumpkins can grow. We’re to enjoy our Salvation in our Lord but do we share what we have with others? Do they see Christ in us by our actions and words? Just like we need to add seasonings to pumpkin recipes, are we allowing the Holy Spirit to season us? Are our words Seasoned With Grace?

"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast." Psalms 57:1
I had started this painting in 2014 as my husband, daughter and I were going through a lot of difficult circumstances. It was really the first painting I had started after I fell and received a severe concussion. So much was happening to us at that time, that we called it our "Abram and Sarai's Journey of the Unknown". The reference to Abram and Sarai is from the Old Testament, when God first called them to follow Him. Later God changed their names to Abraham and Sarah. They had no pictures to look at to see where He wanted them, no GPS for navigational means but just the Word of the Lord telling them to go and they DID! Such faith they had. It was not always perfect but they still obeyed, most of the time. God was faithful to them and kept His promises.
We still feel as if we are on this journey, not knowing where God is leading us, where He wants us to live or what His plans for us are; but as I would work on this painting, I would pray, seeking the Lord's direction for our lives. I feel that it is only fitting to title it "The Journey".
Whenever I do a painting or drawing, I seek God's throne first before I even place the pencil or paint brush on my paper or canvas. As I work on it, I am constantly thinking about what things in the piece could point to the Lord. You see, whatever I do whether in my art or just in my everyday life, I want to glorify my Lord. He gave His life for me, I should want Him to be glorified in my life. Just like Jesus would tell parables to give a picture to what He wanted people to learn and understand; I want the pictures I create, to tell the story that Jesus wants people to see and understand.
In this painting, the waves crashing around the rocks along with the thorns in between them represents the trials or storms in our lives. Jesus is represented by the seagull. The seagull is protecting its eggs, making sure nothing hurts them. The eggs, of course, represent my husband, daughter and I as we are on this unknown journey. Through each circumstance we have faced, He has been there protecting and guiding us. Through the course of this piece it has been a reminder to me of God's protection and provision in my and my family's' life.
Our journey is not complete just as those eggs have not hatched. My Heavenly Father sees the whole picture of our lives and He watches over us during every aspect. I will continue to trust His heart as we travel "The Journey" He has set before us, for His wings are my refuge!
What journey are you on? Are you leaning on God or are you leaning only on yourself? I'm choosing to be under His wings of protection!
My prayer is that the Master Artist-God, is exalted in this painting for it is He who has guided each paint stroke on this canvas!

Sometimes when I go to my easel with an empty canvas, I already have an idea of what I am going to paint. Maybe, I have been commissioned to paint a particular picture, or I saw a photo which gave me an idea of what the Lord would want me to paint...just to paint. With this particular painting, it came from a day of frustration. I needed to have a restful place where I could feel some peace. I felt that I needed to paint that!
As a teacher, you can have a day where the students grasp what you are teaching them and are focused on the work given them, but then there are those days where it is just the opposite. You wonder if this was truly the calling the Lord had for you. Well, on this particular day, it was the latter so when I came home I could have gone to my bedroom, lay on the bed and cry, but instead I had a strong desire to get into my paint clothes, go into my studio AND PAINT!!! As I got down on my knees to pray, in front of my easel, I knew immediately what He wanted me to paint. I needed a place of solace to just rest in Him. Where would I go to find that? 
My most favorite place in the whole, wide world to find peace is at the ocean. No, I'm not referring to the crowded beach where everyone is sunbathing, but that special spot where I can sit, by myself, with the breeze gently touching my face and watching the power of the waves by its Creator. As the breeze touches my face, I like to think as if it is my Heavenly Father, gently touching my face to wipe away all the stress, worries, and cares of my life.
A couple of friends of mine love to go to the beach in Maine at Nubble Point. I love that place. It seems peaceful there. I have never been but have enjoyed it through their photos. I knew the painting I needed to do, was my peaceful place. I also knew that I needed to paint this for one of my teacher friends as she was having the same rough day as me. Not only is painting my stress reliever but so is prayer. As I painted that special spot that I would want to be at, I prayed for this teacher, asking the Lord to encourage her.
As I pictured myself sitting on that rock, I also envisioned my Savior sitting beside me, listening to me as I poured my soul out to Him. I saw Him listening to every word I had to say and when I had finished, He would gently put His arms around me, wipe my tears away and then speak words of wisdom as only He could do.  What a comfort to know that He cares about every aspect of my life. He has walked the same road as I have and He knows the pain that I feel at times.  He is MY SALVATION and on Him I can find that "Restful Peace".
What about you? When you have a stressful day, week, month or even year, who or where do you go to find your rest? I have found Christ to be my solace, my refuge and He can be yours too. Rest in Him!

At times in our lives, we may have gone through a series of trials. Instead of calling them trials, maybe we should call them "blessings through faith".  Throughout our lives, we will come to a point where we can either choose to lift our arms in praise to our Lord for what He has allowed to come into our lives, or we can choose to wallow in self pity. In God's Word, I have been constantly reading, how I should praise Him no matter what.
How can I praise Him when everything seems to be turned upside down for me and my loved ones? How can I praise Him when I don't know the outcome of how our circumstances will turn out? Well, He tells me that He knows the outcome even when I don't, and He can turn things that seem upside down to us, right-side up.  Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." 
In 2013-2014, we had been on a journey of unknowns, as we moved from one dwelling place to another. The Lord throughout all of this showed us His loving kindness through the love and prayers of our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We definitely saw our Jehovah Jireh in all of this. Through injuries and even through health issues , He never left our side. We continually lifted our arms in praise to our Creator, Redeemer, Provider, and our Great Physician.
Through His Word, I have read that if I do not praise Him, His creation will do it! How can I not praise Him? He has protected my family through various circumstances we have faced and He has provided abundantly for our needs. He cares so much more for my family and myself than His other creations; because He died for us, He died for all of us!!!
That summer as we lived in a place for a few weeks, I had asked the Lord what I could do to say "Thank-You" to Him and to the ones who allowed us to stay in the place we were at. The art I do belongs to Him and I constantly want to give back to Him what He has given to me. When the Lord showed me that I was to do a mural in the place we had just stayed at, I went and received permission to do it. I felt the place needed to be brightened up as an encouragement to others who would be staying there also. Now, I knew how I was going to thank Him, but what was I going to paint? The Lord so quietly showed me through a photo I saw on a friend's Facebook page.
He and his family went out west that summer for vacation and one place they stopped at was the Grand Canyon. That place definitely yells its praises to its Creator as it screams of God's handiwork throughout the whole place. As my friend stood there looking out at God's creation, he had his arms raised up in praise to his and their Creator. It was almost as if the Lord took me there as I looked at the pictures and started to paint. As I painted, I felt the Lord painting through me.
I poured out my heart to the Lord as I painted, giving Him ALL our concerns and leaving them at the altar of His throne. Each crevice I painted, reminded me of the crevices of my life. It is through these times that I draw ever closer to my Lord and Savior. It is through these times I know Him more and it is through these times that I feel that strength to overcome the circumstances of life because it is He who gives that to me. It is He who makes Himself known to me in such an intimate way, that all I can do is look up and give Him praise.
As my friend had his arms lifted up in praise to his Creator and giving God praise for His handiwork, I too lift my arms up in praise to my Heavenly Father, the Creator and Redeemer of my soul for He truly is majestic! No matter what circumstance comes your way, will you "Proclaim God's Glory"?  No matter the outcome? I choose to!

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints." Psalms 116:15
After seeing a photo of a dear godly, elderly woman's hand being held by her niece and the story behind it, I had mentioned to the niece that it would make either a beautiful drawing or painting. A while later she approached me about doing a commission drawing of the mentioned photo. I prayed asking the Lord if He wanted me to do it and after praying felt He did indeed want to use me in this way, but as I gave my answer, I asked her if I could have "artistic license" with it. I told her I felt the Lord wanted me to draw His hand instead of her's, which she was fine with that.
As I prepared to start the drawing, I again had to go to my Heavenly Father. You see, I cringe when I think about doing hands. They can be just as complex as eyes are, but yet both hold a special key to the soul of a person. Through the eyes, you can see how a person is feeling; with the hands, you can see how they used their hands, what type of person they are or were.
I was intrigued by the hands in the photo before I had even heard the story. I could tell that these hands had a story to tell. There was a gentleness there, that only the Lord, Himself would know deeply, and more intimately.
As I started working on the drawing, I prayed! I prayed for the family I was doing it for, but I also prayed that the Lord would use me to make this drawing come to life. I wanted both hands to stand out, as if off the paper! Each day as I worked on the drawing, I would humbly ask the Lord to use this feeble hand of mine to bring Him glory. Of course, I already had a title picked out before I had even gotten very far with the drawing. I had decided on 'Welcome Home...Well Done' , because as I started working on it, I was picturing her in Heaven and Jesus saying that to her. I really liked the title and felt that it fit with what my friend had said about her.
The more I started work on the drawing, the more I realized the Lord had something totally different in mind. I had noticed that there was a lot of art work out there with similar titles, but I still felt that this title fit. I can be stubborn sometimes and I am so thankful that the Lord is so patient with me.
It wasn't until I started working on that sweet Saint's hand and concentrating on every little detail of it, that I started to realize what the Lord was laying on my heart. As I looked at the hand, I realized that I was drawing it as it was, here on Earth. In Heaven, her hand would not look like that. Then I wondered if I should change it to a younger hand, but then that would change the whole concept of what made my friend take the photo. I did mention, that I was stubborn, right?
That's when the Lord OPENED my eyes to what He saw all along. It's not Him welcoming her into Glory, but instead it's Him holding her hand at her beside as He is getting ready to escort her to Glory, Himself. That's when the title came to me, a title that could only come from the Lord.
After that, my mindset was different as I worked on it. I would tear up thinking about Jesus holding her hand. Maybe He had even sat by her bedside and said to her... "Well done, My good and faithful servant, now it is time to go home!" I do not know what was actually said and done at that very moment when she was ushered into Glory, but this is the picture the Lord, Himself, gave me.
As I finished the drawing, I then needed to think about the mat and frame. I again, brought this before my Lord and asked Him what He would want. Even in matting and framing there is symbolism tying in with this whole drawing.
If you look very closely at Jesus' hand, you will see the nail scar, but just above and to the right of the scar is a tiny cross drawn in the crease of the wrist, slanted towards the scar. As I thought about the scar and the cross, I was reminded about how He gave His life for each of us including this dear, elderly woman. I thought it would be fitting to have the mat be a deep red to represent His blood that was shed not only this dear woman, but for all of us. When we accept Christ as our personal Savior, Scripture reminds us that He washes our sins as white as snow...that's why I chose a white frame for the drawing. We will still sin, even after accepting Christ as our Savior, but because of His blood being shed for our sins, we are "framed" in His righteousness.
What about YOU? Have you accepted God's free gift of salvation? The sad thing is; is that sin came into this world, which all of us are born with. Romans 3:23 tells us that we all have sinned and we come short of God's glory and Romans 6:23 tells us that death is the wages for our sin. The beautiful thing is that God made a wonderful way for our sins to be forgiven. It cost Him a lot!!! It cost Him, His Son! He tells us in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."  (ESV)
You see, God can not be in the presence of sin because He is HOLY. His Son came down in the flesh to take our punishment for us. He placed our disgusting sins upon His pure, HOLY body, so that we would come to Him and be forgiven. My friend and her aunt did just that. They placed their trust in the One who gave His life for all. They will be reunited someday just like I will with my loved ones who have placed their trust in Jesus, because at the age of nine, I too realized that I was a sinner needing a Savior and that's when I accepted Christ as my Savior.
If you have not done that, why wait? God's Word tells us that NOW is the time! Don't wait until it is too late. My prayer is that the work my Lord allows me to do, would point others to Him. Wouldn't you like to hear Him say someday...'Come Home My Dear Saint'? Wouldn't you like to be "framed" in His righteousness?

"Let them praise the name of the Lord! For He commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all  peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of  Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord! "   Psalm 148:5-14  (English Standard Version)
I love looking at creation as it reminds me of the awesomeness of its Creator. As an artist, I don't just look at things, I catch myself looking at every little detail, like the shape or color of things. When I look at the sky, I don't just see blue, I see many variations of blue. It's the same with grass, leaves, tree trunks and everything else He has created. He has put so much detail in everything His hands have touched.
One of the amazing places I love to see His handiwork in, is the ocean. From the waves crashing into the rocks, to the gentle breeze tickling the surface of the water; each aspect reflects the awesome details of His creativeness. 
As I started working on this painting, I was looking at a photo of a seagull and it made me wonder what that seagull was looking at. He never worries about where his food will come from as he trusts his Creator to provide. No wonder Scripture reminds us that the birds and everything else He has created are to give Him praise.
Again I am reminded in Scripture that I am not to worry about things. In Philippians 4:6-8, God reminds us "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."    (English Standard Version)
We may be going through tough times, whether it is through sorrow, financial, health or even not knowing what the future holds for us.  No matter what it is, we are to commit each aspect of our lives to our Creator by praying and petitioning with a thankful heart. We are to let our requests be known to Him, even though He already knows. He still desires for us to come to Him with our requests. After we have done that, verse 8 continues with that we are to think on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, anything of  excellence and worthy of praise.
It's so easy to play the "what if" game, but He doesn't want us to do that. He wants us to think on what is true. The truth is He loves us ,and wants what is best for us! No matter what! We are to give Him our "One Solitary Praise". If all other creation can praise Him, why can't we? After all, He gave His life for us!

I was asked by one of my students a few years back, if I would draw a picture of the Marine emblem for him. I said, "Yes, when I have the chance." I have a tender heart towards the Marines, as my brother served with them.  It took me about a year as I had put it aside; I was working on some other projects and felt I needed to get those completed first.
As I started working on this, I began praying for all of our troops, especially the ones in harm's way. I was reminded of the great sacrifices our military make for our freedom. It is not just the military personnel, but their families also. I have seen the hardship these families go through, especially as their loved one has been deployed to a place of violence. I have read and heard the prayer requests from both the families and the ones that have been deployed.
Do we truly comprehend the cost of freedom? I think too many times, when we see the word "free" in a word, we automatically think that it comes without a cost. Our freedom comes at a great cost to so many. Every time someone complains about prayer in schools, wanting God taken out of our pledge of allegiance or out of our motto "In God We Trust", I have to remember that many gave their lives so that these people can have the freedom to say what they like, even when I don't like it. It also gives me the freedom to share the message of the love that God has for us and those same people who want to take Him out of everything; when He gave us the greatest gift of freedom: salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. The freedom from sin and death came at the greatest cost...Christ dying in our place at Calvary. Praise the Lord, that He conquered death by His resurrection! I am so thankful for Christ paying my debt...I am free in Him!!!  That is true freedom!!!
I am thankful for the freedom that I have here in America. I am so thankful for the military who give so much to protect our freedoms. When was the last time you went up to someone in the Armed Forces and thanked them for their service to our country? It is such a rewarding thing to be able to do that. They need to hear our "Thanks"! The smile on their faces and the tears in their eyes are so well worth going out of your comfort zone to talk to a stranger. Whether they are serving in the Marines, Navy, Air Force, Army or Coast Guard, they deserve our thanks and prayers!!! 
"O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle."  Psalm 140:7  (English Standard Version)