Winter has crept in. The air is cold and the wind can come upon you so suddenly it chills to the bone. The sky has a different light on these cold days. First purple and blue then fading in the distance a creamsickle peach and ivory with white puffs of clouds in the looming distance. Its constant shades and shadows threaten a squall overhead and within minutes the whole picture changes to dark gray and deepening indigo as clouds approaching and little white flakes out of nowhere fly about.

The days are short and the nights long and cold. The woodstove is crackling inside and the sun is low in the sky. It is nearly the year’s end and as another December rolls away we wonder at the moving of time and the secrets the next year holds.

There is something sobering about another year’s end. The reflection on our lives is a poignant time we pass by quickly and eternity seems somehow closer as December 31st nears it’s arrival.

Another winter has come, another year is fading, and time is a constant reminder that these days and years will one day altogether end.

“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. ” Psalm 2:12

The story of Christmas is the greatest news ever told. The angels came to declare to the shepherds that great tidings of immense joy were upon them, a Saviour was born in the city of David who would die for their sins and bestow upon them eternal life. The sinless Son of God had come to earth as a little baby to live the perfect life only He was capable of,  and die for the sins of mankind, who HE alone created to give unto us what we could never earn, everlasting life.  Praise be to the God of creation for loving us SO much that He was willing to give us the bread of life and shed his precious blood so that we could be forgiven. No greater love hath man than this that one would lay down his life for his friends. He laid down his life for all, both friends and enemies, so that all could come and share in His kingdom. Truly He alone is worthy of all honor and praise!

I love the combination of these colors with the mark making with acrylic markers added.  It gives a different look and creates brighter contrasts. A thought for today, the wise virgins in Matthew 25 chose trust rather than works, thus they deserve the title “wise”. Its harder to trust than to work. We so often would rather ” do it ourselves”.

Jesus is our peace.

Eating and drinking with the glutton and drunkard is embracing this world, living off and consuming its pleasures.  Awake O sleeper! For the Lord is nigh at the door and soon returns.

Just mixing colors and putting together complements on the color wheel is great fun. Seeing something in a picture can be an art in itself. How often we miss what is in plain sight because it doesn’t fit our narrative of the way things “should be”. The pharisees of Jesus’ day didn’t understand the truth standing before them because they couldn’t get past the wall of their own expectations. Thus they missed the very Saviour they had waited for for centuries. Jesus ceased to speak to them any further, but in parables, as they refused to entertain any thought outside their box, for to do so would sink their script, and they did not want to let go. How often we fail to see truth because to do so would cost us something.  The Bible warns, buy truth and sell it not. I think God understands our hearts very well. He knew we’d need to let go to let Him in.

Bright and dark in hue , tint or shade is brilliant and enhances both in a stark way. The complement of one against another is to make either more outstanding!

Hope against despair is a similar contrast. This contrast was vividly displayed in the movie First Reformed, a masterpiece of truth thst I have not been able to stop thinking about since I watched the movie weeks ago. The truth is stated in the film, you cannot have one without the other. How accurate this is. For we cannot be gloriously saved by the grace of God until we have embraced our true condition as lost and dying souls.

Our lives are often not as we hoped or planned, the road often turns on, in a direction we didn’t expect. The Bible says, in fact, our lives are a mere breath. We are as a vapor, here for a little while and then vanish away. So much is not as we hoped or even as it seemed. There is yet a great joy though, if you discover it.  A great treasure…hidden in a field. Jesus Christ is that treasure, the living water that rises up unto eternal life! Have you found him yet?

Breezy Days 24×30 Acryli on Canvas

This pallet is so soothing and thrilling. The flecks of light coming through the  shades of blue, green and chartreuse bring a restful calm to my eyes. I’m experimenting with different color scales. This is my achromatic color theme and these shades and tints are some of my favorite colors.

What evokes calm in your spirit? I think of summers, the wind, the sea, birds and a deer in the early morning foraging through the woods. Jesus offers us peace and grace. His offer is real.

“I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one. And this is eternal life, that thou might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth. I have finished the work thou gavest me to do”.

The work of Jesus Christ was to save us completely and forever by His blood. Salvation is now offered as a free gift. Look for the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ.  Wait patiently for him to be revealed. He is coming in the rapture of his church to take His church home. This is our blessed hope. Life eternal is forever! We are transient in this life. Life is quickly passing away for all of us. The most profound truth is that nothing in this life lasts, except our faith in Jesus Christ. Hope in Him is eternal! It will never make one ashamed or disappointed.

The truth is Jesus is real, faith in Him is real, and heaven and hell are real. This life is just like a shell, at death, the shell breaks open, we step out and are forever who we are, where we are.  Eternal life is free and available now! But this offer won’t last forever. We are sinners, in debt to a Holy God, our Creator, and He has so graciously offered to save us freely by his grace alone. It’s as if it’s a close out, not even a big mark down or sale. It’s free! Jesus is offering us salvation from the death penalty of sin. He decreed, “for the soul that sinneth shall surely die.” If we will simply trust Him alone and his shed blood on the cross as payment for our sins,and receive by faith from Him this payment, we will live forever with Him, having been forgiven all our trespasses. The store, this world, is closing soon. Today is the day of salvation! Tomorrow will be too late. The store will soon be gone. Anyone can come and receive freely of His grace. Jesus said ” cone to me all ye who are weary and heavy laden, take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you shall find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. He calls to us daily. ” Look to Me all ye the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is no other.” Anyone who comes to me, I will in no wise cast out.” Jesus makes a tremendous promise to us.  Again, He implores us, ” Everyone who seeth the Son and believeth on Him hath eternal life and I will raise Him up at the last day.” What incredible promises from the Saviour! The Son of God promises to save all who simply ask in faith and trust Him alone. He further calls, ” Come and drink of the waters freely, without cost. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” Revelation 21:6

This world has no lasting peace, only fleeting lust which shall all soon pass away. Yesterday I was walking through a big department store and all I wanted was to buy something, anything, just to have something new!  Something to take home. The smell of the store, the lighting, the crisp new tagged items, all beckoned me to respond and flooded my senses with desire for more. Yet, as so many times before, when I hit that dopamine button in my head and buy something, the reward is fleeting and transient, and by the time I get home it’s gone. The purchased treasure doesn’t look like it did in the store, as I push it into an already full closet. After I’ve worn it a few times , it’s just an old rag. The happy pill doesn’t last, it can’t! We were made for more than that.

Jesus Christ saves and the peace He gives lasts! This life and all it’s stuff will soon be gone, wrapped up and thrown away. But Jesus abides forever! The hope He gives is new every morning as it grows brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.

Something new. That is the theme of this post as I am discovering in the spring of 2025 a new and exciting focus for my art and one I want to share with you. The sweet and homespun images of life in the country, the beauty of nature and the wholesomeness of simple things. I’ve enjoyed many forms of art and have edeavored to learn new skills and new appreciation for different styles but as of late my heart has settled on the simplicity of these heartwarming images of a quiet life, in the backdrop of nature with the heart of and beauty of life at home. This type of art speaks to the deeper things in my life and the ones that truly matter, nature, love of family, a simple life and love for my Saviour.

This image speaks of life on the farm. The laundry hung out to dry, the sheep are feasting on dandelions and buttercups while the ducks and peepers frolic about in the pond. The sun is high and the sky blue and the optimism and hope of a soon to be summer spreads excitement in the air.

This is one of my favorites as of late. The work in the garden is good for the soul and there’s nothing more refreshing  after some hours labored on the garden than to come in sit at the table and enjoy a meal together. I love the hats and modest dress both husband and wife are wearing and the seeming joy they share in the image of country life with all it’s treasures.

This picture invites one to bask in the beauty of the sparkling sea on a summer afternoon where never is it as enchanting as when the hot sun is warming up and that sea breeze draws you in. I love the color of the sea in summer on a clear day. So blue, so serene. The flowers boast of color and glory on the land, while the distant lighthouse has its own prominence to display. Just a whimsical day by the sea is enough to lighten any weary heart.

These are my focus these days as I am enjoying folk art and it’s wonderful message of simplicity and joy.

“And thou shalt have goat’s milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance of thy maidens. “

Proverbs 27:27

Enjoy