The many moods of spring give wonderful inspiration for art. There are so many metaphors in the season of spring to life. A new beginning is a prevalent theme. The old coat of winter is thrown off, and a bright new garment is adorned. The colors of spring evoke gayeity and new hope. The yellow daffadils blossom with exuberance, and the lime green grass spreads the landscape with color.Yet there are the storms of Spring, the rain, the foreboding clouds that roll in, with the promise of change and clearing the path for new life, and the nutrients of new beginnings taking hold.

I love the earth in this state of growth and rebirth. The soul of spring is one of hope and change, renewal, and evolution. A flower sprouts from the dry soil, unfolds in the warm sunlight, is nourished by the wet rains, and becomes a beautiful petaled wonder. The clouds and winds of March, the purple dark skies, or brisk sunny days, are bringing in a new season, a time that never was before, and never will be again. After a long harsh winter this new change is welcomed and anticipated with joy.

As I walked through the brown dusty road of my neighborhood this afternoon, the melting snow was shrinking from its drab grayish color. The air was still, an occasional bird fluttered to a treetop. I imagined the change coming, when in just a few weeks new blades of tender shoots would crop up out of nowhere. A new color, green, would be on the move. So soon, the bleak dormancy of winter would fade away, and a burst of new color, warmth and sunshine would replace it.

Happy spring!

“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven”~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

In Genesis chapter 11, the story is told of a people of like mind and common speech. They were a group of solidarity and uniformity, and their goal was to reach heaven and make a name for themselves. They believed in doing so, the world would be their kingdom and the sky, the limit. So they set out to build. I’m talking about the people of the Old Testament and the story of the Tower of Babel.

“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass as they journeyed from the east, and they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick , and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime they had for mortar. And they said, Go to, let us build a city and a Tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the Tower, which the children of men had built. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they all have one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scattered them abroad upon the face of all the earth. Genesis 12: 1-9

So often our tower, the dream we envisioned, our aspirations, and noble pursuits end in ashes. It’s a common experience and one many can relate to. We set out to accomplish something only to realize, to perhaps our amazement, that God is not in it. That, in fact, his plan for us is entirely different, than our plan for ourselves. Our well laid plans come to naught, ashes, as it were, and we are left holding the pieces of a broken dream, what we imagined or hoped would be a reality.

This disconnect is so familiar. The disparity between what is desired and what will actually be is sometimes a shock, a reality check. Why is this so? Are we that far off from the Father’s thoughts, His goals? Sadly it seems, many times we are, because we don’t realize at the time just how far out we’ve drifted from who Jesus is. Like those who sought heaven and a name in this life, they sought what in their minds was good, only to find out it was the very thing that would be kept from them. The reasons for this we can only speculate, but if we search for the Lord, in His word, we may begin to find answers.

Who is Jesus? What is He really about? It might surprise us to truly come to grips with the truth that He is very unlike us, and His goals for us, very unlike our own. His plans are not at all what we would chose. He gives us a strong hint about who He is when He commands us to “love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” in 1st John chapter 2. Jesus’ goals are different from ours oftentimes because his values are different. He does not love this world, the people in it, yes, but the things of this world, the pride of life, the lusts of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, these things Jesus does not love. In fact, he was a man of many sorrows, no reputation, and had no place to lay his head. When the disciples tried to make him King he resisted, he told them, ” my kingdom is not of this world”. Is it any wonder our goals and dreams don’t often line up with His. The Bible tells us “his thoughts are not our thoughts, nor his ways, our ways. They are much higher.

The builders of the Tower of Babel no doubt thought they were doing a good thing, an even godly thing, but in truth, their goals were afar off from those of the Father. He broke down their communication with one another, and scattered them abroad. In dependence on the Lord, they found their way out of this darkness, and discovered a better understanding of His will for them.

We may not be able to avoid the ashes of disappointment that come in this life, everyone experiences them at one time or another, but maybe in our disillusionment we can begin to take a deeper look at who Jesus is and discover for ourselves His true desires for us as we make our journey home to Him.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me. John14:6

He is the way. Jesus spoke these words to Thomas, as in his earnest question, he sought to know where Jesus was going, and how he could get there himself. Jesus’ answer is plain. I am the way Thomas. Me. I’m the answer to your question. I’m afraid many in Christendom do not like this answer. Many religious people stumble on the simplicity of the command in this answer.

He is the way. To go to heaven, to have everlasting life, to be forgiven of all sin, to be born again, is all found in a person, the person of Jesus Christ. We trust him. We put our hope in Him alone. This is hard, and this takes faith. Our sinful nature’s want to save ourselves. We want to secure our own salvation through our own self reform, our own back breaking work. This appeals to man’s pride. This makes sense. Out of this belief, religion is born, sustained, and prospers in the world. Our deceitful flesh says, ” we don’t need Jesus, we don’t need his blood atoning sacrifice, we can do it ourselves. So we set out to become. We set out to justify ourselves through our efforts, our works, our ” basket of vegetables, “rather than a spotless lamb, as Cain did. But this is not the father’s commandment. It’s not what He wants. Why? Why isn’t it good enough? Because we have no life in ourselves, and the very best we can do is dead! Yet many wrestle with this reality, and fail to accept this simple truth, that Jesus is the only way. His righteousness, the only payment.

Peter opposes this truth when the Lord seeks to wash his feet! In his pride he tells our Lord, “Thou shalt never wash my feet”. But the Lord graciously informs him, ” If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me”. This is a real affront to many God seekers out there. They refuse his mercy as they , in their hearts of pride, believe He won’t do it for them, they must do it themselves. What a tragedy this is. For as Jesus relates to Thomas, there’s no other way to the father. It’s Jesus, or nothing. It’s Jesus, or death. Without understanding this simple truth, many chose death.

Religion, what man can do, is the culprit in missing the narrow way. Man’s self effort, good works and self sacrifice is chosen over simple trust, and faith in the only true God, who is so willing to do it all, and be it all in the life of the believer. Religious people fail of the grace of God, because for whatever reason, they couldn’t believe it, and so couldn’t receive it. Religion kills, but grace and truth are of Jesus Christ.

I painted this lovely seascape a few days ago and thought about the absolute joy the ocean always brings as I stand before it and look out unto its endless expanse. The whole world seems to fall away at it’s presence. How could anything so large, so deep, so vastly immense be tangible to the human eye. Yet there it is! The great depths, the unending space we call the sea. I don’t think there is a closer earthly metaphor to eternity than that of this great body of water.

The waves crash against the sparkling sand, the foam rises and falls with the curve of the waves, it ebbs and flows and cyclically repeats itself to a beautiful pattern of harmony and oneness. I feel the peace of being out of control, something greater than my frail human frame controls these forces. I don’t have to perform anything, simply watch, and stand in awe. My creator controls His sea and He controls the ebb and the flow of my life as well. For He is God, and there is no other.

Ebbs and flows, such is life, with its waves of blessing and happy times, along with its flows of sorrows as sea billows roll. So far 2023 has had great sorrow for friends, some dear ones to me, and illness to family members. Life has its sorrows, it’s losses, they come, like the great hymn writer expresses, in the poignant hymn, It is well with my Soul”. As I age I see this reality more and more. We were never intended to make this old world our home. We are merely passing through, on our way to a better country. Pilgrims on a journey to our homeland is what we are, and sometimes the road gets a little rough.

It’s in these times we wonder, ” where are you God? ” Has he left us, to fend for ourselves? Has he lost interest in this dull coarse of events and chosen to focus on more worthy endeavors, than my pitiful state? No! He is here, right beside us in these times. He never left us before, and He won’t leave us now. Though we cannot see Him, sense Him or trace Him, His purpose will not fail, and is ever at work in our lives.

He promises, “He who began a good work in you will complete unto the day of redemption.” He hasn’t given up on us. He never breaks a promise. What He wants is our trust, our supplication in prayer, and our dependence on His precious and magnificent word.

We, are on our way to heaven, if we have placed our faith in the Son of God and His all atoning sacrifice for us on the cross. Though deep sorrows and blissful joys ebb and flow, He knows the way that we take and will be at the end of this road, with his arms open wide to welcome us home.

As I went out this noon day I walked along the wet muddy road and some birds, perched atop a tree limb, chirped and fluttered as they darted around enjoying what seemed to be a mid March afternoon, not the throws of 2 weeks past New Years. The sun breathed down her warmth and the branches of the wet trees seem to perk up and sparkle in the noon day light. Perfect day for walking and getting some fresh air, but also to enjoy a winter’s day in all it’s splendor. If winter were always like this, snow bird season in Florida wouldn’t exist.

As the days pass time flows on, and soon spring will be here in earnest, yet I am reminded of the beauty of each season, and the mood and the vibe as the scenery changes. January is a time to slow down the pace, read a good book, sit by the fire, eat a delicious bowl of homemade soup, and plan your next adventure. It is a quiet time, to look out at the trees, to contemplate the beauty of a winter sky and think about life, where it’s going, where it’s been. A time to think on God, the Lord Jesus Christ, His life, His love, His faithfulness to bring on a new season in our lives. In Isaiah 43:19 He says ” Behold I do a new thing, shall ye not know it, I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

God is at work. He is ever doing a “new thing”. The Lord leads us on through the wilderness. Through the desert we go, and on into the unknown until we one day reach our final home in the kingdom of heaven.

He is our faithful friend through it all, every January and beyond.

God bless you as 2023 commences.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man named Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, though art highly favored, and the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee: therefore the holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. Abd the angel departed from her. ~Luke 1:26-38.

Mary, the beautiful handmaid of the Lord. She was chosen to carry and birth the Son of God. What a godly and good young woman she must have been. She was highly favored of God, and blessed among women. When Gabriel, the angel, appeared and gave her this incredible news, in wonder she asked how this might be, for she was but a virgin. The angel graciously explains, ” the Holy Spirit shall overshadow you, the power of the most high shall come upon you and the holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Mary in faith accepts his answer, and responds, “behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word”. She believes the angel, she receives what she cannot understand as truth. In faith she in essence says, Let it happen, I believe you.

“To as many as have received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God”. Jesus has sent us a salutation, a messenger, His word. He has highly favored all of us. We are all greatly blessed. For He offers himself, to come to live inside our hearts, to redeem us from our sins and make us a new creature, one new man, the purchased possession of the mighty God. We may wonder as Mary did, How is this possible, seeing I am a sinner, in transgression of the Holy law of God. How is it possible that even I can be saved and stand before him, redeemed, forgiven, saved from the penalty of sin, seeing I am barren even as Elizabeth was, from any good works qualifying me to receive such an immense blessing and measure of grace? To which our Lord tells us in His word, the Holy ghost shall come and live inside every believer, cleansing us from all sin. The Son of God in power, shall overshadow our sin with His righteousness, his blood shall cleanse away all our sin! In love, Emanuel, God with us, offers to come and live on the inside of each one of us, and create in each one of us one new man, twain with Himself and make us the sons and daughters of God! How is this possible with such contrary sinners as ourselves? With God nothing shall be impossible! For He, like He did with Mary, accomplished all the work for us on the cross. Mary could not conceive the Son of God, nor could she work to place Him in her womb. She trusted his word, believing, and simply received what He desired to give. That is all we to do to be saved from the judgement to come. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We simply believe and say with Mary, behold the believer of the Lord, let it be, as you say.

What the Lord did in coming to Mary’s womb, to live inside her, is a beautiful picture of what happens to every believer when we receive the gift He offers us of Himself. He comes to live inside each one us, for which we are highly favored! He gives us His righteousness, and washes our sins away. We become the redeemed sons and daughters of the most high! Simply by believing, we experience the impossible, as Mary did, only made possible by God Himself.

” And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”~ Luke 1: 45

December, 2022 is upon us. So quickly this year has passed and like all years before it, it comes to a close with many memories, some unfulfilled goals and disappointments, and some interesting and delightful surprises. I didn’t accomplish what I had hoped to do this year, and many goals still go unreached. Yet there were, as there always are the unique blessings of God, the unseen gifts that I did not plan, but were given by the Father of light with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Many are the plans of a man, but the Lord directs his steps. I could focus on the losses, for they were deep, or the sorrows, they are painful, however at the end of this year I chose to focus on the blessings , and remember the days of 2022 when my heart was filled with joy. I can look back over the last twelve months and see relationships that slowly grew with time and are a treasure to me now, that a year ago did not exist. I see many moments of exuberance in God’s creation, by the ocean, in the woods, visits to the Mountains of Vermont, and to the seaport towns of New England, spending time with family and friends. I savor moments with the Lord, when I walked with Him, listening to His Spirit speak, and meditation on his word, and the precious truths I found this year. It’s been a time of learning, a time of healing, a time of deep reflection and stillness, and a time of facing some very painful sad things in my life. These are my jewels that I tuck away to cherish on my journey. For life is a journey, one which will never be perfect or all that we hope. Yet one that can teach us many things, if we open our eyes and look. God is the Potter. We are the clay. We plan our steps, He orders them according to His will. We are not the masters of our fate as so many believe, but the subjects of His creative power and sovereign will.

As I look to the New Year, my goals go unchanged, the ones I have yet to accomplish. I will keep trying, keep striving towards the vision I see in my mind, of who I can become, what I hope for. The Lord is on my side, He is merciful. He gives strength to the needy and to the one who will turn to Him, He upholds with His righteous right hand. All that look to Him, will be radiant and they shall never be ashamed.

Christmas is my favorite time of year and as of late I have turned inward, away from the hustle and bustle of this busy season to think about the very center of this marvelous time of year, my Saviour Jesus Christ.

As I sit by my window on this quiet Friday afternoon, awaiting a nor’easter snow forecasted, yet presently only but a quiet wind and gathering clouds, I think about this beautiful season, and the Saviour of the world who gave His life, for us. I think about the reality that with all that would distract, or thwart our eyes away, He could be missed, He could be unnoticed, or worse, forgotten altogether. This mighty God who came to earth as a little baby, was drawn by the will of the Father and the love of the begotten One to offer up his life a ransom for many. For we are but frail and weak, in that the law, the commandments to be kept that were given to us by this loving Creator were proven to be the death of the human race, for it exposed our weakness, our transgressions and shortcomings. We are born lost, condemned, as we have broken every one of his laws, and we cannot save ourselves from his divine sentence against sin. One sin, just one transgression was enough to send the offender to eternal fire, for the Bible tells us ” the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.

What did this loving God do to help us? He gave Himself, on the cross as an all atoning sacrifice for the sins of the entire world. He offered himself once, for all, and he ever lives to make intercession for us, to save to the uttermost all who come to Him by faith! When we receive Him, He gives us the power to become the sons and daughters of God. Our sins are paid for, He wipes them away. Praise God for His goodness and mercy to us in Christ Jesus!

This year’s end season of love and light should give us pause to remember the Saviour of the world, the anchor to our souls in this life, our hope of eternal comfort, peace and joy. Don’t let life, with all it’s glitter, distraction and diversions cause you to fail to lay hold of the Saviour and the blessed hope he offers of life eternal with Him forever in heaven.

I am headed to Vermont this Thanksgiving, the only place I know as home, and spending a few days in these beautiful fields and hills. It is beautiful there this time of year and I am very grateful, though life isn’t perfect, to be spending my holiday there. Here are some paintings I’ve recently done that capture the heart of Vermont. As I ponder my thoughts on thankfulness this season, one theme seems to stand out above the usual sentiment of this time of year. Be thankful today, no matter what your circumstance. For tomorrow may never come. Today is your chance to be grateful. Not tomorrow but today. With all that encompasses this day, find something for which to rejoice, ever be it so small. Find something. Its there if you look.

Oh to be thankful. Today is the day to express thanks. If we take a minute and think about it, there are so many things great and small for which to be grateful. Life will never be perfect. Sorrows will always come, always be there. For if we wait until all sorrow is banished, gratitude will never emerge. But if we can look beyond life’s imperfections, disappointments, and utter heartbreak to find something for which we are grateful, appreciate, enjoy, we can overcome the greatest tragedy of all, going through life and never seeing all the blessings we have been given.

In John the third chapter, Jesus tells Nicodemus, “Marvel not that I say unto you, ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou heareth the sound thereof, but canst’ not tell whence it cometh, and wither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.”

In the natural mind we cannot understand the work of God. We can’t see it, nor can we comprehend it. This is because it is not a work of this world, nor a revelation humanely discerned. It is a work of the Spirit of God. It must be revealed by the Spirit of God, not religion, not an eloquent speaker, nor some vain show of works in the flesh.

Truth is given by God. His very name is Truth. Man, in the flesh, can only make up lies. Man can only see according to his own image, and seeks to conform God to this lower image, thus making him understandable in human terms. This is idolatry, and a lie. God cannot be understood by the carnal mind. His love, his infinite love, his free grace, from the carnal mind is rejected and disbelieved.

It takes the Spirit, a rebirth, as Jesus explained to Nicodemus, to see the work of God and to begin to see who He really is. A death to our carnal mind and a complete work of the Spirit is our only hope in discovering who God is. He must be revealed to us, not through religion, but through the revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ reveals Him!