Greetings! ...from Kimberly Shaw

Big Dipper, Big God

The Lord woke me at 4 AM, instructing me to look outside. Because of the previous hostility I encountered, I naturally assumed I was being warned of a danger lurking outside.

When I peeked through the shutters into the dark morning there was nothing to be afraid of. Instead, the Big Dipper constellation was low on the horizon looking larger than normal. I had never seen it in this position before. The Dipper, or scoop, was up at the top with the handle was arching downward. The end of the handle appeared to be resting on the land.

I grabbed my sketchpad and quickly doodled the scene in the dark. By the time I was finished sketching I could no longer see the Big Dipper. The sun began to rise and the early morning light hid the Dipper from view. It was interesting to see only a grey-blue sky knowing the Dipper was still there but no longer visible.

I was overwhelmed by God's kindness to wake me in time to see the spectacular sight before it disappeared. That small encounter was used to fill me with joy in a troublesome time. Even though the light quickly dispelled the darkness and hid the Dipper from view I knew it was still there. Likewise, God reminded me that He was still with me even though I couldn’t see Him. As the light of the sun drove away the darkness, so God by His ultimate power can drive away the dark deeds of the foolish.  

“Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.” Ecclesiastes 2:13

Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.” Psalm 112:4

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” 1 Peter 2:9

 

This is a story from my new book coming out soon, titled

"Meant To Be Shared - True Stories of God's Presence in the Life of an Ordinary Person." 

The book is a compilation of true stories where God made Himself known to me. It's my prayer these stories will encourage you in your faith and prove there's a loving God who is active in people's lives.

Mustard Seed Faith

Happy Sunday everyone! Here's a little painting inspired while studying Matthew with my Bible Study buddies. May God who created all that's pure and lovely increase your faith in Him, and grant you His abundant blessings this New Year.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and of all the seeds it is the smallest, but when it has grown it is the largest of the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air find shelter in its branches." ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:31-32‬

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Look Up, Luke 21:27-28

Happy Sunday!
Bible art illustration in my Amplified Bible.

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Sketching Scripture - The Four Soils

Happy Sunday everyone! I've been studying Matthew 13:1-23, the Parable of the Four Soils.  Sketching what I read often helps me see the message more clearly, and I became challenged by Jesus's teaching.

 

The thorns represent the false security of riches, glamour and fame, as well as the cares of this world. They are actually not a pleasant place to be.  It looks green with some lovely purple flowers, but the blossom's only purpose is to reseed more thorny brambles.  The things of this world look lovely, at first, but trying to survive in it becomes a struggle, where everything pure and lovely is choked out.  Illustrating it made it clear it's a tangled trap. I place I don't want to go.

Leaving the thorns for the open road seems like a way better place to be, but is has its drawbacks as well. Being exposed leaves one vulnerable. It's here Jesus explains how the birds, the enemy, Satan actually, steals whatever truths were given. The open road is where we are robbed of our joy.

Positioning oneself on the rocks looks like a better option. It's not in the thorns and it’s off the open path, but here whatever truths are taught can't take root in our hearts. Why, because it's on the sideline, not in the actual field.  It represents half-heartedness, not going all the way, approaching truth but not taking hold of it.  When difficulties arise, a hard heart soon looses hope and is filled with despair, easily giving up all it had believed at first.

Ultimately the only fruitful place to be is in the rich soil of God's love, where the seeds of His truths can take root deep within our hearts and lives.  It's here where our feet get muddy as the Holy Spirit waters us with His peace.  As we abide in Christ's care He surrounds us in His ever-loving protection, fills us with His hope, and causes us to live fruitful lives.

I'm not going to lie to you: it's not always going to be rosy in the fruitful field. The enemy of our souls will plant his weeds among us, the birds will hover overhead, and haters will cast their stones when they don't understand us. But Jesus understands us, and He loves us beyond all measure. There is no better place to be than in His care. When we fully trust and yield to His guidance, He causes His fruit to abound in and though us.  Then when the fruit that He planted in our hearts takes root, it reseeds in the lives of others.

May this illustration help you decide where you want to be.  Me, I'm choosing to cling to Jesus, the one who paid the ultimate price for my redemption.  It's not unreasonable to anticipate thorns, birds, or stones in my journey.  But God is bigger than my enemy, for greater is He who lives in me the he who lives in the world. 

All glory and honor be to God the Father and to Jesus His Son, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, who made a way for us to be free.

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Illustrating Birds in The Gospels

I began reading the gospels again in a Daily Chronological Bible which was a recent gift. Instead of waiting for January to begin reading Genesis, I dove right in. Reading the accounts of Jesus will always be my favorite text in the Bible. 

For Mark 4:30 I illustrated a mustard field which I delightfully discovered while driving through the Oregon countryside last Spring.  By dipping the tips of the watercolor pencils in water first, I learned I can achieve a more vibrant color.

For Luke 13:34 I chose to illustrate a hen with her seven chicks in the wide margin of my Amplified Bible, rather than chicks under their mother's wings as the verse reads, though that is an endearing image depicting Jesus' sincere love and protection for His people.  The artwork was created with a pencil sketch, watercolor pencil for the grass and sign, and Japanese watercolor for the chicks and hen.

If you haven't noticed already I adore birds. They are one of God's most delightful creatures, and I love how Jesus often uses them in His messages.

Everything Has Its Time

A Bible Art Illustration of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. It reminds me that there is a time for everything. There is nothing new under the sun (Eccl. 1:9).

I used watercolor pencils and chose to illustrate a vintage Time Clock with a long Time Card representing the events listed.  I like how the page curled after adding water to blend the pencil, giving the long time card more depth.

Ecclesiastes is full of wisdom and guidance, and ends with,

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil." 12:13-14.

Between Feedings

While illustrating the miraculous feeding of the 5000 and the feeding of the 4000 recorded in Matthew 14:15-15:36, I discovered a treasure of references "to chew on" between the feedings regarding eating and bread.

Jesus miraculously feeds 5000 men, not including the women and children, with just two fish and five loaves of bread. In the middle of the night Jesus walks out on the water to His disciples struggling in the wave-tossed boat, eventually causing the wind to cease. When they reached the other side, immediately the people brought their sick begging Jesus to touch just the tassel of his rob, and all who did were healed.

According to my "Harmony of the Gospels" it's this crowd who Jesus teaches, "I AM the Bread of Life" (John 6:22-71). They want a sign from Jesus in order to believe Him, like the miracle of manna, bread from heaven, which they received from Moses. Jesus assures them that Moses didn't give them the bread from heaven, but His Father; saying, "For the bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."  "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I give for the life of the world is My flesh."

Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem observing some of Jesus' disciples eating their bread with unwashed hands, question Jesus, accusing them of transgressing and violating the rules handed down by the elders of the past, that of not washing their hands before they eat. Jesus reprimands the Scribes and Pharisees for transgressing and violating the commandment of God. Did you catch that? The Pharisees argue about the commandments of men.  Jesus brings up their violations of breaking the commandment of God, that of not honoring your father and mother for the sake of the rules handed down by men, calling the Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites and blind guides. 

Jesus explains to His disciples the obvious: that which is eaten goes into the stomach is then eliminated.  But, "from out of the heart come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, lewdness, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. These are the things that defiled a man; but eating with unwashed hands does not defiled a man."

Next, Jesus is approached by a Canaanite woman begging Him to heal of her demon possessed daughter.  They have a conversation where Jesus asks her, "Is it right to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs?" Her answer causes Jesus to commend her great faith and He heals her daughter.

Are you seeing this picture? Jesus reprimands the Jewish religious leaders calling them hypocrites, yet commends a non-Jewish woman as having great faith and blesses her.

The Pharisees accuse Jesus.  The woman believes Jesus.

Jesus has pity on the 4000 who remain.  Repeating the last miraculous feeding them with just seven loaves and a few fish, the scripture says, "And they all ate and were satisfied."

I believe Jesus is saying: it's not about when or how you wash your hands (man's traditions handed down), or the bread that was multiplied (the actual miracles that filled their stomachs), it’s about Jesus Himself.

It's all about Him. He is whom we seek. He gives life.

The struggle is exactly the same today.

Do we ignore God’s commandments for the sake of man's rules?

Or do we believe God and receive His Life-giving Bread, Jesus, and live?

 

This is just a paraphrase of the story, where the Holy Spirit caused me to notice the various mentions of bread while illustrating in my Bible, along with the challenge to live a life pleasing to Jesus.  I do not negate the vast teachings these passages have to offer, and I encourage you to read the text in its entirety found in Matthew 14:15-15:36, Mark 6:30-7:30 to discover what the Holy Spirit can teach you personally.

Bible Art Journaling

I recently discovered Bible Art Journaling, using art to illustrate directly over and around scripture in a Bible of what the Lord is teaching. For this I purchased a separate Amplified version and use watercolor pencils. On the inside cover page I illustrated a vintage amplifier.

Psalms 92 speaks of believers as cedars and palms, and the church illustration is from a memory where the Lord spoke to me his promises. Other illustrations are from Matthew, Thessalonians, and Psalms.

Illustrations of what came to mind as I read Isaiah 49:16, Hebrews 1:11, Jude and 2 Peter 3:7 are drawn directly over the text.

What fascinates me the most is the time I spend in each passage as I illustrate what God is teaching me, discovering more than I originally set out to study. For example, the reference to "My hands" is repeated throughout Isaiah Ch. 49 and 50. Plus, the Amplified Bible gives the full meaning of each word or phrase to help me understanding what Scripture really says.

For me, this is being created as a keepsake for my kids and future generations, in the same way I love looking through the pages of my grandmothers Bible and the notes she wrote of what was meaningful to her.  I hope someday what I have illustrated will touch someone's life as she continues to touch mine.

The best advice I've received is: Remember to date each completed page. I've also added additional notes in the back for illustrations that have more personal meaning.

If this is something you are interested in doing, there are no rules of what or how to illustrate. Just seeking a loving and all powerful, all knowing Father for His perfect wisdom and direction in the lives of His children.