“A voice is calling out, ‘Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.’” Isaiah 40:3
or as Eugene Peterson phrased it: Thunder in the desert! “Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road straight and smooth, a highway fit for our God. Fill in the valleys, level off the hills, Smooth out the ruts, clear out the rocks. Then God’s bright glory will shine and everyone will see it. Yes. Just as God has said.” (Isa. 40:3-5 in The Message)
Artists: Choose one phrase from this text that stands out to you. Ask yourself why that statement catches your attention? Now take a few minutes to paint the answer to that question.
Writers: Personalize this text as a poem. What needs to be cleared away and leveled out? How do we prepare for the arrival of the King?
Fill in the valleys, level off the hills, Smooth out the ruts, clear out the rocks. Then God’s bright glory will shine and everyone will see it. Yes. Just as God has said.”
I love this, Marsha!
Marsha, I love that our eye is drawn to the rising sun—the glory! And then there it is, reflected in the foreground.
This verse caused me to think about all the stuff taking up room in my soul and "blocking the view". Actually a bulldozer would have been more appropriate, but not as much fun to draw!!☺️
Beautiful painting and scripture. I still have the card you painted when Noel passed away. It's siting in front of me as I type this note. Both the card and you are cherished. Love of the Highest Order
Soul-clutter. Love it. The colors are perfect!
I ❣️ This! So cute!
This is such a great idea. Thanks for creating this special place for Christian artists to communicate Christ's love.
Wilderness Decor
The neighbors
Have decorated.
But I question
Their holiday theme:
The whole rushing neighborhood
Has chose the blue
Of rain tarps,
Instead of the reds, the greens,
And the golds.
They’ve littered their yard
With that commercial garbage
The more sophisticated scorn.
There is a kind of holiness:
Patched and woven
With tattered treasures,
Baskets instead of sleighs.
Voyeurs, we pass by
Incredulous of their choices.
I push the button
To my automatic garage door
To hide myself from
My own barren landscape.
Warmed, satisfied
And alone.
What is that voice I hear?
A clearing in the wilderness?
A highway for our God?
Oh God,
We await your appearing.
Come Lord Jesus.
Using my Mama’s hymnal - “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”
make smooth a desert highway for our God
Got to LOVE this. Your mama hymnal... brilliant!
@upwardflight Thanks so much! She‘s been gone just one year, and I used her hymnal with prompts Ruthie gave us during Holy Week at Easter this year too! 😊
I love the different elements you brought together on this one Lyn. And that hymn is one of my faves!!!!
I can’t help but think of all the boxes of Christmas decorations and the clutter of “things” in our lives. It’s so peaceful to think of making a pathway to the treasure of Christ. “for where your treasure is... there your heart will be also.”
What a powerful collage Mindy. Thank you for sharing. When our Amazon boxes start piling up, I'm going to picture this path...
Wow. Exactly
Imagine you are a living star. You illumine all around you. You glitter and twinkle, You shine. You spread your cheer and hope everywhere. You bring others into THE LIGHT which makes you glow. "And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." Daniel 12:3
SUCH a cool verse! And gorgeous imagery to go with it. Thanks for the blessing Joyce.
I hope everyone downloads to see it. In the future, if you hit the reply button, it will give you the option to download directly to the site.
Moving. The colors the contrasts. Beautiful