November 28, 2016

Jehovah Jireh, God is Our Provider

Today, as I was doing chores my attention was refocused with a scripture that was being spoken as I walked into another room.
The sentence fragment that boomed into my hearing was from the gospel of Luke about the Prodigal.

Luke 15:20  But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

As I heard this scripture the LORD reminded me that life and our walk with Him is a journey.
In the past I painted an Art Parable called  The Prodigal and Family .      


                                                            The Prodigal and Family
                                                        © 2010 Debbie Turner Chavers


When I was younger I would hear people say "We got a ways to go yet" to my questions of arrival or timing.  It may take a while, but keep moving toward the Father.  If you have been overcome with a prodigal mindset or lifestyle choice, keep moving toward God.  Do not run away, move toward the Father.  It comforted me to know that even when the prodigal was still a long way off, the father ran.
So, some days it seems I am a great way off, and yet Jehovah Jireh, my provider is waiting with open arms to meet me where I am and walk with me the rest of the Way home.


                                                                      Going Home
                                                      © 1996 Debbie Turner Chavers

If you are a great way off, Know that He is looking for you.  Wherever you are, look up, move forward, for your salvation draweth near.  
Read over the scriptures below, take time to chew on them.  Consider how much God has provided, consider how much He loves you.

~Debbie


**This is a repost from my Word Parables blog from 2010.

Deuteronomy  31:6  Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

1 Peter 1:3,4  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

1Peter 2:9 -10  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Psalm 136:24  And hath redeemed us from our enemies:  for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Timothy 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1 John 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the world.

Daniel 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries:  but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

Psalm 91:1-16
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, andfrom the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, eventhe most High, thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Revelation 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Revelation 21:1-8
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Amen


All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James bible. Would you like to see what I am currently painting? Click on these links http://artparables.com or http://debbieturnerchavers.com 

November 15, 2016

ARISE: A Call to Prayer and Action



© 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers
Water-Man Series
Psalm 118
Psalm 4:8



closeup of Headboard
ARISE: A Call to Prayer and Action
© 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers


Close-up of Tucked in Believers
ARISE: A Call to Prayer and Action 
© 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers




I was given half of this Art Parable in September of this year. I knew it was to be an Art Parable by the initial imagery but was not sure what it pertained to at that moment. I started the painting and prayed as I painted, seeking the LORD for His peace that it was complete. As I started laying in the shadows of the headboard and wall. I realized how it was to be finished.
The cities, the highways and the byways, we must compel them to come in.

Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

No man knows the day or hour of Christ's return. But Returning for His Own,Will happen.
Be prepared whether the time is short or lengthy.
Be prepared and be found faithfully following the LORD and obeying His call to the whole world.


Jonah 2:10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
Jonah 3:1-2 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid you.


I may add more written content to this post but feel an urgency to share now.

~Debbie Turner Chavers




* Posted first at Art Parables

** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting. All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James Version bible which can be accessed online at http://biblegateway.com Click on these links http://artparables.com 

November 10, 2016

Strangers and the Gift of Hospitality

I have been granted a fine time of getting to know an assortment of new people. Everyone comes from somewhere but most of the people I have been meeting have moved to my area in the last year from other states.
At times even with a new job, new church, new school, even extracurricular activities it can be hard to make a new friend. Once the day or activity is over you have spent time but not found the one on one fellowship that helps you overcome the newness of a move.
Maybe you have lived in the same place forever. You know most of the locals and you know just where to go when something is needed. Well, because of this bouquet of strangers I have been given the opportunity to extend a smile and a welcome and sometimes a shared meal.
This has been a privilege, but unusual to my everyday way of life for the past couple of years.
As this influx of strangers kept being put in my path, I began to think about it.

Upon contemplation, the scripture in Matthew 25:35 was brought to my attention in an entirely new way. The scripture states, I was a stranger and ye took me in.
Well, to be honest that has always kind of freaked me out. You know taking in the stranger. From a small child I was warned not to pick up hitch-hikers. Do not accept candy from strangers. And the list went on. Stranger Danger!
I repeated these same warnings to my children. So how could I reconcile my fear with the scripture admonition of Jesus Christ, with my parents warnings ringing in my ears?
Well, God meets you where you are at, even if it is out of town!
He showed me that I was being allowed to take in a stranger by offering friendship and fellowship to those who were put in my path.
I am being allowed to participate at my own comfort level..via friendship to fulfill the scripture admonition. I was a stranger and you took me in. I took them in by including them in my circle of care.
Read over the scriptures below and see how God grants you the ability to live out these scriptures.

~Debbie



Matthew 25:35For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 

Matthew 25:36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

*Repost from my blog at WordParables.com  3/1/2010


** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting. All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James Version bible which can be accessed online at http://biblegateway.com Click on these links http://artparables.com or http://debbieturnerchavers.com

10 Minute Creative

Until a few years ago, I never had the time or privilege of painting for any length of time . I would paint or draw at random moments in the midst of a very busy life during the raising of my three children. In the beginning, I was hesitant to get started on a painting. I never felt that I could manage to paint anything of value if I did not spend an enormous amount of time on the creation of the painting. But desire overcame my self- imposed obstacles. Little by little I practiced creating.

Daily practice is a wonderful way to improve ones vision and technique toward what you are trying to convey to others through painting. I started "practicing" many years ago and I am still learning daily how to convey what I "see".
It still amazes me the varied hues and saturation of color that I see in the world around me.

Once I started painting my world changed as I began to "see" the world as a place of infinite colors.
My initial response toward the commitment of painting on a regular schedule was astonishing.
I started to "see" the landscape, the light on an object, the colors in shadows. It was as though I was suddenly sighted after being blind. Daily practice is a way for you to grow as an artist and to nurture your creative spirit.
The 10 minute start can be used for writing, painting, cleaning, exercising, the list goes on and on.
The point is to develop a habit toward the practice of your given creativity.
So if a blank canvas is intimidating.  Use the 10 minute rule to move forward.
What moves YOU?

Gardening and taking a walk in the woods or listening to the sound of moving water inspires me.
Viewing beauty can inspire me.  The sound of joyful laughter. Instrumental music.
The point is to find what inspires you and use that to move you forward.
A ten minute spark-to jump start you on your journey forward.

If you think you do not have the time to practice, consider trying my quick start process.
Give yourself 10 minutes a day toward giving the world a window into your creative outlook.
Ten minutes may seem absurd, but if you get started you will be amazed with your progress.

Try this schedule for a quick start toward productivity and artistic growth.
Spend the first 10 minutes thinking through your concept of what you want to accomplish.
The second day, a quick sketch.
The third day, choice your media and colors.
The fourth day, apply your first stroke of genius.
Well, you get the picture.
Now show it to the rest of us.

Keep in mind, an oak tree started as a very small acorn.
~Debbie


Rewritten from my article at http://wordparables.com
© 2010 Debbie Turner Chavers





** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting. All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James Version bible which can be accessed online at http://biblegateway.com Click on these links http://artparables.com or http://debbieturnerchavers.com