Finding Jesus

It's been so long since an update on the last Pilgrim to have the painting.  Now, I can't remember who that is or where the painting is.  Will someone share this information with me so I can get it back along with a story and pics for an update.  That would be awesome! Thank you!

Finding Jesus

Facing Jesus Pics back from Carroll Lane....

"If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths,

you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast."  - Psalm 139:8-10

So often in my faith, I have felt God's presence, known the peace of the Holy Spirit, or relied on Jesus' guiding hand.  Yet, it's so easy to take all of these for granted.   Too many times, I want to do things myself, in my own way, or in my own time.  I don't surrender every thought, every word, or every action to God.  Yet, He asks and desires for us to do just that.  Having Carole's painting of Jesus in my kitchen the past few months, I have been physically reminded of a few things.  First, that Jesus is ALWAYS with us.  While this is something I teach daily to my little girls, I loved having a tangible reminder of this.  Second I was reminded that God wants to hear from us.  I found that with the painting, I prayed out loud to Jesus more often.  And looking into His eyes, I was reminded of the how amazing it is that I can have a true, personal relationship with my Creator.  Lastly, I was reminded that we are called to be holy as our Father is holy (1 Peter 1-15-16).  While that is a challenge I am humbled by each day, I was encouraged each time I looked at Jesus to remember that it is because of Him that I have the privilege to know God and become more like Him.

Thank you for sharing this ministry Carole!  It was an honor to have the painting of Jesus in my home.

Now the painting is off the next recipient.  Stay tuned for another update and pics of where it lands next for its next calling.

Facing Jesus Pics back from Carroll Lane....

Facing Jesus back!

Just a little update: Facing Jesus II is back from Ghana with Dr. Jack Moore and is now with sweet Cynthia Hart at Shea's Express in Huntsville!  When you go--you simply must go--to her cafe to experience a tasty extravaganza, you will see the painting.  If you don't see it, ask her where it is since she plans to take it on several journeys while it's in her care the next month. Share yourself with Cynthia too and let it be a blessing to others.

Facing Jesus back!

Spirit-Filled Easter

Painting Jesus Live - Shot by Stephanie Fenton

This Easter season was so wonderful in so many ways.  I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so deeply--all during Holy Week.  My mind and heart were set on Him, and I praise Him for the amazing love I felt.  I was given the opportunity to paint live during the Maundy Thursday service at First Baptist Church in Athens, and I've never felt such a KNOWING of doing something that He led me to do.  I was never nervous about painting in front of a few hundred people--that never hit me.  I truly can say that I painted for an audience of one, and He emerged slowly, crucified, bloody onto my large canvas as the Celebration Choir of over a hundred angelic voices sang the somber, yet loving choruses depicting the crucifixion.  I was ONE with my savior that night.  The people felt it.  I heard people shedding tears.  Truly moving.   Notes from people that I've received since that night spell out an account that night of feeling closer to God than ever before.  I credit Ryan Leffel, the amazing choir director for having the foresight to mix the arts of music and painting to create a moving worship experience for our community.  I thank him for that.  It was a chance to give our God-given gifts back to our Lord in an act of worship.  How amazing!  How wonderful!

Shot by Stephanie Fenton

Shot by Decatur Daily photographer

I praise God for allowing me to have a gift that I can share with people to bring them to Christ.  My Jesus paintings have been an amazing  way to connect  people to their Creator.  As happened Christmas Eve when a person visited my gallery and found one of my paintings, someone came into my gallery Easter Eve and found another one.  It was a moment of sharing my Jesus Painting Tour Ministry with her and tears welled up in her eyes, and bang! I knew it was God there prompting me to share one of my paintings with her.  I did.  It was the small one I painted this week to launch my latest painting tour.  But, I 'll paint another one. Sherry is a sweet, beautiful lady who came in with her daughter and shared that her brother is suffering from cancer.  A minister in Mississippi, he collects works of art that depict Jesus.  Sherry plans a trip to visit him and bring him my painting.  How awesome is that?  I can't wait t hear how it goes.

Sherry & Me

Spirit-Filled Easter

Facing Jesus II Is Complete & Ready To Go!

Wow, this morning has been unbelievable! But that is just how God is. My creative funk ended as I spent time this morning with a new Bible Study and time alone painting my Saviour! I can't tell you how special it was.  While painting, it just flowed so well, and after some time, I noticed a tear trailing down my cheek as the longing look in His eye was accomplished.  How unworthy I am that He did this for me.

Another tear came when I found out that my first Pilgrim for this painting will be taking it to Ghana for his mission trip. Amazing!  I can't wait for the stories and photos from Jack's experience there and with the painting.  Please be in prayer as this next tour begins, that it will be such a ministry for those with the painting and those reading this blog.  Share it too with someone--it's easy--just hit the share button under any post.

Many blessings to you!

Facing Jesus II Is Complete & Ready To Go!

Hey Pilgrims!

If you have not received "Facing Jesus" yet, please resend/email me your address... Somehow my list got lost in my mail program, and I can't figure out which of you it goes to next.

Also, please note that only one person gets it next and this tour will end.  20 Pilgrims was a little too ambitious as it turned out.  So, you Pilgrims who haven't received it will be the first ones to receive the next one!  So please don't lose heart!  Be planning how you will experience it, and help make this ministry reach lots of people!

Thank you to those who have participated and made this an exciting, rich ministry for others.  I have been greatly touched by your experiences.  Praise God for your taking part!

Hey Pilgrims!

Facing Jesus' Tour with Karen

Karen Smith of Huntsville, Alabama recently experienced being a Pilgrim with "Facing Jesus" and her account really moved me!  Thank you, Karen for sharing it and Jesus' spirit in such awesome ways!

I thoroughly enjoyed the time I had with the Facing Jesus Tour painting. I

decided before the painting ever arrived that I thought I would approach

this a little differently and I did. I decided that in an effort to remind

myself that Jesus is not something to put on a shelf and think about when it

is convenient, that I would take the painting with me wherever I went. I was

hoping that the Lord would use this to remind me that He is with me always

in every situation that I find myself on a daily basis.

I am a school teacher (8th grade) so I took the painting with me to school

and sat it on my desk for a couple of days. One of my greatest challenges is

to remember that Middle School boys are made in the image of God! I am

kidding, sort of, but not only did the students ask lots of questions about

the painting (which I answered), but I found myself looking at it when I

would get frustrated with a student. It really helped remind me that even

though they are difficult at times, Jesus loves them as much as anyone else!

This has helped me to stop throughout the day and pray for them, and myself

: )

I also took the painting with me to our Small Group Bible Study. It is a

couples study and we are studying the book " Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. I

actually sat the painting next to me during the discussion. At first no one

quite knew what to make of it but after I explained what I was doing, we had

a huge discussion about how we could all remind each other throughout the

week that Jesus is present with us in every situation. This started a new

dynamic in our group, where we periodically e-mail the whole group

throughout the week with reminders of God's love and care for us. It started

with one of the guys scanning in the image of the painting and e-mailing it

to everyone in the group.

We have continued to send group e-mails throughout the week to encourage one

another and remind each other of Jesus presence in our everyday lives.

Thanks Carole for this wonderful project and a chance to reflect on Jesus!

Facing Jesus' Tour with Karen