With Me At All Times!

When "Facing Jesus" was with me in my car.

(Look for a new post soon from the latest Pilgrim)

As I go through my days, it is a great comfort to feel Christ's presence with me--no matter where I go or if my circumstances are difficult or pleasant. We are called to be faithful at all times like that! I am thankful that this year has sparked a huge growth in my relationship with Jesus, and I feel Him as though we were looking eye to eye, face to face and most of all, heart to heart! It's the greatest feeling I've ever known! It's the greatest relationship I've ever known, and it shapes all of my other earthly relationships as well. I praise God for sending His Son as the greatest gift in all the world.

As we approach Christmas, know more than ever that He is the most awesome gift, better than any gift under your tree.  I pray that you will experience the most Spirit-filled, loving, joyful and peaceful Christmas ever. For the new year, I will looking forward to knowing an ever-present, ever-loving, ever-merciful Jesus in my life, and I pray that you will too!

Merry Christmas!

With Me At All Times!

Time with Starr

The past 2 weeks, Facing Jesus has been with Starr. Starr is a high school teacher who teaches many grades Spanish. A very creative person, she is--Starr is also an artist and author of great books about creativity. Here is where Facing Jesus spent the past 2 weeks:

There are seven clocks lining the back wall of my classroom showing the time in different parts of the Spanish-speaking world. I discreetly replaced the center clock with the face of Jesus and waited for the students to notice. I dodged their questions about the painting and listened to their responses. One student said, "His eyes look as though they are looking straight through me and into my soul." I never told the students who our mysterious visitor was or why he was here, but one thing is for certain: Everyone recognized him and felt his steady gaze.

- Starr

Time with Starr

Next Stop: Allison

It has been a while since I've posted.  We have gotten a little off-track, but that's okay since the painting is meant to be a ministry for all of us, but especially to the wonderful Pilgrims who committed to this project.  I appreciate every one of you!  See the beautiful words from the latest, Allison: I placed the painting in the most trafficked room in our home, the dining room. In our  home you have to pass through the dining room to go to bed each night and then to the kitchen each morning. I thought having the painting in this room would help me keep Jesus top of mind. And it did. I found myself more frequently putting my basket in his hands; however, I wonder, did I make a mistake? I put the painting in a room we "pass though" but we rarely settle in. I wonder if that acts as metaphor for my faith. I can't answer this today; but I know I need to make some changes.   Thanks for allowing me to be a Pilgrim.   Love, Allison

Next Stop: Allison

Words From Pilgrim Allison

I received this note from Allison on Friday--the last day of a trying and busy week. And though, I love this ministry, sometimes I forget about it until I receive a note like this, and I just felt so awesome knowing that "I' am still reaching out to people as my painting reaches its new destination every couple of weeks. That is how God works! Read Allison's account:

So I was having an especially trying day yesterday, lots on my mind; honestly while I looked pulled together and with it on the outside, I was anything but on the inside.

All day my mind had been racing, "what am I gonna do? how will I deal with all of this? Am I making the right decisions?" and so on...

All of this is still racing through my mind as I walk in at the end of the day and find a package from Minnesota. I look at the address and cannot figure out where it is from. Dad lives in Rochester but this is a St. Paul address and as far as I can remember all my friends and family no longer live in that area. Who on earth can this be from? And what is it???

Upon opening the package I discover I do have a friend in St. Paul and I have recieve the answers to all my questions that have been racing through my head that day.

You know "what I am gonna do?" I am gonna pray about it and put in all in God's hands.

Words From Pilgrim Allison

Time With Claire

My twin sister is one of the Pilgrims who wished to participate in having Facing Jesus in St. Paul, MN.  That's the farthest it's been yet.  Read about her experience:


I have loved having this Jesus painting around me in my daily living the last 2 weeks!  It is a constant reminder of his presence with us at all times even in the mundane of our daily living.  This image of him is so moving with a hint of his crown of thorns and the intensity portrayed in his gentle eyes.  My family has relished in having the painting in the kitchen most of the two weeks.  I took it outside and propped it on the porch ledge in front of me while having my quiet time and devotion each morning. Somehow, it made Jesus feel even more real to me!  Thanks, Carole, for starting this wonderful ministry that we can each share in and pass this great painting on to the next person giving us all a feeling of connectedness.  It's WONDERFUL!

Time With Claire

Pilgrim Jennifer Morrison had just returned from a mission trip and had this to say about her experience with "Facing Jesus":

Thank you so much for the opportunity to be a part of the Facing Jesus tour. As you know, I got to spend some time in Ecuador the week prior to receiving the painting...it was perfect timing! In my quiet time during the two weeks with the painting and throughout my days since, I have spent much time reflecting on my experiences there in Ecuador and meshing that with my life here. I placed the painting of Jesus' face in my kitchen/family room area where I spend most of my time and do my daily "quiet time" . What kept resounding to me was just how freeing my personal relationship with the Lord is. No matter how this world and our culture tries to lull us into a state of complacency, comfort and even apathy in the routines of religion, I have complete peace in knowing that my Jesus is real. There is more to Him than our routines and rituals that we sometimes equate with being a Christian. The life He has called us to is not one made up of a list of do's and dont's filled with condemnation, but one of freedom, peace and true joy. He wants a personal relationship with each of us and loves us so much. This time has given me an even greater longing to see Him face to face and to do what He has called me to do while I remain on this earth. I pray that everyone who reads this will search their hearts and lives and if they don't know Him personally, they will call out to Him today. Thanks again for a wonderful opportunity. Jennifer Morrison

2nd Tour Stop!

Kelly Cain and her family had "Facing Jesus" this past couple of weeks, and I'm thrilled to share with you what she said about her experience with the painting.  I have been so thrilled about this ministry, and I want it to grow and spread to more and more people as each new Pilgrim has the painting.  Please share with people and encourage them to "follow" the blog as it will be a ministry to everyone in some way!  Thank you in advance for doing that!  Here are words from Kelly and her precious family:

Once again thank you so much for doing this ministry, this has been a wonderful blessing for my family and has put us a step in the direction that I have prayed that it would. With our family being so busy with two working parents, three school aged kids, and the activities we weren't putting God in our daily lives. Having the "Facing Jesus" painting in our home has definately brought my relationship with God so much closer than it has ever been. I chose to place the painting on our foyer table because we are in and out so much and that table is what we see when we arrive home and when we are leaving,  the table is also in our living room, where, when we have the time to sit, the painting is in our viewing area. Being a pilgrim on the "Facing Jesus" tour has done for me and my family exactly as I had hoped it would, even though we aren't 100% there, it has given us the foundation to grow on to become a healthy christian family. We have Faced Jesus every day for the past few weeks, the presence has brought Jesus into our daily lives reminding us to always try to live by his word, praise Him everyday and know that we are wealthy of all of God's love.

Gratefully Yours,

Kelly Cain & Family

2nd Tour Stop!