News

Ever look at a stranger and see a mirror of yourself in some way? Today, while running into a small market to pick up a couple items needed for dinner, it happened. She was a checker and hadn’t noticed me enter her check-out station. I watched as she proceeded to the nearby front entry to wash the smudges off its’ glass door. So while I patiently waited for her return, I could identify with her ambitious busyness. 

“Sorry,” she said, realizing I was waiting there. “I just have to keep busy.”

“No worries, I can identify.” I understood.

As a busy person myself, I often have a hard time standing still for long. Even while on vacation, there are many times when I find myself filling-in the void of every quiet moment with activity. Perhaps that’s why I’m drawn to calm waters and peaceful surroundings. Maybe it’s also the reason I often choose quiet water scenes as the subjects of my paintings— I need to be still. That kind of beauty draws me in and gives my soul comfort and serenity. But more than that, it is God’s call to my spirit to “be still and know that I am God,” as it says in Psalm 46:10.  

Now, as I gaze out the large windows of our vacation place, my eyes are drawn to the view of the harbor. The little boats sit with quiet submission to the calm water of the inlet as it brings colorful reflections below each one. Although they may bob and sway slightly, their anchors force them to mostly remain still. H-m-m-m! Guess I need to anchor myself to God more often and let Him hold me motionless too. To allow His light to become beautiful reflections of His hand in my life.  

Looking closer at Psalm 46 by examining the two verses before verse ten, I see that the psalmist was considering the wars and chaos of the world when he wrote this psalm. Yet he steps back and draws the curtain away from the turmoil of his day with revelation of God’s mighty power to bring peace. Then he challenges us to do the same, saying: “Come see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.”  

He completes it with, “Be still and know that I am God,” and reminds us that God will be exalted among the nations and in the earth. He reinforces our need to be still and anchored to God no matter what is going on, because God is with us and is “The Lord God Almighty.” 

So, as I vacation in this peaceful place, I am reminded that I need to be still so I can be refreshed and strengthened by God’s mighty hand. That, if I stop long enough to ponder who God is and rest in His promises, I will be unmoved by the distractions around me, no matter how horrific.

#calm #stillwaters #chaos #anchor #serenity #paintings #vacation #busyness #God #Mightyhand

#Peaceful #Bestill #reflections #Hislight 

Have you ever considered what special purpose God may have in a vacation you plan to take? Several years ago that idea was planted in my head as my husband and I were making plans for an epic road trip across country. Our main goals for that three-week journey included lots of sight-seeing and a family reunion in Georgia, my birthplace. The details of planning that kind of trip were daunting enough, yet a niggle of an idea kept nudging its’ way in as we charted our course and made hotel reservations. God seemed to be telling me that I should ask Him what His special purpose in our trip might be. 

So, after I bowed my head and asked God if he had some added purpose for our vacation, the clear message He whispered back was: Pray for all the believers you meet along the way. Although that trip began with a major set-back that nearly derailed the whole vacation, God used it to His purposes. The results of applying that special added purpose to our trip brought an anointing throughout the vacation with thrills and blessings that are immeasurable.

After that blessed experience, we determined in our hearts to always ask our Lord what His purpose for our travels are before we leave for vacation. One such trip followed with its’ own set of surprises and delays that revealed a unique purpose that only God could’ve tailored for us. We were set to travel to Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota, but it wasn’t until we were fully on our way before God revealed what His purposes were in that journey.

Knowing there were no straight flights to our destination, we chose to fly to Denver then rent a car and do some sight-seeing on route to Rapid City, So. Dakota. However, our flight was delayed by and hour. While patiently waiting at LAX, a young woman sat next to me and a conversation ensued. I learned very quickly that she was at a spiritual crossroads in her life. She was trying to decide if she should become a missionary or nun. God whispered to me to just listen. So I did. We had a wonderful chat and though I mostly offered my ears and a few short comments, it was clear she felt relieved by the end of the hour’s wait.

Then at the car rental in Denver, there was another hour’s delay towards our six-hour drive. Needless to say we got a late start that nixed any time for site-seeing on route. At around 8 pm, we found ourselves, feeling bedraggled, famished and in a very small town with only two restaurants. We picked the one that looked the best and entered at a late hour for dinner. Our meal took longer than it should’ve because they discovered the fish in my order was spoiled. By the time we got served and finished eating, we were closing the place down. As Larry got up to pay at the window, a young woman whom we hadn’t yet seen, came out and began bussing the tables. 

It was then that I heard the Lord whisper: “Compliment the young woman.” I observed this stranger closely trying to figure out what I could say. Then I knew. As she got close to our table, I asked: “Did anyone ever tell you that you look a lot like a girl who was in a famous painting?”

“No,” she said, “But I like to paint.” Wow! Obviously God knew we had something in common—art.

So a conversation about painting began, but before I could say “Vermeer, a Dutch artist.” this young woman began to open-up her whole life to me. She had a very tragic story of molestation and abuse by an older brother which was magnified by the denial of the rest of her family.  Added to that, she’d been bullied mercilessly at every school she’d attended.

“If my grandmother hadn’t sent me a plane ticket and given me this job, I don’t know what I would’ve done.” She proclaimed. Then; “You see that guy sitting at the table behind you?” As she pointed, I turned to see a young man eating his dinner. “He’s my fiance’. Well, you might as well say we’re married.” She went on. “Because we just had a baby, but the baby died.”

Although I didn’t know this beautiful young woman, my heart ached for her. “I don’t even know you, but you’re gonna make me cry.” Indeed, tears were already brimming in my eyes. “Would it be all right if I prayed for you?” I asked.

She humbly nodded yes. We stood in the restaurant and held hands while I prayed out loud for this beautiful child of God. At the “amen,” and in timely fashion, Larry returned to the table having paid our bill. She looked up and said something sweet about me being a “treasure.” 

I felt humbled and honored to be used by God in the young stranger’s life that day. As we drove on, towards our destination, I began praising Him for all the delays that made it possible for that meeting and the meeting at LAX. But it wasn’t the last one of that nature to happen. Another divine appointment occurred two days later. It also involved a long delay getting somewhere and a waitress. Of course, by that time, I was pretty much expecting God to do it again. And He did. The next encounter also revealed a young woman with a tragic life’s start but a happy ending. 

As she sat us at our table, she commented, “You’re here at the perfect time.” I knew she meant that we’d get better service since it was late, and things were slowing down. But, of course, by then I knew that it was God’s perfect timing. I also knew she’d probably have some extra time to share with us. As we finished up and paid our bill, I asked how long she’d lived in that area. Not so surprisingly, it opened another deep tale of a troubled childhood. Because of abuse, she had been taken out of her home by authorities when she was very young. But happily, she was adopted by a wonderful Christian couple and it was evident that she was now a happy and well-adjusted young woman.

• Adding a humorous note and reminder of God’s Sovereign hand in all things, not long after the first encounter with the waitress, we made a wrong turn and missed a speed limit change. While waiting to see if the police officer was going to give us a speeding ticket, I nearly laughed out loud as I realized it was God’s way of telling us to slow down and trust in His timing. We may have been on our way to Mt. Rushmore, but He wanted us to Rush Less. God had His own purposes set-out for us on that trip, we just needed to slow down and look for them. Oh, and thankfully we did not get a ticket. 

So, as you prepare for a vacation this summer, I hope you will consider one other important matter—God’s purpose in it, then pray and ask Him what it is. If you’ll be traveling with children, you can get them involved too. They may even want to ask God if He has some special purpose in it that’s just for them. Then be on the lookout for opportunities to apply that added purpose to your travels. Watch and see if your freshened focus brings any new and exciting dimensions to your vacation.

If you’d like to read more of the story that led us to ask God what His purpose in our travels were, you can purchase my book “Fresh Eyes: Seeing God in the Unexpected.” Order it right here on my website “books” page, or through Amazon. I’d love to hear about your purposeful vacations too. So, leave a comment here or let me know if this post inspired you. 

#Journeys #Purpose #Godly purpose #vacation #Mt.Rushmore #Divine appointments #God’s timing #Art #Painting #Dutch artist #Vermeer #travels #sightseeing

There’s an old saying that always brings a smile to my face: “Never pray for patience or you just might get something to be patient about.” Well, I wouldn’t say that I’ve specifically been praying for patience, but for the past several weeks, I have asked God to fill me with the fruit of His Holy Spirit and patience happens to be one of them. So, naturally, when I had a chance to practice patience at a recent family gathering, I was tested.  

You’re probably thinking my patience was tested by a family member, but that wasn’t the case. At least, not this time. No, my patience was tested by a waitress who was serving our large group of fourteen people. Although I didn’t get boisterous and rude, I did get expressively annoyed with her and my impatience that day was not the testimony I wanted to exhibit to my family—particularly those who are not believers. 

The guest of honor, my graduated grandson, along with his parents, had been held up in their arrival by unexpected long lines as he officially checked out of San Francisco State University. Our son had texted to tell all of us to proceed with ordering our food and drinks since they were running late. The waitress had taken my order, and one other person’s, then stopped for some reason. Another hour went by, our grandson and his parents arrived but by then I was getting Hangry. Being a little hypoglycemic, my body tends to get very shaky if I push the limits of eating too long between meals and I was trying hard to be patient. But when it became obvious that my order was going to be the very last one of all fourteen served, despite the fact I’d ordered thirty minutes before everyone else, I was steaming hangry. With a sharp ungracious tone, I let the waitress know I wasn’t happy about it. 

My prayers for God’s Holy Spirit to fill me with His fruit earlier that day had turned into: “Give me patience and give it to me now!” I might have laughed at myself had I thought about my attitude as being like that, but sadly it didn’t come to mind then. 

It’s interesting how we handle some things with patience better than others. Painting is one activity that seems to encourage a patient spirit within me. No matter how long a particular painting might take, I remain calm. The painting you see pictured at the blog starting point, was quite large, (about 6 feet long by 4 1/2 feet) and it took me a few months to complete. Sometimes I’d work through lunch, but not once during the process, did I get anxious or impatient.

So, on that day of celebration, contemplating my failure to handle that small fruitful challenge, further drove home the reality that I need to let God’s Holy Spirit handle it for me when I do get anxious. Instead of vociferously expressing my displeasure with the waitress, who was probably overwhelmed at the size of our group, I should’ve silently prayed for God’s Spirit to help. Or perhaps I should’ve done what Jesus did after forty days of fasting in the desert, when Satan tempted him to “turn these stones into bread,”—he quoted scripture to the devil. 

In my studies over the years, I’ve learned that using God’s word, when we’re being tempted or tried by the evil one, is how we can effectively use the Sword of the Spirit as mentioned in Ephesians 6. So, maybe, if I’d used that tool against the hunger and shakiness within me, I would have been more effective and certainly a better witness to others. Undoubtedly, I had acted more in line with what Paul said in Romans 7:19: “the good that I will to do, I do not do, but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”  Thankfully we also know, by God’s word in Romans 8:1, that “There is therefore, now, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” 

#fruit #HolySpirit #Christian #painting #Christianart #tempted #art #Jesus #sword #witness #testimony #Bible #patience #scripture #hangry

What do you think of when you see a dove? I think about peace. Just this morning while walking my little dog Caeser, I saw a dove sitting calmly on the hood of a neighbor’s car. Looking at Its’ restful position, I imagined that it was anointing the car with a special blessing. One that would ensure the family’s safety and peaceful guidance in all their travels. Of course, that was just my imagination. But I’m guessing that like me, many of you think about peace when you see a dove too.

Another thing that inspires peace for me is calm water. Ironically doves and water are often paired in the scriptures. There’s the story of Noah and the Ark when, after the storm, the dove returned with olive branches in its’ beak indicating things were once again peaceful. And in John 1:32, John  testified to what he saw when he baptized Jesus, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” 

As a professional artist who has painted many hundreds of pictures over the years, it has blessed me to commonly hear people comment that my paintings are serene, or “peaceful.” While I have never set out to paint a peaceful painting, it somehow comes through in my artwork. Some might say it’s because I frequently paint calm water scenes, but the other subjects I paint, also seem to emit a peacefulness. So, about fifteen years into my art career, I decided to use Psalm 23:2 as my signature theme on all my paintings. It says:”…He leads me beside still waters…”  

Galatians 5:22 says: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law.” So, as I consider that peace comes from the Spirit of God, I can only give the Glory to Him for any, and all of the peace that may be reflected in my paintings. And this verse reminds me that the closer I draw near Jesus, the more peace I will have. It was that verse that inspired my poem, “The Fruit”, that you can download for free through the link at the end of this post.

This also brings to light something I touch on in my poem called “The Fruit,” where I say: “We can’t make this sweet fruit on our own, No straining or effort will make spiritual fruit be grown…” In other words, these qualities cannot be drummed up by our own efforts. No amount of striving, practice, or work can produce the true fruit that God’s Holy Spirit can. The only thing we can do to have more of that kind of fruit is to consistently stay close to the source—God. Titus 3:5 states that gaining these qualities is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but through…the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” In other words, we need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. 

Even more exciting is the promise we see of several other wonderful qualities that come from God’s Holy Spirit. With all the turmoil, upside down woke ideas, hatred, anger, out-of-control people, violence, and crazy new laws manifesting in this world today, Galatians 5:22 gives us the best remedy and guarantees that “against such, there is no law.” 

 As a special “thank you” to all who join my email list, I’ve designed a beautiful rendition of my poem, “The Fruit.” This download printable is free to my current email subscribers, AND to all who register to receive my monthly emails. Click on this link: https://mailchi.mp/iriscarignan/fruit-poem-printable to get your free beautiful & printable copy of the poem. I hope it blesses you!

#poetry #fruit #Holyspirit #peace #joy #gentleness #Kindness #goodness #selfcontrol  

Spring has always been my favorite season. Just a couple of weeks ago I was happily surprised to see beautiful flowers had grown from the forgotten bulbs I’d planted last year. With cheerful color, the flowers that bloom and sprout from bulbs as we near Easter’s celebration, seem to echo God’s joyous reward for our hope. Reward that comes after months, or years, of a wintery cold season. And like the sorrow and pain of thousands who witnessed Jesus being crucified, that cold winter of disappointment must’ve pierced their hearts. But the resurrection of Jesus became an unexpected Springtime joy when He rose from the soil of death three days later. 

Isn’t it amazing how Spring seems to miraculously coincide with God’s timely and universal plan of redemption for mankind? And every time it arrives we feel like all the wintery months that preceded it were worth the wait. As I reflected on this astonishing “coincidence of nature”, I thought about a story I wrote about in my book “Fresh Eyes: Seeing God in the Unexpected.” So thought you might enjoy reading part of it here today. 

BUT FOR THE JOY

“While on my usual morning walk, something caught my eye. It was a tiny palm tree growing most amazingly through the black asphalt of our street. The little seedling was barely 3 inches high. As impressive as its fortitude was, the shadow it cast was larger and more interesting because of its shape— a cross. The irony struck immediately with clear prophetic meaning.” 

The pint-sized plant seemed to be forecasting a reminder and fate from the past. It stood proudly proclaiming the former glory of its use on a particular day of celebration— the Triumphal entry of the King and Messiah into Jerusalem. Its baby leaves stretched towards the sunlight like the loving arms of our Lord and their shadow predicting the coming crucifixion. It almost seemed that it was doing its best to compensate (in a small way) for the turn-about. What had begun as a joyous celebration and laying of palm branches, as a carpet for the coming king, had so quickly turned to condemnation, cursing and hanging on a tree. 

“…Seeing the enduring strength of this baby plant that had triumphed over the stubborn hardness of asphalt spoke to my soul. Its victory over struggle, beautifully modeled some of the pain, suffering and resistance Jesus experienced prior to the cross.”

“Jesus tried to warn his friends about his coming death… He knew His time was drawing near and soon He would face the ultimate enemy-death. Hundreds of years before Jesus the Christ came to earth, another prophet foretold of the messiah in a similar way.  Isaiah 53 most notably prophesied the Messiah as one who “grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.  ……He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering….Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted…. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

Wow! I thought as I re-read this story. Then I reflected on an account I read just days ago about how Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday as we call it), was foretold with uncanny accuracy thousands of years before that day. The article said that on the Jewish calendar, the day of preparation for Passover when Jewish households were to select a lamb for an offering, was called “Nisan 10,” It was also referred to in Exodus 12:3. We know from other scripture that the week leading up to Jesus’s Crucifixion was during the preparation for Passover too. The article went on to tell that according to the Chronological Aspects in a study done by Dr. Harold Hoehner, Daniel 9:25 predicted that Messiah would be presented to Israel as the Messiah King 483 years after the period of Artaxerxes’ decree to rebuild Jerusalem. And that day was on March 30, AD 33 (Nisan 10). So the prediction of Jesus triumphant entry when palm branches were laid down at the feet of the donkey he rode on, was exactly right in to the day, (483 years) as it was predicted to be.

Take a few minutes this week to read all of Isaiah’s words of great prophesy alongside the Calvary story and be prepared for God’s amazing foreshadowing of redemption and grace.  I pray you will have a blessed Easter and your eyes will be open to see God’s blossoming miracles.

#Easter #Hope #PalmSunday #Spring #blooms #bulbs #flowers #Messiah #redemption #prophecy #Passover #triumphantentry