oh hey 28...

fact. i am turning 28. how did this happen? i remember my 18th just like it was yesterday, but apparently, 10 years have elapsed since then and a multitude of life experiences have occurred in the process.

that 10 year span has consisted of the 'best of times and the worst of times'.

most valued moments?

learning the value of life...and its transient nature through the sudden loss of a loved one. sigh. it still hurts. and i don't have answers, but He is still good.

learning the value of family through the trauma too.

planting a church in my city. You have to have a vision bigger than yourself to really find meaning in this life. i am convinced.

planting a church in my city with a team of committed believers who experience the hardships of it together and celebrate the victories. Learning that we all have need to be known. To be understood.

raising support for ministry. I hated this process with my entire being. BUT! But it was invaluable. The lessons I learned in that season will follow me all my days. It got me to a place of hunger and trust for/in Him that I had never been to up to that point. And it was a launch pad for Redding several years down the line.

Natasha's wedding. there is something about witnessing your best friend get married. seeing two lives come together as one...i just don't have the words for, but at the end of the day, it really is all about love.

my grandparent's selling their lake house in Idaho this year to pursue a dream to live in fullness. FAMILY IS KINGDOM. Fact. 2011 is a year of getting to move into fullness as a family.

oh 28, this is going to be so good. so fun. so full. lets party.

Still give thanks

THanksgiving break 2010. BEST EVER.

I am so thankful for the great people in my life. Great friendships. In fact, I don't think I've ever been this full regarding the people that are in my life in this season.

Whilst the snow diverted me from Seattle for the holidays, a quick re-route was decided and I ended up migrating south, to Ventura, to stay with my favorites.

Not only that, but God is so good that He set it up to be with special friends on a landmark time to redeem things that last year had been attacked.
As we celebrated together this year, it was clear things were different...

It was fun to discuss how we've personally grown and developed in light of His transforming power...

I love my life so much. I love the people who are in it immensely.

So here's a tribute to this amazing lady and our journey together.

A time of promises fulfilled, the year of jubilee.

Cheers to you Clare...and Joey and Lucky!

Thanks for your friendship and love.

Love Comes

I can hardly put into words just what has been happening in my heart over the last year, but particularly over the last few months. I’m a beautiful mess. Ha.
Where do I even begin? Im not sure I can do this justice but I shall try.

Most of my challenges this year have been in the area of relationships. One particular relationship really made me feel so beyond vulnerable that it was ridiculous. And it was so uncomfortable being THAT vulnerable. At any rate, in that whole process this became my daily confession: “Lord I trust you with my heart, even if that person fails to handle my heart in the right way. Even if that person messes up in their dealings with me.” What a scary confession that was. But. But it soon became a beautiful expression of my trust in Him. A realisation of just how capable His love is at covering even the most messiest of outcomes. Even after interactions with that person stopped, that expression continued to play a part in my daily routine. I guess it had become a habit, one which I do not intend on giving up or breaking. I find that this expression sets me up to be the best me I can be in any situation because I know He covers and protects my heart, so I no longer have anything to fear. I am free to be. I am free to love. Because I trust Him with my heart, and I know that His love is so vast and so thick and heavy there is nothing that cannot bow to it.

I’ve been having the most amazing times in School simply encountering the Father’s heart in a deeper way. Usually, it leaves me lying on the floor, hair stuck to a tear stained face, a trail of make up coursing down my cheeks...that in itself is breakthrough for me. Being messed up to that degree in public. The British reserve is crumbling as I feel more free than ever to be...to be a beautiful mess in the midst of not just school, but family.

The more I encounter His heart, the more I love. I do no know how He has done it or exactly what He did, but I can feel my heart enlarging...I have more love than ever to give.
This is a season where I am ready for a degree of love I've often dreamed of but not quite fully experienced. Its chasing me down. It’s stalking me. I am a target. I can feel it.
And I realise that kind of love is a love that isn’t needy...it's a love that is already satisfied and full and thankful. That kind of love postures itself from a place of giving, not receiving, because it's already brimming over. It's the kind of love that already knows itself and has settled that point in its core. It’s the kind of love that doesn’t need, because it’s needs have already been met, but it’s the kind of love, that wants. And from that place there is a willingness to stoop to a level of vulnerability where all you can do is say again “God, I trust you with my heart, no matter the outcome”
Sigh.

Ready? Take a deep breath.

Here comes love.

Buy my art and send me to England on missions!

I now have prints available of my original "promises fulfilled" painting that I sold back in August. Prints are available in Matte or Laminated and are roughly 18 x 20 in size. Price ranges from $30-45 for the prints.

Beneath the rainbow painting are the images of a piece I did last week in school during worship. I call it the flow of life.


The bottom one is a commissioned piece I did recently for a friend. Greater Glory, Deeper Realms.

Buy my artwork and help send me to England March 9-21 with BSSM for missions. I am deeply invested in helping Great Britain become the land of Hope & Glory it was called to be. We will be doing a leaders conference in London first and then split into smaller teams to go back with the leaders to their home churches to build relationships and do ministry there. This is an incredible opportunity to sow into revival in the UK...Please partner with me to send me. I have a $250 deposit that is due this friday. The trip total is $2,500.
God has been stirring my heart for the home soil over the summer months that I decided to stay in Redding to work. I had some dreams about returning to the UK-specifically England in March to go on my missions trip for 2011 and knew God was leading me to sign up for England as my number one priority for school missions. When I applied last month, England was my top choice and I soon discovered that I got picked to go on the trip along with a team of 39 others despite hundreds of others also applying. Clearly I have favor when it comes to getting my top choice trips-you'll remember last year I got to go to Israel! Glory!
The two leaders of the team are both first year school of ministry pastors. They will be releasing in to do ministry amongst leaders in the UK which will consist of a whole host of things-prophetic art, prophecy, healing, etc. The emphasis is also on building relationship with those who are hungry for more of God.
It is such an honor to be selected for this trip and I feel strongly that this is where the Lord lead me to go in March 2011. Being British (Scottish) myself, many of you who know me have heard about my heart for revival in the land and that I have been praying for it to come and be sustained, wisely stewarded, since I was about 10. I feel this trip is an opportunity to sow into and accelerate what I have been praying into for so long. WIll you partner with me to send me to the UK and collaborate with heaven to release abundant measures of His hope and His glory in the land? I want to be sent.
You can give in several ways, please contact me to find out.
If you are interested in any of my pieces feel free to get in touch...I can also do commissioned pieces too, all profits going towards missions and school expenses. THANKS!

Older Art

Top: Washing of the water and the blood.
We are cleansed by the blood of the lamb and the washing of the water of the word.
Acrylic on small canvas.

Refabricking your heart.
Broken heartstrings being reforged and reinforced with gold, causing the entire fabric of your heart to be strengthened and restructured.
Acrylic, oil pastels and gold leaf on small canvas.

Get in touch if you want to purchase any of these. All profit goes towards funding second year of ministry school at Bethel.

New Art!

The painting to the top I call: New Day.It is a reminder of Jesus' words in Revelation 21 "Behold I make all things new". There is new light, and illumination entering our lives at this time. It's a dawning kind of illumination...the kind of light one beholds as a new day begins to emerge from the shadows of the night. This kind of illumination is so bright that it causes us to forget the former things. We come to a place where we realize that "the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining" 1 John 2:8). In Him is life and that life is the LIGHT of all men. John 1:4

The image below it is a duplicate of one I created on a recent ministry trip and I was inspired to give away. The original picture captured an open heaven over the congregation we were sharing with. But it also revealed God's eye in the middle of the storm. In a similar way, I feel this depicts a storm of activity. But in the 'eye' of the storm, we find God. He gives us peace in the middle of the storm. Indeed, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go: I will guide you with my eye", Psalm 32:8. With His eye directing us and keeping watch over us we need not fear the storms around us.

Both pictures are 16 x 20 with acrylic and oil pastel mixes.
I am selling them to raise funds for ministry school.
$100 each, not including shipping.

Permission granted

You have permission to create. You have the capacity to capture what you see, think, feel, hear, taste and believe. On any canvas, on any medium that you so wish.

You can paint, draw, capture, release anything you want. You are an artist.
This creative ability is hardwired into the very fabric of your being. It exists in you on a cellular level. It is a huge part of your identity.

Since we were formed in the likeness of God, who's very nature is creative and artistic, it follows that we too have that same bent.

Genesis spells it out to us clearly:
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

We were fashioned after the image of one who is ultra creative, meaning that our creative potential is unlimited.

Sadly though, it is common for man to shut down this creative well and never ever tap into it or release it.

In this last year attending Bethel School of Ministry, I've learned that I am an artist. I've started to re-dig the wells of my God breathed and inspired creativity to collaborate with Holy Spirit to capture pictures that affect the atmosphere around me and cause others to come into an encounter with Jesus.

I used to think that just because I am not a very skilled drawer that my artistic attributes were limited and of not much use. However, one of the consistent words I've heard God say to me in this season is "permission granted". I have permission to create with Him in whatever way I so lean, without having to fear judgment or criticism. Whether I draw a stick figure which points to an area of the body that God wants to heal or create an abstract image demonstrating what's going on in the spirit, God says I have permission and I am anointed to create. That it is part of my DNA to be artistic.

So what will you create with Holy Spirit today? After all the possibilities are limitless, you were made in the image of an artist, and you have permission!
The pictures below demonstrate what I have created as I have collaborated with the Holy Spirit, and tapped into the wells of my creativity.
I am selling my artwork, so if there is anything that interests you let me know. All funds go towards supporting myself through ministry school-tuition and living expenses.
Top-Bottom:
When Heaven invades Earth
Open Heaven
Spirit fuelled Intercession

Art for sale

Top:Joy & Gladness imprint.
Bottom: Abraham's promise, Abraham's descendants.

I am selling some of my prophetic art via my blog/facebook to help fund my way through ministry school out here in Redding California.
Many of you know, I graduated from Bethel's first year programme in May this year and I was accepted into the Second year programme which commences Sept 7th 2010 and runs until next May.

In order to fund my annual $3,700 tuition, plus monthly living expenses which consist of the following:
Rent $300
Utilities: $50-75
Food: $100
Petrol/Gas: $65
Car insurance: $100
Ministry trips: $50

I am posting pictures of my art on here to sell.

Usually I will list the prices but I am open to discussing with you.
Really it is for a good cause. And I am confident you will be blessed by what I've created through divine inspiration.
Some of the pictures I am posting in this post I gave away but its just to give you an idea of what I can do and that I can make another one for you if you like it.

I am also available to create for you a commissioned piece of your choosing.

For the most part, any canvases you buy from me do not included shipping.

Send me an email if you are interested. Or leave a comment.

Art for Sale

Top: Winter has past, Spring time has sprung. New life is springing forth. That which has laid dormant in winter time is being called up to the surface and blooming. Memorials are being raised up unto the Lord from obedience and sacrifices made to honor relationship.
Gave this away but can make another one if you want.
Small canvas w/acrylic.





Angelic presence.
I saw this image in worship one day and felt like God was giving me a bit of a snapshot into what angelic presence looks like.

Gold and silver paint with Gold leaf.
16 x 20

$100

Art for sale

Promises fulfilled. Promises exploding in our midst in this season.
Silver back drop, with silver and metalic paint. Acrylic.


$150
SOLD

18x24
SOLD

The longing.

Short and to the point.
I long for authentic relationships. When you find them (they are often few), what a gem you've found. Sigh.

On the journey of life you often discover who people really are as you work towards intimacy. Sometimes you make frightening discoveries as to just how inauthentic those relationships you've been developing truly are.
You can despair at this point.
Or delight. Delight in the people whom you found to be truly, deeply authentic. And be glad. Be glad that you have relationship with them. They may be few. But at least they are present in your life.

I am believing for increase in the realm of uncompromisingly authentic relationships in this season of my journey. Gratitude brings increase. So I thank God for those genuine, life giving connections He has put in my life.

Practical ways to get back to original intent and purpose-how to move towards restoration

Following on from my last note on restoration, I feel like there are some practical things I can do to stay connected to my original intent and purpose in Him. And so I thought I would share them.

First of all when you lose vision or become disconnected from something, you have to try to reconnect and find vision again.

How do I do that?

I intentionally set time aside to meditate on who He has called me to be, who He has said that I am, the destiny He has called me to etc etc. I find revisiting prophetic words that others have given me, or prophetic insights/scriptures that He has released to me, all help to confirm, affirm and underline my identity and my purpose in Him. What you think on determines what you do. Action flows from thought: As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. What you say about yourself and the kind of conversations you have will indicate the thoughts you think, positive or negative.

Secondly, I spend specific and consistent time to just dream with God. I dream about what I am passionate about and what it would take to see some of those things fulfilled. What would my passion fully realised look like? How would that affect the world? What are some small practical ways I can begin doing that?

I find dreaming releases me to think bigger and more creatively. It breaks down restrictions and limitations in my thinking, exposing faulty mindsets by revealing truth!

All of these ways help me to connect to His original intent and purpose for me.

So what are some things that you do to come back to or stay connected with original intent and purpose?

Restoration

Last year, I was up in the highlands visiting my former flatmate, hanging out and getting away from the city to seek God and find out what HE wanted to do in my life in 2009. This is what I heard: " I restore your soul" right out of psalm 23 baby! That was such a timely comforting word to hear, since the last 18months had been particularly challenging, followed by some circumstances where I felt particularly lonely, at times isolated, misunderstood and held back. This evening, as I was sitting in my family's jacuzi outside in the brisk Spokane air, I pondered as to what 2010 might hold and what He would like to do with my life. I began reminiscing about last year and the word for that season. And then I questioned what is this year about. My thoughts took me back to the word Restore. And then instantly one of the definitions for this word sprang to the forefront of my mind. To bring back to its original intent or purpose. After drying off from the hot tub, I went back to the computer and looked up the definition again. This is such a pregnant word-so full of meaning and limiltless possibilities.

See for yourself:

1. to bring back into existence,

2. to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition,

3. to bring back to a state of health, soundness, or vigor.

4. to put back to a former place, or to a former position, rank, etc.: to restore the king to his throne.

5. to give back; make return or restitution of (anything taken away or lost).

6. to reproduce or reconstruct (an ancient building, extinct animal, etc.) in the original state.

What follows is the result of my musings from tonight: We were made in the image of God. We bear His image. We have a divine nature in Christ. God is in the business of restoration-it is His heart to work and move in our lives in such a way that we are brought back to our original intent, purpose and image with which He created us for-no matter what we encountered that has tarnished us from that original intent, or experiences that have caused us to lose vision of that original intent. You see, I had lost vision. I had become disconnected from who He oringinally and intentionally made me to be beause of some extremely negative experiences I had from the last 18 months. 2009 marked the beginning of God initiating a process of restoration and healing from those past hurts and issues, and 2010 continues that work. But there is such a strong sense of this being a season where I walk in such a firm notion of the fullness of His original intent and purpose for my life, destiny. Greater freedom to be wholeheartedly, unashamedly myself. You see His original intent for us when he designed us was to be above only and not beneath, the head and not the tail, we were designed to occupy high position with Him and before Him. Why then, do we seek to lower ourselves or others through postures of unworthiness and define them as holy? Father's heart is to bring back to position-whether you've made poor decisions that have caused you to stumble, or whether you've been restrained by the action or inaction of others...God's heart is to bring you back to your original design-which is one of empowerment, health, soundness, and position.

Come back to who you really are in Him.

What a freeing and empowering invitation.