On Sunday morning this fall, our preacher at our church is doing a series of lessons on the Life of Jesus and he's entitled it "Snapshots of Jesus". He decided that he wanted a visual aid OR an illustration from one of the Bible stories about our Savior. I was asked to illustrate John 8 - about the woman caught in adultery. You'll have to do the best you can to view these pictures - my project was sitting out on the front porch where I'd been spraying a sealer on it. Kind of a glare on the photos.
I painted this scene on a 4'x8' sheet of plywood. Had to be big so the people on the back row could see it. It will be framed with a black frame, and all the illustrations will be hung in the auditorium during this series of lessons. We've already had some nice ones. There've been some high schoolers that have done a couple and everybody's got a different style and way of approaching their project.
I was convicted during this process of painting. The Lord has blessed me in all areas in my life AND so richly with a talent for drawing and painting. I have to confess that I haven't used my talent very much these last few years - for myself OR for the Lord. Made me think about the lazy servant who went and hid his talent in the ground... No excuses - life just gets in the way, work gets in the way, family illness and death, and college kids, moving, selling one's house, etc. It All gets in the way. But those are excuses I know. I didn't want to do this project at first either, and I griped and complained to my husband when I was asked to do it. WHEN would I find the time??? I prayed about this, and I knew in my heart that I needed to do it - not for me, but for God. So I said YES. How can one say NO to God when asked to use one's talents for Him especially when He's done SO much for me?
I asked God to change my heart and help me get through this illustration and do a good job for Him. It had been so long since I've done a project of this size. But you know what happened?
The Lord must've helped me in this process because it went off without a hitch. I had to use acrylic paints - I use oils almost exclusively. Acrylics mix differently than oils, but I was able to mix and create the colors that I wanted and was pleased with the end result.
Oh it's not like a "painting" painting. It's an illustration with big loud colors and not too much detail because it will be viewed across the auditorium. It needed to be that way. And I know that I was blessed by doing this project and that the Lord made it easy for me. AND I GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY AND THANKS for my talent and for the multiplied time to get this project done. I pray that God may touch lives through all the illustrations and that the Snapshots of Jesus may "stick" in the minds of those who view them and that we can ALL apply Jesus' lessons to our lives daily.
Remember - if you'd like to view the pics larger, just click on the photo ----
Below is probably the best photo of these three. Can you see the Light that radiates from the Lord?
John 8:12 "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life' ". NIV
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