A couple of months ago, a friend let me know that the Lord wanted her to purchase an original painting from me. I asked her which painting, she said she did not know and that I was to ask the Lord with her. This sure is a new way for God to be my Agent for my paintings.
So we got together and before you know it, we both were getting the sense that it might be the large LOTUS painting. This is an important painting in my life. It carries the anointing of the Overcomer spirit. It was to accompany the chapter called "In the School of the Overcomer" of my second book, The Rising Up of the Warrior Bride of Christ, a Prophetic Journey. I would like to lift a portion from that chapter to share with you:
For twenty some years I lived in anticipation of the fulfillment of Psalm 40:2, "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire." Yet it was in the very slimy pit, in the mud and mire, that the Lord gave me those beautiful, gentle, sweet, and powerful painting-words. How can that be? I think of the lotus flowers growing out of the mud and water: their stems push their way up through the mud into the air to bear these pearly white flowers. John 16:33 b says, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Jesus overcame the world; we are told to do likewise. This is the overcomer's principle that we live under while we are in this world.
The Book of Revelation constantly exhorts His bride to be overcomer. Revelation 2:7 says, "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life."....Verse 26, "To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations."
...There is no getting around it. We are in training now. Our faith muscles must grow stronger by use; our patience must turn into long-suffering. This is seen in James 1:2-3, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
God is developing the overcomer's spirit in His bride. We are in the overcomer's school. The paintings He sent me, and the messages that came with them, are calls to us to be overcomers. It is He that is training us up into it. When He does it, it is with wisdom, grace, and effectiveness. He compliments us when we overcome another hurdle. He forgives us when we fall. He lets us know He is with us. He protects us. He shares His thoughts with us. Through it all, He is always stretching us to make us ready for what's coming in. He is prodding us to get on quickly with His lessons. Dear friends, we must heed what the Spirit is saying to us. His timing is perfect.
.In this difficult time for us all, Andrew got the word that we are to joyfully praise and thank Jesus for the great things He has done for us; moreover, to proclaim the greater things He is planning to do through us. No matter what the obstacles - finance, health issues, depression - He is calling us and is equipping us to be overcomers.
Feb. 7, 2011
