Almost all of my paintings have come from first being inspired by an idea or a message. That was not the case with this one. It was a photo I had taken of one of the girls in Mozambique and I just wanted to paint her … for a number of reasons! Actually she is still in process - I am still working on her - but not too long ago I was praying about what the title of this painting would be and kept getting the word “reason” or “the reason”.  I then researched the use of that word in the Bible. Ephesians 3:14 stood out to me right away. It starts out “For this Reason” …

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what [is] the width and length and depth and height– to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

Yes, it is for this reason, for these children, that I bow before the Lord. I need His riches in glory and the strength of His Spirit in my inner man. I need Him dwelling in my heart. I need to be rooted and grounded in His love - so that I can go and pour His love upon them. To the best of my knowledge her name is Carassa. I went to look up what the meaning of her name is and the closest match I found was of French origin and it means “Loving Touch”!

On the first day back in the prayer room after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, my pastor called us together to pray for the people of that nation and all affected.

As soon as we began to pray I saw this image of the woman wearing the traditional Indian Sari in the vibrant yellow and orange. I thought “Wow that’s neat. I’d love to try to draw it - but I am supposed to be praying now”. I went back to praying and again the image came to mind. This time I felt it was not only something that I would like to portray but that God wanted it portrayed. I gathered my things and moved to the side of the room and began to draw what I had seen. I later painted this from the original drawing.

I feel the source of India’s hope and comfort are spoken through this image. In the midst of tragedy this woman was lifting her arms in a sacrifice of praise and worship. As I continued to draw, the idea came to have the hand of Jesus reaching in to grasp hers. It was as if her willingness to surrender her worship in the moment of heartache actually positioned her for this intimate connection with her Savior.

Keep yourselves in God’s love …

Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them;

Jude 1:21 - 23a NIV

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked,

“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:1-4 NIV

I found the combination of these two truths from the Word to be perfectly captured in this picture  of my son, taken when he was just three. I saw a mixture of childlike tenderness and sadness in his face. The plastic fire hat that he wears says “Fire Chief”. How does one attain this position of highest authority and rank? It is a title given to one who has proven their ability to lead by consistently laying down their life and running into the fire to snatch others out.

Save - G4982 - Sozo - 1) to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction

Snatch - G26 - Harpazo - 1) to seize, carry off by force

There is urgency to this act! This grabbing or grasping is not an insensitive, angry or hateful action. It is one prompted by sacrifice and love!

The battle is not against the people! It is against the fire which unmercifully seeks to devour them - their lives, the lives of their family members and their homes.

Do I have these qualities in my live?

Could I be described as one who is childlike in my tenderness, mercy and love?

If I passed that part of the examination would I pass the next?

Is there enough profundity to those characteristics to make me so sad at the thought of others perishing; I would volunteer to run into fires and snatch them out?

Also influenced by  Psalms 1:1-3, Jeremiah 17:8 and Philippians 4:8

Revelation 22:17 - And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!”

(This was an image/idea that came one morning while spending time in the prayer room.)

This painting is from a photo I took of a Baobab Tree growing in the “Village of Joy” a children’s center in Pemba, Mozambique.

Proverbs 18:10

A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah,

Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high. (YNG)

Also Psalms 61:3 - For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy. (NASB)

The more commonly known translations read: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (NKJV and NIV)

The second half of the verse was the most influential in my choice of the Young’s Literal Translation. The more common versions use the phrase “run to it” but the YNG says “into it”.

To me this slight variation is huge. Think about these two scenarios from the perspective of you as a young child. In one, you are hurt, frightened or lonely and you run to your parent and stand by their side while they speak words of comfort, peace and love. In the other you are hurt, frightened or lonely and you run to your parent and they lift you up into their arms, lovingly embrace you and speak words of comfort, peace and love.

The verse says His name is the “tower of strength”. How does one run “into” a name?

Most names have meanings although less emphasis is placed on this in modern western culture.

Webster’s Dictionary defines “Name” as this - 1) - a word or phrase by which a person, thing or class of things is known; title. 2) - a word or phrase expressing some quality considered descriptive; epithet 3) - fame or reputation …

Throughout Scripture God reveals Himself to us through His names. When we study these names we will better understand who God really is.

The phrase “set on high” is unique to this version.

The aforementioned example relates to this also. Safe as used in the English language is an adjective, a word that describes or qualifies a noun or pronoun. The Hebrew word (H7682 in Strong’s Concordance) is sagab, a verb, indicating a action or a state.

This phrase is also in Job 5:11, He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety.

This is a drawing did in 2007 from a photograph I took while in Mozambique. As I was working on it the phrase from 1 Thessalonians 2:7 kept coming to mind. It says - “but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children”. She did have a baby in her arms when I took the picture but I had zoomed in on her face.

In May 2008 I was asked by missionary Melissa Stanton if I could paint the map of Mozambique on a 4′ x 6′ floorcloth that she had purchased in the US. Melissa oversees prayer at our center in Pemba and wanted to use this with the children so they could actually lay hands on and pray for specific areas of the country. (We adults got to use it too!)It showed all of the different provinces as will as the provincial capitals. I wish I was able to get a clearer photo!

These are a couple of pictures from the Solemn Assembly last summer in Pemba. I was honored to have been asked to paint the lettering on a banner for the event with Isaiah 66:8 (in Portuguese). The fabric banners were made for me by Patricia Kieffer and given to me to bring … months before knowing of the God’s plans for them.

This morning I was reading this morning in 2 Samuel Chapter 9.

It documents the account of David inquiring as to if there was anyone from the house of Saul left alive that he may show favor to. Years before he had made a covenant with his best friend Jonathan, the son of Saul.

David was informed that yes there was a grandson to Saul still alive named Mephibosheth. He dwelled in Lo Debar and was lame in both feet.

Lo Debar – Without pasture (fodder, feeding place)

- Without word, speaking                                             (Concordance)

Lame – Smitten everywhere const.

- Smitten in the feet

- Smitten in the spirit, afflicted                                   (Concordance)

Smitten – Struck with a great force

- Disastrously or deeply affected; afflicted                     (Dictionary definition)

What do you get from the pasture, the place of feeding? My first thoughts are nourishment and a feeling of fullness or satisfaction. I also think of the pasture as a place where many are “feeding” together. The place of pasture also gives a sense of community. In community there is interaction, communication.

So here was Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul, living in a place where he is without the nourishment and satisfaction that comes from communication and interaction in a community.

It is said that he is lame. In his case it was stated it was in both feet. The definition of lame also applies to being smitten in the spirit! One who is lame in the spirit has been struck by a great force which has left them disastrously or deeply affected; afflicted!

But David here is inviting Mephibosheth to eat at his table, the King’s table, from that day forward forever more.

What is at the table? There is food. The food brings nourishment, satisfaction and a feeling of being full or complete. At the table there are others who you are eating with. This interaction and communication also feeds, nourishes and satisfies.

King David, because of covenant, called for Mephibosheth to leave the place of Lo Debar and to eat at his table. Likewise King Jesus because of the Covenant has called us to join Him at the table. Another point that stands out to me is that Mephibosheth was invited to the table lame, in both feet! It was not after he was healed or at least had one good foot that he could hop along on. He was lame!

This speaks loudly to me right now because there is a particular area where I see how crippled I am. But Jesus, my King, is saying “I have made a Covenant with you. Come to the table.”

Years ago God gave me a poem titled Heavenly Eyes and I recall it again this morning because it mentions being lame. I quote it often but I make no apology. I truly believe it is something God wants us ‘to gain hold of’ for ourselves as a word of encouragement from Him. I also truly believe that it is something God wants us ‘to gain hold of’ for our viewing of one another. Who do you see that is lame and needs to be invited to the table, to be offered nourishment, relationship and ultimately love unconditional?

Heavenly Eyes

Oh please do not look at me

With your earthly eyes

Try and see me as the one

Who has his throne on high

For where you may see the surface

He sees what’s within

He still calls me his beloved

Although He knows my sin

He understands my weakness

My failures and my shame

He has watched me take my every step

He knows which left me lame

So you may see me as I am

This day, this hour, this place

But He sees me as I can be

Through His love, His power, His grace

Copyright Laura Jean Eubanks 2-24-2002

Yesterday on my walk I had decided to go into the park and towards the river. As I followed the road I came to a point where it was blocked by a gate. Just beyond the gate the road was no longer visible because the floodwaters had covered it.

Today as I prepared to set out on my walk I pondered where I should go. I thought ” it was a good walk yesterday, I will go that way again”. So I am following my same course fully expecting to find the road closed at that particular location. I got close to there and discovered that the gate was open and the road was clearly visible and passable!

Right away I was struck with this “life lesson” -

We often walk through life and come to those places where we have lost sight of the road or the road that we knew was suddenly obstructed. These seasons of obstruction and lack of sight can be very challenging.

Referring again to the natural situation I witnessed -

The road was there all along and in one day it went from unviewable and obstructed to clearly viewable and no longer obstructed … it was even completely dry!

Back to the “life lesson” -

I was reminded of many examples in the Bible where people were in difficult situations and then there was a “suddenly”. There is the deliverence of the Israelite people from Eqyptian bondage. There is the famous account of being at the shore of the Red Sea with an Army behind them with no place to go and seemingly certain death -  to being able to cross on dry ground. There is Joseph one day being in prison and the next being second in command of Egypt.

And yes, I was reminded of the Bible verse which says … “when the enemy comes in like a flood”. It often feels like  that. We go through times when we feel flooded by the challenges and obstacles in life. The great part is what follows in that verse is this …  “the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him”!

So to myself and others I implore you - when you have lost sight of the road and the way you need to go seems impossible and impassable … take heart!

So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.      Isaiah 58:19

“Will lift up a standard” comes from the Hebrew root - nuwc -which means …

1) to flee, escape

a) (Qal)

1) to flee

2) to escape

3) to take flight,m depart, disappear

He - The Spirit of the Lord - will cause the enemy to flee, to depart! He still sees the road and will cause the obstruction to be cleared! We need to be able to see Him and stand in faith.