Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Prayer time with the Lord-enhanced in living color!


Have you had your contemplative prayer today? The Lord has taken up residence inside of us and sits on the throne within our hearts. He dwells there in a personal way and wishes to share with you and me!

Try this: go to www.kuhnegallery.com, click on "Portfolio," click on a painting that pleases you (a box should open to show you more), read the Scripture, study the painting, then close your eyes and contemplate what the Lord wishes to reveal to you about that Scripture.

Get lost in your mind with images and truth being revealed to you. Ask the Lord questions. Why are the roots to the trees so deep? Why is there the color blue so deep near the roots? Is that Your Holy Spirit? Are my roots deep enough to stand strong in the face of adversity? What does the color green mean Lord? Growth? Prosperity? Spring? Something new? Are the reds in this painting Your blood? Tell me more!

Not only can Scripture come alive with color, but you can use paintings and images to visit with the Lord in a personal way! Contemplate!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Tree of Life


Tree of Life
(the painting--see http://www.kuhnegallery.com/)


Finished 4/11/09 by Mark Kuhne


Proverbs 11:30

The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.


On March 15, 2008 during an International Fellowship of the Sword Conference at Christ’s Family Church International (CFCI), in the span of a few seconds I saw an open vision superimposed on Dmitry Shatrov as he stood on the stage about to share his thoughts to the audience. Visiting the United States, Dmitry is an apostle of CFCI and a native of St. Petersburg, Russia. Standing there, I saw Dmitry as a strong tree, older and stronger, with deep roots supporting a large and wide canopy overhead with fruit “raining” from the tree.


Dmitry then asked the congregation to open their Bibles to Proverbs 11:30 and started speaking. It was at that moment that the Lord nudged me, and said, “Paint it!” The Lord also said, “Present it to Dmitry as a gift to him in Russia.” Dmitry began to relate to Proverbs 11:30. He talked about his outreach in St. Petersburg to teens, especially teens on drugs. He talked about how his ministry has grown from one church to several. He shared about his generational roots of pastors: Dmitry’s father and grandfather were pastors that faced great tribulations and incarceration in a hostile environment towards Christianity.


In the painting, the mighty tree represents strength and wisdom, a good and righteous man or leader and the great blessings that spring forth to the places where they stand. It also represents God’s glory! The tree has a strong foundation with roots that are deep and wide. Spiritually the roots draw blue water or nourishment from the Holy Spirit, and naturally a leader draws from other leaders as well as from the Lord’s Word. Like a strong ministry with no end to its influence and reach, the canopy continues off the canvas and doesn’t end. The fruits are of one’s piety, instruction, prayers, and influence. Those that win souls need wisdom to communicate and show that they are wise. They are building God’s church on earth and spiritually reaching the heavens. They leave a legacy: their works follow them (Rev 14:13). “And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together…” (John 4: 36-38). By sowing into the ministries of others, we can reap from their labors!


Give Christ the Glory!