The Beauty of Holiness....part 9...+ a little warfare...

Photo source

Today we will look a little further into the results of the "beautification" process...and to refresh our minds concerning the passage in Esther 2, I have it copied below:

12)...twelve months under the regulations for the women—for the days of their beautification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and the cosmetics for women...
15)...And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her...
17)The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him...

As I was studying these verses, the Holy Spirit put His spotlight on the numbers of verse 12.  In Biblical signs and types, even the numbers have significant meaning.  Now, I don't go into the numerology direction, trying to predict the future; understanding the symbolism of signs and types simply deepens our understanding of what God is already saying.

With this in mind, the number 12 carries the idea of divine government and apostolic fullness (there were 12 disciples/apostles, 12 stones in the breastplate of the High Priest, 12 loaves of showbread, etc.).  The number 6 has several associations, but for my purpose here, I believe the focus is on 6 as being the number of man; 6 is 1 less than 7, and 7 is the number of God, of perfection, completeness.  I am reminded as I write this of the verse that declares "...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23).  There were two blocks of time, 6 months each...I believe each 6 month period correlates to one of the 3 forces a believer must overcome in their lives...

the first six month period - representing our carnal nature, the flesh, and dying to the flesh;
the second six month period - representing the world culture, and dying to its influence as the character and nature of Jesus is being fashioned and expressed within;

and the third force is Satan.  Esther does symbolically face and resist Satan later - Haman is a type of Satan.  Haman's name comes from a Persian word that means "magnificent"!  It is easy to see the comparison, and if you know the story, Haman has the same type of pride which brought Satan to his down fall!

In verse 15 we read that Esther found favor - or other ways this word chen חֵןhas been translated, she found grace, graciousness, preciousness, and pleasantness - in the eyes of all who saw her.  She allowed the "beautification" process to have its intended purpose, she submitted humbly to the rigors of the rubbing and scraping (the things God puts in our path to challenge and refine us), and soaked in the perfumes and oils (the nature and presence of Jesus) till what was expressed through her was what we would call....holiness.

The type of holiness that is gentle and reverent with all, even one's own self; a holiness that is not self-abasing or legalistic, but a holiness that is rich in love.  A holiness that is patient, kind, not boastful or proud or arrogant, not jealous; a holiness that is upright, respectful, acting in ways that invite people towards it, that puts others before one's own desires, that doesn't get offended, that seeks out and delights in the truth and rejects unrighteousness even in the guise of religion; a holiness that is full of hope, steadfastness in God's ways, embracing all that God allows to come into their lives; a holiness that dwells on that which is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, or worthy of praise...

And such holiness caused her king to find favor with her as well...the kind of favor that caused him to feel faithfulness and zeal towards her!

This is the kind of holiness I want to express...I want my King to be zealous towards me!  (See Zephaniah 3:17 for this zeal!) I want my nature to melt with the nature of Jesus, to the point that we are truly one.  And when this occurs, isn't that the point when I am most able to resist the devil?  And isn't this the point of the most serious warfare - when the enemy would seek to draw me away - when I am pressing closer to Him, living my life in worship to Him...worshiping Him in the beauty of holiness? And the weapon of my warfare?  More worship in the beauty of holiness!

Yes, Lord, let this be so of me!

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6 
Part 7 
Part 8

Linking with Emily and other imperfects at

An Old Prayer - Just Words to Inspire...

I have been painting a little...but busy tweener life has overcome all other aspects of existence this week...it is either that or that the heat has totally overwhelmed me...and the fact that twice storms have knocked out our electricity!  AND I totally lost my cell phone - Yikes!  But I was inspired to post anyway by Kay at Heart and Soul who was sharing about one of my favorite missionaries...and this is a quote of hers that I keep close to contemplate often...

SOLDIER'S PRAYER

Give me the love that leads the way,

the faith that nothing can dismay,

the hope no disappointments tire,

the passion that will burn like fire.

Let me not sink to be a clod:

  Make me thy fuel, Flame of God.

                                                        

                                                                                                        Amy Carmichael

I have this in a "spiritual warfare" collage....

May your week be full with faith, hope, passion, and being the fuel for the Flame of God!

Joining with Jennifer and other creatives at Studio JRU

The Beauty of Holiness - Part 8

12Now when the turn of each young lady came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women—for the days of their beautification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and the cosmetics for women...

Today we are continuing the study of  Esther 2:12, the last phrase of "six months with spices and the cosmetics of women" (NASB):

 

Cosmetics - the same word translated as "beautification"

Scraping/rubbing                                                                     

Spices   -  from a word meaning "sweet odors" or "spices"  and the King James adds "with other things for the purifying of women"                                                                                 

In essence, spices are perfume.  There is a perfume defined in the Bible - "All thy garments [smell] of myrrh, and aloes, [and] cassia" - the fragrance of Jesus as written in Psalm 45:8.
                                                              

Myrrh  -  Last week we learned it is a spice associated with Death (in this case, meaning death of the Old Nature, of the flesh), with anointing, with love, and with purification.  The fragrant oil is released when the spice is crushed; myrrh is a picture of the fragrance of Jesus being released when we are crushed...by life, by our own choices or the choices of another, by walking in a fallen world...

Aloes - these spices were from a tree native to India and which was very aromatic.  Aloes are often
             associated with the Fragrance of nature

Cassia - a cinnamon like powdered bark that is often associated with the Fragrance of Christ

Just as Esther was being prepared to be a possible queen, our days of beautification are intended to prepare us to be transformed into a citizen of heaven, infusing us with the nature, anointing, and fragrance of Christ Himself - and leaving behind conformity to this world's system.  During the beautification process we are setting our affections on our new home, instead of this earth home (Colossians 3:2)…

and this is how holiness is worked in us, a continuous scraping and scrubbing and cleansing from that which is old and dead and worthless, and a soaking in all that is found in newness of life with Jesus, being infused with His nature and fragrance...


and just why am I surprised when the pain of releasing that which is old comes?  Can I learn to quickly see His "beautification" process has come to me in that moment, in that way?


Work Your beauty in me, O God!

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6 
Part 7 



Joining Emily at Imperfect Prose and Ann at Walk With Him Wednesdays

Sneak Peak Friday...Projects in waiting...

Like "Ladies in Waiting", these projects rest in my studio/office, waiting for me 

to touch, 

to begin,

to see what is now hidden,

to hear the Creator give a commission to begin...

Found at a yard sale - I negotiated down to $3...it is 20x24 (not including the frame) and I think if the flowers show through the background it will be very cool...

I look,

as many times as I walk in and out of that room,

waiting for Him to give the inspiration.

Another find at the same sale - another $3 - 36 x 35 inches not including frame...it will make another wonderful background!

A closeup of the texture...the colors are really the colors of dawn or dusk (silly lighting in the studio/office!)

I think He enjoys "thinking" about it, too,

but He already sees the finished piece,

He just likes it when we "think" together, 

not always lingering like this,

yet it is His delight to do so now.

Quiet times of study

don't always have to be IN the Word,

to be infused BY the Word!

 

Blocks waiting to be turned into this from Dayspring since I don't have $50 at the moment, but I do have paint and images and fonts from the computer!

 
And on other matters...I was delighted to figure out how to place custom "follow" buttons like these on the website: 

Joining with Jennifer and other creatives at Studio JRU

The Beauty of Holiness - Part 7

Seven parts! Almost to the finish, but not quite yet...Today's verse/passage contains such an exciting to me revelation...this is what I hinted at in Part 1, the beautification process embedded in the Word. The story begins with the actual physical beauty of a woman judged such by the standards of her time...yet outward beauty wasn't enough...
The passage we will be looking at is Esther 2:12, 15, 17 (NASB):

12Now when the turn of each young lady came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women—for the days of their beautification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and the cosmetics for women...
15Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her as his daughter, came to go in to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the women, advised. And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her...
17The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him...

 Notice that these already beautiful girls had to undergo a very specific process of "beautification"!  You know I love word studies, and it is eye-opening to know what "beautification" means:  in Hebrew, the word is מָרוּק and means "scrapings, a rubbings, bodily rubbings" and is formed from a root word meaning "to scour, to polish" .  Sounds a little painful! Immediately I thought of all the little bath and shower devices we use to rub off dead cells so that fresher, livelier skin is revealed!

The first six months were devoted to these rubbings and oil of myrrh.  It is interesting to really press in to what myrrh is all about: 1) the Hebrew word for myrrh is pronounced like "more" (which will really be ironic as we delve deeper); 2) Myrrh was a common spice used in the anointing oil, connected to love, connected with death and burial; 3) Myrrh has been used throughout time for its antiseptic properties and for its beneficial healing qualities; and finally, 4) Myrrh is associated with the fragrance and presence of Jesus.

Myrrh is the dried resin/sap of various trees and shrubs commonly found in the Mideast; it must be crushed for its fragrance to be released...

Is the Spirit within speaking already, making the connections in your soul and spirit?

In Biblical symbols and types, six is the number of man, of the flesh.  It is one number short of perfection (the number 7).  

Could it be that...
The answer to the problem of "the flesh" - the effects of  after our being in the world before "chosen" through salvation is the "oil of myrrh"...is more of Jesus - His Presence, His anointing - more healing, more death of the flesh, more identification with His death, burial and resurrection, more of His love...


This is how the forming of the "beauty of holiness" is worked in us...



Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6 

1000 gifts and then some...

Continuing the count - at least the written count (#192- #193)

and remembering gifts given throughout time:

Sisters in the Lord using their talents to promote the Kingdom of God

Jesus, the Lamb of God

(Thanks to Junelle of "Yes and Amen" for use of her images)

Visit her etsy shop to order prints of these sweet lambs 

Click here to read why these images spoke so much to me...

Joining other grateful and gracious souls at Ann's:

 

Sneak Peak Friday...Creative Books...

I can't wait to see what other books are out there! Here are the main 3 books that have inspired me spiritually as I have followed God back into creativity:

The first: a fun way to add more creativity in your quiet times/prayer journal....Praying in Color:

A great book for all sorts of creative endeavors, whether writing, visual art, dance, etc..The Creative Call delves into what the Scripture says and reveals what the church has simply not focused on for centuries!  Plus practical sections to guide the reader to reflect on and discover their own heart towards creativity....

 

Making Crosses is simply so devotional and beautiful...perfect for individuals, groups, home-school, young and old...I used the idea for our homeschool group's children at an evening event (here) and they were deeply into the activity...you can read free chapters of the book and see crosses inspired by the book here.

 

And of course, a very inspirational book, rich in imagery:  the Bible ♥

Joining with Jennifer and other creatives at Studio JRU

A Lament

I labored over it in love;
loving the words, loving the Word,
learning more,
the writing and learning and asking "what's next"
a wonderful dance with His presence infusing my present tense...

and then it was gone...in a flash
totally, finally, really gone
(How can that be when each post autosaves every minute?)

Another entry in "The Beauty of Holiness" - a revelation of the
pathway God always uses to fashion inner beauty...

And now it is only in my memory,
emblazoned there
ready to come forth again
If I dare...

If I care...
(I suppose He does)

tomorrow won't leave time to write
words of love still only written in the heart...
where all letters of value reside...

Will the Spirit draw it forth again?
We will see...


Not my usual today, but just a little vent
 

Joining with Emily and other imperfects at Imperfect Prose

1000 gifts and then some...

Continuing the count - at least the written count (#181- #191)

and remembering gifts given throughout time:


"leaping in the swimming pool feels good" heat

swimming pools!

electricity

air conditioning!

warm water

indoor showers
(and all other indoor plumbing)

the smell of mowed grass

the family adventures to share in years to come:
Yes, the lawn mower ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE...
as well as dried grass clippings in the deck of the mower! 
Now that is HOT!

laughter in the midst of it

playdates here AND there
(the best cure for tweener cabin fever)

one perfect week of "no school" to celebrate the beginning of summer...
(lounging around the pool or the house - 
smiles, rest, peace, contentment)

Joining other grateful and gracious souls at Ann's:

 

Sneak Peak Friday...Unveiling what I have been working on this week (and for the month of May!)

Here it is!  This is my "logo" for the website I was led of God to start...I actually made this in Microsoft Word, used my computer's snipping tool to make it into a jpeg file, and now it works as a picture anywhere on the web!

Note that this logo is in the upper left hand corner of my sidebar...if you click there, you will be taken to my website - hopefully to the blog...I am focusing more on the counseling side of me there...but also, I am including (at least weekly) faith based art exercises.  My plan is to post those exercises on Tuesdays.  Some will be more in line with "artist prompts" and some will look more like therapy work.  Today's post contains a prompt and borders on therapy!  Feel free to hop on over and try it!  And look around a while - I'd love to hear any feedback!  Just click on "Studio Blog" and that link will open a new tab and bring you back here...

I plan on continuing here with more of my personal/fun art - so we can keep on playing together on Fridays!

Joining with Jennifer and other creatives at Studio JRU

1000 gifts and then some...

Continuing the count - at least the written count (#168- #180)

and remembering gifts given throughout time:

The souls who have fought for the ideals of this great country - throughout time...

Sitting on the breeze way
with the family
because the electricity went out during the severe storms last Tuesday...



Hearing the tornado sirens go off in the distance and thanking God
that it is only our comfort
temporarily compromised...


Eating up the ice cream from the freezer all in one sitting since it was going to just melt anyway!

Listening to Michael's "opera metal rock" while watching the fireflies flit,

and eventually watching the fireflies tuck themselves in for the night...

Don't you wonder why they go to sleep when the sun totally disappears?

4 days of rest for the husband...

Enjoying tweener "sleeping in" and remembering those days of my own!

Early rising to go volunteer at the Equine Therapy Center...

and husband having as much of a good time as tweener!

Prayers for health from a son far away...

and our entire family does enjoy exceptional health for our ages!

Wind in grass, childhood memories softly emerging...a young girl, playing with grass heads gone to seed, calling them "fox tails" because of the reddish tint of the head, 

and because of the soft brush of them over the cheeks....

that Texas is actually having a spring this year!

Fresh, cool air...

God's grace on it all...

Joining other grateful and gracious souls at Ann's:

 

Sneak Peak Friday...Eternal Words Tutorial

I am so glad that we have Friday "deadlines" to help motivate me sometimes!  Creating the video tutorial was quite the challenge!  But it is complete (yay), I sound like my sister, my hand is in the way some of the time (I will work on adjusting the camera angle even more for next time), and you have almost 76 minutes of video to watch!

Supply list:

10 inch by 10 inch gallery wrapped, pre-primed canvas
Paints: titanium white; light blue; carmine; and black
Brushes:  #4 fan; #6 filbert; #6 round; #3/0 round; 5/8" flat
Black water color pencil
Misc...(you can use these or something of your choosing): sponge; cotton swabs; paper towels
Pre-printed words in the font of your choice

Optional - workable fixative
Finish - varnish of your choice

Videos (Links to You-Tube)
Parts 1 and 2 - 1st steps on the background
Parts 3 and 4 - adding red to the background and 
                        painting large words
Part 5 -  adding the first layer of "cross-hatch"
Part 6 - adding the white layer of "cross-hatch"
Part 7 -  adding back in more red with "cross-
                  hatch" and more work on word letters
Part 8 -  Finishing the letters, adding more text 
                   and more red
Part 9 - tweaking, tweaking, tweaking
Part 10 - paint splatters
Part 11 - tweaking and text words finish

If you have trouble viewing, please leave a comment - and I will make sure you can see them!

Click here to join with other creatives and Jennifer at StudioJRU

The Beauty of Holiness - Part 6

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Continuing on with exploring "the Beauty of Holiness"...
looking at the second part of Psalm 29:2:

In (or with) the beauty of holiness: בהדרת קדש behadrath kodesh, "the beautiful garments of holiness."

Beauty:  this word means "adornment, ornament, glory, holy ornaments, garments worn at solemn
              festivals (but not priestly garments).


Holiness:  "to be set apart as sacred and unique"


In its fullness, the verse could read:

"Bow before Him, let your very breath, your every breath, testify of Him in total acceptance and awareness of the adornment, ornamentation, the holy weightiness (glory), holy accessories, and festal garments - all that is ours because of being set apart as sacred and unique"


Matthew Henry's Commentery explains it this way:

"Give him your crowns; let them be laid at his feet; give him your sceptres, your swords, your keys, put all into his hand, that you, in the use of them, may be to him for a name and a praise."

And here, is it possible to list your crowns, your sceptres, your swords, your keys?  Just so we can give them back to Him, and also use them to be for His a name and a praise?  I know I must go and research - I know my swords, my key(s), where to find out about my crowns, but I had never considered sceptres before!  (This perhaps could be another post!) But this I can do:

bow            in worship
breathe      uttering the unutterable Holy Name
be               beautiful in what He has bestowed

            and in so doing we

bless           Him, ourselves, and those around us

And I followed a link to this song just yesterday...a beautiful leading into a quiet time 

of bowing, breathing, being and blessing...

The Song of the Beautiful - by Christy Nockels
(You-tube removed the video however)

Joining with Tiffini at Word Women Wednesdays

and

Emily at Imperfect Prose

1000 gifts and then some...

Continuing the count - at least the written count (#163- #167)

and remembering gifts given through out time:



it is still mostly cool at the end of May in Texas

Thunder in the heavens (as I write!)

The twinkling dance of fireflies
on a muggy evening
(reminding me that sometimes God's Word is just
like this:    a beautiful surprising glimmer 
that fades quickly in the darkness 
softly enveloping me)



Celebrating the Lord's Supper with the church family

Pierre the cat returning home after a full night of heavy rain and thundershowers

(more firefly photos here - beautiful!)

The following was the song sung in Hallmark's movie "The Shunning"


Another song about fireflies:
"I get a thousand hugs from ten thousand lightning bugs teaching me to dance" -love it!


Owl City's official video of "Fireflies" -

Joining other grateful and gracious souls at Ann's:

 

Sneak Peek Friday - New Eternal Words painting + tutorial coming

New "Eternal Words" painting...

drum roll, please...: )

A few minor adjustments and it will be finished!  The small words are from 1 Corinthians 13...

This canvas is the one that you will follow me through in the (put on the info-mercial voice) "upcoming, soon to be released, long promised, technique tutorial" due to be released next week...LOL!

I am planning to perhaps even have it ready for next week's sneak peek!

Here is another look at the first two "Eternal Words"...
I actually have started re-working "Faith" a little - it was just a little too busy..

Click below to

Join with other creatives at Jennifer's 

Sneak Peek Fridays at StudioJRU

The Beauty of Holiness....part 5

Beginning with Selah time (part 4 here), the exploration of this theme - The Beauty of Holiness - has entered its midpoint.  We have looked at scriptures describing the beauty of the heavenly realm, we have seen the beauty evident in a fallen creation, we have documented the beauty within ourselves, we have looked at the hope for resurrection beauty coming from seeds of dark, hard places...and we paused to let it all sink in.

Now, we will look at the actual definitions of the words in this phrase from Psalm 29:2:

Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness. 

Worship:  The word translated "worship" here is the Hebrew word "shachah " which literally means
                 to "bow down"  (There are actually at least 7 different words translated as "worship", each

                 indicates a different posture or action.)

To bow our head to worship is the exact opposite of having "a stiff neck" which is always a figure of speech for having the kind of pride that says "I don't need the Lord or His help".  Bowing shows submission to the one bowed to...how are you bowing in your heart, with your head, or with your entire being today?

the Lord:  The unutterable Name of God is translated "the Lord"...I love this thought by Rabbi 

                 Lawrence Kushner and retold on this blog in detail (and it was also referenced in Ann
                 Voskamp's site)...but below I have summarized the main point in the article:

The letters of the Name of God in Hebrew are YOD, HAY, VAV, and HAY. They are frequently mispronounced as “Yahveh.” But in truth they are unutterable. Not because of the holiness they evoke, but because they are all vowels and you cannot pronounce all the vowels at once without risking respiratory injury...This word is the sound of breathing. The holiest Name in the world, the Name of the Creator, is the sound of your own breathing.

Breathing while bowing...remembering He is the source of all life, of this life that I am now living...even if I don't understand or don't like aspects of it.  Ask: "Are my breaths deep and rhythmic, indicating peace and an attitude of patient waiting or calm receiving?" or "Are my breaths shallow and rapid, indicating anxiety or fear or worry or an uncertainty of this relationship between Creator and the created?"

Today I am checking myself...and you? 

(More definitions next week!)









Joining with Tiffini at Word Women Wednesdays
and
Emily at Imperfect Prose

1000 gifts and then some...

Continuing the count - at least the written count (#146- #162)

and remembering gifts given through out time:

this crazy Texas weather!  Cold in the middle of May!

another birthday gathering

playing in the fountains at the park, even in the cool temperatures

tweener girls, giggling and delighting in each others' joy

the gift that kept on giving (thanks Jordan)

Reminding me of the Gift that keeps on giving!

the robot kit! (thanks Sophia) just what she wanted!

 powerball maker - another gift in the science category (thanks Mimi and Bennie)

and all the girls gave a gift that was exactly keeping with dear daughter's personality and likes...crafting, science, Claire's, and collections - *sigh* - wonderful!

cupcake cakes from Wal-Mart - birthday cake ice cream! - hoops and yo-yo balloons and cards - conversation with adults! - for school today, doing "science" and "home-ec" as an opportunity (excuse) to continue working with all the gifts! - life-group with friends - memorizing scripture together (so fun!) leading to - in depth discussions at home with the Word open! -

enjoying the life He gave us to live!

Joining other grateful and gracious souls at Ann's:

 

1000 gifts and then some...

Continuing the count - at least the written count (#139- #145) -

and remembering gifts given through out time:

sharing with my mother over the miles between us
(treasuring the time now and recognizing the measure is becoming smaller)

Getting taken out to eat - TWICE!

Going to the matinee
("Thor" is great - action for the guys with just the right amount of romance for us girls!)

Tweener recognizing the honor and power of courtship

A generous husband
(in patience, time, finances, overlooking my imperfections, honoring me, blessing me)

Finding books at the bookfair that have captured the entire family's imagination!  As powerful as the Chronicles of Narnia

check them out here:  kingdomseries.com

children at the bookfair with swords slung over their backs...openly declaring their desire to be "Knights of the Code"

Joining other grateful and gracious souls at Ann's:
 

Sneak Peak Friday...Write the Vision!

I have been busy this week plunging into creating the website for the vision...

the above is a little "Sneak Peek" covering what the future holds!

and working on the technique tutorial...

we went to our area's homeschool bookfair - that was totally fun and exhausting...

Linking with other creatives at Studio JRU

The Beauty of Holiness....part 4

Isn't it interesting that when you are being led of the Lord, He puts the same topic before you often and in many sweet ways?  This past week was like that...and this week's post is a collection of what has come across my path as I visit friends on the internet!  And as I was preparing this, the Spirit whispered "I just want people to take a Selah moment; to pause and think about this; to soak in My ideas of beauty"...

If you are short on time, I highly recommend to read number 1 and number 3!

1.  First up, from Jen Price of I Believe In Love...her words, under her photo, in four lines say the Beauty post of last week...(she gave me permission to re-post this - so full of grace)...

dream a little dream

cast aside fear

plant a seed

watch it grow

2.  Next up:
Cloverton's "Take Me Into Beautiful" song...found through my friend Paulette Insall's sharing it on her blog...she has just launched a new creative class titled "Divine Romance" - teaching how to recognize the connection to the Creator when creating!

3.  If you read anything this week...read Joybird's post about her post-Lenten thoughts and God's ways being wrought in her heart...someone in the midst of His hand molding the Beauty of Holiness....

4.  And finally a great video whose title captured me:

The Beauty of Different: Is Everyone REALLY Beautiful?

Linking with Tiffini at the House of Belonging

and

Linking with Emily and other imperfects at Imperfect Prose