I felt led to create this painting with a swirling of peace, deep blues and purple colors visually drawing you into His liquid love. Surrounding the letters are the outlines of a bleeding heart plant- a reminder of His presence in the midst of life’s hurts, and His ability to comfort to the core, at the same time knowing how and when to pull us out. Creating it, I felt Him say these words to share with you;

“I weep with those who weep, and I bled for their peace.”

It is actually true. He died to make our bleeding hearts whole, yet doesn’t disregard them in the process. In her book, A Heart Made Whole, by Christa Black Gifford, she speaks into this tender reality;

“Jesus’ intention for us as believers is never to suppress the truth of our emotions and put on fake religious smiles, attempting to deal with very natural feelings on our own. When life hurts, we hurt just as He did-and that’s simply okay. He never wants us to beat up our hearts as they bleed, kicking our emotions to the side, quoting Scripture at them in anger, or willing ourselves to change. Pain brings deepest brokenness, and a hurting child always wants to run into the consoling, safe arms of a loving parent. Feeling our pain doesn’t prove that we lack faith- it proves our need for constant connection with God--------When we learn to keep our hearts open to the acceptance of two realities- trauma and relationship- we can experience the paradox of deepest sorrow and overflowing joy in the same breath, one never negating the other.”

I’m praying that wherever you are emotionally as you see this picture, you would feel God inviting you into His heart as He speaks His peace over you-as He speaks into your pain and your joy.

Artist Note: All full color prints are printed by local printing company in Wenatchee, Washington , on heavyweight, high quality paper and packaged with board backing and a protective sleeve.