2015 - A Year to Celebrate: The Beginning of my Adventure in Art

As 2015 comes to close, I can’t help but be extremely thankful for all that I was able to accomplish this year. None of it would have been possible if it wasn’t for God. I know that sounds like a line from an acceptance speech, but in all seriousness, it was all done by the guidance, leading and strength from the Lord.

You know that line, “it’s all who you know” when it comes to advancing… you need to know the right people and at the right time, kind-of-thing? I have to chuckle a little because when you know Jesus, put your life into His hands, He will do remarkable things you can’t even try to accomplish on your own. You don’t have to strive to position yourself, get in front of the “right” people to get a “break,” He is all you need. He makes the paths straight and the doors open. Trust, patience, communication and obedience are all it takes.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

My 2015 is a testimony of this.

It all began with an open door in January. My cousin Kyle texted me a simple message, “Hey it’s your cousin, we are seeing a move of God breaking out in Indiana. The Lord laid you on my heart this morning to come down and prophetic paint on stage. Have you ever done this before? Would you be willing to come?”

Open doors require action. This was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse. No matter how scary that sounded, I knew it was God holding the door wide open to what He’d already prepared for me by speaking to me through a dream, through prophetic words from others, through a shift in my heart and a spoken word to me about returning to my art, that He would take me places if I do it for Him.

The year before I had a hunger for more of God and He sure showed up. I dug into the Word, studied and learned to hear His voice, so what He was preparing me for – something I didn’t dream would actually happen – fell in my lap. When that happens, it’s go time.

reviveINDIANA:

One trip and 4 paintings later turned into 11 more trips to 7 different cities in Indiana, 48 paintings and a celebration I’ll never forget. If you told me I would paint in a stadium with over 6,000 people, I would of laughed. There is no way to prepare you for some of the experiences we had in reviveINDIANA.

I remember the first painting, on January 28, 2015, with trembling hands; I got up on stage and took a deep breath. I had only done this twice before, on a much smaller scale and smaller canvas. I really had no idea what I was doing…all I knew was when God is on it, He will be your strength. So, I asked Him to take over my hand, calm my fear and “First Love” came out of it.

Looking back, I find it so fitting that “First Love” was the beginning of my adventure in prophetic art. It will always be a reminder of staying true to my first love, in Jesus Christ. It all starts here.

After reviveINDIANA, we ventured to Mississippi for reviveTUPELO. God opened more doors and I got to see the birthplace of Elvis Presley. It was a site of humbling beginnings and the birthplace of rock n’ roll. Let’s just say, worship was awesome in Tupelo!

In November my husband was able to join me on a cruise we will never forget. Time to Revive was invited to board the Celebrity Summit Cruise line in San Juan, Puerto Rico to reviveSOUTHERNCARIBBEAN islands. This was a perfect time of relaxation, fun in the sun and sharing the Gospel to the people on the islands of Tortola, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, and St. Thomas. Painting on a cruiseship was something I would have never dreamed of doing. It was truly unforgettable.

 

The last trip of 2015 was to Dallas, TX to paint for the Time to Revive annual banquet. “Here We Go” was a prophetic vision to wrap up all we did in 2015 and also launch us into 2016. Pack your bags to go out into the harvest. It’s time.

 

I completed 56 prophetic paintings in 2015 with Time to Revive. I also did a 30-day mini painting series of rest in my studio. (And completed several commissions during my time home).   I learned to never limit your abilities to accomplish goals. I had no idea I could paint this much art in one year. No clue.

2015 taught me to break off the chain of fear, nothing is impossible for God and with God. I learned perseverance and endurance, how to rest well to keep going, function on little sleep and no preparation. Walk by the Holy Spirit, trusting and learning to hear His voice. I saw the fruit and miracles by walking in obedience to the voice of the Lord. I saw the Body of Christ come together in unity, mobilize, equip and GO OUT to share the love of Jesus. I gained friendships that will last a lifetime, gathered a list of precious people I continue to pray for, and have a greater hunger to see God move and know Him more.

2016 I look forward to new levels. I have great anticipation for what’s coming. As the Body of Christ press into the calling and assignment the Lord has for each and every one of us, we will see the unexpected. We all have a mission field and a calling. The area the Lord has given you talents, dreams and a sphere of influence right where you are…is your mission. If He’s given you dreams and desires for more, ask Him to line up the path for your destiny. Be patient in His timing, it is perfect.

THANK YOU to all who supported me this year! Thank you for collecting little treasures of my art, for the prayer support from so many of you and the encouragement.

2016… Here We Go! I’m so pumped.

Blessing for a fabulous, adventurous NEW YEAR!

All Glory to Him,

Mindi

New - Stretched Canvas Print - Option Now Available & Create Your Own Encouragment Wall

New - Stretched Canvas Print - Option Now Available & Create Your Own Encouragment Wall

Product Update:

I am so excited to now offer a STRETCHED CANVAS PRINT option on my website!  You will now find the option in my sizing pull-down, the option to choose a flat print on canvas or a pre-stretched canvas print option.  Also added is more information on my FAQ page.

The pre-stretched option is printed on the same fine art quality canvas, then stretched on a wood frame with a 1-inch depth, stapled and wired ready to hang.  It is also sealed with a UV protective coating for maximum protection.  This option eliminates the need to frame the print after receiving it. It is ready to hang!  (It's also a personal preference on how you would like it to look on the wall).

Now you have even more options to display my prints, creating unique ways to suit your personality. You can now choose:

1. Pre-stretched Canvas Prints (looks like the original canvas)

2. Flat canvas prints that you can be creative in framing yourself.  Frame with or without a mat.  Under glass or dry mount.  Or stretch them yourself over a wood stretcher bar.  Options are unlimited.

Create Your Own Encouragment Wall:

This past year, I have had fun creating what I am calling "encouragement walls" in my home.  A collection of visual reminders of God's character and goodness. A collection of reminders of where I've been, what the Lord is doing and saying, promises and reminders of the hope we have in Christ.  Art is a wonderful visual reminder of the beauty around us, a depiction that lifts our spirit and speaks directly to our heart. 

Things you may collect to create an "Encouragement Wall":

- Photo's of people dear to you, family and friends.  Relationships that are meaningful and people who encourage and inspire you.  

- Photo's or depictions of things you are thankful for.

- Prophetic Art reminders of God speaking hope and life into you.  Art that displays God's character.  

- Objects that hold meaning and speak to you.  (i.e. I have a key hung up... it reminds me of the key to life I have in Christ Jesus)

- Word Art of encouragment.  Word art is so big lately.  Also chalkboards!  These are great ways to display sayings, scripture, a word that you are encouraged by.  Words that hold truth.  

(My only stipulation is whatever is on this wall speaks life, not remind me of something negative or displays strongholds of the past.  Don't let things keep you in the past...create a visual of hope for the future.  Hope in who you are created to be.  Promises and pictures of life abundantly.) 

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead," (Philippians 3:13)

A wall of encouragment is a great way to visually bring hope.  We all need encouragement, sometimes more desperately than other days.  Biblical hope is much different than worldly hope, like a wish. Hope coupled with faith in God is a mighty power in our lives. Hope in ourselves alone just isn’t enough when the journey of life gets hard. Hope in God and in His power and strength to meet our needs is true encouragement for the soul. Hope in God is the anchor that holds us in the storms of life. Our eternal hope has already been solidified in Jesus, we have confident expectation in the hope of our future. 

"But encourage one another daily," (Hebrews 3:13)

Bless you all today and have fun being creative, collecting visuals that are personal to you for your very own "encouragement wall."

Mindi

Restoration Collection - Revisiting Unfinished Work

Sitting in my studio this past week, contemplating what to work on, I stared at 3 unfinished pieces that have sat there half done for almost a year. Yes, that’s right… a whole year. Have you ever put a project or something on the back-burner so long that you forget about it? Or let time slip by so long you have no motivation to finish what you started? New, fresh ideas take over that seem better or more important, so the old just sits unfinished.

As I stared at those paintings, something came over me to get them done. I had a sudden burst of energy to revisit the unfinished work and complete it.  

I believe everything we do, every moment really, can be a chance to learn and grow when we take a look at it from heaven’s perspective. What is the Lord saying to me about this circumstance? I’ve learned that God is constantly speaking to us in every moment if we learn to hear Him. So, I asked, “What happened to these paintings I was once so excited to paint? Where did the lack of motivation and focus go that I neglected them for a year?” I stared at “Restored Beauty” the grey background with a sketch of antlers in white paint. The larger canvas with a blue background and a simple sketch of another antler, sat beside it. That was as far as I got. Starring at canvases with sketches of bones.

I remembered back to my initial plan to complete the paintings… I planned to do a series of antler paintings adorned with blossoming, beautiful flowers. When I started the paintings a year ago, antlers were quite popular in decorating and design, you would see them everywhere. Then the Lord reminded me of why I neglected them; I had a different mindset of looking at them from a worldly perspective. I had a fear that I wouldn’t be original enough because they were so popular, even though I loved the look. I over thought them to the point of not finishing them, because I was afraid to paint a subject matter that was trendy. Isn't that so silly?  

Boy have I come along way from that thinking… now I just do. I look at things from a different perspective. It doesn’t matter what things look like on the outside, if they are "trendy" or not, it’s the meaning that makes the difference.  The timing to revisiting these paintings were perfect.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)

Recently the Lord has been speaking to me about restoration. It is the subject that keeps coming back to me over and over. How He is restoring all things, making old things new.  I have dreams and ideas of this very subject written in my journal over the past several months. As I looked at the subject matter of the paintings I started, antlers with intensions of adding beautiful flowers to them… the Lord lead me to Ezekiel 37, along with many other verses in the Bible about restoration. He spoke to me about the strength and dominion of the Kingdom of Heaven being restored, new life sprouting out of dry bones.  My sudden burst of energy to finish what I had intended with these paintings a year ago was the Holy Spirit giving me new eyes to see what He is saying.  He ministered to my heart with the hope we have in Him as I layered pinks and greens of new life onto the canvas.

The initial motivation for painting these were just because I wanted a set of antlers on my wall, but I didn’t feel connected, obviously not enough to follow through with them to finish. But now I see the paintings in a whole new way…

As a representation of restoring old bones, adorning them into something new. From death to life.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

God restores.  He beautifully weaves restoration into the lives of those who allow Him to work. 

This is my collection of restoration.  

"Restored Beauty" - 24"x 24"

“and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,” (Isaiah 61:3)

 

"Restored Strength" - 20"x 20"

“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10) 

"Restored Hope" - 11"x 14"

 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

"Restored Joy" - 11"x 14"

"Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit." (Psalm 51:12)

"Restored Life" - 30"x 40"

"The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life." (Ezekiel 37:1-10)

Reflecting on this subject of restoration, I found myself in a posture of thankfulness of all God has restored to me over the past two years.  He has restored every area of my life in some form.  I am honestly amazed at some of the miracles in my life in such a short time.  It's exciting that restoration is a process and more is yet to come!

Today I pray that each one of you are encouraged by God's restoring power through the Holy Spirit.  He is restoring all things.  We are in an exciting time of restoration.  

I also encourage you that there is nothing that can't be restored, revisited, revived.  Projects, ideas and passions from the past that have been neglected can be re-visited and completed.  Time doesn't matter.  You may just discover treasures you didn't see before.  The gold underneath that launches you to a new level of inspiration and breakthrough.  It's there.  We all have hidden treasures waiting to be uncovered. All it takes is a little action and faith to find them. 

Richest Blessings,

Mindi