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Inspired Brushstrokes Thanks for coming to visit Inspired Brushstrokes Gallery. My paintings are inspired by my love for Christ and life experiences. Each painting has incorporated messages to find as well as scripture to inspire us to apply God's Word to our lives. Most of the messages are intentionally painted into my work, but there are times when divine images are revealed. Some tend to think these revelations were placed coincidentally or subconsciously, but these unintentional images are not of my doing. God uses His children to make Himself known. I was just His vessel used to carry out HIS intended message. Miracles are still being performed, today, dear friend. (Link to read About the Artist, below.) If you know Jesus as your own personal Savior, make yourself available to be used for God's glory. He will make Himself known through every willing vessel. This Art-Ministry began in 1994 when the Lord showed me that my work is to point others to Christ. (Link to What Inspired the Artist...below.) Since then, I have been driven to encourage artists of all avenues to reclaim the arts for Christ. You don't have to be a preacher or an artist to use your God-given gifts and talents as a platform to share the gospel. (Matthew 28:19-20) Paintings are permanent records of an artist's heart. Whatever you do, you too are leaving a permanent impression on those around you. Ephesians 4-5 reminds us to "Live as Children of Light. Live no longer as the ungodly do (closed minded, full of darkness with hardened hearts against God). Follow God's example in EVERYTHING you do, because you are His dear (adopted) children." If you believe there is more than one way to get to Heaven, what are you going to do when you take your last breath on this earth and hear the Lord say, "Depart from Me, I never knew you"? (Matthew 7:23) God's Word is crystal clear about how to get to Heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) The choice is yours, beloved. You have two options of where you (as well as those influenced by you) will spend Eternity. You will either spend it in Heaven, or Hell. It cost Jesus His life, but it cost you nothing. If you don't know Jesus, don't waste another minute of your life. Repent of your sins and ask Him to be the Lord of your life. This is the most important decision you will ever make! Now, if this is all new to you, it's easy to get confused about how to deal with life situations if you are not getting fed, spiritually. We all need encouragement from other believers. It's very important to get involved in a Bible teaching church and personal Bible study. In his book, "Experiencing God," Henry Blackaby teaches the five ways we experience God; in prayer, through the Bible, through circumstances, through the church, and through other people. Welcome to Blackaby Ministries. May the Lord make Himself known as you study my paintings. I’m not a Theologian nor am I someone who has it all figured out, but I will continue in the "School of Christ" until leaving this world! Enjoy your
visit,
Can
you see the face of Jesus? Go
to the Landscapes link (below) to read about
"The Maker of the Mountain".
"Born to Serve" is a true story that has double meaning of a Father's love. Click on the Family Heirloom Collection (below) to learn more about this inspiring story.
Can
you see Jesus' name on the archway? Click on the Family Heirloom Collection
(below)
to read
the story that inspired "The Great
Commission".
This
Thanksgiving, Bless One Another How
could we bless one another this Thanksgiving? It's inspiring to
listen to the traditions others practice, and maybe adopt them as
our own. Years ago, one Thanksgiving afternoon in After Harold Shaw had his last Christmas dinner with his family, knowing his battle with lung cancer was near the end, he said, "I want to read some Bible passages that have come alive for me in the last few weeks." Then he prayed for each person in the room, future mates, grandchildren (those born and those yet to be born), blessing each person in the name of Jesus. How blessed are the families who have known love and inherited this kind of wisdom! For those who have not known it, there's no greater time to begin than the present. To some it may sound corny, but what do you have to loose? Search your heart this Thanksgiving and ask God how He wants to use you to bless others. What (or who) are you thankful for? The words that we speak have the power to bless or to curse. Find ways to express your gratitude by speaking blessings on your loved ones this holiday. You may very well find it to be one of the greatest treasures your family will ever inherit. If you would like to share an inspiring tradition or a testimony that could bless others, email your story or send it to my address, below. I'll post your stories on my Testimonies Page as they come in. You may want to take your blessing a step further and do what Jesus instructs each of us to do as He did with His disciples in the the Sermon on the Mount: Bless those who are poor in spirit; those who mourn; the humble; those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; the merciful; the pure in heart; those who work for peace; and those who are persecuted for doing right. You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Read the full text in Matthew 5) I've just recently come to realize that I was not blessing my enemies as Jesus instructed us to do. By God's grace I've had a forgiving spirit, but I was not blessing my enemies - those who had offended or hurt me or my loved ones. It's easy to express my love and appreciation to my loved ones, and even people I don't know by blessing them as I cross their paths. When you see a kind smiling face or when someone blesses us in some way (or even when someone sneezes) our automatic response is "God bless you!" As people are blessed through the messages in my paintings, and as they express their gratitude, how easy and natural it is to bless them. But it's another chapter in the success of our lives when we can get to the place of blessing our enemies. Don't get me wrong. Forgiving and blessing our enemies is letting our offender off the hook, or saying what they did was OK. But God tells us to forgive and to bless our enemies. I've come to realize that you can never go wrong by living your life as the Bible instructs. Obedience always leads to blessing!
Joyce Girgenti
Studio (219) 841-9743 |
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