Thursday 23 March 2017

LOYAL LOVE

"Loyal Love"
Pam Finlay
Acrylic on Canvas
March 2017
 

The love story between Ruth and Boaz has captured my heart and has led me to paint a picture of Ruth, a picture of loyal love. 

 I loved reading the book of Ruth about the story of Ruth and Naomi and Boaz.  Their commitment to God directs their hearts.  Love is sacrifice.  Love is surrender.  Love is perfect submission.  Love invites you to relinquish yourself.  Ruth was faithful and devoted.  She was the perfect testimony of loyal love.  She chose to follow God.  She left everything she had behind to fulfil Gods promise for her life.  She stepped forward into the promises He had for her life. 

The book of Ruth is a picture of the divine romance between Christ and His bride.  Boaz set his eyes upon Ruth.  He redeems her to be his bride.  This portrays a picture of our redemption being restored back to God and belonging to Him.  Ruth sacrificed all.  In the book of Ruth Christ is revealed as our Kinsman Redeemer.  Let us be at His feet and let Him cover us. 

Blessings and love
Pam

 

Sunday 19 March 2017

THE FLOODPLAINS OF KAKADU

Three Paintings from my new body of work
"The Floodplains of Kakadu"
Pam Finlay
Acrylic on Canvas
March 2017
The message through this series of paintings is the word “transition”.  Transition means to move from one state to another and that word has been on my heart for this new body of work that I am being led to create. 
In the wet season the northern part of Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia transitions to become a vast expanse of water due to the monsoonal rains.  Beautiful waterlilies highlight the landscape which becomes a photographers and artists dream.  I haven’t been to visit the floodplains of Kakadu in person but recently have been taken there through painting to capture the beauty and majesty of the place.  I have been caught up in the momentum of reflection through capturing the still waters, evoking a sense of calm.  In the silence I have been captivated by the beauty of the landscape.  One day I will see and experience this beautiful landscape that occupies my imagination.  One thing I know for sure is that everywhere I look lately I see waterlilies in the local streams that are being filled up by the summer rains. 
Love and blessings,
Pam
 
 

Monday 6 March 2017

WISE WOMAN WARRIOR ARISE

"Wise Woman Warrior Arise"
Pam Finlay
Acrylic on Canvas
March 2017
 

A new painting just finished and was told to call it “Wise Woman Warrior Arise”.  This is how the Lord desires us to be in this hour.  We are to be wise like Deborah, awaken and utter a song, a victory song. 

Deborah was a wise woman of God.  She was a prophetess who had influence.  Through her prophetic eyes she called on and poured out God’s wisdom.  Her heart was fixed on God.  He raised her up to judge the people of Israel.   Her dwelling house was under a palm tree.  There she dispensed righteousness, justice and mercy on God’s behalf.   

Wake up, wise, warrior woman of God, He is calling you.  Hear and sing a song of victory, the sound of who God has made you to be.  Rise up all you nations, tribes, tongues and peoples, recite the victories of the LORD, fight the good fight and listen to Wisdom’s call.   Christ is Wisdom.  He is the centre and source of all divine revelation.

When I looked closely in the background of the painting I could see many fish.  I hear Him saying the land and sea, I’m taking it back.  He’s redeeming all back to Him all that has been lost.  

Revelation 7:9 After this I saw many multitudes which were impossible to count, which were of all people, generations, nations and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, and wearing white garments and with palms in their hands. (Aramaic)

Judges 4:
4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, judged Israel at that time.
5 She sat under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill county of Ephraim, and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. (AMPC)

Judges 5:
On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2 When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves – praise the Lord.
3 “Hear this, you kings!  Listen you rulers! I even I, will sing to the Lord; I will praise the LORD, the God of Israel, in song.
4 “When you, LORD, went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water.
5 The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.
6 In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned; travellers took to winding paths.
7 Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.
8 God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen, among forty thousand in Israel.
9 My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people.  Praise the LORD!
10 “You who ride on white donkeys, sitting on your saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road, consider
11 the voice of the singers at the watering places.  They recite the victories of the LORD, the victories of his villagers in Israel.  Then the people of the LORD went down to the city gates.
12 Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, break out in song! (NIV)

Blessings and love,
Pam.

 

 

 

 

Thursday 2 March 2017

SURRENDER

Pam Finlay
"Surrender"
Acrylic on Canvas
February 2017

This painting is called “Surrender”.  The woman of God is Sarah.  Sarah was a woman of hope.  She surrendered her will to God and she obeyed what God had to teach her.   She had times of unbelief, fear, doubt and anxiety in her situation.  But in this time God never left her.  Despite her rebelling God stayed with her.  When Abraham and Sarah eventually surrendered in silence and listened to God, He brought them the news that they so desired, a message that they would conceive a child. 
God made all things possible, He brought forth a miracle in what seemed like an impossible situation.  Sarah is a role model to wives that they are to place all of their hope in God as they obediently allow their husband to lead the home (1 Peter 3:5-6).  Interestingly the word Abraham means father of many nations, God changed his name from Abram.  Sarah also had her name changed by God before the birth of her son Isaac, she was Sarai and became Sarah which means princess.    God, through their names, gave them the promise of ancestorship of many nations.  The promised “seed” will be blessed (Genesis 28:13-15).  Jesus Christ is the “seed” of Abraham. Abraham’s covenant has been fulfilled in Him.   We must at all times place our hope and trust in Jesus.  He came to bless us as His “seed”, His children.   When we find God we have a choice to make , we have to choose to surrender to His will.  He knows the plans He has for you, plans of a future and a hope.  He will never forsake or leave you and He is there for you always.   Whenever you ask, He hears and answers your prayers.   Hope doesn’t disappoint. 
Blessings and love,
Pam.