December 7, 2019 with Josh Manges
November 2, 2018 with Josh Manges
Paint Nights was an idea that came from Josh & Jen Davis in the fall of 2016. We are excited about how the Paint Nights are bring our community and church together; how our artists are doing in leading them. Our resident artists include: Josh Manges, Ashley Newman, Kei Greene, and Bashar & Roula Jarjour. Each night is a lot of fun. Josh Davis writes a devotional that goes along with each Paint Night picture. Thank you to the Davis', the Matthews, our artists, our families from Grace and the community. Join us sometime soon.
February 2, 2018 Paint Night with Josh Manges.
January 5, 2018 Paint Night with Kei Greene
December 1, 2017 Paint Night with Josh Manges
April 7, 2017 Paint Night
Spring Flowers
Spring, a time when plants end their winter dormancy and awaken to gentle showers and sunshine. The life cycle of plant starts fresh each spring with a rebirth of life from a period of slumber. Perhaps the flower is the sign that best represents this rebirth. Unlike trees and some plants, the flower may completely disappear during the winter dormancy and is unseen above ground for months, but below the surface life remains. At just the right time and under just the right conditions the flower knows it is time to reach for the surface, to grow into existence once again, to be reborn and displayed in its’ full glory. So it is with people. We can sometimes go through periods of dormancy in life. Maybe our finances are poor, or our health, or our friends have deserted us, but in just the right time and just the right conditions God calls us forth to life. Jesus himself spent three days dormant and lifeless in a tomb before His Father called him forth to new life, in order to give us new life. If we believe in Him we can come forth from our dormancy, rather it’s the first time we do so or the hundredth, Christ calls us to Himself at just the right time and in just the right place.
1 Peter 1:3 tells us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” What a great privilege we have! So this Spring take a moment to remember that you are called to new life in Christ when you look at the flowers, or if it’s winter and you have this picture displayed, take a moment to let the flowers in it remind you of God’s call on you to be born into new life through His Son, Jesus.
Spring, a time when plants end their winter dormancy and awaken to gentle showers and sunshine. The life cycle of plant starts fresh each spring with a rebirth of life from a period of slumber. Perhaps the flower is the sign that best represents this rebirth. Unlike trees and some plants, the flower may completely disappear during the winter dormancy and is unseen above ground for months, but below the surface life remains. At just the right time and under just the right conditions the flower knows it is time to reach for the surface, to grow into existence once again, to be reborn and displayed in its’ full glory. So it is with people. We can sometimes go through periods of dormancy in life. Maybe our finances are poor, or our health, or our friends have deserted us, but in just the right time and just the right conditions God calls us forth to life. Jesus himself spent three days dormant and lifeless in a tomb before His Father called him forth to new life, in order to give us new life. If we believe in Him we can come forth from our dormancy, rather it’s the first time we do so or the hundredth, Christ calls us to Himself at just the right time and in just the right place.
1 Peter 1:3 tells us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” What a great privilege we have! So this Spring take a moment to remember that you are called to new life in Christ when you look at the flowers, or if it’s winter and you have this picture displayed, take a moment to let the flowers in it remind you of God’s call on you to be born into new life through His Son, Jesus.
The following slide show is from April 7, 2017 Paint Night Class
March 3, 2017 MUG Paint Night
|
Your new favorite mug!
The coffee mug, a symbol of how great a parent you are, or a reminder that you love your cat, or maybe just a really good place to remind everyone that you don’t like mornings. No matter what your coffee mugs says, it says something about you. The mug you are making tonight will say something about you too. Let it always be a reminder of the fun you had making it and how it was transformed from the time you first saw it until the time you got it back and filled it to the brim with your favorite hot drink. See the mug you have in your hand is going to have to go through the fire of the kiln in order to be transformed into the awesome drinking vessel that you intended for it to be. So it is with us in life, that we will have trials and troubles and pass through our own fires. The great thing is that we do not need to fear those trials and troubles. We are told in Isaiah 43:2, "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." That should reassure you to know that God intends to be with you and keep you safe in your hard times. We are not promised there will be no fire but we are promised that in the fire there will be God. So, the next time you get your new favorite mug out and fill it with that perfect hot drink take time to relax and enjoy your beverage, but don’t forget to enjoy the presence of God too. A good coffee break can be relaxing, a good coffee break with God can be life altering. |
|
February 3, 2017 Paint Night
|
February 3, 2017 devotional "The Mountain"
1 Kings 19:11-12 "The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountain apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." Find the whisper. This painting depicts a mighty mountain much like the one mentioned in 1 Kings 19:11-12. Imagine standing on that mountain while its being torn apart and then imagine that the bright lights in the sky are reflections of a great fire in the valley. Surely the Lord would appear in such an awe-inspiring way, But He did not. We often are so busy with our lives that we assume that if He wanted our attention that is how he would get it. However, we see here that the Lord is in the gentle whisper, the "still small voice" that we hear about. Take time to step in front of this painting and to be still and listen for His voice and to contemplate His love for you and what he may be trying to whisper to you. 
|
January 6, 2017 Paint Night with Ashley Newman
|
Devotional for January 6, 2017
"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do." - Psalm 1:1-3 May this painting always remind you of the trees planted along the riverbank that the Psalmist writes of. With their never wilting blooms and their branches never dropping, may the trees of the painting always remind you of those who delight in the law of the LORD. As the trees grown forth from their deep roots in the stream, which symbolizes God, they come to form an outward symbol of the love that runs so deep within a heart. May you always think of the great love that runs through you in Christ as you live planted deeply in His truths when you look at this piece of art. |
|
December 6, 2016 Our First Paint Night
|
Why would anyone decorate a tree in the middle of a forest? I’ve seen pictures, paintings, and postcards of an elaborately decorated tree in the middle of the woods almost every year at Christmas time, but why? Why would someone put all the time and effort into decorating a tree when it may get ruined or never even be seen? Well this year I think I know. The decorated tree in the woods is the closest representation to Christ of all Christmas trees. Why? Well the answer is in the person of Christ. Christ came into the world and was in the world much like the tree in the woods. If we cut the tree down and take it inside, we remove it from its fellow trees and isolate it. Now Christ was set apart from His fellow man in that He was also fully God but he did not reside dressed in fine ornaments and tinsel near the picture window. No he was fully God and fully decorated and yet was amongst His fellow man much like the tree in the woods. It is fully a tree and fully decorated with the ornaments of Christmas just as Christ was fully man and fully God within his human body. Thus, I finally understand why the Christmas tree in the woods is so popular an image at Christmas time. It is because it represents the true nature of Christ. So when you look at your painting of a tree in the woods and its decorations remember Christ who was amongst us and yet set apart.
|