Be Bold, Be Fearless

I've been praying lately that if painting/creating is something I can do to glorify God while I'm on this earth that he would strengthen my hands and eyes, and give me visions to paint......I let it slip to my pastor that I enjoy painting. This weekend on the spur of the moment he asked me to paint a picture as he was giving the sermon. The first thing that goes through my mind is no way, I don't paint spontaneously, There is no way I'm doing it. However, I knew that I needed to take a step of faith and do it. All weekend I prayed and prayed that God would give me a vision of what I was supposed to paint. The sermon was over the mustard seed parable. Nothing came, and still nothing came. Everything in me said, you can't do it. This Sunday morning I got to church, the pastor presented me with an old door to paint on, my first thought was, I don't paint on doors, Then God told me, paint on the door, I didn't have a big paintbrush, God provided one, when I stepped up to paint I said, God what do I paint, he said, "Just paint."
The worship band kicked it off with one of my all time favorite's Hank Williams "I saw the Light" I thought I can do this. When I was done I went up and explained what I had painted, it just so happened my painting went right along with the pastor's vision. It's the little, random, seeds of love we plant that will make the kingdom of heaven grow.... In my human, imperfect mind I expected that I would paint a masterpiece this morning and people would cry and want to give their lives to Christ at the sight of my painting, but my painting wasn't even very good artistically, but it doesn't really matter. I know not one person in my congregation thought, wow that girl sucks at painting. I believe God will increase my artistic ability, but not until I have proven to him that I will step out of faith and be bold for him.... This is a pracitce painting I did last night. It's Perpetua who was bold and fearless as she faced her death. I've wanted to give her a face since I first read about her.