I believe this painting was created by the hand of God through His Creativity flowing through me, a surrendered vessel. You see, last year I had a repeated dream, while I slept. I saw Jesus walking toward a sheep, standing alone, in a green pasture. I was up above looking down, at the back of Jesus as he approached the sheep. Jesus squatted down,placing his arms under the sheep. I heard my own voice say "Oh, He's going to lift up and carry the sheep. Oh He's undergirding him", but then my view from above zoomed in to see that Jesus was laying His ear against the sheep. Again I heard my own voice say "Ahh, He's listening to the sheep's heartbeat, Ahh! He's listening to the sheep's heart. We're the sheep and He's listening to our heart. He hears our heart's cry." I immediately woke my husband to tell him, as it was so profound. Within the next 3 months this dream was repeated. Then one day while I was illustrating a children's book, Nosy, I had a vision. My eyes were closed for a few minutes while I layed my head back in my chair to rest my neck. As I started to doze off, I was suddenly in the spirit, walking into a Christian book store. I saw the counter and cash register on the left. Behind the counter, on the wall was a painting of my dream. All framed and matted with a placard that read "He hears our heart's cry". I was so taken by surprise as I have never done anything like this before. I had owned and operated my own sign business for almost 20 years, painting windows,billboards,banners, autos and more. Illustrating the childrens book was a new endeavor ,but to create a painting worth hanging in a store or on someone's home was off the charts in my mind. Well God had other plans. I continued to have this vision and then one day another vision came in which I saw the close up of a mans hair, long and exactly like that of Jesus in my dream. I told the Lord that I didn't know anyone with hair like that but felt He was going to surprise me. Months went by and I forgot about it because I was so busy on the book. Then I was invited by Trinity Broadcasting Network's station manager, Mary Jane Allen to accompany her to Orlando, Florida for a managers meeting at The Holy Land Experience. Nosy's author is the wife of George Pettingell, a long time employee of TBN and they bid me to go. The contract was extended and I off to step into a divine appointment. On the third day in Orlando I happened to get clearance from security to wait in the employees parking lot to pray and wait for the Mary Jane to be out of the meeting. Sitting in the car, glancing out my side mirror, I see what looks to be Jesus, a couple of disciples and two men in suits, jogging up the sidewalk and eating candy bars. What a trip, I thought! And what a picture. I jumped out of my car to take a picture. The man who looks like Jesus told one of the disciples to get my camera and take a picture of him and I. Instantly I remembered my dream and the vision. So needless to say I shared my dream and vision with Les Cheveldayoff, who portrays Jesus there at the Holy Land Experience. He agreed to pose. I snapped a half dozen pictures and then just layed back in my car seat amazed at how God orchestrated everything. When we take our hands off the controller and give Him permission to operate, we don't get in the way of His plans. Nosy was finally completed and I started on another book along with slowly beginning on the painting. Spring came, along with all the other chores and activities that come before hosting ministry weekends at the prayer cabins throughout the summer. The time and thoughts of the painting soon faded away. Now and then I would pick it back up but was never satisfied with the results. I felt overwhelmed.....until one day the Lord reminded me that He would complete the painting through me and that I was forgetting to receive the most important attribute of His character. That it was His creativity that started everything. His creativity is how the world began, it's how we began. So from that moment on I made it part of my daily prayer. I put my trust in Him as it was His project. In December I was invited for a conference in Tampa. The timing was perfect as I was able to meet with my speakers for the upcoming Heaven Touching Earth conference at sea. The opportunity to drive over to Orlando came up in my spirit so I began to press in on the painting. It was completed at 3:00 a.m., less than 2 days before flying out to. I got it copyrighted while in Florida and had the first 50 of the 100 limited edition printed off. The painting was presented to Les Cheveldayoff and TBN Wednesday, Jan.21,2009 where Les offered to pose for any future paintings. Praise God! It is awesome to see the way God touches each persons heart as they look at Jesus listening to the sheep's heart. He knows the core of your heart and your innermost being like no other. I'd like to thank everyone who came running to purchase a print, but most of all to hear your testimony on how it touched you. This was truly created by the hand of God and through His heart to yours.
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of God as the waters cover the sea Habakkuk 2:14
Heal the sick, cast out demons, cure the lepers and raise the dead. Give as freely as you have received. Matthew 10:8
