Love in Black and White

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." 

John 13:34 

 

 (A picture of my girl and her dog, edited using PicMonkey  Maleko ©2012)

In the Dark

Trusting That God Will Answer

           "Mt Rainer" (Washington State)                     Maleko ©2012                   

God does answer prayers, we must be willing to approach and ask with the belief that he will reward those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6).  So often that is the hardest part as our pride gets in the way of humbly submitting and approaching a holy God. ~M                                                       

Resurrection

"Resurrection"       Colored Pencils on Black Paper        5x7 inches

Maleko ©2012

"But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings"

Malachi 4:2 

Often only through pain do we find our redemption.  Choosing to believe that there can be a resurrection every time we fall.  This drawing represents the sacrifice of Jesus for us willingly giving up his life to save us for all eternity, and his ultimate triumph over death as the grave to this day is still empty.  The horse is ready to rise from the pool of blood in which he is standing, wings posed ready to take flight out of the pain which still clings to his legs.  We too can have this and rise above our pain if we only just believe.

Seasons Change

I am love falling, breaking unsuspecting hearts

Cleaving deep darkness, I am lightening flashing

I am thunder crashing, defeating silent echos

Searching endless thoughts, I am fears growing

I am loneliness hiding, behind mirthful smiles

Appearing creative fiction, I am truth living

I am water dripping, dry ground soaking

Tossing boulders high, I am wind howling

I am beauty glowing, dripping dropping ashes

Within darkness is receding, I am faith rising

I am strength holding, hope tightly clinging

Shining light into dark, I am his delight

In myself, I have...

In myself, I have no right to ask

As I tentatively crawl to Your throne

"Sunset Visions"  

©Maleko 2012

In myself, I have no voice to speak

As I soundlessly scream Your name

In myself, I have no strength to stand

As I lie silently prostrated at Your feet

In myself, I have wholly lost my way

As I dance masquerading my weakness  

In myself, I fear the deep residing dark

As I stare blinded by Your white light

In myself, I have no hope of redemption

As I feel Your strong and loving embrace

©Maleko 2012

Overwhelmed by Wonder

He found himself standing at the base of a wall that stretched out of sight to both the left and the right.  As he slowly looked upward the wall appeared to grow and continue on into the gray overcast sky.  The air was still and silent with no sound of any living thing.

The wall comprised of dark grayish black bricks approximately one foot square made of solid granite.  He reached out his hand and as his fingers contacted the bricks they were cold to his touch and they sat tightly against each other so that no spaces could be seen.  Dark green moss and lichens grew between the slabs and spilled out of the crevices and down the side like a flowing green river.

Where he stood the grasses around his feet grew wild and came up to mid-calf.  The ground contained no traces of any previous human or animal presence.  He felt as if he were standing where no one had stood before.  As his eyes scaled the wall in front of him, he noticed no doors or windows, only the solid impenetrable mass of rock that prevailed before him.

As the moments passed, he thought of the lies he had believed and the wall he had built around his heart and life.  He thought about the choices he had made and the pain this had brought through his cowardliness and despair.  The wall mocked him with a silence that evoked a vision of the prison that he had created and how that kept him from pursuing the dreams he had imagined over the years in his mind and in his heart.

He knew that the truth and life lay beyond and on the other side of the wall; his destiny.  He believed that his future that lay outside the wall was a life of discontentment in a world of darkness.  Every fiber of his being screamed in desire to pursue the truth but his strength just as quickly began to wane with the realization of the futility of his own inability to breach the wall.  His head dropped, his eyes closed in silent despair.  A light breeze gently rustled the grasses around his feet and they brushed against his pant legs, his ears detecting the barely audible sound..

Slowly opening his eyes and lifting his head, he felt the presence before he saw the stranger standing next to him.  Dressed in common well worn clothes of blue jeans, button down shirt and a weathered brown leather jacket, the man portrayed a silent power and confidence, born from wisdom and conflict.  Turning towards the stranger, he found himself staring into the most compassionate face and eyes he had ever seen filled with love.

The stranger smiled warmly and asked in a soft kindhearted voice, “Would you like to go beyond this wall?”

Thoughts of whether he could trust this stranger quickly crossed his mind while his heart screamed he just might. Following his heart for one of the few times in his life he found himself nodding a slow and hesitant yes.  Suddenly he was able to see through the wall and he immediately shielded his eyes from the blinding light that shined outwards so brightly and appeared to be everywhere at once.  As quickly as the light has come it disappeared and before him was only the solid gray darkness of the wall.

Glimpsing the light steeled his resolve and he knew he wanted more than life had offered him up to this point, though he knew not what that was. 

He asked the stranger, “What tool could you use to crush this wall?”

“Myself,” the stranger stated simply with a playful smile.

No hint of arrogance or conceit in the stranger’s voice just a confidence that seemed natural and fitting, born from battles waged and victories won.  This confused him but somehow he felt the truth of the stranger’s simple answer and he longed to see this straightforward statement fulfilled.

As Aragon upon reaching Helm’s Deep, after being feared dead pushed open the doors and strode into King Theodon’s court, in the Lord of the Rings, Return of the King so did the stranger.  The stranger turned to face the wall and raised his arms above his head, hands outstretched to the sky.  Taking one step towards the wall he reached towards the wall placing both hands against the coldness of the bricks, leaning forward with his body pushing into the wall. 

As the stranger leaned his body towards the wall arms extended forward and pushing, solid dark wood doors suddenly appeared swinging inward.  A light spilled out from behind the doors, streams of radiance cascading over the land.  The stranger’s visage shone brilliantly as the light appeared to shine through him casting no shadow on the ground.

The wall slowly began to dissolve into the light with a glowing iridescence.  The gray bricks were being replaced by what appeared to be an almost invisible clear glass that contained no blemish or scars.  Behind the wall a land emerged where colors and form spoke words of truth into his mind, but no sound could be heard.  The streets paved with gold, a shining city appeared from within. Crystal buildings and towers adorned with pearls and jewels stretching upwards to a brilliant blue sky.  The light reflected off the crystal glass streaming rainbows of color in every direction.

His heart leapt for joy, the lies he had believed for so long, like chains, dropped from around his heart.  At long last the truth was before him, the purpose for which he had been created was clear.  He was meant to reflect back the light and love that he had now been shown, sharing that light with others.  He knew he would stand firm in the truth of that light, letting the fears recede and knowing the darkness could not overcome it.

The stranger stood silently watching with a smile upon his face.  Never had he felt so loved, so wanted, so treasured and he ran beyond where the dark wall had stood.  He moved further into the light leaving behind the less of himself and becoming more, completely overwhelmed by wonder!

©Maleko 2012

Nehemiah - An Introvert Following God

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.  Nehemiah 1:4

When Nehemiah heard of the destruction of Jerusalem he first prayed to God, prior to speaking.  The priority occurred inside, before he spoke or took any action.  A true introvert who thinks before speaking who is more concerned with the inner world of the mind enjoying praying, thinking, exploring thoughts and feelings.  Nehemiah looked for direction from God.  And then some months later ...

Then the king said to me, "What would you request ?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. Nehemiah 2:4

Again, when King Artaxerxes noticed that Nehemiah was sad in his presence when as the cupbearer he brought wine to the king, Nehemiah prayed before speaking.  He asked God for the right words not to avoid the conversation but to speak truth in boldness in spite of his fear at addressing the king with the pain he felt at the fall of Jerusalem. 

Our first inclination before speaking or acting should be to fall to our knees either literally or figuratively to seek the guidance of the almighty God.  To seek His direction, His truth and His strength to carry out whatever task He has set before us.  I pray that as a world, a nation and individual people that each one of us would seek God's direction for our lives moment by moment.  If we would pray to the God of heaven in all things how much different might our world and our lives be?  Through His strength and grace I believe we can change the world.  God bless!

"The Book"    ©MalekoArts (Mark Schutter) 2012

Colored Pencil Drawing 3.5 x 5 inches

Father, please do it again!

I watched the colors in the twilight sky grow before my eyes

As water runs quickly down quietly soaking into the ground

A kaleidoscope of blues, purples, reds, yellows and orange

Colors sing a beautiful song of worship for mankind to hear

Heavenly glory and splendor displayed on a canvas of blue

Hues fade silently as crystal stars slowly appear in the dark

Father, please do it again!

©Maleko 2012 

Memories Of Eternity

'Christmas Morning'  (Photograph Bellingham, WA)

© Maleko 2011

A journey's new start

Moments slip past

A quickening of the heart

Loves rains down

A distant star

Falls to the ground

Sparks illuminate the night

And eternity beckons

Shines loves pure light

Staring into the Light

"Staring into the Light"      Watercolors    5.5x7 inches 

Maleko ©2011

A watercolor painting of a cat staring intently towards a bright light that appears to be just off the page, indifferent to what ever may be occurring behind him.  The red stocking hat points to the holiday season and the light represents the reason we celebrate Christmas.  From the first Christmas day when a star heralded a miraculous birth and the coming of a Savior that split time in two.  

May we also point our lives, moment by moment towards the source of that light.  

May we live only for His glory. 

If you are interested in purchasing prints or cards of this design please 

visit my web site on Fine Art America.  Thanks!

Merry Christmas!!! ~M

He knows ...

"Santa's Watching"       Watercolors       Border & text added with Paint Shop Pro

Maleko ©2011

A whimsical watercolor painting of Santa Claus peering through a frosted window.  He is always watching and knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake.

Reminds me of Jesus who is always watching us.  He sees and He knows, but we do not have to earn gifts from Him.  Jesus freely gives to those who chose to believe in Him.  His promises are sure, His love and mercy endures and He gives us the greatest gift, eternal life.

To purchase greeting cards or prints of this design or others please visit 
my artist site on Fine Art America

Merry Christmas!!!

Eternal Magic - Part 2

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

Job 12:22 KJV

Civilizations have both revered and feared the owl as a symbol of the underworld.  The ability to navigate easily through the night has tied the owl to the secrets we all hold in the dark places in our hearts.  Often thought throughout the ages to be a shape-shifter that heralds the coming of evil or dark wisdom, a link to spiritual things the material world has long forgotten.  But some see the owl as a warning for those who would heed its presence, sent as a guide to discover hidden timeless truths which hold forgotten wisdom.

Civilizations have both revered and feared the owl as a symbol of the underworld.  The ability to navigate easily through the night has tied the owl through history to the secrets we all hold in the dark places in our hearts.  Often thought throughout the ages to be a shape-shifter that heralds the coming of evil or dark wisdom, a link to spiritual things the material world has long forgotten.  But some see the owl as a warning for those who would heed its presence, sent as a guide to discover hidden timeless truths which hold forgotten wisdom.

The owl’s hoots became more frequent and intense as Sadee Jayne voiced low growls in the dark while standing stiff, poised for attack, strained against the full length of her chain.  The air suddenly was charged with an unseen energy.  Flames suddenly shoot upward out of the campfire into the sky, but no heat could be felt from the raging inferno.  At the edge of the glow cast by the fires light dark shadows began to emerge from the tree line filling the night with an oppressive terror released from the depths of the earth.  Shadows, numbering in the hundreds, were slowly moving forward and appeared at once human in shape but with no distinguishable features save for glowing metallic eyes.  The silhouettes showed familiar human like appendages; legs, arms, hands but the edges remained hazy as if advancing from out of a foggy mist.

In fear the family of three quickly clasped hands forming an unbroken circle as the shadows continued to advance slowly out of the darkness drawing nearer and nearer.  It was possible now to discern that the shadows appeared as creatures from the spirit world that had taken on physical form.  The little girl shrieked in fear as the apparitions continued their slow march forward.  As the three began to pray their prayers slowed the forward movement of the dark figures for a moment when voiced with no hesitation or doubt.  But with any break in the prayers and the cadence of their voices, then the slow plodding march forward of the figures would begin again.  The creatures appeared to gather strength and resolve that as they came closer.

No sound could be heard as the creatures crossed the ground seeming to float just above it.  Did they lack a mass to their form?  Visions of demons danced through the head of each member of the family from stories they had heard; grotesque and cruel, things most people only seemed to believe in their nightmares.  But this was real and only a greater power, which had existed long before these creatures could stop the attack.  It was a deeper kind of magic that echoed across eternity, one in which these creatures long ago turned from and chose not to believe.  Prayers become more fervent as the terror inside rose and they clung tightly to one another.  The parents frantically shielding their beloved daughter’s eyes from the gruesome figures that now hunted them.   (END PART 2)

Eternal Magic - Part 1

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.   

Job 12:22 KJV

The flames from the campfire eagerly licked the dry wood as they climbed higher into the night, casting dancing shadows into the nearby forest.  Three silent figures sat close to the flames to feel the heat and cut the chill as the temperature dropped quickly with the setting of the autumn sun. The quiet and stillness of the early evening was welcomed by the small family after the day of adventure.

As late evening began to settle over the land like a thick blanket, a feeling of expectation and stillness hung heavy in the night air.  The only sound came from the crackling and popping of the campfire, flames sending prophetic visions dancing into the night. Anticipation arose within the hearts of this family of three.  Stars twinkled in the sky as distant galaxies were being born and dying as eternity journeyed ever onward.  Far from the light pollution of the cities and towns the heavens began to unveil a cosmic light show that was sure to be beyond compare.

The family consisting of father, mother and daughter spoke in hushed tones so as not to disturb the majesty of creation that they were witnessing on this night.  The only movement occurred when the fire needed tended and this was done quickly and with little wasted effort.  Occasionally their trusted companion, a dog named Sadee Jayne would move as she lay dozing just outside the fires light keeping a silent vigil against the night.

The last small glow from the sun was disappearing beyond the horizon when a high pitched screech that split open the silence of the night elicited a low growl from Sadee Jayne.  The shriek reverberated through the dark air as if carried on the wind through the trees and across the land, the sound chilling their hearts.  As the silence settled once again, the flickering flames reflected in their eyes as they looked at one another across the campfire as the moments slowly ticked past, their hearts beating fast with breathless anticipation.

The youngest of the group spotted the feathered creature first perched high up at the top of the trunk of a long dead tree with no limbs some twenty yards outside their camp.  The owl was a snowy white color with grey markings against the blue of the twilight sky, accustomed to the darkness, familiar with and unafraid of the shadows that dwell there.  Its head slowly swiveled from right to left surveying their camp for reasons unknown.  The owl voiced low hooting cries of mourning that echoed into the night.      (END PART 1)

"I AM" - A Reminder from the Source

 
When Moses asked God what he should say if the Israelites asked him who had sent him,   

  
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM ...'I AM has sent me to you.' " Exodus 3:14

As God is confident in His identity we should strive to only see our identity from this perspective also as we were created in the image of God from the beginning,

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our Image, according to Our Likeness;" Genesis 1:26

We are created in the image of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, imprinted with that nature, why should we not live like it?  With confidence from the source of all love and all power, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.  How different might our lives be, what kind of impact could we make on our families, our communities and the world?

Blood Stains

After swallowing the last gulps, he set down the empty can on the corner of the coffee table.  The hoped for solace that drink normally brought seemed to evade him on this night and exhaustion remained, yet sleep seemed to reside only on some far distant shore.  The silent darkness of the house that used to be a home only served to allow the persistent voices in his head to scream louder, eventually driving him out the front door and into the night.  How long he stood next to the tree, barefoot in the grass, he had no idea. The other houses that lined both sides of the street were dark and all the world seemed to be asleep in peace.  All was quiet except the low hum of electricity as it traveled through the wires to feed the glowing street lights.

His right hand was leaning on the knob end of a baseball bat as if an old man in need of a cane.  The thought of why had he carried this outside flashed through his mind and was just as quickly gone.  It was the very bat she had placed beside the front door in case she should ever have a need of a weapon close at hand.  He grabbed the handle with both hands, he had always enjoyed the feel of a wooden bat in his hands and the weight just felt right.  His grip fit perfectly as his fingers curled around the handle.  Holding the bat filled him with a dangerous sense of strength and power.

He could feel his heart beating louder and louder in his ears, his blood coursing through his veins as surges of energy careened through his body as his muscles began to tense.  The world around him slowly faded away from view and before him stood only the tree.  The round trunk stretched upwards anchored by firm roots hidden deeply within the ground.  Branches grew outwards in what appeared to be many haphazard directions, most branches alive with leaves, a few dead and dry.  The tree was life, a voluminous text telling a story and detailing each experience and dream along the way, each branch a turning point in his life.  The leaves held tight the emotions that accompanied the events of each memory that was remembered.  The lifeless branches revealed little as the memories of these experiences had faded from his mind over the years.  As he stared up into the tree's canopy each branch morphed into distinct memories of a life built on hope for the future and then wholly lost as fate seemed to conspire against the desires of his heart.

The frozen silence of the night was shattered by a loud crack as the wooden bat struck the tree trunk.  He did not even realize that he had swung the bat, but as each memory blazed before his eyes he swung the bat over and over. The tree quivered only slightly with each blow, standing strong and resilient against the vicious onslaught.  Each swing was fueled by grief and rage over what was lost, never to return.  Memories flashed hot, the bat hurtled through the air against wood again and again, until his shoulders began to ache.  The quiet was shattered by the crack of wood on wood as the bat slowly began to splinter from the force of the repeated blows against the tree.  He continued unrelenting as the fury rose inside him like a volcanic eruption long held in check within the depths of the earth, driving him past the limits of exhaustion.

The cascade of blows finally began to slow as his strength waned, at last he stood gasping for breath, head down, the bat lying motionless in the grass at the bottom of the trunk.  The tree was silent before him almost mocking his unsuccessful and feeble efforts at destruction.  He eventually fell to his knees and finally came to a sitting position with his back against the very trunk that had noiselessly absorbed blow after blow of his merciless rage and anguish driven attack.  He sat soundlessly through the remainder of the night, his body physically shattered; the fatigue blunted the pain and allowed his mind a small respite from the chorus of voices in his head.   

The sun began to rise, and light crawled out of the dark of the night revealing the dawn of a new day.  He sighed and moved every so slightly as his shoulders throbbed, his hands and fingers stiff and aching, but his mind and heart laid bare to the nonsense questions to which there were no answers.  As the mornings light grew ever brighter unhindered by his sorrow, he looked down at his hands which were stained in a murky crimson of his own dried blood.  As he stared at the sight, angels whispered about innocent blood that was shed once, in the ultimate sacrifice long ago, so the crushed hopes of this world may be redeemed and reborn in eternity and a small smile crossed his lips as he raised his face to the warm glory of the rising sun.

~Maleko (October 2011)

What I fear and desire most ...

What I fear and desire most in the world is God.  

I fear Him because He promises to be spontaneous, out of my control, unnamed beyond my reasonable self.  

I desire Him because God has color, like the fire that burns hot.  

He is not pale, He is not neutral.  

His light reveals the darkness of my heart.

Excerpt adapted from "Red: Passion and Patience in the Desert" by Terry Tempest Williams, © 2001

To Be Truly Known

Been thinking about how each individual fits into this puzzle we call life.  Lately I have felt out of sorts and wondering if I am noticed for me or only for my contributions.  In the midst of the plethora and mass of humanity would anyone be able to pick me out of the crowd?  Would they know it was me? 

If I were a single tear that fell from the skies into the oceans deep, 

would You...know it was me?

If I were a single grain of sand laying upon an endless beach, 

would You...know it was me?

If I were a single shining star amidst the vastness of the milky way,

would You...know it was me?

If I were a single word unspoken within the minds of humankind, 

would You...know it was me?

The above was originally posted on my blog in March 2011 asking the question about being truly known by God.  I rest assured that God knows me (emphasis below added) -

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior -Isaiah 43:1-3

...but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. -1 Corinthians 8:3
 

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God -Galatians 4:9

 
I rest in this assurance of a God that knows me even when all else around me seems dark, makes no sense and others seem distant.  I simply chose to believe.  Do you?

Mt St Helen's   ©2011

Answering, When Jesus Asks The Question

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David !"  The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" They said to Him, "Lord, we want our eyes to be opened." Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him. ~Matthew 20:29-34 (NASB)

'Mount Saint Helen's'

© Maleko 2011

After reading this verse it occurred to me that wherever Jesus went people cried out Him.  Especially those that had been shunned by society, the outcasts, the rejects, those who had lost all hope the things of this world or in saving themselves. It is still true today even after 2000 years, that when we are hurt, lost and without hope we cry out to God.  I believe in those moments those who profess no belief in God may also find themselves calling out to 'God'?

Throughout life we cry out when in distress, more silently as we age, and we are comforted by family, by friends and by God.  But what really struck me was Jesus response, he stopped, called to them and asked "What do you want Me to do for you?"  The God of the universe did not indicate that He already knew what they wanted, He asked and waited for their answer.

Jesus is asking this very same question even today, to each and everyone of us,   

"What do you want Me to do for you?"

Are you able to answer this question clearly?  Do you know what it is that you want Jesus to do for you? Specifically?  So often we want for lack of asking. The blind men new exactly what they wanted Jesus to do for them, "Lord, we want our eyes to be opened."  Clear and straight to the point.

Spend some time thinking about how will respond when Jesus asks you "What do you want Me to do for you?" and post your thoughts in the comments.  I will respond with my answer to the question in a later post but initially my answer evaded and puzzled me greatly.

God's Majestic Silence

"Blue Mountains"  Photograph NW Oregon

© Maleko 2011

Within the silence, that often surrounds

Truth is heard and grace abounds

Within faith's glow, living waters flow

Souls are stilled, empty vessels filled

Answers to prayers, float silently down

God's majestic silence, is all around

~ © Maleko 2011

  


 (This is a companion to a previous post on The Silence of God originally posted on May 15, 2011.  The above post follows the predictions of some that on Saturday, May 21, 2011, God would rapture His church, which did not occur, as the bible states no man can know the day or the hour.  It occurred to me that we still have the voice of God in the silence and His promises which He will fulfill to those who remain faithful to the end.  ~M)