A double portion of blessing

Acrylic on canvas
60cm x 120cm (diptych)

I did a study on Joseph in the Bible, whose father favoured him and gave him a multi-coloured coat, and whose jealous brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt. Joseph was imprisoned, but the favour of God was on his life, and eventually he became ruler over Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. He was also humbled, and God’s blessing brought abundance that overflowed into every area of his life, and radically affected the people of his day.

Radical blessing is God’s way – not light sprinkles.

I’m thinking of Isaiah 61:7, which was the kernel of truth behind the creative inspiration for this work, where God said, “I will give you a double portion of blessing, instead of shame and dishonour.”

I started painting long before my eyes and heart could see and feel the double blessing God spoke of. I was only able to finish it years later, when I now see it and feel it and live it, in my everyday.

And it has now dawned on me that I needed to be in THIS space to move AfJ forward! I needed to experience this life of restoration, forgiveness, abundance, first-love-resurrected with a double portion of blessing, to be able to pour it out to others via this artwork-inspired-by-experience.

So… everything in life leads to this point in time, where humility shares hope and grace and mercy, and love in deeper measure. With tenderness…