That born again glow.

This is GLOW. A 16x24 oil on gallery wrapped canvas depicting a ruby suspended inside a common mason jar. A fairly simple and expendable molded jar used in home canning to preserve food and a way of life and a symbol of comfort food and named after inventor John Landis Mason in 1858. They fell out of favor in the 1950s as refrigeration came to most homes but as American food culture retreated from processed foods, the need for the mason jar boomed again in the 1970s. And when filled with treats and goodies, were an still are an absolute treasure gift!

Also about this same time in the 1970s, the Jesus movement took hold. The Doobie Brothers were singing...

...Jesus, he's my friend

I said Jesus, he's my friend

He took me by the hand

He let me far from this land

Jesus, he's my friend!...

We had a "born again" Christian president elected named Jimmy Carter who openly used the common evangelical phrase for a decisive conversion to Christ to describe his own spiritual experience and status. The phrase "born again" is derived from Jesus' statement to Nicodemus in the Gospel of John, chapter 3: "You must be born again." And I became "born again" as well as baptized in the Holy Spirit.

And then came the 1990s. The Mason jars became more useful than just for food storage. Their popularity resumed into full swing of the crafters movement along with a homey way to drink beer, sweet tea or painted up mini aquariums and even lighting fixtures. And following along with the new wave in mason jar uses in the 1990s, born again Christians had entered the religious and social mainstream of American society. The stigma often attached to being born again in the early part of the twentieth century, known as the "holy rollers", largely dropped away as new and revived evangelical Christians were exerting their voices and inserted their institutions firmly into the middle of American social, political, and religious life amidst a world that was beginning to show signs of the conflicts to come with the first Gulf War and attacks in New York City.

And REM was singing "Everybody Hurts" ...

Everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends.

Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your hand.

If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,

When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on..."

It says in Zechariah 9:16 "The LORD their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown." Yes we are His Jewels.

For thousands of years, rubies were considered the stone of love, energy, passion, power, and a zest for life. Like no other gemstone in the world, ruby is the perfect symbol for powerful feelings and second only to diamonds in their strength. Proverbs 3:15 "She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared unto her."

Romans 6 talks in verse 7 Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us. 8 We are pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal bodies. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 13 And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,”we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

And the mason jars are still going strong in the hands of home canners, artisans, crafters, children penny jars and so on and so on and so on. And so is the Jesus movement.

So hold on. Jesus will hold you together so let the ruby within you glow. And I look forward to seeing you on the other side. Blessings.

Hey wait a minute!! What is wrong with this picture?

My lesson of late has been about being still and waiting on Gods perfect timing. Psalms 25:4 says "Show me your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths." And I thought that GLOW was finished. Yet... there was that ever so slight thought that something was missing. And yes, the lesson came loud and clear. When God heals, HE leaves no void. Something good will come from it. As I looked at the ruby, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that it lacked His principals. Nothing God does remains dormant. Gods manifests growth of love.

"...may not be a wise man and I don't have much to bring

But my heart is my gift of love, so lead me to the King..." sings Ray Boltz to The Bethlehem Star.

So back to the easel and finish the task the Holy Spirit wishes. And He wants for the flower, the Bethlehem Star to be growing out from the ruby of God's true love. "For unto us a child is born, to yes a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince Peace." Isaiah 9:6.

Eric Clapton sings Let it Grow.

"Standing at the crossroads, trying to read the signs

To tell me which way I should go to find the answer,

And all the time I know,

Plant your love and let it grow

Let it grow, let it grow,

Let it blossom, let it flow

In the sun, the rain, the snow,

Love is lovely, let it grow..."

Lesson learned. Wait till the Holy Spirit says "it is good" and no more jumping to my conclusions as to when it is done. After all, I paint for Jesus. And He says "okay NOW it is done". And with that, thank you and I will see you on the other side if not sooner :)