Maundy Thursday art and coloring pages.
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Author: Stushie
I'm originally from Scotland and have been a Presbyterian pastor for over thirty years. I live in Knoxville, TN. I enjoy art as a means of therapy, but also as a creative way to strengthen my spiritual connection to God.
Narrative Lectionary art – Blindman and Zacchaeus stories
Narrative lectionary art – Zacchaeus and the Blindman stories
Art and coloring pages for this week’s Narrative Lectionary: Luke 18:31-19:10;
Healing a blind man, Zacchaeus.
Seven Last Words of Christ art
Seven Last Words of Christ art
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Midweek Message: Winging It
Psalm 57:1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
I can remember my old pastor preaching part of this psalm to me when I was about twelve years old. It left me confused, not because of what he said, which was all about security and refuge in God, but because of the mistaken image that I had concocted from what the psalmist wrote. You see I tried to picture God having wings, but I couldn’t decide whether they were the soft, white wings like a dove, or the mighty, golden wings of an eagle.
My problem arose because I was trying to interpret the Bible verse literally. I got so hung up on picturing g the image that I missed what was really important in the psalm – that of knowing God as my refuge in times of trouble.
I also fell for the same mistake when I was at seminary. This time it wasn’t the wings that caused my confusion, it was the shadow of the wings. I reasoned that in order for a shadow to be produced, light has to be behind and above the object in order to cast it on the ground. “How could anything be above and behind God?” I argued. Again, I was taking the text too literally and just using it for the sake of debating with my professors and peers.
The Bible helps us to understand about who God is and how He intervenes in our lives. However, if we take the scriptures too literally, as in the case of this image, then we will miss the point altogether. The Bible guides us towards God and reveals to us His plan of salvation through Christ. It is sacred and gives us a better understanding of the holiness, power, and grace of God, but the Bible is not meant to be fanatically idolized or worshiped like God.
Point to ponder: What biblical images of God mean something special to me?
Prayer: Lord God, when we take refuge in the shadow of Your wings, we know that it means we can find a haven and sanctuary in You. As we rely upon You for everything in our lives, encourage us to read more from the Bible, so that we can learn more about You in order to faithfully and thankfully worship You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Lent 5C art – John 12:1-8 and Psalm 126
Lent 5c bulletin covers, art, and coloring pages.
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Mary washes Christ’s feet – John 12:1-8 and Psalm 126.
Palm Sunday art
Palm Sunday art and coloring pages.
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Midweek Message – A Divine Conclusion
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (NIV)
Have you ever seen the old French film called ‘The Red Balloon’? It was made in Paris a year before I was born and tells the tale of a young boy who is befriended by a red balloon. The balloon and the boy become inseparable, and it follows him all over the streets of Paris. The film only lasts about 35 minutes, and it has been my favorite movie ever since I first saw it as a young lad.
The film depicts both happiness and sadness in simple ways and even when a tragedy occurs, there is a wonderful sequence of hope being renewed at the end of the movie. As I write this devotion, I can still see the beautiful conclusion in my mind’s eye. I won’t give it away – you’ll have to watch the movie yourself and be pleasantly captivated by it.
Sometimes I think that our individual lives are movies that only God can see. He knows all of the things that we have done, the moments that have impacted us deeply, the joys we have experienced and the sadnesses that we still carry. There is nothing hidden from God, so He could be justified in separating Himself from us after death, but instead He wants to give us a beautiful conclusion where we become reunited and restored to Him forever. That’s why King David, in today’s highlighted verse, prayed to God to clean his heart and renew his spirit: he wanted that beautiful conclusion which only God’s grace and forgiveness could bring.
Perhaps you feel as though you’ve done something which will separate you from God. Maybe you have a deep regret about a deed that has caused some distance between you and God. If so, then please know this – God can and will forgive you, just by asking Him to do so, even now as you read this. As the apostle Paul once wrote long ago: ‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ – Romans 8:38-39.
Point to ponder: Am I willing to hand over my regrets to the Lord and be cleansed with God’s Love?
Prayer: Lord God, create clean hearts within us and renew our spirits this day. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
PS: If you’ve never seen it, you can freely view the movie online at this link: The Red Balloon.
John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor, now living in Knoxville, TN.
Lent 4C art – Prodigal Son and Psalm 32
Lent 4C art for bulletins, screens, and coloring pages.
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Prodigal Son bulletin cover and coloring pages
Psalm 32 coloring pages & bulletins
Narrative Lectionary art
Bulletin art and coloring pages for Narrative lectionary.
The Lost sheep, the lost coin, and the Prodigal Son.
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Lost Coin
The Lost Sheep
Prodigal Son
Midweek Message – Lincoln
Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (NIV)
It’s hard to know what to pray for these days. There are so many different areas of need and conflict in the world that it is difficult to focus and concentrate on what’s really important. Whether it is lives lost through war, property damaged by hurricanes, or political intrigue and hostility, there just seems to be so much pain, chaos, and suffering in the world that it overwhelms even the strongest of Christians.
In my study, I have a small picture of Abraham Lincoln that someone gave me when I first came to the United States. Below the portrait, there is a sentence that Lincoln wrote during the Civil War. Whenever I get dismayed with what’s happening in the world, I look across my desk and think about these words from Lincoln:
“I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.”
In the midst of all that’s happening, we need to remember that God is right in the middle of all of this, working out His plans to thwart evil, and lead Christ’s church to overcome suffering. God’s side is the best side, so we should surrender our prayers, our anxieties, and concerns into the Lord’s will. When we do that, God will guide us about what to focus on, what to pray for, and what to do.
Point to ponder: How can I align myself with God’s compassion, love, and will?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You suffered an agonizing, painful and shameful death, which broke God’s heart and yet it healed the world. In times like these, we need Your guidance, Your goodness, and Your grace to restore our hope, faith, and confidence in God’s plan for the world. Be with us now and lead us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Stushie Art 