Will You Go Without Knowing?

This blog entry is actually an elongated true "Painting story" that I wrote and illustrated. Sit back with a cup of coffee and enjoy the journey!

To view the paintings you must go to my website: naharministries.com


Canvas 1
“In the Beginning”
This canvas represents the dream that God had for you before you knew what it was. Colors found at the bottom of the canvas are the same colors used in the other 2 canvases; mainly red, green, blue and yellow (however the yellow is mostly covered up on this canvas). Those colors represent the “city” mentioned in Revelation 21, but also represent the colors in the rainbow, especially since the colors are displayed in an arch, and as God told Noah- the rainbow was a covenant of a promise. God is faithful! HE will bring your dreams to pass.
The bottom section is also very blurred which represents how the dream that God gave you at first was out of focus. You couldn’t quite seem to see it although you knew that “something” was on your hearts.
The middle section was at first completely yellow. As the painting emerged and the other canvases were painted, the yellow came to serve as a “backdrop” to the rest of the paint. It makes me think of how “backdrop” is so important in stories and acting. The viewer may not know anything of the “backdrop” but the writer or actor knows all about it and it “colors” their direction greatly!
The top section is rich in red, gold and black but was a distraction (when the yellow mentioned above was present). Now it blends perfectly for the entire piece. I use those colors a lot to represent God’s strength, power and work in a person’s life.
The final thing that needs to be mentioned is the “shadow” of the cross which is barely visible. As you move around the room and watch it in different light, the cross changes in visibility. This represents that The Lord is over the dream, is the creator of the dream and is the protector of the dream. It also serves as a “book end” as it mirrors the cross in the 3rd canvas. It also represents that you are not only living out the dream HE placed in your heart, but you are living out HIS plan for HIS kingdom, which isn’t easily seen to the worldly eye. Not all will see the cross on this canvas!




Canvas 2
“Will You Go?”
“The great street of the city was of pure gold.” Revelation 21:21b
The gold found on the lower part of the canvas represents the “streets” you have already walked on, are on already, and will walk on in the future. Some of the gold was preserved in its original painted state – no other colors were added on top of it. The gold is the strong foundation- God’s foundation. The blue, green and red are layers on the street which represent the gems mentioned in the painting colors and canvas 3’s description. They are angled, as it is an uphill walk. They lead to the vertical stripes in the 3rd canvas which create the “city” for canvas 3.
The lower left of the canvas is a continuation of the 1st canvas except the colors are easier to see—they are more in focus. The revelation of the dream or the understanding of the dream is unfolded in this canvas—the lower left really represents this well.
There is a definite change in direction of paint on the lower left side. It’s where the “arch” (a continuation of the rainbow from canvas 1) meets the upward climb. This is a climatic moment in the painting. Something happened here—which is represented in the shimmering yellow “V” above the red paint. Perhaps the “V” stands for victory—victory experienced once you chose to step out boldly and start going without knowing. This turning point is shown through the clarity of colors that begin to take hold. No longer are the red, green and blue fuzzy or soft—they are vibrant! The same holds true for the gold!
One of the main focus’ of the painting is the orange glow found on the “road” to the “city”. If you look closely you will find 5 crosses. 2 adult crosses symbolizing you and Roger, and 3 smaller crosses representing Jackson, Katie Grace and Nicholas. Before they were placed on the canvas I was at a “stuck place” as an artist. My fear held me back. I was content to live with the yellow expanse between “road” and sky, but God kept calling me forward to push past my fear. After several days of trepidation, I felt led to pick up an unlit candle. I chose a purple one. And with the bottom of the stick I used the wax to make the crosses. While “drawing” the crosses the song “Candle in the Wind” came to mind more than once, (that seems corny…but it’s what I “heard” resonating in my head!).
The orange glow also represents how God led the Israelites out of Egypt with a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. It was how God led and protected HIS people. It was also how HE showed them he was with them continually. Great is HIS faithfulness!!!! Please notice that the “covering” is over all 5 of you. This dream is a family dream!
Surrounding the “glow” is lots of opposition. It comes in many forms. It is almost as if there is “wind resistance” however, the glow is safe from any fiery darts, resistance, or impediments. By faith you will arrive at your destination.
Finally, the sky is black but speckled with many stars. God took Abraham outside and said, “’Look up at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:5-6 You and your family are Abraham’s offspring! His promises remain true. Written in the sky is the question God asked you and Roger, “Will you go?” I know the rest of the question was “without knowing”, but only 3 words were allowed on the canvas…”Will You Go?” You answered the call. You went!
The stars also represent the passage we sent you from Texas with, “…shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life…” Philippians 2:15-16 Holding out the “Word of life” can also be represented in the hiddeness of the crosses on all 3 canvases. The Word is hidden to some and unveiled to others. Your job is to hold out the Word-God does the unveiling.
The cross is only revealed to those who have eyes to see. May they have eyes to see the cross in each of you!







Canvas 3
The City
The main part of this canvas is represented as a city scape. A cross is in the center of the city and is in front of the city. The city has a double meaning. It represents LA as can be seen by the dark smoggy cloud covering at the top, but it is also The New Jerusalem mentioned above in Revelation 21 which is where the color scheme came from.
Again, the cross is hidden, yet not as hidden as in the first canvas. To the unbelieving eye the cross can be viewed as part of the city.




Miscellaneous Information
Thought you might like to know just a few additional details
• As I stood in the store asking the Lord which canvas to use I was led to a square canvas. I did not realize the significance of this until I brought the canvas’ home from the store and began work on them. “The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide.” Revelation 21:16
• The 3 canvas’ need to be hung with about 4 – 6 inches between them. The negative space is important. It represents the unknown in “the going without knowing journey.”
• The paintings change in light and sheen depending upon the time of day, lighting conditions (indoor and outdoor), and where you position yourself to view the work. Isn’t that a beautiful description of our journeys? Our view of our journey change depending on our outward circumstances.
• There is a definite progression in crosses. They become more bold and visible in each canvas – and yet, they each possess a “hidden” quality to them.
• Many times while painting this I would get to a stopping point where I did not know what else to put on the canvas. That was when I would hear, “Will you go without knowing?” It inspired me to keep going. I figured if you could do it so could I. Along the way I experienced fear, discouragement, discontentment, wrestling with God, and great victories! I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything! I am so thankful that I went without knowing! You have been a great model for me to follow!


May the paintings and their message bless you on your journey!

Scripture References
Hebrews 11:8-10

The Message

“By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.”





The Amplified Bible
“[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.
[Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise.
For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.”

New Living Translation
“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.”


The Basis for “The City” part of the painting
Revelation 21- NIV
The New Jerusalem
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
9One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using. 18The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.
22I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.


Painting colors
The basis for your color scheme
 Jasper – a clear crystal – sometimes translated diamond
 Chalcedony – a multi colored jewel – possibly greenish-blue
 Sardonyx - a white stone – like a cameo
 Carnelian – or sardius is a “blood red” stone
 Chrysolite – yellow
 Beryl – green
 Chrysoprase – a turquoise color
 Jacinth – reddish-brown
 Crystal – clear
 Gold
 Sapphire – blue
 Emerald – green
 Topaz – yellow-green
 Amethyst – purple
 Street – gold

Will You Serve Me?

I was recently driving from one ministry event to another. I had spent the last 2 days doing prayer ministry for pastors and leaders from all over the country who had attended my church's pastors conference and was headed to do more prayer ministry and Scripture reading at a women's retreat. I was drained, weary and not sure how I would be able to be at my best for the next 2 days. As I drove I asked the Lord, "Lord, will you please bless me?" Immediately, I was given ears to hear what it was that I was truly asking the Lord, "Lord, will you serve me?" I was horrified to see the depths of sin that were lurking in my heart.
Tears sprang to my eyes as I agreed with the underlying meaning in my prayer. I quickly confessed the sinful attitude that I was carrying around. I turned from that attitude and asked the Lord to show me how to serve HIM. Amazingly, I was comforted as quickly as I was corrected. The Lord showed me that as I pray for people, I AM serving HIM! HE uses me as a messenger to pray words that His people need to hear. All I do is listen to HIM and then speak what I sense HE is saying to me. For the first time, serving HIM seemed so easy! HE corrected me in seeking for myself to be served but he comforted me in helping me to see that I was serving HIM in the way that HE desired.
That should have been the end of the story, BUT...God is so full of grace and mercy! As I checked into the hotel, the lady who checked me in said as I was walking away, "Oh, the people who arranged the room for you really like you as you will see in a minute." I took the elevator up to my floor and as I stepped out and walked down the long hallway, tears flowed from my eyes because I knew there must have been a welcome basket placed in my room ahead of time. I could hardly believe the grace and mercy that God was pouring out on me after revealing the sinfulness of my heart just moments before. I had asked God for a blessing and even though my heart was in the wrong place when I asked it, God still chose to answer my request and bless me!