Sandi Hester

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.  And how much more valuable you are than birds!  Luke 12:24

I would like to share a powerful quote from John Piper’s book “Don’t Waste Your Life” – if you haven’t read it – it’s a must read – it’s a life changer!

“…the greatest joy in God comes from giving his gifts away, not in hoarding them for ourselves.  It is good to work and have.  It is better to work and have in order to give.  God’s glory shines more brightly when he satisfies us in times of loss than when he provides for us in times of plenty.  The health, wealth, and prosperity “gospel” swallows up the beauty of Christ in the beauty of his gifts and turns the gifts into idols.  The world is not impressed when Christians get rich and say thanks to God.  They are impressed when God is so satisfying that we give our riches away for Christ’s sake and count it gain.”

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”  Mark 1:17 

I did this painting for my Dad’s birthday.   It is the first painting I’ve matted and framed – not because it’s a great painting, but because I wanted to do a painting for him for his birthday.  I love you Daddy!

Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.  Matthew 12:33

He established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, He made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm… Job 28:25-26

Check it out for yourself – scripture clearly shows us He gardens… 

Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there He put the man He formed.  Genesis 2:8

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener.”  John 15:1

“Sing about a fruitful vineyard:  I, the Lord, watch over it; I water it continually.  I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it.  Isa 27:2-3

They are the shoot I have planted, the work of My hands, for the display of My splendor.  Isaiah 60:21

There are MANY more scriptures all throughout the bible like this.  This picture is dedicated to my dear friend Susan M.  Susan and I love farmer markets and vegetable stands.  She told me about a neat little fresh veggie market here in Hendersonville.  Susan, these veggies came from that market!  I bought them, came home and painted them, and then ate them!  If you look closely at the painting there is a little “friend” named Mr. Fly on the painting.  That’s right – he’s on the painting and not in the painting.  He must have landed on it as I was taking pictures of the painting.  He looks like he belongs there!

Happy Birthday Aidan!!! 

My 2 year old nephew is unusually smart (unlike his Aunt Sandi) – he remembers EVERTHING you tell him (again, unlike me – I forget my own address sometimes – you think I’m kidding – I’m not).  I’ve had this idea of doing a scripture picture book for him to help him fall in love with the Word of God at an early age.  I wanted to put together something that could help him start working on memorizing scripture.  Well, I finally got around to doing it for his birthday.  He is 2 years old today.  My prayer is that as he grows in wisdom and stature he will love the Word.  Aidan, seek Jesus with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength – there is nothing like Him on earth!  May He be your greatest joy!  I love you! 

I took pictures of the pages – they didn’t turn out too well – they are lop-sided and blurry, but it will give you an idea of the book.  On one side I’ve printed pages that look like they’re out of the bible and I’ve “highlighted” the verse that goes with the picture, so he can “find” the verse.  On the opposite side is a painting and the focus verse for him to start learning.   

For those of you parents that like this idea, you don’t have to be an artist to do something like this.  You could easily get magazines and cut out pictures and make your own picture scripture book.  If you’d like some more ideas on pictures and verses let me know, because I have a ton of them (if enough of you respond I’ll post them on the blog).   I just bought a scrap book and pasted the pictures and printed out verses in the book.  You can get as elaborate or as simple as you’d like.  It would be a fun project for older kids too!

The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.  Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea – the Lord on High is mighty.  Psalm 93:3-4

My friend Amy is a missionary in Africa and she recently had a picture of herself by the ocean with this scripture on her blog.  I LOVED the picture and scripture and immediately went to paint it. 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…”  Matthew 6:25

Do not fret – it leads only to evil.  Psalm 37:8

I’m putting this picture as the fourth in the Lady Series.  This was the first lady I painted.  I really like how she turned out, however she looks a little stressed.  Ladies, do you realize Jesus commands us not to worry?  It’s really a trust issue.  Do we really trust that the One who created the heavens and the earth – the One who knit us together in our mother’s womb – can really take care of our sick child, the bills, or the bad marriage?  Can we really trust Him with those things?  Does He really care about those things?  YES!

A while back, I memorized Psalm 37 and was surprised to learn that fretting (another word for worrying) leads to nothing good – in fact, it leads only to evil.  Hmmm, I think there’s some serious truth to that!

You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.  Psalm 86:5

This is the third painting in the Lady Series.  She no longer wears the condemnation or shame of her sin (which was symbolized in her red skirt).  She now stands in the mercy, grace, and forgiveness of her Savior – Jesus.