Sandi Hester

He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses.  Psalm 135:7

I love scriptures that talk about God’s storehouses – He has a lot of them! 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever.  Is 40:8

I painted these two yesterday in my watercolor class.  I thought they turned out fun.  My instructor said it made her think of God’s pallet.  I aged a piece of paper that looks like it’s been torn out of a bible and placed it on the painting.  I’d like to hear some feedback on the torn scripture part – do you like that or should I just keep it simple and put the ‘address’ in the painting (if you look closely in the bottom right corner you’ll see the address is there).  I love comments, so let me know if you like the torn scripture look or not.

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.  Psalm 139:13-16

My Mom’s birthday was last Saturday, but I didn’t give her her present until last night, so I couldn’t post it until now.  I painted one of her favorite things – her grandson Aidan.  She was a little disappointed that I didn’t have a painting of her other favorite thing – her granddaughter Hannah… I’ll have to work on that :).  I almost didn’t give this painting to her because I wasn’t pleased at all with how it turned out, but my sister (the mother of Aidan and Hannah) loved the painting and thought I should give it to her. 

My Mom is very special to me and a GREAT mother!  She is so special to all of us.  She has a servant’s heart like Christ – she will out serve you any day and I mean that!  I wish I had more of that servanthood (is that a word?) in me.  I love you Mom – you are beautiful inside and out!

“…and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”  Isaiah 55:12

My nephew LOVES this verse.  It’s one I’ve been teaching him.  We’ll be looking outside or playing outside and the trees will be swaying back and forth and he’ll SCREAM “trees clapping their hands!!!!” (he’s only 2 years old) and I’ll say, “that’s right Aidan, and who are they clapping their hands for?”  His reply has got to be sweetness to the ears of my Savior, because Aidan will scream at the top of his lungs “JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” (he kind of shrieks at the end).  Yes, Aidan – they are clapping and praising the name of my sweet sweet Jesus.  Aidan doesn’t even realize that he has just joined in with their praise.  How precious to hear the name of Jesus come so joyfully off the lips of a 2 year old.  May that Name always come off Aidan’s lips in praise.  May he take that Name to the nations one day and make His Name famous.

Here is a strange painting of some trees.  It’s a different technique I was playing around with one day.  I love how the colors turned out.  I have another one like it I’ll post soon.

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!