Sandi Hester

As for those of you who are left, I will make their hearts so fearful in the lands of their enemies that the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight.  They will run as though fleeing from the sword, and they will fall, even though no one is pursuing them.  Leviticus 26:36

Yes, this is God talking and no, He wasn’t talking to Israel’s enemies – He was talking to His chosen nation Israel!  Leviticus 26:1-13 tells of all God will do for those who obey Him – it’s some good stuff too.  Then right after the rewards come the punishment for disobedience.  This is where I got the leaf scripture.  What a sad place to be as a child of God – living in the land of your enemies – fearful all the time – even a tiny dead old leaf scaring you to death.  When all along, if you would turn to your God and listen to and follow what He has to say, He would set you in green pastures, place you under the shadow of His wings, set you firmly in the Strong Tower. 

Too often we see God as demanding and commanding.  We see His “rules” and “regulations” as restricting.  Why is it so hard to see how loving He is in setting up fences and gates around His safe pasture and desiring for us to stay in those green pastures?  Would we call a parent “restrictive” who told their child not to go near the road – that it wasn’t a safe place for them to play.  A loving parent sets up boundaries for their child.  Our heavenly Father is no different. 

Let’s take marriage for instance.  God has laid down laws and in essence has said, “Sandi, I want you to have the best of the best in marriage.  I have created it to be quite amazing.  There is sweetness, intimacy, and love to be shared and known under the marriage covenant.  I want you to know how it can’t get any better – I want you to know how precious it can be.  Here’s how… remain pure – save yourself for the man I’ve picked out for you.  I have some sweet surprises and blessings for you if you will do this.  However, if you go against me on this – if you decide you want to play in the road – go out side of the safety of the fence I have put up for you… well there will be consequences to your sin (sexually transmitted diseases, premarital pregnancy, etc.).  Sandi, if you will listen to me, I’ll show you how to be a wife that honors her husband and glorifies me… be submissive to Grady (oh no, I know I just lost a bunch of you with that phrase – but it’s the truth – I have experience such sweet God glorifying things in my marriage as I learn to have a gentle and quiet spirit and am submissive to Grady.  Why do we think being submissive means weakness and something bad.  Christ was submissive to the Father.  I am only imitating Him when I submit.)  God has preciously laid out how to have an amazing marriage.  He designed it – He should know how it works beautifully and how it can be disastrous. 

All His laws are for our good and His glory.  I have lived too much of my life “outside the fence”.  I lived too long following my own desires and my own rules.  I have reaped nothing but heart ache and sin when left to my own way.  I have found such pleasure and delight in God’s ways.  His pastures are green and His fences are precious to me.  Oh Jesus, “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your Name.”  (Psalm 86:11)  I want to fear you Lord and not the sound of a wind blown leaf.

In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.  Psalm 5:3

Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”  Matthew 9:37-38

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  Revelation 21:2

Where morning dawns and evening fades You call forth songs of joy.  Psalm 65:8

This painting is of a sunrise and a sunset – between the two God has called forth songs of joy for today… can you hear them?

You will go out in joy and be lead forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.   Isaiah 55:12 

Who knew that mountains could sing and trees even had hands to clap?  Who are they singing to and who are they clapping for?  Their Creator, that’s who.  They are in constant praise of their Maker.  I’m looking out my breakfast room window right now and my backyard is full of trees – they all stand with arms raised high praising their Creator.  When the wind blows through them, you can see them “clapping their hands”.  What will you do with your voice and hands today?  Will you praise the One who not only made you, but died for you and bought you at a very high price?  Or will the rocks cry out in your place?

This is a painting I did very early on in my painting “career” (if you can call it that).  It was actually a mistake – a mess up (I have  a LOT of those).  I painted this tree and hated it, so I practiced writing the scripture on the page that inspired me to paint the tree and I hated my writing even more than the tree.  I wanted to tear it up and throw it in the trash – but instead, I put it away.  Months later I pulled it out and LOVED it!  What changed???  I’m still not sure, but that happens all the time to me.  I paint something and hate it, and then I’ll look at it later and want to frame it.  It’s really weird how that works.  I do love this verse – may it stir your heart toward your Maker today – praise Him for He is more than worthy to be praised!