O Sacred Head

O sacred head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, your only crown.
O sacred head, what glory
and blessing you have known!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I claim you as my own.

My Lord, what you did suffer
was all for sinner’s gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but yours the deadly pain.
So here I kneel, my Savior,
for I deserve your place;
look on me with thy favor
and save me by your grace.

What language shall I borrow
to thank you, dearest Friend,
for this, your dying sorrow,
your pity without end?
Lord, make me yours forever,
a loyal servant true,
and let me never, never
outlive my love to you.

___________________________________

“Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” John 19:30

‘Til He Shouts!

The poem “O Sacred Head”, is attributed to Paul Gerhardt, 1656.

(I first published “On Good Friday”  on Good Friday, 2015. )

“Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey-riding on a donkey’s colt.’ “ Matthew 21:5

Tears

On that day…..the day we call Palm Sunday…..the Lord Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on a small donkey. As the ecstatic crowd welcomed Him thinking He was the one who would free them from their suffering under a cruel and harsh rule, He wept.

“As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace-but now it is hidden from your eyes.'”Luke 19:41-42

The Greek word for weep is ἔκλαυσεν…meaning to weep aloud, expressing uncontainable, audible grief (“audible weeping”). He was sobbing; those around Him could have heard Him but the crowds were cheering.

Our Lord shed tears of grief and sorrow as He rode the small donkey into Jerusalem that day. He had been rejected by His own people; He grieved for what they would soon suffer and set them aside as His representatives until a time in the future far from that day.

Triumph

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. ” Revelation 19:11

“On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” Revelation 19: 16

Yes, Jesus Christ is coming again and in complete victory and triumph. He will not be shedding tears. As the King of Glory, He will be riding a white horse….not a small donkey. He will establish His everlasting kingdom.

Wishing you a blessed Palm Sunday with praise to Him.

‘Til He shouts!

1 Thessalonians 4:16

(“Tears and Triumph” was first published in March 2015)

Art by Adele Bower #DreamLovePaint workshop. Not for sale.

9″ x 12″ oil on gessobord (museum quality panel)

I love the phrase, “After-Glow”. It describes perfectly how I feel after being immersed in Dreama Perry’s wonderful online oil workshop, DreamLovePaint, the past weeks. I feel the glow.

Through my years and years of doing art of many varieties, my goal was always the outcome; the “outcome” then was either an A from my college or art school instructor or later a check for my work as a in-house studio artist or freelance illustrator. I held fast to that goal….until……Dreama changed everything. Bless her…it only took six weeks of lecturing me. Or I should say “admonishing” me. She is a gentle, but very persuasive teacher. But nothing captures my attention or makes me more willing to listen, than the excellence of the work of the instructor. Excellent is the most fitting word for Dreama’s work, lectures, inspiration and training.

“In Athens”, 6″ x 6″ oil on gessobord ) museum quality panel. Art by Adele Bower

It would be difficult to relate the process that changed my “goal”, but easy to pinpoint its origin….Dreama’s teaching about finding joy in the doing of art, and not on the outcome or goal.

That sounds simple doesn’t it? Just change your mind. It is NOT simple at all, at least, it was not simple for me. With all my Sanguine personality traits I also have a wide streak of practicality; I must have a purpose and a goal for how I spend my time. The only problem with that viewpoint is it’s just not fun at all and I must have fun, if at all possible, in everything I do.

I’ll sum up my “Glow”:

I now have more fun in the doing of my art.

I no longer focus on any goal, other than joy in the doing of my art.

It is inevitable that skill and artistic beauty will follow.