Jumping Rope
Canvas 20” x 24”
Time: Approx. 90 Minutes
Cost: $700
Theme: Relationship not rules
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15
Pastor Doug delivered a sermon about Jesus’ invitation into relationship, not rule keeping. Knowledge is vital, but it’s so easy to get over-focused on learning we forget the whole point, then we get uptight, cold, rigid, etc. Jesus shouted against this, because this shuts down the heart. Doug explained how a covenant is a promise that God will not, and cannot break. The New Covenant is founded on his endless abiding love and sealed with His own blood. He longs to live life with us, dance with us--to laugh and cry with us.
That Sunday morning, as I prayed for inspiration, I imagined my kids jumping rope, laughing--simply being free. Notice in the painting Jesus’ joy, and his outstretched arms symbolizing his sacrifice on the cross. See how everyone is captivated by His joy. They move in sync with His every step, not even conscious of the laws of gravity or rules of the game. The focus on the promise reminded me of Abraham’s laughter at hearing God promise of a Savior and a nation. Then Sarah, hearing it later, laughed too. When we laugh with another person, chemicals are released in the brain, new neural connections are made that “wire” our minds together. God wants to surprise us! I will never forget the first deep belly laugh of my oldest daughter, Isabella. It was at Christmas, 2005, when she was only a year and a half old, and the sound of her ripping open her first present made her burst out laughing with her whole body! It filled our hearts up with joy, and brought us all closer as we laughed with her. And this is how God experiences us, through our emotions. Thank You, God, that You want live inside of us, to have an actual friendship with each of us!! HALLELUJAH!!!