Posted on August 27, 2022June 20, 2023 by Resurgent Art LLC — Leave a comment

Chi-Rho Newsletter – He Came By Water & Blood

When I started making this piece having the background paper glued onto the canvas, I had in mind to create a monochromatic black and white abstract work, incorporating feathers and sparkly beads. And I wanted the Lord’s input, so I prayed about it. The scripture “…He came by water and blood…” came to mind. My initial thought was, “Wait, what? What has that got to do with a monochromatic feathery design at all!” Well it doesn’t.

[And as I write this I’m having another epiphany….funny how this whole summer all of my “plans” have changed!]

Anyhoo…..I’m sure the Lord probably hears that all the time, we have an idea in our noggin and when we ask for His advice, His answers in a much different direction. And either we bulk and sulk, plead and argue with Him to change His mind, or we can enjoy the journey by coming into agreement with Him. And that’s what I did, because I know the Lord Jesus has much better ideas and plans than what I can imagine! (I’ve done my share of bulk & sulk, plead & argue too) But this time I stepped back out of the way, obeying His advice – that’s the key –> obedience – and let Him work. There is a two-fold blessing in leaning into the Lord and just doing what He wants: freedom of enjoying the process and entering into His rest while creating His art. 😀 Here’s 1 John 5:6

“This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.”

Iconography:

This artwork is from Jesus’ point of view hanging from the cross looking down upon the ground. I used as a ground cover a textured black and cream colored batik mulberry paper, the black is the blackened soil, the blackness of sin, the cream the sand stained with the bloody footsteps of the Saviour. The twisted ripped fabric represents Christ’s destroyed garment that He wore, tattered from the cruel scourging received as the razor sharp cat-o’-nine tails tore through His clothing and through His body; now tossed to the ground in contempt. The red jasper beads and red glass beads represent drops of His precious blood, the white glass beads symbolizing His shed tears, sweat and finally the water that would gush from His opened side when the Centurion’s spear would later pierce. The pieces of mirror represent our sinful brokenness as humanity peers into the mirror to see not Jesus Christ but themselves. We see our incompleteness our shattered lives, our brokenness, that Jesus Christ came to redeem us from our sins, willingly paid that sin penalty you and I deserved because of His great love for us. He saves us from an eternity of Hell, from an eternity of hopelessness, despair and death, if we but only believe on Jesus Christ for our salvation.

May this mixed media abstract artwork bring you hope, healing and wholeness that can only be found in the redemptive work that our Saviour Jesus Christ did upon that cross. He did it for me; He did it for you, because Jesus Christ loves you that much.

In Christ Jesus,

Donna

Posted on May 7, 2021March 12, 2023 by Resurgent Art LLC — Leave a comment

An Interview with Christians In the Visual Arts (CIVA)

Artist and Prophet? Tell me more.

April 20, 2021

Below is a recent conversation between CIVA and member Donna Gonzalez about prophetic art.

CIVA: What is prophetic art? How do you understand it?

DG: To some people the phrase “prophetic art” invokes notions of spiritual mysticism or foretelling events, in truth it’s comparable to the Old Testament prophet who spoke forth God’s word to the people. Under the New Covenant, prophesy is a prophetic gift the Holy Spirit grants believers to speak forth what God has already said in His word, being used in accordance to their faith for the edification of the Church. (Romans 12:6). To me, “prophetic art” is a very specific art genre which includes four indisputable essential components: a work created by a Christian led by the Holy Spirit, communicating a biblical truth, blessing others and resulting in God’s glory.

CIVA: Should Christian artists be considered prophetic artists?

DG: Yes.

CIVA: Why do you say that?

DG: It’s part of our identity, who we are as new creatures in Christ, created and called to do good works that were already prepared in advance for us to accomplish (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10). We are commanded by Christ to fulfill the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20), it’s just artists have the unique opportunity to accomplish this through their talent and creativity. St. Paul urges believers “…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31). I’m reminded of a situation that happened to Moses where the Spirit of the Lord came down, rested upon 70 elders who immediately began prophesying, which one would expect – but God also placed His Spirit upon 2 other men, and they prophesied too. A young man ran and told Moses requesting he restrain these two men from prophesying. I find it quite interesting what Moses said. He didn’t get upset or rebuke them rather he said, “Are you jealous for my sake? If only all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!.” (Numbers 11:24-29). Those words echo what St. Paul said in I Corinthians 14:5 “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues… so that the church may be edified.” So yes, I believe that all Christian artists should be considered prophets declaring God’s word edifying the Church and declaring God’s truth to a lost and dying world!

CIVA: What is your journey? How did you come to consider yourself a prophetic artist?

DG: Years ago, I didn’t understand what prophetic art or a prophetic artist was. My journey simply began one night before retiring asking God what He wanted me to paint, I just wanted to use my art for His glory. Immediately a vision of a colorful mosaic came to mind. The next day I started painting a mosaic, but since it wasn’t much to look at, I decided to duplicate the painting multiple times in a photo editor, placing them into a pattern where hidden symbols and objects became visible. Having asked the Holy Spirit what this meant, He gave me scripture that corresponded perfectly with the hidden objects. It was so unreal! The iconography became God’s message; a mini bible study if you will. There was no way I could do this if it weren’t for God’s interaction. I was awed and humbled that God would grant me the opportunity to be a conduit of His message. That’s how it all began and my mosaic paintings became the “Mosaics with Meaning^TM” prophetic works, “Here Am I Send Me”, “Fishers of Men” and “Seek the Lord” are a few.

I also paint typical prophetic works, done by inspiration after prayer and meditating on scripture, or after listening to praise and worship music, or from a vision or dream. “My Body Broken for You” is based upon a vision I had during a conversation at church.

CIVA: Any last thoughts?

DG: Our work as Christian artists is significant, it’s redemptive, not because of ourselves but because it is a divine gift from the Great Master Artist Himself.

Donna Gonzalez lives in Wayne, MI, teaches art and is the founder of an art ministry, Resurgent Art LLC. She enjoys gardening, reading and is currently writing her first book.

Learn more about Donna at www.resurgentart.com or follow her on Instagram (@dgartist1982) to see her prophetic art and other artworks.

Posted on October 1, 2018January 4, 2021 by Resurgent Art LLC — Leave a comment

Chi-Rho Newsletter Something Greater…Than Walking on Water

“Emmanuel In My Boat” © by Donna Gonzalez

This prophetic painting is based upon a sermon from Mark 4:35-41 where the disciples are in a boat late at night on the sea of Galilee when a sudden storm arose. Jesus comes to them walking upon the water, they think they have seen a ghost but He comforts them, enters the boat rebuking the waves and sea.

I found it interesting that my Pastor said the miracle wasn’t so much that Jesus was walking on the water – though a miracle nonetheless; but that He the Son of God in all His glory was willing to come down from Heaven, into a broken world into our broken lives by entering our boat. I went before the Lord in prayer and meditation of the scriptures and this painting is the result.

Iconography:

The type of boat is a skiff and it represents a person’s life. Skiffs are generally used in fishing or for leisure sailing and others are used in racing competitions.

The young woman is representative of any believer who puts their faith in Jesus Christ.

The waters represent several things; the world and all its anti-Christ philosophy, all the temptations, evils, the pain and sorrows caused by sin and the multitudes of unsaved people.

How does the application of this iconography in the painting relate to the 21^st century disciples in Christ? A lot actually.

First, notice the boat is a simple craft, it doesn’t appear too sea-worthy, and isn’t unless Christ is in control of that boat. I purposely didn’t choose a personal yacht because it’s not the everyday life most Christians can relate to. Since skiffs are generally used as a fishing boat it relates perfectly to Jesus’s command to go forth and make disciples, by becoming fishers of men.

¹⁹Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19

When one becomes born again Jesus willingly enters our boat (our life) regardless how much it has been broken because to Jesus all human life is precious to Him. That the holy King of Glory, the Son of God who created all things and holds all things together by His will, would choose to come and make His abode within a repentant sinner’s life offering the forgiveness of sin, eternal salvation and transforming them into a new creature for God’s glory with a new purpose in life – is so much more of a miracle than Jesus simply walking on water!

¹⁷ “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – II Corinthians 5:17

As the Christian surrenders every part of their life to God He takes control of the sail’s rope leading the believer onward to maturity in Christ Jesus. The believer’s faith, which is more precious to God than gold is refined through all kinds of storms and trials.

⁶In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” – I Peter 1:6-9

Jesus promises never to leave us and truly He is Emmanuel – God with us, if He sustains everything and holds the world together surely, He can hold our lives together!

¹⁶“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” – Colossians 1:16-17

Christ’s back is to the wind, His hair blowing representing Him protecting the believer from much of the wind and waves, often without the believer’s knowledge. Jesus lovingly and firmly holds His precious child close to His heart. Likewise, the believer holds tightly unto Christ, steadfastly refusing to give into fear or doubt, not allow anything, no compromise of heart or of mind to come between them. The believer rests her head securely upon His breast, her face serene in full child-like trust knowing He is mighty to save, He is faithful in all His promises and His way is best.

The goal is Heaven the journey is the faith walk of every believer in Christ. The Apostle Paul compares it to a race, competing for a prize, for believers in Christ are promised an imperishable crown through endurance.

²⁴”Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.²⁶” -1 Corinthians 9:24-26

May this painting encourage and strengthen believers everywhere not to give into fear or doubt Christ’s promises, no matter what stormy seas may lie ahead. To experience the incomprehensible love, the un-surpassing joy and peace of the Lord that can be ours through obedience and trust in Jesus.

In Jesus,

Donna

Posted on November 30, 2017January 4, 2021 by Resurgent Art LLC — 1 Comment

Chi-Rho Newsletter – Jesus Close to the Brokenhearted

¹⁷The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
¹⁸The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

¹⁹The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
²⁰he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.”

I painted this artwork as an encouragement to Christians who’ve experienced trouble, hardship and grief in life. The woman’s face portrays that very difficult moment which tries our faith, where one wavers whether to go on or give up, and it is precisely that moment when Jesus is right there in the middle of it with us. She has a tear in her eye with a very slight smile as she recognizes though she cannot ‘feel His presence’ by faith she will walk by faith and not by sight knowing He is there, He hears and understands and will bring her comfort and deliverance.

This time of year, is for celebrating festivities, lots of Thanksgiving food, candy, Christmas music, the bright lights, snow falling, warm hugs, hot cocoa, cozy fireplaces, eating around the table with friends and family, joyous reunions and colorful presents, gift giving and memory making. As it should be.

But for many this time of the year life is far from a Norman Rockwell painting. Fraught with hardships it can be is as bleak and cold as a winter’s icy wind. When loved ones have passed away or gone, and burdens increase it makes having a grateful heart very difficult during the Thanksgiving season.

The good news is despite the difficulties, it doesn’t have to be without joy, peace, love and faith. We have someone on our side, Jesus, who not only sees the light at the end of the tunnel but knows the end from the beginning. Who chooses to stick with us, through thick or thin. Who wants to be close to and loves the broken, downtrodden and hurting. One Who is desirous to save heal, restore and deliver when there just doesn’t seem to be any way out. It is during these intense moments that He wants us to turn and call out to Him to find He is our only hope the answer to all our problems. Jesus is our source of strength, joy, peace, love and faith.

The most amazing thing is Jesus doesn’t even have to do any of this towards us! And yet, because of Who He is, and His great love for us, He is more than willing to help us. All free for the asking. Glory to Jesus!

And that right there is so much to be thankful for!

Be blessed!

Donna