Brenda Stichter, artist

Holy Week  This is the most unusual Holy Week in my memory, and I bet most of you feel the same way. But I have been thinking lately about other times in history when it has seemed like the whole world - or at least North America - was shaken up. I have thought about the Dust Bowl/Great Depression, the Civil War, World War II, the Irish potato famine, epidemics that devastated worldwide populations, and Biblically speaking, droughts, plagues, the tower of Babel, political upheavals, and, of course, the Great Flood. It would seem that almost every generation has an event or time that is unprecedented.  Not that that seems to make anything better!  11" x 14" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper Ready to frame Click here to view or purchase via my website. The first "Holy Week", the week leading up to Easter, was the biggest upheaval in history, and in fact, it changed history. I rea...

Doxology You know, traveling is not my favorite thing. I am pretty much a homebody, but last week, I was in Minnesota for five days, then I returned home for two days, and then went to Michigan for five more days. I have to say, it has been so delightful to be home today!  Of course, part of traveling is trying to sleep in unfamiliar places. I am old enough now that it is not always easy to do that, no matter how tired I am! One of the nights in Minnesota, I was struggling with an overactive brain and an uncomfortable body.  As I lay awake during the night, I knew that if I wished to sleep, I should change my focus. My Heavenly Father could calm my mind and remove my fear. But instead of a Bible verse or prayer, I began to consider and pray these words written by Thomas Ken in 1674:  Praise God from Whom all blessings flow Praise Him all creatures here below Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. That must have worked, because I d...

Joy II study The second in a companion set of paintings, 'Joy II' concerns companionship (interestingly) and friendship, joy and shared direction.  The movement, both horizontal and vertical, are important, both to the painting and to personal interaction. It is significant, too to have both companion paintings expressing some of the same concepts.  Phil. 2:2 - 3 (NASB) "make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves"   study 11" x 14" acrylic on watercolor paper 1" white border

Green Surprisingly, I have found the green page painting to be the most challenging so far. And also very tough to photograph! I am just not sure why some are so much tougher than others to get good photos of... Green in the Wordless Book (see my blog post about it here ) represents spiritual life and growth.  Romans 6:22 - 23 (New American Standard Bible)  But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Philippians 1:6 (New American Standard Bible)  For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.