Pipeline

May, 2018

This painting was born out of a worship night in February 2018. Initially, I just saw people exploding out of water carrying God's Word but they were also transformed and on fire for God. As I began drawing it out, I got the impression of a large wave they were encapsulated in and God gave me the word "Pipeline." When I looked it up, I discovered that there are several interesting pipelines. In August of 2017, there was an agreement between Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority to create a pipeline that would move water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea in an effort to bring potable water to dry lands. There is also a surfing Pipeline off of the coast of Hawaii which is located in the middle of the Pacific Tectonic Plates whose boundaries form the "Ring of Fire." This Pipeline is influenced by deeper reefs offshore and freshwater runoff channels as well as northeast trade winds, especially from March through September. I was also reminded of another time God referenced a "pipeline" as a connection between churches. What connected the people was a commonality of this living water that surpassed religion, race, or age. I believe this is reflected in the painting. I was also reminded of something God shared with me a while back. He had shown me symbolic tectonic plates shifting and a tidal wave that had begun out in the ocean about a year ago. I believe this Pipeline is connected to that in some way with regard to what God is doing.

I believe God gave me the following word for this painting. I have left it in first person as I originally wrote it down so as not to take or add anything to it. I ask God to forgive me if I have misrepresented Him in any way, shape, or form through this word because that is not my intent. I only want to communicate what I feel like He is saying. I ask that you test it against the Word of God and the witness of the Holy Spirit as you read it. I also ask that you allow God to speak to your spirit about the painting as there may be things He wants to share with you that He hasn’t shared with me. I felt like God was saying the following: Those that reside in My living waters will burst forth in flames - on fire for My people - with renewed strength, joy, and compassion, they will seek out those who need a touch from Me and bring them living waters. I will place a burning desire in their heart that cannot be quenched. They will soar and not grow weary for I am their strength, their joy, their wisdom, and the source of their compassion. Bring in the lost, bring in the confounded, for I am the Lord your God. That was given to me in February. I was recently given the following as I finished up the painting in April: This is My pipeline. Those that remain in Me will see the fruits of their labor. They will soar on wings like eagles and replenish themselves on My Word.

Isaiah 41:31 - "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

John 4:14 - "Jesus answered and said to her, 'Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.' "

John 7:37-38 - "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come toMe and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out ofhis heart will flow rivers of living water."

Jeremiah 20:9 - "Then I said, I' wil not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.' But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not."

I think God is conveying that when we live in His waters, we become on fire for God, are renewed by His waters (Holy Spirit and His Word), and God plants a burning desire to bring His water to others. I believe God is saying we must remain in Him for this and that this is what connects us. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share this painting. It is an honor to paint it for you. I pray you are greatly blessed by it as I have been blessed in painting it.

RM