Mary Jane Q Cross -- Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

This meaningful painting and the accompanying poem are important reminders to not let evil into our souls in any way. The poem would be a wonderful one to memorize! It reminds me of Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.|" 

 Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

In the light, in the dark

Evil is the flammable spark.

Hear no tales whispered and nice,

with bitter bites small as lice.

Behold your ears take gently in,

Honesty, truth, as its kin.

Heart will settle and beat its best

when tickled ears have their rest

See no troubling forceful views

or memory plays its violent news.

Momentum builds and fear takes hold

inward fast, too soon, grow old.

Guard thy eyes, let dark depart

will protect the budding heart.

Speak not what's been heard in haste

salt to pepper its troubled taste.

Words that lead to hell and back

will leave behind a treacherous track.

Say only words sweet and clear

be sweet and right to every ear.

So, hear no evil, see no lie,

speak no evil, God”s pleasure will sigh.

By Mary Jane Q Cross

Mary Jane Q Cross - Endless Comfort

I love this painting by Mary Jane Q Cross - the light against the dark the varied textures - feather against leaf and the red blossoms against the green leaves.  And of course the dove representing the Spirit.

and her accompanying poem...

                 Endless Comfort

Unending Comfort is thankfully mine
Surrounded by branches and ruby Vine
Sealed within the Restrainers breast
We'll soon fly away, experiencing God's best
Content to be called by name so sweet
To the clouds we are summoned, Him to meet.

Sing Over Me by Mary Jane Q Cross

Again, sorry for the delay since the last painting.  Here's another lovely painting by Mary Jane Q Cross with two accompanying poems.
 

Sing Over Me

Enchantment indwells every thought
Of how my smallish soul was bought.

Over me I hear You sing;
On sweet clear notes I surely cling.

Your songs, today, wash over me
To lift my head and bend my knee.

Worship to Thee is sweet and clear;
It's tribute music to Your ear.

Pierce morning's air with veery(2) voice--
Wings unseen but rich and choice.

Encouragement, love, doing well,
I hear from where Thee surely dwell.

It is Your thrill to call to me,
Announcing, proclaiming victory.

I hear the bell, distant, sincere,
With face to You, with open ear.

If You sing over me and keep me fast,
You hold my rapture first to last.

Receive my face this moment alone,
Echoing strains of my King's home.

So sing over me, I listen deep,
Knowing, my Sovereign, this spirit You keep.

Notes from Thee, songs over me,
Benediction's refrain...as you sing over me.

2. A veery is a bird here in the Northeast that has a stunning sound, but you will rarely see it, and never when it sings.  When I hear its wondrous sound in the night or early morning, I feel quite privileged.  It is a sound from what might be, perhaps, early creation that soothes the soul like no ohter sound.  Surely a symphony in a moment.

This picture is also with "He is Risen" in her book, Poems of a Painter, Paintings of a Prayer. 

                            He is Risen

Soul: 

He is risen!  My existence in a moment changed,
Time ever ahead, endlessly re-arranged.

Imperishable truth I, here, do own
From folded cloth and rolled away stone.

This glorious sunrise I awake, am free,
Glimpsing deathless, immortal eternity.

Soul alive this day, pleased to see
All my God intended I be.

Selah.

Did you sing over us, as you effortlessly arose,
drawing all to Thee, and to our soul's repose?

You might find this close-up of the top right of the painting interesting as you can see the finger prints Mary Jane used as she painted the background.

 

Mary Jane Q Cross -- Gathering Hope

This is the painting that Mary Jane Q Cross chose as the cover for her lovely book, Poems of a Painter, Paintings of a Prayer. This beautiful book is not cheap, but if you can possibly afford to get it I don't think you'll be disappointed.  It has full page paintings on almost every other page, with accompanying poems facing.  This painting, titled "Gathering Hope" is filled with both beauty and emotion - what I love about Mary Jane Q Cross' work!



             Gathering Hope
           by Mary Jane Q Cross copyright 2007

I press my face against the glass,
gathering hope of what will last.

Petals fragrant, soft, bright
last in visions into night.

Fragile dreams of who I be;
numbered heartbeats 'til eternity.

My Lord my King, I do compel,
help to spend these heartbeats well...

that I might serve with hand and face,
breathed to life by Your sweet grace,

to serve again, not grasp, but give,
and by life's end...to fully live.

If you haven't viewed it yet, I recommend this you-tube video about Mary Jane and her painting:  Q Cross: The Painter Behind the Portraits.