Mary Jane Q Cross -- Upstream Years Downstream Life

 I love the colors and play of light in this lovely painting by Mary Jane Q Cross! Makes me long for Spring.... It's a peaceful, happy scene, note the interest and intent on the girl's face and the light reflected back from the water. 

 

Upstream Years Downstream Life - Mary Jane Q Cross

 

 

“Upstream Years Downstream Life”

On this pleasant day I pray

The seeds set deep, not blown away

Heart and soul within the seed

Oh Father King…I beg no weed.

Float my dreams down to the sea

Go before so I might see

A swift look back, upstream in years

From where I come with all it’s tears

Of  little dreams of who I be

Set adrift on inland sea.

Washing downstream headlong life

Seek momentum sans the strife

To broader wider vision keep

Hope unfurled cool and deep

Wave on wave and yet again

My years ahead dear God do send

What you make inside Godhead

That I must be…hope or dread

My eye downstream yearns to see

Blueprint for that which I may be

Within your breath blow me home

From backwash stalled, perchance I roam

Draw me timidly gentle out

That I might float, tall and stout

To the seas in journeys home

Ride high wave in airy foam

I love thee soul dear gentle boat

Eternity bring me home to float

To nourish, abide, colonize, dwell

That I may do this life ..and well

By Mary Jane Q Cross   copyrighted 2006

Blessed are the Merciful For They Shall Obtain Mercy by Mary Jane Q Cross

Two more lovely paintings with lambs this week and titles from the Sermon on the Mount by our artist Mary Jane Q Cross.  Here is the same sweet little girl we featured two weeks ago. This painting is full of meaning.  Jesus compares us to sheep and calls himself our shepherd!  He promises that the meek will inherit the earth...

The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth

And this wonderful painting too with a child and sheep -   Its accompanying poem follows:

Blessed Are the Merciful For They Shall Obtain Mercy

“Blessed are the Merciful….For They Shall Obtain Mercy”

Mercy with truth go hand in hand

like grains piling up in hourglass sand.

One pile melding one into another

As done for a friend as soothing a brother.

Mercy without truth is death to a soul

Without sincere gospel, severity would be bold.

Both must link, long, firm and fast

so righteousness and peace will kiss at last. (Psalm 85:10)

So, Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain

Mercy… so sweet, in millennial reign. (Mathew 5:7)

By Mary Jane Q Cross

Copyright 2016

Mary Jane paints with her fingertips.   Q Cross: The Painter Behind the Portraits is a documentary video about her work that I recommend you watch  with your children.  It's just under a half hour.

And here is a link to a website where you can view her artist's statement and paintings.   I also recommend her lovely book of poetry and paintings,  Poems of a Painter, Paintings of a Prayer.  It has full page paintings with the corresponding poems. 

Consider My Meditation by Mary Jane Q Cross

Mary Jane Q Cross' paintings always raise emotion and wonder for me.  Worship would be a word that seems to fit many of her paintings.  An awareness of the spiritual is present in her work.  Today's painting, titled "Consider My Meditation", is no exception.  Psalm 3:3 says, "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." KJV.   ESV says it this way -- "But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head." .  I've been pondering how Jesus gently lifts our head.  When you're talking to a child and they hang their head or hide their eyes either out of guilt or out of shy fear, you gently lift their chin until they can see the love in your eyes and want to look at you.  I think this is how the LORD Jesus is with us, taking our guilt, longing to look into our eyes and assure us of His love.  So many of Mary Jane's paintings have women and girls with their heads tipped up to Heaven and the light.  They have countenances that are cleansed and radiant, filled with joy and worship for their incomparable Lord. 

Consider My Meditation

Morning Mists rise all around

Lapping gently its watery sound

Against this vessel unafraid

Pushing along whom He has made

Again and tomorrow I’ll meditate

His finger writing on soul I wait

Directing this path quietly He bade

With hand held out, as timidly I wade

This water too deep to comfortably abide

Content I am to in His boat ride

Rest my soul and body breathe deep

Spirit be faithful until I sleep.

Copyright 2009

by  Mary Jane Q Cross

Two songs follow based on Psalm 3 Lifter of my Head  and A Shield About Me