everybody's got a window

everybody's got a window

we seem to forget that

just down the road

someone's looking out.

just above this floor

someone might be lonely too

our windows

our perspectives

our realities

each person just might be a real one?

get in someone else's shoes...or look through their window at least once.

different homes... same needs

different homes...

same needs.

water

love

bread

shelter

love

belonging

affirmation

love

food

and 

love

we're more similar than we think.

city tree and door

a city tree 

choked by concrete

and yet strong and mighty

the tree moves the city streets

cracking sidewalks

raising asphalt 

reminding us

that maybe our magnificent buildings

are temporary

and we escape through a peaceful door

windows on a string

over the earthy hills and houses

a window i see

windows like kites flown in the sky

glass to peer through

look through

into something real

we look into eternity

sidewalks still connect us

from door to door

the sidewalks still connect us

though we sometimes forget we have neighbors...

the sidewalks seem to remember

they still connect us

so why not leave the couch and take a stroll?

homesick

homesick

i groan for home

this earth is not my home

above the busy city

above the darkened streets

the straight and narrow

leads me heavenward

to a city

whose Builder is God

i groan for home

i'm homesick

above the skyline

i have had an absurd idea:

a window on a string

flying above the chaotic city.

and so, beyond the dark clouds

i squint to see a new reality.

or maybe a door on a rope

scraping the sky for truth

and groaning for hope i wonder...

can i crawl through?

or maybe Someone came down to me.

becoming one

painted for matt and susan

wonderful couple

they love Jesus

love others

and represent Jesus

with the fruit of the Spirit 

in their lives

the way home back to life

painted for my "thew"

living in austin, really living...

matt "thew"

is taking the road

home back to life.

check out his sweet songs

and the acoustic jams he writes

at matt graham on the virb.com

"open every single door and

swing wide the windows

let a little light inside"

"turn the darkness with a spade

lay your secrets down on me"

"gonna take the way home back to life, it's the weak way that is strong"

-matt graham

with her tears

painted for katie.

with her tears

alabaster jar

perfume

hair

a mess of love

washing Jesus' feet

humility her reality

forgiven much

loving much

a sloppy mess of love

meeting

a regal robe

royal feet

and Jesus was forever

honored by the sacrifice

of her tears

crossroads

crossroads.

painted for K.A.R.M.

Knox Area Rescue Ministries.

despair or hope

one or the other

two roads

a fork...the crossroads

two doors

death or life

choose Jesus. 

Thus says the LORD: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.  Jeremiah 6:16

refuge

refuge.

painted for Mike Jones.

my Father in law, the Father to my wife,

and a true Father in the Lord.

Mike lives in Houston.

He takes refuge from the city storm, the worldly storm, the business storm.  His refuge is Jesus. And strangely enough... although the idea was from him nearly a year earlier.  And the painting was in my mind's eye for months...it was painted within days of hurricane Ike hitting the Gulf...when Houston sought refuge.

home, city, country three

home

city

country

three of three

red and green

daily we go

daily we have to go

daily we wish to go

we end up

home

home, city, country two

home

city

country

two of three

blue and green

daily we go

daily we have to go

daily we wish to go

we end up

home

home city country one

home

city

country

one of three

pink and green

daily we go

daily we have to go

daily we wish to go

we end up

home

door and window three

door and window

three of three

green and red

a choice

and

a reality

door and window two

door and window

two of three

tan and blue

a choice

and

a reality

door and window one

door and window

one of three

yellow and blue

a choice

and

a reality

jeremiah plans

one way, one truth, one heaven, two homes, two cities, one Father, one Son, one Holy Spirit, one heaven, one way, one truth, two homes, two cities, Tennessee & Indiana quite shakeable, one feast, one party, one fun, wedding feast, reunion, love remains 

jeremiah tree

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."  Jeremiah 17:7-8

washing feet

washing feet.

for the iretons

their house

serves the Lord

they love God

they love people

they love their daughter

they serve

they wash other's feet

like Jesus did

sidewalks connect us

down the street

over the cracks

connected lives

connected concrete

connected doors

families live

homes and houses

blues and browns

whites and yellows

blacks and reds

purples and greens

we are all connected

connected by

a common ground

a common sidewalk

urban windows

urban windows

the 15th story

the 8th story

the power lines

the art and architecture

the magnificent shapes and colors

thousands of lives

thousands of dreams

color is found on a dreary day

community is needed

truth is needed

construction is present

stare through the windows of the city

stare at the windows of the city

behind the blue door

behind the blue door

a family

generations of stories

needs and wants

hopes and dreams

all behind the door

behind the wood

behind the handle

a father

a mother

a family

another world

another culture

i'm too scared to knock

but too curious to leave

so i stare at their door

who lives here?

look deep

look deep
below it all
underneath
the rock
the farthest part
the lowest
the darkest part
look there
find truth
find it deeply
breathe it deeply
look deeper

door

many doors

one is open

many choices

one is life

one is growth

one is breathing

one is hope

open the door

live with life

door and window

door and window.
walk and look through them
on the otherside is reality

play - work - worship

we play and we work and we worship
the mountains and valleys of life
we walk across them everyday, every week.

side by side - do you know your neighbor?

we live close to people.

sometimes too close

and we share

walls

sidewalks

driveways

lawns

they have doors

they have windows

they have lives

they have needs

i want to know

my neighbors more

tree of life

tree of life.windows and houses sprouting as fruit.growing into a village of life atop branches.faith and hope in Him.and so we abide and our hearts are a tree of life.

church windows

church windows.
stained glass, clear glass
church windows, looking in and looking out
hopefully one can see love
hopefully one can see Jesus
He reveals and restores
looking through church windows
hopefully one can see His bride
hopefully one can see redemption,
restoration, revival, and real authentic disciples.

through church windows

staring up at Him.

space in the country

there's space in the country.
there's room to breathe
there's space to think
to be refreshed
from the open hills
and the fields
our soul can breathe too.
our busy lives are quieted
with country barns and trees
maybe our heart
could grow a little faster
with a little more space
and a little more soil underneath
with a little less concrete.
there's more space in the country.

village of windows

for nana. my mother,
with abundant love.
hanging in her cottage.
a village of windows
reminds me of heaven
and still on its sills..
would these be the colors
and shades?
there...open windows
there...non-secret lives.
faith grows here
and love will remain there
through heaven's windows.

comfort two comfort

painted for my sister jessica.
a wonderful listener and friend.
she comforts others
with the comfort
God comforts her with.
from home to home
two sit
needing comfort
needing peace
needing hope, faith, and love
comfort two comfort
and still comfort overflows
and peace grows.

house two house

painted for jeff,
who lives by faith.
house two house
was inspired by
Acts two.
they lived from
door to door
from window
to window
they gathered
and they grew...
and from house
two house
they shared bread
and from
village to village
the church thrived.

Holy Spirit Tree

Holy Spirit Tree.

painted for nathan.

a dove

in a tree

our hearts

the tree...

hanging from the branches,

the fruit of the Spirit

love, joy, peace...

careful the way we live,

what we say and see,

not to scare away

the dove from our branches

His present presence

in our soul.

He lives inside.

sun and moon

sun and moon.

painted for anthoney.
he studies aero space engineering

at the University of TN.

a dear friend

and follower of Jesus.

"tony" as we call him,

dreams God's dreams

as he looks

above the earth.

faith hope and love.

when it all passes away
love remains.

pray and obey

pray and obey.

painted for the Foley's.

a family that does just that.

praying hands on the left.

an obeying hand on the right.

and windows of faith and hope.

the gate

the gate is an old painting of mine. it's not for sale.

pour me out

poor am i

my spirit stretches out

in need of life

pour me down

poor am i

my spirit trickles down

with my heart i cry

the gate is open

is this kingdom to breathe

we need your breath

let this valley breathe

pour me out

poor am i

for theirs is the Kingdom

walk through it you child of God

walk through it you weak ones

that the glory of God will go forth

that His strength will carry you

build the ancient walls

open the gates

be poured out you poor in spirit

He will come

life from death

life from death...for my dear friends the sones.
with death, we find life in Him.
our hearts are best alive through His sufferings.
a 3 canvas piece. read it like a book.
death on the left...and life builds to the right.

far and away

far and away

oklahoma

texas

tennessee

home is far

home is away.

i painted this

for a friend.

he lives

far away now.

arise

arise. for Kristen. given a few days before her death.
after battling cystic fibrosis for 23 yrs. she found herself in the hospital for the last time.
in the ICU before she went on the respirator she told us,"if i wake up, i'll be with you, if i don't i'll be with Jesus... either way i win." her faith continues to impact our lives. one of the most inspiring hearts & friends i will ever have the privilege of being close to. she left a legacy at the University of TN. a prayer room is being named after her on campus...because she always wanted to pray.

return

return.

a painting

for walt bain.

prone to wander

prone to leave

the God i love...

and so each

of us...

our hearts

can return to Him

return

return

return

to the

straight

and

narrow.

stained glass window

stained glass window.

bought by

my dear friend

ellie howard.

so, the painting

went on "j auction"

as some of my paintings do.

she bought it

and i'm glad it has a home.

stained glass is amazing.

i tried to recreate the

texture of such windows

in this painting

city of windows

city of windows.

i wonder if

heaven will be

a city of windows?

no shame

no darkness

no hidden things

just love

community

and the light of God

shining in.

windows of green

windows of green...

so i like windows.

here's the deal

with windows you can

look in

look out

see in

see out

during my recent window obsession (the last 3 years)

i've painted windows in most of my paintings.

windows remind me of faith and hope.

you can see just beyond the glass.