Portraits of Her
Portraits of Her
Embedded Files
January 2025 to March 2025
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. (Isaiah 49:16)
Women are special in the sight of God (1 Peter 3:4). We are beautiful creatures created in His image for a beautiful purpose! God has given us the ability to nurture and bring life into this world. God also wants to share His love with us in a new and special way.
Rahab
Rahab
Rahab
Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute living in the city of Jericho. After Joshua, the successor of Moses, sent in spies to scout out the city, she took them in to hide them from the soldiers.
She relayed to them the wonders of God that the inhabitants of Jericho had heard; how God mightily rescued the people from Egypt and made a way for them through the Red Sea to cross on dry land. She explained how the inhabitants feared the Israelites because God was with them. After this, she expressed her desire to be saved. An agreement was hatched between her and the spies: she and her family would surely be rescued so long as she kept the mission of the spies a secret. As a sign of their agreement, the spies requested that she leave a red rope hanging from the window of her house which was along the city wall. This was the same rope the Israelite spies used to escape from the city (Joshua 2).
The Bible expresses God's love for His people, and often refers to His people as, "the city of God" or "His city." We know that God loves Jerusalem, and I think it's pretty interesting how the city of God is referred to as "she." Here, I noticed a parallel between the city of God, and Rahab's story: before the siege, Joshua exclaimed that only Rahab and her family would be saved (Joshua 6:17-24). While the rest of the city of Jericho fell flat, Rahab remained standing (Psalm 46:5). She was redeemed! Evidence of this redemption is found in Matthew 1:5, where it states that she married Salman, a man from the tribe of Judah, thus making her part of the lineage of King David and Jesus Christ, our Savior!
Song of Solomon sings of Rahab's redemption:
(The Shulammite's Brothers)
“We have a little sister
And she has no breasts.
What shall we do for our sister
On the day when she is spoken for [in marriage]?
“If she is a wall (discreet, womanly),
We will build on her a turret (dowry) of silver;
But if she is a door (bold, flirtatious),
We will enclose her with planks of cedar.”
(The Shulammite Bride)
“I was a wall, and my breasts were like the towers.
Then I became in the king’s eyes
As one [to be respected and allowed] to find peace.
Song of Solomon 8:8-10, AMP
Beautiful woman of God, are you a door? No, you are a wall, a virtuous woman whose worth is far above rubies (Proverbs 31:10). And your walls are forever before the face of God (Isaiah 49:16).
What a Girl Wants
Valentine's Day Special
What a Girl Wants
Valentine's Day Special
With Valentine's Day around the corner, there's the constant reminder of the potential for having a special someone and having that desire met. But is that what our hearts really want? In this craft devotional, we have a look at our deepest desires and how God is focused on meeting them!
Covenant Child
The Story of Gomer
Covenant Child
The Story of Gomer
The book of Hosea highlights the story of the redeeming love of a husband for his wife. God gave a peculiar instruction to Hosea the Prophet to marry a prostitute - of all people! But Hosea heeded the Lord's voice and proceeded to marry her. Unfortunately, Gomer went back to her old ways, often seeking out other lovers for her needs. She gave herself away, but it was not without a cost. But even in such a scenario, God's mercy and goodness can drive the lost back to Himself:
She will chase after her lovers but not catch them;
she will look for them but not find them.
Then she will say,
‘I will go back to my husband as at first,
for then I was better off than now,’ (Hosea 2:7).
This story mirrors the relationship of God and His people - that despite our unfaithfulness, God remains faithful. He remains a steadfast Husband, staying true to His covenant, offering us a door of Hope in our Trouble and promising the gift of restoration, redemption and intimacy (Hosea 2:15). In Hosea Chapter 3, the Lord again instructs Hosea to reconcile with his wife. And Hosea obeys. Gomer is bought back at a price and a condition is set. She is reminded that she is not a lost woman or an orphan, but instead she is a covenant child:
Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you,” (Hosea 3:3).
Read this reflective devotional about returning to the Lord's love and affection.
Eve
EVE
A New Creation
EVE
A New Creation
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled - Matthew 5:6
Eve has a unique story to tell us about God's design for humanity. Being one of the final touches of God's creation, her story unfolds for us to discover our origin in God and how He is the Sustainer of our daily lives - our very existence. In this blog post, I unpack what fasting means and how Eve's story can lead us to ask God for what we need. Our hunger is not something to be despised. Instead it is an opportunity to receive God's blessing!
Hagar/Woman at the Well
El Roi - The God Who Sees Me
Hagar/Woman at the Well
El Roi - The God Who Sees Me
Like a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. - Song of Solomon 2:2
Our God is so great and wonderful. He's the Creator of our vast universe, yet He still makes time for us, and wants to spend time with us (Psalm 8:3-5).
Such was the case for Hagar and the woman at the well. They faced difficult circumstances in their lives. Hagar was a foreign slave girl in the house of Abraham and she was taken advantage of. After fleeing from her home, the Lord met her in the wilderness and encouraged her to return. He assured her that He could indeed see her and was not oblivious to her suffering (Genesis 16). The same could be said for the woman at the well: she was stuck in a cycle of failed relationships, but Jesus took the time to come and see her. The Bible records that, "He needed to go through Samaria," to meet her (John 4:4).
God sees the trouble we go through and He also sees our hearts. He is our Fighter in times of trouble, bringing justice, while He also comforts our hearts with His loving acceptance and nourishes our souls. By day or by night, He's the God who sees (Psalm 121).
El Roi - The God Who Sees Me
Poetry Collab
Poetry Collab
Have a look at this beautiful poem (based on the painting above) written and performed by Sylvestre Bimpe, called "Walking with El Roi":
It’s crazy to think just how much my creator watches over me the least of his wonders of creation
he leaves me a trail to follow in order guide me to his face, he establishes the footprints for me to stride on, to draw me closer to his presence
he strengthens my frail knees to climb the steep hills of life and every bolder meant to trample me he utilizes it as a stepping pillar to elevate me.
once i laid my eyes onto his goodness and my gaze fixed on his perfect love i no longer sought egress from the maze of life but just craved his omnipresence forevermore
to be honest I'm not so fond of trusting, yet i find myself walking blindfolded with his firm grasp upon my hand leading me while paving the path for me.
every stumble i face just elaborates his gentleness and compassion, with every fall he stretches out his hands helps me try again, with every hurdle, piece by piece, day by day he sculptures me into finer and purer art.
God’s goodness is so exquisite, out of it he lays me on the palm of his hand and tucks me in the realm of life while singing the utter psalm of his love as perfect soothing melody
now i leave us all with a question… if the world is as vastly as it is and he holds it in one hand, and as great as the earth is and it’s merely and a footstool under his foot why don’t we submit to his way and trust him?
-by Sylvestre Bimpe
Ask and it shall be given to you: In-Depth Study on God's Mercy
Ask and it shall be given to you: In-Depth Study on God's Mercy
In this In-Depth Study on the story of Esther, we inspect the mercy of God and how that invites us to approach God in His throne room to ask for what we need. It is this exact mercy that forms our foundation to ask for whatever we need! Grab your Bible and dive in deeper for a meditative and reflective study on God's mercy.
Book Review: Intimacy with the Almighty
Book Review: Intimacy with the Almighty
Seeking God requires a humble heart that can hear His voice. Often times, the hurriedness of life distracts us and steals time away from this meaningful venture to seek God's face. Charles Swindoll eloquently explains how any person can accomplish a satisfying and fulfilling relationship with God in our daily lives by seeking simplicity, silence, solitude and surrender. Read about Charles' book here.
Accepting Singleness:
Our Sexuality
Accepting Singleness:
Our Sexuality
The road to intimacy is a long and tough one. It involves opening yourself up, being vulnerable to the possibility of hurt and rejection. But praise God that He is a safe place where we can enjoy being heard and being seen. In a series of poems and a devotional, SEHLI opens up about this journey and the hope that she may fully experience God's redemptive work.
Dear Reader,
Dear Reader,
Are you struggling to believe that God provides for a need that you have?
Take the time to lean on God and meditate on His provision.
Read the following Scripture and hear what He’s saying to you today:
Psalm 23
Psalm 139:4
Matthew 6:7-8
Praise Song:
Chosen - Madison Ryann Ward
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