Brides
It has truly been a profound joy to journey alongside the Father, guided by the gift He has given me to craft images that beautifully capture His magnificent bride. Witnessing the deep heart connections forged through these artistic expressions has been a truly awe-inspiring experience. Among our vast collection, I've observed a fascinating trend emerge - the images in which the bride's face is obscured or covered tend to resonate more powerfully with our audience. This intriguing preference seems to stem from the profound ability of such depictions to invite each viewer to envision themselves stepping into the sacred role of the cherished bride of Christ, fostering a profound sense of personal connection and reflection within the hearts of many.
“…that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
– Ephesians 5:27 (New King James Version)
“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ ”
– Revelation 22:17 (New King James Version)
This image, Awaiting the King, was our first breakthrough image concerning the bride. As you can see, she is in a majestic hall with the Lion of Judah, her bridegroom, waiting at the end of the hallway. She has been baptized in glory and prepared herself as she is awaiting the King.
This image was first displayed at the End Time Handmaidens world convention in St. Louis, MO in 2010. My, my – what an impact it made! The comments were overwhelming. I had flooded the hall with water, but didn’t yet know what the water represented. That evening, the End Time Handmaidens began to sing during worship, “The bride has made herself ready and been baptized in the glory.” It was then that I knew why Father had instructed me to flood the hall with water.
Unknowingly, on the exact day two years after I’d created Awaiting the King, I went to my computer and after a wonderful creative morning, this image, Arrival, was birthed. it depicts how much closer the bride had moved in that time span. The King was no longer waiting at the end of the hall, He was in the room, breathing His hot breath on the beloved bride. In fact, I initially thought about titling the image A Breath Away to emphasize the closeness between the King and the bride. I was amazed at how the Spirit had moved through the creativity of that wonderful, beautiful morning.
I have had numerous requests to create an image of a bride wearing combat boots, signifying that she is prepared for war; it’s an image that I had wanted to depict for years. After many (failed) attempts, there was another creative morning that came when Father blessed me with this beautiful image, Warring Bride. I have created it in two variants: light- and dark-skinned, as we do many of our images. Whether the warrior themselves be dark- or light-skinned, they are depicted in glory and honor. From one blood Father made every nation of men to dwell on the face of the earth.
The verse on her scabbard is Ephesians 5:27 (quoted above), describing that the bride has been made ready without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. It is a powerful reminder of our constant growth in the beauty and holiness of the Lord.
I suppose that pieces of art are kind of like children – you love each one for different reasons. However, there are just some for which you hold a special affinity. To me, this image, Rescued, is one that touches my heart deeply. This bride has been through much and wouldn’t even consider herself worthy of being a bride for so great a Bridegroom.
She has just been baptized in the blood of the Lamb that washes white as snow. She is lost in His gaze as He sees the depth of the beauty of who He always knew she was. He believed in her in her darkest hours. If you look on her dress, the bride comes from every tribe, tongue, and nation in the earth. What a glorious Savior we serve! I myself am eternally grateful to be among the rescued!
This image, Song of the Bride, is another of my favorites (hah!). To me, the whole image resonates with a sense of divine purity. The sheer magnificence of the bride seated at the exquisite piano, enveloped in worship, as Holy Spirit hovers above her, is simply awe-inspiring. Her melodic serenade on the crystal sea, as described in Revelation 4, creates a bridge between the earthly and heavenly realms. Holy Spirit, through her worship, is unveiling the splendor and majesty of the celestial dimensions that stand vividly in the background. This portrayal not only captures a moment of profound intimacy and devotion but also hints at the profound spiritual connection between the worshipper and the divine.
It has always been about the Divine Romance, a sacred dance unfolding through the ages between the Father and His beloved creation. In His heart, He holds a deep longing for love and family, intricately weaving His divine design of family and marriage into the tapestry of existence. As the world turns in rhythm with His divine plan, every moment resonates with the anticipation of the grand culmination at the wedding supper of the Lamb. This celestial union symbolizes the eternal bond between the Father and His children, embodied by the tender and adoring bride, poised on the threshold of eternity.
The scene unfolds with the bride and her beloved Bridegroom standing together on a magnificent staircase, a portal of radiant glory shimmering before them. Through this portal flows the essence of His pure covenant, painting the air with hues of everlasting love and commitment. Beyond this threshold lies the eternal expanse, where the divine romance between the Father and His beloved children will flourish in perpetuity, a testament to the enduring power of His love and the beauty of His design. In this moment, the essence of eternity mingles with the present reality, whispering of a love so profound that it transcends time and space, enveloping all in its tender embrace.