American Avocet
A sketched rendition of American Avocet, part of our Wall Art Collection. You’ll find a link to the right which takes you to this catalog to which images are being added.
“The Quad” — American Avocet (Logo will not be on finished print.)
Long-billed Dowitcher — “The Matched Pair”
Below you’ll find a sketch rendition of a pair of Long-billed Dowitchers. Breeding in western Alaska and northwestern Canada and wintering in the far south US, Mexico, and Guatemala, this quick little bird is a great one to watch.
This sketch rendition, as well as others, are available in the Wall Art link you’ll find to the right. This will take you to our Wall Art Catalog.
Long-billed Dowitcher Sketch (Logo will not be on finished print.)
Recent requests for “Wall Art” pieces are now being added to the website. You’ll find a link to the right which takes you to this catalog to which images will be added.
Our inaugural piece was a sketch rendition of a group of American Avocets headed in for a time of feeding. This sketch rendition, as well as these two new renditions, are available in the Wall Art link you’ll find to the right. This will take you to our Wall Art Catalog.
Presently added you’ll find a Color Rendition and a Partial Color Rendition options for different decors.
American Avocet Color Rendition (Logo will not be on finished print.)
American Avocet Partial Color Rendition (Logo will not be on finished print.)
Recent requests for “Wall Art” pieces are now being added to the website. You’ll find a link to the right which takes you to this catalog which will be added to regularly.
Our inaugural piece is a sketch rendition of a group of American Avocets headed in for a time of feeding. These are beautiful birds, sketch-rendered or in color (color will be added later).
American Avocet Sketch (Logo will not be on finished print.)
Promises, promises . . . oh how many times have we heard these words. Our human frailty to command even the next moment makes any promise questionable, regardless of the intent of our heart at that moment.
It’s not difficult to become discouraged because, by God’s Design, we’re to live in a secure place. Creation is destined for the fulness of God’s place of blessing and glory. While this Design was thwarted by deception and turning away from God, God hasn’t relented from his Design! Praised be the Lord!
There is a good lesson regarding promises in the life of Abram (later called Abraham). God made him a promise and he turned from everything he counted as a foundation (he lived in Ur of the Chaldees, a great metropolitan city). He followed God’s Word to him, living in a land filled with opposition and enemies.
God came to Abram in a vision (Gen 15.1ff) and confirmed to him that he need not fear for God would be his shield and reward. Abram had to be thinking “Promise” which was a “land,” a “seed” (i.e., descendants, a kingdom, and a king!), and a “blessing” which would be far greater than just for Abram! WoW!
And now the great theological term, “But”! God’s Promise hasn’t happened for some time. Legitimately so, Abram has some questions. Abram is childless! Sarai (later Sarah) is unable to bear children. It’s not looking good, at least from this place where Abram stands.
God affirms his Promise, even more detail than ever before. Abram will be a father of multitudes, and God says, “look at the stars and count them”!
Genesis now records one of the most important statements for Abram, for the Promise, and for us too. Genesis 15.6,
Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Now comes even more surprises as God expands this Promise. In days to come, Abram’s dependents will strangers is a foreign land, enslaved! And, God promises Abram’s descendants will return to God’s Promised Land. We might consider this information overload!
While we’ve just skimmed this powerful account in Genesis 15, there are some observations we can make from what Abram learned and we need to also learn.
Observation #1 — God’s Promise is greater than my perspective. I.e., God is doing more than I can grasp, yet he never does less than I can grasp. His Promise is sure. His ways are majestic. The world is in his control.
The Apostle Peter knows this truth, 2Pet 3.4, 9,
. . . “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” . . . The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Observation #2 — God’s Promise is met in faith. There is no other way to grasp it. We trust God to do what God Promises to do.
Faith is to agree, trust, rely with what God is doing. Now we can begin to see how “faith” is very close to “righteous” for it is in agreement with God. Abram believed in the Lord. “Faith” is the present assurance of things unseen, Heb 11.1. We live by faith because God “promised”!
Abram never came into all God promised. Was he disappointed? I don’t think so. He knew, as we’ve noted, God’s Promise is greater than our perspective and we grasp it in faith. Abram’s perspective is well stated by the writer of Hebrews in Heb 11.8-10,
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
We too presently live in a land that’s “alien” to God’s Design. God’s Promise is far greater than today’s perspective. And, like Abram, God’s Promise is greater than I’ve ever imagined.
We have an invitation to God’s Promise because God is gracious, “by grace you are saved” (Eph 2.8). We enter into God’s Promise by our faith (Eph 2.8). And, like Abram, we believe in the Lord!
God’s Promise brings a New Life, a life in agreement with God’s truth, i.e., “righteous.” Here, in our New Life, we trust God’s Promise and walk with him, and there is a coming Kingdom, more than our perspective has ever grasped!
Promises, promises! This is one you want to grasp in your faith in God’s Word declared to you.
Every seamstress, every contractor, every decorator can profit from a “pattern.” Patterns guide and get us to the place we want to be, be it the dress, the baby blanket, the building, or the beautiful room. Patterns are powerful and we can use them.
One of the dangers of chapters and verses in our Bible is we tend to read a verse or maybe two. If we compared this to the pattern, it makes this stitch, drives this nail, moves this chair over there . . . nice parts, but we’re still way off from what the pattern brings!
When we read the Word of God broadly, seeing the flow, there are powerful patterns. Here’s one to catch our eyes . . .
Let’s start with the building of the ark, Gen 6.13ff. We often get all caught up on the how long, how wide, details for certain, but . . . is there any pattern here?
The Pentateuch, Genesis to Deuteronomy, brings a powerful lesson when we read it broadly. There are three major construction projects, each significant it themselves, yet the combined “pattern” is what we want to see and learn.
Project one is Creation itself. God speaks, action unfolds, the instruction is carried out. This same flow also unfolds in the building of an ark, and the building of the tabernacle. Key is that each “project” concludes with God’s blessing, Gen 1.28; 9.1; Ex 39.43. It’s worth also noting that the second and third “project” end with a covenant with God!
So, what’s the “pattern” we learn from these three “projects” in God’s Word? It can’t be better stated that God himself says, Deut 30.2-3,
When you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul (i.e., your thoughts and lives) according to all that I command you today, then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you.
God hasn’t written to us just about “projects,” even great projects. He has written to us to build “patterns” for our lives so we find all his blessing!
Set God’s “pattern” for your life today! The writer of Proverbs put it this way, Prov 3:5–8,
Trust in the LORD with all your heart (Entirely!) And do not lean on your own understanding. (Extensively!)
In all your ways acknowledge Him (Extensively!), And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.
God’s “pattern” begins when you place your faith in Jesus. Read John 3.16 for it’s as clear of a word from God as you’ll ever get. With your faith in Jesus, the Apostle Paul writes about this “pattern,” Colossians 3:1–4,
Therefore if you have been raised up with the Messiah, keep seeking the things above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. When the Messiah, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
God and his Word are all about building his life, his life of blessing, in and through us as we bring glory to him! Set your “pattern” for your life today!
