On Sunday i got a chance to paint during the worship time at church. The Lord had
showed me a picture in my mind of a painting so I did it asking for the meaning as I was painting it. It turned out to be a double whammy meaning. The first meaning was in the title “Under the shelter of his wings” and under that the background representes the stuff of life, our trials and tribulations, our hurts etc. But if we come to him the Lord will draw us into his shelter and hold us close to him restoring and refreshing, healing and strengthening us.

The second meaning is that the painting represents the Maori feather cloak which is worn on important occassions and is a sign of respect and authority. It is a great honour to be given one of these to wear and I felt the Lord speak to me of the honour he has bestowed upon the Maori people and the respect he has for many aspects of their culture like their understanding of family. I felt like the Lord was bestowing a fresh understanding that in his eyes he sees a people that will release an understanding of his love, respect and honour in a way that brings fresh understanding to those words. I was wrapt when he said that as those things are something many Maori struggle with, they believe they are not loved, respected or honoured, they see themselves as being treated as second class citizens in many ways yet that is not how the Lord sees them and not how anyone else should either. In the days ahead I belive the Maoi people will be an example of love and honour that will ignite many hearts to see and accept people in a new way.