"The Door"

6" X 6" Oil on Raymar Canvas Panel

SOLD

We watched as Lane slowly and methodically got out of the Rescue Mission (homeless shelter) van.  Like a well-oiled machine, he began navigating his way up the long sidewalk to the church doors.  With each step, his crutches propelled his body forward as he drug both legs behind.   Our emotions surged with compassion and wonderment.  I thought of the numerous times that it just wasn’t all that “convenient” to go to church - the weather was bad, or I was too tired, or I needed to sleep in, or I didn’t have anything to wear, or my back hurt .....  Until now, I had thought our “greeting” job wasn’t really very important.  
Once inside, Lane stopped to re-cupe right behind my door.  I asked him if he needed some help and he promptly told me that he had it covered and the “GPS on his crutches would tell him where he needed to go.”

I decided that personally welcoming him took precedence over the proper manning of my door.  (Besides, my husband was still working his post.) 
       I said, "So, have you been here before?"
       He said,  “No, I don't go to church.  But for the past two years, it’s just basically been me
             and God."
       I said, “It sounds like you know Him pretty well.”  
       He said . “Yeah, I've been through a lot, but I can’t quote chapter/verse.”
       I said,  “That’s okay - that's not what it’s all about anyway.”   

This man had a history with God.  As we continued to talk, I learned more about him, and his situation.  He came into our building with needs that evening.  I wish I could tell you this story ends with,  “So, I took him over to the side – we sat down on the bench, and I prayed with him – for a job, for housing, for God’s love and blessing, for healing …..”

But, I didn’t.  I told him I would pray for him - which I did - and still do.  Wish I had a do-over.

Lane essentially knocked on the door of our church that day.  I, like you, wonder if his life changed that evening – by the message he heard, a song that was sung, a person he sat next to, or maybe he even met someone who helped him find a job, or was healed from his bitterness.   I wonder, too, if I had been obedient, how it may have changed my life.  

Opening a “door” for someone may change their world. 
Walking through that door with them may also change yours. 

(South of France reference photo compliments of Anne Heinrich.)

"An Angel"

6" X 6" Oil on Raymar Canvas Panel

NFS

The bible tells us that angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14).  So it’s easy to see how “angel” transitions into our every day language.  Who are the people that have truly blessed you in your life – who have been there for you in a time of need, who have anonymously acted in love, who have adorned you with unsolicited encouragement?

Recently, I attended the funeral prayer service of a friend’s mother – Bev.  I didn’t know her well personally, but certainly knew her through my friend and her sister.  When I would see her, she always preceded her words with her warm, genuine smile, and somehow wasted no time in making me feel comfortable, even if that meant her being uncomfortable.  What I remember most about her, though, is how she always made me feel special.  In her presence, surely I wore a tiara.

When it came time for family members and friends to share their thoughts at the prayer service, I listened as, one by one, each person related their favorite things about Bev – from funny stories to sentimental moments.  It wasn’t long before I realized the common thread amongst those whose lives she touched.  She made each one of us feel special in her own way – because we were special to her.  (And I thought it was just me!)

I think that is a gift – God’s gift to her that she then extended to many others.  What a testimony to her life.  The service was a beautiful celebration of a devoted wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, great-grandmother, (add the many other roles she played), who is greatly missed. 

An Angel.

This painting is in honor of Beverly Schapker.

RED HOUSE GALLERY

Presents"

AWARENESS

Paintings by Deborah Murray

& Select Artwork of Patrick Murray

 Wine & Cheese Reception, Saturday, November 19, 4-8 P.M.

New Harmony Art and Antiques Stroll

RED HOUSE GALLERY

618 Main Street

New Harmony, Indiana

"Meet Me at 7?"

12" X 12" Oil on Raymar Panel, Framed

Sold

Available at Basketkases Gift Shoppe

2009 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN 47714

(812) 491-9799

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."
Helen Keller

                                                                                             

Red House Gallery Exhibit

Looking for something to do this weekend?  Historic New Harmony (Indiana) is hosting a Kunstfest this Saturday, Sept. 17, 10 AM - 6 PM, and Sunday, Sept. 18th, from 10 AM - 4 PM!  I have the privilege of exhibiting a collection of my paintings at the Red House Gallery on Main Street.  Also in the display will be the art of gallery owner, Patrick Murray.

There will be entertainment and german food, as well as pottery, black smithing, spinning, and weaving demonstrations, wagon rides and wine tasting!  All the antique shops, gifts shops, and art galleries will be open as well!

It looks like it will be a beautiful weekend - come on out and enjoy!!

P.S.  Also a reminder that the two paintings I have on display at the Evansville Museum will remain in the exhibit until the end of next week.

"Talk of the Town"

"Talk of the Town"

6" X 6" Oil on Raymar Panel

NFS

Nestled on the corner of Edgar and Louisiana Streets in the near downtown area of Evansville, Indiana, is our favorite Friday night dining establishment – Talk of the Town Pizza Bar.  Patronized consistently by neighborhood residents, people from all areas of town also flood its intimate interior for lunch and dinner, and to visit with Suzanne and R.J., the bar’s owners and operators.

Suzanne and R.J. opened Talk of the Town in 2003, and continue to reside in the upstairs apartment.  Sporting an always clean and tidy appearance, the bar’s décor is classically nostalgic:  dark green and white checked linoleum floor, black and white tiled ceiling, neon signs, and photos and posters of yore on the walls, with nary an open spot. There’s a total of a whopping four booths, one of which is considered “the family room”!  The bar accommodates 12 customers on padded bar stools, 2 of which are in ……”the family room”.

R.J. can routinely be seen in his chef’s hat, lost in his blues music as he diligently performs his accomplished art of making delectable pizzas, sandwiches, and the best salads on earth!  And then there’s R.J.’s counterpart, Suzanne, who, no matter how busy, with boundless energy frequently single-handedly services the entire restaurant, serving as hostess, bartender, waitress, bus girl, cleaning lady, dishwasher, phone operator, sous chef, etc., all with an admirable work ethic and cheerful countenance.

As we enter, oftentimes, R.J. begins making our salad “our way”, and Suzanne pours our drinks without needing to take our order. If we call in a carryout order, she wants to know why we’re not coming in.  If we don’t show up for several weeks, she lets us know we were missed. 

We don’t know their last name; they don’t know our first names.  (I’m the “Friday night redhead!)  Nevertheless, we exchange some type of personal information almost each and every time we visit – i.e., kids, vacations, births, deaths, illness, relationship issues, and even church.  They are our friends, and friends to many who enter.  Talk of the Town is more than a pizza bar that serves food that rivals none!  I guess you could say that it’s just a place that satisfies – in a lot of ways.

How did we find this cozy little joint that some have coined as “Evansville’s best kept secret”?  Well, after all, it IS the “Talk of the Town”!

"Waiting"

  "Waiting"

6" X 6" Original Oil on Canvas Raymar Panel

Available at Basketkases Gift Shoppe

2009 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN 47714

(812) 491-9799

One of the real physical needs of the Massai tribe in the sub-sarahan region of Kenya  is a clean water source.   The people in the villages do not have a water spigot to fill up their coffee pot, wash their dishes, or even take a shower.  They must work, and work hard, for water for their families.  I am told that one of the best avenues for water accessibility is “the water pan”.  It is basically a large basin of land, secured by dams.  This water is used by anyone or any”thing”  (think four legs here!) that might roam along and need to drink,……or take a bath and cool off.  Obviously, it must be purified.

On the recent trip to Kenya by Crossroads Christian Church missionaries, the water dam had broken and communities were in great need.  The pastoral team agreed to meet some of the men in charge at 9 A.M. at the site to pray, evaluate, and hopefully help with a solution.    For reasons beyond their control, they did not arrive until 5 P.M.   The pastoral team assumed the men would be long gone, as by American standards, we don’t typically wait too long for anything!   As they neared the area, they could see the gentlemen still waiting for them, trusting that God would provide and the American Christians would be faithful to their word.  (And may I remind you they weren’t waiting in an overstuffed easy chair in an air-conditioned family room watching a nice, large remote-controlled flat screen cable TV.  This area is essentially desert!)

Fortunately, I can report there is a happy ending to this story.  There had been a dozer in the area for another reason.  Financial support had run out and, as the dozer began driving away, God made His appearance.  The team had just received clearance from Crossroads Church that they would fund the repair of the water pan with dollars set aside for missions.   The dozer turned around and headed back for the reconstruction. 

Timing can be everything - the “right people” were in the “right place”, at the “right time”………”for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14).

As a speaker at Africa Reflections, Dr. Matt Vassey, a busy Evansville surgeon and pastoral team member, shared his personal response to the Massai waiting for them for 8 hours.  Balancing career, family, and personal interests in a God-honoring way, he told of instances where he doesn’t wait.   His story was applicable and convicting to all who heard.  We start losing our otherwise sweet dispositions when we have to wait for our computer to boot up, wait in line at the fast-food drive-thru, sit in traffic, or stand in line at the grocery when we could so be doing more important things.  We even begin to push the panic button when waiting for such things as enlistment orders, a future spouse, the birth of a baby in a difficult pregnancy, or the results of medical tests.

That same impatient attitude spills over to our spiritual lives.  When God doesn’t answer our prayers in our time, and our way, we tend to act in a host of futile ways: we may take matters in our own hands, let fear overtake us, or even lose faith.

At a recent family reunion, I have to admit I stalked the little girl in the painting.   (I’m sure her mother told her to stay away from people like me!)  As I observed her in hopes of a Kodak moment, she picked up her chair (with umbrella attached) and moved it to various places with an assortment of views and angles, but she always stayed in a position to see her uncle.    See - she was looking for just the right place to wait.   There were a lot of cousins that day who wanted to catch a fish, and just one uncle with one fishing pole.  While others hung out anxiously near the shoreline for their turns, she chose to wait patiently and comfortably, protected from the “heat”, with her eyes on her uncle…….…because he was the one with the “power”.

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

in His Word, I put my hope.”

Psalm 130:5