Rejoice In The River by Jennifer Phillips
2014
There are many ways and different words we can use to convey the concept of how wonderful life in Jesus is. There are many ways of encouraging one another to be glad in Jesus. Art is one way. I have been exhibiting my art works at Church and writing down the message behind the art. The message is printed in the church newsletter.
Recently I felt it was time to change the art work I was exhibiting in church so I asked God what image I should create. Immediately an image of music and dancing came into my mind and the song by Vineyard, "Down the mountain the river flows ... The river of God sets my feet a dancing ..." So I made an art work on that theme using part of another earlier art work called, "Let the rivers clap their hands."
I gave the art work the title "Rejoice in the river." The river is the life that Jesus said would flow from those who believe in Him. The life is His own Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who baptized us into one body and from whom we drink. We are encouraged to live in the Spirit, live in the river of God, which is how we keep in step with Jesus. It is more than "following." Our concept of "following" doesn't really capture what it means to be a Christian. We don't "follow" in the sense of "from a distance," but God is now not only with us, but also in us. He wants the closest relationship with us that is possible.
When I told our minister about this art work, he said that was his favourite song.
The following scriptures are among many that I meditated upon as I made the art. They informed my theology:
John 7:37-38, Psalm 98:7- 9, Acts 17:28, John 15:3-5, Galatians 5:25, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Psalm 46:4, Psalm 149:1-3