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Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?”“Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36 Lord, Your Ways are Mysterious "God never condescends to make things very plain to His creatures. He always does what is right and just; and therefore, He wants His people always to believe by faith that He only does what is right and just. But if He showed them that He did so, there would be no room for their faith. Turn your eye along the page of history, and see how mysterious God’s dealings have been. Who would conceive that Joseph sold into Egypt would be the means of redeeming a whole people from famine? Who would suppose that when an enemy would invade the land, it would be the means of bringing glory to God? Who could imagine that a harlot’s blood should mingle with the genealogy from which came the great Messiah, the King of Israel? Who could have guessed much less could have understood the mighty plan of God? Providence has always been a hidden thing. 'Deep in unfathomable mines, of never failing skill, He treasures up His bright designs, And works his sovereign will.' - Lyrics by William Cowper And yet, beloved, you and I always want to know what God is doing. There is a great war taking place somewhere on the earth. We have experienced some great disasters, and we are reading the accounts in the news and saying, “What is God doing there?” What did He do in the last war? What was the benefit of it? We see that even Napoleon was the means of doing good, for he broke down the aristocracy and made all subsequent monarchs respect the power, and the rights of the people. We see what the result was even of that dreaded hurricane, that it swept away a pestilence which would have devoured many more than the storm did. But we ask, “What is God doing with this world?” We want to know what will be the consequences. Suppose we should humble Russia, where would it end? Can Turkey be maintained as a separate kingdom? And ten thousand other questions arise. Beloved, I always think of what the prophet Isaiah tells us in 45:9, that mankind is nothing but clay pots—and as a good old friend of mine says—let them crack themselves, too, if they like. We will not interfere. If the clay pots want to smash one another, well, then they must. We pray that our country may come off the safest of them all. But we are not much concerned to know the result. We believe that war, as well as everything else, will have a beneficial tendency. We cannot see in history that this world ever went a step backwards. God is ever moving it in its orbit; and it has always progressed even when it seemed to be moving backward." - Charles H Spurgeon Excerpt from "Do Not Fear Disasters" by Charles H Spurgeon Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You for the depth of Your riches and wisdom and knowledge. I praise You for Your unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways. I praise You for Your sovereign plan, even when it is difficult to accept or understand. All things are from You, through You, and to You. You are to be praised at all times for who You are. You are good, kind, patient, and rich in mercy, and Your plan is always a good plan. All the glory belongs to You forever. Lord, You Are in Complete Control There isn't a single disobedient molecule in the universe. Lord, You are in complete control over everything, including the uncontrollable wildfires in California. Lord, if it is Your will, I ask for You to have mercy on everyone. I ask that You calm the winds and send a heavy rain to extinguish all the fires. Please, Lord, send Your help quickly! Yet, not my will, but Your will be done, and may Your good purposes prevail. Lord, even amidst all this horror and destruction, You remain entirely in control and are perfectly just, good, and merciful...with Your plan always being a good plan. I praise You for Your sovereignty and for Your mysterious ways. Lord, You are Our Savior Lord, may these devastating fires serve as a great reminder that the only unshakeable foundation is Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. While this world and everything in it is like sinking sand, Jesus is The Cornerstone, our Rock, our Refuge, our Ever-Present Help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). May these fires remind us all, both rich and poor, that everything we own can be lost in an instant. That's why we all need Jesus to be our Savior. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, paying our debt in full, and in three days, He rose from the grave, ultimately triumphing over sin, Satan, and death. Jesus lives and reigns forever. He is eternal. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5), and He never changes (Heb 13:8). May our hope not be in this world but in the one to come. May we have the hope of Heaven, where Jesus is seated at Your Right Hand. Lord, I pray for the Gospel to Be Heard What Satan meant for evil, You mean for good (Gen 50:20). May these horrible fires be a catalyst for the gospel and that many come to a saving faith, in California and across our nation. Father, for those in California who have not yet put their faith in Jesus, I ask that You send my brothers and sisters to share the Gospel with them. And I ask that You protect, strengthen, comfort, and provide for Your children in doing so. I ask that You prepare people's broken hearts to receive the Good News of the Gospel and respond in faith. May the loss of their earthly possessions transform into the true hope of eternal riches—riches in Christ that could never be consumed by flames, looted, or stolen. Lord, I pray for You to Have Mercy Lord, I pray for You to have mercy on the people in California. I pray for all those experiencing immense loss, grief, and devastation to their homes, neighborhoods, businesses, and towns. I pray for the safety of all the brave firefighters, first responders, and all the people of California.  If it is Your will, I pray for there to be an end in sight and for final relief to come very soon. Finally, because of these wildfires and Your mysterious ways, I pray that You find all Your lost sheep and lose none of them. (John 6:39) Lord, this is Your will, and I pray for Your will to be done. All glory belongs to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I pray Amen. "The Gospel breaks hard hearts and heals broken hearts" Charles H Spurgeon The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:15-18 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.   For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.   And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.   For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:37-40 Mercy triumphs over judgment  (James 1:19).

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 Timothy 2:1 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control . 2 Timothy 1:7 True Confidence Confidence is a big topic these days. The world tells says to be confident, believe in yourself, and live boldly. Our society puts great emphasis on self-confidence and "thinking positive thoughts" about oneself. Does the Bible align with this "positive thinking" approach about self? If the Bible advocates for confidence, what or Who should we place our confidence in? For starters, the Bible tells us not to put our confidence in certain things. Scripture says, Have no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3). Paul wrote this to challenge those who believed they were acceptable to God due to their background, education, or religious zeal. God does not show favoritism (Acts 10:34), and our backgrounds and lineages hold little significance to Him. Next, Scripture says that a righteous person avoids evil, while a fool is reckless in his self-confidence (Proverbs 14:16). Essentially, believing that sin carries no consequences is an arrogant and foolish type of confidence. If we are to be confident in anything, Psalm 118:8, 9 tells us where it should be: It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.  Those who put their confidence in the government, other people, or themselves will ultimately be disappointed. On the other hand, those who put their confidence in the Lord will never be put to shame (Romans 10:11). Psalm 16 is a great example of confidence in God. David doesn't take any credit for his own righteousness, (v 2) talents, or abilities. Instead, he attributes every good thing to the Lord (v 6), and all his hopes are grounded in God's goodness and unchanging nature (v 1). Since Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), David can always walk with true confidence because his soul is eternally secure in the Lord (v 8-9), regardless of the many challenges he faces in life. He Works All Things Together... True confidence does not come from our own intelligence or abilities, nor does it come from our earthly status, finances, appearance, background, or achievements. These things are all gifts. They are given in certain measures, to certain people, at certain times, by God’s grace and for His glory, purposes, and for our benefit. Ultimately, true confidence comes from having a right relationship with God, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. When we first come to believe in Jesus, our lives take on a whole new sense of purpose, stability, focus, and confidence. Through faith, we surrender our lives to God in loving obedience, and our confidence now flows from Jesus being our Savior. Humility is key to experiencing true confidence. The biggest enemy of true confidence is pride and the focus of self. Humbly trusting the Lord dispels all pride, the fear of man, and self-doubt, defined here as  the state of uncertainty about the truth of anything . With pride being the root, all these sins become intertwined and feed off each other in a vicious cycle. When I am humble and trust in Jesus with childlike faith, I can confidently obey Him wherever He leads me. I can be confident in what He thinks of me rather than care about the opinions of others. I can be confident in knowing that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life because the Bible tells me so(John 14:6). Finally, I can be confident that Jesus knows what is best for me. He knows exactly what I need, when I need it, and in the right measure for me. I can be confident in all things because Scripture says,  God works all things together for good for those who love Him, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son,   (Romans 8:28-29). God works the good, the bad, and the ugly all together for my good. I can be confident that no matter what trials I face, rest assured, the Lord is conforming me into the image of Christ, the main goal and sum of the Christian life. As a believer, I can confidently depend on God's word, wisdom, and power. I can confidently trust His plan, even when it’s painful or I don't understand it. According to Scripture, nothing that the Lord allows to happen to me is truly bad since He works all things together for my good. That truth ought to give me great confidence in every trial that comes my way. He Who Began a Good Work in Me... Having a clear conscience also boosts my confidence, leaving me with nothing to hide or fear. I can live boldly when I turn away from sin and look to Jesus.  The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion  (Proverbs 28:1). True confidence comes from loving and obeying my Lord Jesus, in which He often blesses me in my obedience and also gives me assurance of my salvation (1 John 2:3). What greater confidence is there than to know I am eternally secure in Jesus? Knowing I get to live forever should give me immense confidence in everything in life!!! Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ  (Philippians 1:6). The Bible says that the Lord will complete in me the good work He began. Unlike myself, God always finishes what He starts. The Lord will work His divine grace in my heart to continue conforming me to the image of Jesus, and one day He will call me Home, where I will finally be like Jesus because I will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). To know the Holy Spirit is working in my heart every day ought to give me lots of confidence in everything I do! I have the Best Helper ever! Jesus is my Savior I can be confident in my Heavenly Father’s promises to me. I can be confident in His provision, protection, and plan, namely that He loved me and chose me before the foundation of the world to be saved and set apart (See Ephesians 1:3-14). In His glorious plan of redemption, the Father sent His Son Jesus into the world to save me from my sins and gift me with eternal life, by grace through faith. I can be confident in Jesus’ perfect life and finished work on the cross through His death and resurrection. I can be confident that Jesus is my Savior. I can be confident that Jesus paid my debt for me. I can be confident that all my sins are forgiven, and I am clothed in Jesus' perfect robe of righteousness. I can be confident that eternal life is a free gift, and Jesus gave it to me. Furthermore, I can be confident knowing that Jesus never changes. He will always be with me (Matthew 28:20). He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). He will never cast me out (John 6:37). And no one can snatch me out of His hand (John 10:28). Now that kind of confidence ought to flow from everything I do in life! True confidence comes from knowing that Jesus is my Savior. I shouldn’t ever put my confidence in myself or in the abilities God has gifted me with. Rather, I will have true confidence in Jesus, who created me, died for me, called me, saved me, keeps me, helps me, knows what's best for me, and one day will call me Home to live and reign with Him forever in perfect joy, peace, and love. True Confidence My confidence is not in myself. My confidence is this: I am saved by grace. I am in Christ. All my sins are forgiven. I have eternal life. I am confident because Jesus is changing me to become more like Him every single day. I belong not just anywhere; I belong to Jesus who is my Creator & Lord of Heaven and Earth. I am confident because Jesus is my Savior. Jesus loves me. My confidence is in Him. All glory belongs to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure (confident!) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,   nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 (emphasis added) God is within her, she will not be shaken; God will help her when morning dawns. Psalm 46:5

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (I recommend listening to this song while reading this post) Who I am Not My identity is not in the temporary. My identity is not in my career, in degrees, titles, or achievements, or in my talents and skills. My identity is not in my marital, economic, or social status. My identity is not how I look, how I talk, or how old I am. My identity is not where I’m from, where I live, what I drive, or how much stuff I own. My identity is not my personal preferences, quirks, habits, or behavior. These things are temporary. They are given to me along with the fleeting time I have on this Earth . They are given to me as gifts to be thankful for. They are given to me so that I may turn to God in faith. They are given to me to use as a good steward and to the glory of God. These things are given to me, but these things are not who I am. All these things can shift, change, or be taken away at any moment, and they are all passing away in the next 50 or 60 years at best. Who I am My identity is in the eternal.  I believe in Jesus. I am saved by grace.  I am in Christ. My identity and value are found in Jesus. Jesus is Lord of Heaven and Earth, and He is my Savior. Jesus never changes. He will never be taken away. He always has been. He always will be. Jesus is eternal. Jesus is the One and Only, “I AM.”   (John 6:35, 8:12, 10:9,11, 11:25-26, 14:6, 15:5, 8:58). Jesus will always be with me, and I will always be in Him. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8). I am not my own. I was bought with a price. ( 1 Cor 6:19-20) My identity is in my Creator, Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am in Christ. I am a believer. I am a follower and disciple of Jesus. I am a child of God. I am saved by grace. That’s who I am, and it’s only because of Jesus I am who I am. Therefore, the only thing I could ever boast in is in the Lord and His amazing grace (1 Cor 1:31). Dear Heavenly Father , I praise You for loving me and choosing me before the foundation of the world, that my name is written in Your Lamb’s Book of Life. I praise You for sending Your beloved Son Jesus to suffer and die on the cross for the multitude of my flagrant and secret sins, past, present, and future. Jesus paid my tremendous debt for me. Jesus saved me from an eternity in hell where I would’ve had to pay for my sins myself, justly. But God had mercy on me. Jesus loved me so much that He died on the cross to save me from my sins. In three days, Jesus rose again from the dead, and He valiantly triumphed over sin, Satan, and death. Oh death where is your sting? Oh death where is your victory?..But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:55-57). Jesus Christ is Lord over everything, including death itself. Jesus is the Light of the world, and whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12). I am eternally free and secure because I am saved by grace. I am saved by the blood of Jesus. I am in Christ. I am who I am for all eternity only because of Jesus. He is my Creator, Lord of my life, and Savior of my soul. An eternity of love, joy, peace, purpose, and new discovery awaits me because I am in Christ. I am saved by His grace alone. The best is always yet to come because I am who I am. I am in Christ. All glory belongs to my Great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. In Jesus’ name, I pray amen.   But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31 The world is passing away and also its desires; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever. 2 John 5:17 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” John 8:58

Artist Statement "Once, Picasso was asked what his paintings meant. He said, 'Do you ever know what the birds are sing ing? You don't, but you listen to them anyway. So, sometimes with art, it's important just to look.'" - Picasso. And I say wh en you see Scripture , it's important to listen and just believe. In creating my art, I have one great purpose - to tell others about Jesus and proclaim the greatest news that could ever pass through anyone's ears: the Gospel. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead, ultimately defeating death. So now there is no condemnation for those who believe in Him, but only eternal life and eternal joy. Wherever my art is, there will be Scripture also. My art is simply a vehicle for The Truth. The Lord gave me the gift to be an artist, and I want to share His Word and glorify Him through the talents He's given me and the desires He's placed in my heart (Psalm 37:4). I love drawing God’s creatures, especially His fine and delicate work of butterflies and cute little bugs. I love pairing the power of God’s Word with some of His smallest, weakest, and most humble creatures in the universe, for God's power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and humility is the foundation of all virtues. Humility is at the heart of Christianity from which all other virtues flow. True love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are all products of humility. My hope is that when You look at my art, You read the Scripture. I pray that it plants a seed of truth in your heart that grows by God’s grace. I am not religious. I am saved by grace. My faith in Jesus is a gift. Love, Jenna Art Writing Music This photo was taken at my inaugural show at North Central College. That's my brother, Matthew in the background :). My ministry starts at home and spreads out into the community. Title "Ephesians 2:8-10. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

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Artist Collections View Jenna's collections of butterflies and bugs. “Take time to look” – Georgia O’Keefe Graphite Butterflies Hand-Coloured Butterflies Graphite Bugs Hand-Coloured Bugs Graphite Monarch Series Hand-Coloured Monarch Series