Psalm 139:13-16

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” NIV

In January 2004 I had just completed a project and had prayed and asked God what He would have me do next. A short time later I was looking at Focus on the Family’s web site. In the upper right hand corner there was a “counter” where the numbers roll over like on the old gas pumps. Along with it there was the statement that every 37* seconds a baby in America dies from abortion. As I saw this it “wrecked” me. I just began to cry. I knew, this is what my next project was to be about. I was inspired with an image and idea but trying to create it was such a struggle I eventually quit work on it. In the fall of 2006 I felt God directing me to return to it. I laid the original attempt out and prayed for knowledge as to how to do it. God did not let me down. The main concept stayed the same but the idea of the womb as the earth was totally new. Those who want to continue in this horrific practice of killing the unborn say that it is about a choice. Ephesians 1:3-4 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Not only did He create us but He chose us! Every human created has purpose and a destiny! There is no adequate way to imply the vast void in our world due to their demise. Did they have the smile that would have warmed your day? Were they the ones to discover the cure for …(fill in the blank)… that would have kept a loved one from too quickly passing away?

*In 2003 848,163 abortions were reported. Since 1973 when abortion was legalized there have been over 48 million babies who were never allowed to live out their life. http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/facts/abortionstats.html

Jesus always stands ready to forgive and heal those who come to Him in repentance. Turn to Him!!!

The colors took on an “African” feel as I was looking forward to my 4th mission trip to Mozambique.

When I finished this painting I felt that it not only gave witness to the value of the life of the unborn but that it was also a “visual” of the ministry God is calling me to - a “Labor of Love for the Nations”