Celebrating 8 years & Celebrating Our Journey Through Isaiah at Grace

Last weekend JM and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary by going on a little getaway . The last time we went away over night I was 7 months pregnant with Jude. It was time! He took me to a quaint little B&B in Santa Monica called The Channel Road Inn. It was so quaint and homey. We enjoyed going out to eat at some of our favorite Vegan and Healthy restaurants like Real Food Daily and Urth Caffe in Santa Monica as well.  On Sunday we headed over to the Getty Villa in Malibu. It's been years since I've gone. It's well worth a visit if you can make the trip up. Gorgeous architecture, gardens and ancient art.

Channel Road Inn

                                                          
                                                                  Getty Villa

We got home just in time on Sunday to make it to our Isaiah Celebration at church. We spent about 2 years in the book of Isaiah. To celebrate the completion of Isaiah we had a concert and art gallery showing at our church. The talented adult musicians played a beautiful piece that evening. You can watch a video of that here. Before the adults performed the young musicians or "kids"of Grace as we call them, played a piece. This was Gabriella's first time playing in an orchestra. She really enjoyed this! Mommy helped out by keeping time and pointing to the notes.  

Untitled from JMAD Warkentin on Vimeo.



After all the performances we walked into our old sanctuary where 66 art pieces were displayed depicting every chapter of Isaiah. JM participated and randomly selected Chapter 28. You can see a close up here. He stayed up so late completing these pieces. Originally I had told him I would help him with the piece...I sort of pressured him into doing this and told him "Com'on,we can do it together!"....but then later I said "Wait, I can't paint, I'm pregs and can't be smelling paint fumes..." He was on his own.  I helped with some of the etching of the letters but he did 99.5% of it all. He did a wonderful job even though he'll tell you he's not a painted but a designer. I think it turned out really well. If you're interested, read his thoughts behind the art in light of Isaiah 28.

Here is his artist statement


Pride - Isaiah 28
By: John-Mark Warkentin

when you get pride wrong... The specific message to the people of Israel was the rebuke of pride built up in itself. Their pride led them toward a sense of false security in alliances with other nations and not their God. Severe judgment would come upon them and Isaiah used many metaphors such as torrential rains, mighty hail storms, and a fading flower to bring home this message with power. The general message to all the people of God over history is a reminder of God's sovereignty and jealous zeal for the praise of and dependency upon His name. Continued rejection of our creator will result in our separation from God, a loss of His favor upon us, and ultimately our damnation to hell. when you get pride right... The specific message to the people of Israel was that the remnant of His people, post judgment, would see the Lord of Heaven's Armies, a glorious crown, as their pride and joy. The general message to all the people of God over history is that those who believe in Him need never be shaken. Pride is good. The object of our pride, however, is what's being challenged in this passage. God is a sovereign creator who "stretches out the heavens like a canopy" (Isaiah 40). He is to be the object of all our affection.