Indigenous 2

Mexican indigenous culture presents a power struggle of strength and weakness of the Gods. However, there is also a need for balance. This is my interpretation of the power struggle between God and man when it comes to subjection, submission, and humbleness under Him. The Yellow-Orange represents God, the Blue represents men and women alike.

July 30, 2011.  It has been a few days since I last heard from God.  For a while, I was overfilled with joy.  Now, it is a matter of waiting.  As I have waited, I have worked on and finished another painting.  For this work, I invested time in studying designs for what I desired to do.  I have made some prep-work and begun.  Day by day I worked in phases and made corrections as needed.  Through the process, I could not help to wonder if perhaps this was a similar manner in which God shapes a person's life on a daily basis.  The act of being attentive to detail, adjusting here and there as needed.  That act of moving back and forth as reshaping adjustments are made.  In the end, He may stand back and admire His work.  Then allowing His creation to take life as He set His mind towards the purpose of His work.

In this painting, there is a half-sun and a half-moon.  In indigenous Mexican cultures, the sun often was portrayed as a dominant entity, a strong God.  Consequently, the moon was seen as a weaker entity, but still a God.  Even though the sun was seen as a dominant entity, there was still a belief that a need for balance and submission must be met. 

In the scriptures, there is a presentation of strength and weakness between God and mankind.  In 2 Corinthians 12:9 it is spoken unto Paul - "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  What I draw from this is simple but profound.  I must set aside all of the skills and abilities that I may hold, including my advanced education.  In doing so, I present myself as an open vessel unto God which He can refine in order to accomplish His work and purposes.  This is a desire that He holds for all of His children.  

In James 4:7, we can read about submitting to God and drawing "near to God and He will draw near to you."  In a latter verse, we can read about being humble ... "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." (James 4:10).  Mankind is bound by many things such as pride, prestige and the subjection of others under them.  It is something that is often encouraged and viewed as a sign of success in many cultures.  However, God desires a person's subjection under Him.  As a person draws near to God, He works on the person and allows a relationship to develop with love and trust.  It is through this process, that the desires of personal grandeur diminish, and a joy of being under the subjection of God Almighty begins to arise.  Additionally, God uses this submission and humbleness as a subjection which He may use to express His work through the individual as well as unto others.  

In closing, John 3:30 states that "He must increase, but I must decrease."  It is my understanding, that I must get out of the way, but aside from all things, I must set aside my human abilities, and become almost nothing under His subjection.  As I grow in my spiritual walk with God, His purpose and will for how to use me for His work will be unraveled.  - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."  Proverbs 3:5-6.  This is the hardest thing a person can do, but it is the most rewarding choice a person can ever make in a lifetime.