FAITH IN WAITING

The Waiting - by Mike O’Donnell​

(It is not necessary to have art that is specifically “sacred”, since God can speak through any artwork. The artwork may be a painting, sculpture, photography or an actual scene in front of you. Remember, your goal is to find a quiet place to create stillness allow space to hear the “still small voice” of God.)


Find a quiet place where you wont be distracted. You will find that journaling your response to the Visio Divina prompts will deepen your experience-
so grab a journal or a pen and some paper for this exercise. To further enhance the contemplative experience, you might play soft music and/or light a candle.

* Take a few moments to sit in stillness and openness before God.
​ * When you feel ready, ask God to help you see what he wants you to see or what he wants you to notice.
* Look at the painting. What are your first impressions? What thoughts, feeling or reactions do you have to the painting?
(Remember, there is no right or wrong way to do this, just observe what moves you and what you notice in yourself as you look at the painting)
* Allow yourself to linger where you find interest or where you feel discomfort.
What draws you in or bothers you about these areas of the painting?
* Notice the lines, shapes, colors and movement in the work. What do each of theses elements suggest to you?
* Allow any thoughts, emotions or feelings to surface as you view the painting and ask God what he has for you in them.
* Now close your eyes and imagine the painting in your mind. What stands out to you with your eyes closed? Do you notice anything new or different?
Are there any new thoughts, feelings or impressions you encounter with your eyes closed?
* Open your eyes and journal what you discovered with your eyes closed.
* How does this painting speak to you about waiting?
* Take some time to read over what you received from this practice. What awareness you might take from this time of prayer.
How was God present to you in this time?
Journal anything that seems relevant or​ if nothing seems significant ask God to continue revelation in the future.



Mike O'Donnell is a teacher, author and artist. He leads workshops and retreats to help people make sense of the chaos of their story and discover where
God is leading them to create life to the full. Find out more at polishingcopper.com
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Meditation on Faith
by Leanne O’Donnell

"Now faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists
and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him".
Hebrews 11:1 & 6 -NIV

​ “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel ,and with the trumpet call of God.
First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the
earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
So encourage each other with these words.”
I Thes.4:16-18

Abraham received a promise from God that He would be the father of many nations when he didn’t have a child. He was 75 years old! It seemed impossible. It took 25 years of waiting on God for that one child. He knew his body was “as good as dead,” but he never stopped believing that God was faithful and would fulfill His promise. Abraham’s son, Isaac, would have a son, Jacob, who with his 12 sons would become the nation of Israel and lead to the salvation of the world through Jesus. Abraham indeed became the father of many nations! Romans 4:17 says, “This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.” Basically, Abraham believed that God could do the impossible. He didn’t let the complexity of the promise get in the way of his faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Abraham made many big mistakes, but it wasn’t his actions that God looked at, but his faith. God was pleased with Abraham because of his faith. While Abraham waited 25 years for an impossible promise, He continued to trust God.

Advent season is to celebrate the coming of Christ, both the first coming when he was born as a human and the second coming when He returns in power to set up His Kingdom on the earth. Jesus made it clear that He would be coming a second time (John 14:1-3). His return is referenced in nearly every book of the New Testament. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this advent, let’s rejoice in the hope of His return! Paul calls the second coming the “blessed hope” in Titus 2:13, and tells us to encourage one another with these words (1Thes.4:18).

The church has been waiting nearly 2000 years for this promise to be fulfilled. It’s been a long time, so it’s difficult to understand what this will look like or how to find hope in it. But the truth remains that Jesus will be returning. In this crazy, messed up world, He will at some point set things right once and for all.
Peter assures us that God is patient so that no one will perish (2 Peter 3:9). Isaiah 55 reminds us that God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are greater than our thoughts, so we must choose to trust Him especially when His promise seems impossible.

We have a God who brings the dead back to life and who created new things out of nothing! God has a history of keeping His promises. We see it over and over throughout Scripture. Let’s be faithful like Abraham and choose to wait faithfully for Jesus’ return and encourage one another with this promise.

Think of a time in your life when you’ve clung to one of God’s promise when it seemed impossible?
Take time to ask God what Jesus’s return means for your life and for the church.
How can this give you hope?
Consider how you could hold this hope in your life during this advent season.


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Leanne O’Donnell is passionate about sharing the word of God. She’s a writer, spiritual director, wedding coordinator, and office manage to make sure life stays interesting.
​She wrote the book Encounter: Experience God's Outrageous Love, which is a compilation of spiritual exercises that allow the reader to engage God in powerful ways.
You can see her work on her website, https://leanneodonnellbooks.com, on Facebook and Instagram @leanneodonnellwriter


All works in this series are the private property of the artist or writer.
All work in the series "2021 Advent Artist Series" is copyrighted by Art and Soul Ministries.​