Meaning
It was fragrant,
With the soft touches of pine,
And the velvetiness of petals.
It had the richness of amber,
And the depth of black licorice.
The most extravagant of perfumes
Could never smell so sweet.
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I let it blow through my hair.
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Where was it going?
There was purpose in the way it blew,
And it wasn’t going to be swayed.
It went where it pleased.
It knew where it was going.
Its mission was clear,
And I couldn’t help but want to be part of it.
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I breathed in deeply.
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I looked for where it came from.
I wanted more.
It was irresistible.
I could see the warm glow of a hearth,
And laughter flowed from the house like a stream.
I felt my heart race with longing inside of me.
The Father awaited me,
He smiled.
I leaned into the wind.
I was home.
Story
I saw some of this painting in a vision. I had already bought the canvas and was at a gathering for artists in my church. I didn't know what was going to go on the canvas yet (I still wasn't planning my paintings at this point, I was putting colour on wherever I felt Holy Spirit lead) and was staring at it during some prayer time. While looking at it, I saw a lion walk into frame and wind blow through its mane. It looked to where the wind was going, then looked to where it was coming from, then it leaned into the wind.
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I painted all three postures. I wasn't sure which to paint but felt to start with the first. The first lion was blue and looked terrible! I was quite frustrated and gessoed over the whole thing. When I started again, I painted the lion in more natural colours and felt to try the second posture it took in my vision. Again, it looked ridiculous, so I gessoed one more time. This time I was determined to get it right. I felt to use blue again and to paint the lion leaning into the wind like my vision. It looked perfect! I didn't realize until part way through the third lion that Lord was having me paint all three postures. Didn't clue in at all, haha!
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I had no idea where the wind was coming from while painting as I didn't see the mountain in my vision. I knew it was coming from God, but how it was to be represented was veiled. It was the last thing I painted. I asked the Lord, "Where is this coming from?" and He replied, "From my house, the lion is home," and I saw before me a mountain of fire. When I look at that mountain, I feel peace, I feel the warmth of family, I hear laughter, and I can see a big mountain house with a roaring fire, full table, and the Father sitting in a big armchair surrounding by His kids. When I look at that mountain, I see home. Fitting that the mountain should be of fire. In Exodus 19, when Israel is at the foot of Mount Sinai, the Lord descends on the mountain in fire and the whole mountain trembled. A frightening sight for the Israelites. But God was in that fire, and while Israel didn't know it yet, God was home for Israel. So when I see this mountain of fire, all I can see is the glory of the Lord resting on the mountain, and I feel like I'm home.
This is one of a string of paintings that have mountains in them which you can read a bit about here.