Prophetic Art Painting (Purple Butterfly)

Title: Take Courage
Size: 14" x 18”
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Artist: Catherine Wong
Date: 28th January 2019

During our church prayer meeting on the 26th of January, 2019, I kept seeing the colours blue and white around the whole room. That was when I realised that the colours were those of the flag of Israel!

I felt the prompting to pray blessings over Israel, and that eventually led me to Psalms‬ ‭128:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬:

“May the Lord continually bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live. May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. May Israel have peace!”
‭‭
On the 28th of January, 2019, I was asking the Lord what to paint for the Heartbeat Project. Then, I saw a vision of a purple butterfly. I felt it strange to paint a butterfly as I thought the project is about babies. Out of curiosity, I googled the meaning behind a “purple butterfly”. To my surprise, I found out that if any incubator has a purple butterfly logo on it, it actually means that the baby is one of a set of multiples in which one or more babies were lost.

Thus, I started the painting with 3 main colours- Blue, White and Purple. In my vision, I saw a purple butterfly in a “crystal ball” against a background of blue and white.

This painting intends to bring out hope and courage to live through the toughest time. This is especially for those who have lost one or more babies in a set of multiples during a pregnancy or at birth.

The purple butterfly inside the “crystal ball” is a memorial of a death of an unborn child inside the amniotic sac. The colour of Israel’s flag is also a reminder to us of God’s promises and faithfulness to us.

John 16

Reflection on John 16

“At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16:23-24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Whatever that we use in Jesus Name, God will answer. God delights in us and grant us abundant joy!

Application:
Don’t be afraid to ask God! He will answer them according to His Will.

Follow-Up Actions and Questions For and Before God:
Jesus, this year, I cry out for more of Your harvest and true disciples of Jesus to rise up. Revival is right where we are because Jesus You are here. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

John 15

Reflection on John 15

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We are the chosen ones! Wow. Anything that we asked in Jesus Name, God will answer.

Application:
This is such an awesome promise that God has given us.

Follow-up Questions and Actions For and Before God:
What are the lasting fruits that I am called to produce?
May the Lord help me to fulfil His plans and purpose for my life.

John 14

Reflection on John 14

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What a comfort to know that the Holy Spirit grant us a peace of mind and heart.

Application:
In this generation, the number of people with mental illnesses have increased significantly. What is something that we might have missed out from this promises that God has given us?

Follow-up Questions and Actions For and Before God:

ABBA Father, You see and know the needs of this generation and I pray that everyone who has received You as their Lord and Savior will cling on to Your promises that You have given them a peace of mind and heart. Let not the world create chaos within them. I pray that even in the midst of chaos, peace be still within their souls. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

John 13

Reflection on John 13

“And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”
‭‭John‬ ‭13:14-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus, the King above all kings humbled himself to wash the feet of the disciples. There is no job too low that we cannot do. I see this as an act of servant leadership. Jesus has set an example for us to follow.

Application:
Who am I that I should see myself higher than anyone else? Always walk in humility and serve others first.

Follow-up Actions and Quesions  for and Before God:

Jesus, thank You for sharing the example of humility and servant leadership by first leading Yourself to wash the feet of the disciples. No job is too lowly that I can not do. Help me to walk in humility always and serving others first. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen

John 12

Reflection on John 12

“Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.”
‭‭(John‬ ‭12:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

In this passage, Mary had just witnessed the miracle of Jesus raising her brother-Lazarus up from the dead. Once again, it is our intimacy with God that matters. Wiping his feet with her hair was an act of humility and using the most expensive perfume was an act of offering and worship. Is my relationship with God as intimate as Mary?

Application:
I want to have such intimacy with Jesus!

Follow-up Question and Actions for and before God:
1) What is something that meant the most to me that I am willing to lay it down at the foot of the Cross and as an act of worship unto Him?

Lord, may I come humbly before You each day, heart full of gratitude to all that You have done in my life. You are so good and faithful 💜

John 11

Reflection on John 11

“When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house.”
‭‭John‬ ‭11:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” So Mary immediately went to him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭11:28-29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
‭‭John‬ ‭11:32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

1) It’s okay not to be okay.
Mary was grieving and her first response to Jesus was to ignore Him when he came to visit them. When she finally went to Jesus, she let out her emotions to Him. Yet, Jesus still show compassion upon her.

2) Go to Jesus even when you’re grieving
Mary immediately went to Jesus after hearing that He was looking for her. She could have still choose to stay at the grave and not move. Sometimes when we focus too much on the pain, we fail to see the miracles of what God can do. It’s either we choose to go to Jesus first or continue to stay at the place of pain.

Application:
It is okay to tell God everything that you feel. Even before you utter any words, He already know how you are feeling. It is your relationship with God that matters. Always choose to go to Jesus first rather than staying put at the place of pain and missed His miracles.

Follow-up Questions and Actions for and before God:
Jesus, thank You for Your loving kindness. Even when we have no rights to be angry/upset, You still choose to look at us with such love and compassion. May we not lose sight of You and always choose to run to You first no matter what we are feeling. Amen

John 10

Reflection on John 10

“They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
‭‭John‬ ‭10:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The sheep recognises the voice of their Shepherd. Who’s voice do you pay attention to? Do you run away from the voice that does not belong to the Shepherd? How well do you know the Shepherd’s voice?

Application:
Soak in His Word and know His voice so well that even when temptation comes, you know how to run away from it and into the embrace of the true Shepherd.

Follow-Up Questions and Actions for and Before God:
Abba Father, may Your Voice always be so clear in my life and You are the good Shepherd that I’ll always run to day by day. Amen.

John 9

Reflection on John 9

“We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.”
‭‭John‬ ‭9:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There are certain works that only we can do while it is still day. From here I see the urgency in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to the people around us. There will come a day where it is difficult to share the Gospel. How are we seizing the opportunity now to proclaim the Gospel?

Application:
May I not take each day for granted for a chance to share with someone about Jesus!

Follow-up Questions & Actions for and before God:
Abba Father, May You grant me the urgency to witness to the people around me about You. Let not fear hinder me from doing the tasks that You have assigned me to do. Grant me a heart of compassion for the lost around me. In Jesus’ most precious Name I love and pray, Amen.

John 8

Reflections on John 8

_“No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”_
‭‭John‬ ‭8:11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What a comfort to know that the One who has the power to judge is the One who forgive so freely! How often do we act like the Pharisees who like to magnify the mistakes/ sins of another person?

Application:

Instead of focusing on the mistakes that a person make, may we see thru the lens of Christ and forgive freely.

Follow-up Questions & Actions for and before God: 

Jesus, thank You that You always choose to love and forgive so freely and we are in no position to do otherwise. Help me to look at others through Your lens- to love as you first loved us and to forgive as how You have so freely forgiven us. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen 

John 7

Reflections on John 7

“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)”
‭‭John‬ ‭7:37-39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus welcomes anyone to come to him and drink of Him. He promise rivers of living water to flow from the heart of those who believe in Him. I see rivers of living water as something that keeps overflowing. There is no limitation to what the Holy Spirit can do through us. The Holy Spirit will be given to anyone who believe in Him. Thus, whatever that comes out of our heart should bring forth life and refreshment to the soul.

Application:
Knowing my identity as a child of God and walking in His power.

Follow-up Questions & Actions for and before God: 

Thank You, Jesus for not just only providing for our physical needs but spiritual needs as well. May rivers of living water continue to flow from my heart, bringing life and refreshment to the people around me. Amen.

John 6

Reflection on John 6

“Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”

 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” 

“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. 

After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.”
‭‭(John‬ ‭6:5-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

When we are faced with a situation, there are two responses that we can give.
1) Will we be like Philip, deem the situation as hopeless and vent out our frustration?
Or
2) Will we be like Andrew, seizing that moment to activate the boy with five loaves and two fish? Instead of feeling despair, he offer to God whatever that is in his hand and trust Him to multiply it.

A question to ask ourselves will be, do we have the eyes of Andrew- always looking out for people to be part of the miracles? If he did not point out the boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish, this miracle may not have happened with both their involvement.

Application:

As I served in the youth ministry, I pray that I can look out for their potential and trust God to multiply whatever that is in their hands.

Follow-up Questions & Actions for and before God:

1) Look out for their potentials 
2) May I not always see situation as hopeless but to look out for whatever that I have in my hands and trust God to multiply it

John 5

Reflection on John 5:

“So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.”
(‭‭John‬ ‭5:19-20‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Being a child of God means we can do what He is doing and He will show us how to do greater works than healing alone.

Application:  Know my identity as a child of God and enjoy His presence, doing the works that He has called me to do.

Follow-up Questions & Actions for and before God:
ABBA Father, thank You for Your love for us and for being willing to show us how to do even greater works than healing. I pray for  all of us to love the works that You are calling us to do and walk in power with You. Not so much about how much we can do but more of how willing we are to be that vessel for You to use. May we walk in obedient and love with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

John 4

Reflection on John 4: 

“I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”

‭‭(John‬ ‭4:38‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

There is a great beauty in kingdom partnership. Our forefathers,  leaders/ pastors who have gone ahead of us to path the way has make it easier for the next generation to benefit from it. From here I see that what you have sow into this generation will reap a ripple effect in the next generation. For those who did the pioneering work, thank you. This is especially for people who have been faithful in the mission field reaching the hardest ground and over the years making it easier for us to reap the harvest.

Application: As I reflect upon certain tribes of people who are hard to reach, I am thankful for the faithful children of God who have sow into the ground work and allow us to gather the harvest. There are a special group of people upon my heart and I pray that I will be faithful to sow and plant into this harvest and at the right time we will get to reap the harvest or even setting the path for our next generation of people to reap. 

Follow-up Questions & Actions for and before God: 

ABBA Father, keep me faithful in the tasks entrusted to me and may I not give up easily but continue to plant and sow into the lives of your precious people. Thank You for Your precious children who have gone forth before us and set the path straight. May You find us faithful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

John 3

Reflection on John 3: 

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

‭‭(John‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Even though we are not able to see the wind directly, we can feel it. Same goes for those who are born of the Spirit. We will not be able to see with our naked eyes who are the one being born of the Spirit but their actions will yield its fruits.

Application: I cannot always assume that those who have been attending church for a long time are born of the Spirit. Always double check on their salvation testimony. 

Follow-up Questions & Actions for and before God: 

May I always be so sensitive to the Holy Spirit leading, pointing others back to Jesus and knowing what it means to be born of the Spirit. 

John 2

Reflection on John 2: 

“Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over.”

‭‭John‬ ‭2:7-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

•~\\Miracle is in your hand if you choose to obey//~•

If I were to put myself in the shoes of the servant, I might have stare at Jesus in unbelief and feel foolish to serve the water to the master. Imagine if the servant choose not to fill the jars with water and serve the master, they would have miss out the miracle from their own hands! Sometimes, God wants to move the miracle through us. Would we be willing to obey even when the situation that we are in seem so impossible?

Application: As I reflect upon the vision that the Lord has revealed to me, may I stop staring at Jesus in unbelief but to go where He has called me to go. May I keep walking in obedience and not doubt what Jesus is calling me to do.

Follow-up Questions & Actions for and before God: 

Dear God, I pray that even when what seem impossible with my naked eyes, I will choose to overcome it by faith and walk in obedience. There’s no better way than to trust and obey in Jesus! I pray that I will not miss out on the miracles that You can do through me🙌🏼

John 1

Reflection on John 1: 

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

(‭‭John‬ ‭1:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Being a believer of Christ means we are the light shining in this world of darkness. Darkness cannot overcome the light. How have I been shining as a light to this world?

Application: As I go to places especially in ministering to the broken/depressed/helpless/hopeless, I need to know my identity as a child of God- to bring light into their path.

Follow-up Questions & Actions for and before God: 

How do I bring light into the path of the lost and broken? I pray that as I daily soak myself in His presence and in His Word, wherever I go or anyone I speak to will bring them hope and point them to the Light of Christ.