“And The Children Of Israel Said, Who Of All The Tribes Of Israel, Went Not Up In The Congregation To The Lord? For There Was A Art

Personal POV scene. Me and Jesus in the desert on a cool morning at daybreak walking toward a bright star. Jesus is wearing old clothes and carrying a satchel. I’m wearing old clothes and sandals just like Him. The air is cool and crisp. The sky is bright blue on the horizon with deep purple fading into black at the upper atmosphere. The air is crisp and clear. It’s like the desert in California looking east toward Arizona. There are desert hills on the north and south sides and mountains in the distance.
Create an image depicting the eight ancient kings of Edom, each in their royal attire, with crowns and scepters with bull horns on long staffs. The whole scene has a distinctly ancient appearance, influenced by the artistic style of the pre-Renaissance European period. The art emulates a sense of deep devotion and respect towards Christianity and Early Hellenistic Judaism.
Express without words “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.” (Luke 1:5, KJV) Depict Zacharias in the linens for daily attire.
Place this text in the foreground of my newly generated Vintage Film Burn image…

“Dawn, gentle, beginnings of a new day lighting our paths and illuminating our way….

I’ve always thought of you with love and warmth and hardly questioned why… always felt a special bond that’s led to years of friendship  and smiles…

I found in you the gentle spirit of a certain truth and could NOT look away because in you I saw proof…..of HIM…”

Also include an image in the background of a soft sunrise seen over an ocean’s horizon 


A Dawn to Remember….by JPRussell
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,” (Matthew 2:1, KJV)
Personal POV scene. Me and Jesus in the desert on a cool morning at daybreak walking toward a bright star. Jesus is wearing old clothes and carrying a satchel. I’m wearing old clothes and sandals just like Him. The air is cool and crisp. The sky is bright blue on the horizon with deep purple fading into black at the upper atmosphere. The air is crisp and clear. It’s like the desert in California looking east toward Arizona. There are desert hills on the north and south sides and mountains in the distance.
A girl remembering her childhood
Morning mist over lakes
a group of young children holding up signs
Fancy text:  Jesus said, Before Abraham was born, I AM
An outdoor scene in at the beach.  A White Mom and African-American Dad walk away from the camera with their two kids, all holding hands.  The mood is warm and safe.  The sun is setting in the distance.  Everyone is wearing beach-style clothes, not bathing suits.  It's a pretty happy family.
Jesus Christ Lord and King over all
Elijah the prophet wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.”
Inside an informal church in London.  Wing Sun's father has been invited to attend with his counterpart from the office.  He doesn't have anything else to do on Sunday morning, so he goes along.  we are standing in the back of the room.  There are many people of different ethnicities, the Pastor is standing up front alongside a worship leader with a guitar, and a young black woman, facing the audience.  The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, but Wing Sun's father feels a little uncomfortable.
So, you look at those captains and then at yourself
and you wonder: “Why them, and not me?”
As you paddle along in your pitiful state,
a canoe you hope no one will see.
But there’s just enough room for those trusted to you
for safe passage, provisions, and tare.
So, you keep to yourself, and you follow the shore,
making passage for those in your care.
a group of young children holding up signs
An outdoor scene at home in the back yard.  A white Dad and his African-American little girl (5) who is crying.  Dad is calming her and making her feel secure.
In Penang, Malaysia.  Wing Sun's Grandmother is elderly and lives in Penang, on the island.  Grandma's house is in a quieter part of the island, closer to the coastline where the sea breeze can be felt through the wooden windows. It's near the ocean, in Tanjung Bungah where there are old-style homes and a slower pace of life.  There are many resort "homestay" hotels, and also some high-rise condos, but Grandmother's house has been there many years.  Wing-Sun's mother grew up in that house, near the beach, with the ocean breeze.  We see the house from down the street with Grandma standing in the doorway greeting us.
The feeling of dawn
First century Palestine.  Jesus sits on a rock on a hillside teaching a large group of His disciples.  The Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus wears a plain robe like most ordinary men.  Jesus' face is kind, but intense, as He teaches. The other people are mostly peasants, farmers, and tradesmen.  There are also women present, wearing plain, everyday clothing.  Some couples have also brought their children.  The Sea of Galilee shines in the far distance.
2 young couples with children stand in front of a wall-sized world map, facing the map.  One young father is talking to the other and they are interested in Africa.  One young mother is wearing a backpack and the other has a baby that she's carrying in her arms.  An older couple stand nearby
Southeast Asia.  Modern day.  Nearer to the city now, the bus thumps and bumps to a slower pace.
Grinding gears mark spaces between dirty children, playing obliviously in the road.
Neither village nor metropolis, outskirts have no identity:
Just a blurry line of encroachment;
a temporary half-life on the way to something more.

Dust springs up from the tires of trucks headed both ways on the road.
A little girl stands crying in a mud puddle; her brothers laughing from the sides.
She has to learn rejection to participate in this brutal, belonging dance.
A little life, and a little death
for a product truly worthy of its name: a good woman is hard to find.
An empty dining table set for two
An indoor scene in at home.  A Mom and Dad sit on the bed with their little girl, who is smiling.  The mood is warm and secure.  The little girl is about 10 years old.  She's contented.  Dad is about to tell a story.
a tree in nature
A young couple with two children stand in front of a wall-sized world map, facing the map.  The young father is interested in Africa.  The young mother is wearing a backpack and one of the children is a baby that she's carrying in her arms.
This day, though, I hiked another autumn wood.  Eastern Europe ancient; overgrown.  So thick the view was dark at just a few feet off the path.  All red and yellow; orange and brown, a million trees, each one in blazing preparation for long, frozen winter.  I cannot but recall my friend’s words, lasting long, though he did not, and the instant truth that follows.  Looking upward at the fiery canopy, matched against the bright cerulean sky beyond, I embrace autumn!  Winter surely comes one day, but spring beyond.  I have a winter to prepare for, but it is not yet.
The San Gorgonio Pass, Mt. San Gorgonio) rises in the North, all hoary-frost and granite.  Snake-like clouds adorning her peak, I gaze past the big white house toward her uplifted boulders.
And at the South, Mt. San Jacinto has lost his head in cloud.  Burned bones against a blue sky backdrop.  Between the two, another sunrise gleams and beams of brilliant, white-hot day flash forth:  They accentuate the Sonora desert’s west extreme, and last night’s moon forgot to go away.
a painting of a woman smiling for the camera
First century Palestine.  Jesus sits on a rock on a hillside teaching a large group of His disciples.  The Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus wears a plain robe like most ordinary men.  Jesus' face is kind, but intense, as He teaches. The other people are mostly peasants, farmers, and tradesmen.  There are also women present, wearing plain, everyday clothing.  Some couples have also brought their children.  The Sea of Galilee shines in the far distance.
a painting of two women smiling for the camera
“He fills the sky with clouds, sending showers to water the earth so that the grass springs up on the mountain fields and the earth produces food for man.” (Psalms 147:8, TPT) Do not create any image of the Creator.
a tree in nature
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
An outdoor scene in a park.  a merry-go-round is nearby.  A mother squats down to help her little boy, who is crying and making a fuss.  other kids are playing in the background but this little boy is very unhappy.  Mom has a kind and gentle face and is trying to help him feel better.
still life arrangement of fruits and flowers
In days to come I stood amazed, walking through that forest, at the blazing symphony of color it brought forth, seemingly just for me.  I grew to love my friend’s words in a new way, through the astounding beauty of the spectacle he knew was coming when he said them.  I was young then, and didn’t know I had many autumns ahead of me.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;

for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;

for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;

for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
At his Grandmother's house in Penang, Wing Sun is seated at a table in the dining room, with the kitchen in view.  Grandmother is sitting at the table telling Wing Sun a story from the Bible.  The house is cozy, and it's raining outside.  There is an air of suspense, but Wing Sun feels safe and secure.
portrait of a person with expressive eyes