The Messenger

By, Ginger E. Mosher

www.GEMgallery.org

In a vivid dream, I was shown a two-dimensional square plane flying through outer space. It looked very much like the plane of glass in which thevillains of the “Superman II”* movie were imprisoned and cast into outer space. However, the plane I saw was flying toward earth and it contained what looked like a flurry of many compressed yellow feathers. I had the impression they were the feathers of angels’ wings, so I did some research on angels. I found the original word for angel meant messenger. When I looked up the color of the feathers in my Christian symbols book it explained that yellow might represent a gift of wisdom from God, or it might represent timidity, fear, and cowardliness. Regarding the later, it referred to the scripture, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). With these clues, I began to understand the message of the dream. This messenger, or postal angel, was delivering the timely message, “Do Not Fear,” as a gift of wisdom to us from God.

As I painted, I wondered how I should convey this “Do not fear” message on canvas. I asked the Lord about it and was told to look online at Ben Carson’s book, Gifted Hands. I had seen the movie but not the book with its illustration of the surgeon and his gifted hands on the cover. I modeled one of the messenger’s hands after this example, but I still wasn’t sure how to illustrate the message. When I mentioned this to a young Messianic Jewish woman visiting my home for the first time, she suggested that I paint a Jewish Torah unfurling from his gifted hand. I knew in my spirit she was onto something. However, since the Torah is very cumbersome, I decided to paint a scroll more appropriately fitted to the messenger’s hand and the message it would carry of the “Do not fear” scriptures posted below. Just as I crossed the last “t” and dotted the last “i” of these scriptures written in charcoal pencil on the painting, I knocked a glass of water over onto the finished scroll. In my distress, trying clean it up quickly, I heard the Lord letting me know it was OK because it was the washing of water and the word. (See Ephesians 5:26 NKJV) Therefore, as you read these scriptures—either here below or on the messenger’s scroll—let them wash over you and cleanse you of all fear. Don’t be surprised if you feel the brush of an angel’s wing or sense some angelic activity in the atmosphere. Remember, they are messengers from heaven sent with a message from God.

“…Do not be afraid, for I am with you…” (Genesis 26:24 NIV).
“…Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NIV).
“…say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear, your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you’” (Isaiah 35:4 NIV).
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (II Timothy 1:7 NKJV).
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV).
“But now, this is what the Lord says – He who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine’” (Isaiah 43:1 NIV).
“So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31 NIV).
“Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe’” (Mark 5:36 NIV).
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV).
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people’” (Luke 2:10 NIV).
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

* Superman II. Dir. Richard Lester. 1980.