Created in September 2021 a gift to my dear friend Cyndee Buck.
Currently on display at Southwest Christian High School in Chaska, MN
Has anyone else ever met someone during a season of their life when you’ve just walked away from everything trying to find a life worth living and meeting this person at this crucial time caused your life path to change forever? And then you look back often to that moment and can see clearly how God was heavily involved. Cyndee Buck is that someone to me because she introduced me to the power of God through art. She helped me recognize that the power lies within my own heart and mind. She taught me to pray before I create.
She recommended reading Ephesians 3:14-21, so I read the whole chapter. And I try to read this before I create every time along with other scripture. This is a gift from God, this is what grace looks like. He sent his Holy Spirit to dwell within our hearts to strengthen and guide us to the fullness of Gods love.
To be “filled with the fullness of God” means that God is the controlling influence at a given moment governing your feelings, desires, thoughts, hopes, relationships, words, actions, reactions, calendar, check book, etc. We all have the Holy Spirit within us all we have to do is invite Him to be apart of our life and trust 100%!
I have painted through some of life’s most difficult times as well as through some of life’s biggest celebrations. In the last few years creating art has become an even richer experience for me because I turned my life around to God.
March 2017, before I checked myself into rehab I applied at Lutheran Church of Hope. I was upfront about my struggles with alcohol and that I was about to admit myself into impatient rehab for 30 days. The facility’s lead Rick Stessman, said he would consider giving me a chance after he got the background check back. We stayed in contact and just days before sucessfully completing rehab I was offered the job on the facilities team at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines.
My first few days working at Hope was Easter weekend. The worship center holds like 2500 people and they have a large room for overflow that holds several hundred. It was incredible to witness thousands of people in and out of the church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This experience absolutely guided me onto this spiritual discovery and journey I have been on ever since. Hearing the sermon started a fire inside me causing a deep desire to find out more.
Created for Exodus sermon series fall 2018
Durning rehab I had a spiritual awakening that started to change the way I looked at things. It was as if something just clicked, I felt like I was being called to be around the Church. I had been praying desperately for God to breakthrough into my life. It was humbling to work in God’s house everyday while I was so fresh in my recovery. Something about it made me feel safe and feel hope that I could live a different life. I got to know some amazing people while working with the facilities crew. Behind the scenes is an extremely hardworking dedicated bunch of individuals all who have incredible stories. Daily I would pass by the art room while doing my facility duties and I was incredibly drawn to find out what goes on in there. I soon discovered the Creative Arts Ministry in the basement. I knew they had beautiful art in the gallery and powerful live art during Christmas and Easter but I did not know there was a ministry for the arts!
I was beyond excited when I was introduced to the art director at that time Cyndee Buck, who completely inspired me and gave me direction. But more importantly she helped me recognize my gift which strengthened my faith. She asked me if I prayed before I painted. I had never done that nor had I ever thought about it. It made complete sense to tune into the Holy Spirit by meditating on scripture, praying and opening my heart up to let God work through me.
Only a few months after meeting Cyndee I ended up moving back to the Quad Cities and she moved up to Minneapolis. I look back and think about all the things that had to line up for us to both be at Hope at the same time to meet. It was absolutely no accident!!! She had such an impact on my heart I literally just started crying while I’m writing this. My heart is so grateful for everything God has done for me literally rivers of joy are overflowing out of my eyes! When I have no words God feels my heart. Wow, thank you Jesus! When people decide to share what they have learned about this journey we’re on and it all points to God it moves something deep in our psyche. Our paths crossing in 2017 catapulted me onto this journey of discovery. A journey with Jesus. Where I have found love, peace, contentment, forgiveness, LIFE & LIGHT! I realized right away that God blessed this connection between us. Something about it was different, deeper, profound, anointing and holy.
We basically lost touch after we went our separate ways til we became friends on Facebook in the Fall of 2020. I was in the midst of an art explosion that seems to happen every few months. I had just created “Soak” when Cyndee reached out to me for the first time. She was moved so much by the artwork she wanted to purchase it. I was humbled that she would want to buy a painting from me but it was much deeper than just that, it was the start of our amazing friendship. She has been such an incredible friend, sister in Christ and a mentor to me I feel extremely blessed that she has shared some of her experiences and wisdom with me.
Created October 2020
Cyndee now shares with churches and Christian high schools throughout the Twin Cities what she has learned from leading local, regional, and national Christian visual art initiatives as well as her experiences founding and leading a visual arts ministry for sixteen years. She is currently curating four art exhibits, leading art workshops, coaching Christian artists, co-chairing a Spring Christian Arts Festival, writing children’s art activities for national distribution, and coaching church creative art staff in starting a Christian Arts Ministry at their church.
One of the exhibits is titled: The Importance of Christian Artists & Their Art currently on display at Southwest Christian High School in Chaska, MN until October 22, 2021. The artwork provides teaching points through exhibit signage. I thank God for Cyndee Buck’s passion for using creative experiences to glorify God.
“I HAVE TRULY BEEN BLESSED BY THE CREATIVES THAT I HAVE MET IN MY LIFE’S WORK AND THE EXPERIENCES OF WATCHING THEIR FAITH TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THEIR ART MAKING PROCESS. LISTENING TO GOD BY READING SCRIPTURE AND BEING IN CONVERSATION WITH HIM THROUGH PRAYER IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS THAT WILL GROW YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CREATOR AND BRING GREAT JOY INTO YOUR LIFE BY EXPERIENCING HIS LOVE FOR YOU DEEPLY IN YOUR HEART.”
CYNDEE BUCK
Cyndee wanted to commission me to create a piece to be in the exhibit. I said “Yes” to creating it but it was going to be a gift to her to show my appreciation. I also wanted to hand deliver it so I could see her and the school it would be displayed in. Cyndee asked if I would want to talk to a couple classes about my art process. At first I was reluctant because public speaking is a huge fear but that’s exactly why I said “Yes”!! I knew because it made me extremely uncomfortable I needed to do it. I needed to embrace the fear of getting up to talk for the first time in front of people. I was going to prepare something to refer to but I decided not to so I could really just speak from my heart. It was really transforming to be able to share some of my experiences with the students.
Southwest Christian High School Visual Arts
I am forever blessed from meeting the art teacher Stephanie Pieske at Southwest Christian High School Visual Arts. It was just so neat to get to know her and inspiring to learn what she has been doing to help her students realize their gifts and talents. I could feel how much of her heart she has poured into this art ministry. Her students were so welcoming and really seemed to absorb what I shared. I briefly told them about some of the darkness I experienced before I was reunited with Jesus. Then I played the time lapse video of “Soak” so they could see the story unfold through my process of creating this artwork.
Below is the time-lapsed video of “Soak”
No money was made in the making of this video using Holy Water song by We The Kingdom & Tasha Cobbs Leonard. I do not own the rights.
One of her students was moved to make me a little drawing and gave it to me at the end of class. Super thoughtful 🥰 Thank you again!
I was going to publish this blog on the morning of September 20, 2021 but I was waiting on a few things to be edited. I went out to get the mail and was surprised to receive a package from the school I just visited. When I opened the bag and saw all the letters I immediately started crying. It was such an inspiring experience that caused me to get face to face with one of my worst fears. I really leaned into God and let go. But reading all the letters and learning how the students were impacted and how appreciative they are made me realize just how powerful God is! God wanted me to wait because a major part of the story was in my mailbox. It really just amazes me to be able to witness how people are effected by sharing some of our story. I know that I won’t ever see all the seeds that were planted by the artwork and the things I share. But that’s not what it’s about just keep generously scattering seeds everywhere every chance you get! What a gift it is to be able to read the handwritten notes from the hearts of the students. Thank you God!
It made me realize how important it is for all of us to share our journey. You never know who is dealing with something similar and to hear someone talk about it in the open is liberating and it gives others hope. All of this has just completely blessed me and caused so much spiritual growth. So then I continued to cry as I read each one of their cards. I appreciate how they took the time to create these and how unique each one is. Thank you again to Stephanie Pieske and her students for the opportunity to share and for your thoughtful hearts. And thank you so much for the thank you cards 🙏🏼 Wow…awesome things just keep happening! Thank you Jesus!
I am so grateful for the courage God gave me to finally start sharing my story. We all have a story to share. And we are all created in the image of our creator who is creative. We are all creative beings. Something about creating artwork knowing I’m co-creating with the creator of this entire existence is absolutely transforming, healing and impelling. It moves me figuratively and literally. Art is such a huge part of Gods kingdom. I believe art, music and dancing are just a few ways to glorify God, worship and praise Him for all that’s He’s done and will continue to do.
Art has always been more than just apart of my life, it’s apart of my very being. Its hard describe in words the feeling it creates in me but music and dancing make me feel that same way. Really it’s pure Joy, that’s what it creates in my soul! And I know that Joy I’m experiencing is because God is in the middle of it all!
Learning more about Jesus has completely changed my life. Jesus has made my life profoundly worth living. Everyday I want to become more like Christ. The message is becoming very clear to me that it’s not about me at all. It’s all about allowing God to work through me for His will. This has changed everything about my creating experience and really everything about the way I live my life. I am being transformed from the inside because my relationship with God is developing. Being creative has become a time I’m in deep prayer and conversation with God. The creative process has been extremely healing and very therapeutic. I’m really just learning how to let the Spirit within me create an authentic expression that comes straight from my heart.
Exhibit title: The Importance of Christian Artists & Their Art currently on display at Southwest Christian High School in Chaska, MN until October 22, 2021.
And also a Big Thank You to Cyndee and Mike for welcoming us into their home and the awesome hospitality.
Thanks be to God!
Continue to page 3 to view the time-lapse video and the artist statement for “Generous Harvest”. I had technical difficulties so I apologize the end did not get recorded. But it still shows part of the process. Enjoy🙏🏼
Photo credit at the end of video by Stephanie Pieske
No money was made in the making of this video using the song Lord of the Harvest (ft. Lindy Cofer) [live] YWAM Kona Music. I do not own the rights.
Artist statement
Title: Generous Harvest
Size: 3’ h x 4’ w
Materials: Acrylic paint on canvas
Created: September 2021
By: Renae Zanella
I was inspired to create this artwork after reading “Art for Gods Sake” by Philip Graham Ryken. Creating art that is centered around God and His word for the last few years has immensely transformed my life. I’ve learned that God wants to use our gifts and talents he blesses us with to bring people closer to Him. The book taught me that there is a much bigger purpose in creating art than just making a buck or trying to please humans.
I believe in the power of art that is created with love, scripture and prayer. I believe God wants to reveal His nature through the art so that we can have a deeper and richer understanding. When we share with others what we learn about God we are planting seeds. When we pray for the people we share with we are watering those seeds. It’s up to God to grow them. Making art for Gods sake to me means to allow God to move through my heart, mind and soul bringing His message to the light and share it with the world.
All of our talents, gifts, opportunities, successes, and the fruitfulness we experience is all given by the grace of God. Not only have I been blessed because of what God has done for me, but I’ve also been blessed by what others have done. Our ancestors paved our life path with prayer in hopes that we could experience the love of our Father and have eternal life. Share the harvest! Share the good news!
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT
“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”
Matthew 9:37-38 NLT
“He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.””