Renae Zanella

The Treasure Hunt

As soon as I’m invited to paint live my imagination runs wild all over the place especially if I know the overall theme like Christmas. The process is similar each time but very different in the details. When I receive the Bible verse or the actual theme of the worship event sometimes it’s one word, that’s when God really starts flooding me with visuals. The treasure hunt begins by reading the scripture many times meditating on the words and praying about the image and message God wants to deliver. I read many different versions of the verse in the Bible app from the message to the NLT to the KJV. I read before and after the highlighted verse trying to gain a larger picture of what lead up to this and what happens after. I google the Bible verse and I read many interpretations and insights from pastors and other people trying to understand the message that’s within the black and white sometimes red words. I also google the verse with the word “artwork” after it so I can see what other artists from the past have created. I love to dive in as deep as possible and look at abstract art to realism and everything in between. It absolutely amazes me how much art has been created around the Bible. When I’m lying in bed trying to fall asleep and just as I’m waking up my mind is working through all of this information which starts to really form an image and a plan. I never used to get up early but these last few years the passion in my heart has grown so intense that I get so excited to find out more and get prepared. The connections I’m starting to see are blowing my mind! There are no accidents, I believe there is a divine creator and Christ will be coming back again in some way, shape or form. Prepare room in your hearts for Jesus!

Prepare Room In Our Hearts

I prayed and mediated on the scripture in the weeks leading up to painting live. It never dawned on me before this Christmas the magnitude of Jesus being born in a feeding trough. The trough he was placed in was used for perfect sacrificial lambs back then. They would need the lamb with no flaws to sacrifice for their sins. Back then the had no access to God or the Holy Spirit except in the Old Testament the tabernacle was designed to teach Israel how to enter into the presence of the Holy One. In the Bible there are 2 chapters about how God created the universe and 50 chapters about the tabernacle. God shows great importance about being in His presence. Jesus is the bread of life, the living water, the way, the truth and the life! It’s taken a few years for it to sink in, the significance of Jesus being born in such poor humble conditions. He came for the broken, sick and lost!

This year I realize Jesus’ birth completes the Trinity. I never made that connection before but realizing this stirs a bunch of questions, excitement and I’m in awe of this design and in Gods plan to come to Earth in human form to save us all! It absolutely blows my mind! The deeper I dig into the Christmas story and being able to watch The Chosen tv series and The Chosen Christmas special I have gained a deeper understanding and it has made this story even more personal. That He came for me. And for you. It’s pretty freaking incredible!!

I thank God everyday that I’m alive to share what He has done. He sent Joy into the world for EVERYONE not just a select few but EVERYONE!!!Humans have been so distracted and mesmerized by the shinny metals, rocks and all the other valuable materials of this earth it has literally consumed them. They have used and abused people and this planet since the beginning of time trying to harvest the goods to trade and sell so they can make their lives more comfortable with material things. Humans are even sold and traded for their riches and perverted pleasures. Greed and entitlement is killing the soul of this planet and the psychological soul of everything that is alive in it. My concern for humankind, the animal kingdom and nature weighs heavy on my heart so I pray for God to use me however He sees fit to help bring more peace, love and awareness to whoever is awake and listening.

I have been on a path following Jesus since rehab 2017 and every year the mystery, the wonder and the miracles are becoming more and more intriguing and they present themselves daily. I feel that I’m starting to really understand what this life is all about. What we are all here for. It seems like a very simple concept but it’s the hardest thing to try to do in this broken world. To love and honor God in everything we think, say and do. And to love your neighbor as yourself. Sometimes it’s hard to love ourselves. I know I have days where I fall real short, I lose my temper or say hurtful things to the ones I love or I’m in a state of anxiousness because I want things to go my way.

Surrender it all. Pick up your crosses daily and follow me is what Jesus says. Everyday is a new day to try again. And when we find peace and joy we are called to share it even if that is as simple as holding a door open for someone or smile at a stranger. We are the messengers! We are called to follow Jesus and learn who He really was when He was here walking this earth. And by learning who He was, how he interacted with everyone and how loving, patient and kind he was has done something inside me where I feel called to be like Him. I want to be that cool calm and collected even I’m the face of adversity or evil. The transformation just starts to happen like a seed sporting and growing into a mighty oak tree. We are called to live our lives sharing the way, the truth and the life! To break it down even more it boils down to this, just BE KIND TO ALL living beings and nature.

I struggle with ptsd from a ton trauma in my past which has caused deep rooted trust issues. Finding out that the first thing I have to do is trust God with all of my heart and mind and soul felt like the impossible. I haven’t trusted many and that’s my prison walls. By reading Gods word I’m learning how to take these walls down. I’ve realized I’ve lived most of my life in fear. Fear that someone will hurt me. But the Bible says “ fear not” 365 times in the Bible. “Do not be afraid”, that’s what the angel said to the shepherds the night Christ was born. It’s also what the angel said to Mary when she found out she was pregnant as a virgin. Perspective is key. So I’ve been leaning into God through my troubles and stresses. I’ve been trying to accept people and situations for exactly what they are. And be thankful every waking second I get to be alive on this journey.

Acceptance and my reaction to what’s around me is what I’m working on. Christmas is a time meant to reflect on our hearts. Let every heart prepare Him room. Prepare room for Jesus! By letting Jesus into our heart, He softens it which is a good thing. For a bazillion years people have acted like you have to be so tough and hardcore. Act like nothing is wrong. Hide all your problems and issues. And you can see the effects from keeping it all in all over our nation and world with all the people dealing with depression, anxiety, anger issues, hostility, rage and no compassion for anyone. People must know the love that is here for them and the peace they can experience when they let go of trying to control everything or everyone. Freedom is found when you fully surrender and accept that God is in control.

Everyone has a huge black hole they are trying to fill to make them feel satisfied. What if instead of asking God for things to satisfy us, ask what would satisfy God? I want what God wants. I have lived a selfish life for way too long and it’s time to start asking questions that actually make a difference. What is it that I should be putting my energy into that’s going to help the world not just myself? I pray the world starts to help people in their own community being fed and sheltered. Christmas should not be a time where we go overboard to give so many things to people who already have so many things. We should be pouring our time and money into places that are already helping our very own communities. I pray that we including myself see how satisfying it is to help others. That’s where the true joy and unshakable peace comes from selflessness. Being one body of Christ! We need to come together to help others.

The only way to help this world is to decide that you will take action. Everyone has a gift or talent to offer this broken world. I pray that people can see their part in this shift that God is carefully starting. He’s been planting seeds and watering for an epic REVIVAL and SPIRITUAL AWAKENING! People must seek the gospel and try to live by Gods word. If you’ve ever asked yourself, which I did for most of my life “what is my purpose in this life?”…here’s the answer…to find your gifts and talents and then give them away. By doing this you are serving God who created you who wants to give you everything you need in abundance by putting Him first before everything. Picture that person you always think of before you make any decisions, you ask yourself if they would be proud or disappointed if you made this choice. God really just wants a relationship like that with you where you lean into him for your every need or trouble and praise him and be thankful for everything you have and go through. There’s so much to learn from being low in the valleys and way up high on the mountain tops. The views are amazing but they won’t last neither will the darkness in the valleys, everything is temporary. Don’t miss what God is doing through it all. God is trying to teach you something if your listening.

To really honor God I have found that I need to start in my heart and in my mind about how I really feel about people and the situation. I can’t change people and when I constantly want to have control and change things so that I’m more comfortable it blows up in my face. But when I just let go and realize that I am not in control God is in control and just try to go with the flow I find peace every time. Acceptance but that is the toughest challenge because there are distractions and there is evil in this world. The devil is trying so hard to steal everyone’s joy and the devil is very very sneaky. Almost every time I have prepared to get ready to paint live for a church service the devil tries to comes through in frustration, confusion, stress, doubt, and lack of communication between me and my husband. The devil always tries to stop me! I can tell you right now that that force has only gotten stronger the closer I’ve become to God!! Those negative thoughts only last a second because I start praying and hunker down under Gods shield. They don’t have time to take root in my heart and mind. I try my best not to entertain the devils ideas or distractions. That is our daily battle! But with God I find patience and with practice it gets easier to rise above whatever we are faced with.

I used drywall spackle and stencils to make the words and texture on the canvas.

Like being faced with extreme weather that literally puts obstacles in our way. I had planned on building the frame and stretching the canvas the weekend before but we were running out of time. Then this freak storm hit Iowa December 16th with high winds like the derecho in 2020. I believe we had around 70 mph winds. We had no power and several trees come down. We actually took cover in our basement because of the recent tornadoes that tragically took many lives, injured several people, leveled so many homes and businesses in Kentucky. Praying for all the people effected by the storms that they find strength in Jesus Christ to get through these trying times. Thankfully we only had minor damage to some outbuildings but several trees down with lots of clean up. We also had plenty of work on our plate leading up to this week as well. Which is a blessing because we are self employed. But our work is very labor intensive so physically I was weary and wearing down.

A week before Christmas, trying to get ready to paint live and things were literally falling apart all around us. My husband is also trying to quit drinking alcohol and that alone has caused a lot of stress for years. But with all of the things that I have no control over that is all around me the one thing I can try to control is my response. I was extremely thankful we had minor damage from the high winds.

Christmas Eve morning is when the devil really tried to stop me. My husband and I had a misunderstanding about what time to get up to leave which started our day off in a frenzy. We also had one of our neighbors cows get into our field which was another distraction. We ended up having a huge argument cause we were rushing to get ready to leave and head into Des Moines which is a 50 min drive. We both exploded which lead to my husband’s choice not to come in for any of the Christmas Eve services. We also had plans after I painted til midnight to stay at my parents house and be there Christmas morning so I woke up Christmas morning without my husband and he didn’t get to experience the Christmas Eve services in person. He’s never missed one of my live paintings so sadly the devil successfully separated us this year on Christmas. He did end up watching all three services live seeing if he could catch a glimpse of me painting.

But I had a very quick thought of saying forget it all and just stay home to cry. Sometimes the devil creeps into my thoughts, I start to think negatively that it’s just a painting who cares, what’s the point, blah blah blah, the devils best weapons are distractions and doubt. But I did not let all of this stop me from doing what God called me to do. I told satan to “GET BEHIND ME” and I got everything loaded into the truck with tears rolling down my cheeks. My life is not perfect and smooth all of the time. I realize that my problems are minor compared to what some people are up against. But I have deep patterns in my brain from reacting to things that happen in my life the same irrational way for so long. It’s tough not to respond and change those patterns. I lose my temper sometimes. But the more time I spend with God the better I am at walking away and focus on trying to keep my side of the street clean. That’s why spending time reading Gods word helps shape our responses to what’s happening in our lives. This is why I follow Jesus through the rings of fire that we all will go through. This is a broken world and we will experience suffering even during times of great celebration. These last 4 almost 5 years learning about Jesus has transformed my heart, mind and soul. That’s why I spend most of my free time creating art that reflects what God is putting on my heart and connecting scripture to each piece. I am a visual and experiential learner so this entire process has been an amazing journey of discovery. Thanks be to God!

Thank you to each and everyone of you for taking time to read all of my thoughts and reflections. God keeps moving me to journal all of these experiences so I’m trying to be obedient. I greatly appreciate all the love and support I have received it’s pretty cool to witness God working through it all! Much love and peace be with you all!

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