DESIGNS
I believe you will find Life Under Grace designs to be unique, compelling, and timeless…artwork that reveals God’s grace.
LIFE UNDER GRACE LOGO
My intent was to come up with a graceful combination of the cross with the true Vine (John 15:1). From the tangled vine and delicate tendrils, to the shading on the cross and leaves, and to “Life Under Grace” with whimsical letters, I love this logo. You’ll find this logo color matched on all Life Under Grace products. “From His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:16-17 BSB).”
WIDOW AND THE OIL
The widow in the story had two sons and owed a sizable debt to a creditor. The creditor was going to leverage her sons against the debt and make them slaves. She had very few options, and she needed God’s grace. She sought help from the principal prophet at the time (Elisha). The prophet told her to have her sons gather and borrow as many empty vessels as possible and use the only asset she had…a small vial of oil. God turned this small vial of oil into a continuous supply until all of the empty vessels had been filled with oil. The widow was able to pay off her debt and live off of all that remained.
This illustration speaks to God’s provision and captures the essence of the moment in that house. The family is wearing tattered clothing. The mother is following the prescriptive directions from Elisha. The vessels are sized appropriately for the children to be able to carry them. The various styles and compositions of vessels would be consistent with what would be gathered from multiple households. Though the vessels are small, they are many and each will be filled to the brim. This family lived a Life Under Grace.
JONAH AND THE WHALE SHARK
Jonah was a prophet who refused to go preach to Assyria that threatened his own nation, and Jonah fled from the Lord. Jonah should have known that he could not hide from the Everlasting God. I believe God orchestrated this sequence of events to save Jonah, the mariners, Ninevites, and future generations who would hear and believe the sign of Jonah. This sign of Jonah is an allegory of Jesus’ death and resurrection. “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40 BSB).”
Jesus was only in the heart of the earth three days and two nights, right? This no doubt has been a source of confusion for many. I believe the answer is found in Matthew 27:45, “from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness came over all the land”. Jesus yielded up His spirit at about the ninth hour. The darkness was lifted (i.e. Jesus died at night), and Joseph of Arimethea had just a few short hours to bury Jesus that evening (i.e. the 2nd night). A lot of other miraculous things happened (Matthew 27:50-54) which caused many to believe in his Deity. And because Jesus resurrected on the 3rd day, I count three nights and three days!
This illustration speaks to God’s omnipresence; this whimsical design captures the story of a great tempest just a few moments after Jonah is tossed overboard. Jonah is just beneath the swells and though all seems to be lost, Jonah looks toward his Creator (Jonah 2:4). God sends a whale shark (not a whale) to swallow Jonah and vomit him onto dry land three days and three nights later. The mariners are looking to see if they can see Jonah. The Remoras and seaweed give the illustration even more depth.
DANIEL AND THE LIONS
Daniel was living in exile as an Israelite, but lived an extraordinary life in Babylon. “Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom (Daniel 6:3 BSB).” Daniel, as 1 of the 3 administrators, ruled over 120 satraps, which ruled over the kingdom of Babylon. The remaining 2 administrators and satraps grew jealous of Daniel, “because they could find no charge or corruption, he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him (Daniel 6:4 BSB).” They set a trap for Daniel, which was for all people to pray only to King Darius. Even though Daniel knew of the trap, he refused to stop praying to God and as a result was thrown into a den of lions. Daniel was kept safe throughout the night by an angel (Daniel 6:22 BSB). When Daniel was released, the king threw all of Daniel’s accusers into the den. The lions were so powerful that they overpowered and crushed Daniel’s accusers before they reached the bottom of the den.
This illustration the very first design from Life Under Grace. This design set the pace for all other designs with its simplicity and style. I believe it captures the moment in the den perfectly. Daniel is in complete peace and continues to pray while in peril. Hovering behind Daniel is a very formidable angel with a drawn sword. Even the crouching lions have their tails whipping demonstrating their aggression. Wear this design proudly showing your freedom from anxiety and faith in God’s protection.
TALITHA KOUM
The story of the little girl (Talitha in Aramaic) who was raised from the dead is set at the home of Jairus (a religious leader). When Jesus visited the home, many people were weeping at the news of the death of the twelve-year-old girl. Jesus went inside, and removed everyone except the mother and father and his inner circle (Mark 5:40). He took the little girl by the hand and He spoke life into her. “Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up! (Mark 5:41 BSB)” The little girl began to walk around and those who witnessed this were astonished. Imagine the feeling of those who laughed at Jesus outside of the room, once they saw her eating!
Believe it or not, there are many resurrections in the Bible; three by Jesus (Mark 5:35-43, Luke 7:11-17, John 11:1-44) and a fourth, which is His own resurrection (John 2:19-22)!
This illustration speaks to God’s healing power and shows the compassion of Jesus. The mother and father of the girl are at her bedside as their eyes are turned away in disbelief. Jesus reaches for the girl’s hand which is limp over the side of the bed. Candles are burning to pay respect to her recent passing. I love Jesus’ eyes in this illustration, both sharp and compassionate. This Grace can also be given to those who are living; He can also restore souls (Psalm 23:3 BSB). There is Life Under Grace.
POTTER’S HANDS
Jeremiah was one of the major prophets of the old testament, and his calling spanned five kings of Judah: from Josiah to Zedekiah. The three kings who reigned in between Josiah and Zedekiah did evil in the site of the Lord and quite a large portion of Jeremiah’s prose was written during this time. It was during this time that these verses from Jeremiah chapter 18, not only warned of Israel’s destruction, but also gave them the opportunity for reconciliation. There are also some very encouraging verses from Jeremiah, one of which is on the Life Under Grace Mug (Jeremiah 29:13).
There are multiple potter and clay references in the Bible (e.g. Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:1-12, Romans 9:16-21). I chose this set of verses which gave me the inspiration for the design. Whether God is referring to a nation or an individual, God is the Potter and we are His clay. I chose to have this design represent the ancient hands of the Father. The hands have creases, lines, and knots and are covered with wet clay. The wheel is continuously spinning, and He is still working, and Jesus is also (John 5:17). There is grace in knowing, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11 BSB).”
MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH
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Moses was tending his family’s flock of sheep when he saw a bush on Mount Horeb that was on fire but was not being consumed. This intrigued Moses, and once he was close, the Lord called out to him by name from the burning bush. Through nearly two chapters of conversation between God and Moses, God names himself I AM WHO I AM whom Jesus declares himself (John 8:58 BSB). He declares Himself the God of Moses’ father and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob whom Jesus comments (Luke 20:37-38) is a declaration of the resurrection. God also declares his plans for Moses to lead His people out of Egypt, and God demonstrates His power to Moses to perform wonders in Egypt (Exodus 4).
This meeting is so important because the Lord is forming a relationship with Moses. I wanted this design to show Moses’ inquisitive and unsettled reverence for God. Moses was afraid to look God, and he hid his face (Exodus 3: 6 BSB). Moses had taken off his sandals (Exodus 3:5) and the sandals are set aside hastily. The lamb and staff remind us that Moses was a shepherd, even before Moses shepherded God’s people through the wilderness. Moses would go on to have many more meetings with God. “Thus the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11).” When Moses returned from Mount Sinai after forty days and forty nights, Moses was unaware that his face had turned radiant and all of the Israelites were afraid of him (Exodus 34:29-34).
God desires to have a relationship with everyone of us. The first conversation you have might be a bit awkward, but soon you will know Him as a friend.
HE IS MY REFUGE
One of the most compelling and relevant Psalms in our times is Psalm 91. “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling – my refuge, the Most High – no evil will befall you, no plague will approach your tent. For he will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all of your ways.” Psalm 91: 9 – 11 (BSB). Jewish tradition links this Psalm to Moses, and I would imagine Moses was inspired with this Psalm during the first Passover (the last plague of Egypt). God passed over those homes who were marked with the blood of the lamb as he pronounced judgment on the rest of Egypt. (Exodus 12:12 – 13)
Think about His promise during these times of the coronavirus and other natural disasters. If you make the Lord your refuge, no plague or disaster will approach your home or your family.
VIRGIN MARY
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This shirt celebrates the gift of Life. There are two miraculous conceptions in Luke 1. The first is of Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, who was barren and well advanced in years. (Luke 1:7) The second was of Mary, mother of Jesus, who was a virgin throughout His birth. (Matthew 1:25). In fact, Mary and Elizabeth were relatives, making John the Baptist and Jesus Christ relatives! (Luke 1:37). These two events were so important, that God sent one of His chief angels, Gabriel, to communicate the news to Mary and Elizabeth. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled. (Luke 1:45) Children are a gift from God (Psalm 143:7 BSB), and that is because God can provide life; life can only come from Life.
Jesus’ birth was foretold 700 years before by Isaiah 7:14 (BSB), where it is written, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel [God with us].” God’s one and only begotten (with God’s DNA) was given to us as a gift, “so that we might have life and have it in all it’s fullness.” (John 10:10 BSB) This is the greatest gift of grace in the Bible – “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 BSB)
We tried to capture a little bit of the essence of this story in this art. Mary is sitting in a chair that was carefully crafted by Jesus’ father, the carpenter(Matthew 13:55) near the hearth. Their dog is of an ancient breed which is a foreshadow of their pilgrimage to Egypt. The flowers and the little one’s chair are gifts from their families. His Spirit gives life in so many different ways, celebrate His life this season.
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