A few days ago a big box of these paintings showed up in the FGGAM mailbox! What a blessing……I will let the man himself tell the story……Randal Thom from Lakefield, Minnesota…You can see that Randal is a doggy lover like me!
Many years ago, I had started to collect rocks that looked neat and one day…. I thought.. why am I hoarding these beautiful creations. They are so solid, like my Jesus, and then I was given the inspiration to take a paint pen and write encouraging words, or even just the name of my Lord on them, like Jesus Loves You.. so I began what I called making Jesus Rocks cause He is rock solid. I was living in Rochester at the time, which is the home of the world famous Mayo Clinic, so I would take them rocks and walk around the Hospital or in the waiting rooms and pray that the person who found the rock would be lifted up in spirit from the message. I didn’t see the results very often, but I do know that Jesus did, and yes a few times I did see people picking them up and looking up towards the heavens and smiling.
A couple of years ago, in the springtime, I discovered these beautiful pieces of bark after the ice melted, one side was always so smooth and wonderful, and I just started to collect the pieces not sure what I would do with them, but they sure were pretty. lol… Well last fall I came across my bags of the bark and I experimented using my paint pens with messages.. well it was after our mutual friend Karen Rowe had told me she discovered my Jesus rocks almost two years after I had left them at her home from a visit to North Carolina and her asking if she could have me send her more that I really got into working with the bark too. Well any good project needs a name and I soon was inspired to call the wood my CROSSBARK creations as I put a cross on every piece.
I laugh at myself cause I sure am no artist, but each piece is prayed upon, is completely original and a gift from Jesus thru His love, grace and mercy..
Randal Thom from Lakefield, Minnesota
Randal and I grew up together in Windom, Minnesota, we lived just a few short blocks away from each other and played baseball together, at Moede field. I had the blessing of baptizing Randal a few years ago on a trip back home, a memory that inspires me to this day. Thank YOU Lord for the testimony of Randal. Randal thank you for being a blessing to me and Sharon and Buffy and Reno! Amen!
PLEASE READ HERE FOR MORE INSPIRATION FROM MINNESOTA: