Mieke van Ingen

‘You gotta get down to the heart of the matter’

This statement was brought to my attention while studying in my early years (1982-1987) at The Royal Academy of Art / KABK in The Hague (NL), and it lingers with me ever since. Having spent 15 years in the South of France, my husband and i find ourselves from the vast mountain peaks of a foreign country, to the proximity of an encircled green field. Memories of branches of scented forests, of cedars, cypresses and pines, and of honeycombs, pomegranates and vines, leave a lyrical expression in paintings and poems. I’m learning to open my eyes of faith wide, to see details i might otherwise miss. To take time to smell the roses. It becomes more and more personal and intimate, like a dance of two lovers in a wonderful garden.

Mieke van Ingen has taken part in numerous solo and group exhibitions in galleries and cultural venues in the Netherlands and abroad. Artworks can be found in private and public collections in the Netherlands, France, Italy, the UK, and the USA.

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I was always more into color, but since 2016 numerous rhymes are imprinted on my heart during night-time hours. They are like whispers from Heaven, spiritual poems that touch the heart. I write them under the pen name Kyria Child.
My wish to you, the reader will be, that the Author of this still small voice, may be allowed to imprint in you His beautiful secrets. And that you will sense His intimacy, as He makes Himself personnally real.

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Messiah Who ?

In Matthew 11:30, Yahushua (the hebrew name of Jesus) said: for all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.

This and the two verses that precede it are among my favorites:

“So everyone, come to Me ! Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden ? Then come to Me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn My ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in Me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Jesus lifted many heavy burdens from our shoulders. Chief among these are the burden of sin and its eternal consequences:

“For this is how much the Father YHWH loved the world – he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Then there’s the burden of trying to live up to the requirements of the Law. In Romans 8:1-2 Paul said:

“So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One. For the law of the Spirit of life flowing through the anointing of Jesus liberated us from the law of sin and death.”

He also freed us from the burden of life’s worries. Jesus said:

“So then, forsake your worries ! Why would you say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn’t your Heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require ? So above all, constantly chase after the realm of the Kingdom of Heaven and the righteousness that proceeds from Him. Then all these less important things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:31-33).

And He lifted the burden of fear that we will do something that causes Him to take back everything He has given us:

“My own sheep will hear My voice and I know each one, and they will follow Me. I give to them the gift of eternal life and they will never be lost and no one has the power to snatch them out of My hands. My Father, Who has given them to Me as His gift, is the mightiest of all, and no one has the power to snatch them from my Father’s care. The Father and I are One” (John 10:27-30).

That left us with just one burden and it’s a light one. When they asked Yahushua (the Hebrew word ‘hushua’ means salvation, so Yahushua means YaH is saviour) what we must do to do the work YHWH requires of us He answered:

“The work you can do for The Almighty starts with believing in the One he has sent” (John 6:28-29).

A Prayer

If you want your situation to change, if you want a sound mind, if you are tired of sleepless nights, if you need a savior who can strengthen you to make it through life, I just know a helper and if you want Him then say this prayer, out loud:

Heavenly Father, with everything that I have and everything that I am, I come to you not holding nothing back nor hiding anything and saying I need you. I need for you to come in my life and save me. I need to turn from my wicked and sinful person that I am. I need the power and the blood of Yahushua (Jesus) to come in my life, to restore and renew me into a new creation as You said You would. Take control of all of me, keep me in Your hands and take control. In The Mighty Name of Yahushua Messiah I pray, Amen.

When you prayed this prayer, or one similar, then expect your Redeemer to work in your life. He will help you, just surrender.

“All you thirsty ones, come to Me ! Come to Me and drink ! Believe in Me, so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you; flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says !” (John 7:37-38).

As you read the Scriptures, you will find the Living Expression of YHWH is Yahushua, the Messiah, the Christ. The Word came with skin on as the Perfect Man. In Heaven Yahushua is still called the Word. When He came into this world He was given the name Yahushua (Jesus), the living manifestation of the glory of YHWH. Yahushua said He came in the Name of His Father, to show us The Father. Now, we also can call His Father, our Father. Indeed, He invites us to know Him as Abba Father, papa Father !

Reading the Gospel of John helps us to meet this beautiful Christ, and the perfect unity there is with The Father. And this unity, this peace, we can also experience by the working of the Person of the Holy Spirit, Who is also called The Great Comforter. The Person of the Holy Spirit will be living inside of you from the moment you accept Christ as your savior. He will help you to understand the Scriptures.

So get yourselves a bible (i prefer the Passion Translation), and start reading in the Gospel of John. John’s gospel will tell you about His heart. Or you can start with Acts. Where you will read about the Holy Spirit, and the change of many people’s lives. Because, who can resist this Man when He tugs on hearts to come to Him ?

Love, Joy, Peace

If you have sincerely confessed Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior —if you have placed your trust in Him and Him alone— then you belong to Him. You have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). You are sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). You are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). You are held in the hand of the Father and the Son (John 10:28-29). And hell has no power over you. Not now. Never.

And another thing, do not let anyone steal your hope. Do not let anyone replace the comfort of the Holy Spirit with the torment of fear. If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ —if you have confessed Him as Lord— then you are His. Not because you lived perfectly. Not because you never sinned. Not because you checked every box on some spiritual performance review. But because Jesus is faithful even when we are not (2 Timothy 2:13). Because salvation is His work, not ours. Because the promise of God does not depend on our performance, not even on mistakes you will make in the future. It depends on His character. And His character does not change.

He is not watching the clock on your sanctification. He is not tallying your failures. He finished the work. He said so Himself.
“It is finished” (John 19:30).
Not “it is started.” Not “it is partially done.” Not “it is finished pending your cooperation.” Finished. The Greek word is tetelestai —a word used in the ancient world to mark a debt as paid in full. Your debt is paid. The account is settled. Heaven’s ledger reads zero.
Rest in that. Stand on that. Build your life on that. And when someone comes to you with a vision, a video, or a testimony that tells you otherwise —hold it up to the light of Scripture and let the Word of God have the final word.
Because it always does.

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