Scarlet Robe Creations

The Tower of Babel - Pieter Bruegel the Elder Let us build. Let us plot. Let us make a name for ourselves. Let us be filled with pride. Let us take brick and stone. Let us pile one on top of the other. Let us forge a union which will never fail. Let us be filled with pride. Let us wave a flag. Let us celebrate what we are. Let us forget about He who saves. Let us be filled with pride. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

Empty. Void of a promise. A covenant refused, by the created, the offspring of Eden. Darkness. A world never embracing the light, absent of Isaiah's voice. Multitudes who worship stars and beasts. Never knowing the Word. Sometimes, we are a people like that. We are tongues that know not prayer. We are foreheads that know not blessing. We are souls that know not grace, and hearts that know not their Lord. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

Ishmael - Watercolor by James Tissot Consider the moment, Isaac playing with Hagar's son. Ishmael, the father of a great people, and Isaac the chosen of God. What if, perhaps, they could have been left to play  as children, without interference and manipulation. What if they could have been brothers, without learning to hate. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

He opened his eyes, although he wasn't certain they were ever really closed.  He sat in a chair, neither comfortable nor uncomfortable.  An open field surrounded him.  Green grass and wild flowers of yellows and purples stretched to the horizon.  The only interruption, a blemish, on the idyllic scene was another man in a chair facing his. The other man seemed out of focus.  His features were unclear.  The first man, the one who had just opened his eyes, tried to identify the man who was little more than a blemish against the meadow. "Who are you?" He asked, not expecting an answer, as the idea that he was in a dream brought on by... that was it... the accident.  He'd been driving too fast.  He lost control of his Ferrari. 'That was a fantastic car,' he mused, forgetting about the man, without discernable features, sitting across from him. "What have you done with that which I have given you?" The out of focus man finally spoke. The Ferrari, yes, t...

Be patient when you witness the world's glorification of evil. Do not be concerned. Do not envy their place, nor their prideful dance. They are grass. They are weeds. Soon they will wither and be cut down for the furnace. Take refuge in the Lord. Prosper in the ways of His words. That which celebrates wickedness will see its day as nothing more than dust. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

He is the atonement for our iniquities. He is the one who spoke not in His own defense. With Him, jubilee is embraced. We shall sing and dance for this promise has been fulfilled. We are washed. We are white as snow. But for no reason, other than His cross, and His blood. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

Illustration from a Bible Card - Published by Providence Lithograph Company Lifted up, like a a bronze serpent on a pole. A symbol of healing, a stain being removed. Lifted up, before those who grumble, a symbol of Eden's punishment and God's mercy. Lifted up, arms spread wide on wooden beams. He who has come to heal. He who washes you in His blood. He who is punished by men. He who is your savior. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

15th century depiction of Jesus crucified between the two thieves Scatter your enemies, gathered before you. They have risen up against you, lashed out against your chosen ones. May you exhale upon them, blow them like dust into the abyss. Form the wicked as wax in a burning flame that they might perish before you. At this judgement may the righteous stand joyfully. Their God has done a great thing for them. But what is this we hear? A voice will speak out from garments of humility. A new covenant with creation. He will not be a soldier, nor a king we recognize. He will speak of love, even for those who hate him. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

A yearning, in the depths of the created. Calling out into the vastness, one soul, seeking one God. In the psalm it might be a deer, seeking a stream with clear water. It might be a soul, seeking a union meant to purify. A longing, a cry for intimacy. A lyric sung by a voice from the deepness of one realm to another. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

Sing a song, which speaks to the Lord of His wonderous deeds. He has gained victory by His right hand and His holy arm. Sing a song, which speaks of salvation, bringing His word to the nations, telling of His love and His faithfulness. Sing a song, which can be heard from above. A song bringing forth joy. For each day He is worthy of your praise, and mine. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

Who has believed our message?  And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? Isaiah 53:1 Bernardino Luini - Crucifixion His holy arm, stretched out in the sight of all people. None will not know. They will look upon Him. Some will look away. The disfiguring sight hard to bear. They chose not to be drawn into His presence. See not His nakedness. See not the stripes on His flesh. He is salvation. But not all will witness what has been revealed. His holy arm stretched out on the limb of a tree. The branch of salvation. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

Singing a song making sense only to the singer. Words sung in intimacy between the soul and its keeper.   My song has few notes. The chords are chaotic. The measure changes with each whim, but the Lord understands each nuance of the melody.   Singing a song in a language foreign to other ears. Words meant as prayer, as conversation and as a sonnet of love. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author  

I Have always stood in awe at the creations of our loving God.   Despite all that I have never been for Him, He has been everything for me.   When I am discouraged I can turn to the east and watch the sunrise.   When I am lost I can face the western sky and watch the day come to rest.   When my soul is grounded and I am unable to look at His face, He lays out beautiful patterns of flowers at my feet.   He paints this world with every color imaginable and we have barely begun to see its beauty. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

Christ on the Throne - Cima da Coneliano The Lamb has become the Shepherd. The sheep stand before the throne, singing praise. They neither hunger, nor thirst. They will be led to springs of living water, by the one whose blood has cleansed their robes. The Lamb has become the Shepherd. The alpha and the omega has touched the soil of creation. His feet have tread upon the soil. The Good Shepherd has shown unto you His purpose. The Lamb has become the Shepherd. When He has neither been denied, or betrayed. When the sheep answer, "Yes Lord," to His voice. The Lamb without blemish has been led to the cross. He is meek. He is filled with humility. His side has been pierced, His tomb has been left empty, and He has always been. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

In the book 'Afternoons with Mister D', there is a chapter simply titled 'Nam, in this story within a story, the reader is introduced to a man named Albert Hobbs.  Albert is man full of hatred for those not like him, especially when it comes to skin color. The story below is written from Albert's perspective. And as always, 'Afternoons With Mister D' is available on Amazon.com Afternoons With Mister D He lies on his back, in the mud.   Overhead, the overcast sky looks down on him as he slowly inhales, taking one more breath.   Each time he fills his lungs, and then lets it out, he wonders if it will be the last. The explosions are deafening.   It matters little.   He is on the brink of moving beyond all of this, this war that is not a war. He has come to these jungles, because it is what his father would have done, and his grandfather.   The men in his family fought for their country.   He is no different.   God, family, country, apple pie, an...

You were given all you required, bread from heaven. But was it enough? When you grumbled there was quail, and you horded the gifts. You were given sustenance, when in the Desert of Sin, you thought you might starve. Would you have preferred slavery in Egypt? You are given all you require, bread of life, come down from heaven. But is it enough when it does not come with the expected sword? copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

Jesus Eats Breakfast with His Disciples - James Tissot Come, have breakfast. There is a fire, sticks burnt to charcoal, laid out just so. There are fish already being prepared, and bread. Come, have breakfast. The shores of the Sea of Tiberias are barren, except for the man who beckons. You drag your overloaded net on to the beach. The catch is abundant. Come, have breakfast. Tally your catch. Despite the number the nets have not torn. One hundred and fifty-three where before there was not one, and they dared not ask, because they knew. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

You ran, perhaps filled with a joy unknown before. After the empty day that was yesterday, you had expected nothing more than more emptiness. You ran, the light frightened you, but the voice gave you strength, so you sprinted from the sight of stones and boulders. Would they believe you? Your euphoria had to diminish, a tiny bit, as you considered rejection. You were women, you had no voice among the men, your opinion had no weight except in His hearing. You ran, all the way to great city. It is what the light told you to do. Peter and John, they will doubt your words. Your excitable rambling will make little sense to the world. Miracles exist to fester doubt, and what is seen by the women, is never equal to what will be seen by men. copyright 2025- Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

This is the verdict. It is written down so that there will be no question. A sign of brightness came into the world, a blaze of brilliance. The radiance of goodness exposed shadows at the core of iniquity. This is the verdict. Darkness hates the light, illumination of all that is evil. Darkness prefers the dank corners of corruption. It ferments in its own mire, lost in the grasp of sin. This is the verdict. Light came. It touched those who sought it's brilliance. Some chose darkness. They distained the glow of purity, and walked among dry bones rather than flesh. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

"Did you not feel the earth tremble?" One of the guards spoke.  The other two maintained silence.  Obviously they were shaken.  The news they were bringing to the high priest would not be received well. "There was no earthquake," one of the priests said. "We felt it, great priest," the guard replied. "Your task was to stand watch over the tomb of a dead man.  One who claimed to have the ability to rise from death.  One whose followers would stop at nothing to make us... and the Romans believe he had, in fact, come back among the living." "There was a light as well," another guard added. "And three women," said the first guard. "Women?" The high priest queried. "They saw the tomb as well.  It was empty." "Caiaphas," a rounded priest said, stepping up beside the high priest, "Perhaps these women were followers of the Nazorean." "I see no reason to doubt your observation," Caiapha...

The Three Women at the Tomb of Christ - Irma Marti n "Do not be afraid." They have come expecting death, and finding burial cloths, stains of blood, but no body. Did they believe? They have come with perfumes, to anoint death, but the tomb is empty, the stone has been rolled away. "Do not be afraid." The guards have run off. The angel, dressed white as snow, speaks of Jesus' promise. He has risen. Is it joy, or is it fear? The news fills their emptiness, and opens their hearts to the truth. Jesus is love rejected. "Do not be afraid." copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

Rending the Veil - William Bell Scott, 1869 The tomb is opened. Come and see. He has said this, promised that He would fulfill scripture. Now it is done. The stone has been rolled away and the darkness inside is empty. The women were first, then those who hid in fear followed. Maybe they doubted Mary's claim. But He has risen. The earth has trembled. The veil has been torn, top to bottom. Grace is upon us. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

There is one among you, one who places a price on the will of God. He has listened to the voices of demons. He has opened the palm of his hands for coin, and the emptiness of betrayal. He will dine with the one, the teacher who he will kiss in greeting. He will set himself at the table, to share the Passover meal, then slip into collusion with those who were greatly pleased by his sin. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

James Tissot - Jesus Enters Jerusalem Hosanna! They lay down there cloaks, not for a stallion, prancing amidst the crowd, not for a centurion, robed with the honor of his rank. Hosanna! Their palms and branches cover not the dust from the hoofs of the beast who carry any dignitary of a puppet king. Hosanna! Their cloaks, the branches waved in celebration, shield a donkey's colt from soil, from kingdoms built on war. Hosanna! An itinerant preacher, a homeless vagabond, rides a beast burdened with humility. Celebrated as a king. Bringing a peace they cannot comprehend. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

Anthony van Dyck - The Brazen Serpent He became a curse, lifted up in our sight, on a beam of wood. As in the wilderness the serpent was raised on a pole, so is the Lord raised up. It is an act of faith, to look up and be healed. But never does the bronze image, or the ceramic figure, cast away our sin. Healing comes only with the act of faith. He became a curse, lifted up in our sight, on a cross. The serpent has foreshadowed Him. He has taken the poison bite of our transgressions upon His own flesh, and we are healed. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

"Where is your father?" they asked him. "You do not know me, or my father," Jesus answered.  "If you knew me you would also know my father." John 8:19 Where is your father? They ask this, those whose ancestors were led out, whose forefathers ate manna, and saw the walls of Jericho fall. Where is your father? The prophets have spoken. They have uttered words defining this day. They have pointed the direction, you should follow. Where is your father? Even today we ask this, those of us who taste the world's disbelief. We ignore prophets, the words of the Apostles, and the testimony of the Son. Where is your father? No miracle can ordain faith. For them, this question will never be answered, since they know not who He is. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

Not a poem.  Below are simply the phrases spoken by Jesus at Bethany. First to Martha, then Mary, a prayer of thanksgiving to the Father for the benefit of the crowd, and finally the command for his friend to rise from the tomb. John 11 He said this, ponder each of these phrases in your heart; Your brother will rise again. I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,  and everyone who believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? Where have you laid him? Take away the stone. Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God? Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so they may believe that you sent me. Lazarus, come forth!

Have the authorities concluded that He is the Christ? John 7:26 Jesus Teaches the People by the Sea - James Tissot Why is it that we need to be told, especially by them who speak highly, who state their knowledge of the creator. Why is it that we cannot judge for ourselves. Often authorities lead us astray. They direct us where their thoughts guide them. Perhaps their thoughts are not always of God. Why is it that we can be witnesses to the blind gaining sight, to the leper being healed, to a child being told to rise from her bed, and still wait for those who ordain themselves as holy to speak their approval. copyright 2025 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author