LIGHT ARISES IN THE DARKNESS:
A Journal of Comfort, Encouragement, and Inspiration
Original Painting of a Now-Non-Existent Building
Here is a painting I did of a building in my town that is now no longer there. I title this “The Original Upland,” (24″ x 30″, acrylic on hardboard) because it used to be the home of Upland Distributing, Inc. a vacuum and filtration sales and service company where I used to work years ago, as a traveling service technician. While I worked there I built up a relationship with my boss, the owner. Since I knew the building was slated to be demolished soon, and the owner would have to move his business into another building after being there for nearly 20 years, I thought a painting would be an encouragement to him. It would help keep the memories alive. It was something I felt God wanted me to do to bless him, and I waited for a while, but when I knew that demolition was imminent, I got out my camera and took some pictures. Maybe I’m a newbie at camera lenses, or I just tried to do the best I could with my small digital camera, but backed up by the buildings on the other side of the street, I couldn’t get the angle I wanted for image. So I took a few images and “frankensteined” them together on Photoshop, using the warp and perspective tool to change the angle of the building to match the photos seamed together. Never mind the cut-up-half floating car! That won’t be in the actual painting! With this layout, I now had an image to paint! Here’s the... read more![[Light Arises in the Darkness] Chapter 1, Part 2: The Purpose of Suffering](https://mattphilleo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Victory-in-Surrender_sm.jpg)
[Light Arises in the Darkness] Chapter 1, Part 2: The Purpose of Suffering
In my last post, I shared with you a portion of the first chapter for the book, Light Arises in the Darkness: How to Go Through Suffering and Experience Incredible Joy. Originally, I put all of Chapter 1 into one post, but it was too long, so I broke it up into two segments… The question in that first post was…Why is there suffering? I talked about the reasons why–what causes it, but now you may be asking, “What good can come out of suffering? Why is it necessary?” Let’s dive into that today. We’ll finish up Chapter 1 where we discuss, “What is the Purpose of Suffering? I invite you to become a part of my Reader’s Review Group and I’ll let you know whenever I have a new section on the book written. Also, you will receive a discount on the actual book when it’s published. Click here and Join today! Light Arises in the Darkness How to Go Through Suffering and Experience Incredible Joy Copyright 2017 by Matt Philleo. All rights reserved. (To help you navigate through the book. I’ll be including links below to various posts…) CONTENTS Introduction Why is there Suffering Acknowledging Your Suffering Suffering Caused by Financial Problems Suffering Caused by Health Problems Suffering Caused by Loss Problems Suffering Caused by Relationship Problems Suffering Caused by Internal Problems Seeking the Lord in Your Suffering Responding to His Presence and Encouragement Becoming an Encourager “Still Before Spring,” 11 x 14, acrylic on canvas by Matt Philleo “This is one of the sad conditions of life, that experience is not transmissible. No man... read more![[Light Arises in the Darkness] Chapter 1: Why is There Suffering?](https://mattphilleo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/war-2545307_960_720.jpg)
[Light Arises in the Darkness] Chapter 1: Why is There Suffering?
Why is there suffering in the world? In the last post, I shared with you my intro for the book, Light Arises in the Darkness: How to Go Through Suffering and Experience Incredible Joy. Now, today, I’m going to tackle the question that everyone seems to ask when their world is caving in. Others more scholarly than myself have expounded on the subject far better than I can, but I hope to share a different perspective that may help and encourage you. Let’s go on to Chapter 1 where we discuss, “Why is there suffering?” Light Arises in the Darkness How to Go Through Suffering and Experience Incredible Joy Copyright 2017 by Matt Philleo. All rights reserved. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- I invite you to become a part of my Reader’s Review Group and I’ll let you know whenever I have a new section on the book written. Also, you will receive a discount on the actual book when it’s published. Join today! (To help you navigate through the book. I’ll be including links below to various posts…) CONTENTS Introduction Why is there Suffering Acknowledging Your Suffering Suffering Caused by Financial Problems Suffering Caused by Health Problems Suffering Caused by Loss Problems Suffering Caused by Relationship Problems Suffering Caused by Internal Problems Seeking the Lord in Your Suffering Responding to His Presence and Encouragement Becoming an Encourager “God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them.” ― Augustine of Hippo, City of God CHAPTER 1: Why is there Suffering? Suffering is inevitable. We don’t have to travel... read more![[Light Arises in the Darkness Book] Intro](https://mattphilleo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Light_Arises_Cover_Layout_1-800x675.jpg)
[Light Arises in the Darkness Book] Intro
Recently, I mentioned my new book I was writing, Light Arises in the Darkness: How to Go Through Suffering and Experience Incredible Joy. So here is my book–in progress–starting with the a cover layout I made on Photoshop. It may change as I get closer to publication, but this will work for now. And here is the chapter outline, followed by the introduction. Keep in mind the book will be edited before publication, but you will get to see it in the rough, first. I really appreciate your comments, as that will be an encouragement and will also help me in the direction I take the book. Please pray for me that I would write it well–that it would be according to the truth in God’s word, the Bible, that it would encourage others in the midst of their struggles, and that it would help people to see how awesome God is, in the midst of the difficulties of life. Thank you! Light Arises in the Darkness How to Go Through Suffering and Experience Incredible Joy Copyright 2017 by Matt Philleo. All rights reserved. CONTENTS Why is there Suffering? Acknowledging Your Suffering Suffering Caused by Financial Problems Suffering Caused by Health Problems Suffering Caused by Loss Problems Suffering Caused by Relationship Problems Suffering Caused by Internal Problems Seeking the Lord in Your Suffering Responding to His Presence and Encouragement Becoming an Encourager “Our sorrows are all, like ourselves, mortal. There are no immortal sorrows for immortal souls. They come, but blessed be God, they also go. Like birds of the... read more
8 Reasons Why I’m Back to Writing the Book
Almost two years ago, I decided I was going to write a book on encouragement. Initially, it was going to be just a brief E-Book, but then… Then, I started asking for a few folks to contribute their stories–stories of how they went through struggles in life, but somehow made it through. Several people responded, and I had stories that I could include to truly add life to the book! This meant that the book needed to expand and with several concepts brewing in my head, I knew that I had enough content for a full-length printed book. My goal was (and still is) to make this a unique book by including a lot of paintings, drawings, and illustrations to go with the concepts and stories. I had a title already picked out for it: Light Arises in the Darkness: How to Go Through Suffering and Experience Incredible Joy. The premise of the book is that in the middle of your biggest trials, fears, disillusionment and devastations, God would meet you in the dark place and pour out His light, love and mercy on you, if you would only seek Him. I know, because I’ve been there, and experienced it. Maybe you have too! This was a book that I needed to write. Even as an artist, sometimes pictures just aren’t enough to communicate a message that dives down so deep into who you are. If a picture is worth a thousand words, I would need at least a hundred pictures to share this message of hope with others. Words are needed too. Soon enough, these words flowed... read more
About Me
Hi, I’m Matt Philleo. I create artwork to comfort, encourage, and inspire. For those who are discouraged, brokenhearted and experiencing loss, my artwork has special meaning, often by guiding them to the One who can bring true peace and lasting joy.
I’ve been doing art on commission and exhibition on a part-time basis since 1991, and exclusively full-time since 2013. Currently, I live in Eau Claire, WI with my wife and three children.
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