Michael David Watson

"When are you going to decide to be an artist, and not just someone who occasionally paints?" Is what my wife said to me one evening while annoyed at my attitude towards my vocation at the time. And even though it wasn’t a fun conversation - I understood what she meant, at some point the phrase "decide to become!" jarred me into a place where I could no longer run from myself in that area of my life. I can remember the first time I began to paint as a child sitting in front of the TV on Sunday mornings trying to render the same image Bob Ross was painting on the screen. With burnt umber and greens on a paper pallet as I attempted to create the same pine tree design he seemed to lay out so effortlessly. Even at such a young age I took an interest in art. I didn’t realize that I had a gift till later years when my doodles in class didn’t seem to compare to everyone else's, and my art teachers recognized my talent. Finding your gifting is an amazin

With only a bench holding the weight of our curiosity, we glared at a painting that took the center of the room at the museum of art in Cleveland . My art teacher adimately instructed us to focus on the Black and Gray canvas for Just a little bit longer... it was then that something happened to me that changed the way I would look at art for the rest of my Life! It was then that the very simple black and gray colors began to blend before my eyes, I noticed the students around me grew silent, as the dark colors of the piece seemed to surround me. As my countenance fell I felt a weight on my shoulders and the presence of a darkness that went much deeper than the black and grey oil colors on that Canvas. I was a Freshman in art school when I experienced that painting in one of my studio art classes. The Artist Name was  Mark Rothco  and the painting was - Untitled in His last series Called  The Black Series  as my art Teacher went on to tell the story behind the piece and how the a

Its amazing what happens when we actually die to ourselves and God takes over! Seemed to be the message last night at  Church On the North Coast Wickliffe , Ohio at the  Lions in the War Room Meeting . What a night as I was able to share some of my heart, my testimony and some of my  Artwork, Paintings and Prints  as well! As ministers often when going into a meeting we tend to have our own idea of what is going to happen or what God is going to do. However, what I have learned about prophetic ministry is that it tends to pull apart our picture, our plans, and even ourselves as God contends for our will and pulls us apart before the people. I believe he does this because he wants people to see him, yet also he wants people to see us. He wants people to see him because its him that is going to do the work, its his Holy Spirit that is going to make a real mark. When we have church and we reach each-other on one level, there is a God level that makes church Kingdom. A lot of ministr

God you have Given me much! I am rich! Yet my prosperity is not on paper. I'm wealthy but only in gifting, faith, and love. If only i were a hero, yet my sacrifices are spiritual and unseen! My faith is abounding yet only still a seed underground not having shown any green. Who sees this real me? Who acknowledges my strengths? Who is witness to my true heart? And no advocate to my flaws. Who recognizes me & values my Gifts? Lord if you stand behind me then uncover me. My strength is in secret, while my weaknesses are in the open for all to see! My Child... The world can only see you in your humble place, and the proud will not even recognize you in honor. But I uncover hidden Glory, and I reveal beauty in the secret places. And I release the gifting in the hands, and I am he who unloosens the tongue! I unlock the power in a word, and only I can interpret the true wisdom in a proverb. All of mine will be seen and come to be known when Christ has risen upon them. This is my

I despondently watched a drop of water roll all the way down the window as I laid prostrate across my fully reclined seat in my car over a lake early in the morning. I had been at the lake in my car all night trying to stay warm as the tears streamlined down my face like the same streaming rain that was soaking my windshield. An unfavorable fire kindled and burned so deep within me, a pain that was almost hard to endure sunk deeper and deeper into the pit my soul, "it was an egregious rejection" My eyes glazed over as if to be amiss  to all reality... I had lost everything! I lost all that I built up over the years, all that I aspired to be! My life as I knew it was destroyed, with what seemed to be no hope of restoration... Failure rung in my ears and disappointment seemed to become permanently branded on my forehead. I died that day like so many other days before it... and began getting to a point where I questioned how much more I had to suffer and how much more did I

I heard the lyrics as Daniel played worship, the sound was "We want to know you Lord!" What an amazing cry & heart of true worship... I could picture thousands of people today who have a heart to truly want to know God like no other generation before us. Then in the midst of the song - the Lord began to speak to me. "Yes, to truly know me... but we still have yet to even REALLY get to know each-other." I was surprise at what I heard, and then I realized the heart of God. I realized that the purpose and pursuit to get to know God is not fulfilled in us knowing him better, yet not better knowing each-other, they go hand in hand.  What an amazing time, and refreshing worship last night as we gathered for the second time this year. The purpose of these gatherings are clear, that God has a heart for the city, and a heart for prayer, and he also has a heart to see us step into something greater than ourselves - overcoming the limitations we put ourselves into and