Ferocious Love

By Latimer Bowen

Ferocious Love is about Latimer Bowen's journey from a wounded artist struggling with depression to a prophetic artist and seer who partners with the Holy Spirit to transfer God's message and vision onto canvas.

 

In one of her encounters, God showed her the Lion of Judah and commissioned her to offer His love to every

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary Ethel Eckard
• Release date: Sep 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798988032694

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To contact the author: [e-mail]

Copyright 2023 ©Latimer Bowen. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the author. All rights reserved to paintings, illustrations, and drawings contained herein cannot be modified, distributed, or used without the express permission of Latimer Bowen.

Published by

Mary Ethel Eckard

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Frisco, Texas

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023914835

ISBN (Paperback): 979-8-9880326-8-7

ISBN (E-book): 979-8-9880326-9-4

ISBN (Hard Cover): 978-0-578-69567-9

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible. Copyright © 2015 by the Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible ®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version ®. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Cover Design Concept by: Chelsea Umberger, Simple + Clean Marketing Agency, Inc.

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DEDICATION

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Joy on Earth

This book is dedicated to the One I love, my dear One.

He is my Father, precious Jesus, and the dear Holy Spirit.

He is my heart’s passion, the star of every painting, and the hero of this book.

My primary goal is to honor the wonder-working God who loved me so dearly that He healed and delivered me, set me free, and launched me into my destiny.

In honoring my King, this love letter, told through my story,

is purposed to offer you very real hope.

What He has done for me, He will do for you.

Of this I am certain —

He loves you with everlasting love.

A relationship with you is His deepest desire.

Yippee, Amen, and Hallelujah!!!

TO HONOR

My King, Jesus, Yeshua, Messiah, Savior, who loved me first and released into my care Project 7 Billion, www.project7billion.org, through which we are reaching the world with His love.

Don Bowen, my late husband, and my chief cheerleader. His powerful, quiet, steadfast faith blazed a trail that ignited my heart. He was my soulmate. He led me back to Jesus and baptized me.

Our children and grands

Shane and Leah Bowen and

Josie, Garrett, and Baines Bowen

Ashley and Mark Murphy and

Emma, Jack, Griffin, and Georgia Mayo

Watson and Laura Bowen and

Blake Bowen

My sister-in-law and brother-in-law

Donna Bowen and Steve Stiles

Judy Eager, Shane and Ashley’s mother, has supernaturally and graciously shared her children with my heart and thus made it possible for me to feel that Shane and Ashley are also bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh!

My first, late husband, Jody Flournoy, and my Flournoy Family

I married Prince Charming. Ours was a true, deep, young, passionate love story.

It was nearly impossible to survive his loss.

My second, late husband, John Mitchell, and my Mitchell Family

John was my unexpected second chance, so loving and full of life. Death stole him way too soon.

Daughters - Christine, Susannah, and Leila-Scott

My family of origin

Parents - Pat and Jim Packman

Brother John Packman

Sister Ana and Doug Corbin and their children and grands

Daughter Lally (little Latimer), Jon Peebles, and Adelyn

Son James and Courtney Corbin and

Shane, Jeremy, and Caleb

And, oh, so many extended family members, mentors, leaders, and friends.

I am the most blessed of women. I would not be who I am today without each of you.

Thank you, all!

With love and a grateful heart,

Lucy Latimer Packman, Flournoy, Mitchell, Bowen

Contents

FOREWORD

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

RED                  IN THE BEGINNING

ORANGE         BREAKTHROUGH

YELLOW         COURTSHIP BY THE KING, THE LION OF JUDAH

GREEN            NEW BEGINNINGS

BLUE                THE RIVER OF GOD

INDIGO           ENCOUNTERING GOD

VIOLET           TO THE GLORY OF GOD

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SPECIAL THANKS

ENDNOTES

PROPHETIC MEANING OF COLORS

ROY G BIV

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CHAPTER RED - IN THE BEGINNING

Some of the prophetic meanings of the color RED include atonement, the blood of Jesus, sacrifice, redemption, and love.

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CHAPTER ORANGE - BREAKTHROUGH

Some of the prophetic meanings of the color ORANGE include courage, passion, dunamis power, fire, harvest, and strength.

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CHAPTER YELLOW – COURTED BY THE KING: THE LION OF JUDAH

Some of the prophetic meanings of the color YELLOW include courtship with God, intentional pursuit, and the glory of God.

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CHAPTER GREEN – NEW BEGINNINGS, IGNITE

Some of the prophetic meanings of the color GREEN include new beginnings, growth, hope, restoration, happiness, springtime, birth, and life.

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CHAPTER BLUE – THE RIVER OF GOD

Some of the prophetic meanings of the color BLUE include heavenly, prophetic, Holy Spirit, grace, revelation, God’s knowledge, the river of God, and life-giving flow of the Holy Spirit.

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CHAPTER INDIGO – ENCOUNTERING GOD, NO EXCEPTIONS

Some of the prophetic meanings of the color INDIGO extend to include the colors mixed to produce this color in paint BLUE and RED. These meanings include heavenly, prophetic, Holy Spirit, grace, revelation, God’s knowledge, the river of God, life-giving flow of the Holy Spirit, atonement, the blood of Jesus, sacrifice, redemption, and love.

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CHAPTER VIOLET – TO THE GLORY OF GOD, CROWN OF THORNS, FOR THE DISPLAY OF HIS SPLENDOR

Some of the prophetic meanings of the color VIOLET extend to include the colors used to produce this color in paint, RED, BLUE, MAGENTA, and PURPLE. These meanings include atonement, the blood of Jesus, sacrifice, redemption, love, heavenly, prophetic, Holy Spirit, grace, revelation, knowledge, the river of God, life-giving flow of the Holy Spirit, intimacy with Christ, royalty, sonship, wealth, and authority.

FOREWORD

by Lou Engle

I first met Latimer in her art studio in Abilene, Texas. The paintings on the walls danced with light and stunning bright colors. The only thing that shone brighter was the bubbling joy and countenance radiating from the face of the artist herself. One’s countenance is a reflection of the hidden state of the soul. Similarly, an epic painting is the reflection of the painter’s soul. When you look at a piece of art, you do not quickly glance at the feature of the frame or the texture of the canvas. You do not just superficially survey the surface of the scene itself. You must be drawn to gaze beyond the surface into the soul of the painting and ultimately the soul of the painter.

One of Latimer’s paintings of the Lion of Judah, cut down to wallet size, has been distributed to millions around the world, drawing the viewers to gaze upon and be changed. Such an extraordinary reach and effect is not produced by just a good painting.

I have said many times that when one hears a message or a prophecy, it may be eloquent and well-crafted, but the response of the soul leaves one unmoved. Another message, maybe not so well-delivered, ignites a fire in that same soul. The difference? The painter or the prophet has become, in the storyline of their own lives, the embodiment of the prophecy. True art is incarnational. Such is the art of Latimer Bowen. It reaches out and touches the viewer because the artist has touched God.

This book is the epic story of Latimer Bowen’s life; the pain, redemptive pathways, and the people that produced the painter and the paintings. Follow her through her childhood trauma, life’s trail of tears, her passing through the valleys of death and weeping, and then turning them into places of healing waters. Through it all was the presence of Jesus, gently shepherding His lamb.

I was so moved reading of the tender nearness of her husband redeemer who was to her a heart and hand of healing like that of her heavenly Husband. Watch her turn wilderness places on their land into prayer portals and numerous invisible visions into visual realities of art. Even her art studio was a place where revival broke out. Oh, and learn of her sister bands of prayer and prophecy that prepared her for the great vision of reaching seven billion people on the planet with the painting of I love you, Lion of Judah.

In her book, Ferocious Love, experience how Latimer, the one in hiding, came out of her cave of insecurity. Her nightmares became dreams. Now the dreamer paints the dream, and the dream changes the world. What a story and what a dream, and her story calls us into ours.

This true story is, in a sense, a modern day journey of Hinds Feet in High Places, which tells of Little Miss Much Afraid climbing the mountain with companions, Sorrow and Suffering, being transformed by the Chief Shepherd, and given a new name, Grace and Glory. The crippled becomes the Queen. Yes, glory! To meet Latimer is to run smack into a framed picture of glory painted by God Himself, a painting you’ll never forget.

Lou Engle

Lou Engle Ministries

www.louengle.com

A BLESSING FOR YOU

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but in the one to come.

And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 1:17-23

PREFACE

Sure as the vine grows ‘round the stump, you’re my darlin’ sugar lump.

These are the words my mother wrote to me every Valentine’s Day of her life and mine. Not only do they still resonate deeply in my heart, but they have also increased in substance and value since her death. But there is another One whose words continually increase in substance and depth throughout all our days.

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Breathe

This painting, entitled Breathe, represents an encounter I had with Jesus. He met me face to face, nose to nose, eyeball to eyeball, and far closer than I still think could ever be possible, and yet it was. Jesus came that day as the Lion of Judah. I have captured an aspect of that spectacular meeting in this painting.

Several years ago, I was caught up in worship at New Hope Church in Abilene, Texas. It was my first experience at this Spirit-filled church, and I did not know what their worship culture was like. Nevertheless, I felt leaping coming upon me, so I chose not to look around and check because my heart was fully committed to leap before the Lord. Sometimes it is better not to know what others think. (This experience I am sharing is meant for the body of Christ and specifically for you, dear reader. Know that He is speaking directly to your heart.)

There I was, caught up in worship, leaping, and captivated by His great love, when all of a sudden, I knew He, the Lion of Judah, was nose to nose close, standing directly in front of me, and I heard, "Open your eyes." I obeyed. I fully expected to see Him with my eyeballs, which I did not. I did see Him in full technicolor with the eyes of my spirit through opened eyes. He appeared more intensely real than my natural sight would have allowed. Then, somehow, He leaned in closer and said,

"I want to be nostril to nostril close.

I want you to be willing to stay put in the intense intimacy."

Even now, my cells feel the intensity. I wanted to look away from His gaze that was locked onto mine. I felt certain that I would die, dissolve, or explode from the immensity of His presence and His divine invitation. In that single moment, my desire to please my King was greater than my desire to preserve my life. So, as I stayed put, He began to fill my lungs with His breath. When eventually I had to exhale, He drew my breath in through His own nostrils. Back and forth we breathed for what seemed like forever, but having survived it, not long enough. Again, He somehow leaned in even closer and, with a catch in His throat as if He might cry, He whispered,

Your breath refreshes me.

Afterward, as worship continued, I grabbed my notebook and, still standing, captured the encounter on paper. Then I wrote, How can this be? And it is! Even as I wrote, I couldn’t unknow the truth of how deeply He wants us all close and closer still. God’s love was and is and will forever be our greatest truth. Then, stunned and fully alive and searching for words, I wrote, and I feel… I feel… I feel spectacular! In an instant, I was forever changed.

My mother’s words remain precious and dear to my heart. The King’s Words are alive and continuously vibrating, now and throughout eternity. His ever-present desire for us feels more intensely passionate today than ever. The nature of the prophetic is that, as I experienced the exchange, I knew it was also specifically purposed as His invitation to your heart. He urges me to remind you that an intimate relationship with you is what He unrelentingly seeks. You are His deepest desire. He is saying to you,

"Open your eyes.

I want to be nostril to nostril close.

I want you to be willing to stay put in the intense intimacy."

He wants to share His breath with you and breathe yours in because, beloved, your breath refreshes Him. And my heart cries,

Yippee, Amen, and Hallelujah!!!

INTRODUCTION

Up until a few years ago, I had never said the word yippee out loud, though I think I’ve written it a time or two. I started speaking this phrase, Yippee, Amen, and Hallelujah!!! Each time, I would be filled with joy and laughter. When I spoke at church and ended with this phrase, those listening would laugh too. I felt there was more to the phrase I needed to understand. Then one day while wandering, just for fun, through Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, I began looking at the word holy and found myself enjoying the words heal and healing. In my peripheral vision, I thought I saw the word yippee.

Staring intently at the word, I blinked repeatedly, certain I couldn’t be seeing what I thought I was seeing. The word finally came into focus. It was yirpeel. I felt the Lord’s delight at leading me to this discovery and I read on. Remember, I had been joyfully saying and writing with great regularity Yippee, Amen, and Hallelujah!!! I always add three exclamations for The Father, His Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I have since adopted yippee as a loose transliteration of yirpeel. Why? Because yirpeel means, God will heal. And I know this to be true because He has brought me through and healed me of many things.

I am a survivor of trauma and childhood verbal, physical, and sexual abuse. I have loved deeply and been widowed three times, twice to sudden violent accidents and once to pancreatic cancer. I know the pain of losing a child by miscarriage. I lost a sister-in-law to suicide. My parents and all my parents-in-law have died. I am the oldest living relative in our family and have been for decades. I have been betrayed in business by a thief who robbed me and my children of our inheritance. I have walked through depression and have courted suicide while seeking relief in all the wrong places. I have lost relationships because of my faith and have been abandoned, yet I refuse to focus on these losses. I am also walking in freedom from many self-medicating obsessions including anorexia, overexercising, binging, overworking, and alcohol abuse.

Each of our life stories are part of God’s story and His story encompasses all of ours. As I share the background settings for my story, I want you to know that I believe I am the most blessed of women. Since my healing, the Lord has continued to fill me with supernatural joy. His revelation is the gift that has given me the eyes to see and the ears to hear what He has prepared for those who love Him, including me.

I was born an artist and I am a seer, but it took years to discover these gifts. In November of 2009, I was radically healed and delivered from a lifetime of trauma, and I was commissioned and set free into my destiny. Immediately I stepped into that for which I was created. As a result, I pressed in, staying open to His leading. Since then I have, with focused attention, listened intently to and for His voice to see and hear what He is doing.

Being any kind of artist is ultimately about fine-tuning our seeing and then using our individual points of view with creative expression. As a prophetic artist, I am in communion with the King, listening and watching for what He wants to reveal from Heaven at that specific moment on Earth. My point of view comes from recognizing His voice and leading. Conversely, I recognize when it is not the voice of my Good Shepherd. When I hear His voice, I don’t look for loopholes to not believe Him because it is outside of what I believe or know. I