Mountain Top Experience

Today I would like to tell you about a friend of mine who is in the middle of a Mountain Top Experience. Gretchen Weller is a devoted wife and mother of three beautiful children,  she plays a mean bass guitar,  and loves God with all her heart.  It came as a shock to us all when she was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  My family and I began to pray daily for the Weller's.  As we prayed God began to tug on my heart to step out and do more than just pray.  It was at that point that I began the above painting.  As I painted I prayed for strength and peace for Gretchen and her family as they fight to conquer the mountain that has been placed before them.  Below is a video where I invite you to pray along with me and join in supporting the Weller family.   Prints of this painting are available by clicking the buy print link above and all proceeds will go to support the Weller Family.   If you wish to make a cash donation to support the Weller's please visit their support site at Youcaring.com.

Support the Weller Family as they fight stage 4 Cancer.  

Buy a print by clicking link above

Make a direct cash donation Youcaring.com.

Psalm 121

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Faithful and True

 

Trustworthy

Unyielding

Faithful

True

All words that I would use to describe Christ.  Today I am thankful of the promise delivered and the promises to come.

 

Revelation 19:11-16

¹¹ Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³ He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ¹⁵ Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.

Then God

For Christmas service at our church I was asked to create a painting that showed God's light.  Not an easy task, and one which caused me to do much pondering.  In Revelations it is written that His face shines like the very Sun.  In Genesis God spoke light into existence in four words.  Moses was hidden in the cleft of a rock before he could catch a mere glimpse of God from the back.  God's light can not be dulled, extinguished, or diverted.  God's light is powerful, wild, joyful, and tender all at once.  As I prayed about the project I realized quickly that I could not recreate God's light, so I set out to create a painting that began in darkness and moved toward God's light. See time-lapse of painting below.   In life I often start haphazardly, leap before I look, step into it.  It is often in those moments that I have a "Then God moment".  The aha where I realize that I got ahead of God's plan once again.  It is my prayer today that I would bathe in God's light and that I would walk only where that light shines.

Isaiah 60:1-3

60 “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
² See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.
³ Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Moments captured

Moment in time can be archived in our memory banks, but they are never as precious as the instant they actually happen.  Last night my wife and I sat down with our boys to do our nightly advent reading and activity.  Our activity was to flip through the pages of the Worldvision gift catalog and select items that we wanted to purchase for those in need.  This is the third year that we have done this, and each year gets better.  After we all made our selections we prayed that God would bless the individuals that would receive the livestock, bibles, mosquito nets and soccer balls we had selected.  Ben, my 9 year old, was still looking at the magazine.  He turned to my wife and I and read "When children can't get warm, death can come in many forms. Your gift multiplies 10 times to send life-saving clothes to children around the world."  Ben then went to his wallet and pulled out $52 and said that he would like to put that toward clothing for kids in need.  He did the math and said that is a $520 value.  Our hearts melted in that moment.  Our son is learning the value of giving and loving others.  Ben sacrificed 70% of his money.  This is a precious moment that I would love to be able to play back over and over.

Hebrews 13:15-17

¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. ¹⁶ And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
I am working on a new Painting and thought I would capture a time lapse video along the way. 

Inside my head

 

Thought I would let you inside my head today. 

• What I am working on....  Several paintings that include elements of the Holy spirit raining down.

• What I am currently reading...  Ephesians.  I have always loved this book of the bible and after spending the last few months focused on the old testament it has been a breath of fresh air

• My prayer for today...  I have been focused on what it looks like to live out my Faith and how I can impact others through the gifts that God has given me.  I have had several conversations with some friends who are missionaries in Haiti regarding a specific art project.  My prayer today is that God would have his hand on this project and be the overwhelming guiding force.

• What did I eat for lunch today...  Rice, bean and cheese burrito from Longboard Louie's  

Whats inside your head today.

Patrick

Psalm 51

While painting this I was consumed with the idea of capturing the movement of the Holy Spirit.  I considered the fact that it is only through the Holy Spirit working in me that I am able to accomplish the things that God has asked of me.  Psalm 51 stood out because David was in a place of repentance.   He was asking God to wash him clean and in his own words in verse 11 he stated "Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me."  David knew the power of the Holy Spirit and he knew that he did not want to walk through life without Gods presence dwelling within him.  This was a reality that very few knew during Davids time.  Jesus changed it with one selfless act.  With his sacrifice he paved the way for all of us to know and be filled.  As I painted this I thought about the water of baptism and the fire of the Spirit.  I imagined pure light, joy, and the unstoppable power and presence of God.  I am thankful for the sacrifice that Jesus made for me and it is my prayer that I would not take the privilege of knowing  the Holy Spirit for granted.  

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.

¹⁸ May it please you to prosper Zion,
    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
    in burnt offerings offered whole;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Work in Progress

We are all works in progress, thus I thought is would be fitting to post this painting before it is entirely complete.  While painting this I was thinking about God's presence passing over us.  Moses experienced this while hidden in the cleft of a rock.

^{Exodus 33:18} Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
¹⁹ And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. ²⁰ But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
²¹ Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. ²² When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

After this experience Moses's face glowed with the glory of God.  It was so bright that it had to be covered with a veil.  We have the opportunity through the Holy spirit living in us to shine with the light of God.  My prayer today is that I would allow God to shine through me and that I would always be willing to be: God's Work in Progress.

Question to ponder.  In what way is God working on you and through you?

One Body

 

I posted the beginning of this painting a few weeks ago in Moment of inspiration.  I finished it the other day after many conversations with The Lord.  God really spoke to me as I worked through this piece.  Specifically he talked to me about my christian family and the bonds that we form as the roots of our foundation intertwine.  We are stronger when we stand united, and unmovable when we cling to the rock of Jesus.   God impressed upon me that we need the Body (Church) in order to grow,
share, love, reap, act, and sew.  We were made to love and be loved, and it is through the work he does in and through the body that fruit is visible.   I am very thankful for the Body Father's House that we have found in the Central Oregon town of Bend.

Who that you are rooted with are you thankful for?

Romans 12:3-5

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

moment of inspiration

Every project starts with a moment of inspiration.  Tonight I found myself working through a new painting.  It started as a sketch and then made its way to the projector to scale things properly on the larger canvas.  When I moved the canvas out of the way my sketch was projected against the wall where I have several paintings hung.  The contrast was very interesting to me and I found myself pausing for a moment to contemplate the process of moving from paper to canvas.  I was reminded of a chapter that has been speaking to me this week.  Romans 12.  I feel as if God has been saying do what I made you for, use the gifts that I have given you and be satisfied in serving me in the "Everyday".  Tonight I will paint for God and pray that he will give me the opportunity to share in the everyday what it feels like to walk in his presence and know his love.

Romans 12

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Rise and shine

It is when we truly trust in The Lord that we will see the Fruit of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. My prayer today is that I will plant my feet firmly upon the Rock of Jesus and that I would allow the Holy Spirit to shine within and through me.

Isaiah 26:3-6
3 You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.
5 He humbles those who dwell on high,
he lays the lofty city low;
he levels it to the ground
and casts it down to the dust.

In all your ways acknowledge God

 

I thought I would let you in on my process with this post.  Tonight after work I took a drive up China Hat Rd in Bend Oregon.  I found myself perched atop a butte with a great view of the Cascades and a blank canvas.  I spent some time reading my bible, then began to paint.  I spent a couple of hours listening to worship music, painting, and simply enjoying God's living canvas that surrounded me.  Prior to starting this piece I read Proverbs 3:5-6

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make your paths straight

This Move to Bend has really taught me a-lot about trusting in the Lord in all things.   I hope to blog about it in the near future.  My prayer today is that I would acknowledge God in all that I do, giving him the glory each and every day.

Let your Light Shine II

A couple of weeks ago I completed a drawing entitled let your light shine.  I started the painting a few days later.   While working on the painting I spent time reflecting about how we change as our relationship with God grows.  The original drawing and this painting are dedicated to my wife who I have watched shine brighter each year.  She is an amazing woman full of laughter, joy, compassion and a true love for God.  I am blessed to have her in my life.  





“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

Live Painting

I had the opportunity to paint live for the Women of Vision Kittitas County Event a few weeks ago. I had only painted live one other time and did not feel totally at ease with the thought of painting in front of a crowd. It has been my prayer this year to say yes when I feel God prompting me, so I accepted knowing that God would use this opportunity to stretch my comfort zone.. I showed up with a blank canvas and had roughly 2 hours to come up with a semi finished piece. I spent some time prying before the event and a verse that a friend of mine had shared several weeks prior came to mind.

Psalm 126:5
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.

When I look at this piece I think about the Holy Spirit prompting us to step out and sow seeds over uncharted/unknown territory. I think about the promise of adventure when we choose to follow Christ, and I think about the unknown in saying yes. The experience was good, and God certainly stretched my comfort zone. What is he asking you to say Yes to this week?

Leap

I really like that we serve such a creative God. He typically uses unlikely vessels to carry out his best plans. Moses for instance hated public speaking, Paul had dedicated his life to persecuting Christians, Abraham was way past his prime, Peter was a fisherman, Rehab was a prostitute, and David was but a small boy. I find solace in the fact that God uses ordinary people to accomplish his extraordinary plans. My prayer today is that I will be ready to leap when I hear his whispered voice.


Isaiah 35:6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

Abide

Love - not an emotion, not a feeling, not a passing symptom caused by hormonal surge. True love is only demonstrated through Gods love for us. My prayer today is that God will grant me the faith to truly live out John 15-9-17.................... Only then can I experience real love, and only through that love can I love others.

John 15:9-17

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

Freedom, power, movement

When I read the below verse I think of freedom, power, and movement. Imagine claiming this verse and walking it out. Imagine being anointed by the Lord to proclaim the good news, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom. There is real power in Gods word and it gives me shivers. What is holding me back? What is keeping me from claiming this verse? My prayer today is that God would reveal the things that are distracting me from his work...

Isaiah 61:1-4
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

When Worlds Collide

Amazing things happen when two worlds collide. Hearts are changed, eyes are opened, and lives are never the same. My wife just got back from a trip to Haiti where she spent time in an orphanage. The photos and story's are amazing and her life will never be the same. I find her enthusiasm contagious and notice my life changing because of her and others willingness to go. It is my prayer that I would spend more time on God's plan and less on my own...

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.