Sidewalk Chalk

As many of you know I have recently moved from Central Washington to Bend Oregon.  We are currently living in our Motor Home while we wait for our house to close.  A retired couple in our campground gave my boys a container of sidewalk chalk......  We had a great time decorating the circle drive in front of our site.  Slowing down and just playing with my boys for a bit allowed me to reflect on the fact that I really need to enjoy life in the moment for what it is.  I have really been anxious about the future and tying up all the loose ends.  God really impressed on me to trust.

Philippians 4:6


Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Standing alone

 

Last week I let you in on my process a bit when I posted the beginnings of this painting.  Typically I wait to post until I have finished a piece, but God has been speaking to me specifically regarding those times I feel that I am standing alone.  While painting this I found myself wondering why I dwell in that place.  I feel as if God is prompting me to lean into his presence.  It is as if he is saying I am right here with you, all you need to do is trust.   This painting has taken some interesting twists and it is not yet finished.  It is my prayer today that I would recognize the fact that I am not standing alone, I am standing with the father.

John 8:15-17

You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.  In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.

Open door

 

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.

Fire and Ice

Nehemiah 12:27-30

27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.

Walking into the storm

Authentic Worship

I was reminded by a friend yesterday just how powerful true worship can be.  Typically when I think of worship I think of a connection that happens when we sing songs of praise to God.  My friend related an experience of teenage girls who were attending a purity conference falling to their knees and crying out to God in worship after experience breakthrough in the knowledge of just how precious God's view of them really is.  God sees each of us as unique and worthy of the sacrifice of his son Jesus.  I am thankful for my friend Marcy and her willingness to invest in the lives of 25 teenage girls, and I am grateful that I serve a God that sees us each as unique and worth pursuing.


Hebrews 12:25-29
See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks.  If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?  At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.

No words

 

No words, just movement

Like a root out of dry ground

Jesus did not start his ministry until he was in his 30s.  He spent a-lot of time preparing for a three year mission.  He was rooted in his Father and never strayed from his message.  I often look for immediate results and instant answers to prayer.  Today thinking of the time Jesus spent preparing for his ministry I am reminded that God's timing and plans are much bigger than mine.   It is my prayer today that I would seek to align myself with God's timing and that I would pray with his plan in mind. 

Isaiah 53:2-6

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Opportunity - Choices - Decisions

 

For most of my life I made decisions, followed opportunities and selected between choices based on how I felt, or how I would benefit and or avoid a consequence.   I reserved prayer for the times when I really got in a bind, hit a dead end, or had no other option.  It was as if I had some sort of mental block that only allowed me to discuss a situation with God if it was "big enough".  I still struggle with this although I will say that prayer has become a much bigger part of my life.  Consulting God has become less of a fire drill and somewhat more routine.  I am thinking about this today because my family has been making a-lot of decisions lately.  I have decided to take a new job and move my family to Bend Oregon, we have decided to sell our home and search for a new one, and we will soon be deciding which church in Bend will be a good place for our family.  My wife and I have done a-lot of praying as we have made these decisions, and in much of it we can genuinely say that we see God's hand at work.   It is my prayer today that I will continue to partner with my wife in prayer, seeking God's will for our family in all that we do each day.  For whether we are coming or going I pray that we give thanks and rejoice in the loving God that we serve.

Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Salt and Light

 

I have been thinking about salt and light the last couple of days.  Salt is amazing and can really add flavor to a dish, it can also be very overpowering if used wrong.  God calls us to be salt and light, and uses us to add flavor and illumination.  When we are in sync with him and allow him to work through us he controls the amount of salt and light that are brought into our surroundings.  When we go it on our own, working under our own power, we have a tendency to over season, lose our saltiness, or shine our light in the wrong direction.  My prayer today is that I would be sensitive to how God is working in me and through me, and that I would never second guess the proportions he uses.


Matthew 5:13-16

Salt and Light
    “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

   “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Oasis

 

An Oasis is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source.  If the water dries up the vegetation dies.  I find that God's Word is an Oasis that never dries up.  When I am in the Word I feel satisfied, spiritually full, capable of giving and receiving.  When I stray from the Word, I find myself feeling empty, tired, dried out.  It is my prayer today that I would recognize and seek refuge in the Oasis that God has provided in his Word.

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Strength in Numbers

While I sketched this I was thinking about how branches that are woven together as they grow form a strong bond that is not easily broken, moved, or shaken.  As we sow into one another similar bonds are created.  God has pointed out several people to me this week that could use a bit of encouragement.  He is asking me to pray for them, lift them up, and be purposeful in my interaction with them. 

Question to ponder --- Who is God laying on your heart this week?

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Scales

In a moment everything changed. 

Acts 9

 ¹ Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”  ⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
   “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
 ⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
 ¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
   “Yes, Lord,” he answered.
 ¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
 ¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
 ¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
 ¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Gifts

I spent the week crisscrossing the country and on my various flights I had the opportunity to meet some really interesting individuals.   I came away from the week with the sense that many of us walk around in a very distracted state.  I often miss what is right next to me because I am thinking three steps ahead.  This week I tried to operate in the moment, I attempted to slow down and really listen to what God was saying, and I tried to think of my week as a journey to be stepped through one moment at a time.  God laid it on my heart this week, that we are to focus on him both coming and going, for we never know when he may choose to use us.  It is my prayer today that I would operate more in the moment, allowing  God to guide me and point out where he would have me use the gifts that he has given me.


1 Peter 4:10-11

¹⁰ Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Direction

I have been reading Jonah this week and have been thinking about direction.  Jonah heard from God and then decided that he was going to head in the opposite direction.  He let his emotions drive his decision jumped on a ship and ran.  There is a verse that really stuck out for me in this book, and I believe it is a good reminder as I walk out each day.

 "Those who cling to worthless idols

   forfeit the grace that could be theirs."

 I have included it in context below as it is part of a much larger prayer that Jonah prayed as he struggled with his decision and eventually gave into God's will.

   “In my distress I called to the LORD,
   and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
   and you listened to my cry.
³ You hurled me into the deep,
   into the very heart of the seas,
   and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
   swept over me.
⁴ I said, ‘I have been banished
   from your sight;
yet I will look again
   toward your holy temple.’
⁵ The engulfing waters threatened me,
   the deep surrounded me;
   seaweed was wrapped around my head.
⁶ To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
   the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you brought my life up from the pit,
   O LORD my God.
 ⁷ “When my life was ebbing away,
   I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
   to your holy temple.
 ⁸ “Those who cling to worthless idols
   forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
⁹ But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
   will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
   Salvation comes from the LORD.”

Fishers of Men

^{I take heart in the fact that Jesus accepts me right where I am.  His love is pure, unchanging.  He cannot love me anymore or any less than he already does because his love is pure.  He loved me way before I chose to love him.  He does not force, persuade, or hard sell.  He simply said I so love you that  I am willing to take on your sin, suffer on a cross and die. Death could not hold him and a promise was fulfilled.   I am thankful for the sacrifice that Jesus made for me.} 

^{Fishers of Men}

^Invitation

^{Contemplation}

^Decision

^Action

^{Mathew 4:18-22}

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.  they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.  And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

Expectations

I snapped this shot while traveling up the Amazon last June during a mission trip. I thought of it today while I was reading the news letter from the missionary Orchidy Boyd that I have been working with. I will be traveling back this June to help with an outreach to several villages farther up river. The part that excites me most is the outreach is being planned in partnership with the village that Orchidy has been ministering to.  Members of the Yagua village that she has been working with will be traveling with us, sharing Christ with their neighbors along the river.  Really it is no different than us reaching out to one another in our own home towns.   Inviting a friend to church, encouraging a brother, offering to pray for a person in need.  My prayer today is that I would allow God to use me wherever I am, and in whatever I am doing.  I pray that I would treat my own town like a mission field, and that I would not let my own expectations cloud God's prompting in my life.

Ephesians 3:5-7

⁵ which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. ⁶ This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.  ⁷ I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.

Walk With Him

What does it look and feel like to be in sink with God, to walk with Him, to hear His voice, to experience breakthrough?  This has been tumbling around my brain for the last few weeks.  I have come to the conclusion that it feels personal, life altering, intimate.  Feelings that you did not think you had flood into your life, and you find yourself caring and loving in ways that you can't otherwise explain.   My prayer today is that I would seek God in the normal, in the everyday, and even in the mundane.  I pray for the ability to be still, the ability to wait, the ability to listen, and the ability to hear.

In what way is God asking you to walk with him?

It may come as a whisper

Walk with me

Match my stride

Stop, be still

Listen, for I am speaking

Move

Move as one

Match my stride

Walk with me

Cowboy

At the age of 4 and 5 I spent many cold winter afternoons dressed up like a cowboy riding fiercely on my spring powered wonder horse rounding up stray couch cushions, and saving a little sister in distress.  My black lab was my constant companion and stealthy lookout, always at the  ready but cleverly disguised in a prostrate position beside the fire.  My steed was well seasoned, he had been put out to pasture years earlier, but my father who had a keen eye had snatched him up for a fraction of his value at a neighborhood yard sale.  He was faded, squeaked, creaked and popped a bit, but to me he was the fasted thing with four legs and springs.  Cowboys had a super hero quality for me, they were self reliant, tough, and always caught the bad guy.  

Years later I watch as my boys play out their super hero fantasies.  Cowboys occasionally show up but more often than not they are accompanied by ninjas, pirates, and the ever present Jedi. 

While painting this I thought about how much my perception of a hero has changed over the years.  My hero is so much bigger, stronger, and mightier than anything I could have ever imagined as a child.  He has real power and authority.  He can walk on water, command the wind and the waves and is gentle and scary all at once.  He promises eternal life and was willing to suffer to insure I had the opportunity to be with him.  He will never let me down, walk away, or fail to show up.  He is the one constant in my life that I can count on. He is three in one, The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

I have discovered over the years that I was not meant to ride alone.  I need God to be at the center of my life and it is my prayer that he will grant me the faith to allow him even more control, for it is only when I am willing to let go that I can truly belong to him.

Ephesians 1:11-12

In Christ  we too have been claimed as God’s own possession,  since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will  so that we, who were the first to set our hope  on Christ,  would be to the praise of his glory.