Relentless Faith

 

This Tree is a picture of relentless faith. It is perched high atop smith rock in Central Oregon, exposed to the elements and far from any water source.  It grew slowly over time twisting and turning, but always reaching toward the sky.  It is a good reminder to me that even the toughest situations, the seemingly unachievable tasks, and the times of struggle are the very things that God uses to shape me into the man he wants me to be.  It is my prayer today that I would pursue Christ with a relentless faith.

Acts 14:21-23

²¹ They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ²² strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. ²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Adherent

The above image is scanned from a small note card that I used last Sunday to jot down my thoughts during church at Fathers House in Bend Oregon.  Randy our pastor was talking about the word Adherent:

Definition:

supporter or follower

Synonyms:

advocate, aficionado, backer, believer, card-carrying member, devotee, disciple, enthusiast, hanger-on This sermon caused me to ponder my level of Adherence.  To consider my enthusiasm and my ability to preserver.  I take solace in the fact that even faith is a gift, and that said, I feel confident in praying for a greater measure of adherence. Ephesians 2:7-9 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Lead by Example

I really enjoy the playfulness of shadows.  I captured this image with my iPhone the other day when my boys and I were riding bikes along the river trail in Bend Or.  We have a tandem bike with a tag-along bike attached.  My 8 year old rides on the tandem with me and my 5 year old rides the tag-along.  It is quite the train, but it is comforting to know that my boys are right behind me as we ride through traffic.  Looking at this image made me consider the responsibility of leading and guiding my two boys in their faith.  While we are on the bike they have to trust me 100%.  If I make a wrong move we all go down.  My prayer today is that God would use me to lead my boys and that their hearts would be open to the love He has for them.

Hebrews 13:7-9
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹ Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

1 John 2:17

1 John 2:17

 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Touched by God

A moment of pure inspiration,  heart pumping emotion, a flood of compassion, overwhelming joy,  a time of selfless behavior, a place of freedom, a cocoon of safety, a tightrope to be walked, a challenge larger than you can handle, and the knowledge that through him all things are possible.
When your heart is willing God will challenge, teach, strengthen and guide you.  God will take you on the adventure of your life and allow you to feel deeper than you ever thought possible.  God's touch is real, he is creative, and he will invade your heart if you allow him in. 

2 Corinthians 4:6
⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Yield

In order to serve God we must first yield our hearts to him.  While walking my dog the other day I came across the pair of trees pictured above.  God impressed upon me that in order to follow him I must be willing to bend and conform to his ways.  I must be willing to cast away that which pulls me away from him.  It is my prayer today that God would reveal those things which distract my heart from being fully his and help me to loose the bonds that keep me from yielding to his will. 

Joshua 24:22-24

²² Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”
“Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied.
²³ “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
²⁴ And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”

Luke 19:37-40

Luke 19:37-40


³⁷ When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

³⁸ “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

It is my prayer today that I would not fall silent.  Happy almost Easter!

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?

Children of God

Philippians 2:15

so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.

I snapped this shot while hiking with my family a few weeks ago.  I was struck by the contrast between the crooked old tree and the joy of the two boys climbing it.  It is my prayer today that I will never lose my sense of adventure and that I would pursue God with the enthusiasm of a child.

One Act

While reading Daniel the other day I took a few notes in the free space of my bible.  I was captured by the text specifically the prophesy that a time was coming where many would be purified.  That prophesy was fulfilled in Jesus, and his sacrifice is still purifying hearts today.

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.

Fire and water

Jesus offers us a cool drink and the promise that we should thirst no more. He refines us with fire and provides us the Holy Spirit as our compass and guide. Jesus is taking me on a journey filled with intrigue, adventure, and authentic emotion. He has allowed me to feel, see, and know. He has expanded the capacity of my heart and prompted me to act.

1 Peter 2:4-6


4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.

The Nail is Gone

Often I find myself dwelling on sins from my past.  I find my mind wondering back to the dark places, the areas that cause me grief and shame.  This week I was reminded that the nails are gone.  The only way the sin can have a hold on me is if I invite it in.   Today my prayer is that when I feel the shame of the old sins creeping in, I would remember that the nail is gone and that Christ has made me clean.  I am thankful to be rooted in Christ and pray that he will allow my light to shine as I walk through my day.  I pray that He would guard my feet from the slippery path of sin, and that I would always remember that "paid in full" means paid in full.

Question to ponder:  What sin are you dwelling on, what shame are you not willing to accept forgiveness for?

The Curtain was Torn

 

In a moment everything was changed.  The Veil (curtain) was torn.  One Man had paid for all,  past, present, and future.  Today while reading in my bible I was reminded that I have direct access to God through Jesus, a privileged that Jesus paid dearly for.  My prayer today is that I would be granted a mustard seeds worth of faith in order that I might exercise some of the grace that Jesus has already bestowed upon me.  I pray that I may see others through the eyes of Jesus and allow him to work through me to show His love.

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.

Wash over Me

 

 While visiting the beach a few weeks ago I spent some time drawing in the sand at the waters edge.  My family and I enjoyed watching the waves wash our drawings away leaving perfectly flat fresh sand for a new inspiration.   I was struck with the thought that Jesus is the wave that has washed over me, cleansing me and making me new, and removing the marks left by this world.  During this Christmas season my prayer is that I would take time to sit and let Jesus wash me anew.  

1 Corinthians 6:10-12

¹⁰ nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Christmas Catalog

I can remember spending hours pouring over the Sears Christmas catalog as a child.  The catalog would literately fall open to specific pages due to permanent creases caused by frequent referencing.  Christmas morning would come and I would run down stairs in the hopes that my parents had somehow understood the millions of hints that I dropped.   Today I browsed a very different Christmas catalog online at World Vision.  With a-lot of help from my Wife and two boys our cart began to fill up.  We spent some time praying then each picked an item that God placed on our hearts.  It was the best Christmas shopping that we have done in a long time and I would recommend taking a look if you are in the mood for some serious heart warming gift selection.  What started as our family's advent activity for the evening has quickly become a memorable event that has helped to knit our hearts closer to the God we serve.  It is my prayer that we will make the World Vision Christmas catalog a tradition for years to come.  I will warn you that if you have a 5 year old you will need to explain that the farm animals you are purchasing are going to live with another family and not showing up under your tree...

Luke 6:38

Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

journey

 

I have been off the grid for a few weeks vacationing with my family.  We visited a sleepy little town south of the boarder and lived in our swim suits for 10 days.  I snapped the above photo while walking down the beach with my 5 year old.  I was reminded of the photo the other night while praying with my boys before bed.  Sevrin who is 5 looked straight into my eyes and said in almost a whisper "Dad,  do you know that God lives in my heart".  I said that he does when we ask him in, then asked Sevi if he had asked Jesus into his heart.  He said yes.  We spent some time talking about the fact that Jesus had died for our sins and because of this we have been forgiven.  Sevi said it made him feel good to know that Jesus was in his heart.  As a father I felt such joy hearing these words come from my youngest son.  Sevi began his journey with Christ December 4th 2012 at 8:15 pm.  

Look once more at the above photo.   Notice that two of the horses are saddled, but do not have riders.  God always plans ahead and is prepared for those that join along the way.

Are you ready to ride?

 

Isaiah 35:7-9

⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
    grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

⁸ And a highway will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not journey on it;
    it will be for those who walk in that Way;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.^[a]
9 No lion will be there,
    nor will any ferocious beast get up on it;
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,

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.

One Act

 

This morning I am reflecting on the fact that my debt has been paid in full.  Christ died for me and expected nothing in return.  His sacrifice was pure, and can not be undone.   I can not fathom what it must have felt like to take the entirety of  man's sin, past, present and future, upon his shoulders.  I am thankful for God who loves me enough to send his one and only son so that I may be forgiven. 

Ephesians 1:6-8

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.