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.

Paint like a child

As often happens my family awoke to me painting.  I find early morning painting is a great way for me to spend quiet time with God.  I listen to worship music, read a bit of scripture, then take up my brush and attempt to put on canvas what is swimming around in my head.  This morning when my 5 year old Sevi came down stairs he said "dad can I paint with you?"  How could I resist?  I grabbed one of my smaller canvases and set him up on the floor.  It was not long before his 8 year old brother Ben joined in.  I love watching my boys paint.  They attach the canvas with pure abandon.  There is no fear in their strokes and a piece, start to finish rarely takes more than 20 minutes.  

It is my prayer today that I would share my faith with the same exuberance that my kids paint.

Art you can ride on

 

Not all art is for hanging on the wall.  I often like to draw and paint on non-traditional pieces. 

I had a good time building a couple of skateboards with my boys who are 5 and 8.  We started with blank decks purchased online at www.skatepaige.com .  We then used an assortment of sharpie markers to create custom graphics.  Art inspired by:

Psalm 89 8-10
Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you,
You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.

Today my prayer is that I would be faithful in all I do, and that as I ride this board I would have opportunities to share about the inspiration for the art.

Father and Son

   It was almost two years ago that I met Orchidy Boyd (Missionary in the Amazon) on a flight from Kansas City to Salt Lake City.  A-lot has happened in that time including a 12 day mission trip to Columbia.  Orchidy spent a week with my family in Oregon in October.  She is truly an inspiration and a blessing and I am very thankful for her ministry to the Yagua tribe along the Amazon river.  The above photo is of my 8 year old son Ben and I sporting our new bracelets sent with Orchidy by Maria who lives in the Yagua village.  The bracelets are a daily reminder to be praying for my friends in the Amazon.  If you are interested in learning more or supporting Orchidy's ministry please visit the following link.  If you would like a hand made yagua bracelet send me an email or leave a comment.   I have several left that we are selling on a donation basis (100% of the donation is tax deductible and goes to the Amazon mission) email .

1 John 5:1-5
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ² This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³ This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

strong foundation

A strong foundation is key to keeping your footing during all that this world tosses in your way.  I find that it is ultimately important to remind myself each day where I get my identity.  I am very thankful that God is the rock on which I have built my house.  My wife reminded me of Mathew 7:24-27 this weekend when we were hiking with our boys near Sparks Lake in Central Oregon and spotted a tree growing straight out of a rock.  It is not the easiest place to put down roots, but  once planted in solid rock, this tree will not be moved or shaken. 

 

Mathew 7:24-27

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

anointing

Today I am praying about walking the path that God has prepared for me. He has anointed each of us in unique ways to serve. It takes effort to grow deep roots in Christ. Without being rooted in Christ it is impossible to bring forth fruit in his name. My prayer today is that I would allow God an all access path to use the gifts that he has given me so that I might serve others in his name.

1 John 2:24-27

No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us–even eternal life.

I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit–just as it has taught you, remain in him.

Lead by example

My wife took this photo last week at the beach.  My boys and I were headed for the waves and had no idea she was snapping the picture.  Viewing it later made me stop and think about all of the opportunities I have to speak into my boys lives with actions and not just words.  It is my prayer today that I would be intentional in the actions that I model to my boys, and that as they grow up they will know and understand the direction, purpose, and strength that comes from following Jesus.

Proverbs 22:5-6

⁵ In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares,
    but he who guards his soul stays far from them.

⁶ Train a child in the way he should go,
    and when he is old he will not turn from it.

At the beach

I spent the weekend on the Oregon Coast with family and friends.  We had a great time playing in the sun and waves.  On my last day there I decided to take my bible and a sketch pad and spend an hour sitting in the sand.  I read about David and his deep understanding of what is required for a true offering.  David states that unless there is a cost, there can be no offering.  I have been thinking about those words and how often I settle for offerings that cost me little or nothing.  I believe that this verse will stay with me for some time as I attempt to wrap my brain around the cost of following God.  With that I will leave you with a few photos and the verse to ponder.

 2 Samuel 24:24  - But the king replied to Araunah, "No,  I insist on paying you for it.  I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing"

Question for reflection:  How much is your offering worth (time, sacrifice, money, etc..._

Fellowship

I was reminded today that God's path is available and accessible to everyone. Lift up your brothers and sisters, lend a helping hand, enjoy the journey, and take stock in the fact that we serve an awesome, mighty, and very real God.

Date and Time

 

I remember the moment that my wife went into labor with our first child.  It was June 29th, 2004 at 11 PM, and we were both surprised.  We knew it would happen, but Ben decided to come three weeks early and we were caught off guard.  I thought of this moment when I read the following verse.  It is my prayer today that I would focus on the moment, choose Jesus, and not be surprised.

1 Thessalonians 5

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

5 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, ² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
⁴ But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
¹² Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
¹⁶ Be joyful always; ¹⁷ pray continually; ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
¹⁹ Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; ²⁰ do not treat prophecies with contempt. ²¹ Test everything. Hold on to the good. ²² Avoid every kind of evil.
²³ May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
²⁵ Brothers, pray for us. ²⁶ Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anchored

 

A friend of mine blogged about the Root and Foundation on his blog:

http://thewordwasgod.blogspot.com/

I recommend clicking on the link and giving it a read.  I have included the post below.  My thanks to Teague for his thoughtful post.

The Root and Foundation

An excerpt from my notes on the feasts of Israel

***

            Sacrifice, of some kind, was required with the observance of every feast under the old covenant.  The types and amounts of animals varied from feast to feast but generally there was a burnt offering and a sin offering.  The main purpose of a burnt offering was to be “an aroma pleasing to the LORD” (Lev. 1:9, 13, 17).  For this offering, the entire animal was burned on the altar.  The sin offering was made to make atonement for the people (Lev. 4:20, 26, 31, 35).  These offerings had to be made during every feast because of Israel’s continuing sinfulness.  They could not relate to God or participate in His feasts unless sin was dealt with and God was satisfied.

            Jesus’s one sacrifice was sufficient for all time and beyond.  On the cross He fulfilled every burnt offering and sin offering pictured in the Old Testament. In Him, there is no need for repeated sacrifice.  Why then is the cross pictured at every feast through the offerings that were commanded?  It is because our participation in any aspect of Christ depends on the cross.  We can only be united to His resurrection if we are united to His death (Rom. 6:5).  Sharing His anointing depends on His atonement.  And God couldn’t tabernacle or dwell in us unless His temple was destroyed and raised in three days (John 2:19-22).

            It isn’t just that the cross is a first step that we have to start with.  We cannot move on from the cross any more that a tree can move from its root or a building from its foundation.  This is why, even in the type, the Lord keeps the cross continually before us.  It is as if He is saying, “If I hadn’t died you would have no part in me” (cf. John 13:8). 

            Since the cross is the bedrock of all God has done, we must keep our feet on the ground of it, especially as we know Jesus in the more exalted aspects of His life.  Christ, our risen, anointed King still has His wounds.  The Holy Spirit must mark us with the cross in such a way that we never leave the wounds of Christ, even as we experience the freedom of His resurrection, the power of His anointing, the authority of His crown.  In fact, we must see His wounds as the source of everything else that we experience in Him and learn to value them as the headwaters of spiritual life.  If the cross is not ever before us and hasn’t indelibly marked our hearts, we will have a false sense of where God’s life, power, authority, and blessing come from.  We will think these divine things come because we are spiritual, and because God is rewarding us for “doing it right.”  But if we experience any spiritual life and power, it is only because we are in Christ who died on the cross to make our participation possible.

Marked

<sup>Ephesians 1:14-14

11</sup> In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.