New Beginning same message

Lately I feel as if I am seeing some things for the first time. Almost as if a filter that was permanently mounted in front of my eyes has been lifted so that I am now sensitive to a new range of emotional color. My heart is being filled with love for individuals that frankly I would have never noticed before. I am very thankful that God has opened my eyes to a new set of needs and that He is making room in my heart. My prayer today is that God will continue to mold my heart and remove the worldly filters from my life.

2 John 1 1:6

To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.
It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Body

I found myself pondering two verses today. The first is 1 Peter 2:24-25. In this passage we are reminded that Jesus bore our sins in his body on the cross as payment for our sins. Through his act of sacrifice we are healed. Because of this we can live as Ephesians 4:15-16 calls us. For when we speak the truth in love, we will grow together as a body attached and dependent upon the head which is Christ. This reminds me of two things. The first, without Christs sacrifice for me, I would still be lost, and second, I need other to fulfill the work which God has called me to. The body is not made up of a single believer, but rather a group (joined and held together by every supporting ligament, growing and building itself up in love, as each part does its work)

1 Peter 2:24-25
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Ephesians 4:15-16
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Psalm 91

Pause, choose

Today I paused and thought about Joseph, a prominent voting member of the council. He did not agree with the decision to put Jesus to death and had secretly become a disciple of Jesus. I wonder what went through his mind as he prepared the body of Jesus for burial. I can only imagine he felt great grief and sorrow. His action must have sparked speculation among many of his fellow council members. It was at this point that he made the decision to do the unpopular, go against the grain and choose Jesus. Until that moment he had been able to hide his true self maintaining an otherwise "socially high standard". At that moment and in that place he crossed over. This makes me think of all the times I ride the fence hiding or diluting my true thoughts simply to appear socially status quo. Lets face it a Christian lifestyle is radically different that what the World is currently serving up as normal. Sometimes it is easier to just fit in, not make waves. It is my prayer that I would trust Jesus more than this world, that I would care more about what God thinks than my neighbor, and that I would stand up for what I know is true.

Mathew 27:57-60
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

Brown Paper Sack

I found myself sketching on the back of a brown paper sack and was amazed at how the colors popped against the earth tone. I was reminded that this time of year brown paper sacks often hide special gifts from prying eyes. We are often just like brown paper sacks, plain and ordinary hiding the gifts that God has given us on the inside. Imagine if we turned our brown paper sacks inside out and let the world in on what God has planted inside us. My prayer today is that I would wear my gifts on the outside and use them in accordance with God's will.

Overflow

Colossians 2:6-7
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” -

This verse reminded me that unless I am firmly rooted in Christ I will not be capable of sustaining any good work. For under my own power I will become tired, frustrated, overwhelmed, and burned out, but if properly rooted in Christ I will be sustained, satisfied, patient, kind, understanding, and capable of seemingly impossible things. Only when we get filled up do we truly experience overflow.

Foot of the Cross

Music has a way of speaking directly to my heart. At times it can stop me in my tracks and cause me to ponder my very existence. I had this happen while doing the dishes last night. I was listening to Pandora and Ashes To Beauty (Kathryn Scott) came on. I had been sketching earlier and could not get the image of the foot of the cross out of my head. When this song came on it hit me hard. I have included the lyrics below. I love when God reaches out and just says- I am here and I am much bigger than you will ever understand.


At the foot of the cross
Where grace and suffering meet
You have shown me Your love
Through the judgment You received
And You've won my heart
Yes You've won my heart
Now I can Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross
At the foot of the cross
Where I am made complete
You have given me life
Through the death You bore for me
I'm laying every burden down
I'm laying every burden down

Getting Low

Sometimes you need to fly low to avoid the snags and entanglements of this world. Satan wants us to fight, he likes nothing better than a chance to toss our struggles right back in our face and say -You can not beat this, you can not win this battle, this sin is way bigger than you. He is right, on our own we will eventually wear down and fall victim to temptation. Christ offers us freedom from the things that drag us down. While we get low and crawl out of harms way He steps in, takes our place and the fight is over. Father God, my prayer is that you would reveal the weaknesses in my life and allow me to turn them over to you. Dig into those deep places, the strongholds, and areas that have been hidden. Help me to stay low, trust, and through you find victory. Help me to desire what you desire, love what you love, and find joy in in what you find joy in. Amen

Romans 8:31-39 (New International Version)

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Tune

God is so faithful and he always knows just what I need to stay in tune with him. At times I am distracted, or choose to ignore the prompting, but eventually his sweet music and life giving word pull me back in. I am very thankful that I have a loving creative God who knows me and desires to whisper the truth in my ears.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (New International Version)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject 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.

Blocked

How often do you feel blocked by the things of this world, or worse how often have you been a road block for someone else? I have been letting the weight of the World push in on me lately and I do not like how oppressive it feels. It tends to fog up my God filter and I find myself operating under my own strength. My prayer today is that I would shake off the things of this world (Stress from work, pressure to be successful, and PRIDE) and that I would see clearly where the Holy Spirit is leading me.

Proverbs 15:19 (NIV)
19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.

1 Peter 2:16-17 (NIV)
16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

workers are few

Oh Lord, what is it that you would do with me if I would truly submit all that I am and follow you fully? Fear of the unknown, the uncomfortable, the unpopular, and the lack of control hold me back. It is my prayer that you will help me to push past this apprehension and truly give you my all....

Luke 10:2-11

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
5"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' 10But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.'

Soar like a 6 year old

I sketched this a few weeks ago and felt lead to create a larger painting. This is my first large piece using water color. When I was about three quarters of the way finished my 6 year old asked if he could help. I love drawing and painting with him as he has no fear. He will jump right in and just start applying color and lines and in this case his contribution helped me to bring out the texture in the sky. I learn a-lot from my kids and that day God impressed on me that he wanted me to soar like a 6 year old. I pray that I can enter each day willing to risk for the kingdom. Rather than planning each moment I pray that I will be willing to jump in and participate in whatever my heavenly Father is doing.

Isaiah 40:25-31
25 "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. 26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Carried away

Carried away - When I sketched this a few weeks ago I knew that it would eventually turn into a painting. I just could not get the image out of my head of being picked up and carried away by God. I later read about Paul's account of being shipped wrecked. He was on a journey as a prisoner during a very dangerous time of year to be sailing. Throughout the journey he listened and trusted God, eventually swimming to shore after the ship broke into pieces. Acts 27: 22-26 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."

I pray that I will have such faith and strength in God during times of trial

Acts 27: 40-44 and Acts 28: 40Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
42The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety.

Acts 28: 1-2
1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.

God is all around us

When I was a kid I used to love to look up at the clouds and find shapes that resembled animals, building, plants, etc... I was always amazed at what I could find hiding in the clouds. The other day I saw what looked like a dove in the clouds and snapped the above photo on my phone. I love to find God in nature and in the brief moment that the dove floated in the clouds I felt like God was smiling down on me.

Isaiah 55 (New International Version)

Isaiah 55

1 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples.

5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor."

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Washed Clean

I read the following verse and it really made me reflect on the fact that it is very easy to get caught up in our outward appearance.

Matthew 23:24-26 (NIV)
24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

I find that I often make assumptions about people based on what they wear, how they talk, and who they hang out with. This hit me the other day when my wife purchased a couple of peaches at a road side stand. Outwardly they looked and smelled fantastic. When we got home she washed one and cut it open. The outside of the peach looked perfect, but on the inside she found an earwig and mold around the pit. My whole perception of that peach changed instantly. I often wonder how different it would be if people could see what our hearts truly looked like all the time. My prayer is that Christ would wash my heart clean each day and that I would try to see past the bobbles of this world and treat those around me with the love of Christ.

Yielding

Each time I read this I am struck with the fact that God (our creator) loved us so much that he sent his one and only son Jesus to die for our sins. This one act covers all of us. This selfless act carries hope, forgiveness, and salvation for all that acknoledge that Jesus is Lord.

^{Mathew 27: 50-54}

⁵⁰And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

⁵¹At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. ⁵²The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

⁵⁴When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

Narrow Gate

I have been pondering Gods plan for my life. The more I think about it the more I realize that just thinking is fruitless. Without action Gods plan for my life will remain just that a plan. I must take action if I want to move in any sort of direction. That brought me to Mathew 7:13-14

13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Reading this makes me realize that I simply need to make sure that the direction I am moving is toward God, once I am doing that He will guide me down the narrow path. Sometimes a step back in our mind is a leap forward on his path. It is my prayer that my spirit would be sensitive to God's prompting, that I would not question the direction that He leads, and that I would be willing to risk.

Creation

Genesis 1:1-9
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
6 And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.

Psalm 147:4
4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

Rain Down

I am currently traveling at 500+ MPH, 30,000 feet above the Earth heading to Albany NY. I thought I would take advantage of the wifi on the plane to post my latest painting. From my current vantage point I can see for miles and I am wondering how many believers, seekers, and lost I will pass over in the next couple of hours. My prayer for those on this flight and for the people down below is that they would experience a hunger and thirst that can only be satisfied by God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Rain down on us, fill us up, send us out, stretch and grow us.

Luke 3:16

John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Isaiah 45:8

"You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD, have created it.

When drawing this God really impressed on me that we are all marked by him and that when we are living out our faith his mark shows up in gifts that others can't help but see. In this drawing the background looks like a thumbprint and the gifts happen to be music. Imagine God touching you and leaving a visible thumb print marking you as his own. While I was drawing this several people came to mind (Austin, Mike, Mal, Jeremy, and Nate) All of them have been given the gift of music and each of them use it to show their love for the Lord. When I hear them play I can feel the Spirit working through them. What had God hidden in your mark?


1 Corinthians 12:4
4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Twisted

Sometimes God really surprises me. I sketched this and wondered what he was trying to tell me, then I read Psalm 29:9.  Alone the drawing looks whimsical, but when paired with the verse there is a sense of power. I especially like "The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare". There is force and might behind the voice of the LORD.
Psalm 29:9 - 11

9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Deep Roots

I have been working on this drawing off and on for a while. As I sketched, God really impressed on me a sense of elapsed time. A tree like this would take much longer to grow than one planted in deep soil and would have initially struggled to get enough water to thrive. Life would have most likely begun with lots of starts and stops and many short bursts of growth. Once rooted however this tree is now perched upon solid rock and is virtually unmovable, its roots now extending into sustainable life giving water sources. I believe this is a picture that reflects many of our walks. My prayer is that my Faith will continue to grow deep and that my foundation will always be the Rock I know as Christ.

Reaping the Harvest

John 4:35-38

³⁵Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. ³⁶Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. ³⁷Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. ³⁸I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."

True vine

John 15
1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Tossed About \ Doorway is the Cross

It seems like in this world we often run into situations that seem overwhelming and at times impossible to overcome. I have recently had two friends experience such a situation. In praying for them I came across a verse that I had highlighted in my bible that has helped me many times.

Ephesians 4:14-16

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does it work.

It is only by trusting in Jesus that we will truly be set free from those things that drag us down. For as my Pastor said on Sunday " The doorway is the Cross"

 John 17:24

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.