Tree - Vine

 I have really been drawn to 1 Peter this week.  There are several verses that really speak to and challenge me.  How often are we given an open door to share and watch the opportunity slip away.  Why are we so afraid to let people in on our source of hope, peace and joy?  I pray that I will have the ability to live out  the verses below.

1 Peter 3:13 - 15 
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.  "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.   But do this with gentleness and respect.

1Peter 4:10-11
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  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.

Body of the tree

1 Peter 2:24

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.

Renew

This is my first mobile post. I was traveling today to the fine state of Maine and had a little time to sketch on the Plane. Some of the things that came into my mind while drawing were: Transcend, Die to old self, Salvation, New Beginnings, Renew, and Deep Roots. I read James today and felt very encouraged. My prayer is that my faith would be visible this week and that God will challenge me to step out in a real way.

Wind and Fire

John 3:8  The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 

Straight Path

Proverbs 2

 ¹ My son, if you accept my words
       and store up my commands within you,  ² turning your ear to wisdom
       and applying your heart to understanding,
 ³ and if you call out for insight
       and cry aloud for understanding,
 ⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
       and search for it as for hidden treasure,
 ⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
       and find the knowledge of God.
 ⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom,
       and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
 ⁷ He holds victory in store for the upright,
       he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
 ⁸ for he guards the course of the just
       and protects the way of his faithful ones.
 ⁹ Then you will understand what is right and just
       and fair—every good path.
 ¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,
       and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
 ¹¹ Discretion will protect you,
       and understanding will guard you.
 ¹² Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
       from men whose words are perverse,
 ¹³ who leave the straight paths
       to walk in dark ways,
 ¹⁴ who delight in doing wrong
       and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
 ¹⁵ whose paths are crooked
       and who are devious in their ways.
 ¹⁶ It will save you also from the adulteress,
       from the wayward wife with her seductive words,
 ¹⁷ who has left the partner of her youth
       and ignored the covenant she made before God. 
 ¹⁸ For her house leads down to death
       and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
 ¹⁹ None who go to her return
       or attain the paths of life.
 ²⁰ Thus you will walk in the ways of good men
       and keep to the paths of the righteous.
 ²¹ For the upright will live in the land,
       and the blameless will remain in it;
 ²² but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
       and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

Risen

If the story would have stopped with the cross it would have been over, but death could not hold Christ.
Recently I have run into several people that have reached rock bottom and I have had the opportunity to pray with them.  I would like to renew the prayer today in my blog.   May their roots grow strong and may they develop a renewed love for the word of God.  I pray that they will lean on the Lord and trust him with their burdens,  and I pray that God will grant them the faith to step out and walk with him.  May they find rest and a  renewed strength in the power of  Jesus.