Rain Down

I read the below verse and was struck by its beauty and raw power. I really like both the NIV and New American Standard translations so I have included both. I pray that I am continually ready to accept this living water, may I never seek shelter from the LORD's rain...

Isaiah 45:8 (New American Standard Bible)
8"Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it.

Isaiah 45:8 (New International Version)
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.

carried away

  The closer we get to Christ the less we can hold onto the things of this World.  As our burden is lifted it allows us to be carried away.

Matthew 11:29-30 (New International Version)

²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Waves

I have had waves stuck in my head for a few weeks now.  I keep thinking about how small waves in life will toss you about.  Ephesians 4:14
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.

Large waves on the other hand can pick you up and carry you, they are powerful, mighty, forceful and dangerous.  You can not control or harness a wave.  It is designed to move, and it will not be stopped.  We can ride them, but we can not steer them.  God is like this, he has an unchanging focus and we can choose to ride with him, or sit in the chop and continue to be pushed around by the small waves.  I want to jump on and ride.
A group from my church is heading to Haiti in a few weeks on a mission trip to work with  Child Hope International and I have donated this painting to support the trip.  You can bid locally at D&M Coffee in Ellensburg . 
You can bid online @ http://www.32auctions.com/organizations/524/auctions/553

Word in the wilderness

Today after a meeting in Lake Placid NY I happened upon a very nice hiking trail a few miles outside of town. I had been sitting in a conference room all day so I thought it would be nice to stretch my legs and breath in some fresh mountain air. I stepped onto the trail and right away started to see God in my surroundings. The trail ran for two miles and passed three lakes. It was a very peaceful hike and I felt myself wishing I had my bible so that I could spend a little quiet time by the lake. I had not brought it along so I settled for the peace of a quiet hike. At the end of the trail next to a beautiful lake was a small three walled structure designed to give hikers a dry place to sleep. Inside were a few hiking sticks and a king James Bible. I sat down on the log floor and opened the bible to Psalms and read Psalms 34. This was a real blessing and I am thankful for the hiker that left the bible behind. The Psalm spoke to my heart and lifted my spirits.  I love that God planted the idea in a hiker to leave the bible so that I could find it at a time I truly needed some encouragement. 


Psalm 34 (King James Version)

1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Waves

God moves in us, or rather we allow God to move in us differently throughout our walk. sometimes we are tossed about due to fleshly conflict, and other times we are able to move along with God for a sustained period. My prayer is that God would send me a large wave and that I would jump on without hesitation and ride with him.

Psalm 93
1 The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
2 Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.
3 The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is mighty.

All Consuming

I sketched this during church and the following are the notes that I wrote off to the side. Let your fire fall. Let your wind blow. Let your glory come down. Let our praises rise to you . Remove the barriers and let your glory shine through. You are God! It is your work in us that makes us different. To attempt to live out the things of God without the spirit of God working in us is folly. Lord I ask that you create in me a humble heart and that I may never forget from where I draw my strength.

Sealed

Ephesians 1:13-14 (New International Version)
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, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.