Leap of Faith

^{John 7-37} On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

Faith is an all-in experience. It is one of those things that you must leap into. There is no testing the water first. My prayer today is that (I, YOU, US, WE) would see and experience the living water. This drawing is dedicated to the team serving at Child Hope in Haiti. You have already said yes and taken the leap of faith, may the Lord guide you to the next step/leap and keep the living water flowing......

flight

My prayer today is that I would simply be able to let go.....................

Courage

Courage can be manifested in many forms, and true courage is never self serving or manipulative. Typically when I think of courage I ponder impossible situations and odds, heroic events, and super human acts of bravery. You know the front page sort of stuff that captures all of our attention. God has been working on my heart and teaching me that the type of courage he desires from me is much quieter, and not the type that would make a good viral YouTube video. He has been asking me to share what is most precious to me. He wants me to reveal my light, stand firm in my faith, and share with those who I encounter throughout my day. God is asking me to step out of my comfort zone, stand up and simply allow Him to work through me. My prayer today is that I would have the courage to reveal the light that is burning within me, not only when it is safe, but at those time that I am unsure and want to retreat.

Philippians 1:20 (New International Version)
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

step out

Do you ever have those moments where you feel as if your heart might just burst because you are so proud of something that your child has done. I had one of these moments the other day. I had shared with my 6 year old about a missionary that I met who is reaching out to a small tribal group called the Yagua in the Amazon river region. She uses a boat to get back and forth between the village and the town of Laticia. This trip takes her 3 hours and the boat she has been using needs replacement. That said I got up the other morning and my son had his piggy bank on the table and was counting his money. He looked at me and said "Dad, I want to give all my money to the lady who needs the new boat". He then proceeded to ask everyone we ran into that day if they would like to also give. At the end of two days he had collected over $40. As a Dad I am so proud of him and his little heart. If you would also like to help you can visit http://www.afamms.blogspot.com/ and click donate.

Humbled

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Strong words that ring in my ears as I read them. Jesus paid a price for us that we can never repay. It was the ultimate pay it forward. All I can think is Thank YOU.....

Philippians 2:1-11 (New International Version, ©2010)

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

body II

I was looking at the original sketch a few days ago and felt inspired to put brush to canvas. Painting has a different feel and I was curious to see how the drawing would evolve. My original post focused on Christ's sacrifice, and us as followers making up the body, each serving a unique function, but all dependent upon one another and ultimately connected to the head which is Christ.
John 15:7 (King James Version)
7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

As I painted this I was impressed with the pure, selfless act of Jesus's sacrifice. I felt great sorrow, but also hope. I was reminded that to truly live we must die to ourselves.

Romans 6:10-15 New International Version
10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Blur

Looking back on 2010 all I can say is that it was a blur. Time no longer seems to have the same holding power that it once did. I can remember as a child feeling the drag of the hours as I waited in anticipation for an event. Now the days, weeks and months just seem to fly by. Life is a ride that has no do overs, no safety net, and no rehearsal. 2011 is a new year and will most likely feel even faster. My prayer today is that I would seek Christ in all situations giving Him Honor Glory and Praise.

Revelation 19:11

¹¹ I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.