Maria

Mother of 7, wife of the chief, master gardener, chicken farmer, chef, soccer player, and able to do serious damage with a machete. Maria took us in, fed us, gave us shelter, prayed with us, and shared her story of finding Christ at a young age in the jungles of Brazil. She has a heart for the people of her village and longs for them to understand the joy of a Christ centered life. I sketched Maria as I see her with love coming off of her in waves. I am thankful to have met Maria and found her to be a shining star that lights up the Jungle.

Leader

I found myself in the presence of a true leader.

Nelson a man who has been chief of his village for 20 years is a man that I feel blessed to have spent time with. He carries himself with the quiet confidence of one who is comfortable in all situations. He is a man of God who spends time praying for his people. Walking through the jungle with Nelson I had no doubt that he could handle anything nature could muster. I am truly thankful to have met him and pray that God will continue to stir his heart.

Hebrews 13:16-18

(NIV)

16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

Children of the Amazon

The children of the Yagua village captured my heart. In them I saw joy. As in all communities the children represent the future. It is my prayer that their hearts would remain open to the love of God.



Philippians 2:1-4
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, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.



Santiago, Very concerned about the snake that has been eating all the new chicks

5 years old, and has never said a word. A local audiologist has agreed to see him. Pray that his ears would be open and that his little voice will be heard.

Tough, but still reachable. We eventually got him to laugh

Picking limes to take to market in Leticia

Issela, strong, brave, and loves to play catch.

Jungle home

The river

Amazon

11 days in South America.... Hundreds of photos, lots of mosquito bites, a handful of new friends, and a broken heart for the people who have carved out a life in the jungles along the Amazon river. Daniel and I have shared our testimonies in three countries, and spent time with an indigenous people group called the Yagua. I am posting a photo of Esmith, the son of the Curaça (chief). He is six and already carries himself with confidence. His father Nelson is one of the few Christians in the village. Daniel and I were able to spend a-lot of time with his family and received a crash course in basic jungle living. I plan to post several other images upon my return. Signing out from Bogata.

Melchizedek

Abraham was blessed by Melchizedek, Jesus entered on our behalf and became a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. I am really intrigued by this character that shows up in the bible only a few times and whom we know little about. Melchizedek - means king of righteousness. He was the king of Salem, which means king of peace. Fitting, that Jesus, would become the high priest forever being the embodiment of righteousness and peace.

Hebrews 7:17-27(NIV)

17 For it is declared:

“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”[a]

18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
‘You are a priest forever.’”[b]

22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely[c] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself

For more on Melchizedek see Psalm 110:4, Genesis 14:18, Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 5:10, Hebrews 6:20, Hebrews 7:1, Hebrews 7:2, Hebrews 7:10-11, and Hebrews 7:15,

Thankful

1 Timothy 1:12

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.

Fire that does not burn

Today I continue my theme of walking through the fire. I wondered what it must have felt like for Shadrach, Meshach and Abendnego to step into the furnace. I imagine initially they felt pure terror, quickly replaced by wonder, then I imagine a great Peace. I even wonder if they struggled to leave when called out. We each have times of trial in our lives and for these three there was no compromise. They refused to worship any other Idol/God. They held firm and walked directly into Fire that did not singe or burn even a hair on their heads. The Guards who escorted them to the door were killed instantly as the flames were so intense.

We serve the same God that protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendnego. What an awesome testimony. The real question is how is God refining you lately and in what areas has he allowed you to walk into and through the fire?

Daniel 3:13-30

13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Cover

I sketched this on my flight home from NY a few weeks ago. I had been praying for my little ones. As I prayed I visualized in my mind what security to a child must feel like. I can remember as a child curling up on my Dad's lap and feeling total peace. I then started to ponder the security that God provides. It is invisible, yet provides ultimate comfort. May we find comfort in the promise of Psalm 91.

A short note to readers: I leave in 14 days for a 11 day mission trip to the Amazon Jungle. I would appreciate your prayers. I will be posting drawings and photos upon my return.

Psalm 91:3-5
(NIV)

3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,