Paint like a child

As often happens my family awoke to me painting.  I find early morning painting is a great way for me to spend quiet time with God.  I listen to worship music, read a bit of scripture, then take up my brush and attempt to put on canvas what is swimming around in my head.  This morning when my 5 year old Sevi came down stairs he said "dad can I paint with you?"  How could I resist?  I grabbed one of my smaller canvases and set him up on the floor.  It was not long before his 8 year old brother Ben joined in.  I love watching my boys paint.  They attach the canvas with pure abandon.  There is no fear in their strokes and a piece, start to finish rarely takes more than 20 minutes.  

It is my prayer today that I would share my faith with the same exuberance that my kids paint.

Art you can ride on

 

Not all art is for hanging on the wall.  I often like to draw and paint on non-traditional pieces. 

I had a good time building a couple of skateboards with my boys who are 5 and 8.  We started with blank decks purchased online at www.skatepaige.com .  We then used an assortment of sharpie markers to create custom graphics.  Art inspired by:

Psalm 89 8-10
Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you,
You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.

Today my prayer is that I would be faithful in all I do, and that as I ride this board I would have opportunities to share about the inspiration for the art.

Father and Son

   It was almost two years ago that I met Orchidy Boyd (Missionary in the Amazon) on a flight from Kansas City to Salt Lake City.  A-lot has happened in that time including a 12 day mission trip to Columbia.  Orchidy spent a week with my family in Oregon in October.  She is truly an inspiration and a blessing and I am very thankful for her ministry to the Yagua tribe along the Amazon river.  The above photo is of my 8 year old son Ben and I sporting our new bracelets sent with Orchidy by Maria who lives in the Yagua village.  The bracelets are a daily reminder to be praying for my friends in the Amazon.  If you are interested in learning more or supporting Orchidy's ministry please visit the following link.  If you would like a hand made yagua bracelet send me an email or leave a comment.   I have several left that we are selling on a donation basis (100% of the donation is tax deductible and goes to the Amazon mission) email .

1 John 5:1-5
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ² This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³ This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.