moment of inspiration

Every project starts with a moment of inspiration.  Tonight I found myself working through a new painting.  It started as a sketch and then made its way to the projector to scale things properly on the larger canvas.  When I moved the canvas out of the way my sketch was projected against the wall where I have several paintings hung.  The contrast was very interesting to me and I found myself pausing for a moment to contemplate the process of moving from paper to canvas.  I was reminded of a chapter that has been speaking to me this week.  Romans 12.  I feel as if God has been saying do what I made you for, use the gifts that I have given you and be satisfied in serving me in the "Everyday".  Tonight I will paint for God and pray that he will give me the opportunity to share in the everyday what it feels like to walk in his presence and know his love.

Romans 12

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Wash over Me

 

 While visiting the beach a few weeks ago I spent some time drawing in the sand at the waters edge.  My family and I enjoyed watching the waves wash our drawings away leaving perfectly flat fresh sand for a new inspiration.   I was struck with the thought that Jesus is the wave that has washed over me, cleansing me and making me new, and removing the marks left by this world.  During this Christmas season my prayer is that I would take time to sit and let Jesus wash me anew.  

1 Corinthians 6:10-12

¹⁰ nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Christmas Catalog

I can remember spending hours pouring over the Sears Christmas catalog as a child.  The catalog would literately fall open to specific pages due to permanent creases caused by frequent referencing.  Christmas morning would come and I would run down stairs in the hopes that my parents had somehow understood the millions of hints that I dropped.   Today I browsed a very different Christmas catalog online at World Vision.  With a-lot of help from my Wife and two boys our cart began to fill up.  We spent some time praying then each picked an item that God placed on our hearts.  It was the best Christmas shopping that we have done in a long time and I would recommend taking a look if you are in the mood for some serious heart warming gift selection.  What started as our family's advent activity for the evening has quickly become a memorable event that has helped to knit our hearts closer to the God we serve.  It is my prayer that we will make the World Vision Christmas catalog a tradition for years to come.  I will warn you that if you have a 5 year old you will need to explain that the farm animals you are purchasing are going to live with another family and not showing up under your tree...

Luke 6:38

Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

journey

 

I have been off the grid for a few weeks vacationing with my family.  We visited a sleepy little town south of the boarder and lived in our swim suits for 10 days.  I snapped the above photo while walking down the beach with my 5 year old.  I was reminded of the photo the other night while praying with my boys before bed.  Sevrin who is 5 looked straight into my eyes and said in almost a whisper "Dad,  do you know that God lives in my heart".  I said that he does when we ask him in, then asked Sevi if he had asked Jesus into his heart.  He said yes.  We spent some time talking about the fact that Jesus had died for our sins and because of this we have been forgiven.  Sevi said it made him feel good to know that Jesus was in his heart.  As a father I felt such joy hearing these words come from my youngest son.  Sevi began his journey with Christ December 4th 2012 at 8:15 pm.  

Look once more at the above photo.   Notice that two of the horses are saddled, but do not have riders.  God always plans ahead and is prepared for those that join along the way.

Are you ready to ride?

 

Isaiah 35:7-9

⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
    grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

⁸ And a highway will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not journey on it;
    it will be for those who walk in that Way;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.^[a]
9 No lion will be there,
    nor will any ferocious beast get up on it;
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,