Then God

For Christmas service at our church I was asked to create a painting that showed God's light.  Not an easy task, and one which caused me to do much pondering.  In Revelations it is written that His face shines like the very Sun.  In Genesis God spoke light into existence in four words.  Moses was hidden in the cleft of a rock before he could catch a mere glimpse of God from the back.  God's light can not be dulled, extinguished, or diverted.  God's light is powerful, wild, joyful, and tender all at once.  As I prayed about the project I realized quickly that I could not recreate God's light, so I set out to create a painting that began in darkness and moved toward God's light. See time-lapse of painting below.   In life I often start haphazardly, leap before I look, step into it.  It is often in those moments that I have a "Then God moment".  The aha where I realize that I got ahead of God's plan once again.  It is my prayer today that I would bathe in God's light and that I would walk only where that light shines.

Isaiah 60:1-3

60 “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
² See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.
³ Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

cloud of fire

The sunset the other night reminded me of the below verse.  I am continually blown away by Gods beauty that surrounds us.

Numbers 9:15-17

The Cloud Above the Tabernacle

¹⁵ On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. ¹⁶ That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. ¹⁷ Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.

Moments captured

Moment in time can be archived in our memory banks, but they are never as precious as the instant they actually happen.  Last night my wife and I sat down with our boys to do our nightly advent reading and activity.  Our activity was to flip through the pages of the Worldvision gift catalog and select items that we wanted to purchase for those in need.  This is the third year that we have done this, and each year gets better.  After we all made our selections we prayed that God would bless the individuals that would receive the livestock, bibles, mosquito nets and soccer balls we had selected.  Ben, my 9 year old, was still looking at the magazine.  He turned to my wife and I and read "When children can't get warm, death can come in many forms. Your gift multiplies 10 times to send life-saving clothes to children around the world."  Ben then went to his wallet and pulled out $52 and said that he would like to put that toward clothing for kids in need.  He did the math and said that is a $520 value.  Our hearts melted in that moment.  Our son is learning the value of giving and loving others.  Ben sacrificed 70% of his money.  This is a precious moment that I would love to be able to play back over and over.

Hebrews 13:15-17

¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. ¹⁶ And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
I am working on a new Painting and thought I would capture a time lapse video along the way. 

Boiling Cold

I walked down to the river today and took this photo as I paused to let my Dog Gus get a drink.  The water seemed to be boiling as it forced it way down stream.   Standing next to the roar of the river reminded me that I server a powerful God, a God that will not be constrained by walls, a God that loved me even before I knew him, a God that washes me clean and leaves me white as snow.

Psalm 147:15-18

 ¹⁵He sends his command to the earth;
    his word runs swiftly.
¹⁶ He spreads the snow like wool
    and scatters the frost like ashes.
¹⁷ He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
    Who can withstand his icy blast?
¹⁸ He sends his word and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

Prepared

Tonight I have been thinking about sharing with others. In first Peter 3:15 it is written that we should "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." Tonight I pray for opportunities to share the hope I have

1 Peter 3:14-16

14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[a]; do not be frightened.”[b] 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Today I am very thankful for 15 stitches and a two inch scar that will eventually look like a small sword on the side of my cheek.  I am thankful for a nurse named Gary who spends every working day walking with patients through Mohs surgery.  I am thankful for Garys' love of the Lord and his willingness to bring God into his patient care.  I am thankful for Dr Peters steady hand, love for God,  and amazing bedside manner.  I am thankful for my loving wife who sat by my side, and my children who prayed for me.  I am thankful that the skin cancer I had was fully removed and did not have deep roots.   I am most thankful for the faith God has given me.  He granted me a peace as I walked through this process and continues to grow my roots of faith stronger each day.
I sketched this drawing while waiting to hear the results of the testing from the material the doctor had removed from my left cheek.  I was in a recovery lounge w/ several other patients all with compression bandages on various parts of their bodies.   My prayer today is that God would grant them quick healing and that their faith, not their cancer, would grow.

Squamous cell carcinoma

About 2 out of 10 skin cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (also called squamous cell cancers). The cells in these cancers share features with the squamous cells seen in the outer layers of the skin.

These cancers commonly appear on sun-exposed areas of the body such as the face, ears, neck, lips, and backs of the hands.

Colossians 2:6-7

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Thankful

This weekend I hiked to the top of Smith Rock with my family and a few friends.  The above photo is what greeted us as we crested the summit.  We had done the bulk of the hike in the shade of the cliffs and only emerged into the late afternoon sun at the very top.  My six year old said it best with a simple grin and a "WOW Dad".    I am thankful for the beauty that God has created all around us.  I am also thankful that I serve a God that promises a treasure that lasts.  Everything around me might fall, but God remains constant and his love for me will never change.

Hebrews 12:27-29

²⁷ The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our “God is a consuming fire.

Inside my head

 

Thought I would let you inside my head today. 

• What I am working on....  Several paintings that include elements of the Holy spirit raining down.

• What I am currently reading...  Ephesians.  I have always loved this book of the bible and after spending the last few months focused on the old testament it has been a breath of fresh air

• My prayer for today...  I have been focused on what it looks like to live out my Faith and how I can impact others through the gifts that God has given me.  I have had several conversations with some friends who are missionaries in Haiti regarding a specific art project.  My prayer today is that God would have his hand on this project and be the overwhelming guiding force.

• What did I eat for lunch today...  Rice, bean and cheese burrito from Longboard Louie's  

Whats inside your head today.

Patrick

Rooted in Jesus

Paul writes about being rooted in Christ.  He is an inspiration of strength through all situations.  I pray that I can remember his words in Philippians 4:11-13 as I walk out each day.  I send a special prayer up for DJ who is going through a very rough time.  May God grant him the faith to walk it out day by day.

Psalm 51

While painting this I was consumed with the idea of capturing the movement of the Holy Spirit.  I considered the fact that it is only through the Holy Spirit working in me that I am able to accomplish the things that God has asked of me.  Psalm 51 stood out because David was in a place of repentance.   He was asking God to wash him clean and in his own words in verse 11 he stated "Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me."  David knew the power of the Holy Spirit and he knew that he did not want to walk through life without Gods presence dwelling within him.  This was a reality that very few knew during Davids time.  Jesus changed it with one selfless act.  With his sacrifice he paved the way for all of us to know and be filled.  As I painted this I thought about the water of baptism and the fire of the Spirit.  I imagined pure light, joy, and the unstoppable power and presence of God.  I am thankful for the sacrifice that Jesus made for me and it is my prayer that I would not take the privilege of knowing  the Holy Spirit for granted.  

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.

¹⁸ May it please you to prosper Zion,
    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
    in burnt offerings offered whole;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Notes

 

Release

I have been thinking a-lot about the release of the Holy Spirit.  Specifically what it might look like if you could capture the release in a series of images.  I have been sketching, painting and praying through my very question.  Over the next few weeks I will be posting various sketches and paintings that are the fruit of my quiet time with the Lord.   I have been finding strength in the fact that the Holy Spirit works in us through love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

Galatians 5:22-23

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Sing from the Mountain tops

Sing from the Mountain Tops
Praise His name
Be filled with His whispered breath
Reach deep and seek His glory

Psalm 48

¹ Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise,
    in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

² Beautiful in its loftiness,
    the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,
    the city of the Great King.
³ God is in her citadels;
    he has shown himself to be her fortress.

Joyful heart

God gives some the gift of Joy. I met a flight attendant the other day that brought joy to at least half the plane including my family. At the end of the flight I gave her the sketch I had been working on, thanked her for her joy and encouraged her to keep using her gift.

Today we went to a local only beach on the west side of Ohau. There we met several regulars that made a lasting impression. They shared there paddle boards, outrigger canoe and surfboard. We shared stories, laughed, played in the ocean, built sand castles and learned a-lot about Hawaiian culture. Cory, a local with two large tattoos covering his shoulders spent time explaining how the Hawaiian symbols of his tats told the story of proverb 2 and Mathew 15. We were the only non Hawaiian family on the beach in what is considered one of the roughest neighborhoods on the Island, yet we found ourselves among friends.

My prayer today is that God will continue to place me in the path of those who are living out of a place of joy.



Psalm 19:8

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eye.

Whispered

Be still
Listen to a whispered word
Hear as I breath your name
Take heart as I have set you apart and provide all you need to complete your task.
Know my voice.

ABIDE!

For I am the Lord your God and King

Ephesians 1:17-18

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

In His hand

We are seeds planted by a master gardner.  He held us in his hand and knew our potential.  He waters us and brings us life giving light.  He prunes us with expert care and coaxes us to stretch our branches toward the sky.  We were planted for a purpose!  We are here for a reason!

Isaiah 61:11
For as the soil makes the sprout come up
    and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
    and praise spring up before all nations.

Pour out

Question

Am I filled up?

If not

I have nothing to pour out!

Prayer

Lord fill me up

Relentless Faith

 

This Tree is a picture of relentless faith. It is perched high atop smith rock in Central Oregon, exposed to the elements and far from any water source.  It grew slowly over time twisting and turning, but always reaching toward the sky.  It is a good reminder to me that even the toughest situations, the seemingly unachievable tasks, and the times of struggle are the very things that God uses to shape me into the man he wants me to be.  It is my prayer today that I would pursue Christ with a relentless faith.

Acts 14:21-23

²¹ They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ²² strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. ²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Adherent

The above image is scanned from a small note card that I used last Sunday to jot down my thoughts during church at Fathers House in Bend Oregon.  Randy our pastor was talking about the word Adherent:

Definition:

supporter or follower

Synonyms:

advocate, aficionado, backer, believer, card-carrying member, devotee, disciple, enthusiast, hanger-on This sermon caused me to ponder my level of Adherence.  To consider my enthusiasm and my ability to preserver.  I take solace in the fact that even faith is a gift, and that said, I feel confident in praying for a greater measure of adherence. Ephesians 2:7-9 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Lead by Example

I really enjoy the playfulness of shadows.  I captured this image with my iPhone the other day when my boys and I were riding bikes along the river trail in Bend Or.  We have a tandem bike with a tag-along bike attached.  My 8 year old rides on the tandem with me and my 5 year old rides the tag-along.  It is quite the train, but it is comforting to know that my boys are right behind me as we ride through traffic.  Looking at this image made me consider the responsibility of leading and guiding my two boys in their faith.  While we are on the bike they have to trust me 100%.  If I make a wrong move we all go down.  My prayer today is that God would use me to lead my boys and that their hearts would be open to the love He has for them.

Hebrews 13:7-9
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹ Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

1 John 2:17

1 John 2:17

 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Touched by God

A moment of pure inspiration,  heart pumping emotion, a flood of compassion, overwhelming joy,  a time of selfless behavior, a place of freedom, a cocoon of safety, a tightrope to be walked, a challenge larger than you can handle, and the knowledge that through him all things are possible.
When your heart is willing God will challenge, teach, strengthen and guide you.  God will take you on the adventure of your life and allow you to feel deeper than you ever thought possible.  God's touch is real, he is creative, and he will invade your heart if you allow him in. 

2 Corinthians 4:6
⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Yield

In order to serve God we must first yield our hearts to him.  While walking my dog the other day I came across the pair of trees pictured above.  God impressed upon me that in order to follow him I must be willing to bend and conform to his ways.  I must be willing to cast away that which pulls me away from him.  It is my prayer today that God would reveal those things which distract my heart from being fully his and help me to loose the bonds that keep me from yielding to his will. 

Joshua 24:22-24

²² Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”
“Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied.
²³ “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
²⁴ And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”

Luke 19:37-40

Luke 19:37-40


³⁷ When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

³⁸ “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

It is my prayer today that I would not fall silent.  Happy almost Easter!

Work in Progress

We are all works in progress, thus I thought is would be fitting to post this painting before it is entirely complete.  While painting this I was thinking about God's presence passing over us.  Moses experienced this while hidden in the cleft of a rock.

^{Exodus 33:18} Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
¹⁹ And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. ²⁰ But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
²¹ Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. ²² When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

After this experience Moses's face glowed with the glory of God.  It was so bright that it had to be covered with a veil.  We have the opportunity through the Holy spirit living in us to shine with the light of God.  My prayer today is that I would allow God to shine through me and that I would always be willing to be: God's Work in Progress.

Question to ponder.  In what way is God working on you and through you?

Children of God

Philippians 2:15

so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.

I snapped this shot while hiking with my family a few weeks ago.  I was struck by the contrast between the crooked old tree and the joy of the two boys climbing it.  It is my prayer today that I will never lose my sense of adventure and that I would pursue God with the enthusiasm of a child.

One Act

While reading Daniel the other day I took a few notes in the free space of my bible.  I was captured by the text specifically the prophesy that a time was coming where many would be purified.  That prophesy was fulfilled in Jesus, and his sacrifice is still purifying hearts today.

One Body

 

I posted the beginning of this painting a few weeks ago in Moment of inspiration.  I finished it the other day after many conversations with The Lord.  God really spoke to me as I worked through this piece.  Specifically he talked to me about my christian family and the bonds that we form as the roots of our foundation intertwine.  We are stronger when we stand united, and unmovable when we cling to the rock of Jesus.   God impressed upon me that we need the Body (Church) in order to grow,
share, love, reap, act, and sew.  We were made to love and be loved, and it is through the work he does in and through the body that fruit is visible.   I am very thankful for the Body Father's House that we have found in the Central Oregon town of Bend.

Who that you are rooted with are you thankful for?

Romans 12:3-5

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.

Fire and water

Jesus offers us a cool drink and the promise that we should thirst no more. He refines us with fire and provides us the Holy Spirit as our compass and guide. Jesus is taking me on a journey filled with intrigue, adventure, and authentic emotion. He has allowed me to feel, see, and know. He has expanded the capacity of my heart and prompted me to act.

1 Peter 2:4-6


4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.

The Nail is Gone

Often I find myself dwelling on sins from my past.  I find my mind wondering back to the dark places, the areas that cause me grief and shame.  This week I was reminded that the nails are gone.  The only way the sin can have a hold on me is if I invite it in.   Today my prayer is that when I feel the shame of the old sins creeping in, I would remember that the nail is gone and that Christ has made me clean.  I am thankful to be rooted in Christ and pray that he will allow my light to shine as I walk through my day.  I pray that He would guard my feet from the slippery path of sin, and that I would always remember that "paid in full" means paid in full.

Question to ponder:  What sin are you dwelling on, what shame are you not willing to accept forgiveness for?