Tossed About \ Doorway is the Cross

It seems like in this world we often run into situations that seem overwhelming and at times impossible to overcome. I have recently had two friends experience such a situation. In praying for them I came across a verse that I had highlighted in my bible that has helped me many times.

Ephesians 4:14-16

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does it work.

It is only by trusting in Jesus that we will truly be set free from those things that drag us down. For as my Pastor said on Sunday " The doorway is the Cross"

 John 17:24

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Tingle

You know how sometimes you just get that tingling feeling when you feel like the Holy Spirit is prompting you. It is as if all your nerve ending come alive, sometime for just a moment. It is in that moment that we either choose to act or ignore. It is my prayer that I would jump in with both feet when prompted. Some times a simple act of faith is the beginning of a whole new adventure.

Acts 8:38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

sowing into the harvest

Ezekiel 17

Two Eagles and a Vine

 ¹ The word of the LORD came to me: ² "Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell the house of Israel a parable. ³ Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: A great eagle with powerful wings, long feathers and full plumage of varied colors came to Lebanon. Taking hold of the top of a cedar, ⁴ he broke off its topmost shoot and carried it away to a land of merchants, where he planted it in a city of traders.

 ⁵ " 'He took some of the seed of your land and put it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water, ⁶ and it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out leafy boughs.

 ⁷ " 'But there was another great eagle with powerful wings and full plumage. The vine now sent out its roots toward him from the plot where it was planted and stretched out its branches to him for water. ⁸ It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine.'

 ⁹ "Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots. ¹⁰ Even if it is transplanted, will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it—wither away in the plot where it grew?' "

 ¹¹ Then the word of the LORD came to me: ¹² "Say to this rebellious house, 'Do you not know what these things mean?' Say to them: 'The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles, bringing them back with him to Babylon. ¹³ Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty with him, putting him under oath. He also carried away the leading men of the land, ¹⁴ so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty. ¹⁵ But the king rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt to get horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?

 ¹⁶ " 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, he shall die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke. ¹⁷ Pharaoh with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when ramps are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives. ¹⁸ He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.

 ¹⁹ " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: As surely as I live, I will bring down on his head my oath that he despised and my covenant that he broke. ²⁰ I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him there because he was unfaithful to me. ²¹ All his fleeing troops will fall by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to the winds. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken.

 ²² " 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. ²³ On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. ²⁴ All the trees of the field will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.
      " 'I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.' "

unlocked

 I drew this a few weeks ago and have been unsure what was really going on in the drawing until I read Joshua 1: 1-9.  The drawing is about new beginnings.  I named it unlocked because it was only through the passing of leadership from Moses to Joshua that the land was finally open to the Israelites. The last line carries a- lot of power "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  Those words were true then and are still true today.

 

Joshua 1:1-9 (New International Version)

Joshua 1

 ¹ After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: ² "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. ³ I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ⁴ Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea ^[a] on the west. ⁵ No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  ⁶ "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. ⁷ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Rain Down

I read the below verse and was struck by its beauty and raw power. I really like both the NIV and New American Standard translations so I have included both. I pray that I am continually ready to accept this living water, may I never seek shelter from the LORD's rain...

Isaiah 45:8 (New American Standard Bible)
8"Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it.

Isaiah 45:8 (New International Version)
8 "You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD, have created it.

carried away

  The closer we get to Christ the less we can hold onto the things of this World.  As our burden is lifted it allows us to be carried away.

Matthew 11:29-30 (New International Version)

²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Waves

I have had waves stuck in my head for a few weeks now.  I keep thinking about how small waves in life will toss you about.  Ephesians 4:14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

Large waves on the other hand can pick you up and carry you, they are powerful, mighty, forceful and dangerous.  You can not control or harness a wave.  It is designed to move, and it will not be stopped.  We can ride them, but we can not steer them.  God is like this, he has an unchanging focus and we can choose to ride with him, or sit in the chop and continue to be pushed around by the small waves.  I want to jump on and ride.
A group from my church is heading to Haiti in a few weeks on a mission trip to work with  Child Hope International and I have donated this painting to support the trip.  You can bid locally at D&M Coffee in Ellensburg . 
You can bid online @ http://www.32auctions.com/organizations/524/auctions/553

Word in the wilderness

Today after a meeting in Lake Placid NY I happened upon a very nice hiking trail a few miles outside of town. I had been sitting in a conference room all day so I thought it would be nice to stretch my legs and breath in some fresh mountain air. I stepped onto the trail and right away started to see God in my surroundings. The trail ran for two miles and passed three lakes. It was a very peaceful hike and I felt myself wishing I had my bible so that I could spend a little quiet time by the lake. I had not brought it along so I settled for the peace of a quiet hike. At the end of the trail next to a beautiful lake was a small three walled structure designed to give hikers a dry place to sleep. Inside were a few hiking sticks and a king James Bible. I sat down on the log floor and opened the bible to Psalms and read Psalms 34. This was a real blessing and I am thankful for the hiker that left the bible behind. The Psalm spoke to my heart and lifted my spirits.  I love that God planted the idea in a hiker to leave the bible so that I could find it at a time I truly needed some encouragement. 


Psalm 34 (King James Version)

1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Waves

God moves in us, or rather we allow God to move in us differently throughout our walk. sometimes we are tossed about due to fleshly conflict, and other times we are able to move along with God for a sustained period. My prayer is that God would send me a large wave and that I would jump on without hesitation and ride with him.

Psalm 93
1 The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
2 Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.
3 The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is mighty.

All Consuming

I sketched this during church and the following are the notes that I wrote off to the side. Let your fire fall. Let your wind blow. Let your glory come down. Let our praises rise to you . Remove the barriers and let your glory shine through. You are God! It is your work in us that makes us different. To attempt to live out the things of God without the spirit of God working in us is folly. Lord I ask that you create in me a humble heart and that I may never forget from where I draw my strength.

Sealed

Ephesians 1:13-14 (New International Version)
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

Art of Worship Two

I went on vacation with my wife and two children last week to the beach. We had a great time and all stayed unplugged for 10 days. It was a great time to reflect on life and just enjoy my family and a simpler life of bare feet and swim suits. My five year old spotted a lizard running on its hind legs. He said "isn't God Amazing" I love hearing those words from my kids. I looked the lizard up when we got home and its nickname is the Jesus lizard because it can run on water. I found a pic on the net to share. It is cool when we find God in our daily activities. That brings me to today's post. I found being unplugged was very refreshing, but I missed my daily dose of worship music. It really sets the tone for me. This piece reflects the release and growth that I experience through worship.

Water - Fire - Wind

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

- Matthew 6:24

Art of Worship

Worship music is powerful. Lyrics give us incite into the heart of an artist and at times create such strong emotion in us that we are moved to action. I sketched this on a flight home from Idaho Falls while listening to Shane and Shane's song Name Sake.

Tree - Vine

 I have really been drawn to 1 Peter this week.  There are several verses that really speak to and challenge me.  How often are we given an open door to share and watch the opportunity slip away.  Why are we so afraid to let people in on our source of hope, peace and joy?  I pray that I will have the ability to live out  the verses below.

1 Peter 3:13 - 15 
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.  "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."  But in your hearts set apart 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.

1Peter 4:10-11
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen.

Body of the tree

1 Peter 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Renew

This is my first mobile post. I was traveling today to the fine state of Maine and had a little time to sketch on the Plane. Some of the things that came into my mind while drawing were: Transcend, Die to old self, Salvation, New Beginnings, Renew, and Deep Roots. I read James today and felt very encouraged. My prayer is that my faith would be visible this week and that God will challenge me to step out in a real way.

Wind and Fire

John 3:8  The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 

Straight Path

Proverbs 2

 ¹ My son, if you accept my words
       and store up my commands within you,  ² turning your ear to wisdom
       and applying your heart to understanding,
 ³ and if you call out for insight
       and cry aloud for understanding,
 ⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
       and search for it as for hidden treasure,
 ⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
       and find the knowledge of God.
 ⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom,
       and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
 ⁷ He holds victory in store for the upright,
       he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
 ⁸ for he guards the course of the just
       and protects the way of his faithful ones.
 ⁹ Then you will understand what is right and just
       and fair—every good path.
 ¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,
       and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
 ¹¹ Discretion will protect you,
       and understanding will guard you.
 ¹² Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
       from men whose words are perverse,
 ¹³ who leave the straight paths
       to walk in dark ways,
 ¹⁴ who delight in doing wrong
       and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
 ¹⁵ whose paths are crooked
       and who are devious in their ways.
 ¹⁶ It will save you also from the adulteress,
       from the wayward wife with her seductive words,
 ¹⁷ who has left the partner of her youth
       and ignored the covenant she made before God. 
 ¹⁸ For her house leads down to death
       and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
 ¹⁹ None who go to her return
       or attain the paths of life.
 ²⁰ Thus you will walk in the ways of good men
       and keep to the paths of the righteous.
 ²¹ For the upright will live in the land,
       and the blameless will remain in it;
 ²² but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
       and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

Risen

If the story would have stopped with the cross it would have been over, but death could not hold Christ.
Recently I have run into several people that have reached rock bottom and I have had the opportunity to pray with them.  I would like to renew the prayer today in my blog.   May their roots grow strong and may they develop a renewed love for the word of God.  I pray that they will lean on the Lord and trust him with their burdens,  and I pray that God will grant them the faith to step out and walk with him.  May they find rest and a  renewed strength in the power of  Jesus.