paddle wheel

I spotted this paddle wheel boat along the western shore of Lake Chautauqua in Mayville NY.  The boat is pulled up on shore and the wheel is sitting high and dry.  On land the vessel is incapable of fulfilling the purpose for which it was designed .  If engaged the wheel would only churn air creating nothing but a breeze.  Like the paddle wheel we are created by God for a unique purpose. It is my prayer today that God would grant me the faith, fortitude, and strength to hoist myself back into his presence when I find myself beached.  I pray that I would be ready and willing each time he chooses to use me as his vessel.

1 Peter 4:10-11
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

Leap

I really like that we serve such a creative God. He typically uses unlikely vessels to carry out his best plans. Moses for instance hated public speaking, Paul had dedicated his life to persecuting Christians, Abraham was way past his prime, Peter was a fisherman, Rehab was a prostitute, and David was but a small boy. I find solace in the fact that God uses ordinary people to accomplish his extraordinary plans. My prayer today is that I will be ready to leap when I hear his whispered voice.


Isaiah 35:6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

Ruach

I found myself digging deep when I read Isaiah 61 today. I ended up reading commentary that explained the original Hebrew definition of Ruach (Spirit). It really opened my eyes to the text. Ruach in Hebrew generally means wind, breath, mind, spirit.

When applied to God, the word Ruach indicates creative activity (Gen 1:2) and active power (Isa 40:13). The Spirit of God also works in providence (Job 33:4; Psa 104:30), in redemption (Ezek 11:19; Ezek 36:26-27), in upholding and guiding his chosen ones (Neh 9:20; Psa 143:10; Hag 2:5), and in the empowering of the Messiah (Isa 11:2; Isa 42:1; Isa 61:1).

That said I began to look at Isaiah 61:1 as The Ruach (wind, breath, mind, spirit) of the sovereign LORD is on me. My prayer today is that I will be sensitive to the Ruach of God in my life....

Isaiah 61

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

Refined

Fall on the Rock and be broken? Seems like a strange thing to pray for, but I find that the more I dig into the Word the more I realize that unless I am broken I can not fully submit my life to God. If I want to be used by him I must hold nothing back and fall on the rock of Jesus. Only then can God refine me..............


Luke 20:17-18

17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:

“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone"?

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

Refined

Zechariah 13:9 (NIV)

9 This third I will put into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”

Water

Water that I may thirst no more..............

John 4:13-15 (NIV)

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

Adventuring With Christ

Adventuring With Christ!
This is how my friend Orchidy Boyd ends all of her emails. Every time I read this my heart jumps a bit at the thought of stepping out in faith and taking an adventure with Christ. Orchidy is a missionary based in Laticia Columbia who spends three quarters of her time deep in the jungle of the Amazon living among the Yagua tribe. I met Orchidy last year on a flight. That meeting has turned into many emails and phone conversations. Long story short I will be taking a short term mission trip to visit Orchidy in June. I am always amazed how God connects lives in such a creative way. Last week I was flying home from Charlotte NC. On the phone the night before my wife asked me if I had had any cool God encounters. I said I had not, then it struck me that I had not prayed about it. I said a simple prayer. "God, give me a chance to share your love". I boarded my plane and sat down. I was reading Psalm 16 in my bible when a flight attendant approached me and asked if I would mind trading my isle seat for a middle exit row seat. They needed to move a few people around. I said sure and moved up a few rows. I continued to read Psalm 16. The gentleman to my right said that is good book. I agreed and we began to talk. Within a few min the man sitting to my left joined the conversation. The Amazon trip came up and they asked me to share. I shared the story about meeting Orchidy and about making the decision to take a trip in June. Each of them shared how God was working in their lives. It was an awesome time. Then something amazing happened both men reached into their wallets and handed me wads of $20 bills. They both felt that God was prompting them to participate in my trip in June. I was blown away, I had not asked, I had just shared what God is doing in my life. I had prayed that God would give me a chance to share his love, and then I got to see God's love washing over me through two men I had know less than an hour.

Psalm 16

1 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” 3 I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” 4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. 5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. 6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. 7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, 10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful[b] one see decay. 11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Called

Jesus was called into a life of service by his Father. From birth to death every step he took had purpose, focus, and a defined destination. Jesus understood his calling and lived it out. What is it that God is asking of you? At times I question, stall, attempt to negotiate, then I remember that my only job is to say Yes. And every time I do say yes, I am met with the realization that living for Jesus is so very sweet. Luke 4:18-19 (NIV) 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]

Finger painting

This is my first digital painting. I created this on an iPad using my finger as the brush. Touch screens really take finger painting to a whole new level. While creating this my thoughts drifted to Jesus. By trade he was a carpenter. When he began his ministry he transitioned from building physical structures to refining and building the kingdom. this made me think about Ephesians 2:19-22

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

We are the dwelling/house of Christ. His spirit lives in us. Maybe at times our house/life gets a little messy, or needs to be updated/refined. Jesus is a trained carpenter. I can't think of anyone better to fix me up. My prayer today is that I would allow Jesus full access and give him creative license to remodel me into the dwelling he desires

Discipleship

Ever ponder what it really takes to follow Jesus in the way the Disciples did. The below verses paint a picture of total abandon. Jesus poured into them and in turn they poured into others. The cycle continues, but it requires the next generation to step up and say YES. These verses tug on my heart, but it is only through the faith and desire granted by God that I could ever truly follow in such a radical sold out way. I pray that God will continue to work on my heart and grant me the faith to simply say yes. “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:11 “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 “Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead.” Mathew 8:22 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33 “Sell everything you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.” Luke 18:22

Obedience

What does it look like to truly follow God? I was thinking about this today. Obedience is not only following when the going is easy, but it is holding the course when things get hard. God grant me the faith to be obedient, say yes, and trudge on. It seems like the best things only come when hard work is present. May I find joy in the toil and may I always look to you for Inspiration, guidance and direction. Reading the below verse through worldly eyes makes one think of power, abundance and riches, but if you stop and think of what God holds dear, thoughts quickly change to those of salvation, changed hearts, redemption, and grace. Rain down!

Deuteronomy 28

1 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:

3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

7 The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

8 The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

9 The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in obedience to him. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. 11 The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.

12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

Don't lose heart

At times it is easy to question, step back, pause, retreat....  Hebrews 12:1-3 reminds me that Jesus paid the price.  All I have to do is keep my eyes on him.  My prayer today is that I would not let life drag me down and that I would keep trusting in God for my self worth. 

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Stand Firm

Standing Firm -- Hard, Easy, or a Roller coaster? I have been thinking about this question a-lot. For me it feels a bit like a roller coaster. At times operating in Gods power is natural and standing firm is simply a byproduct. Other times the fear of Man sets in and God's power seems to just drain out. I often wonder why I waist so much time measuring God's plan against what others might think. My prayer today is that I would stand firm not only at the easy times, but that I would stand firm during the hard times and when presented with the potential of judgement. I pray that I would rely on the strength that only God can give, and be willing to do and or go when He prompts.

Mark 13:1-10 (NIV)

1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”

2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”

5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

food that endures

Today I spent time reflecting on choices. I thought about how I spend my time, how I spend my money, and what I invest myself in. I find I spend a-lot of time thinking about stuff, and what I think I need. Stuff is not bad, but when it starts to consume my thought life, I know that my priorities have become skewed. Stuff only fills the void for a very short time. Once it is no longer new and simply represents a debit to my bank account, or worse yet a payment it quickly looses its luster. My prayer today is that I would long for the food that endures rather than that which spoils.

John 6:27 (New International Version, ©2011)

27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

Through the praise of children and infants

I am often in awe of the simple yet powerful faith of children. They ask fearlessly for the impossible and genuinely expect that God will answer. When they praise God it is from the heart and without fear or thought of rebuke. When they worship it is free. Oh that I would have the faith of a child.......


Psalm 8 (NIV)

1 LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?[c]
5 You have made them[d] a little lower than the angels[e]
and crowned them[f] with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their[g] feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Yield in order to Soar

My flight into Kansas City this week was early. It was 2PM 62 degrees and I did not have a meeting until the next morning. Having traveled for the last 8 hours my legs were ready for some stretching. With the help of my HTC Incredible, Google Maps and a quick search I discovered a lake with running trails a few miles away. Worship music plugged into my ears I took off for a run through the woods around the lake. Five miles later I found myself within 100 yards of my car. That is when I noticed a bald eagle 100 feet off the top of a hill soaring in circles. Over the next five min I watched as he effortlessly rode the thermals higher and higher until he became a small dot in the sky. The eagle had accomplished this amazing gain in elevation through minute adjustments in his wings. Not one time did they flap. At that moment I felt like God impressed upon me the realization that this was possible because the eagle knows where his power comes from and accepts the fact that he must yield to it in order to soar effortlessly up. I began to wonder just how much time I spend working against God’s will in my life. My prayer today is that I would recognize Gods power in my life and yield to it allowing him to carry me away.

John 3:8 (NIV)
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.”

Abide

Love - not an emotion, not a feeling, not a passing symptom caused by hormonal surge. True love is only demonstrated through Gods love for us. My prayer today is that God will grant me the faith to truly live out John 15-9-17.................... Only then can I experience real love, and only through that love can I love others.

John 15:9-17

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

looking up

I snapped this photo on my phone while walking along the water front in Seattle over the weekend. I often find myself gazing up at the clouds. Not always the safest thing to do while walking, but I find I am drawn to it like a painting that draws your gaze and causes you to ponder the inspiration of the artist. God's creations are all around us and I never cease to be amazed by just how much he cares about even the smallest things in life. I am truly grateful for the creative ways he chooses to reach out to each of us. My prayer today is that I will never stop seeking his presence as I walk  through this life.

Acts 1:10-12 (NIV)
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Sowing of Seeds

Today I was traveling over the pass at 4:30 AM on the way to the airport and found myself very thankful for four wheel drive and studded tires. Chains were required for non four wheel drive vehicles and I had planed enough time to make my 8AM flight to NY. Inside my tuck I felt safe, in control and insulated from the storm that raged around me. My life is not always so planned out. At times I feel more like I am driving a three cylinder with bald tires a cracked windshield and bad wipers. That is no way to head into the storms life throws at us. This made me think of Matthew 13:3-23. My pray today is that I would be intentional about where I sow, for without proper planning and preparation a-lot of hard work will result in nothing but blisters.

Matthew 13:3-9  and 13:18-23
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
 ..............................................
¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

seeds of faith

I have been reading the book "The Purple Pig and Other Miracles" . I am only 50 pages in, but thus far it has truly been challenging my commitment to prayer. The book outlines just how powerful prayer is, not just in times of need, but as a premise for all that we do in the name of Christ. The Word of God is powerful! Prayer is the language of God, it is our lifeline for communication with him. It is my prayer that I would take this fact seriously and practice what we are called to do; In all things and in all conditions may I praise the Lord,

Psalm 126:5-6
5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

The Promise

Psalm 55:22
22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Eyes of my heart

A view via the eyes of my heart

Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

It is my pray that God would help me to see more with the eyes of my heart.