In Focus

Today I am asking myself where my focus is, and consiquiently where it should be. In praying through it I feel as if God is telling me that I may be missing what is right in front of me. I am so busy trying to see what is off in the distance that I am missing opportunities that are clearly in sight. I am reminded today to slow down, look right, left, up, and down and let God work through me.

Mark 8:22-26
They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.  He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
  He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
  Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.  Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

Walking in the Spirit

Yesterday on a flight I met a very interesting man named Darrel. I had been reading my bible and then picked up my sketch book and began to draw.  It is tight quarters on an airplane, so I often find that I have an audience when sketching.  Darrel asked me what the drawing meant.  I explained to him that many times my sketches sort of just evolve and I really don't know what they will become until I finish.  They tend to revolve around my bible study, and the sketching allows me to turn my thoughts into visual images.  The lines interconnect and form pictures and the pictures express the way my brain is processing the scripture I have been reading.. 

I had been reading Romans 11:17-18 "

 "If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,  do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you"

I explained to Darrel that I had been considering what it was like to truly trust God and  walk in his power..  Darrel and I chatted for quite a while and during this time I learned that he was raised in a good home with good morals.  He felt strong convictions for doing the right thing and at the end of the day feels like he has a responsibility to please his parents.
During our conversation Darrel asked me a-lot of questions about my faith, and I had the opportunity to share what God is doing in my life.  I firmly believe that God is looking to graft Darrel into his life giving root.  I pray this evening that Darrel would consider the gift that only God can give and that he would be granted the faith to take that first step.

Psalm 94:18-19

¹⁸ When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
   your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.
¹⁹ When anxiety was great within me,
   your consolation brought me joy.

Impossible things are possible

I have been thinking a-lot about impossible things.   Things that I can't wrap my brain around logically.  Take leading a camel through the eye of a needle (Mark 10:25).  If you consider that in the physical sense it is impossible.  How about a miracle.  By definition  a miracle is: A surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is considered to be divine.  When I really stop and think about it impossible things by definition should never happen.  That said we experience things in our lives that can not be explained by logic, science, or mere accident.  Miracles make impossible things possible, and God is the only one who can accomplish a miracle.  Today I am thankful for the small miracles that happen each day.  The fact that my heart continues to beat, that I breath without thinking, that I can give and receive love, and that God has given me the faith to believe that through him the impossible is possible. 

1 Corinthians 13

 ¹ If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Guardian Angel

Praying for a very sick child today.  A friend of mine just had to air lift his daughter to children’s hospital.  She is having complications with pneumonia and needs some specialized care.  I invite you to join in and pray for this very sick little girl.  I pray that God would have his hand on this child and her family.  I pray for wisdom for the doctors and nurses who will visit her, and I pray that God would grant her strength, joy, and peace.

Psalm 91:9-13

If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
   and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
   no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
   to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
   you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

Arise Shine

Fall light in the Pacific Northwest is amazing.  A special time each year when the colors begin to shift  to a rainbow of rust brought on by the cool kiss of October.   There is anticipation, with a sense of beginning and completion.

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

Revelation

 

Revelation:  something revealed or disclosed, especially a striking disclosure, as of something not before realized.

Last week during my travels for work I sat on 7 airplanes and visited 5 cities.  God was very creative in placing specific people in my path.  He used me to minister, and also allowed other to minister to me.  I walked away from the week with one thing ringing in my ears.  God has given all of us unique gifts yet for some reason we do not value our gifts as highly as we value the gifts that we see in others.  In fact at times we try to operate in another persons gifting.  This is the equivalent of David putting on King Saul's armor.  It did not fit and David could not confidently go into battle wearing it.  He had to trust in the tools that God had given him in order to defeat Goliath.(1 Samuel 17:39)  In the same way we will be most effective when we operate in the gift that God has given us.  My prayer today is that I would take comfort in what God has given me to work with and that I would celebrate, not envy the gifts of others.

Revelation 22:12-20
¹² “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.    ¹⁴ “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
   ¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
 ¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
 ¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. ¹⁹ And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
 ²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
   Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Jumping in with both feet

Do you ever have  those moments when you are being called to jump in with both feet?  At times there is just no easing into the water.  There is no way to test the temperature, you just have to leap.  Sometimes you feel God prompting you and there is risk associated with the action.  Risk of rejection, isolation, unpopularity, suffering,  etc...    I say jump, you have everything to gain.  My prayers today go out to the young man in Salt Lake with chest pains, The woman in the middle seat from Portland Maine who had a swollen ankle, and the grandfather who dearly loves his family and took the time to share his story of just how creative God can be.

Harvest

Early October is grape harvest in Pennsylvania.  I found myself jogging down a rural road just outside  the small town of North East Pennsylvania.  The air was cool, and literally saturated with the smell of concord grapes.  Tractors, harvesters, and semi trucks run around the clock in order to get the grapes to Welch's for immediate processing.  During a visit to the plant earlier in the day I learned that the first place the grapes go when they enter the gate is the inspection station.  They are checked for rot, disease, quality, and impurities.  If they do not make the grade, they are turned away.  The vineyard owner must be diligent during the entire growing process to insure they produce a quality product for the harvest. 

My prayer today is that when presented with opportunity, I would be diligent and purposeful in what I sow, for whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Galatians:6:7-10

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

God's Guiding Hand

On a flight home last week I had a brief encounter with a very pleasant flight attendant.  We struck up a conversation when she asked about the above sketch that I was working on during the flight.  I explained to her that it represented God's guiding hand in our life, and then gave it to her.  Our encounter was brief as the flight was very turbulent, but God has continued to impress upon me that this woman could use some prayer.  Really we all can, so I suppose that is not much of a stretch.  I pray today that this flight attendant would know, feel, and realise the power of God's guiding hand in her life. I pray specifically for comfort, rest, and peace.

Psalm 4

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹ Answer me when I call to you,
   my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
   have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
 ² How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
   How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
³ Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
   the LORD hears when I call to him.
 ⁴ Tremble and do not sin;
   when you are on your beds,
   search your hearts and be silent.
⁵ Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
   and trust in the LORD.
 ⁶ Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
   Let the light of your face shine on us.
⁷ Fill my heart with joy
   when their grain and new wine abound.
 ⁸ In peace I will lie down and sleep,
   for you alone, LORD,
   make me dwell in safety.

Fed by the word

  Some people write notes in the margins of their bibles, other highlight,  I tend to sketch in mine.  It is a way for me to better visualise what I am reading.  It allows me to slow down and really chew on Gods Word.  My prayer today is that God will grant me the Faith to walk out Psalm 1 in my life.

  I sketched this while reading Psalm 1:1-4

Blessed is the one
   who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
   or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
   and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
   which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
   whatever they do prospers.

Hidden Treasure

On a recent flight I found myself sketching, not an uncommon occurrence for me.  I was sitting in the middle seat at the back of the plane.  Tight quarters, but I had my headphones on and I was in my own little world listening to music and scratching a few lines out with my pencil.  A few minutes into the drawing God impressed on me that I was to give the finished product to the woman sitting next to me.  It's not as if I heard an audible voice, I simply had the impression that I was supposed to give her the drawing.  I finished the sketch and handed it to her simply saying that I wanted to bless her with the drawing and that God loved her.  She then began to tell me an amazing story.  the sketch was of a dragonfly.  She told me that each time something significant in her life happens she seems to see a dragonfly.  She was returning from a trip where she had met her 30 year old son for the first time.  She had given him up for adoption at birth and never thought she would see him again.  She said it had been an amazing time and felt like God had really blessed the trip.  We had a really great conversation and I left thinking to myself that we really do serve a creative God.  I am always amazed how He communicates through little hidden treasures in our lives.

Colossians 2:2-3

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge

Strength

It is not always easy to hold your arms up.  Moses during the battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites grew very tired after holding his hands in the air.  Each time his arms droped the Amalekites would begin to gain the advantage.  Aaron and Hur seeing that Moses's strength was fading fast stepped in and held his arms up.  I was reminded by a friend yesterday that at times we are called to hold our brothers arms up.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Exodus 17:9-13
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.  Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”
 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.  As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.  When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.   So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Let your Light Shine II

A couple of weeks ago I completed a drawing entitled let your light shine.  I started the painting a few days later.   While working on the painting I spent time reflecting about how we change as our relationship with God grows.  The original drawing and this painting are dedicated to my wife who I have watched shine brighter each year.  She is an amazing woman full of laughter, joy, compassion and a true love for God.  I am blessed to have her in my life.  





“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

Jars of Clay

As I read  2 Corinthians 4,  I was reminded that I have received a precious gift.  A gift that gives faith, strength, and the knowledge that the "something more" that everyone is looking for can only truly be found through Jesus.   I am very thankful that Jesus accepted me just as I was.  He did not judge,  he simply ushered me in with love.  He has shaped me over the years and continues to refine me.  He has been the rock in my life and has shown me what real love is.

We are fragile yet God still chooses to work through us 

We are weak, yet God still chooses to work through us 

We are easily distracted yet God still chooses to work through us.

We are Jars of Clay

 2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

The Grave could not hold him

The Cross could not best him

The Grave could not hold him

Death could not keep him

He willingly accepted our transgressions

Paid for us all

He died for YOU........

He would have done it even if you were the only one

You are that important to Him....

Tears

Words that make me pause............

Psalm 119:129-136
Your statutes are wonderful;
therefore I obey them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands.
Turn to me and have mercy on me,
as you always do to those who love your name.
Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.
Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may obey your precepts.
Make your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees.
Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed.

Abondon

 

Fire that refines

Water that satisfies

Faith to believe

Oh that we may know the gift that only you give

It is our love that you desire

Fewer words more praise

Transformed hearts 

Unveiled eyes

Opened ears

Pure Love

Jesus

part of something much larger

In John 15 Jesus is referred to as the vine. Apart from him we the branches wither up and are lost. I started to think about this today when I sketched this simple drawing. Jesus is much bigger than my church, my town, my state, my country, my continent, and even the world. If I want to be part of his vine I must also realize that it is all of his followers that make up the body. Jesus reaches every corner of the earth. He does not see boarders, color, sex, or race. He is accepting of all and refines us individually. It is my prayer today that I would not cause another branch to stumble and that I would accept God's pruning with the understanding that he is shaping me to be the man he created me to be.


John 15:1-6
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Let your light shine

I have known my wife for 20 years. We met in college and it was her beauty that first caught my eye. Her heart for God sealed the deal. Over the years I have seen her faith grow, and experienced Gods light shining through her. This drawing represents what the love of God looks like in her life and how it continues to get brighter each and every day. Lynda you are truly an inspiration and I feel blessed that you are my wife.


“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

BLUE

When I become blue for a time, disenchanted, tired, disappointed, sick, or downtrodden I simply need to remember the one who tasted death for me. The one who became man, truly suffered, died, was buried, and rose again. When I consider what it is that Jesus did for me, my blue fades, my suffering seems trivial. "Thank You Jesus"


Hebrews 2:2-10

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
a son of man that you care for him?
You made them a little[a] lower than the angels;
you crowned them with glory and honor
and put everything under their feet.”

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.