At the beach

I spent the weekend on the Oregon Coast with family and friends.  We had a great time playing in the sun and waves.  On my last day there I decided to take my bible and a sketch pad and spend an hour sitting in the sand.  I read about David and his deep understanding of what is required for a true offering.  David states that unless there is a cost, there can be no offering.  I have been thinking about those words and how often I settle for offerings that cost me little or nothing.  I believe that this verse will stay with me for some time as I attempt to wrap my brain around the cost of following God.  With that I will leave you with a few photos and the verse to ponder.

 2 Samuel 24:24  - But the king replied to Araunah, "No,  I insist on paying you for it.  I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing"

Question for reflection:  How much is your offering worth (time, sacrifice, money, etc..._

Fellowship

I was reminded today that God's path is available and accessible to everyone. Lift up your brothers and sisters, lend a helping hand, enjoy the journey, and take stock in the fact that we serve an awesome, mighty, and very real God.

Date and Time

 

I remember the moment that my wife went into labor with our first child.  It was June 29th, 2004 at 11 PM, and we were both surprised.  We knew it would happen, but Ben decided to come three weeks early and we were caught off guard.  I thought of this moment when I read the following verse.  It is my prayer today that I would focus on the moment, choose Jesus, and not be surprised.

1 Thessalonians 5

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

5 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, ² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
⁴ But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
¹² Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
¹⁶ Be joyful always; ¹⁷ pray continually; ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
¹⁹ Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; ²⁰ do not treat prophecies with contempt. ²¹ Test everything. Hold on to the good. ²² Avoid every kind of evil.
²³ May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
²⁵ Brothers, pray for us. ²⁶ Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anchored

 

A friend of mine blogged about the Root and Foundation on his blog:

http://thewordwasgod.blogspot.com/

I recommend clicking on the link and giving it a read.  I have included the post below.  My thanks to Teague for his thoughtful post.

The Root and Foundation

An excerpt from my notes on the feasts of Israel

***

            Sacrifice, of some kind, was required with the observance of every feast under the old covenant.  The types and amounts of animals varied from feast to feast but generally there was a burnt offering and a sin offering.  The main purpose of a burnt offering was to be “an aroma pleasing to the LORD” (Lev. 1:9, 13, 17).  For this offering, the entire animal was burned on the altar.  The sin offering was made to make atonement for the people (Lev. 4:20, 26, 31, 35).  These offerings had to be made during every feast because of Israel’s continuing sinfulness.  They could not relate to God or participate in His feasts unless sin was dealt with and God was satisfied.

            Jesus’s one sacrifice was sufficient for all time and beyond.  On the cross He fulfilled every burnt offering and sin offering pictured in the Old Testament. In Him, there is no need for repeated sacrifice.  Why then is the cross pictured at every feast through the offerings that were commanded?  It is because our participation in any aspect of Christ depends on the cross.  We can only be united to His resurrection if we are united to His death (Rom. 6:5).  Sharing His anointing depends on His atonement.  And God couldn’t tabernacle or dwell in us unless His temple was destroyed and raised in three days (John 2:19-22).

            It isn’t just that the cross is a first step that we have to start with.  We cannot move on from the cross any more that a tree can move from its root or a building from its foundation.  This is why, even in the type, the Lord keeps the cross continually before us.  It is as if He is saying, “If I hadn’t died you would have no part in me” (cf. John 13:8). 

            Since the cross is the bedrock of all God has done, we must keep our feet on the ground of it, especially as we know Jesus in the more exalted aspects of His life.  Christ, our risen, anointed King still has His wounds.  The Holy Spirit must mark us with the cross in such a way that we never leave the wounds of Christ, even as we experience the freedom of His resurrection, the power of His anointing, the authority of His crown.  In fact, we must see His wounds as the source of everything else that we experience in Him and learn to value them as the headwaters of spiritual life.  If the cross is not ever before us and hasn’t indelibly marked our hearts, we will have a false sense of where God’s life, power, authority, and blessing come from.  We will think these divine things come because we are spiritual, and because God is rewarding us for “doing it right.”  But if we experience any spiritual life and power, it is only because we are in Christ who died on the cross to make our participation possible.

Marked

<sup>Ephesians 1:14-14

11</sup> In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ 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, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Intentional walk

 

This morning Spencer and I hit the river at 6am for an early morning paddle through the flat water of the Deschutes about a mile below the rapids in this photo.  It is amazing how quickly a river can change from tumbling white water to a flat placid expanse.  The air was a crisp 54 degrees and the sun was just poking through the trees along the east bank.  We paddled up river for a mile then floated lazily down again.  I am thankful for my friend Spencer and his heart for God.  This morning he reminded me that if we truly want to follow God we must obey him in both calm moments, and those times that seem to tumble out of control.  It is my prayer today that I be intentional in my walk, and in all things choose to obey my Father.

John 15:10

¹⁰ If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

Sketched

Pour out

Renew

Refresh

Redeem

Make new

Each Day

And in All Things

Renew a right

Spirit within me

 

Sidewalk Chalk

As many of you know I have recently moved from Central Washington to Bend Oregon.  We are currently living in our Motor Home while we wait for our house to close.  A retired couple in our campground gave my boys a container of sidewalk chalk......  We had a great time decorating the circle drive in front of our site.  Slowing down and just playing with my boys for a bit allowed me to reflect on the fact that I really need to enjoy life in the moment for what it is.  I have really been anxious about the future and tying up all the loose ends.  God really impressed on me to trust.

Philippians 4:6


Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Standing alone

 

Last week I let you in on my process a bit when I posted the beginnings of this painting.  Typically I wait to post until I have finished a piece, but God has been speaking to me specifically regarding those times I feel that I am standing alone.  While painting this I found myself wondering why I dwell in that place.  I feel as if God is prompting me to lean into his presence.  It is as if he is saying I am right here with you, all you need to do is trust.   This painting has taken some interesting twists and it is not yet finished.  It is my prayer today that I would recognize the fact that I am not standing alone, I am standing with the father.

John 8:15-17

You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.  In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.

Open door

 

In all your ways acknowledge God

 

I thought I would let you in on my process with this post.  Tonight after work I took a drive up China Hat Rd in Bend Oregon.  I found myself perched atop a butte with a great view of the Cascades and a blank canvas.  I spent some time reading my bible, then began to paint.  I spent a couple of hours listening to worship music, painting, and simply enjoying God's living canvas that surrounded me.  Prior to starting this piece I read Proverbs 3:5-6

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make your paths straight

This Move to Bend has really taught me a-lot about trusting in the Lord in all things.   I hope to blog about it in the near future.  My prayer today is that I would acknowledge God in all that I do, giving him the glory each and every day.

Fire and Ice

Nehemiah 12:27-30

27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.

Walking into the storm

Authentic Worship

I was reminded by a friend yesterday just how powerful true worship can be.  Typically when I think of worship I think of a connection that happens when we sing songs of praise to God.  My friend related an experience of teenage girls who were attending a purity conference falling to their knees and crying out to God in worship after experience breakthrough in the knowledge of just how precious God's view of them really is.  God sees each of us as unique and worthy of the sacrifice of his son Jesus.  I am thankful for my friend Marcy and her willingness to invest in the lives of 25 teenage girls, and I am grateful that I serve a God that sees us each as unique and worth pursuing.


Hebrews 12:25-29
See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks.  If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?  At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.

No words

 

No words, just movement

Like a root out of dry ground

Jesus did not start his ministry until he was in his 30s.  He spent a-lot of time preparing for a three year mission.  He was rooted in his Father and never strayed from his message.  I often look for immediate results and instant answers to prayer.  Today thinking of the time Jesus spent preparing for his ministry I am reminded that God's timing and plans are much bigger than mine.   It is my prayer today that I would seek to align myself with God's timing and that I would pray with his plan in mind. 

Isaiah 53:2-6

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Opportunity - Choices - Decisions

 

For most of my life I made decisions, followed opportunities and selected between choices based on how I felt, or how I would benefit and or avoid a consequence.   I reserved prayer for the times when I really got in a bind, hit a dead end, or had no other option.  It was as if I had some sort of mental block that only allowed me to discuss a situation with God if it was "big enough".  I still struggle with this although I will say that prayer has become a much bigger part of my life.  Consulting God has become less of a fire drill and somewhat more routine.  I am thinking about this today because my family has been making a-lot of decisions lately.  I have decided to take a new job and move my family to Bend Oregon, we have decided to sell our home and search for a new one, and we will soon be deciding which church in Bend will be a good place for our family.  My wife and I have done a-lot of praying as we have made these decisions, and in much of it we can genuinely say that we see God's hand at work.   It is my prayer today that I will continue to partner with my wife in prayer, seeking God's will for our family in all that we do each day.  For whether we are coming or going I pray that we give thanks and rejoice in the loving God that we serve.

Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Salt and Light

 

I have been thinking about salt and light the last couple of days.  Salt is amazing and can really add flavor to a dish, it can also be very overpowering if used wrong.  God calls us to be salt and light, and uses us to add flavor and illumination.  When we are in sync with him and allow him to work through us he controls the amount of salt and light that are brought into our surroundings.  When we go it on our own, working under our own power, we have a tendency to over season, lose our saltiness, or shine our light in the wrong direction.  My prayer today is that I would be sensitive to how God is working in me and through me, and that I would never second guess the proportions he uses.


Matthew 5:13-16

Salt and Light
    “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

   “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Oasis

 

An Oasis is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source.  If the water dries up the vegetation dies.  I find that God's Word is an Oasis that never dries up.  When I am in the Word I feel satisfied, spiritually full, capable of giving and receiving.  When I stray from the Word, I find myself feeling empty, tired, dried out.  It is my prayer today that I would recognize and seek refuge in the Oasis that God has provided in his Word.

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Strength in Numbers

While I sketched this I was thinking about how branches that are woven together as they grow form a strong bond that is not easily broken, moved, or shaken.  As we sow into one another similar bonds are created.  God has pointed out several people to me this week that could use a bit of encouragement.  He is asking me to pray for them, lift them up, and be purposeful in my interaction with them. 

Question to ponder --- Who is God laying on your heart this week?

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.