remembering

While doing more wallpapering I was remembering so many things. The spare room was once called the office and where I would do my college study. That same season my first exchange student came. With the second one, we painted the room and she helped to create some wonderful floral work on the walls that stayed for 16 years.

It was time for change. Time for new.

Belen – Segovia, Spain – Student #3

I think of the words in Philippians 3 – it talks about forgetting what is past but I know I will not forget it all, not when I remember how it has made me more in His image.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:12-14

Often we are afraid of change. I definitely had some fear in having kids in my house and life when I’ve never raised my own. But God…. He had given me some warning and definitely a lot of grace as I learned how to be a friend to someone from another culture and a pseudo parent. Four short term students later and I was heading to Haiti where I was the foreigner …. memories.

God did not create us to just be satisfied with how things are or always desiring to go back to the way they were, He has called us to follow Him which seldom comes with the best road map. Do you think the Israelite’s could have wandered less years?

Memories – of learning flexibility, acceptance of different ideals, communicating simply and honoring how others feel or believe. So much more…

Thank you God that you use everything in our lives to teach us Your better ways. Guide us today to remember and yet to press on toward all that you have called us to!

seeing possibilities

Enith in Haiti 2007

In 2000 I took my first mission trip to Mexico. Since I was not an evangelist or doctor, I didn’t feel I had much to give in missions. This trip was a perfect starting point since it was a work crew to help paint, fix and refresh a school.

As a youth, that never seemed like anything that would be in my future. After that trip, I felt a tug on my heart to do something more in missions.

A trip planned and passport in hand in 2004 and I cancelled. I had heard the Lord saying the missions were coming to me. Exchange students from Vietnam, Colombia, Mexico and Spain came into my home. Not full school years but this kept me local for another 2 years.

Why am I sharing on this?

God’s ways are different than ours. He sees possibilities all around us and knows how to prepare us for where we are going next and to use us where we are now.

The kids certainly helped me to understand other cultures in ways that my Perspectives training did not. I had taken steps toward learning but having them in your home is an even more in depth training.

On the last night of my Perspectives class in 2006, I read an email connecting me to a woman who was looking for others to teach business skills to artisans in Haiti. I was giving a 6 week leave of absence from my job and traveled early 2007 for my first trip. I continued to work with the organization until 2014 and never was there longer than my first 6 week stay. Internet is very helpful for that now!

So much of this seemed impossible from my earthly mindset. BUT…. with God all things are possible. He does want us to have an abundant life. Our definition and His might be a little different.

Take some time this week to ask God to show you a picture or give you some words of what an abundant life for you looks like. Maybe even write out what you think it would be and if you see impossible written on that, as Him how he sees it. God loves to share His heart with us. Keep asking, seeking, knocking. You will learn His voice. He is always speaking, we just need to learn how He speaks to us.

My prayer today is the once Paul shared to the Ephesians –

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:16-21

another viewpoint

Through the Fog, oil and cold wax on 12×12 panel SOLD

Do you ever get a glimpse of something and you’re not sure what it is?

Maybe my newer abstracts are that “something” to you. 🙂
It has been very interesting to hear what others are seeing. A friend was over and was at first turning her head sideways to look at a painting. I gave it to her and she began turning in different directions and sharing some new stories. It was beautiful the way it spoke to her. Reminding me of days as a child looking into the clouds with friends and waiting expectantly for new things to be revealed.

It’s often how it is in the spiritual world too. We can read a passage over and over and then sharing with another, they see something we did not. A reason I love having conversations about God’s Word.

In three different places, I am in the book of Ephesians. A devotional, recent church messages and a study group. It’s sharing even more life! We’ve been digging out the promises of God. Seeing how He views His creation and encourages His children. Recognizing God’s heart in the prayers that are still very alive.

I think that’s why I’m also enjoy the The Passion Translation and The Message as I study. It removes some of the lenses I have used and reveals hidden things before not seen.

The Passion Translation (TPT) Ephesians 4 – Our Divine Calling
As a prisoner of the Lord, I plead with you to walk holy, in a way that is suitable to your high rank, given to you in your divine calling. ² With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience. ³ Be faithful to guard the sweet harmony of the Holy Spirit among you in the bonds of peace, ⁴ being one body and one spirit, as you were all called into the same glorious hope of divine destiny.

⁵ For the Lord God is one, and so are we, for we share in one faith, one baptism, and one Father. ⁶ And He is the perfect Father who leads us all, works through us all, and lives in us all!

I pray this week you will take some time with a familiar passage and ask the Holy Spirit to share some new insight. Maybe discuss with another over coffee or tea.

Thank you Lord we are not left to our own devices, that you have richly blessed us and continue to guide us in all truth. Let us not get so focused on our own understanding that we neglect to seek and ask for Your wisdom.

denial to disciple

Several new paintings are waiting for final touches.  As this rooster sat on the wall staring at me, so many thoughts of Simon/Peter’s story came to mind. After finishing touches as I was doing more of the engraving, the words “chicken scratch” came very strong.

The original painting was a realistic rooster that never felt finished. I was going to totally cover it up then thought to leave some realism in with the abstract.

As I thought of Simon/Peter, the first engravings in one layer of paint were, “denial – one – two – three”.

Jesus wasn’t surprised by that denial. He even told Simon/Peter it would happen.

I looked up the name Simon – in Greek it means flat or snub nosed. I think we can say he “snubbed” Jesus and as said – before the rooster crowed.

I also found great hope in this painting and the Simon (Peter) story. You could say Simon didn’t know how the denial would turn out but Jesus told him quite clearly when he spoke the name he would be known by…

Matthew 16:15-19 NIV
¹⁵ …Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”
¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades  will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

There was a depth to their relationship. Jesus was calling out the GOLD in Simon – that he would be Cephas (Peter), the rock!

Denial was in his history. The chicken scratch of past – not the ROCK of his future!

Your life has a message from Jesus too! We need to be like Peter and willing to hear it from the Lord as He calls us to our future. The world needs what we are carrying! We were made for such a time as this!

I pray that this week, you will hear the call of God to be ALL that He created you to be. That you would have courage to step forward to ALL that He has in store for you! Thank you Jesus for this gift of life on earth – as it is in heaven!

 

 

depth of riches

Feeling like it’s a time to share some more of the words God has given in my journal time. I hope you will feel His pleasure, direction and challenge as you read…

….Feels like a day to lean into Your heart Lord. You’ve shared so much in this past year and yet I feel the coming year will be the most exciting and even humbling year. Not in a way of tearing people down but in a way of knowing You so intimately. Such a depth to the riches and knowledge of knowing when we are one with you Lord. (Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!)

I do long to share my heart with my bride. I have so much to give and so much to shower over you. Many are so focused on the things of this world they don’t understand that the kingdom is at hand and that they are needed to carry on the work, not of just believing or sitting in a building but of redeeming, restoring and rebuilding. How can we help You Lord? Rise up, get out, speak boldly and love thoroughly. It’s not about all being street evangelists but where you are – love, where you are – share hope and joy, where you are – speak My Truth. Where you are!

Colossians 1:8 ….we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

I pray that in your week, everywhere you step will be a place of encountering His goodness and sharing it with others. That you would go out boldly and please Him in every way! Let your love shine on!

impact

Free to Soar

I don’t know about you but every Lenten season is different in its impact. It’s as if God says, “You’re ready for something new.” It doesn’t always go with the season. It was just such a time of knowing how much Christ’s sacrifice really means for ALL of mankind.

No one is beyond His mighty hand.
No one is beyond His claim.
EACH has been made in His image and EACH is released from the curse of this world at the cross. No matter their crime – the price has been paid!!
That is a GIANT HALLELUJAH!!

Lord we thank you that ALL the people we encounter are deserving of Your love and our love.
NONE are forsaken. 

Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.
2 Peter 3:8-9

Help us Lord to love others as You love. To see them with Your eyes and Your heart. Even when we know how far away they are – let us see how close You want them to be! Let us go boldly with the Love of Christ!

even in storms

Night time is not the right time to get great color photos of your art work but it will suffice to demonstrate today. This was a photo from a friend. I loved that it captured both storm and beauty and asked if I could study it. My study may seem a bit different but it’s to get paint out and capture some parts of the photo. Not exact. Not precise. More the feeling of that moment of study. This photo speaks richly. First seen on a higher resolution computer screen, it lacks a lot on my laptop but still inspires.

We often will look at something and have a quick thought, impression or understanding. It’s when we take some time to study the scene, person, situation or passage – when something more comes.

Relating to God’s word, I think of the mystery that requires revelation and why we are told to “meditate” on His word day and night. We have different perspectives during light or darkness.

Do not let the sun go down on your anger. Ephesians 4:26

Relationships should not be a holding tank for the storm. They should be a place of grace, forgiveness and hope.

We could concentrate on the storms or chose to look for the sun setting, seeking the rainbow, the  wonder, the possibility and promise.

A verse comes to mind…

He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Psalm 23:5

Thank you Lord that even when things seem the darkest, when the storm seems the roughest and everywhere we turn seems to be bleak, there is a table of Your goodness ready and waiting for us to discover. Thank you that through Christ we are more than conquerors! Let us share Your good news through this week with those we encounter so they too can see Your goodness in new light! 

 

 

 

about you or who

“Garden Cherub”

Another impacting point was about Kingdom and church. Depending on where you look, there are over 300 references to kingdom and about 100 for church. Jesus was all about revealing the Father and His Kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven.

Our churches often seem more interested in attendance, numbers and quality of the worship and message. In other words…about man’s opinion more than God’s opinion.

In a theology class in college, our study of Revelation required us to write on which of the seven churches our body of believers was most like. An interesting method of evaluation. What does “lukewarm” really look like?

We can know so much in our earthly viewpoint but if we aren’t in tune with God’s kingdom viewpoint (or thermometer) – we might not be as hot as we think.

A further thought of mine…
Jesus didn’t come to create or prepare a church, but a bride.

How is your church doing at being the bride?
You might want to study what the bible has to say about the bride.

But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
Matthew 25:10

Help us Lord – to see as You see and do what You need us to do. Guide us with wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of YOU instead of the knowledge of this world. That we would understand further. 

 

 

mirror test

Do you ever ask God how He sees you?
You should try it.
Stand in front of the mirror and ask…
Don’t discount the inner voices you hear but seek His Spirit of Truth… not the spirit of limitation or disgrace.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
James 1:22-25

We are being “renewed” day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16) The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy but JESUS comes to give LIFE, full and abundant LIFE! (John 1o:10)

How often we forget that we are made in His image, in His likeness. (Genesis 1:17, 2 Corinthians 3:18) That we carry His Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16) – the same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead. (Romans 8:11) Christ in us IS the hope of glory! (Colossians 1:17)

We limit our own thinking with human wisdom instead of heavenly wisdom. We are made to be a city on a hill that can not be help but shine brightly!

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

listen to the rocks

As I’m painting rocks – His words are in my heart…
Lord, I praise you because we are fearfully and wonderfully made! You have created us in Your likeness and given us a heart that can love as you do! I thank You that there is nothing too hard for You and as we walk with You – nothing is too hard for us! Guide us in this week to walk with love and grace to all we encounter. Let our words be filled with encouragement and joy as we join the rocks in praising Your ways! 

They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.

Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:

Blessed is he who comes,
    the king in God’s name!
All’s well in heaven!
    Glory in the high places!

Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, get your disciples under control!”

But he said, “If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.”
Luke 19:35-40