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!

 

 

vision source

New Discovery

Last weeks ministry conference brought many great points to ponder. I’ll share a few areas I look forward to digging deeper on.

The story of Cornelius and Peter’s “confusing” call to go to him. Peter finds revelation from his “vision” and “stepping” in obedience.

Was going to Cornelius safe for Peter?
Was it comfortable?
His vision of animals and to kill and eat – how does that translate to all “people” being acceptable to God?

God’s ways are seldom our normal ways! 

Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.”
Acts 10:34-36

Peter was trying to limit God with his reaction to the vision. Yes a great follower but still being shown more. He dared to step out in what was uncomfortable.

Thank you God that we have such examples of faith in action. Not just faith in traditions and understanding, but faith that what You share is even more important. Let us not discount what You are revealing to us each day. 

life to the full

Free to Soar

Much of my life right now is around “retired” people. Their focus is helping the aging, being the aging, time with kids and grand kids, extra travel, hobbies and relaxing.

What does “retirement” mean to you?
Do you think of it as “life to the full”?

We spend LIFE working to save for retirement.
Investing to save for retirement.
Exercising to be fit for retirement.
Dreaming about when we reach retirement.
Hoping we make it to retirement.

Many don’t make it that far, others are forced out of work early, health issues keep some home bound and the dreams and ideas for those “later years” don’t always happen.

The words of John are potent and this is a powerful verse in a great variety of ways.

The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. John 10:10 TLB

Are we under the rule of the thief OR the King of Kings?
Do we really understand the “fullness” of God’s “purpose” here?

Maybe it’s time to take back what the enemy has been stealing.

Dear God – HELP! Help us to see the fullness You desire for our lives, no matter our age, health or other perceived limitations. Help us to step up and step out to bring Your fullness to others. Give us the wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Your ways so we can truly do what we were created for. Bring boldness, courage and strength to Your body Lord that we would stand in unity and see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living…

dam release

Shower of Blessings

I remember days of thinking, “Oh no – I still have to blog!” So I would stay up later, put something else aside and often force something out. I’m definitely not finding that pressure in this season of life but instead a desire to share some of the deeper things God has been showing me.

This message from my personal journals is a great example. I was surprised to have this be as if I were speaking compared to His usual direct way and felt it should be shared.

“When we build walls – we think we are protecting ourselves, but we really are building a dam that also keeps His blessing from pouring out. It’s not that blessings stop, but the wall/dam holds them back. It’s not until we dare to break down the wall and destroy the dam that we will see the fullness He’s been releasing consistently. It’s not God’s nature to withhold but we are not always ready or willing to receive. He is patient and knows the time will come when our hearts are ready and we can walk in the fullness of His treasure. Much of it is up to us when we dare to tear down our man-made structure and allow God to rebuild.”

No good thing does God withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)

Are you ready to break down those walls and dismantle the dam?

The heavens have been opened through Jesus…there is no need for His fullness and blessings to be held behind any wall or dam.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

Lord, we repent for building walls and dams that limit Your work in and through our lives. Today we come to tear them down so nothing further will separate us from You. And when we find another boulder going into place, let us recognize it so we can move it out of the way!

words make a difference

I’ve learned the hard way that words can hurt deeply. Growing up I didn’t FIT in since I grew quickly – both tall and wide. You might actually go WOW if you saw the growth chart from the Dr. I can still see that line showing normal development and mine. LOL

I also developed that wrong sense of getting back at others for the hurt I felt. So wrong and how I wish I could take my words back…but I can’t and you can’t.

BUT…We can start NEW- every second we can start NEW! Change can begin with you!

Did you know there are more negative adjectives than positive ones?
It takes LOTS of positive words to overcome a negative already said?
Sometimes it takes LOTS of years to defeat the words spoken to us.

Many people have been more impacted by negative words than fists. News media, social media and more are affecting us each day as we listen and read words.

In the beginning God created GOOD things with His words. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 18:21

If we are going to make a difference in this world – just like our Creator – we need to start with our words.

Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 in prayer

you are needed

Where’s Your Focus?

It’s always interesting to talk with new believers and hear the concerns they have in their blossoming relationship with Jesus. Thinking they have done too much wrong in there life (so did I), were committed at one time and walked away (so did I), don’t quite know what His plans are for them (with ya), and just feel like they missed the boat (been there).

It is wonderful to be able to show them how vast is His loving forgiveness and how far the east is from the west. The redeeming power found in the blood of Christ and how He showers us with grace after grace. He even knows ahead when we will take those detours but is still willing to guide us where we need to be.

He knew each of us before the creation of the world and HE ACTUALLY NEEDS US TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSES on this earth. 

It’s not just our need for God – He needs us, doing what He planned long ago. God will do all that we let Him to bring that to be.

The choice is ours.

Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, That you may be wise in the time to come. Many plans are in a man’s mind, But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out). Proverbs 19:20-21 AMP

glory to all

holy and blameless

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

This verse may be deeply implanted to keep you humble since you’re only human right?

When this verse is used by itself, it keeps us in an identity of shame and unworthiness which is not of God. Jesus came to set us FREE! As with most verses, there is much more to the story.

The discussion was on the law and Jew and Gentile – that there was not one group worthy and making the others outcasts.

Jesus did not die for some – but for ALL.
It’s not that only the good people are created in His image, but ALL.
Grace isn’t just for those in need or who are humble, but for ALL.
Jesus didn’t surrender to the cross just for those “predestined” but for ALL. 

Many will not receive this gift, many seem beyond His reach or ours, but the truth remains that Jesus wants to see ALL come to the saving knowledge of His truth.

And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:24-26

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

 

 

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:36

Thank you Lord that when we receive Your good and perfect gift of grace, we are made new! We are no longer sinners but saints. We might sin, but that is no longer our nature or our identity. The old is dead and the new eternal life starts here on this earth and will reach it’s fulfillment when You return. We are no longer just human – we are one with You and called redeemed! Thank You for these precious gifts!

conform or transform

One of my most impacting verses…

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 NIV

I’ve prayed in these verses for years and still love how they challenge me. I kind of liked my mind before and was learning to conform well. But oh what wonderful things happen when you give up what you are comfortable with or what seems good to get God’s much better perspective!

Renewing is a continual process – not a once and done thing. And transformed – means a dramatic change in form, appearance or character. When I first “came to Jesus” my life still looked pretty conformed to the rest of the world. Now is a different kind of messy that is definitely dramatically different!!

The first circle encaustic painting (wax w/oil pigment) was later melted and transformed.

Blues

Wings

What does this speak to you today?

To me it says – “Don’t settle for a pretty puddle when God wants to give you wings!”

never the same

a different view

Each year I eagerly await the transformation of one tree in my yard. I never catch the colors the same, especially waiting for a sunny day to take photos. Last week the glorious reds were gaining on the greens, now an abundance of golden hues.

All of creation changes so differently. Plants, creatures, people and weather! Definitely something we can be grateful for and other times, steadiness would be good Lord!

I think that is why I find great comfort that God is never changing. The only thing that can always be sure for us. The Creator of all.

I beautiful day of sunshine and simplicity.
Magnifying the Great I AM!

A lyric from years ago comes to mind….
“Just one touch from The King – changes everything!”
Godfrey Birtill (I was used to Old Man Worship Band singing :D)

guilt

closed hand

For years Jesus Calling was my devotional and recently I picked it up again. Some things are good to hang on to!

From September 23 –

“If you carry a burden of guilt on your back, you are more likely to stumble and fall. At your request, I will remove the heavy load from you and bury it at the foot of the cross.” Sarah Young

How many days are we digging up something that was already removed and trying to carry it again?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Are you ready to release things too?

God’s shown me several non-beneficial things I’ve dug up and tried to carry again – thankfully He also helps me to recognize and release, so I can receive the fullness He desires to give.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. Psalm 107:2 KJV