towards the light

I don’t know about you but I do walk down the street and through the store looking to engage eyes with others and share a smile or hello. I’m finding more and more are either on the phone, looking at the phone or hanging their head to avoid everyone.

It was something I noticed years ago in the office hallways and see amplified in our techno world.

Distance and distraction that leaves others feeling less and less light in their lives.

Be the light! No matter who will or will not look. Someone is noticing.
Shine the light! You don’t know whose darkness will be dispelled.
Pray in advance for the LIGHT! God knows how to prepare hearts in advance so you can do your part as His vessel in every step you take.

Everything was created through him;
    nothing—not one thing!—
    came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
    and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
    the darkness couldn’t put it out.
John 1:3-5 MSG

 

 

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

crowned with glory

Do we have to receive glory before we can give glory?? I often have five more questions arise when searching out answers.

In Ezekiel, those who encountered the glory fell facedown.
How often do we “fall” before the Lord?
I don’t think this was all their choice and effort of reverence to get on their knees.

Is that like the fear of the Lord, to also fear His glory?

Hebrew – kabod: abundance, honor, glory

We are to give glory to God but if He desires to give good and perfect gifts to us, should we be saying no to them?

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

Thank you Lord that we can come to You and Your Word with questions and when we ask for wisdom, You are willing and generous to give it. 

remain

Things of life don’t always remain the same. Change is guaranteed and all of our planning can be diverted quickly, often making life seem out of control. BUT…there is always a BUT to consider… even when we feel its out of control, God is still constant. We do have something we can count on never changing.

I was thinking of John 15 – verse 4 Message says, “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.”

How often do we feel that God is far from us?
Has He forgotten us, did we blow it, or is He too busy in some other country?

At His Feet

God can forget our sins, but He never forgets His children. Even those who stray far from Him. The story of the prodigal comes to mind and even parents that have been separated from their children for a time – they don’t forget.

So if you are feeling left out, alone – know that GOD IS CONSTANT, He never leaves, never forsakes and always loves. It is His nature – and thankfully – He never changes!!! Trust Him.

Blessings to your week. May you feel His presence encouraging you each moment and KNOW that as a lover of Jesus – Christ is IN you – never distant!!! 

storms of life

 

Tempest – 8×10 oil on canvas

I’m very intrigued by clouds lately. Such drama displayed in the sky. Ever changing and moving – yet constant in its existence.

This recent painting was sparked by photos of tornadoes. Such powerful untamed forces. I think of the great power and majesty of God. Nothing can stop Him yet He is so gentle to give us freedom and choice.

Do we want to stay in the storm, fighting on our own or let Him take the lead?

God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains.
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city, this sacred haunt of the Most High. God lives here, the streets are safe, God at your service from crack of dawn. Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten, but Earth does anything he says. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.” Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us. 

Psalm 46 – The Message

 

 

rise above

 

Rise Above

My paintings come about in a variety of ways. Many are sparked by words I feel I need to explore – like DRAMA. I think we could all come up with several “definitions” and then some very creative and unusual examples.

 

I found even though DRAMA was the word to spark this piece – it wasn’t the lesson I was to learn. Many see life as horrid, cursed, impossible and forget very basic truths in God’s Word.

They might remember the words “In this world you will have trouble.” Often forgetting the great gifts of promise in the scriptures.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”John 16:33

Even in the midst of storms, when things look dangerous and gloomy, our God HAS ALREADY overcome the things of this world! Jesus is the Victor and we ARE in His camp! His word is rich with promises that do not lose their value.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

May you rise above the drama today and rest in the faithfulness of His promises!

unfinished

unfinished work

How much more…
to earn?
to learn?
to overcome?
to change?
to understand?
to experience?

Should we ever become “satisfied” where we are at?
Does being “content” mean we settle when things are not good?
Can we only “rejoice” when all is well?

Life brings more and more questions as we continue to breathe. And if you dig into God’s Word, you should find even more to make you say, “What does this mean?”

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. Philippians 3:12

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:6

lights on

hearts

There are so many verses on the impact of our hearts. We often look so close at our thoughts, feelings, actions and forget our heart…

No one would think of lighting a lamp and then hiding it in the basement where no one would benefit. A lamp belongs on a lampstand, where all who enter may see it’s light. The eyes of your spirit allow revelation light to enter into your being. When your heart is open the light floods in. When your heart is hard and closed, the light cannot penetrate and darkness takes its place. Open your heart and consider my words. Watch out that you do not mistake your opinions for revelation light! If your spirit burns with light, fully illuminated with no trace of darkness, you will be a shining lamp, reflecting rays of truth by the way you live.
Luke 11:33-36 TPT

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Ephesians 1:18-21

deeper unity

One Lord
One Church

Often when reading a different Bible version – verses usually ignored – stand out more.

The angel to Zechariah speaking about his coming son John…

And he will prepare a united people who are ready for the Lord’s appearing. Luke 1:17 TPT

(Notes “united people” is found in the Aramaic text. Most versions say, “a people.”) Church is studying Exodus which is also God preparing “a people.”

We can easily see division all around. We may be in church but are we “being the church” that is described through His Word?

Are we following what He sets before us or what we desire? Romans 8
Is our focus more on the world or even serving others than Him? Luke 10
Add in how technology keeps people even busier…

I’ve been asking myself several of these tough questions. Some answers are really stretching me. I don’t want to just be a good American – I desire the fullness He designed for me and I pray you will want that too.