His call is our call

Romans 8
¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
    for the Lord has anointed me
    to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
    and to proclaim that captives will be released
    and prisoners will be freed.
² He has sent me to tell those who mourn
    that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
    and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
³ To all who mourn in Israel,^[c
    he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
    festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
    that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins,
    repairing cities destroyed long ago.
They will revive them,
    though they have been deserted for many generations.
⁵ Foreigners will be your servants.
    They will feed your flocks
and plow your fields
    and tend your vineyards.
⁶ You will be called priests of the Lord,
    ministers of our God.
You will feed on the treasures of the nations
    and boast in their riches.
⁷ Instead of shame and dishonor,
    you will enjoy a double share of honor.
You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land,
    and everlasting joy will be yours.

⁸ “For I, the Lord, love justice.
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering
    and make an everlasting covenant with them.
⁹ Their descendants will be recognized
    and honored among the nations.
Everyone will realize that they are a people
    the Lord has blessed.”

¹⁰ I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!
    For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation
    and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding
    or a bride with her jewels.
¹¹ The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world.
    Everyone will praise him!
His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring,
    with plants springing up everywhere.

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

into the new

New Movement

After not blogging for 18 months, where does one start again? My life has shifted tremendously to working full-time outside of my house.

2017 included a lot of gallery time and creating in a group project for ArtPrize. Five artists worked on a piece we did in honor of The Red Cross. You will find plenty of photos and info on the Zeeland Artists facebook page.

It was a very unique season to shift from the ministry of counsel to helping with a couple people with Alzheimer’s. They both recently passed into the freedom with God in heaven. God moved in many amazing ways in both of their journeys.

Writing has been much more of personal journal time and I have been creating a variety of new paintings. Expanding my encaustic (hot wax and oil) and emerging myself in coldwax medium that is mixed with oils. I’ll be sharing a bit from all of those areas.

I look forward to how God will bring new life, new words, new art in this season of NEW THINGS – in my life and in yours!

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 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, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19

Peace to you all – jude

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!

what other name

A song brought me to this passage. The NIV titled this section as “Imitating Christ’s Humility.”

 

Philippians 2
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; ⁷ rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!
⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

How are we doing as the Church – the Bride in this?
Are we seeking the benefit of the body?
Is unity of the Spirit a priority?
Does our normal mindset say – I need to be fed, taught, entertained, and encouraged? Or is it seeking what is best for others?

I know many places in my journey with Christ I have focused on what I want to get out of church, relationships, ministries or encounters. And I’ve also been one giving and serving where I am completely drained and discouraged. I don’t feel either of those are the right place.

How can we become more “like-minded” with Christ?
Not just like-minded with a denomination, church leadership or other people…but with Christ?

Thank you Lord that it’s not about us conforming to the ways of the world but to Your ways that are higher, Your ways that bring peace, Your ways that speak life to all. Your ways often seem too lofty to obtain but You desire us to be one in Spirit and in mind with You. Guide us with wisdom and understanding as we seek Your heart and Your ways. Guide us with words as we share with others the love and joy that are found only in Christ – our Redeemer. Open our hearts further to the fullness You desire us to know of You. 

write this down

holy and blameless

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5 ESV

I recently met someone who was practicing her hearing from God and shared with me. She felt to ask me if would write things in a journal. I said YES. A lot!!! She was relieved because it meant she was also on track in her hearing. She expanded to say I needed to review my journals. I had to tell her that I do that regularly too! She smiled bigger and shared a bit more. It was a very good God confirmation and some direction of all that has been written outside of this blog.

Many places in God’s word talk about us writing things, sharing with others, and the word of our testimony.

Our lives matter.
What God is doing in them matters.
We ARE the mouthpiece for the Lord.
What are your words and writings saying…

And then God answered: “Write this.
    Write what you see.
Write it out in big block letters
    so that it can be read on the run.
This vision-message is a witness
    pointing to what’s coming.
It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait!
    And it doesn’t lie.
If it seems slow in coming, wait.
    It’s on its way. It will come right on time.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 MSG

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. 

 

 

seems right

I woke to this verse several weeks ago.

There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
Proverbs 16:25 ESV

Am I heading in a wrong direction? Is this a warning to me? Is this to guide me in pray for someone else? I wasn’t sure so I continued to ask… As I wrote yesterday, this verse came again and reminds me also of Romans.

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. 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

Sometimes when we are doing what seems right to us, it’s acceptable to the world and to what we know of God’s ways, yet the results can be detrimental.

Maybe its words spoken that hurt relationships.
(No, we can’t control when saying “Hello” will bring someone pain.)
Times we settle for easy fixes that cause even bigger problems.
(That would be me in some of my home repair projects.)

Jonah decided he was not going to do as God asked. Was his reaction fear? Plain ole disobedience? Or just a matter of being in control instead of surrendered to God? His choice didn’t go well and came with a great cost to others. Jonah didn’t die in that fish belly – but a part of him was certainly killed after that experience! God’s grace redirected him so his purpose was completed.

Why do I talk about the dreams God has for our lives so often? Because I know that is part of His message for me to share. He has uniquely designed each of us “in His image and likeness” and He really NEEDS us to walk in that.

It’s not just a matter of us needing God but even more is His need for us to be “fully” who He created us to be. The master blueprint before you were even born showed a God sized destiny – not just an earthly lifespan. Will you dare to dream big again?

 

plans expand

My plan for January was to do several small paintings. Trying new color mixes, some layering ideas and in reality – trying to discover what seems covered.

Even though I’ve been painting for years, I feel there is something more I am supposed to bring to the canvas (and to my writing.) I don’t “feel” like I have yet found it, so I continue to ask, seek and knock…

I did several small 5×7 and a couple 12×12 pieces in January. Monday I started a 16×40 piece that does stretch me. I’ve taken photos along the way to later create a moving progress “video” which will stretch me even more. This is a small section where I used some different techniques.

I ponder again… How often are we thinking small when God wants us to think big? Limiting our ideas, creativity and ability. Settling for what is safe, known, reasonable instead of stepping out on the water. Saying we are “only human” when in reality – with Christ in us…we are “MORE than human”. 

I pray you will let this year be one of dreaming again. Of discovering the more God has really designed you for. You are needed and given great gifts by our heavenly Father that the world is waiting for. No matter what limitations you might feel are in your life – there is more to your story. 

Even greater things will you do – John 14:12
With God – nothing is impossible!