Hem your Day in Prayer

Day 280:  I have a routine, and when it gets thrown off kilter, my whole day seems out of whack. Given my crazy hours lately, it seems like forever that I've been a frazzled mess!  If I miss my workout I lack energy.  If I miss sleep, my mood suffers.  If I miss breakfast, I'm miserable and cranky.  If I skip making lunches the night before, I eat lousy.  I'm sure many of you can relate.

One thing that hits me harder than anything is when I miss my daily quiet time of devotion and prayer.  I find that when I miss this time to focus daily on God and pray over my day, it ALWAYS ends up a mess. Kind of like a plaque I read once that said:

"Hem your day in prayer, and it won't unravel."  

I have found that to be so very, very true!

It is always better to be covered in prayer 

than to be vulnerable, cold, naked, and bare.

Please, God, bless!

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you." Jeremiah 29:12 ESV 

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Tack it On

Day 279:  I heard an interesting discourse this am on a podcast.  I listened intently as the commentator rationalized his way out of an unpleasant truth, and added his own "truth" to it to make things more palatable, a sort of "tacking-on" of additional information it would seem only he would be privileged to know.

Yes, it is "interesting" times we live in, when up is down, and down is up, and feelings measure truth.  

Please, God, bless!

"Don't add to his words, or he will rebuke you, and you will be shown to be a liar." Prov 30:6

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Amazing Grace

Day 278:  The old hymn, "Amazing Grace", has gotten a lot of publicity since the President sang it in Charleston. TIME wrote an article about it, calling it the "go-to hymn at American funerals, because of its striking melodies and ever-popular narrative of personal redemption." 

I find it interesting in all the "chills", "goosebumps", "heartwarming" and "moving" characterizations of this rendition of the hymn, that no where in all of the press, discussions, or articles do I find Jesus Christ.  In fact, I don't even find the word Christian.  TIME goes only as far to say, "...he found his faith", as though it was lost in a parking lot somewhere.

John Newton, who wrote "Amazing Grace", was once an athiest, a servant to slave traders, and eventually captained his own slave ship.  In 1748 a violent storm came upon his ship, and out of desperation he exclaimed, "Lord, have mercy upon us!"  He would later say that it was at that moment God addressed him through the storm.  He became a minister and songwriter, and served his church many years.  He wrote Amazing Grace, because he was overwhelmed with his wretched sinful state, and in awe of the truly Amazing Gift of Grace that God had bestowed upon those who believe--His son, Jesus Christ.

I've included the epitaph on his gravestone, written by Mr. Newton himself, as well as the full lyrics as written in the original hymn.  So, when we revel in the emotional sway of Amazing Grace, and we sing of such a wonderful gift of grace, be sure to recognize the intent behind the song.  When you sing these words as its writer intended, you are acknowledging and thanking the One True God, the God who created all things, for the gift of Grace, evidenced by and through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord.

JOHN NEWTON, Clerk [preacher]

Once an infidel and libertine

A servant of slaves in Africa, 

Was, by the rich mercy 

of our Lord and Saviour 

JESUS CHRIST, 

restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach

the Gospel which he had long laboured to destroy.  

He ministered, 

Near sixteen years in Olney, In Bucks, 

And twenty eight years in this Church.

AMAZING GRACE

Amazing Grace!  (how sweet the sound)

That sav'd a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found, 

Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, 

And grace my fears reliev'd; 

How precious did that grace appear, 

The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils and snares, 

I have already come; 

'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, 

And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis'd good to me, 

His word my hope secures; 

He will my shield and portion be, 

As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail, 

And mortal life shall cease; 

I shall possess, within the veil, 

A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, 

The sun forbear to shine; 

But God, who call'd me here below, 

will be forever mine.

Please, God, bless!

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love for us even when we were dead because of our offenses, made us alive together with the Messiah (by grace you have been saved), raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly realm in the Messiah Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the limitless riches of his grace that comes to us through his kindness in the Messiah Jesus.  For by such grace you have been saved through faith. This does not come from you; it is the gift of God and not the result of actions, to put a stop to all boasting." Eph 2:4-9 ISV

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Decree Before Kings

Day 277:  "You're going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party.  You'll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness."  John 16:20 MSG

"May your gracious love come to me, Lord, 

     your salvation, just as you said.

Then I can answer the one who insults me, 

     for I place my trust in your word.

Never take your truthful words from me, 

     for I wait for your ordinances.

Then I will always keep your Law, 

     forever and ever, 

I will walk in liberty, 

     for I see your precepts, 

Then I will speak of your decrees before kings

     and will not be ashamed.

I will take delight in your commands, 

     which I love.

I will lift up my hands to your commands, 

     which I love, 

and I will meditate on your statutes."

 Ps 119:41-48

Please, God, bless!

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Radical Amendment of Life

Day 276:  Our country is in desperate need of a revival.  Unfortunately, unless the church is willing to get not just uncomfortable, but willing to face the persecution that will come when standing up for God, it will not happen.

"Christians were once revolutionists--moral, not political--but we have lost our revolutionary character......Grace has become not free, but cheap. We are busy these days proving to the world that they can have all the benefits of the Gospel without any inconvenience to their customary way of life. It's "all this, and heaven too......We must have a reformation within the Church. To beg for a flood of blessing to come upon a backslidden and disobedient Church is to waste time and effort......Prayer for revival will prevail when it is accompanied by radical amendment of life; not before." A.W. Tozer

Please, God, bless!

"The men of Ai killed about 36 of them, pursuing them outside the city gates as far as Shebarim, killing them as they descended. As a result, the army became terrified and lost their confidence. At this, Joshua tore his clothes, fell down to the ground on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening—he and the leaders of Israel—and they covered their heads with dust.  “Lord God,” Joshua asked, “Why have you brought this people across the Jordan River? To hand us over to the Amorites so we’ll be destroyed? Wouldn’t it have been better for us to be content to settle on the other side of the Jordan? Lord, what am I to say, now that Israel has run away from its enemies? The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of this, will surround us, and eliminate usfrom the earth! Then what will you do about your great reputation?”

“Get up!” the Lord replied to Joshua. “Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned. They broke my covenant that I commanded them by taking some of the things that had been turned over to destruction. They have stolen, have been deceitful, and have stored what they stole among their own belongings.The Israelis have been unable to stand before their enemies. They’re turning their backs and running from their enemies because they themselves have been turned over to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy these things that have been turned over to destruction. So get up and sanctify the people..." Joshua 7:5-13a

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Dream Police

Day 275:  Enjoyed a date night with my sweetie.  It's always nice to have that time together, to get out and have fun.  Tonight was the Cheap Trick/ Frampton concert.  So, the doodle from my phone as we attempt to exit the parking lot is-can you guess? DREAM POLICE!  (ummm..the song, get it?)

Take time to enjoy the one you love

Please, God, bless!

"Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love..." Ecc 9:9a

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

My Happy Place

Day 274:  I was talking to a gal-pal, and we were both lamenting our headaches of a day, and discussed our desired remedy--we both have a need for the beach.  It seems we both share the same love of the sand, the sound of the waves, the smell of the salty air.  Ahhhhhhhh...So, here is my 5 minute doodle of a starfish soaking up the sun.

What is your happy place?

Please, God, bless!

"And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so."  Gen 1:9

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Hibernate

Day 273:  I'm sure I'm not the only one who wishes some days that they could just go hibernate for a while....escape the insanity of the world and just rest peacefully, until it all subsides.

Please, God, bless!

"Stir up Yourself, and awake to my right And to my cause, my God and my Lord." Psalms 35:23

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Dead Plush Toy

Day 272:  So, what on earth is this picture supposed to be, you ask?

I get home and as I glanced out my bedroom window into the park behind our house, I see a huge, massive patch of some white stuff on the ground, with some flourescent pink and blue plop on top.  I had no idea what it was!  My neighbor-pals come down and we all go to investigate.  And there it was....a dead plush-toy. It looked like someone had beaten it against the slide, and all of the white Styrofoam stuffing had "bled" all...over...the park! The guys went to cleaning and used hubby's mower as a vacuum. So, today, my doodle is of this weird plush thing that lost its stuffing in our park.

Interestingly, I had a verse that I stumbled across twice this morning at two different times.

"You, however, are not under the control of the human nature but under the control of the Spirit, since God’s Spirit lives in you."  Rom 8:9a

It seems kind of a corny object lesson, but here goes...The plushy had nothing in it....just stuffing. Thankfully, we are more than just stuffing, more than just guts and organs.  As a believer we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. While our bodies may be vulnerable to brokenness, the Spirit of God is unbreakable. No matter how hard we are hit or split, God's Spirit within us will always be in tact.

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Dad's Day

Day 271:  

Happy Father's Day!  

May all Dad's be blessed, as are their children!

Please, God, bless!

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;"  Ps 103:13

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Sleepy Dragon

Day 270:  I DID finish my doodle on time--I did it in the car actually, on the way home from a great evening hanging with some friends. But, I did not get home in time to post before midnight....even so, here is the doodle I did. The boy and his pals played fantasy games tonight, and had a blast pretending to be on some crazy quest as a crazy characters. So, I doodled a pooped out dragon, who-getting home so late--will need his morning caffeine to wake him up.

Please, God, bless!

"You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar."  Psalms 139:2 

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Mug and a Duck

Day 269:  Years ago my then young son and I decided to make up a story. All we came up with was a title, and we giggled because it was so silly. So, tonight we decided to each take 15 minutes and doodle the cover page for our story. Here is what we came up with.I love how they are so similar, but so different. Both are colorful. That's why I love the Bible. The same concept or event, told in many different ways and perspectives to lend new light to the truth behind it.

One day we will get the actual story down.  At least we have ideas for cover art!

Please, God, bless!

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him"  Ephesians 1:17 ESV

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Praying for Charleston

Day  268: Praying for Charleston and those who lost so much.

Please, God, bless!

"... ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 
Mark 12:31 ESV 


Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Lost Umbrella

Day 267: 

As the rain fell, you kept us dry
  sheltering us, providing a protective cover.
We giggled underneath, not getting wet
  and then, sadly, we left you there...on the ground....for another....

Yes, as we packed up to leave, we left the umbrella laying in the grass.  Farewell, dear friend!  You shall be misss........hey, check out this cool umbrella on Amazon!  


Please, God, bless!

"It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain." Is 4:6

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Sword to a Gun Fight

Day 266:  Remember this guy? He's the crazy sword dude who waved around his weapon, ready to take Indy out....and then Indy shot him.

How often do we bring the wrong weapons to battle? Instead of trusting God to act, we use our own devices--be it efforts, influence, actions, etc.--to move things along. Going ahead of God is what I call an "Ishmael Moment". If you know the story, you know it wasn't a good moment.

Our only offensive weapon is the Word of God.  How well do you know your Weapon?

Please, God, bless!

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds."  2 Cor 10:4

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view

Broken Beyond Healing

Day 265:  So, I guess this will be Indiana Jones week.  Who can forget Belloq, the smarmy french archeologist/bad guy in Raiders of the Lost Ark (ok, not the best doodle, but pressed for time, it is what it is)?  This guy takes credit for artifacts he doesn't find, would sell his soul for power, and is just a downright icky fellow.  In the end, his head gets blown up as he tampers with supernatural power.

No need to say more, right?

Please, God, bless!

“A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing."  Prov 6:12-15

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view

Indy!

Day 264:  Indiana Jones Expo at the National Geographic!  You know why I like Indy?  Because he's not a greedy fellow, he cares about the artifacts and he wants to do the right thing.  He isn't in it for the money. The action is good, too.

Please, God, bless!

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."  1 Tim 6:10 ESV 

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view

New Mercies

Day 263:  When I'm extraordinarily busy, I try to be as organized as I can.  I was very excited with our plan to go see "Miracle" at the Movie in the Park.  As I was heading home, I looked to my left and it was still the lovely sunny day I was hoping to enjoy.  On my right, I see this wave of dark grey rolling in--fast.  By the time I was home, it was POURING out.  There went my evening plans out the window and into the muddy lawn.  Ok, so we can recover--we can still go out to eat.  Well, that was a mess as well, given that it was now after 7pm and lines were out the door at the 3 restaurants we progressively selected to dine at.  We ended up at our local pizza joint, and it was good, but it was now late.  In the end, all my planning was no help at all.

Today was a new day, and overall things went as planned.  Took care of business in the morning, hung out with the fam in the afternoon, and enjoyed a nice meal out at the restaurant we chose--much earlier than 7pm!  So, as always, God is good. His mercies are new every morning!

Please, God, bless!

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  Lam 3:22-23 ESV

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view

Feeling Blue?

Day 262:  Growing up in New Jersey I was blessed to be in an extremely multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment.  I find beauty in these differences, and know that God meant it to be that way, because after all, he knit each of us together to be what we are.

As I read headlines about a young lady claiming to be black when she is really white, I couldn't help but wonder where this will lead.  These days it seems ever trendy to change our appearance and actions to be something we are not.  "Trans-" is the new buzzword, and acceptance of this term in popular culture allows us to lie to ourselves and others about what we are, but never really will be.

God did not make us all one color (blue would have been nice...I like blue); He did not make us all tall; He did not make us all thin; He did not make us all male or all female.  No, He made us different.  We should revel in what we are, and not covet the beauty of these differences, but appreciate them as one would art.

If we don't like the crooked eyes in a Picasso, we would not desecrate it by painting symmetrical eyes on top of it because of how we "feel" about it--we know its worth is in how it was originally made.

If we could just understand OUR worth in how God made us, and how God sees us, maybe we could stop this pretending, stop letting our "feelings" justify a falsehood, and start accepting the masterpiece in its original form.

My doodle is done in blues.  Can you guess the ethnicity of the original photo?  More importantly, does it matter?

Please, God, bless!

“It was you who formed my internal organs, fashioning me within my mother's womb."  Psalm 139:13

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Doing our Duty

Day 261:  How often as a mom have I heard..."Ahem....I took the trash out," or "I cleaned the kitchen."  I find it interesting how doing what one is supposed to do comes with an expectation of overwhelming gratitude!

Once when my boy announced completion of his chores, as though it was a huge favor, I made a similar announcement, "Ahem...I cleaned the bathroom, vacuumed the floors, picked up, put the dishes away, scrubbed the counter, ironed the clothes, did the bills, and scheduled the appointments."

I don't recall a gushing thank you, or, wow, that was really nice of you to do so much.  It's expected, because as part of our household, I contribute to keeping things orderly.

Don't get me wrong, being grateful when people do something well or with good intent is extremely important.  Still, I find that more and more people expect great rejoicing and praise when they do what they are paid to or supposed to do.  I envision a video of a kid walking into class and saying to the teacher, "I just want you to know...I did my homework." Cute if your in 1st grade, obnoxious if your a Junior in High School.  "Boss, I answered the phones all day." "Lady, I bagged your groceries."  "Customer, I took your order for you."

Now, imagine how absurd we look in the heavenlies when we announce the great accomplishment of doing what God says?  "Jesus, I was nice to the cashier today."  "Pastor, I put an offering in the basket today."  "Lord, I forgave my co-worker today."  "Yeah, I made time for my devotion and prayer today."
   
It seems more frequent these days that what should be a sense of duty, love, and respect morphs into an act of charitable service that demands appreciation.

Please, God, bless!

“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” Luke 17:7-10 ESV

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Narrow Gate

Day 262:  Anything worth having is worth working for.  How true is that!  To see an awesome mountain top vista, you must climb to get there.  To be an Olympian, you must work hard and train constantly.  To be a PhD, you must focus all of your attention on your studies.

So why is it that we recognize that, and actually praise that kind of effort, and yet we constantly look for the easy way out?

A Christian walk is work.  It's not easy.  There are numerous trials.  Many see the steep path ahead, and go for the easy way.  But that doesn't develop us spiritually; it doesn't grow our relationship with God.  When things are easy, our focus wanders.  When things are hard, our focus is on the end goal.

The gate may be small, and the road difficult, but the rewards are too great to comprehend.

Please, God, bless!

"Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the road is spacious that leads to destruction, and many people are entering by it."  Matt 7:13

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

A Bear?

Day 259:  Can you believe it?  A bear was hit by a car in my town on Saturday nights.  If I lived in the mountains, that wouldn't be such a headline, but where we are at, is pretty much the super suberbs, between several major highways and roads.  There is little real land left, tons of houses, cars, concrete and asphalt.  Yet, there was a bear, over by McDonalds!

You never know what you will encounter each day!

Please, God, bless!

"Then look!--a second animal resembling a bear followed it."  Dan 7:5

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Careful Eyes

Day 258:  The eyes are so easily tempted, so easily betrayed.  Be careful, little eyes, what you see!

Please. God, bless!

"Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways."  Prov 23:26


Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Being Obstinate!

Day 257:  "The thing in you which makes you say 'I shan't' is something less profound than your will; it is perversity, or obstinacy, and they are never in agreement with God.  The profound thing in man is his will, not sin.  Will is the essential element in God's creation of man: sin is a perverse disposition which entered into man."  --Oswald Chambers

Please, God, bless!

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." Phil 2:12-13

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Ice Cream

Day 256:  Since we spent the day at Hershey Park, I had to doodle something on my phone--with my fat fingers! So, its not the best but it will have to do.

I always giggle when my boy eats an ice cream cone.  He makes such a mess with ice cream all over his face.  He is a tween, so you would think he had it figured out by now!  Its its a given that he will make a mess!

It is kind of like that with sin.  We can try so hard, but sin is inevitable as we are fallen.

Please, God, bless!

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  Rom 3:23

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

What a Weasel!

Day 255:  I was having a conversation with someone about how a change in personnel caused some unnecessary drama and brought out the unseemly side of folks. Coincidentally, I happened to open up to the story of Jairus tonight which was equally full of drama.

Jairus was a synagogue leader whose young daughter was dying.  Since many Jewish leaders took issue with Jesus, I can only imagine how desperate and helpless he must have felt to pick up his robe, run to the shore as Jesus arrived, and beg Him to come and heal his daughter. Jesus agreed to go, but between the large crowds, and another miracle along the way, the delays amounted to more time than Jairus' daughter could sustain, and she passed.

I am always stunned as I read of the lousy "friends" Jairus had.  While Jesus was addressing another miracle recipient, people from Jairus' house showed up to say inform him it was too late-his daughter was dead.  That is what one would expect friends to do...but then they say, "Why bother Jesus any more?" In other words, It's too late for your miracle, so get out of the way, and go home. Astonishing...no sympathy, no words of comfort, no kindness...just "too bad, so sad..move along".

I imagine Jairus collapsing in grief, and Jesus gently pulling him up as He directs him to keep believing.  Jairus, reaching for any Hope, agrees and they continue to his house.  When they arrive, there is chaos as a crowd of Jairus' buds appear inconsolable, wailing and weeping.  They obviously weren't too sad, though, because when Jesus informs them the child is not dead but sleeping, they "laughed and laughed". Seriously?  Mocking?  I would like to believe that a true friend would either cling in agreement to Hope, or protest out of concern for a perceived false hope.  Clearly this guy needs better friends.  Jesus drove them all out and then he raised Jairus' daughter.

I see a few lessons in this retelling...

First, if you are in a place of any sort of favorable position or status, some opportunistic, sneaky weasels will appear disguised as a friend, have no doubt.  Their intent is not for your welfare, so be discerning! 

Second, Jesus is never delayed, He is always on time and will accomplish what He purposes to do. Clinging to Hope will allow you to believe.  

Third, notice Jesus drove these opportunists out before He performed His miraculous work--He did not let them stick around!  Jesus will drive out of our lives those that He knows will prohibit His Glory from manifesting when we truly believe, however painful that extraction may be. 

Be discerning..A pivotal moment is a lousy time to find out what a weasel someone can be.

Please, God, bless!

"They laughed and they laughed at him.  But when he had driven all of them outside, he took the child's father and mother, along with the men who were with him, and went into the room where the child was."  Mark 5:40

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Secure Salvation

Day 254:

"Is not my dynasty like this with God? 

Has he not made an eternal covenant with me, 

preparing every detail of it? 

And he has made it secure, 

including my complete salvation, has he not? 

He has been of continual help, has he not, 

even with the parts he has not yet brought about?"  

2 Sam 23:5

Please, God, bless!

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Hedgehog in a Hat

Day 253:  So, what happens when I am sitting in a discussion that is going nowhere?  I doodle.

Today, I doodled a feather.  It looked lonely, and I figured I should do something with it, so I sketched a hat to stick it in.  Then I figured the hat looked silly without an owner, so of course I thought a hedgehog would look great in it.  And if a hedgehog would wear a hat, why not boots, too? At this point the little guy looks like he's a Robin Hood wannabe, so I give him a bow and arrow.

.....And THAT is why I have a doodle of a hedgehog today.

Honestly, I have no idea what, if any, divine purpose there is in me doing this silly little doodles, but who knows, maybe someone needed to see a picture of a hedgehog in a hat today?  God only knows!

Please, God, bless!

"Be sure to stay busy and plant a variety of crops, for you never know which will grow -- perhaps they all will." Ecc 11:6

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

The Owl

Day 252: As is often the case, I sat down at my drawing table with no clue what to doodle.  You wouldn't think it would be that hard, but after a long day, catching up on stuff at home, etc, I often draw a complete blank.  So, I poked around on my tablet and I came across this picture of an owl.

Owls are pretty interesting animals. Their feathers are such that they are very stealthy.  Unlike most birds, the can swoop in on their prey without a sound.  Imagine, one minute you're moseying along, and the next, you are caught up in a dangerous mess because you dared to step out into enemy territory.

I started thinking, isn't that how it is with the things that ensnare us?  Sin has a way of sneaking up on us.  We can be having a conversation that quickly turns into a vicious gossip-fest.  Or we can let our anger take us to unholy rage.  Peer pressure has gotten many kids to do something they know is wrong. Like, the owl, sin can be silent, sudden...it swoops in, sinks its talons into us and then we are stuck trying to get out of its clutches.  Maybe that's why owls in so many cultures are symbols of bad luck, evil, and death.

Thank the Lord that when we get trapped in the grip of sin, Jesus forgives!

Please, God, bless!

"The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast."  Prov 5:22 NIV

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.