Worshipful

Beautiful! So creative and worshipful.

 

wor·ship·ful

[ˈwərSHəpfəl]

ADJECTIVE

 

1. feeling or showing reverence and adoration:

   "her voice was full of worshipful admiration"

My painting to represent 2016!

My painting to represent 2016!

  "I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground." Isaiah 41:18
"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Isaiah 43:18
Have an amazing New Year!

Unity in Jesus Christ

It's time for the body of Christ around the world, across denominations, to come together in unity! Lets put aside what doesn't matter and embrace what really matters. Jesus prayed this over His people: "I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me." John 17:23 NLT
What really matters?
"Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40.

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12



"For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." Romans 10:13

Mind be Renewed!

"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 12:2 NIV

Science is confirming what the Bible teaches us. Negative thoughts hurt our mind. I painted this painting thinking of trees and ocean, life, and thoughts. God showed me, and many other people who have viewed it that it represents our thoughts being renewed in His glory and presence. The tree-like design are the dendrites in our brains that grow or shrink depending on our choices and environment. When we have positive thoughts our dendrites can look like healthy lush trees.

"They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do." Psalms 1:3 NLT

When we have negative thoughts like hatred, unforgiveness, ungratefulness, etc. . The dendrites in our brain can wither and look like dead trees.  We need Christ's presences day to day to renew our minds and bring life, creativity, and joy! Be filled with joy and peace as you seek the Lord and His creativity and life abundant.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10 ESV

See the painting and some of my other artwork here. 

Be Filled with Holy Spirit

A really great 11 minute teaching on being filled with the Holy Spirit and how to understand what that means is located here.
Nisa really explains the concept in a way that is simple to understand and also shares some of her own experience.
Often people are confused, scared, or just never taught on this subject, but it is so important. Taking this step will add so much to your faith, and life as a follower of Christ Jesus. He never meant for us to live life figuring life out of our own. Instead He desires for us to rely constantly on His great power, profound wisdom, and supernatural guidance, warnings and love. Being filled with Holy Spirit is not only a one time event, but every day we can ask for a fresh infilling and great dependence and measure of His love and faith.
Be blessed!
http://www.xpmedia.com/video/10683/be-filled-with-holy-spirit

Back to Eden Film

I just watched the Back to Eden Film last night and it was so good and interesting! I loved how the gardener, Paul, prays about his garden and hears from the God of the Universe. His story reminds me of George Washington Carver.
He had some great gardening tips on there that really make sense, and are mirrored more after nature then traditional gardening/farming techniques. His techniques save water, time and energy, and lead to healthier plants. It is not all new. I have read somewhat similar ideas in organic gardening magazines, but he takes it to a higher level and aligns his gardening with God's Word. He also talks about having a generous spirit and the health giving properties of home-grown organic produce.
I loved that it was free to watch online at http://backtoedenfilm.com/.
It is a must see for any gardener, whether your garden is a small backyard one like mine or you have a farm.
Here are a few photos from my garden taken this week. I live in the Pacific Northwest so our growing season is shorter then most- but I love to make the most of it!

Short season corn

Spinach and chard

poppies from seed from a neighbor

tomatoes

potatoes, and herbs and lettuce behind

zucchini

Prayer for the Nations

Today I was led to pray some Psalms out loud- Psalm 116-118. Psalm 117 is one I prayed over many nations just by changing the word "nations" to "USA, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Moldova, Indonesia, Guatemala,. Haiti." It is a simple but powerful prayer from the Word of God.

Praise the Lord, all you nations;

extol him, all you peoples.

For great is his love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord. Psalm 117

Your will be done and Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Guide Me in Your Truth and Teach Me

Reading and listening to current news is enough to put anyone's emotions and head into a tailspin. What if? What is happening? Why? I can't believe that would happen, or how can anyone be so cruel, or greedy, or fill in the blank. God highlighted Psalm 25 to me a couple weeks ago and I have been meditating on the depth of promise and truth.

"No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse, teach me your paths; guide me in your truths and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:3-5 NIV

God this is my prayer, please show me your truth. Protect us, your are our God and I choose to trust you with my life. I choose to trust you with my family. I want my hope to be in you all day long and not to be afraid or focused on what is in this temporal world. Make my focus on the eternal not on what is passing away. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

His Hallelujah Lasts Forever

Psalm 111:10 in the Message Bible says, "The good life begins in the fear of God- Do that and you'll know the blessings of God. His Hallelujah lasts forever." In the Amplified Bible the last part of the verse says, ""A good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever."
What does this look like? As my mind was exploring this verse I imagined all of history, people's voices intertwining in the heavens. The picture was voices going up all the praise meeting together in a great flow, a great river of sound and praise, every "Hallelujah", every "Praise you Lord" coming up together never fading, a constant reverberation in the heavens. Every praise literally lasting forever, a great swell of adoration; coming to crescendos as chosen times in history. The dedication of Solomon's temple, the birth of Christ, the Resurrection of our Savior, being just a few but also the greatest. Imagine every praise, starting with Adam, King David's Psalms, Deborah, Moses' Mother when he was saved from the Nile, the small sounds of a joyful child, the singing of choirs, the voice of Jesus Christ on Earth, reverberating forever in the heavens, eternal. The words of saints throughout history, many names, lives, and faces forgotten by all on earth going on forever in the ears of our Lord. The "thank you God" of George Washington, the prayers of my 6 year old son, the dying breath of an old woman meeting her Lord, and the "Amen Jesus" of my one year old. The promise of Psalm 111 is that every praise of the righteous endures, resonates, forever; for the rest of eternity. Praise the Lord!  

Arise and Shine!

Arise and Shine!

Now is the time to seek the Lord and be filled with His presence. In His presence all darkness flees quickly. Then you will shine.

Meditate on the words below from the prophet Isaiah.

1ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.
3And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4Lift up your eyes round about you and see! They all gather themselves together, they come to you. Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried and nursed in the arms.
5Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and tremble with joy [at the glorious deliverance] and be enlarged; because the abundant wealth of the [Dead] [a]Sea shall be turned to you, unto you shall the nations come with their treasures.
Isaiah 60:1-5 (Amplified Bible)

Confirmations: The Extravagant Love of God

Last week during prayer meeting at church I kept getting the feeling I was supposed to read part of Isaiah 54 over one of the woman there. I felt compelled for half of the meeting, so at the end I did it. I  said the whole chapter was for her but this one part I needed to read over her as a blessing. With tears in her eyes she said that God had pointed her towards that scripture and she had just read it that very morning! Later the same day I checked my email and the Daily Grace Inspiration from Joseph Prince Ministries was on Isaiah 54 too! Wow.
Now this isn't a new chapter to me. I often will write Isaiah 54:13 in baby shower cards. "All your children will be taught by the Lord and great will be the peace of your children." The whole chapter is so beautiful and poetic. It shows the heart of God in such a extravagant way. His love is amazing, personal, and bountiful. He has compassion on those that suffer, and has a great future even for those who feel unloved or unlovable. Read it here Isaiah 54.

We are the Branches

This is a passage I have had in my heart since I was a child. I had to memorize it in school and always thought the metaphor was interesting and beautiful. Last night I saw it in a new light.

The Vine and the Branches

1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. John 15:1-9 (New International Version)

Last night as a crawled into bed I read it again and it seems to me I had new eyes. I have never seen it like this before. I pictured in my mind Jesus as a huge vine with so many branches. Each one of us is a branch when we accept the Lord as our Savior. God the Father has His clippers though. He wants His vine to be fruitful- He is a skilled and good gardener! I want to be part of His garden. I don't want to be the branch that gets snipped off! I want to be covered with sweet fruit. I want to further His Kingdom, to spread His love and light, to be a spring that turns desert and wasteland into a fruitful garden. How do I do this? How do I do this when I am surrounded by this world? When I am tired, when I have so much to do, when all my children are crying and demanding all at once. Jesus said it. "Remain in Me." "Apart from me you can do nothing." Apart from His grace I can do nothing of eternal value. Fix me to you forever dear God and Savior.

New Name Love Name

A few Sundays ago our pastor spoke about how when we accept Christ, we wear His name. It's like we wear "Christ" on our chest. A few minutes later when I went into the nursery to pick up my girls, the Holy Spirit brought my eyes to the stickers stuck to their backs. Their new names were printed on them. Not their old ones that they were born with. Not the old life that they were born into with no father in poverty. No they have a daddy now that loves them so much he gave them his name to wear. The names we chose for them are blessing names, names that carry joy. Their birth names spoke of heaviness and grief.
What a picture of what Christ does for us when we accept Him. I get to wear His glorious, LOVE name.

Movies that Don't Damage the Soul

I watched a lot of really yucky movies growing up and I realize now the damage it did to my soul. The cliche phrase "garbage in garbage out" is true but there is more to it then that. Much of the popular media out there today is made to desensitise us to evil things. We see it so many times it doesn't shock us anymore, it doesn't make us cringe when we should anymore. It shapes our worldview and belief system. There is a reason why the Word of God says in Philippians 4:8, " Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Does our media line up with this scripture guideline? How is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about this? If He is not, why not? Get into the Word of God and ask Him if what you are putting before your eyes and hearing with your ears is beneficial to your spirit.

"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.1 Corinthians 10:23

Here are a few movies that are really good quality, entertaining and beneficial to our spirits. There is a lot more out there but these are a few I have seen and liked very much.

Debt vs. Grace

What good news. We cannot work enough for salvation. We cannot be good enough. There is freedom in that. A pressure lifted off. If we could work for salvation then God would owe it to us. That negates grace. Salvation is a gift. When we believe on Christ then righteousness is given to us. Then everything we do is in love and out of gratefulness to God and love for God's creation. Not to become righteous. No we could never do that! God does that. Read Romans 4:1-8 carefully. Beautiful.

Romans 4:1-8

1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
7 “ Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

And whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.” (or in the Holman Christian Standard Version it says in verse 8: "How happy is the man whom the Lord will never charge with sin!"

Identical Visions- The Cauldron

Today when a few of us met for prayer at church I kept seeing a picture in my mind and hearing the words "God disrupt our plans, stir up the stagnation. Let us not rely on our own plans and knowledge" And I saw a big black pot like a cauldron with a goopy top (like it was stagnant) and a stick coming out the top. Like God wanted to stir it.
I held on to it for a few minutes, not sure whether to pray about it out loud, or to hold it to myself and pray it through. Finally I spoke it out, giving it to the Lord and praying for His will. When I said the big pot, the gal across from me said that she had been seeing a picture in her mind of a large cauldron and God stirring it up for a couple weeks now and didn't know what it was. The cauldron in her vision was sitting on top of books (not the Bible). I think the books represent the part that I heard not to rely on our own knowledge or plans. She got goosebumps, and we both really were amazed how God spoke to us about the same exact thing so specifically.
Lord show us Your will, show us how to pray for this hour!

God Speaks Without Me Hearing Him

One of my friends found out she was pregnant and had a baby shower in another state. She is a good friend but I didn't send her a present in time for the shower. Acually something kept me from doing it and I didn't know what. I felt a little guilty. It wasn't that I didn't have a present, I have gifts for her; lots of pretty baby girl gifts! Even after her shower I asked for her address and still never sent it, then told her I would wait until I see her this summer after the baby was born to give it to her in person. She had a very pretty girl name all choosen, and the ultralsound had let her know it was a girl for sure. Well she just had her baby a couple of days ago and shock! It is a boy! Now I know why something didn't let me send the gifts. It was Holy Spirit in me, communicating through my thoughts.

Even in our fleeting lives, the little details, like when I sent a gift can be controlled by Him!

Vision of Birth

Our adoption journey was filled with miracles. This is the story of one that often raises my faith and that of others.

We had been waiting for our referral for a number of months and was expecting a call soon. I was at church March 1, 2009.

 The worship time was lovely and I was concentrating on God and His goodness, raising my hands slightly with my eyes closed.  Suddenly and unexpectedly I saw in my spirit an outline of the continent of Africa. Then zoom, to an outline of Ethiopia. Zoom again to a small white house. All of a sudden I saw inside the house. There was a woman giving birth and holding a child to her chest. It was just a few seconds. Immediately the thought came that that was my child.

I told my husband about it and wrote in my journal: " I wonder if our daughter is going to be born the first week of March."
We were quite encouraged and excited to find out over a month later, when we did get the exciting call that yes!

Our girls were born March 6th, the Friday after I saw the vision. 

Amazingly Beautiful

The sunset tonight was beautiful; red, orange, bright pure yellow. Amazingly beautiful.  I looked at all the houses around shut up tight and all the blinds closed; no one was seeing it. I was alone at the end of the street gazing unto the mountains silhouetted against this stunning brightness. God is showing His glory all around. It takes my breath away and leads me to pray. Praise you Creator of Heaven and Earth, Painter of the Sunsets.  

"For Your faithful love is higher then than the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches the clouds. God be exalted above the heavens; let Your glory be over the whole earth."

Psalm 108:4-5

"Spring Garden" painting on Etsy

Wisdom

Happy is the man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold.

She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths peaceful.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold onto her are happy. Proverbs 3:13-18

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalms 1:3

This painting I did last weekend live during a beautiful worship service at Christ Church Kirkland. I had the privilege of attending a conference they hosted on the prophetic arts. I learned so much. The visual arts teacher was Rik Berry (his website has been down a couple days I hope it is back up soon). What an amazing artist and teacher.