4353

Face of God

2006-09-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

Painted this while on an amazing spiritual retreat last year. After spending time under the stars, I had a thought: We are so attracted to the night sky. We think it is beautiful and it makes us silent in awe. Maybe that's because when we look up at the stars we are really starring into the face of God. Maybe the awe we feel is his presence. Maybe that's what God looks like. This painting is a reflection of what I felt that night and my interpretation of the beauty I was in awe of.

weed

2006-05-27T23:31:00.000-07:00

Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as everyone slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer's servants came and told him, `Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!'
" `An enemy has done it!' the farmer exclaimed.
" `Shall we pull out the weeds?' they asked.
"He replied, `No, you'll hurt the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds and burn them and to put the wheat in the barn.' "

LIFE

2006-04-24T00:39:00.000-07:00

This is a painting that I did for my friend's birthday this month. I included the descriptions to explain what each part stands for.

GOD

The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world. (Psalm 19:1-4) The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. (Psalm 33:6) Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens, his mighty voice thundering from the sky. (Psalm 68:33)

The heavens represent God.
God’s face is in the stars.
He is without limit—infinite.
He sees all and is over all things.
He is big and awe inspiring like the heavens.
He is mysterious, we can’t explain him,
and we don’t really have a clue of who he is, or how he works.
All we can do is stand in silent awe.

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JESUS

The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it God sent John the Baptist to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. (John1:5-6) For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

The sun represents Jesus.
The sun (Jesus) is part of the heavens (God).
Jesus is the light of the world spiritually speaking,
the sun is the light of the world physically speaking
Luke 23:44-45 says that when Jesus died,
“darkness fell across the whole land. The light from the sun was gone.”
Plants grow towards the sunlight, just like we should grow towards the Son.

———————————————————————————————————————

HOLY SPIRIT

Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. . .And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:2-4) Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)

The wind represents the Holy Spirit
You can hear the Holy Spirit but you can’t tell where He comes from or where he is going.
The Holy Spirit, like the wind, can be quiet and gentle or loud and pressing.
He can come on suddenly and leave just as fast.
He is always present and always at work.
The Holy Spirit (the wind) is also a part of God (the heavens) just like Jesus (the sun).
I was taught in elementary school that the sun creates the wind.
Just like the Son is in submission to the Father and the Holy Spirit is in submission to the Son. . .
The sun submits to the heavens and the wind submits to the sun.
The wind can reach everything and everyone, everywhere.

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LOVE

A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The plant sprang up quickly, but it soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil. Other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades so that it produced no grain. Still other seed fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted. (Mark 4:3-8) Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. (Colossians 2:7) Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8) The truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil. Unless it dies it will be alone—a single seed. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. (John 12:24)

A seed must die before it can grow into a plant.
To thrive as a growing seedling, we must be planted in love—
the love from God, the love for God, the love from others, and the love for others
Love from God = faith and confidence in who God is, what he can do, and who we are
Love for God = worship
Love from others = friendship/fellowship
Love for others = serving
We must live our lives to love God and love others—
this is how we die to ourselves and become part of the soil to nourish others
(just like parts of a plant may die, decompose, and become part of the soil).
But we must also live our lives knowing that we are loved by God and by others—
this is our nourishment

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LIFE

For the Lamb who stands in front of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to the springs of life-giving water. (Revelation 7:17) Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water. (John 4:10) If you are thirsty come to me! If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within. (John 7:37-38) The LORD will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. (Isaiah 58:11) My purpose is to give life in all its fullness (John 10:10)

Water = blessings = life
The only way to live life to the fullest is to have your roots deep in the living water.
When we feel like we are not growing we say that we are dry
To grow, we have to stay in the sun, in the wind,
in nourishing soil, with strong deep roots in the water source.
Jesus came to give us life in all its fullness. This is how it’s done.

Valentine's party

2006-04-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

Valentine's Party February 2006

My Mom making cookies in my kitchen

Friends making cards

"Take a few minutes and write down what qualities you think make you lovable and what qualities you think make you unlovable. When you are finishedfold the paper in half and stick it to the cross with your gray dot and gold star. IT DOESN'T MATTER

Meditation Station: The Vision

2006-01-06T15:24:00.000-08:00

THE VISION
December 30th

Habakkuk 2:2-4

Click here to read "The Vision"

Images from the "Vision" portion of the book:

The Vision and the Vow

by Pete Greig

I downloaded the mp3 of Pete Greig reading the Vision and

I played the loop each time someone entered the room

Sara & Kristie

Crissi, Brian & Kristie

Invitation: THE VISION

2005-12-12T12:25:00.000-08:00

Come pray, meditate, hang out,

& catch the vision
Worship night at my house
December 30, 7-11pm
Everyone is welcome
Bring friends

Meditation Station: Thank You Dinner

2005-12-12T12:24:00.000-08:00

Thank you dinner
November 18, 2005
To thank my friends who have
attended my worship nights

throughout the year and have been such

an important part of my life.

I forgot to take pictures while everyone was there, but this is what it looked like beforehand. I cleared out my living room and transformed it to a dining room. Ten people attended.

Time Change

2005-11-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

THANK YOU DINNER REVISION
The time has been changed.
We will eat at 5pm and then
go to the worship night at
Hope Chapel at 7pm.

Invitation: THANK YOU DINNER

2005-11-03T00:06:00.000-08:00

COME AND GET IT!
You are cordially invited
To dinner at my house!
A "thank you" from me to you.
Y'all are invited. Bring a friend!
Friday, November 18th, 5pm
Please RSVP by Sunday, November 13th.

Meditation Station: All Saints Day

2005-11-03T00:04:00.000-08:00

All Saints Day:
Remembering the Martyred and the Persecuted

Friday, October 28th

This is some information about the significance of saints from a Catholic perspective

Here are artist renderings of some of the saints and the stories that made these people stand out from the rest:

I set up the "back room" like a hide out. It was dark and cold and the only light was from a flashlight and a candle. This is similar to how many persectuted Christians in other countries have to hide out to read the Bible and pray.

"God, I do not want freedom and access to take away my passion. I want my relationship with you to be more than a desire. I want it to be something I can't live without. You are worth everything I have, even my life. Make me like Jesus."

Everyone took a Bible and wrote a message to the person that would be receiving it. The Bibles were sent to the Bible League to distribute around the world to Christians begging for God's word.

Afterwards, we sat around and read out of the book "Jesus Freaks". The book tells stories of people that have been persecuted and/or killed for following Christ. We discussed how blessed we are to live in this country and to have the freedoms we do.

Invitation: ALL SAINTS DAY

2005-10-22T01:21:00.000-07:00

All Saints Day:
Remembering the Martyred and the Persecuted

Friday, October 28th, 2005
Gina's House
Drop in between 7pm and 10pm
Bring a friend

Gloves Put to Use

2005-10-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

I brought the gloves left over from pick-up-the-trash day to Louisiana. All 15 pair were put to very good use. To read about my trip and see pictures, visit Not Only Here.

Meditation Station: Community Service

2005-09-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

TRASH PICK-UP!!

Thank you so much to the people who said they were going to show up and actually did! The pick up went much faster than I had anticipated and we had fun talking and hanging out as we did it. Also, thanks to the few who came later to hang out and watch the Goonies! Great job people!

Invitation: COMMUNITY SERVICE

2005-09-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

This month's worship time will be a
community service activity.

There is a field within walking distance of my house that belongs to the Knox Presbyterian Church and it is covered in trash. The field is at the corner of Stony Point Rd. and West 3rd, facing Carls Jr. I've been in contact with the pastor of that church and have permission to pick up trash on Friday, September 16th between 5pm and 7pm. I'll have the trash bags and gloves for everyone. I need to know who will be coming so I can give the pastor a list of names and addresses for insurance liability reasons. So, if you can come and help, let me know NO LATER THAT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH!!! You are welcome to stop by anytime between 5 and 7pm to help, but if you step foot on the field, the insurance company needs to have your name. So, even if you're not sure, but you might be there, I need to know. Anyone and everyone is invited, pass the word. My house will be open for hanging out and munchies afterwards.
BE CHURCH.

Meditation Station: Community (Untitled)

2005-09-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

"Community"

Friday, August 26th

The green writing describes what community is.
The orange writing describes what community is not.

The set-up in the room

The instructions for the station:

FEARS

What do you most fear about loving others and
letting them love you?

CONFESS

Confess your excuses. Confess that you have let your fears hold you back from community.

SURRENDER

Loving others is only half of it. Letting others love you is also a huge part.

1. Open the box (signifying your willingness to open your life to others)
2. Take the key, unlock the chains and remove them from the heart (signifying your willingness to be vulnerable and let others love you and have access to your heart)

Stand up, raise the chains up and tell God that you surrender your fears to Him.

THANKGIVING

Thank Jesus for wiping away all of your selfishness and thank Him because “He has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.”
Col 1:22

Eccl 4:12
A person standing alone can be attacked
and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.
Three are even better, for a
triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

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The living room coffee table set-up

Writing thank you notes:

Think of someone you are thankful for but to whom you have never expressed your appreciation. Write that person a thank you card telling them how much you appreciate them.

Cord of 3 strands:

Invitation: UNTITLED

2005-08-24T21:28:00.000-07:00

The next worship/meditation/prayer
night at my house will be this
Friday, August 26th.
Drop in/hang out times are
between 7:30pm and 9:30pm.
_________________________________

God hasn't been so kind as to let me know
what this one will be about yet,
so I don't have a theme for all of you right now.
So I guess this one will be a surprise.
I really really really hope to see you there.
_________________________________

For those of you who have no idea what all of this is. . .I've been hosting these worship nights (as I call them) at my house once a month since January. I really want to share more ways to worship besides sitting in a circle and singing with someone playing guitar. No offense, I love this too, but I just want more. So I set aside a "sacred space" in my spare room. I decorate it and set up props as necessary for the theme. Each person enters the room by themself, follows the directions suggested and spends time alone with God in worship. Through prayer, or meditation, or reflection, or confession. Whatever the theme is for that night. It is non threatening, you don't have to talk to anyone the whole time if you don't want to. It's quiet and peaceful. No singing. No holding hands. No performing. Just you and God in a quiet peaceful space. Come check it out. You can drop in for 10 minutes or you can hang around the whole two hours. It's up to you.

Meditation Station: Communion

2005-08-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 28, 2005

An invitation to sit down at dinner for two with your Savior.

Communion was meant to be a shared meal--a good chunk of time devoted to remembering Jesus and what He means to you.

Commune: 1. to converse or talk together, usually with profound intensity, intimacy, etc. 2. to interchange thoughts or feelings

Pour yourself some grape juice or wine. Take a good chunk of bread and have a MEAL with Jesus, not just a communion "sampling".

Invitation: COMMUNION

2005-07-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

YOU ARE INVITED:

Join me for a time of COMMUNION--
Talking to, remebering, worshiping,
and meditating on Jesus.
It will be a lot different than you expect.
Come check it out.
Everyone is welcome, pass on the invitation.

My house.
Thursday July 28th.
Drop in times between 8 & 11 p.m.

Meditation Station: Focus

2005-07-05T00:59:00.000-07:00

June 23, 2005
FOCUS

I set out books with those 3D picture in them otherwise

known as the "Magic Eye" books.

There were directions and exercises in how to see the 3D pictures emphasizing that to have the picture come into focus you had to focus behind the page.

I had a picture of Jesus on the wall and a framed piece of clear glass hanging from the ceiling a couple of feet in front of that picture

These are the directions for the station:

1. Write on the glass with the marker. Write down what has been on your mind lately. What life "stuff" have you been thinking about?

2. Sit back and focus on the words you wrote. Ask God to help you change your focus.

3. Now, staying in the same spot, focus behind your words onto the picture of Jesus. Ask God to help you focus on him THROUGH what's going on in your life right now.

Thanks to everyone who came!

Invitation: FOCUS

2005-06-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

You are invited to join me for a drop-in time of
worship, prayer, and meditation.

On June 23rd my home will be open from 8:30 pm-10pm.

This months theme is FOCUS.

I'm really excited about this one. I would love to see you there.
Invite as many people as you want. Pass the word.

Meditation Station: Sacrifice

2005-06-12T12:35:00.002-07:00

June 3, 2005 - Home Group
Based on Genesis 22:1-18

What sacrifices are you willing to make?

This is a story from the book "The Vision and the Vow":

proskunetes

2005-05-16T01:32:00.000-07:00

proskunetes - 4353 - an adorer

adore - to regard with the utmost esteem, love and respect; honor

John 4:19-24

True worship does not happen in a specific place. It is spiritual. Worship is not dependent on the right place or setting. It does not matter to which mountain we go or in what room we are sitting, true worship is not focused in any specific form or system. Jesus destroyed the physical symbols of worship when he died. It no longer matters what sounds or sights or smells are used to worship, they are simply the vehicles. Jesus replaced the temple with himself and he is the true focus of worship.

Jesus proclaims that place and form are irrelevant. We can meet God in worship anywhere through any cultural expression. What is important is that we meet a personal God who draws us into a love relationship with him. Jesus wants to take away our limited view of God and our narrow categories of worship.

Join me as my focus changes. Worship means everything to me. To be considered an adorer of God is the highest honor I could receive. I want to put my worship glasses on and show you how I see my world. I want to be so focused and in love with God that I don't see what's going on behind me. Some day down the road, God will tell me to look back and I will be shocked at what I see. God, occupy me--heart, soul, mind and strength.