After church today, I had a big good meal and fell completely and deeply asleep. Friday and Saturday was packed with smiles, blue skies, ocean waves and calm clear rivers.
Yesterday I mentioned a moment on the river that transcended words. A moment of communion. To say it is a struggle to describe situations like that is a complete understatement.
In this post I want to share some personal ongoing revelation the Lord has brought through several friends that has culminated in a deeper sense of joy and communion over this weekend.
Within the past 18 months the Lord, among many things, has brought some encouraging words through a brother in Ohio and another in Colorado. One said that he had a dream that I was drawing at full speed with both hands. Another said that while he was praying the Lord showed him a picture of me in the middle of a field painting. People from all over, every station in life, families and children were coming to hear me tell stories (teach) as I painted. The reason these
stood out to me is because neither of these men are close friends who know ALL my mess. I also would not have thought their giftings would lend to this type of ministry (dreams, visions). Nevertheless, their feedback carried weight and I pondered and tested these things.
Sometimes answers came way down the road. That's why it is good to treasure different lessons and prayerful words and not get dissatisfied (disempowered) via impatience.
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Then, last Thursday, a dear friend called about a project she was involved in. We talked about the different kind of intelligences (picture smart, word smart … etc.) and how that all plays out in a particular home environment. She is very fun to talk with. Part of the discussion she mentioned is that my writings were very much like how I "picture" things. I write paintings. Another sister said one time that she thought my primary "art" was writing because I love to blog and
tell stories. She stated that I can draw all I want but she thought my first love was writing.
But I am so BAD at grammar! Not so sure about content either 
.
The Resurrection is about the promise of eternal life for all of us and also about God's love for each of us uniquely. This Easter Sunday my church showed images from The Passion of the Christ during worship. I look at those images and know that they give an accurate description of the horror that the Lord endured to atone for our sin, my sin, at the Cross. As I wondered around on the beach,
living with comfort, in a beautiful country and beautiful friends. It is hard to believe that my soul, before meeting Christ, was as tortured and tattered. Our Father, Abba, raised Christ from the dead as the signature event of the New Creation. Our belief in Him raises us out of the terror of sin and death and into the abundant life of Communion with Him.
This Easter I am very cognizant of the fact that I live a great life. I work for the cause I am passionate about. While my secular counterparts of similar sized organizations make two to three times what I make, I still make a lot more than most in the world and have access to amazing entertainment, education, medicine, science, technology…on and on. I am so grateful and blessed. It's embarrassing how good most of us have it here in the United States. Even with all of the pain
and emotional trauma of life (which shouldn't be minimized) we have the luxury of exploring even those issues with the Lord and the luxury of hearing from Him in those matters. We truly live like Kings and most of us aren't even aware of it.
It was this moment of awareness of how abundant life is that I was tempted to feel guilty. To want to take a vow of poverty and strip away even what little I have. That's when the moment of clarity came yesterday.
I am not big enough to know why I am so blessed to enjoy these things but I do know that God put me right here right now. Humility is knowing this and not abusing this amazing position. It's also knowing that in the grand scheme of eternity, it is no better or less than anyone else on the planet. Just the same issues of good and evil set in different variables within a variety of context.
When the Lord made Creation, He knew who would be born where and when in all of the ages. He knew what resources, challenges, trials and temptations would face every person in every age. In the Dynamic moments of Creation, that continue today, He appointed the parents who would bring my soul into the world, He appointed the age in which I would operate and the country in which I would live. He knows the sins I committed, do commit and will commit. He died on the Cross knowing my
face and my name.
He died on the Cross to look on us, to look on you, with Resurrected Eyes. Jesus wants to see you Face to Face.
When the ocean roared at the beach Friday, when the river flowed and carried me yesterday, I was reminded at the wonder that God's voice is never ceasing, always present and willing to be engaged. As I looked upon His creation I couldn't help but hear Him laugh. He exacted vengeance on sin and evil at the Cross and is our reigning and Glorious King, this very day. He laughs with joy when we take time to innocently engage His splendor.
Yesterday, I saw Him, in a moment of His Creative glory and I laughed out loud. The laughter had to come forward because He was happy that someone noticed that the Cross isn't just about doom and gloom turned into an empty tomb. Of course it is about that but it's also about how the Cross paved the way for the Newly Created to see Him, with spiritual eyes, face to face, in the here and now … in eternity of now. To experience Him without hindrance or shame. My joyous laughter
was born out of a transcendent feeling of acceptance and love.
He knows me! I know Him! There's nothing greater, nothing better, no one more worth this love and adoration.
… And I am going to enjoy the Moment … Moment after Moment … always.
The Christ is living water not a stagnate pool. His voice is calming and always flowing.
So, let's all write paintings that tell the story of how salvation happens in a moment of belief and continues forever. A story of redemption fueled by undercurrents of mercy and grace to manifest in joy.
I pray you know the eternal Joy of Christ today. If you do not, I pray you will.
