"My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested[a] it stirs up power within you to endure all things. And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking."
James 1:2-4 Jas 1:2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
Jas 1:3 knowing that the proving of your belief works endurance. Jas 1:4 And let endurance have a perfect work, so that you be perfect and complete, lacking in naught. This morning in my quiet time with Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, I felt He was asking me the question, “What do you think it means to endure through trial with joy”. I usually ask my 3yr old questions as I want him to think for himself, it will get in quicker and will show me his level of maturity. Scripture encourages us to mature and eventually move away from milk on to solid meat. As I gave a few answers I realized that He was giving me the opportunity to really think about it and to change my perspective. I don’t know how many times I have had to read James Chapter 1 but I know one thing is for sure is that the King is trying to teach me how to endure with joy.
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"We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!"
Ephesians 2:10 AMP You are free to be who God has created you to be. Are you dreaming with God? God has such a beautiful destiny written for each of our lives, and He's able to fulfill it!
Along the way of our journey, as we're growing in who we are created to be there will always be those struggles or obstacles that challenge us to keep going in the vision God has put in our hearts. Sometimes we even make decisions that take us on new paths, but God is still able to complete all that He has begun in us. He really is that big. :) “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.”
Psalms 19:1-4 Through many inspiring people and books, God has been able to awaken me to my life’s true calling. One of the best and life changing books I’ve ever read is called “Captivating” by John and Stasi Eldridge. Although it’s not a book about creating art, it drastically changed my view about it. It is all about the value of women in God’s kingdom, while reminding us how important men are as well. Surprisingly this validating book has opened my “artistic eyes”.
The authors define what makes a woman’s heart’s come alive and teaches about our core desires. Even if we aren’t aware of it:
The part about how important beauty is in our lives, went especially deep for me. It was revealed to me that beauty is restorative and refreshing and it is no mistake that God has placed beauty in creation everywhere. A quote from “Captivating” is: “Creation is primarily beautiful, not primarily functional.” I think of sunsets, fields of flowers, the northern lights. Glass wing butterflies, painted chameleons, crashing waves. There is so much beauty in creation that it validates beauty itself. This tells me that it isn’t frivolous or an afterthought, but instead, a necessity to enjoy a full and healthy life. “But Jesus immediately said to them, ‘Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it is you,’ Peter replied, ‘Tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came to Jesus.” Matthew 14:27-29 Sometimes, it can take a lot of courage to get out of the boat to begin with.
I am very new to this “prophetic art” thing; in fact, I didn’t know it even existed until last Fall (2018). I was officially baptised in January 2019 and God redeemed my artistic ability for His use in March, a scant two months later. Before that, my forays into art as an adult were haphazard at best and largely ignored at worst. I didn’t set out to be an artist. I wanted to be a musician. When God called me to art — NOT my preconceived notions of musicianship — I was shocked and terrified, much like Peter and the other Disciples in the boat that day on the stormy ocean. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery."
Matthew 5:13 AMP I've heard this described in so many ways over the years, and mostly chose to look at it in the spiritual context, that we are salt and our lives bring life and flavor, joy to those around us. We are to bring a substance that satisfies but brings life. Too much salt is repulsive, but not enough is as well.
I decided to look up some history and understanding on salt, and the summary of that would be that salt if it is mixed with the earth, or put on the soil becomes worthless and loses it's flavor entirely. But when it's connected to and remains close to the rock it comes from it maintains it's flavor and substance. That was very interesting!! When we get filled with mixture, it becomes worthless and our message lacks flavor or preserving power. Connected to the source, we don't get mixed with other substances and the world. We keep our truest identity connected to Christ, our rock. "Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. This testimony of faith is what previous generations were commended for. Faith empowers us to see that the universe was created and beautifully coordinated by the power of God’s words! He spoke and the invisible realm gave birth to all that is seen."
Hebrews 11:1-3 TBT Have you ever had one of those days when you feel as though you've had fear come at you with all of it's ugly face? Me too. Today was like that. It's the beginning of the spring season, which also means changes in weather, lots of weather, including big storms and possible tornados etc.
I can tell you, I'm so thankful that my family prays against storms, we stand up and rebuke them! Today was no different than any other when I saw and heard about the storms that were possible in the area. Then the tornado sirens began, and continued to come, and the weather radio was going off about every 5 minutes or less. If anything, it was a constant reminder of what you could see in the physical for sure. Normally, I see rain as a welcome and even enjoy the gray skies. It's a feeling of calm, including listening to rain and even thunder at night. It puts me right to sleep. As I was hearing the weather radio one more time, and the tornado sirens going off, it said it was coming in our direction. "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV Being an artist I feel the most-fulfilled when I am creating and painting. I love where I live... the seascapes, beaches, and forests on the West Coast of Canada are picturesque and breath taking. They’ve inspired me to create many vibrant original acrylic paintings. But there is a dark side... I have struggled with negativity and futile thoughts when it comes to the responsibilities of life and any menial task. I often feel very impatient and I can’t wait “to get to create”...
I often get quite discouraged with the amounts of housework, chores, bookkeeping, banking, family responsibilities and all. I have struggled with complaining to myself about this my entire adult life. Even then, once I find the time to create... other negative thoughts begin to plague me. For example: Does anyone care about what I’m creating?.. Does it matter? Do I have an interested audience? Will my work be seen? ....enjoyed?....valued? Ultimately... am I seen?…enjoyed?... valued? "Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you? The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting forth. The budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere. The fragrance of their flowers whispers, “There is change in the air.” Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place. For now is the time to arise and come away with me."
Song of Songs 2:13 TPT All week every time I spent time with the Lord, or heard a message anywhere I heard the word "Bloom." It's now showed up in several words across social media in sermons and prophetic messages alike. There's a new season here, and we see the newness all around us in Spring on this side of the world.
And although spring is here, there is a newness in the air. Can you feel it? There is a new thing that God is doing in many hearts. He's removing the old and putting a deep hunger to know Him, to spend time with Him in the hearts of believers. "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,"
Colossians 3:23 ESV I could be totally off base on this but, I think if you asked almost anyone in my life to describe me you would likely hear them say things like “she’s helpful”, “she’s organized”, “she does what she says”, “she gets things done” and hopefully you would also hear “she’s kind” or “she’s patient” or better yet, “she’s loving”. I would graciously take ANY of those compliments. But what I know about ALL those descriptors is that ultimately I’m an over-achieving people pleaser who is really good at following to-do lists + directions. Doesn’t sound so flattering from that side, does it? Trust me, I’m working on it!!
“Come,” says the Holy Spirit and the Bride in divine duet. Let everyone who hears this duet join them in saying, “Come.” Let everyone gripped with spiritual thirst say, “Come.” And let everyone who craves the gift of living water come and drink it freely. “It is my gift to you! Come.”
Revelation 22:17 TPT There is a message that God has placed in my heart for several years. I don't share it everyday, but it burns in my heart.
Beginning back in the fall of 2009, after our move from Iowa and in a very difficult season, there was a lot of time to spend with the Lord. He began to increase the hunger I'd had for Him, where I didn't want much else. Everywhere I turned it seemed in the Word that year all I saw was, "Come to me." I read it all through the Old Testament, which I have to admit I'd not really seen that before. I'd always pictured Jesus saying these words, but here I was reading over and over the God of the entire universe with so much love stating even before Jesus came to earth, "Come to me." "Know me." |
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