A recent commission.  There are still times I struggle with freely following my intuition and freedom with a piece I am asked to do, especially with things I haven’t painted before.  I get hung up in details and what a photo looks like.  My lack of training and experience tries to trip me up with insecurities.  Fear and insecurities are something I have battled in many ways for many years.  I have conquered it in many areas but still struggle in a few.  I am reminded, Proverbs 29:25 It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe.  Knowing who I am in Christ and that who I am to Him, is all that really matters, and this truth helps what remains fade away, and I am confident that He who began a work in me will carry it through to completion.  I really liked this article. https://biblereasons.com/caring-what-others-think/

What do you think about when you see a church or think of church?  I think about all the different parts of the body working together for the same purpose.  I think of caring, humility, walking together, being held accountable, surrender, love and edification.

Ephesians 4:11-15

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  Rather, speaking the truth in love, w are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.

“Unity” (Acrylic on Canvas)

Thank you for asking me to do this painting Kenny.  I really enjoyed it!

30×40 Acrylic On Canvas

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself (turn from our selfish ways), take up your cross and follow Me.

Matthew 10:38 And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Jesus demands total commitment, even unto physical death.  Right where we are…full surrender to the message we are commanded to proclaim to others.  Not just in speech but how we live even, and perhaps especially, when no one is looking.  It’s doesn’t always look like it should, but striving for truth and conforming your life to it matters.  The process might be slower than you like, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Luke 14:28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

Jesus set the cost of discipleship as high as possible.  Encouraging us to do a careful inventory before declaring our willingness to follow.

I have to admit, I was completely unaware of this.  My first taste of Jesus was hell, and I all I knew was that I didn’t want to go there.  For a very long time I knew a lot more about hell than I did Christ.  Even once it all began falling in place, I still didn’t grasp the love of the Father (I still don’t fully and won’t this side of heaven) His plan of redemption, flowing from a holy, perfect, incomprehensible love.  The cost is high, every day, every moment is writing a story in eternity.  Only what glorifies Him will remain…the rest burned away as useless (these are the things we do for the flesh, earthly things) we all fall far short of doing it well.  Nothing good is in us, of ourselves, it is God working in us.

Hebrews 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.

Matthew 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

God secures our perseverance as part of His saving work, it’s not of ourselves, and we cannot persevere if we don’t acknowledge the cost.  May we stand firm upon the Rock.  Shod with the full armor of God, fighting the good fight, fighting for your love to stay alive.  That it will not grow cold.

Matthew 24:12 (one of the scariest things imaginable) And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

What does your “love” look like:  Is it to please people?  To avoid offending anyone with truth?  Is it compromised? Do you hide it in fear?  Do you withhold it in pain?  Or because they don’t deserve?  Or you don’t deserve?  Or you deserve better?

I know mine has looked like all of these at one point or another.  Still does in fact, for I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.  Romans 7:19

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Real love is sacrificial and flows from the well of living water.  We do not have anything in our flesh that can uphold this type of love.  It is Christ in us.