Artistic Endeavor

I love to paint and draw, but I don't often make time for it. People keep giving me art supplies, though, so I thought it was about time to use them! I started this flower series a couple weeks ago when I was fasting [it's amazing how much time you have when you aren't on facebook!]. They're intended to be hung on a wall together, above one another. The third one will be two sunflowers in a mason jar. I used photo sources I found through Google's image search.

You may recognize this one as the full version of the photo I am using at the top left of this blog. It's [mostly] acrylic on a canvas panel. The background is acrylic yellow ochre mixed with this old bottle of orange washable kids' paint [probably tempera]. The stem needs more texture, and the petals need more continuity. I'll put the finishing touches on later.

This poppy isn't quite finished either. I'm going to use a pale french blue [like a grey-blue] for the background, & once again, add some more detail to the stem... which is massive, by the way. I didn't mean for it to be so big.

God's smiling at you.

We have a weekly worship service here on campus called Warriors. I attended last night, and we sang the hymn Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken. It was written in 1824 by Henry Francis Lyte, a Scottish Anglican. Anyone who says all hymns are old and meaningless is crazy. This is the fifth verse:

Soul then know thy full salvation;
Rise o'er sin and fear and care;
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
Think what Father's smiles are thine,
Think that Jesus died to win thee;
Child of heaven, canst thou repine?

Repine: to be discontented or low in spirits; complain or fret

I love how the Psalmists often speak to their souls, instructing themselves. I've talked about this concept with several people. In our present culture, the idea of talking to yourself is somewhat ridiculous, but the power of speaking Scripture and God's promises out loud is incredible. I mean just think about how awesome God's Spirit is- and He lives inside us! Think how much a smile from your best friend, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your dad or or your mom means to you. Then, think about the might, love, and vastness of the LORD. He too, is our Father, and He smiles at us. We are His people, His children, His beloved.

Some of us have heard a million times, "Jesus died for us." Consider, though, what you've done in order to keep someone with you. Think about your wife or your husband. What convinced you to be with them? Or, if you're single, think about your future relationship. What do you expect someone to do for you to win your affection? I'm guessing your list doesn't include "dying for me." No one could be expected to go to such lengths! But, that's exactly what Jesus sacrificed so that He could have you next to Him. That just blows me away.

Compassion International

I sponsor a child through Compassion International. Her name is Victoria Mumbua, and she'll be 8 years old in May. I've sponsored her, with the help of my sister, for a little over 2 years now.

Poverty is an overwhelming issue. It's hard to know what we can do, especially high school or college kids who don't yet even have a steady paycheck, who have obligations to their school work & their parents... but I've learned that even small things can make a big difference.

Compassion's individual child sponsorship program is unique. They're unapologetically Christian, which means they do not receive government grants. They're one of the top-ranked non-profit organizations for how well they handle their finances. Most of your money will go directly to your sponsored child. Compassion takes out less money for processing and advertising than any other child sponsorship program [that I'm aware of]. They also do not use sponsorship money for community improvement projects, like water wells, etc. You can write letters to your child, and your child will reply to your letters.

Compassion also is unique in that they work with churches that are already established in the countries where they work. This way, they don't have to spend so much money sending Americans over to build projects & make connections in the local community. There's no language barrier to be overcome, and the church families know where the money really needs to go.

Mumbua still can't write on her own very well, so someone else at the project writes for her, but she does send me her drawings. I love receiving her letters! She's a very sweet and interesting little girl. It's so awesome to think that you can make an impact on the life of a child on the other side of the world! Children in poverty have physical needs, but they also need to know that there is hope. Your letters can help them see that they don't have to stay in poverty, and that they can make a difference in their world. The effort you put into writing letters and getting to know your child means so much to them.

Sponsoring a child with Compassion costs $32 per month. That's about a dollar a day. That's less than you spend on your daily bottled water or Coke. For some of you, that's still too much money- and that's understandable. I'd encourage you, though, to ask your friends or family members to sponsor a child with you, like I did. You can't solve the problem of poverty all on your own, but you can do something.

Let's all just go by the rules, ok?

"There is nothing wrong with a traffic law which says you have to stop for a red light. But when a man is bleeding, the ambulance goes through those red lights at top speed... Disinherited people all over the world are bleeding to death from deep social and economic wounds. They need brigades of ambulance drivers who will have to ignore the red lights of the present system until the emergency is solved."

"The world is in dire need of creative extremists. We live now in extreme times. The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love?"
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Christians should be troublemakers, creators of uncertainty, agents of a dimension incompatible with society."
- Jacques Ellul

"Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 'Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!'? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings."
- Paul, Colossians 2:20-22


Sometimes I just get frustrated with the restrictions and limitations that the world imposes on us. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. And, I'm glad to know that they don't hold us back from doing the will of the LORD!

A Lifestyle of Fasting

Fasting week at VCC was officially over yesterday. I learned a lot, and I think others did too. Pastor Rob spoke on how fasting should be a lifestyle. I really think Jesus is trying to teach me something important through all of this.

In my continued research on fasting, I found a free book on the IHOP website called The Rewards of Fasting: Experiencing the Power and Affection of God. I've only read a few pages, but it's interesting so far. Dwayne Roberts, in the forward, writes that he believes that fasting should be elementary to a Christian- one of the first things we learn about and develop. It is not that way in most churches today.

So, no ... fasting is not for the strong. It is not for the solid. It is not for the perfect. Fasting is for the common, weak, frail, ordinary individual who realizes his or her lack and has a desperate need for more of God. The realities of fasting truly are a bit bizarre. It doesn’t make sense to our natural minds how sacrificing food and pleasures unlocks our hearts and minds to receive more of God Himself, but the set-up of His kingdom is perfect.

You guys, this is our glory! It is our glory to say “no” to the fleeting earthly pleasures that surround us in the here and now. God has given us an opportunity to choose Him on this side of eternity, above all lesser things. Fasting is more than denying ourselves food. It isn’t really about being hungry. While we do get hungry when we fast, fasting is really about experiencing more of God.

What an interesting perspective... Fasting is our glory. That's surprising to me, but when I keep thinking about it, it's exciting, and it starts to make sense.