BEAUTY

BEAUTY [feb2010], originally uploaded by defythegray.
reCreative Ministries
Beauty in God's eyes

Related: stars

hope lies beneath

hope lies beneath [jan2010], originally uploaded by defythegray.

reCreative Ministries
Loss & Hope

new beginnings

untitled [dec09], originally uploaded by defythegray.

This is a piece I created as part of reCreative Ministries' artists' guild. I've also linked up the reCreative site under the [Nu]Art catagory on the sidebar.

reCreative is (and will become) a gallery of pieces from different artists working in many different mediums -- everything from writing to music to visual art. As the Lord leads, I hope to submit as often as I can.

And please accept this post as a personal invitation to join the artists' guild. All the info you need to do so can be found here. Any other questions, drop me an email or comment.

new life

I've found my life

I've found my life

Amen

Amen

Sojourn . Amen, Amen [follow link to mp3]

innocence [revisited]

Kiaya Mouer . Untitled
October 2009

I've touched on innocence before. This painting, by my 5 year old niece, led me to consider it once again. It occurs to me that the very core of innnocence has less to do with a lack of knowledge and more to do with an implicit trust in all things. For instance, its not that my niece doesn't know about violence (although she probably may not), but rather that she trusts that everyone she comes into contact with is inately good. The result is that she, in turn, is able to love others more purely than most. Certainly more than me.

For years I've tried to act out this level of trust in Jesus. And I've failed. Or maybe fallen short is the better way to characterize my feeble attempts. And I know that this kind of trust is not possible without the work of Christ and the Spirit within me. I'm just not exactly sure what that looks like on a daily basis. Or how to better cultivate it.

Actually, I think prayer and otherwise spending some quality time with Him would go a long way in fostering this; but I find it so hard to commit. It almost seems that I'm afraid to lose my life. The very life that, at times, leaves me in ill contempt of Him for the very reason that I am unable to give it all. Like every single breath. Every single step.

And I know its a process. And I know it takes a certain amount of balance.

But I'm way past that, and the reasoning that follows.

I want to hang (on the cross) with Him. I want to struggle to find the next breath. I want to give up my spirit.

Because I know I can't truly live until I do so.

In The Secret

What's it been...like a month or so since I last checked in? I don't know...I have a number of posts started, but none are finished or ready to be published. I guess at one point in this blog's history I would have felt pressure to complete them and get them posted, but the Lord has freed me of that. Anyway...I've already said more than I intended to on this subject.



Kinda stumbled upon this video earlier this evening and a few chords in I realized it was exactly what I needed. Like exactly what I needed. So I spent the next few minutes in worship to the god who saved Daniel from the lions; and his friends from the furnace. The same god who gave his beloved, chosen people chance after chance to turn from their idols and honor Him as the God above all gods. The Great I AM. The same god whose love I sing about, write about and talk about; but have a very hard time trying to comprehend given the state of my heart.

I want to know You.

I want to truly and honestly know You.

That's my prayer tonight.

rest[ing]

rest[ing], originally uploaded by defythegray.

The weather was extremely active today. Crazy humid in the early morning; followed by a tremendous, mid-morning storm with driving rain and wind. Then it cooled off and the sun played around in the clouds for a time, before giving way to grayish skies again. Only to return just before sunset to say its final goodnight before resting for the day.

Upon This Rock [ReBlog]

Photo by Trey Ratcliff [Stuck in Customs, Flickr]

Tim over at Fantastic Distraction has a thought-provoking piece on the foundation of the church.

Has the church lost it's way...or have we?

Join the conversation...

maker moment :: sun rise

Alexi Murdoch . Orange Sky [follow link to MP3]

O W N L I F E

every day

every single person we encounter

every single person

a chance to breathe life

a chance to be the very person God intended us to be

a chance to react in a way that runs counter to everything that is selfish inside us

even the slightest, most insignificant act could change the life of another

take nothing for granted

nothing

it all hangs in the balance

hope

depression

love

evil

rebirth

sickness

redemption



defy the gray

own life