A Devotional Mosaic

Sunday, March 31, 2019

The Standing King

An edited version of this Art Reflection was shared at The Gathering House Church in Spokane Washington and presented on March 31, 2019 The Edited version can be found at the bottom of this post.

Written by Margot Cioccio

Art work by James Nesbit

Prophetic Word: Pastor Tim Sheets

As I sat down to write this art reflection, I remembered that James Nesbit takes prophetic words that have been released to the church by recognized prophetic voices of our day. I was inspired to look at the artwork notes and to my delight it did give information about the prophetic source. The word had been released at an Appeal to Heaven conference by a Tim Sheets, a Pastor in Middletown Ohio who is the older brother of the more well known minister Dutch Sheets. I decided to spent the $1.99 to download Tim’s message to see what inspired this image. Please see the links posted above.

Acts 2, the very first Pentecost. It is the very first gathering of “the church”. They wait together as Jesus instructed. They wait to receive the power He promised he would send them. This day is the coronation day of Jesus. It is 50 days after passover. Looking back in history, Moses was given the commandments written on stone fifty days after the first Passover. Now fifty days after the crucifixion, which happened during Passover, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit and the commandments are not written on stone this time but upon our hearts, fulfilling Jeremiah 31:31-34.

In heaven, He sits down upon the throne and the Father takes a horn of oil and pours it over his head as described in Psalm 133. How precious it is to him when His church walks together in unity. In Acts 2 the Holy Spirit is released as that anointing oil flows from his head on to his body the church at that time with great signs and wonders. He is seated so that oil pools in his lap. In Acts 7 when Stephen is being stoned for boldly proclaiming the truth we see Jesus for the first time as The Standing King. The oil once pooled in his lap splashes down to his people releasing an even greater outpouring of His Spirit to his body the “Church”. Tim believes now is the time of the Standing King.

In this artwork by James Nesbit we see the King is no longer seated but is now standing. On his thigh is written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He wears the breast plate of the High Priest with the stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. He holds scepter in one hand and his other arm is strong and mighty. Behind him is the throne and he is surrounded by glory as He releases the Holy Spirit dove along with the angel star host to move in His authority and power. I transcribed the actual prophetic word given by Tim Sheets to share with you. As you look at this art work I pray God will profoundly speak to you both through the image and through this prophetic word.

“The Lord of Hosts says to the remnant warriors of the triumphant reserve. I said it is finished not I am finished. I am not finished. I finished redemption for sins on the cross but I am not done. I am not done with my church. No, I will now finish building my church. It will be glorious. It will be without spot or wrinkle. It will reign in my name. It will not be intimidated, scared or confused, bewildered, tepid or spineless. I am not done. I am not near done.

I‘ve got much to finish and I will now finish it. I have saved the best wine for your times. I will now finish the releasing of out pouring, after out pouring, after out pouring, after out pouring of my power and anointing revealed in my manifest presence. The World will now see my power manifest and released on my triumphant reserve. My glory will become demonstrably real in your times. From glory, to glory, to glory to glory. I’m not finished. I am not finished says the Lord.

I’m not finished healing blind eyes. I’m not finished opening deaf ears. I’m not finished restoring crippled limbs. I’m not done reaping the harvest of the end of the age. I’m not finished saving the lost, setting the oppressed free, or delivering captives. I’m not done with Muslims says the Lord. I’m not done with Hindu’s. I’m not done penetrating the nations with the gospel. I’m not done with alcoholics. I’m not done with drug addicts. I’m not done delivery the bound. I’m not done removing lust and perversion from those who are wounded, broken and lost. I’m not done setting homosexuals free. I’m not done setting lesbians free. Im not done setting adulterers free. I’m not finished with gay marriage. I’m not finished with abortion. I am far from finished!

I’m not finished says the Lord, with America. Im not finished with the World. I’m not finished with my Kingdom on this earth which means….

You’re… not… finished!
My church is not finished. My Ecclesia will now bind hell. My Ecclesia is not done binding hell. It is not done standing for my Word without compromise. It is not done confronting demon doctrine. It is not done confronting rebel governments. It is not done confronting rebel kings, dictators, presidents and evil dignitaries. My reigning church is not done prevailing over the gates of Hell. It is not done promoting righteousness. It is not done preaching my Word without compromise. It is not done prevailing over principalities and powers and mights and dominions. It is not done salting the earth. Lighting up darkness. Reversing evil laws and treading on demons. Preaching hope and preaching deliverance to the captives. It is not done reaping my harvest of lost men and women, boys and girls. It’s not done discipling the nations. My church isn’t done when the government says its done. It’s not done with the President says its done. It’s not done when the media says its done. It’s not done when professors say its done. It’s not done when the IRS says its done. It’s not done when hireling shepherds say its done. It’s not done when the supreme court says its done. Its done when I say its done and I say You’re…not… done!

Occupy till I come. Take care of my business. It is finished but I am not finished!

Focus on what I say and let that settle the issue. “

Edited Version of The Standing King

This art reflection is an excerpt from my blog post titled The Standing King. If you would like to read the whole thing please see me after the service.

James Nesbit takes current prophetic words and creates digital images. I was inspired to look at the artwork notes for information about the prophetic source. The word had been released at a conference by a Tim Sheets, a Pastor in Middletown Ohio

Its fifty days after passover in Acts 2, the disciples are gathered for the first time as “the church”. They wait together as Jesus instructed. They wait for the power He promised he would send them. This day is the coronation day of Jesus. This is the day that Jesus sits down on his heavenly throne as King of kings. Looking back in history, Moses was given the commandments fifty days after the first Passover. Now fifty days after the crucifixion, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit and the commandments are not written on stone this time but upon our hearts, fulfilling Jeremiah 31:31-34.

In this artwork by James Nesbit we see the King is no longer seated but is now standing. On his thigh is written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He wears the breast plate of the High Priest with the stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. He holds Kings scepter in one hand and his other arm is strong and mighty. Behind him is the throne and he is surrounded by glory as He releases the Holy Spirit along with the host of angel stars to move in His authority and power. I transcribed the prophetic word given by Tim Sheets to share with you but I have shortened it for time sake. The full word is in my blog post. As you look at this art work I pray God will profoundly speak to you both through the image and through this prophetic word.

I’m not finished says the Lord, with America. Im not finished with the World. I’m not finished with my Kingdom on this earth which means….

You’re… not… finished!

My church is not finished… It is not done standing for my Word without compromise. It is not done confronting demon doctrine. It is not done confronting rebel governments. It is not done confronting rebel kings, dictators, presidents and evil dignitaries. My reigning church is not done prevailing over the gates of Hell. It is not done promoting righteousness. It is not done preaching my Word without compromise. It is not done prevailing over principalities and powers and mights and dominions. It is not done salting the earth. Lighting up darkness… It is not done reaping my harvest of lost men and women, boys and girls. It’s not done discipling the nations.

My church isn’t done when the government says its done. It’s not done with the President says its done. It’s not done when the media says its done….It’s not done when hireling shepherds say its done. It’s not done when the supreme court says its done. Its done when I say its done and I say You’re…not… done!

Occupy till I come. Take care of my business. It is finished but I am not finished!

Focus on what I say and let that settle the issue. “

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

United We Stand

This Art Reflection was presented at the Gathering House Church in Spokane Washington

on March 24th, 2019. You can purchase a copy of the art work at

https://jnesbit.com/products/desire-of-the-nations

Desire of the Nations by James Nesbitt
Art Reflection by Margot Cioccio and Gerri Wright

The Lion is Jesus. He is our risen Lord. He walks triumphant through the heavenly sanctuary, in the midst of the rainbow of his promises. The nations are under his feet. He strides upon the water of life that flows out from his heavenly presence. See the sunrise in the distance and the universe above—they remind us that now and on into eternity, more than we can think, ask, or imagine awaits us.
This is what the Lord Almighty says in Haggai 2:6 “I will shake the nations, the desired of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with my glory.” Habbakkuk 2:14 says, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
Lord, we need your revelation to help us understand that we are seated with you NOW in the heavenly places. But oh, how that stretches our mortal mind. The idea that in every moment we are here, but also there [in the heavenly realm] with you. Help us understand that you have called us out of darkness into partnership to rule and reign as your prophets, priests, and kings in the earth not only someday but now.
Yet we are so inadequate, so poor, so broken. Holy Spirit remind us to turn our focus and look on our Beloved. Look at him. He is our Lion, our King triumphant!

He says in Psalm 2 verse 8 “Ask of me and I shall give you the nations as your inheritance.” But do we even get that far in the smallness of our thinking? We are so often embroiled in the daily trials of our own life. We want more of him and more of him means more of his heart for others.
My king is coming! Will he find asleep on my couch, the tv blaring and enticing me with endless entertainment that only leaves me empty? Have I become numb and desensitized when life has been easy? Do I only seek him as my last resort when all my good ideas have been tried and have failed? Do I come to him? Do I come to him at all?

The banner over his house is love and those who find true wisdom obtain the tools for understanding and living. For they have a fountain of his blessing pouring into their lives. Feed us Jesus from the tree of life found in you. Allow the living water that flows from your heavenly sanctuary to satisfy our thirst. Oh, how we thirst for you. Will we wake up our mind? Will we say until the darkness disappears and the dawn has fully come, in spite of shadows and fears, that we will go to the mountaintop with you? Will we join you on the mountain of suffering love, and the lonely hills of prayer that burn before you like fragrant incense?

We are united in his love. We love him because he first loved us. Yet we let so much get in the way of that love relationship: worry, fear, doubt, sickness, calamity, religion, envy, pride, poverty, hopelessness, inadequacy, lack…the list goes on and on. These are the chains he comes to break us free from. He gives us his word that we should wield it like a mighty sword to cut through the endless hissing of the enemy that holds us hostage in these chains and cages built of half-truths and lies.
Can you hear him saying, “Come with me through the blue and purple archway of trust? Together we will wage war on the one who spreads these lies, the one who holds my people in every nation captive. Let us stand united as one to make war on the enemy and set the captives free.

Under God's Protection

This Art Reflection was written for The Gathering House Church in Spokane Washington. It was presented during the service on March 17th, 2019. You can purchase this art work at http://www.inspired-art.com/Gallery_8/Gods_Protection.html

http://www.inspired-art.com/Gallery_8/Gods_Protection_files/shapeimage_1.png

by Artist Danny Hahlbohm

Art Reflection by Margot Cioccio

As I sat writing this reflection I went searching for a particular quote and I found my self drawn in to listening to the music of one of my favorite song writers, who’s life here on this earth in my opinion ended far too soon. Yet he lives on many years later in recordings and rough demos made a mere 9 days before the fatal car wreck that took him home like Elijah in a chariot of fire. As we look at living and dying in the sermon today Im reminded of Psalm 91:11-12 say For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

In Psalm 139:14-18

I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it. How thoroughly you know me, Lord! You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place, carefully, skillfully shaping me from nothing into something. You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I’d seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book. Every single moment you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought.

How much freedom is there to be found in knowing that God has already planned the number of your days.

In John 10:25-30. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

How much freedom is there in knowing that nothing can snatch us out of his hand

The image today is another recent painting from artist Danny Hahlbohm. The title he has given to it is Under God’s Protection. He writes on the site notes “We are children of the living God, and God protects His own. When need be, God will send His mighty angels to protect us from harm and evil. His angels are powerful and mighty, not like those depicted in some “new age” imagery. God does not have wimpy angels.

His angels do His bidding, weather good or destructive, and they have the power and capability to carry out God’s mission no matter what that might be. No wonder why in the bible, when an angel appears, the first thing that angel says is, “fear not.”

In Philippians 1:27-28 in the Passion Translation it says… "When I come to see you, or hear good reports of you, I’ll know that you stand united in one Spirit and one passion - celebrating together as conquerors in the faith of the gospel. And then you will never be shaken or intimidated by the opposition that rises up against us, for your courage will only prove as a sure sign from God of their coming destruction and that you have found a new life.”

Irregardless if the opposition you face is thugs who would try to rob, rape or even kill you or a diagnosis of cancer or some other thing that threatens to take your life. I want you to look intently at this art work on the screen today. Allow it to be seared into your mind and heart.

Last week we looked at Jesus as the Word, this week we look at art that depicts him as provider and protector. He is the commander of the angel armies. Paul in the passage today is speaking about living and dying. He is ready to depart this life but knows that his staying benefits the Church. In verse 20 he says “In my life or in my death, Christ will be magnified in me. My true life is the Anointed One, and dying means gaining more of him.

From the realm of God’s golden glory which is much closer than you may think. Do you feel Him? He is here with us right now. See his right hand extended, and reaching out to you. It reminds me of how the king extend his scepter to Esther when she came to him uninvited. That extended scepter or hands means you who have approached the King will live and not die. He does not hold back the things that you need to overcome and to be victorious. His mighty angel army come and go at his command.

I want to end with some words written by Rich Mullins the song writer I mentioned earlier.

My Deliverer is coming, my Deliverer is standing by

He will never break His promise, He has written it upon the sky

My Deliverer is coming, my Deliverer is standing by

I will never doubt His promise though I doubt my heart, I doubt my eyes

My Deliverer is coming, my Deliverer is standing by

He will never break His promise though the stars should break faith with the sky

My Deliverer is coming, my Deliverer is standing by

Here's A Youtube video of Rich Mullins song My Deliverer

https://youtu.be/K8-NxI_IWd0

God's Everlasting Word

This Art reflection was written for the Gathering House Church in Spokane Washington

and presented during the service on March 10th 2019 You can order a copy of this paining by Danny Hahlbohm at http://www.inspired-art.com/gallery_7/Gods_Everlasting_Word.html

http://www.inspired-art.com/gallery_7/Gods_Everlasting_Word.html

A Painting by Danny Hahlbohm

Art Reflection by Margot Cioccio

This image is from a painting by Danny Hahlbohm called God’s Everlasting Word. On youtube there is a video in which Danny shares in his personal testimony about his very first encounter with God while in the military. He had been suffering for days with a severe migraine. Nothing he tried had brought about any relief. In his desperation and pain he cried out to God to help him. To his surprise this God he didn’t even know answered. The thick English fog out side his barracks somehow in that instant parted and he was able to see the night stars in the heavens above. In that moment he was also instantly cured of his migraine. He said that it seemed as if the migraine which to him felt like death was so small as if it were a bit of lint that God flicked off His heavenly sweater. He was so amazed that he had actually encountered God. He now knew God was real but he didn’t know anything about Him. He goes on to share how he visited all kinds of churches and kept trying to read the Bible but none of it made much sense to him. After searching for months he finally gave up and went on with His life. He says later that He didn’t find God - God found him.

Sometime later His cousin Albert came to visit. Both had gotten into all kinds of trouble in their younger years. It seems that Albert had given his life to Christ and was excited to share his relationship with Jesus with his cousin. That evening Danny alone in his room asked Jesus to be his Lord and savior. The next day he told Albert and they rejoiced together. Albert encouraged Danny to start reading the Bible. Danny notes that what had previously been a confusing jumble of words now made sense to him. With no training or help other than from the Holy Spirit be began reading and understanding and growing in the Lord.

Driving home from working at a local garden center. He was so full of the love of God and the Holy Spirit that he wanted to do something for God. He asked the question Lord, what can I do for you? The answer he heard was use your talent. His talent was his painting, which had been mostly landscapes and flowers up to that time. That evening he painted a picture of the face of Jesus. He said it was the first painting that he didn’t paint. He had no idea what he was doing he was just moving the brush. Since that time he continued to paint for the Lord. Danny brought his bit of talent and has watched as Jesus has multiplied it to feed and inspire others for His glory.

He writes in his bio “I answer to no man, only my King, and I report to Him daily each morning and throughout the day. When asked to paint, I paint. When asked to write, I write. When asked to pray for other brothers and sister I have not met or known, I pray. This is my calling, this is who God created me to be and to perform as. I shall give the King, that which He asks of me everyday of the life He has granted me. This is who I am, and none other.”

Now that you’ve met the artist, lets look one of his more recent works.

Do you see the hand of God reaching out as if through His Word? See him reaching out to you in this moment. He invites you to come into His presence to be part of His living Word. Like Danny His Word only begins to make sense once we have responded to the voice of Jesus and invite him to come into our lives.

Do you see the Hebrew letters on the Sword of Truth. Translated say I am that I am. It is the name that God called Himself when he met Moses at the Burning Bush in Exodus 3. Much like Moses we can often feel inadequate when looking at our bit of talent. Surely there are others who are more qualified?

We who have chosen to follow Christ were not adopted into the family because of our skills or good looks, not because of our family line. Not because of anything we could possibly do for Him. He has given his sons and daughters a double edged sword of His Word. God has always been interested in relationship. Out of our relationship he calls us to the family business of expanding the Kingdom for His glory. We have been given this sword his words. Its interesting to note that in English the Sword and Words are made up of the same letters. As we begin to speak and declare God’s words and apply it appropriately to various situations they cut through the lies we and others have believed. Our enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy but he really has no power unless we put our seed of faith into his lies rather than into God’s truth.

Notice the Bible in this painting. It is bursting with light and life. It is filled with living letters that make up living Words. It is from cover to cover the story of the Living Word made flesh who we call Jesus.

As we grow in love and intimacy with the Lord much like Danny we may find ourselves wanting to give back to God in some small way. God spoke to Danny - use your talent. He speaks that word to us as well. What ever it is that you do begin to use it for His glory. Like Danny you may look back with amazement at what God has done with that tiny bit of a talent and how He has used it to feed a multitude.

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Creativity and the Butterfly Life Cycle

Creativity and the Butterfly Life Cycle by Margot Cioccio

Thanks to Unsplash photographers: Nathan Dumlao, Yoal Desurmont and Boudewijn Huysmans.

I dreamed about a beautiful butterfly. It was like a family pet that followed us around. One day it became weak and was no longer thriving. I decided to released it in the yard and hoped that nature would revive it, and it would not stepped on or eaten by a dog.

Most often we think of butterflies in their adult glory as they grace the fields and flowers with their marvelous beauty. I generally think of butterflies as a representation of transformation taking place in the lives of people. The well known story of how the ordinary, even ugly caterpillar eats and eats and one day becomes creates a cocoon from which it eventually emerges as the delicate beautiful butterfly. We celebrate the butterfly for emerging from the mundane. The mundane process is all to soon forgotten and rarely celebrated.

The butterfly can represent freedom. Having made it to the 4th stage of its life, its purpose at this point is to find a mate and reproduce. We so often celebrate the glory in our lives or in the lives of others but forget that it is just the last of the four stages of an on going cycle. The average life span of a butterfly is only about a month.The four stages are the egg, the larva, what we generally call the caterpillar. Then the Pupa or the Chrysalis stage and finally the graceful butterfly.

There are goals at each stage that must be met. If they are not met the generational future of butterflies are in danger. Thankfully that future is not left to one individual butterfly. The Monarch will lay 500 eggs, one egg at a time on the underside of many leafs. She must lay those eggs on the kind of leaves that the new baby caterpillar can immediately eat. Food must be readily available for that tiny baby. It is too small and vulnerable at first to travel to find food.

I’d like to look at butterflies as creative ideas. The life cycle of a butterfly is filled with obstacles. In the egg and caterpillar stage a hungry bird might eat you. I suppose there is wisdom in not putting all your eggs in the same basket or on the same leaf if you are a butterfly.

As I go about my day what ideas am I laying into the lives of others. Perhaps my ideas will simply be food for others to help them grow. I don’t know when an idea may spark something or what eggs may hatch and become hungry caterpillars that might one day become butterflies that help to encourage and inspire others.

I have always struggled with what I want to be when I grow up because I have so many avenues of interest. It has always been hard to choose. While in art school my professors advised that I pick one medium and work to develop it as my artistic expression. I seem to be like that butterfly I go through cycles where I gobble up a subject, experiment, turn it over and over in my mind and then finally create something beautiful. Then I move on to a new idea.

If you were to look at my desk you might wonder how I get anything done. I have stacks of papers and books and stuff all about. I realized that I am more creative with in a slightly messy environment. When I look at nature I don’t see tidy rows, I see randomness, an organic messy kind of beauty. When my desk is too neat its like that blank canvas or white piece of paper. It leads to instant creative block. If it is all clean and tidy I don’t want to mess it up. There is something comforting and inspiring about my slightly messy desk. It represents a multitude of ideas and projects. Some mundane like bills and taxes and others creative like journals, song snippets and drawing ideas. In some ways my bits of paper and clutter are like the multitude of leaves the adult butterfly has laid a huge variety of ideas upon.

Some of those ideas may one day become something. Others are just part of the creative process. They needed written down to make room for creative space within my brain for other ideas to grow and develop. When I am working on big projects my brain is constantly churning. The creative process is almost like being pregnant. Then giving it birth and raising it up so that others may be inspired by it.

I generally don’t like the time that is in between creative projects. I feel like that Chrysalis just hanging around that is seemingly doing nothing. I have noticed for myself anyway, that I need some people time but I also need quiet alone time. If I can keep a healthy balance than I continue to be creative. The Caterpillar represents the social out in the world eating up stimulus and ideas. The Chrysalis in many ways represents that quiet time that I need to process all that I have consumed. I have come to terms with my feelings of having to always be producing to be of value. I had to get past my mindset that said I needed to be good enough to earn the attention or favor of others or even God. I have had to accept that my creativity goes through cyclic seasons. I have had to learn to guard the secret quiet space of my mind and heart. To not get so busy that there is no time to process or create. Resting and processing is part of the creative life cycle of an idea as well.

The pet butterfly in my dream shows me what happens to an idea if I keep it to myself and don’t allow it to be free to soar. It dies and does not get the chance to inspire others and to reproduce.

When I first create something there is a tendency to want to keep it to myself. To look at it over and over again. It represents a part of me. I have to decide if I will share that part of myself with others. It is easy to become critical as a creative person. To say to a creative thing, “I’m sorry you are just not good enough”. I have to push past the fear of exposing myself to the critique of others. It takes courage to release a creative endeavor and allow it to soar. I have to leave it in the hands of God. I have to let go of control at that point and realize it is part of His story written though me that now must take on a life of its own. For the creative cycle to continue to be birthed in myself and in others I have to be willing to share my creation even with what I see as its flaws. Those very flaws are like foot prints others are able to follow. Its ok if its not totally perfect it is totally real and raw expression of my journey. As I bid it farewell, I am grateful for what I have learned and experienced along the way that I will carry on into future projects. I am thankful that my Abba Father is creative and I have been made in His image as a creative person to express His love to I release yet another idea into the winds of His Spirit.

“I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put his finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!” Philippians 1:6 (TPT)

Sunday, March 3, 2019

You Are My Dancing Rhythm

https://jnesbit.com/products/you-are-my-dancing-rhythm

This is a Art Reflection that I wrote and presented at the Gathering House Church in Spokane Washington on March 3rd, 2019. Here is a link to where sermons are posted.

From the Philippians Series Titled Abounding Love. As a church we purchased a copy of this image to use in our service. I have put a watermarked image here with a link back to the artist website. I highly recommend art work of James Nesbit to you.

You Are My Dancing Rhythm

an Art Reflection by Margot Cioccio

You Are My Dancing Rhythm is a prophetic art piece by James Nesbit. He is one of the leading prophetic artists of our time. He feels a portion of his assignment from God comes from Habakkuk 2 to write the vision and engrave it so plainly (through digital imagery). He follows the prophetic words being spoken to the “church” at large by seasoned prophetic ministers and makes visual representations of those prophetic words.

The beautiful ballerina makes the dance look so effortless as she dances on the eternal stage to the rhythm of the masters melody. She reaches up as if to touch the strings as the rhythm, melody and harmony seem to rain down upon the earth where she dances for His glory on the world stage of her life.

In Philippians the Apostle Paul states, It’s no wonder I pray with such confidence, since you have a permanent place in my heart! You have remained partners with me in the wonderful grace of God even though I’m here in chains for standing up for the truth of the gospel.

We are all in our own ways invited into the great dance of love between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Paul did not let the chains or the conditions of prison steal his joy. He did not allow his circumstances to be an excuse for not finishing His race. I am sure that he must have worshiped and sang during the long hours much as he had done with Silas years before. This time there is no earth quake and his physical chains are not removed in yet another astounding miracle that paved the way for the Gospel to enter into Europe. Not this time. Paul was not chasing miracles. Miracles followed him. The miracle of his imprisonment is perhaps a bit harder to see this side of heaven. As he sat chained to different guards 24 hours a day, he told them the stories of his encounters with Jesus. The prisoner literally had a captive audience. The guards sat as he dictated letters and watched as people would come and go to minister to this rugged looking old man. They could see that he had been through a lot in his time. I can only wonder at the transforming power at work in their lives. Perhaps you and I are part of their family lines. They remain nameless guards so we many never know the lives effected because one old man in chains told stories of his beloved Jesus rather than griping. We must train themselves to be thankful no matter what the circumstance

Much like a dancer who wants to perform on pointe there are a variety of conditions that must be met to accomplish such a goal.

Training starts at a young age so that form, strength and alignment are achieved as the dancers feet and bones grow and harden. At age 12 if a dancer has a foot where the toes are all about the same length and she has ankles that are flexible she may be considered as a potential candidate for dancing on point. It isn’t a task for the immature or those who want the easy path. To dance on pointe requires emotional maturity to be able to deal with the pain of practicing at least three times a week. The dancer has to be responsible to take care of her shoes. Her shoes are extremely important to hard and they make too much noise, too soft the feet are not supported. A dancer may go through 3 or more pairs of shoes in a nights performance. They wear out and have to be replaced by new ones. Each dancer has to hand sew elastic and ribbon ties to her shoes and break in the shoes during rehearsals so they are ready for performance.

Paul also started training early. He studied the scriptures as a child. He was later tutored by Rabbi Gamaliel. He might have even gone on to be a candidate for the position of High Priest. Many dancers never make it to pointe. Their foot structure, emotional maturity, work ethic and commitment to responsibility all play a role in determining if a dancer will dance on pointe. Paul was fiercely committed to keeping the purity of God’s Holy Word. His passion lead him to persecute and kill Christians. Yet one day the Lord looked at Pauls formation and decided it was time to move him to a new level of revelation. It was the day he had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. It was the day his life changed forever. God knew he would be able to withstand the anger of the Jew, shipwrecks, beatings, name calling, trials, hardships jail and finally a martyrs death. God knew that He would not cave because of the difficulties and the riggers of being like the lead ballerina on pointe on the world stage.

“James Nesbit writes the following about this image. “Arise and dance with the King. Your dance may be moving in the beauty of auto repair, or a mother seeing her children well tended to, releasing the rhythm of the eternal song with in them.”

In Philippians, Paul goes on to say “I continue to pray for your love to grow and increase beyond measure, bringing you into the rich revelation of spiritual insight in all things. This will enable you to choose the most excellent way of all - becoming pure and without offense until the unveiling of Christ. And you will be filled completely with the fruits of righteousness that are found in Jesus, the Anointed One - bringing great praise and glory to God!

Will you wake up and arise and join in His great dance of love to be who he uniquely created you to be for His glory. Will you let the rain of Heavens song touch you like this dancer and move in and through you to be all that He created you to be. No one else can dance the dance that God has designed for you. Will you join the dance abounding in His great Love.

Monday, February 25, 2019

Psalm One - Prayer Doodling

Photo by Ben White from UnSplash Photos

Psalm 1 begins with the words, "What delight comes to the one who follows God's ways!"

There are a lot of ways to spend time meditating on the Word of God. It should not be a laborious duty but more like reading a love letter from your most beloved friend. Ok so maybe not Leviticus.

The other day I was spending some time in Psalm 1 and I decided to make the doodle page. You should see below in the text. I started on the left side and thought about those who chose to follow God. I wanted this one to have a bit of a flowing feel to it, almost as if one was being carried along by the streams of living water.

In the middle I wanted to put the Psalm in my own words. "Jesus I delight in following you. I chose not to walk in unity with those who have chosen not to follow you. I will not relax or remove my armor int he presence of the ungodly. Help me live in and by your Word so that night and day I am Transformed to be more like you. Make me like a strong and graceful tree by flowing water, full of fruit."

On the right hand side I spent time thinking about the wicked and the results of their choices. We are given many opportunities to choose Jesus or even on a more basic level to pursue truth. I've told my grown children to keep seeking truth because eventually you will run in to Jesus, because he is the truth.

I started doing these doodles while I was in ministry school. I tried to find something within the required Bible reading to turn into a doodle. I like to make copies of my original drawings before adding color. Most of the time I don't get around to coloring, but have noticed that coloring is a great way to slow your brain down and help it to focus and stay focused. You can download this printable and enjoy coloring Psalm #1 by following this link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iohTNZn-OIN5RmKhoqxwnPwCGfVUs1XT/view?usp=sharing

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Photo by Aaron Burden UnSplash

How do you spend time meditating on the Word?

Friday, May 11, 2018

God's Original and Final Intent part 5

This is my final paper for The International Healing Rooms School of Transformation in Spokane Washington. Its is very long paper so I am breaking it down in to smaller portions to post here.
This is part 5 of that paper. I hope you enjoy it. I love to hear your feed back in the comments.
This section probably needs more work. I however needed to be done with this project and on to others that need completed before Graduation. I think this paper has the potential of becoming a book. A lot more could be said in this section.

Thanks, Margot

God's Original and Final Intent part 5
Soul:

God’s intent regarding reigning and ruling in partnership with Him.

The Original intent of God for his Family to extend His kingdom (My Soul to magnify the Lord)

I would submit to you that how we feed our soul is in how we care about others and God’s creation. One may feed the soul by basking in the evening sunset, or listening to the creativity of others expressed in art, literature and music, but also in what we do for the least of these because what we do for them we do for the Lord we love. As we live and grow in love our soul is nourished.

As I think about our role as royalty I am reminded that a good king not only cares for His people but for the land that belongs to their kingdom. We have become detached from the land. Most of us no longer till the soil and what we eat comes packaged from the local grocery story. We can easily miss the beauty of creation because we are trapped like a hamster on a wheel. I pray God will help us not only take some time to smell the flowers but to fill our souls with the great beauty of His creation.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (NIV)

Acts 2:17

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Exodus 19:6

you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Isaiah 61:6

But you will be called the priests of the LORD; You will be spoken of as ministers of our God You will eat the wealth of nations, And in their riches you will boast.

Isaiah 66:21

"I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites," says the LORD.

Revelation 1:6

and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10

"You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

Exodus 19:6

and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

1 Peter 2:9

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

1 Peter 2:5

you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Revelation 20:6

Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Romans 15:16

to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

I would like to close with a quote that I found on a site called the theology of work. “From the beginning, God perfectly provisioned the world for humans to thrive. The good earth yields food when humans exercise their God-given ability to “till it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). God’s intent is that people would not merely subsist, but have good things in abundance. “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28). God gives people the capacity to understand the natural world so that we make use of its resources (Genesis 2:20). Human work and ingenuity are more than capable of developing God’s creation to provide abundantly for all people. In partnership with the Creator, we are to make creative use of the resources of the earth, growing and innovating, creating new products, improving on the original. There is more than enough raw material to go around

https://www.theologyofwork.org/key-topics/provision-wealth/gods-original-intentions-blessing-provision-abundance

In the article called 20 Reasons Why Christians Should care for the Environment that I have include as a resource along with this paper. There are two points that really stood out to me. I know when I have thought of being a king, a priest and a prophet before God, my focus has been on transforming people, setting people free. I have had to repent for my short sightedness. In not realizing that God’s creation is full of wonder and variety. He created it for us to enjoy, not for us to destroy. From that previously mentioned article these points moved my heart.

11 “God is working to recreate and restore not just individual people, but the entire fallen creation. Just as sin was cosmic in scope, causing the very ground to be “cursed” (Genesis 3:17), so redemption is cosmic in scope, causing the entire creation to “groan” in anticipation (Romans 8:19-22) for Jesus’ return, when he will make “all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Since God has not abandoned his creation with a “let it burn” defeatism, neither should we!

12) Human life and flourishing is dependent upon animal and plant life for food, oxygen, vitamins, clothing, environmental stability, and many other basic needs. For example, without insects (as disgusting as we sometimes find them), human beings would be dead in a matter of months.”

As I end this very long paper I find I am back where I began. I want to be uncomfortable with easy answers. We as God’s people should be seeking God for solutions to the problems of our day. We should be shining lights and ambassadors, and his hands and feet in a broken and hurting world.

“May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers,

half truth, and superficial relationships

so that you may love deep within your heart:

May God bless you with anger at injustice,

oppression and exploitation of people,

so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace;

I should find myself angered by injustice. To see needs and not think that the Government will take care of the problem. If I am going to live as a mature adult believer, I have to stop adding to the problems and begin to be part of the solution. In making those hard choices to live differently I may “fast” some of my freedoms for the sake of loving the least and the lost and the broken.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those

who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war,

so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them

and to turn their pain into joy;

I have to do more than just shed tears. I have to find a way to help. Be it raising money to put a roof on a church in Africa, or giving up my time to feed the homeless. I am only one person and I know I can’t do it all. I have to begin to inspire my brother and sisters to live not only for them selves and their immediate family but to make room in their hearts to make a difference in the lives of others, and in God’s creation.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness

to believe that you can make a difference in this world,

so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.”

I love the site called Forks over Knives. The idea of making a difference in the world one bite at a time appeals to me. I post photos of the food I am making, I bring delicious vegan foods to potlucks and meetings. I make an effort not to be condemning but to encourage and help people see that the pain they are experiencing is often linked to the choices we make. The foods we choose to eat and the sins we may not even realize and the people we need to forgive. Gods intent is for us to live life to the full but in doing so we should not be jeopardizing other people or creatures from that as well.

As a three part being I must feed my body, my soul and my sprit in order to be able to "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.’" Luke 10:27

Thursday, May 10, 2018

God's Original and Final Intent part 4

This is my final paper for The International Healing Rooms School of Transformation in Spokane Washington. Its is very long paper so I am breaking it down in to smaller portions to post here.
This is part 4 of that paper. I hope you enjoy it. I love to hear your feed back in the comments.

Thanks, Margot

"The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." Proverb 12:10 (NIV)

I found this quote in an article in Veg News Spring 2018 issue called Why We Eat Meat by Marla Rose she states ” Underneath this juggernaut of animal agribusiness are consumers as individuals - parents and children, neighbors and peers - who keep the machine well-oiled and fully operational. As consumers, we are the hand that cranks the machine and turns more that 50 billion land animals a year world wide into consumable, often unrecognizable products. The machine depends on our participation, and - with a wold population expected to surpass 9.8 billion by 2050, plus a growing body of evidence linking animal agriculture to massive environmental strain - every effort to examine, unpack, and leave behind the diet that is creating so much suffering must be made.”

1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

God’s intent for Animal life

When God created animals and then he looked among them for a suitable partner or helper for Adam. I believe their original purpose was always to be a help to man. Some might say that would mean that some were intended to be food for man. I think if you look at the whole of Scripture that animals are often used to teach us some valuable truths about God. The following are just a few examples that immediately came to mind.

“We can gather that all these creatures of the world lead the mind of the contemplative and wise man to the eternal God. For these creatures are shadows, echoes and pictures . . . and vestiges proposed to us and signs given so that we can see God.” -St. Bonaventure

Proverbs 6:6 (KJV) Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

Isaiah 40:31 They That Wait Upon The Lord, Shall Renew Their Strength, They Shall Mount Up With Wings of Eagles, They Shall Run and Not Be Weary Walk Faint

Psalm 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.

In Song of Songs the bride and bride groom often describe each other using imagery found in animals and in nature. It is from these and many other verses that I believe God created animals to be something more than sacrifices through their deaths so we might live.

“ I often tell my theology students that Genesis 1 and 2 are among the best pro-animal texts we could ever imagine there being. Nonhuman animals and humans are created on the same day of creation. Both share the breath of life. God commands humans to eat plants. Animals are brought to Adam, not to kill and eat, but “because it is not good man should be alone.” The fact that Eve is latter found to be the “suitable partner” does not change the fact that God brought the animals to Adam to be his companions.” from Why all Christians should go vegan by By Charles Camosy January 5, 2017 In The Washington Post

My personal journey began for my own health and has grown into a greater consciousness of the ethics of what I eat. I find myself considering things that never before occurred to me. Things like how does what I choose to eat effect my own body, how does it effect my neighbors, and how does it effect my planet. I find my self back to the quote at the beginning of this paper.

“And may God bless you with enough foolishness

to believe that you can make a difference in this world,

so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.”

I know that this journey has been a learning and an eye opening process for me. I don’t expect that everyone will be motivated to make a full switch to veganism but I hope that I might be an advocate and a proponent for helping to change the mindsets of people in my influence by my life and example.

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

The Original and Final Intent of God - part 3

Original intent for the care and sustenance of our physical bodies.(My Body to be a temple in which His Spirit would dwell.) 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

In beginning to look at this section, I want to assure you that my intent is not a crusade for Veganism or even vegetarianism. I believe that there is a ton of grace available to us. Romans 14 says “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.” As I have grown on my journey as a Christian who is a Vegan. I started for purely heath reasons. I had been having frequent migraines. After many years of see sawing between the SAD (Standard American Diet) and Low Carb, High Protein diet I decided it was time to try something totally different. So over night, I believe by the grace of God I stopped eating all animal foods. At first I thought well eggs and dairy are not bad maybe I can add those back in at some point. Then I began to discover not only the health issues but the treatment of chickens, and cows. In my heart I knew that a loving God would not have sentenced the animals that he created and had Adam name one by one to the kind of treatment they routinely face today. Which led me to begin thinking about what God did originally intend. I have found myself looking into what our loving creator originally designed for us to eat. What was His original intent and will his final intent be regarding food. Then to take it all a step further I wondered what was His purpose for creating such a vast array of amazing animals.

God’s intent regarding plants as food for Man and Animals

Original Intent: Genesis 1:29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground - everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food.: And it was so.

Final Intent: Revelation 21: 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” We have the fountain of living water and the tree of life to sustain us and I believe that food and drink will be amazing. Jesus, just like in the wedding at Canna turns water into wine and saves the best wine for last.

Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. (NASB) Isaiah 11:6

“The wolf and the lamb shall graze together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain,” says the LORD. (NASB) Isaiah 65:25 From these verses I see that even animals will be changed back to God’s original intent. Can you imagine lions eating straw. If there is no killing there can’t be steak or hot dogs as we currently know them. There is the tree of life and it’s fruits that I am sure will grace the banquet table of the King of kings.

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (NASB) Revelation 20:1-4

Isaiah 58:11The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Matthew 6:25 NIV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Matthew 6:31

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Luke 12:29

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

Romans 14:21

It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” I always thought about this verse in regards to causing others who were recovering alcoholics not to stumble. That in those cases love should cause me to refrain from what I may have the liberty to partake of. This verse has been a big part of my motivation to eat differently, as I have researched the effects of our American Factory Farms on the communities in their vicinity I find my heart grieved by the suffering not only of animals but of humans. “Over the last two decades, small- and medium-scale farms raising animals for food have given way to factory farms that confine thousands of cows, hogs and chickens in tightly packed facilities.

Factory farms produce millions of gallons of manure that can spill into waterways from leaking storage lagoons or fields where manure is over-applied to soil. Manure generates hazardous air pollutants and contains contaminants that can endanger human health. Neighbors of factory farms, as well as the workers in them, often suffer intensely from overwhelming odors and related headaches, nausea and other long-term health effects.” https://www.factoryfarmmap.org/problems/ I find myself wondering about the ethics of my food choices and how my choices are impacting my brothers and sisters in the communes where the food I potentially eat is produced. Am I for the sake of convince choosing foods that are not only dangerous for my own consumption but causing sickness to those who work or live where they are produced? While I may not be able to put an end to the problem, my buying choices will little by little have an effect on an industry that is more concerned with the health of its pockets than with the health of people. I can only hope that others may decide to follow my example.

From: Why I'm a Christian Vegan by Maggie Olson

“Most of us know only vague details about the cruelty of factory farming, but the suffering is impossible to ignore. Cows endure milking machines latching onto their chapped and infected udders multiple times per day, extracting milk produced by repeated forced impregnation. Cows and pigs both experience depression and anxiety from being trapped in too-small gestation crates and pens, and frequently develop sores and infection from standing in their own waste. Male chicks, useless to the egg industry, are discarded en masse in dumpsters, where they either starve to death or suffocate under the weight of the other babies.

These are the creatures created by God, the "livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals" (Genesis 1:24). These are the creatures over which God has given us dominion. God tells us, "clothe yourselves in tenderhearted mercy, kindness . . ." (Colossians 3:12). There is no compassion in factory farming, no kindness in the treatment of these poor creatures that God created. As Christians, we are called to reach out, to protest, to fight—not to affirm this practice for the sake of our own gain.”

So while you may not be concerned for the treatment of animals as a result of factory farming you may want to consider its effect on our neighbors, who we are told to Love as we love ourself. If I don’t want my husband working in the dangerous conditions of a factory farm, or my children sick and disease ridden because of the proximity to the pollution caused by factory farms. I must consider how my choices are impacting my brothers and sisters who because of poverty are forced to live near and work in factory farms. Maggie Olsen in her article Why I’m a Christian Vegan states the following: “Slaughterhouse workers face some of the most dangerous working conditions and lowest wages in America. Injuries incurred in slaughterhouses and packing plants are often ignored and underreported, leaving workers bankrupt or crippled.

Additionally, factory farms are hugely destructive and toxic to neighboring communities. Peter Singer, in his book The Ethics of What We Eat, writes about a family who lived near a factory farm. Their house was so overrun with pests that they caught up to 40 mice per day, and the air and water were so riddled with waste and disease that their little boy regularly became very sick; they even found maggots in his stool."

In addition to these examples I am reminded of Daniel who became part of those captured from Israel’s leading families and brought to Babylon. He is well aware that the food served at the kings table does not conform to the dietary laws and standards that God gave the people of Israel. So he requests a plant based diet and asks his guard to test him for a specific time period. At the end of that time and his friends are found to be much healthier, stronger and more mentally adept than the others who ate the kings fare. “Everything we need, including protein, can be achieved by eating a plant based diet. There have been countless studies that show that by adopting a plant based diet people live longer, are healthier, happier, and less disease stricken. Research published by The National Center for Biotechnology concluded that "vegan diets seem to provide some added protection against obesity, hypertension, type-2 diabetes; and cardiovascular mortality." The Christian Vegan by Tabitha James.

Blog Tabs

Sunday, March 31, 2019

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Monday, February 25, 2019

Friday, May 11, 2018

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Wednesday, May 9, 2018