Joyfull Creations

The Oregon coast is spectacular, especially in winter. The differing shades of grey, green, and blue weave an incredible palette.

Our recent photo acquisition trip to the Northwest reminded my team of the beauty and splendor to be found there. We feasted our eyes on the rugged rocks and stormy waves and ambled along several beaches eyes searching for treasure.

On this particular visit, not only did we encounter breathtaking views, we discovered some new treasures and revisited some old favorites. One place in particular that holds many memories is Mossy Creek Pottery. This unique art studio and gallery offers artwork that is both functional and beautiful. Visitors can spend a good hour browsing and enjoying the wide variety of pieces and designs.

Ever feel down and discouraged? Do you fnd yourself wondering if the good fight is really worth it? We’ve probably all felt that way at some point in our life. In my small group Bible study we read a passage this week from Luke seven that shows our discouragement isn’t all that different from people in the Bible.

Herod arrested John the Baptist and had thrown him into prison. In Luke he sends two of his disiples to Jesus to ask him a question. Like us, he wanted to know if Jesus was for real. “Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another?” John had peached to large crowds in the wilderness and baptised many preparing the way for the Messiah. His question indicates a man wondering if his life work was worth the current suffering he was in.

It is interesting to watch how Jesus responds to John’s question; his doubt even. Immediately (The New King James version says, “that very hour”.) Jesus cured many sick, cast out demons, and restored sight to blind people. Then, Jesus told John’s people to return John with a message.

I find it interesting that Jesus tells them to do three things. First, He said to tell John what they have seen. It would have been incredible to watch Jesus in action, to see the joy on people’s faces as their lives were made whole again. Then, He said to tell what they had heard. Can you imagine the sounds that would have accompanied that healing session? I’m sure it was something you wouldn’t easily forget. Finally, Jesus said to tell John that, “Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Jesus message to John is a message of courage. By his actions he signaled that he was the Messiah. He quoted the words of Isaiah in his message to reafirm John’s life work; what he had been preaching about was true.

Luke’s account of John’s discouragement reminds me to remember what God has done for me in the past. When I’m feeling down I can remember what I have seen Him do and what I have heard Him say to me. It’s a reminder to look at the ways God has led me in the past and to remember that I am blessed if I don’t allow my doubt to cause me to fall away from Christ.

I had a cramp in my right hip and we’d only been hiking 20 minutes. This wasn’t a good sign considering we still had about 7 miles to go and more than 4,500 vertical feet yet to climb.

I was in Colorado last week for a few days. On the spur-of-the-moment some friends and I decided to hike Long’s Peak. We’d scrounged around to find the needed gear and then dropped into bed to get four hours of sleep before getting up to start our hike at 2:30 AM. (In order to climb Long’s Peak, you have to start before 4 AM so you can be off the summit before noon when thunderstorms start rolling in.)

We were on the trail by 3:30 AM. Using head lamps and flashlights we made our way up the mountain in the dark through the alpine forest, then on up above tree line.

Each step brought new sensations. At first my hip hurt, then as that pain receded, my neck and shoulders began to ache. I kept climbing, one step at a time.

As I hiked I thought of the parallels to the Christian walk. At times we are faced with hardships and trials. Just as I kept my eyes fixed on the rocky path in front of me on that dark mountainside, we as Christians must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Also, as I climbed, the pain eventually subsided and the sun finally came up, lighting my path. With our eyes on Jesus, our trials will pass and one day we will see the Son coming for us.

Charlie, Chris, and Kent made it all the way to 14,259 ft, the highest spot in the Rocky Mountain National Park (I was forced to stop just a little lower at 13,748). The sights we saw and the lessons learned won’t soon be forgotten.

Hey, I just found a really cool site that maps out the countries you’ve been to.

I tried it out and this is what I came up with. It told me that so far i’ve visited 7% of the world’s countries. Pretty cool.

My map.

Create your own visited countries map.

We think of our country’s freedom at this time and I am moved by the freedom that Christ’s victory over sin has given each of us.

I serve as a worship leader for my church and so yesterday during the service I invited people to share verses that relate to freedom.

The subsequent response was nothing short of a God moment. People all through the congregation shared their favorite freedom texts.
One that stands out in my mind is from Psalm 107. The entire chapter talks about God’s deliverance, however verse 14 is especially descriptive. “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces.”

When we turn to God for freedom from sin, the chains we’ve been bound by hold no power. They will drop away because of the price that Jesus paid on Calvary. No longer do we have to be captives. As long as we choose to follow God and live by His power and strength, we are free.

From my own experience, i know this is true. It is only when I turn my life over to Christ and allow Him to fight my battles that I find peace and victory. Praise God!