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Barn Yard Art and Prayer Wall in the making

A making of our Barn Yard Art and Prayer Wall for Autumn by Ricky

Surely, God is present in this place! 🙏 May this place serve as a spiritual awakening for everyone who witnesses this scene and offers prayers, whether in person, online, or as a vision. 🙏 I offer my prayer alongside yours:

Heavenly Father, please call your saints, children, into a listening, hearing, seeing, really seeing of “Truth”— Your truth. Knowledge with understanding – wisdom without fear – Doers of Your word – Please correct us that walk in darkness, correct our hearing, seeing, doing – deeds, words, actions – So many things seem out of focus – Even our prayers at times seem to be outdated for the needs of today – Our strength being weakened – words conveyed having no meaning in the battles of today –

Holy Spirit, teach us about God, our creator, and make His truth known to us today. Just as when Thomas, a disciple of Jesus, Your son, doubted his resurrection from death, Jesus appeared and allowed Thomas to use his own fingers to touch the scars in His hands. Your love for him and us was revealed in this action of Jesus. He didn’t find fault with Thomas’s doubting but showed grace for his fading faith through His words.

Please intervene in our lapsed faith at times. The misunderstandings and the conduct that lacks love, as exemplified by the art of grace and mercy, need our intervention.

May this photo of Barn Yard Art in the making remind us of a story about another barnyard art offering lodging to a Mother and Father who were seeking a place to give birth to their son, Jesus.

Pull back the veil that we, your children, may see, as we change and do… In Your Holy Name, I pray…

Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 (NRSVUE)

Prayer offers Love, Hope and Peace…

John 15:²⁵(NIV) Jesus spoke and said; “All this I have spoken while still with you.²⁶But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Peace to you and you and all we meet let us share our love and Peace!

A Light for;

“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭42‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Psalm 19:1 reads, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (NIV)

“because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I find it so easy to feast my eyes upon God’s Beauty such as this photo taken a few days ago by my son and texted to me in seconds. It’s great to see this view either in person or photo. I have a child like excitement in telling God how great he is and even humming Him an off key tune.

I even have a lower key hum in letting him know I love His Light and appreciate you and me, too as His creation and our light form. I believe as a Christian God created us in his image and for a purpose.

Yet, I find when I have to take my eyes off the beauty of nature and be the light so others can find their way to Jesus Christ by His death and resurrection, crown of thorns, and blood pierce side I way too often seem to lose my hum. John 19:34

I’m not proud of this admission yet I feel blessed that I can learn from my actions and words that I’m not being the light God created me to be and CHANGE! Pray for forgiveness, ask for wisdom which I will be given according to James 1:5.

And, I can expect to struggle a little or maybe a bit more at times with my new wisdom. But, then joy comes because a light for others to see comes!

A thought to ponder as I turn to the new, if I walk out to the beach as shown in this photo at noon today will I see the same light and reflection? Will I be disappointed or still marvel at God’s creation? Maybe that’s how it is with you and me! What does others see? I answer, let love grow where the seed of Jesse/love is planted. (Isaiah 11:1)

Sacred Pause-Place

Do you have One? That is, “a Sacred Pause-Place? Does it have a Voice? How do you know when it’s yours? Is it a high dollar car? Does it obey red and green or need a foot pedal because it’s color blind? Or, is it just a Desolate Place?

“The people follow the example of the Lord setting apart space for divine services as He did for the Tabernacle (Exodus 27:9-19). Jesus taught in the synagogue (Luke 4:15-16) and at the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13). The people gathered in open fields, hillsides, and near the sea.” (Matthew 14:13-21).

“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.” Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Q What had Jesus heard that made him withdraw and go to a desolate place by Himself?

A“But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬-‭9‬, ‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Q What happen to Jesus after this? Did he have a Pause? Place?

A “Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; … he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.” Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬, ‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Q How did Jesus get off that mountain and find another boat to get him safely re-united with his disciplines.

A “Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” They were so frightened they screamed. Just then Jesus spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭CEB‬‬

Are we beginning to ID our Sacred Pause-Place!

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

I have my “Sacred Space-Place”. Do you? If not, think about these words from the Psalmist:

“Be still, and know that I am God”! (Ps 46:10) You might ask me ‘why’ is ‘Be and know’? My answer, “I, God, will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”.
—Psalm 46:10 (NRSVUE)

What’s your favorite?

My favorite, Who is the leader of all the school supplies? The ruler📏📐

An Abundance of Love

“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered;

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
—Mark 12:30 (NIV) And, Jesus added a second;

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Vine in vine in fence thriving together

I would like to ask, “how does one do all this loving?“ Don’t forget to add the following to your equation;

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
—Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

I’ve tried to answer my own question and I was reminded of a song written by Bill and Gloria Gaither.

“When I pause in the hush of his holy presence
When I’m so still I can hear each whispered word
When I pause to pray I enter His cathedral”

We thrive together when we enter His Cathedral!

A flower and 🐝 friend

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it: for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. (Psalm 24:1-2)

A few days ago my sister and niece were visiting the magical little cottage town of Blowing Rock NC. (That’s my thoughts when I think of Blowing Rock) They saw and experienced many magical moments of Joy and Hope! I love the photos they shared and the Hope and Joy I saw and felt in each one.

A flower and 🐝 making friends. A little purple cottage gift shop, “Take Heart”, sharing their Christian faith by offering gifts that shines a light on Hope. I spotted their purpose browsing through their shop via FB and google! A gift that read;

“Hope is the light that guides us through the unknown!”☀️

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“ The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬, 23 NLT‬‬

“Let your light so shine before [others], that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

You (O Lord) are majestic and holy. Your glory fills me with wonder. You do amazing things. Exodus 15:11b NIrV

Amazing things Our Lord does and the Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives to shine for Jesus and do amazing things! A Bee and a flower! A little purple cottage in a mountain town that shines from the inside out inviting visitors to step inside.

How do we tell, show and shine our gifts to invite others to step inside and share?

By sharing our gifts helps Hope and Joy to integrate into the world! A Bee and a flower! A little purple gift shop! And you and me! 🙌

Be strong and courageous;

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬

And, I might add whatever you hear!

Luke 8:17 and Luke 12:2-3 These verses explicitly state that nothing concealed will not be revealed, and nothing secret will not be known.

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. “Luke 8:17 (NIV)

“Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.” Luke 12:2-3 (ESV)

Behind this lush summer greenery you will find neighbor’s trash bends and side of a garage. The lush and green as viewed now will disappear as fall and winter approaches and you will see in full view the trash cans being on daily duty. As well as hear the valuable use of the cans being used.

I thought to myself I have just left reading the morning political views and watching a bit as well. Confused how there could be grown professional adults reading, seeing and hearing the same cries for help and say they read, saw, and heard two very different things! Could that be possible?

What about me? my family?, my friends? and my enemies? Could we be deceived and believe a lie? Tell a lie?

Joshua chapter 9 describes how the people of Gibeon deceived the people of Israel. “They wanted the Israelites to believe they lived far away from the land of Canaan, and therefore posed no threat to Israel. In fact they lived nearby.”

Yet, God told Joshua knowing a trap had been set for the people;

1) be strong and courageous, 2) keep the law of Moses, divide the land among the people, and 3) study and meditate on the word of God continually.

Can we believe the same today;

“For the word of God will never fail.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭37‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A time for Thoughtful Thoughts

The Lord waits to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
—Isaiah 30:18 (NRSVU)

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.
—Psalm 85:10-11 (NRSVUE)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
—‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬

Come and sit awhile and have and share a thoughtful thought about the artist and creator that took your brokenness and make your beauty shine again.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL7FKY2Mthz/?igsh=MTl1eng4Y2RheXh5eA==

Love 💛🌟

Luke 21:25-28 (ESV)

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars.
—Og Mandino, The Greatest Secret in the World

“perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18) “suggests that experiencing God’s perfect love eliminates fear. This love, often associated with God’s unconditional love for humanity, creates a sense of security and trust that counteracts the effects of fear. It’s not just any love, but a love that is complete, perfect, and transformative.”

My golden doodle, Peaches, often teaches me many things. One very important lesson she has taught me slow down, stop and smell the new summer flowers.

“…straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”