July 12, 2011 - Rise Above??? Is That Even Possible?
“Rise up, O men of God. Have done with lesser things. Give heart, and soul, and mind, and strength to serve the King of Kings.”
Romans 8:5-8 (ESV)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.In my estimation, this is not perfectly possible. We are fallen and our journey begins with believing and continues by following. We are not capable of this on our own. We who are believers have "put on Christ" He is our covering, our cloak from our hoodie to our boots. But we are still underneath all that. It is still us wearing it and the purpose is for identification - we are Christ's . We are also given a soft heart but not a perfect one. Our heart is soften so that we have the ability to hear and respond to the Holy Spirit. Our minds are renewed every time we seek God, read the bible and worship but it must be done everyday. The effects are like vitamins they need to be taken daily.
Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV)
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Mark 12:29-31 (ESV)
Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength….’
My conclusion to this focus idea is this: I will pray that the Holy Spirit remind me that whenever I think of food outside of the context of hunger, I am to stop and turn my thoughts to Christ. Stop, divert and pray.
FOCUS! I first need the desire to want to focus. So let it be so.
-Well, I am working on a little book of the ocean so here are a couple of preliminary drawings and one seahorse painting done at work.
This one is made with gouache and inktense watercol blocks and Derwent colored pencils – on Artagain black paper.
