Mr. Tall

Sculpture update

He's mostly done, last night I got a chance to work on him a lot more. I put some finishing touches on various parts and I got the ears and hair done. Anyway here is the nameless dude looking up into the heavens. He's no one in particular and I haven't come up with a name or title for him yet. Mr. Young is going to send me more pictures and I'll add them to this post so you can get some different angles. This picture I took with my new picture phone, and it's not too bad a quality.

Here are a few more shots:

Before the Throne of God Above

Before the throne of God above I have a strong, a perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is Love who ever lives and pleads for me

When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there, who made an end to all my sin

Because the sinless Savior died my sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb my perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am, the King of glory and of grace

My name is graven on His hands, My name is written on His heart
I know that while in Heaven, He stands no tongue can bid me thence depart

One with Himself I cannot die, my soul is purchased with His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high with Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God

Salvation

This past Sunday I shared my testimony in our church service. I recently became a member at NHCC, so when you become a member they ask if you would like to share your testimony publicly. I've had some people mention that they would like to hear it also... so here we go.

I grew up in South America where my parents have been missionaries for close to 28 years. I really appreciate my parents a lot because they have been a great example to me.
Before Christ, I was trusting in my family's salvation and my works, but I was a sinner condemned to hell. Because I was in a conservative Christian family, sin was not shown in obvious ways but in little lies, stealing, doing bad things with my friends, and attitude towards my parents.
When I was 8, I would have reoccurring nightmares of being stuck in a house on fire. After a particularly grueling VBS on Sin, Hell, and Salvation, I came to the realization that I need to accept that Savior as mine and not just use my family. It hit me, after waking up in the middle of night after one of these, that it was because of my sin I was willingly staying in the fire pit. Christ’s work on the cross kept coming to mind. All I had to do was repent and confess my sin and ask Jesus to become my Lord and Savior. I did and He did. After that I struggled with basing my salvation on my works, and trying to please God. I was in a cycle of drawing close to God, and then drifting away… and my heart was hardened through this process. I was baptized at the age of 16. My dad actually baptized my sister and I in a river in Uruguay.
At the end of my senior year at BJU, I was not in a good relationship with God. My heart was very hardened towards Him and His Word. I actually hated Sunday and anytime that the Word was preached.
God had to shock me back to Him by bringing me to NHCC. Coming from a conservative fundamental background, I was astounded at this body of believers, the freedom of worship and the love towards God, the Word, and each other. God brought me to a decision point, were I chose to pursue Him. Now, I’m growing in Him, I’m living in His Grace, and using the talents He’s given me to serve the body. I'm learning more and more about Him every day.

Apathy

Hebrews
4:2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.

As we continue to study through Hebrews at NHCC and learn about Sanctification, I've been convicted especially about apathy. So many times we approach Scripture with US as the discerners. We read the word and just pick and choose what we want to apply. Leaving aside what God is most likely trying to teach us. This activity only creates in us what is described as disobedience, slowness, sluggishness, dullness of hearing... aka apathy.
Heb 4:12 clearly states that the Word of God is the discerner. We can't hide anything from the Word. It's living and working in our lives.
I have to confess that I am apathetic to His Word. I don't read the Bible and rejoice at His promises, cry at His warning, fear the destruction that is immanent if I drift, or praise and love Him for His might works. He's working on me...
Pray for me, but also pray for yourself and friends and family that are saved, that His Word would cut through our hardened hearts and make them soft and receptive to His living and active Word.

i miss it sooo much

FYI: I miss throwing with clay on a wheel. I miss the creative process. I miss the feel of clay and water.
What I currently do is sculpture with an oil based clay, it's fun and I'm learning a lot! But... it's not a wheel, it's not throwing, it's not trimming, it's not bisquing, it's not glazing, it's not firing. So I miss it...

Potter's Hand

Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour
I know for sure, all of my days are held in your hands, crafted
into your perfect plan
You gently call me into your presence guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord to live all of my life through Your eyes
I'm captured by Your holy calling
Set me apart, I know you're drawing me to yourself
Lead me Lord I pray

Chorus:
Take me, Mold me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand

You gentlly call me into your presence guiding me by your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord to live all of my life through your eyes
I'm captured by your Holy calling
set me apart, I know your drawing me to yourself
lead me Lord I pray

Friends

I love friends!

Best Friends. Friends that I haven't seen for a while. Friends that I've known for what seems ages. Friends that I see everyday. Friends that I wish I knew better. Friends that have stuck with it through thick and thin. New Friends and the possibilities...

I love sitting down with them and catching up on life, talking about what's going on, seeing how we've changed, getting to know each other better, talking via phone or IM or email, laughing, partying, dancing, singing, being serious, being goofy. To name a few.

I especially love talking about God and His word. Sharing and sharpening.

Healed

We stutter and we stammer til you say us
A symphony of chaos til you play us
Phrases on the pages of unknown, til you read us into poetry and prose.

We are kept and we are captive til you free us
Vaguely unimaged til you dream us
Aimlessly unguided til you lead us home.

And by your voice we speak
By Your strength no longer weak, we are no longer weak
By your wounds we are healed.
By your wounds we are healed.

Passed over and passed by until you claim us
Orphaned and abandoned til you name us
Hiddened and diclosed til you expose our hearts.

And by your death we live
It is by your gift that we might give, that we might give.

What kind of love would take your shame and spill his blood for you?
And save us by His wounds...

Nicole Nordeman - "Woved and Spun"