Posts of Shorts with Art
THANKSGIVING
Two men are walking identical roads. The same blessings and the same problems meet them along the way.
One man is forever giving thanks.
The other is forever complaining.
The man with the thankful heart…. turns his circumstances into joy.
He is given eyes to see beyond the visible to the invisible God who is renewing all things through the death and resurrection of his Son.
The man with the complaining heart …. sees only trouble wherever he turns.
His life is desolate and he brings the chill of despair to everything he touches.
The complaining heart will always have much to complain about.
The thankful heart will increasingly have things to give thanks for.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble….
Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
Psalm 107: 1-2, 4-9
Prayer: Father, Lord, help us to be like the man with the thankful heart. Giving thanks in all that lies before us. Help us to see joy in our troubles because we trust in your steadfast love. Because you satisfy our longing and hungry souls with good things, with your very presence and goodness. Amen.
Message: Richard E. Bieber 2014 Printable/Shareable Copy
Featured Artist: Suzy Schultz
Website: suzyschultz.net
THOSE OF HIGH ESTATE ARE A DELUSION
Every day we put our faith in men and women of “high estate”.
Religious leaders, politicians, media talking heads.
“Big mistake!” says Psalm 62.
The greatest among us are flawed souls.
God alone is the one to trust.
Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.
So we trust God alone.
Sounds great, but who can do it?
Who actually trusts God alone?
Walks with God by faith?
Stays on that narrow road all the way to the end?
Only one person in all history has done this. Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus trusted himself to no man, for he knew what was in man.
He trusted only his Father.
And where did he end up?
On a cross.
Three days later, he was alive, never to die again.
Now it’s our turn. The risen Lord calls us to walk with him through the rest of our days…
…trusting God alone.
And where will we end up?
On a cross.
Yet all along the way we are alive with his resurrection life.
Crucified with Christ.
Alive with his risen life, never to die again!
Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work.
Psalm 62:10-12
Prayer: Lord open our eyes to see that putting our faith in our money, in our position, in our skill, in our wit, in our opinions, or in any leader, celebrity, scholar, broadcaster, author, teacher or preacher is futile. Trusting anything or anyone besides you is like clinging to vapor. It’s a lie, a delusion. Keep us clinging to you, the rock, the only solid truth, precious Lord. And even as turning away from the power of this world and walking with you, working with you, places us on a cross again and again… may we find ourselves fully alive, filled with resurrection power… because instead of embracing vapor, we have embraced you, our refuge, our fortress, our loving, living eternal God. Amen.
Message: Richard E. Bieber June 2021 Printable/Shareable Copy
Featured Artist: Suzy Schultz
Website: suzyschultz.net
HOLY IMPATIENCE AND THE CYNICAL HEART
“I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!
I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!
Luke 12
Our Lord Jesus was never in a hurry, yet everything he did burned with urgency.
His words still cut like a knife.
Holy impatience is a consuming fire.
Yet as we look at each other….
As we scan the horizon…..
Holy impatience has been replaced with unholy cynicism.
Our vision is distorted by a jaundiced eye.
From our Judgment Seat we see flawed saints stumbling around in a flawed Church.
Do we weep?
We’re too busy judging to weep.
Holy Impatience cannot exist in a cynical heart.
Lord, have mercy!
Lord, bring us to repentance, before it’s too late!
Prayer: Yes, Lord, help us to truly repent of our cynical hearts, our unholy attitudes and jaundiced eyes towards other Believers. Have mercy on us. Bring us back to a holy impatience to see your fire kindling across this earth again through these fumbling saints we are so quick to judge. Amen.
Message: Richard E. Bieber 2016 Printable/Shareable Copy
Featured Artist: Anto Carte (1886-1954)
Audio Version: Website: NA
HIGH TIME
Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is high time now for you to wake from sleep.
As the world around us begins to descend into chaos in a thousand ways,the Spirit of the Lord is stirring those who claim to be disciples of the Lamb to wake up.
Either we rise up and begin to fit into the Kingdom’s call, or we shrivel up into a useless caricature of a disciple.
The night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
God won’t do this for us.
We have to do it.
Let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its lusts.
Romans 13:11,12 &13-14
Prayer: Yes, Lord, stir us, wake us up. It is high time that we stop holding close what you have given us and take it to the wounded world. Help us to cast off the darkness that has descended on this world and clothe ourselves with you, with your nature, your light, and live in your redemptive power … it is high time for your healing to be unleashed. Amen.
Message: Richard E. Bieber 2016 Printable/Shareable Copy
Featured Artist: Karen Harkema
Audio Version: Website: karenharkema.art
AWAKE, O SLEEPER,
RISE FROM THE DEAD
Awake O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.
Ephesians 5:14
It’s not just the Gentiles and the Pagans who are asleep.
Many of us, who call ourselves believers, are lost in slumber.
Asleep to the voice of the Lord.
Asleep to the cry of Lazarus at our gate.
Asleep to the Spirit’s call to repent.
Asleep to the signs of the time.
Time to wake up and do more than smell the roses.
Time to rise and trim our lamps.
Time to rise up and let our light so shine before men…
… so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven.
Prayer: Lord forgive us for being asleep especially during these times. And yes, help us to wake up to your voice, to wake up to the cries of the weary before us, and to repent of our stupor. May we shake off that stupor and become who you call us to be; prepared to go out and bring such healing to this world that countless numbers can’t help but give glory to you, precious Lord, because your light is shining so brightly in us. Amen.
Message: Richard E. Bieber 2016 Printable/Shareable Copy
Featured Artist: Laura Wright Pittman Website: via permission of Sanctified Art
BE NOT DISMAYED
“Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; don’t fear the reproach of men, neither be dismayed at their insults.” (Isaiah 51:7)
Don’t be dismayed when the reviling’s come from “born-again Christians.”
Don’t get bent out of shape when you see “evangelicals” exalting Christian celebrities and national leaders whose hands drip with greed and whose eyes are veiled by deceit.
Jesus is Lord.
He will deal with these imposters when the time is right.
“Listen to me,” says the Lord.
Don’t waste time bemoaning the hypocrites.
Just repent of your own hypocrisy…
And focus on the words that come from the mouth of God,
Jesus’ words.
Judgment has already begun at the household of God.
What will things look like when God is finished cleansing the church, and the fire of judgment spreads to the world at large?
Be not dismayed.
Don’t get discouraged.
Rise up from beneath your Broom Tree and go into God’s Vineyard and get to work.
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:12-14)
Prayer: Oh yes Lord, help us not to be dismayed by the hypocrisy, cruelty, apathy, coldness, and finger pointing coming from the religious around us. We admit that we are finger pointing as well and that our dismay is consuming us. We repent of our obsession with their hearts, our fear of what they think, and our lack of faith in how you are going to work in their hearts. And yes, help us to look to you, to rise up from our broom trees (our desolation and distress). May we lift our drooping hands and strengthen these weak knees of ours and get up and be the instruments of healing and the peacemakers you call us to be. Amen.
Message: Richard E. Bieber 2017 Printable/Shareable Copy Featured Artist: Laura Wright Pittman Website: via permission of Sanctified Art
SUPERIOR HUMILITY
Sometimes our “humility mask” slips a bit, and to our own horror an ugly arrogance shows itself.
We hope nobody noticed.
But they did.
They saw the ugly reality behind the mask, and were stunned.
What do we do now?
We can replace the mask, and hope for the best.
Or we can get over ourselves and repent in dust and ashes.
Living behind a mask of “superior humility” never lasts.
Sooner or later we are exposed.
And there are simple souls who see right through us, even when the mask is on tight.
The only one who is deceived by the mask of “superior humility” is the one who wears it.
“Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” (Luke 12)
Prayer: Lord, uncover our masks of superior humility so that we can stop deceiving ourselves and repent of our misplaced arrogance and come before you as we truly are for the healing we desperately need. Amen.
Message: Richard E. Bieber 2018 Printable/Shareable Copy
Featured Artist: Georges Rouault
Audio Version: Website: rouault.org/en
IF I BELIEVED A LIE
If I sincerely believed what my teacher told me, and it turns out to be a lie, am I accountable?
Who was your teacher?
If your teacher was Jesus, he would never have taught you to believe a lie.
If your teacher was Jesus, you would have discerned that lie a mile away.
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren.
And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. (Matthew 23)
If we were taught to believe a lie, we were taught by the wrong teacher.
If a hundred thousand believers were taught to believe a lie, they were not taught by the Lord Jesus.
Liars always claim to be speaking the truth.
Liars always wrap themselves in sheep’s clothing.
Liars rise to high positions in this world….
….For this world (including Christendom) is still in the grip of the Father of Lies.
If I discover that I was misled, I have no choice but to face the truth.
And to turn to the one Teacher who never lies.
He waits for me with open arms.
Those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. (John 6:37)
Prayer: Lord, we grieve the grip the Father of lies has on this world…the conspiracy theories, the ugly insinuations, the slander of the innocent, the lies that turn us from mercy and compassion, the lies that justify and excuse human suffering. Save us from these lies wrapped in packaging that are making even those who claim your name accept them. Lord, wake us up, help us to stop believing these lies from the pit of hell. Help us to draw so close to you, to embrace what you have taught us so closely, that we can once again easily discern lies from a mile away. And thank you, Lord, that despite our tendency to be easily misled that you don’t reject us, you don’t cast us out, and that you are waiting for us with open arms once we are ready to face the truth and make you and only our master again. Amen.
Message: Richard E. Bieber January 2021 Printable/Shareable Copy
Featured Artist: Georges Rouault
Website: rouault.org/en
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