Looks like...

I think most of us have spent time watching a sky full of clouds and making out shapes as they float by. In the same creative perception, people have seen shapes and given names to some rock formations in the Sedona area. From the top:

l. Cathedral
2. Lucy (small head profile in the center top)
3. Coffee Pot (old campfire metal kind, shape at the end right)
4. Snoopy (lying on his back)
5. Indian brave (profile facing left)

Isn't it wonderful to know that God has put in us the ability to imagine, dream, create, write, sing, teach, preach, encourage, paint, design, build, comfort, give, organize: the list goes on and on. God has given each specific gifts to express His infinite love and glory.

All creation is a gift from God, as is the passionate creativity He put in each one. Go where you can use it!
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Neglect not the gift that is in thee...
1 Timothy 4:14a
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The desire to fulfill the purpose for which we were created is a gift from God.
A.W. Tozer

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For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10

Cathedrals

A kind gentleman on main street in Sedona told us early morning where to be at sunset to see the light change on the rocks. They are no less than cathedrals, don't you think?

The rocks will cry out and praise Him if we don"t!

Straight to the Heart

In my investigations of sites to visit in Arizona, one of the places not to be missed was Sedona. The Sedona sites mentioned a place often visited by people of all beliefs. The Chapel of the Holy Cross totally exceeded the proclamations of being a beautiful and peaceful place. As we drove up the hill to the Chapel grounds, the red rock formations were stunning. At each turn was another aspect of the shapes and shadows. But the incorporation of the Chapel into the rocks was not something I was prepared for, as the love and peace of the place pierced my heart. It has been said to do so to visitors of many or no faiths.

As we entered the sanctuary, the sculpture of Christ stood out in front of the windows looking over the beautiful natural rock sculptures surrounding the building. We spent some quiet time inside, lit a candle for my Uncle Bill, and went downstairs to the gift shop. The lesson of going straight to the heart was not finished.

I saw the huge sculpture of "Calvary", Christ carrying his cross. Knees buckled and tears flowed. I went to the sisters in the other room in charge of the gift shop and asked if I could have permission to take a picture of it. They told me that they must protect the artist, and the work there could not be photographed to copy or sell. I expressed to them how much it had touched me, and that I could not afford to buy it ( an Armani nearly $3400 dollars) but so much appreciated its beauty. They looked at each other, being of one mind in seeing my heart, and let me know that they would go back in the other room, and if I happened to take a picture of it, I was under grace to do so. Wasn't that incredible!!! They did not yell rules at me, but ministered God's heart to mine.
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I read recently in a work by Madame Jeanne Guyon:

Laying down rules and trying to change the outward behavior will not produce a work that will endure in the life of a Christian.

Then what is the answer? Give the new convert the key to his spirit, to the inward parts of his being! Give this secret to him first and you will discover that his outward life will be changed naturally and easily....simply teach him TO SEEK GOD WITHIN HIS OWN HEART. Show the new Christian that he can set his mind on Jesus Christ and return to Him whenever he has wandered away.

Furthermore, show him he should do all and suffer all with a single eye to please his God...he will discover that the Lord Jesus is the source of ALL GRACE; and he will see that in Him is everything needed for life and godliness.
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,,,God knows your hearts.
Luke 16:15

...circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.
Romans 2:29

The Door

Back in April of 2001 I went to a Women's Retreat with about 200 women. I literally didn't know half of them, because two churches had joined in the event. The number of women attending made it necessary to sometimes have four women to a room. When one or more is a good snorer, it does not make for a good night's sleep. However, the time spent with the Lord in prayer for the retreat proved to be fertile ground around 5:00 a.m. when God gave me a vision of four women:

The women were individually searching through thick brush with a yearning to find the door and the voice that beckoned each one. The first one that found the door was crying. When she knocked, the door was opened and she saw a deep lake. She entered, dove into the deep water, and swam with strength and great joy.

The second woman arrived and knocked on the door. When it opened, she saw Jesus standing on the water calling to her. She walked out to him.

The third one discovered the door, knocked and was let in. Her shoulders began to reform into wings. She stretched them out and took flight.

The fourth one came to the door and knocked as well. When she entered, she crossed the threshold and turned around to extend her hand to help the next one in search of the door.
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That morning as the retreat began I went up to teach the retreat song to the ladies, but first shared the vision I had been given for them. I also knew I would get a song in a few days about the vision. At the break a woman approached me from the other church and told me she had drawn my vision of 'The Door' a few months before. As I had shared it that morning, she added the women. Her name is Cathy Quest, and she is a gifted Christian artist. This drawing is linked to my vision, but please respect her copyright as an artist of this beautiful piece.

A few days later I began getting the words to the vision:

THE DOOR
copyright 2001

THERE ARE FOUR WOMEN HERE, LORD.
THEY ARE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR.
THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE HUNGRY
AND THEY NEED TO KNOW YOU MORE.

THEY SAY IT HAS BEEN SO LONG
THEY'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THIS PLACE;
AND THEY COME BOLDLY ASKING, LORD,
TO LOOK UPON YOUR FACE!
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THE FIRST ONE IS SO DESPERATE
THAT ALL SHE DOES IS WEEP.
SHE WANTS TO DIVE IN, LORD;
SHE WANTS TO SWIM DEEP.

THE SECOND HAS GREAT FAITH, LORD;
SHE KNOWS THE PRICE THAT BOUGHT HER.
CALL TO HER, LORD;
AND SHE'LL WALK UPON THE WATER.

THE THIRD ONE HAS BEEN IN A BOX;
SHE'S STRETCHING TO DRAW NIGH.
TAKE HER UNDERNEATH YOUR WING
AND TEACH HER HOW TO FLY!

THE FOURTH ONE KNOWS THAT IN YOU, LORD,
SHE TRULY IS ALIVE!
SHE WALKS ACROSS,
EXTENDS HER HAND
TO WELCOME NUMBER FIVE.
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WE ARE HERE
AT THE DOOR.
TAKE US IN...
SHOW US WHAT YOU MADE US FOR!

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Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door
will be opened to you.
Mt. 7:7

Into all the world

At the south rim of the Grand Canyon, where these pictures were taken, one gets the sense of the immense depth and width of this beautiful park. When standing there, and remembering the words from Mark as I blessed a bird in a tree and the elk walking with us along the path at sunrise, I was overcome with the love of the Father:

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15

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Jesus gives us the mission to be light of the world and the salt of the earth, so that others might see and believe. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.

'People' and 'everyone' seem to me to be inclusive words in the above commission to us by Christ himself. Shining my light everywhere I go in every circumstance, whether on a canyon rim or inside a church building, increases the exposure that might result in souls being exposed to the light, coming to praise the Father in heaven and know the love of the Savior.