Thursday, July 31, 2008

 

In His Time




By Ramone - July 29, 2008

Jesus said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

- Mark 4:26-29
In His time, in His time,
He makes all things beautiful, in His time,
Lord, please show me everyday,
As You're teaching me Your way,
That You do just what You say, in Your time.

- Diana Ball

Sunday, July 27, 2008

 

Adoration (Thank You!)




By Ramone - July 27, 2008

This picture came last night as I was putting my one-year-old son to bed. He loves music, so we always have some music going to help him go to sleep. This night it was worship music, and as I lay next to him while he rolled around, I worshiped.

Thank You, Lord. I was taken by surprise by just resting in You and worshiping there. Thank You for that precious time. And thank You for this picture.

It's very simple. It's us today, His bride, breaking our alabaster jars and boxes and pouring out the perfume of our love and adoration and thanks to Him -- and it is a sweet smell to Him.

Thank You, Jesus.

Friday, July 25, 2008

 

Elijah After Horeb


"Elijah After Horeb"

By Ramone - July 24, 2008

Thursday, July 24, 2008

 

Homebase




By Ramone - July 24, 2008
Homebase... it's that connection with You;
it's what needs to be my home,
my starting point & goal.
Relationship with You is the goal.


- July 27, 2007
Almost exactly a year ago as I was going to bed one night, I saw or felt this picture. Perhaps I had been thinking of something else, some discussion or difficult point or something. But I realized I needed to come back to You, Lord, and this is how I saw it. You suddenly brought me "home" to You. Back to base. Thanks. My connection with You is everything, the beginning and end of my everything. You are my everything! Thank You, Jesus.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

 

Grace Walk (2)




By Ramone - July 21, 2008
Part I: "The Sleeping Train"

Part II: "Giving Light to the Sleepers"

Part III: "The Walk of Grace"

Part IV: "Grace Walk (1)"

Part V: "Grace Walk (2)"
Introduction

This came one day as Yoko, Timothy and I got on the train. It was a pretty freezing day outside, but in the train they had the heat cranked way up. Yoko's taught me not to rely on indoor heating, so she and I were both well-prepared for the cold outside. But when we got inside, WHAM! It was hot and stuffy.

We made our way down the aisle to the end of the car (because there wasn't enough space for the both of us to sit down together), and as we leaned back against the wall of the open 'handicapped' space, Yoko pointed out to me that everyone on the train seemed to either be asleep or fighting nodding off to sleep! It was quite a funny sight.

Then she made the comment:
"I don't know if I should say this, but it reminds me of church."
I told her not to feel bad about it -- it was honest and is very true, especially in many churches here in Japan. God began to impress on her it wasn't just sleep, but death. And then He showed her three pictures -- two of which I inked that day and the third recently.

Lord, use us to wake up Your sleeping people!

Bless you in Jesus!
Ramone

P.S. About the pictures:

Part 1 was put online a few days after being made, but Part 2 & Part 3 were somewhat left unfinished so I never got around to putting them up until recently, when I decided to do the color versions that I'd hoped to do last year but never got around to. Part 3 and Part 4 are basically the same picture, and Part 5 is the same picture but how He showed it differently. Sorry, that's all a little confusing! I might have to re-name these or re-organize how I present them! But the original three pictures He showed here were these: Part 2, Part 3, and Part 5.

 

Grace Walk (1)




By Ramone - July 21, 2008
Part I: "The Sleeping Train"

Part II: "Giving Light to the Sleepers"

Part III: "The Walk of Grace"

Part IV: "Grace Walk (1)"

Part V: "Grace Walk (2)"
Introduction

This came one day as Yoko, Timothy and I got on the train. It was a pretty freezing day outside, but in the train they had the heat cranked way up. Yoko's taught me not to rely on indoor heating, so she and I were both well-prepared for the cold outside. But when we got inside, WHAM! It was hot and stuffy.

We made our way down the aisle to the end of the car (because there wasn't enough space for the both of us to sit down together), and as we leaned back against the wall of the open 'handicapped' space, Yoko pointed out to me that everyone on the train seemed to either be asleep or fighting nodding off to sleep! It was quite a funny sight.

Then she made the comment:
"I don't know if I should say this, but it reminds me of church."
I told her not to feel bad about it -- it was honest and is very true, especially in many churches here in Japan. God began to impress on her it wasn't just sleep, but death. And then He showed her three pictures -- two of which I inked that day and the third recently.

Lord, use us to wake up Your sleeping people!

Bless you in Jesus!
Ramone

P.S. About the pictures:

Part 1 was put online a few days after being made, but Part 2 & Part 3 were somewhat left unfinished so I never got around to putting them up until recently, when I decided to do the color versions that I'd hoped to do last year but never got around to. Part 3 and Part 4 are basically the same picture, and Part 5 is the same picture but how He showed it differently. Sorry, that's all a little confusing! I might have to re-name these or re-organize how I present them! But the original three pictures He showed here were these: Part 2, Part 3, and Part 5.

 

The Walk of Grace




By Ramone - November 20, 2007
Part I: "The Sleeping Train"

Part II: "Giving Light to the Sleepers"

Part III: "The Walk of Grace"

Part IV: "Grace Walk (1)"

Part V: "Grace Walk (2)"
Introduction

This came one day as Yoko, Timothy and I got on the train. It was a pretty freezing day outside, but in the train they had the heat cranked way up. Yoko's taught me not to rely on indoor heating, so she and I were both well-prepared for the cold outside. But when we got inside, WHAM! It was hot and stuffy.

We made our way down the aisle to the end of the car (because there wasn't enough space for the both of us to sit down together), and as we leaned back against the wall of the open 'handicapped' space, Yoko pointed out to me that everyone on the train seemed to either be asleep or fighting nodding off to sleep! It was quite a funny sight.

Then she made the comment:
"I don't know if I should say this, but it reminds me of church."
I told her not to feel bad about it -- it was honest and is very true, especially in many churches here in Japan. God began to impress on her it wasn't just sleep, but death. And then He showed her three pictures -- two of which I inked that day and the third recently.

Lord, use us to wake up Your sleeping people!

Bless you in Jesus!
Ramone

P.S. About the pictures:

Part 1 was put online a few days after being made, but Part 2 & Part 3 were somewhat left unfinished so I never got around to putting them up until recently, when I decided to do the color versions that I'd hoped to do last year but never got around to. Part 3 and Part 4 are basically the same picture, and Part 5 is the same picture but how He showed it differently. Sorry, that's all a little confusing! I might have to re-name these or re-organize how I present them! But the original three pictures He showed here were these: Part 2, Part 3, and Part 5.

 

Giving Light to the Sleepers




By Ramone - November 20, 2007
Part I: "The Sleeping Train"

Part II: "Giving Light to the Sleepers"

Part III: "The Walk of Grace"

Part IV: "Grace Walk (1)"

Part V: "Grace Walk (2)"
Introduction

This came one day as Yoko, Timothy and I got on the train. It was a pretty freezing day outside, but in the train they had the heat cranked way up. Yoko's taught me not to rely on indoor heating, so she and I were both well-prepared for the cold outside. But when we got inside, WHAM! It was hot and stuffy.

We made our way down the aisle to the end of the car (because there wasn't enough space for the both of us to sit down together), and as we leaned back against the wall of the open 'handicapped' space, Yoko pointed out to me that everyone on the train seemed to either be asleep or fighting nodding off to sleep! It was quite a funny sight.

Then she made the comment:
"I don't know if I should say this, but it reminds me of church."
I told her not to feel bad about it -- it was honest and is very true, especially in many churches here in Japan. God began to impress on her it wasn't just sleep, but death. And then He showed her three pictures -- two of which I inked that day and the third recently.

Lord, use us to wake up Your sleeping people!

Bless you in Jesus!
Ramone

P.S. About the pictures:

Part 1 was put online a few days after being made, but Part 2 & Part 3 were somewhat left unfinished so I never got around to putting them up until recently, when I decided to do the color versions that I'd hoped to do last year but never got around to. Part 3 and Part 4 are basically the same picture, and Part 5 is the same picture but how He showed it differently. Sorry, that's all a little confusing! I might have to re-name these or re-organize how I present them! But the original three pictures He showed here were these: Part 2, Part 3, and Part 5.

Monday, July 21, 2008

 

Elijah At Horeb


"Elijah At Horeb"

By Ramone - July 20, 2008

All the emotions came out & are drained, but this is momentary depression & despair. Refining. For this beaten, broken man of God will go on to not only serve Him & see His purpose fulfilled, but he will be carried to heaven, and one day he will stand on the mountain to see the Son of God's glory revealed. There is hope here.

Thank You, Lord. (^_^)

*****

See also: "Distressing Political Changes" (at Weeping Jeremiahs)

Sunday, July 20, 2008

 

Blocked!




By Ramone - July 20, 2008

Recently after praying and receiving encouragement from some brothers and sisters in the Lord about something on my heart, I got a picture of Jesus leading us forth. After that I wrote in a note to myself:
Again I am writing things that I need time to sit down and process. Thank You, Lord. I am overwhelmed. I feel like I need a good few days to soak up all You are telling me in the last few posts and comments from brothers & sisters. I'm weeping in the Spirit now. Thank You, Lord. Help me do that, just sit down and soak in You and see what You're saying, receive Your heart, and be overwhelmed even more than I am now. Thank You.
My spiritual mum Hazel Holland had made this well-timed comment to me privately when encouraging me:
"Who is among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of His Servant, that walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on His God." (Isaiah 50:10)

I believe God wants to remind you to trust His grace at this time when you cannot see the way ahead...
This is the picture that came as I read that and heard His witness to it deep inside, prayed, and sought Him. I need to seek Him more. In my flesh I want to look around, to keep "going" on down the path before me. But He's stopped and turned around to face me, stopping me in His love, in His grace.

Thank You, Lord. Help me rest in You now, in Jesus' name, amen.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

 

Led Forth




By Ramone - July 19, 2008

"The Lord God is my strength,
He will direct my feet to the end;
And He the conqueror will lead me
upon my high places singing psalms."

- Habakkuk 3:19 LXX & Douay-Rheims

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord's renown,
for an everlasting sign which will not be destroyed."

- Isaiah 55:12-13
NIV
This picture came after I looked at an older picture, "Remember", and looked freshly at the scripture in it at the end of Habbakuk 3, which says,
"Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
He enables me to go on the heights."
I remembered being blessedly surprised when I read the Septuagint version of the last verse (3:19),
The Lord God is my strength;
He will direct my feet to the end;
He will set me upon high places,
So to conquer by His song."
He spoke to me in this, telling me of how He would direct my feet to the end here in Osaka and in my life. And then I looked at the verse in an old Catholic version (Douay-Rheims American), which read this way:
The Lord God is my strength:
and He will make my feet like the feet of harts:
and He the conqueror will lead me
upon my high places singing psalms.
Putting it together,
"The Lord God is my strength,
He will direct my feet to the end;
And He the conqueror will lead me
upon my high places singing psalms."
And so I saw this picture, based on this older picture, "Walking by Day" -- really, this new picture is like a close-up of the older one. In it we walk--no, dance--as we follow Jesus. He leads us forth, in the light of the cross, His light lighting our path through the dark places and ways of the city.

Thank You, Jesus.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

 

Wells of Living Water


Wells of Living Water

By Ramone - July 16, 2008
Thus says the Lord: "In an acceptable time I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you...
[Those in bonds] shall feed along all their roads,
and their pasture shall be along all the paths...
He who has mercy on them will comfort them;
and He shall lead them by the fountains of waters."

- Isaiah 49:8-10 LXX

"He who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them.
Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
He will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

- Revelation 7:15-17 NIV
Jesus is holding the hand of His bride (us!), bringing her to the spring of living water as He promised. Yet He is that spring! But they will find Him here, here in the places of their brokenness. He will be a spring of life to them here:
They shall feed along all their roads here in their broken places,
and He shall give them pasture--- and He shall be their pasture
along all their paths here in their brokenness.
His hands bear the marks of His love. Like we sometimes "wear our hearts on our sleeves", our Savior wears His heart on His hands. He engraved us on His hands--
I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands;
your walls are ever before Me.

- Isaiah 49:15-16
We are engraved on His hands that were pierced for us because His heart was pierced with love for us. And He does not forget our "walls", our brokenness, our broken-down state, and our very dust moves Him to pity. He never forgets us, no matter what we're going through.

In fact, He's taken it all on the cross. He's leading us (her/them) now to springs of living water (in Him). He's guiding us through our streets, through our places of dirt, shame, and brokenness. And He's bringing us to a place of refreshing, of watering, of life.

He was with her and loved her even when she tried to hurt and kill herself. I was impressed in the Spirit strongly on this part -- her cut wrists. He is bringing her healing, healing from that despair, that depression, that death that she had been living in. He has scars on His wrist, too, from pouring out His life for ours. He is granting her wish to escape life by taking her death and giving her new life. And she will never be the same.

Thank You, Jesus. So be it! Amen. (^_^)

*****

「命の水の泉」

神さまは私たちの砕かれたところにこられます。私たちの手を取り神にある生ける水の井戸へと連れて行ってくれます。私たちがどこにいようと、また過去に何をし、現在まだ何をしていようとも、そして私たちがどんなに自分自身を恥じようとも神さまは私たちを望まれています。神さまは、鬱によって、過去の生活によって、また自殺願望によって砕かれた私たちの心に癒しをもたらして下さいます。神さまはいつもすぐ側に居て下さり、私たちの手を取り私たちが自身で乾いていると知らなかった箇所をも深く満足する水(命)へと私たちを連れて行きたいと思われています。

"Wells of Living Water"

He comes to us in our places of brokenness, takes us by our hands and leads us to wells of living water in Him. He desires us no matter where we are, no matter what we've done, no matter what we are still doing, and no matter how shameful we may feel. He can bring us healing for our broken hearts, from our depression, from our old lives, and from wanting to commit suicide. He is always there waiting to take us by the hand and lead us to water (life) that will satisfy us deeply in places we didn't know we were thirsty.

*****

See also: "As I Lost My Life" (at Weeping Jeremiahs)

Thursday, July 10, 2008

 

Martyrs




By Ramone - July 10, 2008

As I put my son to bed last night, I thought of an outtake scene from the movie "Gladiator", in which the gladiator hero looks out the window of his den preparing for the fight. He sees Christians huddled together, holding one another and in prayer, as lions approach them. Instead of pouncing, the lion just approaches the prey that doesn't run, puts its paw up on one, and the scene ends. It moved me deeply when I saw it, and I wish it had been included in the final version of the film.

As I thought on this last night, the Spirit began to melt me deep inside and is making me weep as I write this:
I am calling and raising up martyrs, witnesses, My people who will be so filled with love for Me and love for those on My heart, even their enemies who may kill them...
I wept in the Spirit as I began the picture, and off and on as I painted it, and now as I write about it. He is calling us to have, ask for, and receive the heart & spirit of martyrs.
"These are the words of Him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death."

- Revelation 2:8-11

"They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death."

- Revelation 12:11
He is calling us to ask for and receive the heart of a martyr -- the heart of one more in love with Him and more in love with those on His heart that in love with his/her own life. One in love more with the lives of his/her enemies than his/her own life. The martyr's heart is His heart, the heart of the One who gave His life for us while we were His enemies, while we crucified Him.
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

- Romans 5:6-8
He's calling us to see through His eyes, to see His love, to see how much He loves us and how much He loves them. Break our hearts, Father, with Your love for us, for all the people You gave Your Son for, in Jesus' name. Thank You, Father, for Your love, Your protection, and Your heart. Raise us up. Call us. Fill us with Your courage and Your love for our enemies, in Jesus' name, amen.

Friday, July 04, 2008

 

Releasing the Flood (洪水を放つ)


"Releasing the Flood" (洪水を放つ)

By Ramone - July 3, 2008

Some time ago when I was thinking of some people, I saw a picture of us praying in a room, and I could feel the tears coming from the Lord. When I was describing this to a friend Wednesday evening, I told him how I didn't know what we would "do" there or what He would tell us. But He is calling us to prayer there, and I can feel the Spirit ready to pour His love through us, His tears, His love for people. I described it to my friend as like "a pent-up flood". I hadn't thought of it that way before, but suddenly I was able to see this and later that night draw it as a picture.
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"
And let him who hears say, "Come!"
Whoever is thirsty, let him come;
and whoever wishes, let him take
the free gift of the water of life.

- Revelation 22:17
He is calling us to receive His love for people, to receive His aching heart, to receive His tears. We don't know what will happen, but we know He wants to give us His heart and for people to hear His heart's cry, "Come! Drink for free!" He's calling us to get into place, on our knees, individually and together, to receive His heart, to let Him pour His tears through us so that people may hear His heart's cry, the love of Him who gave Himself for all of us.

Lord, call us, bring us to our knees. Pour Your heart through us. Send us, in Jesus' name, amen.

神さまは私たちに、人々に対する神さまの心を受け取るように集うよう(二人でも三人でも私の名において集まるところには私もその中にいるのです)召されています。私たちが祈るために集まる時、まず事前に順番や計画を立てたいと思ったり、もしくは何について祈るのかという事くらいは知っておきたかったり、どのようにすれば私たちの祈りを「効果的」にする事ができるかと考えたりします。しかし神さまは私たちが事前に全てを知っておきたいという望みをまず脇へ置き、私たちが共に膝をつき神さまを待ち望むようにと召されています。すぐにどう行動を起こすのか、どういった計画を立てるのか、もしくは何を祈るのかを「見る」ことはないかもしれません、しかし私たちが共に神さまを待ち望む時、神さまはご自身の心を私たちに与えて下さいます。私たちが神さまを待ち望む時、神さまの人々への心を私たちに注ぎ始められるます。時々、私たちは大いに泣き、どうしていいのか分からなくなる時がありますがこれが「業」と「祈り」の始まりであり、終わりでもあります。神さまが私たちにするように召されている事、それは神様の心を受け取りそして神さまの心に留まる事です。神さまは、私たちが神さまの涙の洪水を、来て受け取るように、にそして私たちの人生、また全てにおいて神さまの方法を待ち望む事に従う事を私たちに召されています。

その日、ダビデの家とエルサレムの住民のために、一つの泉が開かれる… (ゼカリヤ13:1)
"Releasing the Flood"

God is calling us to come together—even in twos and threes—to wait on Him and receive His heart for people. Often when we come together for prayer, before we begin we want to have a plan or strategy ahead of time, or at least know what we're going to pray or how we can make our prayers "effective." But God is calling us lay aside our desire to know everything ahead of time, and to come together on our knees to wait on Him. We may not immediately "see" what action to do, what plan to make or even what prayer to pray, but He will give us His heart as we do this. As we wait on Him, He will begin to pour His heart for people into us. Sometimes we will cry a lot and not know "what to do," but this is the beginning and end of every "work" and "prayer" He calls us to do—to receive His heart and be in His heart. He's calling us to come and receive His flood of tears, and submit to waiting for His way in our lives and among the nations.

"On that day a fountain will be opened up to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem..." (Zechariah 13:1)