Plein air is a French expression that means "open air" and is a practice of painting in which artists work outdoors. Artists travel around the country, capturing moments with paint on canvas. In plein air competitions, artists submit work of scenes painted in a limited time period. Artists paint in thunderstorms, in 100-degree heat and in 30-degree cold. Plein air painting keeps artists from dwelling too much on the small details.

This art practice parallels what we do as Christians in this world as we "paint the picture" of our salvation in Jesus for others. We may be called on the spot to witness to others and have no time to prepare. In that moment we must speak from our heart and soul. The Holy Spirit helps us in this task: "The Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say" (Luke 12:12). The conditions may not be perfect, but the message is just as beautiful no matter where you declare it. Like the plein air artists, you do not need to worry about the minor details or the exact words. God will make a masterpiece of your on-the-spot "word pictures" of forgiveness and eternal life found in Jesus Christ.
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,
 

Certain plants are called attractors because they attract butterflies. Nit just any plant attracts any butterfly. Black-eyed Susans are known attractors of Monarch butterflies, asters attract Painted Lady butterflies and Zinnias draw swallowtails.

In our Christian witness, are we living "attractors" who draw others to learn about our faith by the way we live? Jesus said, "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). How can we attract others? Our response to difficult circumstances with hope and confidence in Christ may attract others. They may be curious about a response that runs counter to the expectations of secular society.

Like specific plants for specific butterflies, we are sent by God to be present to particular people. You might be the attractor for someone who desperately needs to know that he or she is forgiven through Jesus.

Watch for people who search for meaning and direction. Attract them to the Good News of Jesus by praying with them, reading Scripture together or inviting them to church.

Like flowers and butterflies, Christian witness is a beautiful thing.
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Scripture carefully traces the lineage of Jesus. Matthew tracks the generations from Abraham to Jesus, highlighting Jesus' connection to the line of David. Luke follows Jesus' ancestry all the way back to Adam. The geneal;ogy from Abraham to Jesus confirm's God's promise to Abraham, "In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3). The genealogy traced to Adam reveals the fulfillment of God's promise of a Savior in Genesis 3:15, when he said to the tempting serpent, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel".

By faith we have been grafted into the family of God by the blood Christ shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. God's promises of old apply to us as well. "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29). Each Sunday is a family reunion with brothers and sisters in Christ. Enjoy being part of this holy heritage!
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Philippians 4:5  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Paul wants to make sure that the gentleness of the Philippian congregation is evident to all. Why? Because the Lord is near. We want to see our gentle ways as we wait for the Lord's return.

In a world in which people are often hostile toward one another, our gentleness can stand out. We only need to look to our Lord Jesus to understand gentleness. He said, "I am gentle and humble in heart" (Matthew 11:29). He took little children into his arms and blessed them. He spoke gently even of those who crucified him, saying, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).

We can be humble in our approach to people, embrace children and care for those around us. We can be gentle, forgiving those who have hurt us and recognizing that we are all sinful and in need of the grace and mercy found only in the cross. Even when we witness to others of the hope we have in Christ, we are to do so "with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15). We need to be comforting, not overbearing, in sharing our faith. Be gentle in your ways today, with the help of God.
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

1 John 3:2 -  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

When I lead Bible class in my church, there are times when the only answer I have to a difficult question is: "We will have to ask Jesus that one when we get to heaven." We as humans are an inquisitive bunch. We want to know and understand everything right away. But there are simply some things that we will never know this side of heaven.

What we need to remember is not so much what we do not know, but what we do know:

• We are children of God.
• Christ will appear to take us home to heaven.
• We are dearly loved by our Savior.
• We are forgiven and saved from all our sins through the suffering and death of Christ.

In the end, the questions about what we don't know do not really matter, because what we do know is all that matters.
--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Isaiah 43:2-3 -  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

In these verses, God speaks to the Israelites, assuring them that, whatever came their way, he would bring them through.

Watching the aftermaths of hurricanes that have hit Florida and Texas in recent years, we can see firsthand the power of water. You cannot ignore the forceful flood waters that threaten you. You must endure the danger. There are many stories of people who were rescued by boat or helicopter from the rising waters. Those rescue operations are a metaphor for the way our God rescues us from the rising waters of trouble at work, home or school. We must pass through them, yet God assures us that he will lift us out. God will not let us be overwhelmed or consumed by any obstacle in our path. Why? Because he is with us, and he is the Lord. He is the one to whom we cling in the midst of strife.
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

There are many television shows about rebuilding, restoring or redecorating homes. We are fascinated by the way carpenters and designers reimagine a space or home. At the reveal, homeowners respond to the finished product with exclamations of delight.

I recently heard the song "Rebuilder" by the Christian group Carrollton. It celebrates our God as the greatest rebuilder of all, not of our homes but of our lives. When we are in bad shape and in need of repair because of sin, doubt or waywardness, he rebuilds us on the foundation of his goodness and grace, his blessing and love. The end result is a new creation because of the work of his Son, the carpenter, who followed through with the rebuilding of all believers by going to the cross for our forgiveness. The old is gone; the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). There is great excitement in the reveal of our redesigned lives: "There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10).

No matter the condition in which we find ourselves, God can rebuild us and the results will be glorious: "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). What a wonderful craftsman we have!
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,