Exodus Art Assignment

The Lord in His gentle, perfect, and very direct way, showed me over the last few months that "yes", He did in fact, want me to create artwork.

Then the Lord asked me to do ministry and art full time and trust His provision. I just couldn't grasp how or why. So one day in the prayer room I asked the Lord, "Why should people financially support an art movement. Where in the Bible have You ever valued or commissioned art?

Exodus 35 came immediately to my mind. I opened my Bible, read the chapter, and marveled. Tears ran down my cheeks as I realized the weight of what that chapter held. What it meant for my life and ministry.

God asked the people to fund the design & creation of His tabernacle.

"This is what the LORD has commanded: From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing..."Ex. 35:5

The Israelites contributed.

Then the whole Israelite community...everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. Ex. 35:5

God filled the artists with His Spirit.

Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. vs. 30-33

God gave the ability for artists to teach other artists.

And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers. vs. 34-35

So...what is the purpose for this sanctuary?

1. God wants to dwell among his people. "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them." Ex. 25:10

2. God wants His sanctuary to be beautiful. "Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you." Ex. 25:9

What about the poor?

1. Jesus was pleased with a personal gift. "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." (Jesus) "You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." John 12:5,8

2. God has more than enough wealth for His purposes. "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. Ex. 36:6-7

You are such a good God. Your ways are higher than our ways! You desire all men to be saved. You desire to dwell with us. You own all the riches on the earth! You desire to gaze on beauty and You ARE beauty.

Vision: The Whispers of God

Prov. 29:18 "where there is no vision the people perish". (KJV)
Prov. 29:18 "where there is no revelation, the people cast of restraint." (NKJV)

The hungry and humble will obey the whisper.

Obedience! How difficult it is to obey the still small voice of God when the world around us is shouting.

I have even despised the whispers in the past...despised my calling. I thought art was not noble. Not valuable. Now I can see why it became such a struggle. Thank God for forgiveness! It's not too late to step back into His will.

Mike Bickle (founder of IHOP), said the Lord has whispered the things that were most important and crucial to the formation of his life. When the Lord has to increase His volume, there is related testing and demonic persecution, especially if you don't obey.

The whispers are holy invitations from the Lord. They are optional, He won't force us.

The Lord has been planning our future before we were born. Eph. 2:10

These invitations are exciting, but can become a labor.Ps. 132. The Lord uses these assignments to prepare us for greater future assignments. We need to thank Him for them.

Please increase my hunger! Help me walk in humility. You were the perfect example of a poured-out vessel, considering Your Father's Will above all. Considering love.

Haiti: Response

"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised." Job 1:20

Lord, help me be like those in Haiti who lost everything and praise you in the midst of it. Please give me so much trust in Your goodness that I will never be offended.

If I lose my healthy, my family, my church, my ministry, my home...I want to praise Your beautiful name. (deep breath) Lord, please remove everything that hinders love. Please do whatever it takes for my heart to always carry a posture of praise.

• IHOP staff Randy Bohlender writes about his experience on his blog.

• Mark Driscoll speaks and shows footage about his 32 hours on Mars Hill church website.

• Crisis Response International footage and stories (IHOP's rescue ministry) on their site.