7 of 7 Prayers for My Wife's Upcoming Year

Day 7 Gift: Magnesium-alloy yoke with neck cushions

So here's the nerd coming out: magnesium-allow is the strongest, lightest metal we know of to date. It's the kind of stuff Jesus would use to yoke us together for all time, but gift us with an easy burden. He'd even throw in some neck cushions to make sure you're extra comfy cuz that's the kind of guy He is.


Today's Verse: Matthew 11:28-30
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Today's Prayer: Thank You for Your guidance and direction. Thank You that you didn't give us Your yoke so that You could just drag us along beside You, or so that we should provide the direction, but that You are training us to follow You. Jesus I have no idea how to find rest on my own so please lead me there. Take me under Your guidance that I might learn to please God.


Today's Worship Song: You Will Never Run, Rend Collective

BONUS PRAYER: God, thank You for my wife. Thank You for this amazing best friend that You've dropped into my lap. Thank You for how You are growing us together in Christ, and thank You for how You are leading her deeper into You each day.

BONUS TRACK: You are the best thing, Ray LaMontagne

4 of 7 Prayers for My Wife's Upcoming Year

Day 4 Gift: Crown of Righteousness Merit Badge

When the time comes to receive our heavenly rewards, scripture mentions 5 different types of crowns we could receive. The one that stuck out the most to me is this Crown of Righteousness we receive for eagerly anticipating the return of our King. But in heaven I think crowns will be more like merit badges where the best part is not receiving them but it's earning them. I don't think you'll be comparing crowns in heaven, but I do think you'll be swapping stories as to how sweet it was to be eagerly anticipating the greatest homecoming the universe has ever known, asking "Where were you when it happened?"

Today's Verse: 2 Timothy 4:8
“And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”


Today's Prayer: God, give us the excitement to be with You face-to-face. Too often our hearts are fixed on idols of this world, but if we only saw a fraction of your presence we would truly act in line with Paul's moto that to live is Christ and to die is gain. Help us to prepare for your return with the honor and excitement that you are due.

Today's Worship Song: Even so come, Kristian Standfill

3 of 7 Prayers for My Wife's Upcoming Year

Day 3 Gift: Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven

How often do we neglect the powerful keys on our spiritual key ring? If you have the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, what doors could possible be closed to you? And on the flip-side, how often are you neglecting your duty as the spiritual custodian of your sphere of influence? You don't carry the biggest, noisiest set of keys for no reason!

Today's Verse:‭‭ 1 Corinthians‬ ‭16:21-24
“The greeting is in my own hand-Paul. If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”


From the YouVersion Reading Plan: We Are The City Harmonic,

Day 1

Hamilton, Ontario Canada--our hometown--used to make steel. Once upon a time it was an industrial giant employing tens of thousands. Not anymore. The steel mills employ a meager five percent of what they once did. In our lifetime, our city has boasted little more than some of the poorest neighborhoods in the country and abandoned storefronts left to remind us of a bygone age. “Nothing good comes from Hamilton”--that was the attitude. We had come to be known as the armpit of Canada. 

Until, in these same struggling neighborhoods, something incredible happened.

Fifteen years ago, churches of different Christian denominations began to work together to bless our city. These churches gathered to listen to each other, imagine a different future for our city, and do something about it. In nearly abandoned neighborhoods that struggled to see hope, Churches led the way in collaboration. Today, Hamilton has changed for good. A once decayed downtown is booming amidst a cultural revival. Churches are growing, in many cases doubling in size. In many ways, because Churches stood in unity to bless the city and make a difference. This gathering of churches didn’t wait to agree on everything before acting in unity. Why? Because, in the eyes of Jesus, it was already true.

“We Are One” is a declaration of our unity found not only in ideas or beliefs, but also in Jesus Christ. Our salvation comes not just from a good idea, but also from a flesh-and-blood man from a “nothing good ever comes from” town. He lived a real and incredible life. He was crucified and died only to return and ascend to rule as the Lord of all He has made, promising future hope and the eventual redemption of all things. 

Different Churches. Different traditions. 
One Jesus. 
In Him, we are One.

-Elias Dummer, The City Harmonic

Day 2
Like many, I watched in sorrow as the chaotic situation in Ferguson and other areas of the country revealed anew our brokenness. I grieved as city streets became trenches across the country and bitterness and injustice fueled the fires of racial tension. Our society cannot heal itself, I thought, and I couldn’t help but personalize Jesus’ prayer on the cross: ”forgive us, for we know not what we are doing”. The truth is, without a change of heart and a changed life--a change born of devotion to Jesus and the work of the Spirit, we are truly doomed. Helpless. Destined to repeat our failures.

There is a phrase in 1 Corinthians 16:22 that appears only once in the entire Bible, but we know that it became a slogan for early Church.  As Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church about living faithfully and standing together as One Body, he reminded them of our hopelessness--our curse--without devotion and love to Christ. And as the Church would later find itself facing severe persecution across the known world, this phrase became a greeting--a recognition that Christ, not Caesar, was Lord.

“Maranatha”, they said. 

Interestingly, translators have long debated what to do with it.  It seems as though, because of the way the it was written, it could mean either “Our Lord has come” or “Come, Lord Jesus.”  It dawned on me that perhaps we live in between both.  Perhaps both are right.  And as we speak the phrase today, we speak of both realities.  Christ has come - He is Lord - and we are to live in light of that in this present reality.  And yet, Christ is coming, and we should eagerly anticipate His return.  In this now-but-not-yet reality, “Maranatha” might mean Justice for the hurting because Christ has come. It may also mean recognizing that we haven’t got it figured out, and that we need Jesus’ help. 

“Maranatha” is a call-to-worship in a broken world.  It is a call to recognize that Christ can bring hope and wholeness to our selves and our societies today, but also that ultimately He will return and make everything right again.

-Elias Dummer, The City Harmonic

Today's Prayer: These thoughts have been blowing my mind recently. God, help us not to think of the Body of Christ as our Church but as all Churches everywhere. Help us to look beyond our little group of like-minded believers and see that Your plan requires all believers. God, change my thoughts and remind me that all people are God's creation. They might not all be Children of God yet, but for the ones that are, give me the heart of brotherly/sisterly love that we many encourage and empower one another to spread Your love to every corner of the earth.

Today's Worship Song: Maranatha, The City Harmonic

And here's their documentary on the power of the Church in Hamilton, Canada:

A peace of faith

My church small group is memorizing a verse a week so why not draw it too! And while I'm at it, since most of my group is connected through the Bible app (a.k.a. YouVersion) let's post it there! If you want to connect with me on the Bible app, under Find Friends search for "darconfree".

After much time spent in thought about all the miraculous moving parts to this verse, the Holy Spirit revealed to me its core: we have peace with God. Everything else in this verse points to that truth. The interesting thing is that the only thing we do to achieve that peace with God is faith in what Jesus has done for us. Are you trying to make peace with God by any other action than faith? When was the last time that you put a focus on the Fruit of faithfulness?

Down and dirty

My church small group is memorizing a verse a week so why not draw it too! And while I'm at it, since most of my group is connected through the Bible app (a.k.a. YouVersion) let's post it there! If you want to connect with me on the Bible app, under Find Friends search for "darconfree".

The neat thing about the comparison of us being in Christ to a plant being in soil is that (1) the soil is where the "old self" is buried, (2) the soil is where the transformation to a "new self" happens, and (3) the soil provides the "new self" with foundation and nurismnent as it grows. The plant needs to be in soil as the believer needs to be IN CHRIST.

Breaking the Bible app

So we're trying something new! My church small group is memorizing a verse a week so why not draw it too! And while I'm at it, since most of my group is connected through the Bible app (a.k.a. YouVersion) let's post it there! Below is the first one. 

If you want to connect with me on the Bible app, under Find Friends search for "darconfree"

When I meditated on the idea of God's masterpiece--or many translations use the word "workmanship"--I kept seeing this imagery of Pinocchio. I think of a loving Geppetto crafting a child out of wood, but mostly I'm stuck on the imagery of a puppet given life without strings. By the blood of Christ, we are made anew--we have been given freedom from the control of sin.

"I've got no strings to hold me down
To make me fret or make me frown
I had strings, but now I'm free
There are no strings on me
Hi-ho the me-ri-o

That's the only way to go
I want the world to know
Nothing ever worries me"

     -lyrics from Disney's Pinocchio

We are a miraculous creation built for a purpose, but like Pinocchio, we are often pulled toward's mischief. Our overly loving God doesn't force us to do His will even though He could. He does however have plans set up for us to do His good works. You are free to choose...

He's got the itty bitty babies in His hands - Bible Plan Verse #8

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ NLT)

Read it again.

Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ERV)

WHAT STICKS OUT?

Victorious right hand!

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>>>THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD<<<

This idea reminds me of the children's song 'He's Got the Whole World in His Hands.' When I looked up Bible references to that song, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to see a reference just one chapter before this verse. Isaiah asks "Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?" (‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭12‬ NLT) The biggest hand represents God and His holding everything in His hand.

>>>THE RIGHT HAND OF JESUS<<<

Sometimes we forget the complexity of our God. He is three in one. So perhaps this right hand doesn’t just belong to God the Father. The Old Testament also uses the phrase "right hand of God" to refer to the coming Messiah wielding the power of God on earth. That makes me think of Jesus like God's enforcer. God made the plans, but it was Jesus that punched Satan in the face. Why is the Jesus fist punching a bird? Because I think of the bird as the primary enemy of the worm. Why the worm? We'll get to that in a second.

>>>THE RIGHT HAND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT<<<

Now in the New Testament we read that Jesus is sitting at God's right hand meaning He is in a position of authority equal to God, but also that His work is complete. So if Jesus is done (for now), who do we turn to? In Acts Jesus tells us that when He gets to His seat at the right hand of God, He will send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads us, teaches us, and helps us through our day... perhaps with His right hand. The smallest hand is that of the Holy Spirit giving direction. It's small not because the Holy Spirit is limited in power, but because we as humans can only handle small things in comparison to God.

>>>A WORM NAMED JACOB<<<

This is a verse of empowerment...and it is not. That "victorious right hand" is not ours. The power of the Almighty God is working on the behalf of His people and we can take no credit for it. We are just little worms. I'm not saying that to belittle you. God said it four verses later. "Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob, don’t be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you. I am the LORD, your Redeemer. I am the Holy One of Israel." (‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭14‬ NLT) This is not a verse to pump you up to overcome your obstacles or accomplish your goals. This is a promise to those who are fully dependent on God. It's surprising how quickly I turn this verse to selfishly focus on me. Satan is twisting the truth about God's love for us to make it all about us. I think, "God is backing me so I can do anything!" We are being spiritually attacked when we believe we are the hero and God is just a power boost we need every so often. All Christians rightfully claim to be dependent on God, but ask yourself if your actions support your beliefs. So if we aren't supposed to be treating God like an energy drink you take once a day to help you be your best, how should we act with God's power but in complete dependence on God? The Holy Spirit told me that the solution is thankfulness. Live in power and humility by giving God the glory for any action in your life no matter how big or how small. Through you, God did it all.

Gold Digger - Bible Plan Verse #5

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ NLT)

Read it again.

What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need. (‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ERV)

WHAT STICKS OUT?

Action word:Seek

Return on investment:everything you need

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>>> MINER <<<

The verb "seek" is a action of moving forward as opposed to just wanting for God. The first thought I had was of a boy digging through a toy box to find his favorite toy, but I didn't want this message to seem childish. So I aged the concept to a man digging for treasure like the parable in Matthew 13:44.

>>> LAYERS OF EARTH <<<

Putting God first is a process similar to digging through the layers of the earth to get to the ultimate treasure. The goal is to dig out or move past the things that are taking your focus away from God. You start at the outermost layer and gradually work your way down.

The top layer is usually littered with things that are clearly identified in the bible as bad, such as addictions to drugs and alcohol or sexual immorality or violence or negative attitudes. But just because this layer may contain some obvious obstacles, it doesn't make it easy to get rid of them. God must help the process. 

The second layer contains things you want that are taking your attention from God. They aren't bad, but they aren't best. These obstacles normally fill up your free time and weekends. You can identify these things by a question like, "where am I finding purpose or joy or rest apart from God?"

Most people think this verse is talking about the distractions at this second layer, but it goes much deeper. Right before this verse (Matthew 6:19-34), Jesus specifically tells us not to concern ourselves with basic needs such as food or water or clothes. This bottom layer contains things you need to survive. Here you learn that life itself is less important than God's work and you release your control on life to God.

Which layer are you digging through now?

>>> GOLD <<<

Now here's the twist of this verse. You just gave up everything for God, but somehow He promises to give it back. How does that work? I prayed for the Holy Spirit to explain it to me. We spent some time working it out together and here is what He said: Anything you want in this life is actually a gift from God (James 1:17) designed to point you back to our Creator. At the core of each gift there is a reflection of our Father (like love or joy or peace) to teach us about Him and how to have a relationship with Him. The problem is that we begin to worship and rely on the gifts instead of the Giver. The gifts of this world are like finding gold. You can be satisfied by the chunk of gold that you found, but if you look closer, you'll see a vein of gold leading to the source. Don't settle for one piece when there is so much more. Don't settle for a reflection of our Creator when you can meet Him face to face through Jesus Christ.

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem

I drew this for my grandfather-in-law, Frank, during my 365 days of doodling. I figured I'd wait until after that project was done before posting this. Of course then I forgot about it until now, but I guess it's better late than never.

I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble;
    the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
    never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.

Psalms 121

Day 365

[Text from image: I am coming soon!]

Day 363

[Text from image: The battle arrives]

Day 362

Day 361

Day 360

[Text from image: A specific message for a specific situation]

Day 356

[Text from image: If you suffer for Christ, you are finished with sin.]

Day 354

Day 353

[Text from image: The Old Covenant was a ceremonial cleansing used as a reminder of sin. The New Covenant is a spiritual cleansing once and for all.]

Day352

[Text from image: Jesus, the eternal high priest offered as a sacrifice once and for all.]

Day 351

[Text from image: Jesus is greater than the angels. Jesus came as a man. Jesus is greater than Moses.]

Day 345