Feeling Yucky?

          Have you ever had a time when you just felt yucky? There's nothing wrong, it's just a feeling. I find this to be a problem on an emotional level. Sub-consciencely  we  feel as if something is going to happen, some kind of big change in life which we may not be comfortable with. When I dig deep into this feeling thats what I find, an uncomfortable feeling. So, this is what I did. I prayed to God to let this pass. I then analyzed the day, the feeling, what do I think is upcoming, why? Well, a lot of it is personal. The main point of sharing this is the solution, not my insanity,lol. We are constantly growing in life. For me, it's with the Lord. He has plans for me and the devil is waiting to attack this will for me. Certain times in life, I'm not used to. Family is something new for me. Growing up I was always quiet and to myself, trying to be the perfect kid, as per my dad and mom. Now that I'm near family, they do things that I am not accustomed to. Some of these events I feel I am not worthy to be involved with. This is the mind talking, not the real Jay who is alive with Christ. You see, Christ and knowing His Word bring me out of this funk. All I have to do is recognize these moments and call out to Him. I am grateful that God even allows me to be aware of these times. Before, I would drink them away with a passion. I didn't want to face the reality that I had distanced myself from everyone. Now, I have a few beers and it just isn't the same anymore. I see this change in me and so does my ex wife. Well, we now know why she is an ex, me. So, now that I don't escape to beer, I'm now left alone in my own mind on how to deal with life as it is presented to me. I look to the Lord and He provides all I need, and that is the very family and friends I would hide from all those years. This morning, I called my ex-wife and an ex-girlfriend. I called to just talk. I had the best time of my life. We are truly connected by a love only God could provide. The respect is still there. The relationship may of happened because we were both lonely, but it was not meant to be. We were meant to love each other the way we are doing it now. A time to learn what TRUE LOVE is. The love that Jesus wants us to know. It took heartache to learn this, but wow. I am so grateful for the chance to learn this instead of going through life hurting those around me and being hurt by the very same people I tried to love in my own way. It's not my, it's Gods way and I better start listening if I want to bask in His Glory, here on earth and in HIs kingdom. May I also add that writing your thoughts out really helps. It works just the same as calling that loved one. The only problem with the call is that you must ,first, make sure that they understand that they are to be a wall to bounce off your thoughts of the day. A sounding board for you to get it off your chest. Don't be afraid to share. This sharing will increase your amount of love toward others because you will have developed a sense of trust. I know, man is hard to trust, and rightly so. Man will always let you down, if you let them. It's your expectations of them that let you down, it's not really them. We put so much emphasis on others, that we don't look our own way. In improving ourselves, they get better also because we have a different outlook on life. We now see life with the eyes of God, with His love. Now, because I have shared, the devil will try to attack me

Careful of Your Walk

          In Deut 34, Moses went to Mount Nebo where the Lord showed him all the land He swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God was showing Moses what he and his people could of possessed had they listened to God and not turned away to false idols during their time of being impatient with God.
          Moses was not able to 'Glory', fully, in the promise of the Lord. God used Joshua instead to cross into the promise land with the children of Israel. God was going to be with Joshua as He was with Moses.
          Therefore, think upon this. Are there promises from God that you may be missing because of your walk with God. It's a fear we should all have, for without the reverent fear of the Lord, we will vere to the left or to the right in our daily walk with God. This is a state of being 'luke warm' for His will.
          Even thought the children of Israel whom had been freed from Egypt, repented and returned to God, they still were not able to 'glory' in His promise of the land of milk and honey. However, through the living sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, we have been freed from such heartache. Through Jesus' Word, we can be forgiven of those tragic times when we ignore His will for us. It isn't easy though. We must still have the fear of the Lord and walk forward in this life, Blessing and Praising Him through the gifts of the Spirit. 1Cor 13 explains Love and how it will never fail us. A love we must apply to our everyday walk. In Phil 4, there are things that Paul explains we must do to walk with the Lord. He also tells us to stand fast in the Lord. God told Joshua that he must be strong and of good courage, so that he may observe the law He commanded to Moses and that in doing so, he will prosper wherever he went. I have seen a change in myself by doing this. I'm not perfect, however, I strive forward feeding the Spirit with His Word so that God will never forsake me nor take His hand off His will for me. His promise of everlasting life with Him is what I seek. I hope you will too.
                                                  Love, Jay

The Cross

  In 2006 I was browsing through an art book and I saw an oil by Mr. Weistling, and I saw this oil painting. It captured my artistic abilities so I gave it a shot and here it is. It took four hours straight. The reason I was able to dive right into the drawing was that I was listening to Third Day music at the time. Their music is so uplifting to me and it puts me in another place spiritually. This drawing was done with a black ink pen and I will show you the technique I use to do the shading. I fell into it through trial and error. My dad has the original, which I added color to. I have given a lot of these away at church when I was living in Indiana. I hope you find  this art refreshing to your spirit. Every time you look upon it, you'll find something new. God Bless.

Never Give Up

          Starting a new career is tough but I know that my art is truly inspired by God, therefore I can't give up. Even when it looks like this is all it will ever be, a blog and a web site showcasing my art, I have to continue onward and forward. I must trust in God that this is where I'm at for the moment. He knows what He is doing. I will not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ and will continue to share this art with the world. I have to stay strong for Him. may this work be an inspiration to others and may they believe that they, too, can and will live their dreams for the Lord. Third Day, the Christian Band, inspired me to pick up a guitar and start playing and writing music. If He can do this for me, then I know that He can do this for you. You CAN do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you. Christ will work through you to do all He has for you in this world. I'm speaking to myself also, because I am only human. I falter time to time, but in sharing the Word and the life He has taken me from and the life I'm leading now, I remind myself that He is real. He loves me and I love Him. So, I will not give up on the dreams I feel He has given me and will continue to go forward, as I pay it forward with the Love He has put in my heart. Follow the path He has laid before you, for it is lit with His love. Be patient, for in due time, you will reap a reward for your continued diligence. God Bless....Jay

Art Collection

Blessings of Obediance

          Every command of the Lord must be observed carefully in order to receive such great blessings. Delight in doing what is right and your life will be filled with increase. There is one important item to remember though, you must never forget who gave this increase, this prosperity. you must  never forget the Lord your God, your Father whom loves you and is happy to bless your life richly. Remember how He first humbled you and He lead you out of your own Egypt's of the world. Never look in the mirror  and declare yourself the one who made your life what it is. Never turn your face from the Lord and honor yourself. God is the one who gave you the power to attain this wealth. If you forget, it is written that you shall surely perish. So, I'm thinking, if you surely enjoy the state of your life right now, would you be willing to give it all up because of your self? Your life could be richer by committing all your way's to the Lord. You will never conquer your situations in life that are even greater than you could of realized you even had the knowledge to.
          God goes before you as a consuming fire. He makes things all possible. It's not because of your righteousness, it's because of your trust  and fear in God. A fear deep in respect. My dad would teach me his way's. I would listen, and when he told me to do something and how to do it, I did it. Yes, I feared him. I also thought as a child, but now that I think as an adult and look back on the situation, I see that is was not fear at all. It was Love; Love for my father. It was respect and he was teaching and correcting me because he loved me back. He didn't want his son to grow up to be an idiot. So, the Lord our God, our Father in heaven, does the same for us. He wants us to have wisdom and understanding, so that when we attain the life He has been preparing for us, that life will be blessed. We will have the tools to accept that life, the blessings, and appreciate them. We will know what to do, and we will do it with His Love. All because we trusted in Him and never forgot Who taught us to ride our first bike.
                                         I love you Father God and father Skip,

                             Jay Burleyhttp:/www.wix.com/crosseffect/cross-effect

Trust

" God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble . Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea." Psalm 46:1,2 .

          God will always be our refuge if we trust in Him at all times. When we pour out our heart to Him and declare His glory ( Jer 3:23). We then walk forward with no fear and speak boldly before the world. Even in these last day's, we will not fear. It speaks of the earth giving way and the mountains falling into the sea. Our trust and faith in the Lord brings us  peace in the fact that we will meet our Lord face to face when He returns. 

          What are you willing to do to see Him in all His glory? Are you tired of living in fear? Fear of the unknown? Well God reveals Himself throughout the Word. You would be amazed how your life can turn around and how the most troublesome times are just that...Time. Time passes on and the next minute appears before us. All of a sudden, the trouble was yesterday. The mourning only lasted a night, and this wonderful, explicable joy comes in the morning. Just by applying the word of " Trust " to your life and vocabulary in the name of Jesus, your life will change. 

          Step though your fear of the unknown and receive His wisdom and understanding. Live your new life  with peace and Love. To do all of this, just trust. Now that wasn't too hard?, was it? I know, because I have. 

                                          Love ya all,,,,,,,Jay