Sometimes, Christine and I, get to feeling that a cross roads is approaching and God may have a different direction on the horizon for us. We start to look to see what might be calling us in a different direction. It is like being on a sail boat and noticing that the wind has shifted, as it blows over the sea some distance away, and one wonders if that will get stronger and come to you. One has a rapid bracing and alerting of the senses to anticipate what will need to be changed, which sails to adjust and how.
I expect everyone goes through such moments. If the change is radical, we naturally want some kind of confirmation before we alter course and upset where we are established, by asking God for a sign or a ‘fleece’. Well we have not come to that stage yet, but there seem to be flags waving around us.
Homeless Chaplaincy
This morning I had a wonderful chapel gathering and communion service with four homeless people at Resurrection House. Each one there was dedicated to God and knew they belonged to His family, even though they constantly experienced, ‘not belonging in the world’. They have nowhere to call their own; no address, no bed, no coffee maker, no shower or toilet, no place they can sleep legally without being moved on, except the Salvation Army, which has it’s own issues and costs $12 a night. Existing on the streets is a dangerous place to be, especially for women. They have stories of being cheated, attacked, of the fear of drug pushers thinking they are connected to the police. They ask questions about God, about Jesus, about the Holy Spirit. They ask if they are prescribed medication by a doctor should they take it, or just believe in Jesus for their healing? Should they approach drug pushers to tell them about Jesus, and if they do not, are they walking away from what God has asked them to do? We prayed for healing, for things stolen to be replaced, for wisdom and guidance, for protection and provision.
It is hard for them. When you do not own things; cars, homes, shoes, society has decided that you do not belong. When we do not belong in society; thank God we still have a place in God’s family. God will never deny us because of what we own, but the Lord cares deeply as to whether we know Him; and in Chapel this morning all five of us did and God was pleased.
After I came out of Resurrection House there was an email from the director who happened to be on the Camino de Santiago and had just had lunch with the Bishop of Spain, who shared that he had recently Blessed an icon Christine had written and given to an Anglican Meeting House in Santiago, for those making the pilgrimage of the Way of St James.
Christine’s ministry quietly touches people all over the place. Her teaching iconography, also has a Spirit filled presence for the students, even when it is online.
Kingdom Arts Ministry- A New Vision?
Kingdom Arts Ministry, has been quietly active for over a decade, but it may be God wants us to become more visible. We have been in touch with a group in Bradenton who are training up a team of people for inner healing prayer under the umbrella of Amazing Love Healing Ministry, directed by Rev. Dr. Sharon L. Lewis. My heart is for healing prayer and this new development is exciting to see it take off with other centers connected in Gainesville, Lake Placid and Stuart, Florida.
There is call for ‘all hands on deck’, through what is going on in the world around us and it would seem as though we are all coming up to some cross roads ahead.
1 Corinthians 12:13. ” For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—
Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”
It is such a beautiful gift that we share the family of God and His Spirit, no matter where we find ourselves or what we own. Just to know the perfect love of God, means we belong, too.
1 John 4:18. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
Christine’s News:
I have been making short demonstration videos for my patrons on Patreon- a website where people can contribute a small monthly amount and receive icon posts that will interest and teach them about making really great icons. I’m also preparing two new icon writing classes, one for the end of this summer and the other for next March. They take such a long time to prepare, I find it works better for me if I get them finished well in advance of the due date!
I was recently barred from having an exhibition at a wealthy retirement home because they were under the impression that I would be exhibiting my icons. They won’t tolerate Icons in their gallery because they are overtly Christian! How absurd! It just goes to show that you can’t please everyone- so why try? It just makes me more determined than ever to show my work to the public, as God leads. That door was closed. Another one will open.
Well, that’s all for us this month enjoy the beginning of summer! Sending lots of love and prayers, and don’t forget to pray for us too, God knows we need it! 😊
Love, Christine and Michael
Kingdom Arts Ministry 