refine me with fire

08.08.09 deteriorating/semi occupied house in Lexington, SC

…. Learning what it means to be completely where I currently am and that Love triumphs in every single situation especially the visual broken ones.

1 Corinthians 13:12-13

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”

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The Hundredth is a band from Myrtle Beach SC and they just released a new album called When Will We Surrender. I have been listening to it non stop. Im most captivated by the lyrics and the truth they present in a raw passionate way.

DESOLATE
what have i gained by giving the world my everything. it’s never been such a struggle to regress to what i was yesterday. but today, i seem so far away. i’m waiting on the world to sing. the song i’ve been singing. i’m waiting on the world to sink. the way i’ve been sinking. i’ve given too much away over these past few years and this is ending today. there’s pain in my eyes like i’ve never known. i have fallen short. do you still see me as beautiful? carry me home. lighten my stagger. my conscience is weak. i’m begging for reparation. i am deficient of hope. refine me with fire. refine me with fire, oh God. refine me with fire. there’s pain in my eyes, like i’ve never known. i’ve fallen short. do you still see me as beautiful? i’ll never find my place on Earth. but i refuse to fade away.

Jonathan Beckman

Jonathan Beckman is a good friend of mine.  He is partnering with Adventures in Missions (AIM) to go on a mission trip called The World Race.  I snapped some shots of him at his recent benefit show in lexington at the watershed. There was a huge crowd of supporters and good music.

Jonathan is such an inspiration and valued friend to me, so I wanted to share his support letter  and what hes working towards in hopes that more people would want to support this awesome fellow. What ever you do… dont call him Beckles! haha : )

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Dear Friends and Family

For the past few years I have made Columbia SC my home. Being in college, I have learned many things not only about what I was taught in class, but about myself, other people, relationships, and life in general. This past December my college career came to a successful close upon graduating. Graduating marks the end of a significant time in my life, but also marks the beginning of what comes next.

A big question has been asked of me lately, and I have even joined those I know in asking myself “what will you do now?” This question comes with great weight; the weight of expectation, and the weight of a response to the mystery of what the future holds. I find myself holding fast to the confidence that is found in the cross of Jesus Christ. The most important thing I learned while living in Columbia is how the Lord consistently pursues me that I might know the vastness of His love. This is of the greatest significance. So my answer to the big question is obedience.

I have decided to leave all that I have here to go serve and tell others the greatest thing that I know, and that is what Jesus Christ has done for us. I have been accepted to go on a mission trip with a non-profit organization called Adventures in Missions (AIM). The mission trip is called The World Race. In June 2010, we will travel to 11 different countries in 11 months partnering with local established missionaries and churches to further the kingdom by serving with them in their ministry.

This letter is a request that you join me in prayer about this trip and the things that God will teach me about His character that I might attempt to be more like him, and also that the ministry that goes out from us will be saturated with the love of Christ and the light of His glory and grace. I would also ask you to pray about financially supporting me through donations, as I will not be able to support myself for this year of ministry. Donations can be made with the other sheet that came with this letter. It can be a single donation or a monthly pledge of a certain amount. The total cost of this trip is around $14,000. I invite you to serve and be apart of the miraculous things that God is doing here in this world.

Jonathan Beckman

Open your eyes

I got the wonderful chance to partner with New Covenant Church this morning and take some pictures of a local out reach project

These are a few of my favorite shots.

It was such a wonderful experience getting to see people loving on people. New Covenant Church is partnering with a pastor in this local community to help build relationships and begin his soon flourishing Church.

I was blessed by the fact that there was no language barrier even in a prominent spanish speaking community we had friends and family there who showed up to serve and to translate where needed.

James 1:22

I want to continue to encourage eveyone to be doers of the word, because love is an action and love knows no barriers.

The Journey

Paul Fernandes

I met Paul Fernandes through my best friend Krystal Michealson. From the very first conversation we had, I am glad to say I have met him because his character reflects the love of Jesus and pushed me right away to strive closer in my relationship. He is one of the most compassionate people I have met so far. I got a chance to spend some valued time with Paul recently and continued to learn his heart. He is a man of God that is going to change many lives in our generation. I wanted to share what hes preparing for and pass the word along so more people can contribute! If you want to know of more ways to help him contact me and I will get you hooked up with the man himself!

Dear Friends and Family,

I trust the Lord has been as good to you as He has been to me. God has been so faithful to lead me and guide me and I would like a moment of your time to share my heart with you regarding the next exciting journey that the Lord has put upon my heart, and then present you with an opportunity to help support me as I go forth to fulfill an important work that needs to take place in our world today.

In May of 2009 I graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center, to be in fulltime ministry and this was an amazing growing and learning opportunity for me. While I was there preparing I began traveling and speaking to many youth and college groups through out North America. Through this traveling and ministering I discovered that I truly have a heart for the younger generation, and a genuine desire to bring the Word alive to them so they may realize who they are in Christ. I have shared this good news with young people nationally, but now I believe it is time to take my passion and reach the unreached around the world!

I have been presented with an opportunity to go forth and share my passion through a mission’s agency called The Sowers Club (www.sowersclub.org), whose vision is to see the Great Commission fulfilled. They aim and strive to proclaim the name of Jesus to every nation where He has not yet been named. I will be traveling to Nigeria to assist Matt and Julie Beemer who are missionaries who are fulfilling the call of God on there lives, you can learn more about them on (www.rhemaconnect.com). I am very excited about this opportunity to share the love of Christ with the nations of the world!

I ask that you would take this opportunity to go to our Heavenly Father in prayer about supporting me to go and take part in fulfilling the End Time Harvest in the 1040 window. It is my desire to see the lost to be connected with there Savior,

I would like to ask for your gift of $30, $20, $10 a month for 1 year to help support me in this great call that God has placed on my life to go to the Mission field. My goal is to have 100 faithful partners giving $30 a month for a year. I will be leaving in October of 2010 and I will be there for up to three months, with the goal of returning early 2011 for a missionary internship, I ‘m believing for $3,000 a month.

You may have the people of unreached nations on your heart and may be in a place where you are unable to travel to do the work yourself, but I assure you that you will be sowing into good ground and I will believe and pray with you for a return on your investment. Not only will you be blessed naturally, but the reward you will receive in Heaven for lives touched through your support will be great. Lets go together in prayer and support to see the Great Commission come to a close!

Thank you so much and God bless!

If you feel led to support my ministry please make  your checks payable to Sowers Club and in the memo section write Paul Fernandes  to ensure that your gift will get to the designated account.

The mailing address is:

Sowers Club

Attention Paul Fernandes

P.O. Box 414

Broken arrow, OK 74013

Sincerely,

Paul Fernandes

.:Creation in Motion:.

///Urevolution///

“We are a team of young people that are passionate about the building of the local church world wide. Through the program that we have designed called: “Building the House” And through Breakouts (Creative Evangelism). We take the simple needs of the local church and bring them to life through design, discipleship and ministry. We are about building the church/school from the inside out. Training people how to take the supernatural, which they learn through the Word, and the Natural, through the Building the House program, and making an explosive force for God.”
Joshua & Ryan Adams

theurev.com

Please go and visit and learn about this amazing ministry.

I got the chance to meet these two gentlemen awhile visiting tulsa and it was inspiring to hear the vision they cast on making such a creative move within or generation to make a huge impact on the world for the kingdom of God. Truly gifted, passionate, and driven. Im excited to see this movement take over.

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“Creative is something which is full of originality and expressiveness and which in the great majority of cases brings pleasure. Well these qualities are encountered in everything God made. We can take a look at the Universe: it is enormous, and all those who study it are fascinated. Einstein said the more he studies the Universe the more he believes in a higher power. This is because the perfect organization and the immensity revealed…God is indeed a great artist from the depths of the ocean to the last star in the universe all declare the works of His Hands, when you know the Artist, you are fascinated!”

Thank you Lord, for both the order of created things, and the joy of creativity. You are continually creative, and we are invited to share in your creative purpose. You stimulate in us gifts of creative vision and inventive skill. Amen.

forward motion

I just finished this tree for my beautiful friend Ashley. She will be receiving in the mail soon, I hope she loves it. The process consisted of spray paint, acrylic paint, and ink on wood.

As previously I mentioned how trees really represent a visual for the process of growing. Right now its the continual theme in most of my art work because its the prominent motion in all areas of my life… the continual change…Uncomfortable twists and turns, broken branches, imperfections … but the tree keeps growing and in seasons it produces a flower or a fruit that can be enjoyed. The tree is cropped and some of the branches of growth are outside of the canvas to represent that at times there are opportunities for growth outside of our box or our comfort zone and it will take us to places unimaginable.

I definitely this past week visited a place I never thought I would go, Oklahoma. The story and reason I ended up in Tulsa, Oklahoma is really amazing and no coincidence. I got to spend time with some of the most inspiring and uplifting people I have ever met. God has really blessed me with some wonderful friends.

There are some really amazing things in the works for me and my friends that I will be posting about.