"And taking the five loaves and two fish, He looked up to heaven, and praising God, gave thanks and broke the loaves and kept on giving them to the disciples to set before the people; and He (also) divided the two fish among (them) all. And they all ate and were satisfied." Mark 6:41,42 (The Amplified Bible)

   It seems appropriate that these verses would be part of my regular scripture reading this Thanksgiving morning. in fact, eerily, supernaturally, more than appropriate! Our steps are indeed ordered by the Lord, and that is another of the many things we should be thankful for. I know I am. I have a great many things to be thankful for this year, this life, and this day.

   Family, friends, health, business success, home, the very air I breathe... None of these are of my own making, at least not entirely, and I am grateful for all the Lord has provided. God is indeed good, and He loves us with a passion that we can't even grasp, much less acknowledge properly, but we offer our thanks today(and every day) with all the enthusiasm we can humbly muster. Lord, forgive us for all we take for granted.

   Yesterday, I got to see all of my father's brothers and sister in one place. Some of them I had not seen for years, some for months, but what a wealth of encouragement came from seeing them all together like that. Still, the absence of my father was a pronounced difference from previous gatherings, and left me a bit sad and contemplative of the effect each of us make in the lives around us. I pray we all may have a heart for impacting the lives of those we love in a positive way this holiday season, as we gather together to celebrate all that God has done.

   Today I hope to see all of my brothers and sisters, my daughter and grandchildren, and hope that my presence can bring them some small encouragement. Actually, I should purpose in my heart to bring them some great encouragement, but the best encouragement is usually accidental, found only in the mind of the receiver. Thank you again Lord, for orchestrating our movements and making the differences we all need available to us. You, Lord are an awesome God!

   May the Lord keep us all as the apple of His eye, bringing the encouragement, rebuke, and every other thing we need when we most need it, and may we all give heartfelt thanks for all that He does and the perfect ways He does everything. Blessings, and Happy Thanksgiving!

   I recently had to set some boundaries for my nieces and nephews. I've been going through a 2nd childhood, of sorts, and with the help of my housemates, erected a platform in a large tree in the back yard.

   Now, all of a sudden, "Uncle Chuck's" has become a favorite destination for my nieces and nephews. When first built, the platform was just that, with no hand-rails or walls. One of the nieces was very scared climbing about 12 feet on a ladder to the platform, and her fear remained upon arriving to the deck. So, of course, to provide some safety and security, I built short walls w/hand rails around the majority of the platform. Now, the same little girl will climb the ladder and relax on the platform with a sense of security the "walls" provide.

   The same principle is in place with regard to God's commands. The boundaries He has set for us are for our own good. There is a higher level of freedom within the boundaries than there would be without boundaries at all. In Psalm 18, v.19, David proclaims "He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me." The boundaries the Lord has set for us are because He loves us and cares about our mental state, much like an uncle would build walls around a tree house platform to protect the children he cares for. He also elevates us to new places of freedom-within the structure He has ordained for us.

   I believe this is a time of increase. A time of expanding boundaries, wherein the Lord is bringing us to new heights, with the improved vision, or "bigger picture" that comes with elevation, still within the parameters the Lord has prescribed. I pray the Lord gives us new dreams and visions of a prosperous future for ourselves and those we love. Let us not be in fear of change, but embrace the possibilities He shows us. 

   Waiting upon the Lord has paid off once again, and in a big way. The current economy has most of us scrambling for work to keep the bills paid and I have run up some medical bills this last fall and spring that I wasn't sure how I would be able to pay.

   Earlier this year I had the opportunity to bid on a huge restoration project in Indianapolis for a second time. I had bid this job 2 years ago, but the client could not spend the large amount required at that time. This time a grant was being applied for to cover the cost and they needed a current bid for the application.

   Apparently the grant was approved, because I got the call this week that we could proceed with the project! This will be the largest single project I have ever bid on, and will have to be spread over 2 summer seasons to complete. I not only have work for myself for several months, but will also be able to employ some family members to help with the labor, improving all of our finances.

   Prayer and trusting in the Lord to provide has been a big part of the waiting process. When I recently bid on this job, the Lord began giving me visions of a higher level of life for my business and myself and family. This project is huge, high, and high profile(in the inner part of our capitol city). The exposure will elevate my company's market share and reputation, and the income will allow me to develop the business considerably, pretty much insuring a successful period. As I waited to hear whether or not this project would be approved, I clung to the vision the Lord had given and more or less "expected" approval. My faith has been rewarded as the Lord has delivered this breakthrough opportunity!

   I will continue to pray for guidance to produce this project wisely and safely, and thank the Lord daily for "blessing the work of my hands" as He promised long ago. May you all find yourselves in a new place of blessing these days, and may we make a joyful noise to the Lord for His provision. 

   I recently made a costly mistake. I added fluid to the master cylinder without knowing for sure what the fluid was. I thought it was brake fluid. It was an old bottle without a label, but it was the right shape to be brake fluid. I was short on cash and it seemed a convenient "fix" to the problem my dash light pointed to.

   I now believe it was power steering fluid that I introduced into my braking system. Within a few days the brake pedal became "mushy", and eventually went all the way to the floor-without stopping the truck! It's been 2 weeks since I've been able to drive it safely. 2 weeks of frustrating work, flushing the system, replacing parts, and restricted mobility. A small amount of the wrong fluid has contaminated the whole system and effectively shut it down.

   This morning I've been thinking about a correlation between this and my walk with God. I still have habits I have been unable to stop in my own strength, and have most likely corrupted my whole worship "system" with a little watering down of what I know to be true, sacrificing pure unadulterated devotion to the Lord with remaining fleshly habits of the "old" man I used to be. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough"(NIV).

   Suddenly, I see that I'll not be able to stop(these habits) because the flow of fluid(Living Water from the Holy Spirit) has been contaminated with fleshly desires. My "Master Cylinder" has been contaminated and the rubber "seals" are loose and unable to function properly to produce the necessary force to apply the brakes. I must flush my entire "system", removing the contaminated fluid, and replacing it with only "pure fluid" that gives me the power to function as I was intended to.

   As we approach the anniversary of The Day of Pentecost, I repent and ask the Lord to endue me with fresh power from above. May we all take stock of the things we continue to allow ourselves to give in to, remove the improper, and wait upon the Lord to be refilled with only pure, Living "Fluid". Then we shall rejoice at the restoration of our proper functionality. "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me... Restore to me the joy of your salvation."(Psalm 51:10,12)

   The season we find ourselves in has been called "the counting of the Omer"(or bringing in the sheaves). It relates to the time the apostles were waiting in Jerusalem for the Gift of the Holy Spirit. We should be searching ourselves and realigning our behavior with the precepts of God's word, in the hope of a fresh move of God's Spirit in His people, empowering us to further the Kingdom of God and His purposes here on Earth.

   On a more personal level, I am waiting for confirmation of a huge bid I recently submitted for an exterior wall mural restoration project. The job is so large I may not be able to accomplish it before Winter! I'm estimating it will take 4 months of diligence to complete, so I've suggested June 1st as a deadline for beginning. If you're paying attention, you know that is tomorrow.

   This project will elevate me and my business in three different ways. First, (physically) it requires working on high-reach equipment at heights of up to 90 feet. With the right equipment and the appropriate precautions, this does not pose a problem, but calls for clear thinking and careful consideration at all times. Secondly, (professionally) the project is a high profile city monument, which will propel Muralworx into a position of some note, expanding awareness of my abilities and establishing new contacts, hopefully securing a larger market-share of available projects in the future. Thirdly, (financially) it is a concentrated body of work to be done in a short time-frame, requiring additional "hands" to ensure completion, and represents a significant increased income for this year's peak season.

   This project requires sacrifice also, in that I will be too busy to take on much else this summer, and the physical effort will be great during the project. I'm also considering short term housing to stay close to the job, so there will be some additional expense involved.

   All-in-all, though, I see this opportunity as a chance to rise to a level of success that my 30+ years of experience deserves, and an establishing of credibility for the business that (in my humble opinion) is overdue.

   Isn't it interesting how our physical lives align with the spiritual seasons we go through? I don't believe in coincidence, so I consider this a spiritual law. I pray we all are giving due consideration to our position in the Lord, and the blessings the Lord has prepared for us to walk into. The bible says "My people are perishing for lack of vision", so let us dream dreams and chase our visions of a future of blessing and provision in the Name of the Lord, and never forget our Provider and the ways He would have us behave. May the Lord give you a vision of your future as He would have it and may you be blessed by walking into it with all your heart.

   The Lord "inhabits" the praises of His people. He dwells where praises are offered. We activate His power in our circumstances when we praise Him for the solutions to our predicaments.

   Praise takes many forms. Singing and making music to Him are the ones we readily think of, but there's also praise in lifting our hands to heaven, praying, and just being still and trusting in Him. Sharing His solutions to earthly problems from the Bible with others who are suffering is yet another.

   I woke with a contemporary worship song playing in my subconscious. I was scarcely even aware of it until I opened the door of my studio and heard the very line of the very verse of the very song playing on the radio-"simulcast" in my head! This brought a smile to my face as I considered this to confirm that I was aligned with the Spirit of God. It's little things like this that speak to my heart.

   I pray that today we would all feel the presence of the Lord in the small moments of our lives, and would all feel we are in the center of His will for us, encouraged by the fact that He is in control even in the midst of the attacks that are coming against us. Let us praise Him for the victory and watch as He provides solutions for our problems.

   Greetings! I've been inundated by a slew of comments lately. At first they were harmless, interesting comments on various posts, but more recently people have been posting comments with links to other sites, selling everything from prescription drugs to insurance. Consequently, comments will no longer be allowed until we can manage to screen them. My apologies to those who legitimately wish to comment on the posts found here, but I neither endorse or condone the link posts, and do not wish to "carry" the web information some would like to shove down our throats. God bless and keep you until next time.

Wow! It's been almost a year since I've posted here. Can you believe it? I can barely! In my defense, I procrastinated long enough to forget my login info, and found myself locked out of my own blogsite!
At any rate, Hallelujah! I'm back, and hopefully I'll even have something more to say soon. (lol)
God bless and keep you until then...

Yesterday, I participated in our church's first Cross Walk of 2010. 7 of us drove to Hwy 40 near Putnamville, Indiana and took turns carrying a cross 1 mile at a time eastward. We ended up at the intersection of Meridian and Washington streets in Indianapolis, approximately 1/2 of the way across Indiana. It was the 2nd day of a 4 day trip that will "cross" Indiana along Hwy 40, ending up in Richmond, Indiana. It was a wonderful experience, lifting up the cross for all to see, reminding people what Jesus did for our sakes at Calvary. Yes, it was tiring, but inspiring to have people wave, or honk, or on occasion offer gifts of encouragement like cold drinks, food, or words of encouragement and thanks. I call myself blessed to be allowed to "suffer" the difficulty for the sake of the Lord, and His Kingdom. It was a labor of love, both our love for our Lord and His love for all. We estimated the number of people that witnessed the cross being carried at between 9600-19,200 in cars(depending upon how many were in each vehicle), as well as a large number of people along the side of the road. May the Name of the Lord be lifted up all across our fine state, and may He draw all who witness the cross unto Himself.

Work has picked up this month. I have several projects to apply myself to, and expect more to come. While procrastination is a trait of mine, I would be foolish to let these opportunities pass me by. I have said jokingly that "I would procrastinate, but I never seem to get around to it." lol. During the winter months, I wished and hoped for work, and vowed I would work if I had work to do. Now that I do have work, I must come out from that mental state into the productive state I envisioned for myself. Actually, I have noticed a spiritual truth regarding work. If I creatively enter into some form of productivity, finding something I want to produce and begin the process, then I seem to "draw" commissioned "worx" as well. The same principal is evidenced in work for the Kingdom of God. We may not know what God would have us do, but if we step out in faith, simply doing something, then we find opportunities to serve revealing themselves. Dad used to say "Do something, even if it's wrong!" He was expressing frustration with apathy, and helping me to move into productivity. Of course something "wrong" in creative pursuits, is often just a part of the process of discovery towards something right. Like Edison's claim, we may just find several ways that don't work on our way to finding one way that does, but even the ways that don't work for one thing may work for another. May the Lord bless our efforts this week as we step out in faith, strengthen our attempts to reach out to others, and bless the work of our hands. Yes, Lord, bless the work of our hands that we may go forth and prosper, increasing our ability to be a blessing to those in need. We are blessed to be a blessing.

Desperation comes to us all in one form or another. Faith is the only thing that overcomes it. If we truthfully consider our circumstances, we would have to admit that our world could come crashing down around our ears at any moment. There are so many variables that are beyond our control that it would be foolish to believe we are secure, except for faith. Without faith, hopelessness would soon rule our lives. Faith, on the other hand, is liberating. If we trust in the mercy of our loving father God, we are not burdened any longer with the weight of manipulating and controlling our environment. We can simply trust, and become proactively involved in our world, rather than reacting to whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. What would you do if you knew you could not fail? This question is a good measuring tool for discovering your true, best direction, and the most effective use of your time. I believe we will not fail if we do not give up. We may find many ways our ventures will not succeed, but those failed attempts only refine our approach until we find the ones that do work. Progress takes place when our desperation outweighs our fears, and we are forced to blaze new trails and try new things. As long as we don't allow ourselves to wallow in our fears and retreat into the seemingly bottomless pit of despair, we will eventually find a method or practice that rewards our efforts and opens up a new vista of opportunities. Just as fear builds on itself, faith and hope in a different future builds on itself, leading us ever upward into prosperity. May the Lord answer our prayers in mighty ways today as we press on into an ever-brighter future of trust in His provision and protection, and may we receive encouragement with which to encourage others around us. Go forth and prosper!

Happy Easter everyone! We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and welcome the Resurrection Life in our own lives as we identify ourselves with Him. We come alive with eternal, renewed life. The Spring season imitates this spiritual truth as we experience renewed life in nature. Business-wise, it is also a season of renewal. Projects that have been postponed for weather related reasons are now released and we can go forward with the things we weren't able to accomplish last year. I have several changes planned for the building and the business this year. Painting on the building front, refining the fake bricks, shadows from the fake awnings, changing out the mural, and sealing the rest of the exterior can now be done. I'd like to paint the interior, fix the roof(again, and completely this time) this season as well. These are all self-centered plans, however, and I don't want that to be my only focus in this season. I want to share the renewed life with others, to encourage those struggling to find the strength to press onward and upward in their own experience. Finding the opportunity to help someone else achieve their dreams is often more rewarding than progressing my own. May the Lord give us all opportunities to bless someone today, and may we all be raised to a higher standard of living. May we make a difference in the lives of those around us and allow that difference to raise us all, collectively, to renewed life of an eternal nature.

Today is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it! The majority of new work I have received in the last 2 weeks is from faith-based connections. Praise the Lord! It's not difficult to recognize the blessing of the Lord in cases like this, where commissions come from brothers and sisters in the Lord. The 1st was a double-paneled 4x8 sign for a local assisted living business. The client is an aquaintance from the Heartland Great Banquet community(a 3 day retreat for developing a relationship with God and community). The couple were generous enough to allow me to do a custom artwork in the body of the piece(s) for an additional amount. This not only allows me to put my creative touch on their work, but also allows for a display which will generate more opportunities for similar projects. The 2nd faith-based project came from a young man who saw my wall mural and appreciated the Christian nature of my business. He was also generous, choosing to be a patron of the arts and give me freedom of budget to create something special for him. After 30+ years in the sign business, I don't get very excited about projects that don't give me the opportunity to express myself creatively. Sure signs have paid the bills, but simple projects from clients focusing on "the bottom line" are not challenging or satisfying. The only way I can rightfully claim my market share is to become known for the higher quality, creative "touches" I am uniquely qualified to do. So, I praise the Lord that He has seen fit to bless me, not only with work, but with work that allows me to express myself creatively and raise clients(and myself) to a higher level. This early season encouragement to my business makes my vision for the business seem attainable. The near-depression state of no business last month becomes all but forgotten in the wake of this new turn of events. I pray the Lord renews your vision for the coming season and encourages you with new possibilities, as he has me. Let us keep our eyes focused on Him and let Him lead us to the promised land of our God given dreams.

My computer's wallpaper for this month has a quote from St. Patrick. "If my life has any worth, it is to live my life for God." It is a picture of the rugged beauty of the Irish coast, a steep ragged cliff surrounded by turbulent ocean water. The sunny side of the nearest cliff is covered with green moss, and makes for a beautiful scene of powerful natural beauty. I have some Irish in me. My father was a redhead, complete with beard, and we both have displayed the fiery temper often associated with the Irish. We also have been hard working survivors with quick smiles and laughter, which I also attribute to the Irish. By the grace of God, I have learned to put aside the anger, but appreciate the strength and independence of my heritage. I have also always considered myself lucky, even though my quests for the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow have mostly been unsatisfying. Still, am I not fortunate to be earning my living doing something I love? "If you want to call this living" Dad used to say, but the occasional wall mural, or commissioned painting always challenge me to produce a work of art that is both exciting and satisfying. This coming week we enter into Spring, and as always, expectations are high for new growth. The temperature is rising, so outside work is again an option. I have a couple of mural projects waiting for the weather to be condusive, and expect this to be a good year for business. It's time to shake off the cobwebs of hibernation and go into "spring training", stretching and exercising in order to be fit for service. I pray the Body of Christ is in a similar state of mind. May we be expecting the new growth the Lord has planned for us in this season, and pressing forward toward the Kingdom work. May we be found faithful in travailing for the birth of new ministries, still waiting upon the Lord to create in us new hearts for His purposes. "Go forth and prosper..."

   March is here! The weather is warming and new work is trickling in. This month marks the beginning of my 2nd year in the new shop. Praise the Lord! I have apparently survived that 1st tricky year, when most new businesses fail. I'll admit I've considered "giving up" and have had to work at other things for a season, but I'm still here!

   The website is not performing as I had hoped, and I have not recieved one single job from it exclusively. It has enhanced my relationships with clients, however, in that they undoubtably are encouraged to deal with someone who has gone to the trouble of creating and maintaining a website. This year I must do more work to raise awareness of the site to a larger audience. The method I'm currently working on is by creating some items for sale and hope to soon market them on Ebay and create links to the site.

   I have a lot of work to do to get caught up with expenses, so I'll make this short, but I do feel that things are turning around for the better. I pray the Lord continues to bless His children with all they need and more, that we might be a blessing to others. What I desire mostly, though, is more of His Presence in my life, and pray for the same for you. God bless you and keep you in His protection.