PAINTING WITH LIVING WATER

Not a traditional coloring book kind of kid, my favorite childhood art genre definitely goes to the "paint with water" book. Do you remember it? With paintbrush in hand, a little Dixie cup of water and what resembled a run-of-the-mill crayola coloring pad, a simple black and white line drawing would transform before your very eyes with one brush stroke. Oh, the thrill to see what colors lie waiting for a drink from my well saturated paintbrush. I recall letting only a drop or two land at first just to catch a taste of what lie beneath. Pinks and purples would swirl with greens and yellows, often to an audience of one still unaware of what the final picture would reveal to me.

I found painting with water better than coloring with crayons. Why? I think it was because of the mystery and the lack of control. I, the simple vessel, will not predetermine the beauty that will result. Someone else has done that for me. With crayons, it is all about me and my own creativity. Painting with water is different. There is someone else in the picture, but not physically there. Someone bigger than me decided how this masterpiece will turn out. I have been given only instructions to follow, and if I am obedient to those, something beautiful will evolve. Sometimes that happens with crayons, but often it doesn't. Many times, with crayons, pencils or chalk, it just isn't quite as wonderful as you pictured it in your head. Not as stunning.

I think when we live our life by the example of Christ, when we let our light shine, when we love, show kindness and care, we bring out the God colors in others. Like a tiny paintbrush in God's hand, dipped into the living water that is Jesus, He uses us to change the black and white worlds of those we touch into technicolor masterpieces beyond which were ever imaginable. The secret of course is always remembering who is the painter and who is the brush. Without the water, our picture is but a line drawing, and without a constant return to the well, we cannot keep our brush saturated to complete the predetermined work at the Master's hand.

I think about this as we embark upon mission season for NPCC once again, with four new trips to Capljina, Bosnia. Our first group leaves in two days for a prayer/connections trip. We will have a work team and a youth trip this summer and end with another prayer team in the fall. Our major focus this year will be outreach. Indeed, painting with living water! As we start and end this season in prayer, let us remember to return to His word daily, pray continually, anoint these teams often, and never, ever forget those we touch are God's masterpiece. We only hold the paintbrush. Our returning to Him and His word will supply the living water, so that we might bring out the God-colors as we lead others to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

In His humble service,
Kathy

"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)