Focused
We all know deep down inside that if we focus on what is going on around us, distracting us from our goal, we will never achieve it.
But here’s the deeper and more important question: what is your goal? Did you know that setting an overall goal for your life can help you keep those everyday goals more achievable? So let me ask you, what is the overall goal you seek to achieve in your life?
Hold On
Perhaps the most compelling thing to me about the baby orangutan reference photo was the message it conveys. Phrases like “hold on” and “hang in there” spring to mind, carrying with them a message of hope, perseverance, and encouragement.
Raised
We all know someone who seems to have his/her head up in the clouds. They appear to be constantly daydreaming, lost in their own thoughts without any sort of practical grasp on reality. These happy-go-lucky types don’t seem to be affected by their circumstances, while all of us “sensible” folks shake our heads and scoff at them, wondering how they can be so inattentive and impractical.
But what if these “head in the cloud” types can teach us something?
My Sheep Hear My Voice
When I first saw the reference photo that I eventually used for this drawing, the sheep’s expression of loving trust stood out to me. I wonder what caused it to look at the photographer with those big, expressive eyes? There’s only one answer that makes sense to me. His shepherd just got a new camera, and the sheep heard the familiar voice of the shepherd calling it over to pose for a picture. (And, out of spite, the other sheep are photo-bombing in the background. Sigh…)
Okay, well, maybe that’s not what happened. But to me, it illustrates one of the many truths found in Scripture. A sheep responds to its shepherd’s voice. The verse, spoken by the Good Shepherd Jesus himself, is this one:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” - John 10:27 (ESV)
Why is that? I can answer that in a single word. Connection. The sheep is connected to its shepherd for an extended time and has learned through experience that its shepherd can be trusted.
Good Morning Sunshine
When I approached this drawing, I imagined the scene from the perspective of a shepherd just opening his eyes. He looks up, and what does he see looking down at him? A sheep waiting patiently for him to wake, whose expression seems to say,
"Good morning! I'm so glad you're here. What’s going on today?”
Be Still And Know
We don't find peace by pretending our problems don't exist. We find peace by viewing them through the greater reality of who God is.
Sometimes You Have to Draw a Lion
It’s not just a work of art; it’s a declaration. A reminder that I am protected, upheld, and victorious because of Christ.
A New Perspective
No matter what challenge we face, everything can change when we step back and see things from God's perspective.
Keeping Step
When Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary... and I will give you rest," I used to picture rest as taking a break from life's responsibilities. But over time, I've realized He was offering something much deeper.
The Christian life isn't about striving harder on my own; it's about staying close enough to Jesus that He carries the weight and teaches me how to walk.