Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 165

iPainting God’s Palette

Artists spend their lives trying to, in some way, capture what they see. However, eighty year old artists, ones who’ve made their living with paint, will tell you that nothing compares to what they see outside.

God’s palette isn’t limited to man’s abilities, or his limitations. That is why we should be still, watching, and listening for The Master Artist to paint something fresh in our lives today. Every day is vibrant in His hands!

Sketch Bat Skydiving

Two dear friends of mine we’re talking recently of their love of skydiving. For someone like me, who is afraid of heights, this seems like something that Batman would do. That’s what the above fountain pen sketch is, but I can’t help but think, how many heroes there are in our real lives.

My two friends wouldn’t classify themselves as heroes, but on top of being wonderful people, their skills impact so many. One is a doctor, the other is a contractor. Each has spent time helping those in need. To many like me, they seem like Batman. Who do you know that doesn’t wear a costume, but is a hero in your life?

Early Riser

It was about 4:30 when Nicholas woke up, saying “living room”. I couldn’t help but think, The Son rose early. The Lord Jesus rose before the morning light, because a new day had dawned. For the first time sine the fall of Adam, the way back was revealed.

I also couldn’t help but notice, everyone connected with Our Savior was awake early on that day. Though they didn’t yet know what was going on, they weren’t asleep. The only other person it referenced rising was when Simon Peter stood to go to the tomb. In Luke it literally says that Simon Peter rose, not from sleep, but standing up to go to the tomb.

Simon could now stand, and walk into something he couldn’t before. It wasn’t only redemption in general, but personal victory. Before Calvary he had denied, but there was no denial that something was now different. It was a new day.

The Lord wasn’t wasting a moment, He wanted to send a message to all, it is a new day! No matter who we are, or what we’ve done, we can find redemption in His Light. Nicholas woke up saying, “living room”, and that’s what The Lord transformed a tomb into.

He turned it from a place of death, to a room filled with new life. Today, He can do the same for anyone who wants to meet Him in the start of a new day. Whether you’re already a believer, have not yet made Jesus your Savior, or are looking for a pathway back, He is waiting for you. The Light has broken the darkness, and no matter your situation, Jesus can transform your heart into a “living room”!

The Fringe

Moses was wrongly accused by one he had helped to consecrate to God’s service. Korah, and the others tried to rise up against him, God would not allow it. The ground opened up and swallowed them.

The Lord Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin, and the Pharisees, and they wrongly accused Him. The Lord could have stopped them, but He chose not too. We know why, it was because of His plan to rescue all who were lost. Yet it is an interesting parallel.

According to Numbers 16:9, Moses alludes to Korah’s group seeking the Priesthood. Some scholars say the whole argument began over the command concerning the fringe of the garments. Whether that’s the case I don’t know, but it sparks two thoughts.

First, the Reubenites were on the south side of the Tabernacle, with the Kohathites between them and the Tabernacle. Korah was a Kohathite, and cousin of Moses. Scholars believe he was able to influence them because they felt slighted by not being honored as the primary tribe of birthright.

When you mix an agenda, hurt, with influences on the fringe, or edge of the camp, trouble happens. Korah was the mastermind, but he influenced those who allowed hurt to bring them to the fringe. The fringe command wasn’t the problem, God’s plan never is, but where we are can be.

That brings me to the second, and wonderful point. Whether you’re talking about the Sanhedrin, or us Gentiles, we were all on the fringe. The Apostle Paul said, “”All have sinned and come short of The Glory Of God.” Why is that exciting, because Jesus came to reach everyone, including all those on the fringe of their own mess!

Our High Priest, came to die for the very High Priests who plotted His death. Like us, they weren’t just on the fringe, they were over the edge. The Lord didn’t open up the ground to swallow us all up. Instead, He gave His life on the Cross to free us all!

He did borrow a tomb, and was laid there for three days, but He did so to open a portal. Perhaps that’s also why the Psalmist said this about the fringe of the garment. “ It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;” Psalms 133:2 (KJV)

Aren’t you glad Friday is about reaching to the outskirts, or fringe of mankind. To bring not just the seemingly attentive, but the rest of us to Salvation! The hard headed, stubborn, and slow to listen us! Where, in The Old Covenant, judgement would have swallowed us whole, in The New Covenant He opens the door of death so we can have life! As Pastor Denny Livingston from our Church Point Of Mercy said so eloquently, “Friday He died, but Sunday is coming!”

iPainting Detective 27

On March 30, 1939 the May issue was released, being on the comic schedule this way. It was the premiere of a character, and an adopted son and later adopted Dad I might add, named Bruce Wayne. Of course they didn’t know all that yet, they only knew him as Batman.

So Far

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We were a few days in by March 30, 2019, and loving it. Today we still are, of course like then, we were praying we wouldn’t mess things up. Today, we’re still asking questions of those who know a whole lot more than we do, praying for God’s guidance, and enjoying the gift of Noise. I remember how loud silence could be, and I’m so thankful we have precious noise to fill our days.

If you’re a new parent, all I can tell you is, the questions you have are normal. That feeling of will I ever know what I’m doing, they tell me that will never go away, and I’m so thankful for that. The gift of knowing you need help in guiding your children is in itself a gift. Yes it’s good to remember you don’t know everything. It’s more than that, it’s knowing at those times when you feel totally clueless, at least you’re not alone. Someone else has been there, and they can help you figure it out.

Ashley and I love each day’s surprises, and the hands that holds ours. The little hand that reaches out for us. The hands we ask to help us answer his questions. Most of all, the hands we pray will carry us through to where Nicholas needs us to lead him. I remember the excitement, the questions, and the joy, not like it was yesterday, but this morning at 7:00 am, lol.

Nicholas Is 2- What God Saw Possible

Two years ago, God took two people who longed see their own child, and to hear Mom and Dad from their own child. It may seem simple, but for us it looked on face value, impossible. God saw what we did not see, and now we see and hear a miracle say those words every day. Today #NicholasAsherPruitt is two years old, and I can’t believe it.

I marvel at God’s goodness, at His heart. I marvel at the hearts of those He asked to help make it happen, and of the heart of the little boy in these pictures. Ashley Pruitt and I are so thankful for the opportunity to be his parents. Thank you Lord, that we get to celebrate You, Your miracle, and to love Nicholas every day!

Adoption is very important to me, it brought us to God’s plan for our lives. Adoption was also how God brought us into His Kingdom through His sacrifice on the cross. Adoption wasn’t only the vehicle that brought our son to us, it’s the method God gave us to remind us to cherish every moment with #NicholasAsherPruitt.

If you know someone who desires a child, I would encourage you to help open an opportunity for them. We didn’t realize it, but the adoption journey didn’t start for us at an office in Phoenix, or in a tear stained room filled with emptiness. It started when Our Heavenly Father, and #ProudAdoptedDad, gave us a chance to experience what He did, the gift of the impossible.

iPainting Looking Ahead

In this iPainting, it is of two years ago when we were looking ahead to our tomorrow. Now, tomorrow is #NicholasAsherPruitt 2nd birthday. I’m so thankful that he is our baby boy. I’m also thankful for his beautiful Mother who shares my life, Ashley Pruitt.

Looking To the Horizon

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This photo was taken two years ago. There was a lot we didn’t know, including that our wait was almost over. After years of waiting to be a Mom and a Dad, we were going to meet our miracle. This day, we were a little discouraged, but aren’t you glad God carries us during those days? However, we were still looking to the horizon, and the promise God was fulfilling. I can tell you now, two years later, the sunrise is always worth waiting for!

Watercolor Line And Wash Fox

This is a line and wash watercolor of one of my favorite subjects, a fox. While they were always beautiful, they have become a symbol of our unique little fox, #NicholasAsherPruitt. God has blessed my Wife Ashley with a unique, special, and amazing little boy. #ProudAdoptedParents #GodIsGood