This larger than life chrome moose sculpture is right in the heart of Franktown, Colorado. He's pretty big. I think larger than life, but I've never seen a moose in real life.
This allegory really touched me. I thought I would share the freedom it offers.
Small Wooden People by Max Lucado
The Wemmicks were small wooden people. Each of the wooden people was carved by a woodworker named Eli. His workshop sat on a hill overlooking their village. Every Wemmick was different. Some had big noses, others had large eyes. Some were tall and others were short. Some wore hats, others wore coats. But all were made by the same carver and all lived in the village.
And all day, every day, the Wemmicks did the same thing: They gave each other stickers. Each Wemmick had a box of golden star stickers and a box of gray dot stickers. Up and down the streets all over the city, people could be seen sticking stars or dots on one another.
The pretty ones, those with smooth wood and fine paint, always got stars. But if the wood was rough or the paint chipped, the Wemmicks gave dots. The talented ones got stars, too. Some could lift big sticks high above their heads or jump over tall boxes. Still others knew big words or could sing very pretty songs. Everyone gave them stars.
Some Wemmicks had stars all over them! Every time they got a star it made them feel so good that they did something else and got another star. Others, though, could do little. They got dots.
Punchinello was one of these. He tried to jump high like the others, but he always fell. And when he fell, the others would gather around and give him dots. Sometimes when he fell, it would scar his wood, so the people would give him more dots. He would try to explain why he fell and say something silly, and the Wemmicks would give him more dots.
After a while he had so many dots that he didn’t want to go outside. He was afraid he would do something dumb such as forget his hat or step in the water, and then people would give him another dot. In fact, he had so many gray dots that some people would come up and give him one without reason.
“He deserves lots of dots,” the wooden people would agree with one another.
“He’s not a good wooden person.”
After a while Punchinello believed them. “I’m not a good wemmick,” he would say. The few times he went outside, he hung around other Wemmicks who had a lot of dots. He felt better around them.
One day he met a Wemmick who was unlike any he’d ever met. She had no dots or stars. She was just wooden. Her name was Lulia.
It wasn’t that people didn’t try to give her stickers; it’s just that the stickers didn’t stick. Some admired Lulia for having no dots, so they would run up and give her a star. But it would fall off. Some would look down on her for having no stars, so they would give her a dot. But it wouldn’t stay either.
“That’s the way I want to be,” thought Punchinello. “I don’t want anyone’s marks.” So he asked the stickerless Wemmick how she did it.
“It’s easy,” Lulia replied. “every day I go see Eli.”
“Eli?”
“Yes, Eli. The woodcarver. I sit in the workshop with him.”
“Why?”
“Why don’t you find out for yourself? Go up the hill. He’s there. ”
And with that the Wemmick with no marks turned and skipped away.
“But he won’t want to see me!” Punchinello cried out.
Lulia didn’t hear. So Punchinello went home. He sat near a window and watched the wooden people as they scurried around giving each other stars and dots.
“It’s not right,” he muttered to himself. And he resolved to go see Eli.
He walked up the narrow path to the top of the hill and stepped into the big shop. His wooden eyes widened at the size of everything. The stool was as tall as he was. He had to stretch on his tiptoes to see the top of the workbench. A hammer was as long as his arm. Punchinello swallowed hard.
“I’m not staying here!” and he turned to leave. Then he heard his name.
“Punchinello?” The voice was deep and strong.
Punchinello stopped.
“Punchinello! How good to see you. Come and let me have a look at you.”
Punchinello turned slowly and looked at the large bearded craftsman.
“You know my name?” the little Wemmick asked.
“Of course I do. I made you.”
Eli stooped down and picked him up and set him on the bench. “Hmm, ” he spoke thoughtfully as he inspected the gray circles. “Looks like you’ve been given some bad marks.”
“I didn’t mean to, Eli. I really tried hard.”
“Oh, you don’t have to defend yourself to me. I don’t care what the other Wemmicks think.”
“You don’t?”
“No, and you shouldn’t either. Who are they to give stars or dots? They’re Wemmicks just like you. What they think doesn’t matter, Punchinello. All that matters is what I think. And I think you are pretty special.”
Punchinello laughed. “Me, special? Why? I can’t walk fast. I can’t jump. My paint is peeling. Why do I matter to you?”
Eli looked at Punchinello, put his hands on those small wooden shoulders, and spoke very slowly. “Because you’re mine. That’s why you matter to me.”
Punchinello had never had anyone look at him like this—much less his maker. He didn’t know what to say.
“Every day I’ve been hoping you’d come,” Eli explained.
“I came because I met someone who had no marks.”
“I know. She told me about you.”
“Why don’t the stickers stay on her?”
“Because she has decided that what I think is more important than what they think. The stickers only stick if you let them.”
“What?”
“The stickers only stick if they matter to you. The more you trust my love, the less you care about the stickers.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“You will, but it will take time. You’ve got a lot of marks. For now, just come to see me every day and let me remind you how much I care.”
Eli lifted Punchinello off the bench and set him on the ground.
“Remember,” Eli said as the Wemmick walked out the door. “You are special because I made you. And I don’t make mistakes.”
Punchinello didn’t stop, but in his heart he thought, “I think he really means it.”
In 1977 when this movie came on tv and played over several nights, God's Word being played out like this saved my life. God's Word, Jesus, the Living Word, continues to save my life. YHVH bless everyone who loves Yahshua and spread's God's Word which saves alive the lost.
The scripture Jesus was teaching, even while He was nailed to the cross was Psalm 22 which was written a thousand years approximately before Jesus' birth, yet describes the events that were happening RIGHT THEN as He was on the cross. Psalm 22 1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Eli, Eli, lama schabathani) Why art Thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but Thou hearest not;
3 But Thou art holy. O Thou That inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in Thee: They trusted and Thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto Thee, and were delievered: They trusted in Thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised of the People.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 "He trusted on the Lord that He would deliver him: Let Him deliver him, seeing He delighted in him."
9 But Thou art he That took me out of the womb: Thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon Thee from the womb: Thou art my God from my mother's belly,
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; For there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, As a ravening and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax;
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; And Thou hast brought me into the dust of death
16 For dogs have compassed me; The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: They pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones; They look and stare upon me,
18 They part my garments amng them, And cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not Thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; My darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: For Thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare Thy Name unto my brethren; In the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee.
23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise Him; All ye the seed of Jaco, glorify Him; And fear Him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For He hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither hath He hid His face from him; But when he cried unto Him, He heard.
25 My praise shall be of Thee in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before them that fear Him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: They shall praise the Lord that seek Him:
27 All the ends of the world shall remem- ber and turn unto the Lord: And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: And He is the Governor among the nations
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: All they that go down to the dust shall bow before Him:
30 A seed shall serve Him: It shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come and shall declare His righteousness unto a People that shall be born, That He hath done this.
Somehow, I just am able to listen better in classes when I draw. (It looks like a picture portrait. LOL) This is what came out of my head while sitting in a diabetes class for my husband. Aaaannnd carrots are a "free" food, and Skinny Cow makes fudgesicles that are okay, too!
This is very powerful. I was filled with tears watching. I love God so much for beautiful, innocent, healing, Jesus laying down His life to bless and heal and protect US. Forgiveness is freely offered but it isn't free! He gave a terrible price for it. I hope everyone takes His gift and does not let such a tremendous gift of pure love for us go to waste. His gift is so precious and His love so apparent. God bless you who love Him and take His gift and are forgiven.
It has come to my attention that the first two statements in this video are ever so subtley tweaked so as NOT TO BE GOD'S TRUTH according to God's Word. The first couple statements that "He became sin who knew no sin" and "that we might become His righteousness" are not Biblically accurate.
Here is the stumblingblock for so many:
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
When a casual reader reads this it APPEARS that Christ was turned to sin - HOWEVER, one must stop and take every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God regarding this statement:
He hath made: G4160 look hard at this: it means:
G4160 ποιέω poieō poy-eh'-o Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct): - abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do (-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare G4238.
ok you might think the above is a little confusing - bear with me. go to G4238 and you will see a clearer meaning of the G4160:
G4238 A primary verb; to “practise”, that is, perform repeatedly or habitually (thus differing from G4160, which properly refers to a single act); by implication to execute, accomplish, etc.; specifically to collect (dues), fare (personally): - commit, deeds, do, exact, keep, require, use arts.
ok so what did he specifically collect on the cross by that single selfless act?
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
He bore or took the wages of our sin which is death that were meant for us and we owe him our dues or tribute (Love). Always the High Priest even as the lamb.
Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
We know our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the law on that cross for us. Absolute pure perfect Love not sin took our death sentences or what was due us as wages.
1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Emanuel - God With Us
Christ was not sin on the Cross - he was the most perfect love you could ever imagine on that Cross.
Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. =================================================== The TRUE JESUS CHRIST BECOMES Our RIGHTEOUSNESS, ONLY WHEN We ARE IN HIM, WHEN We ARE IN HIS DOCTRINE and IN HIS WAY
St. JOHN 14:6 JESUS SAITH UNTO Him, I AM The WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE: NO Man COMETH UNTO The FATHER, BUT BY ME (The TRUE JESUS CHRIST)
ISAIAH 64:6 BUT We ARE ALL AS An UNCLEAN THING, and ALL Our RIGHTEOUSNESS ARE AS FILTHY RAGS; and We ALL DO FADE AS a LEAF; and Our INIQUITIES (SINS, VIOLATIONS Of YHVH'S LAWS and COMMANDMENTS), LIKE The WIND, HAVE TAKEN Us AWAY!
JEREMIAH 23:6 IN HIS DAYS JUDAH SHALL BE SAVED, and ISRAEL SHALL DWELL SAFELY: and THIS IS HIS NAME WHEREBY HE SHALL BE CALLED, The LORD Our RIGHTEOUSNESS!
I just sat down one day last week with my sketchbook and pen and started drawing. This woman with parrot is what came about . . . surprise to me, too. I really don't know what brought this design out of me?? The only thing I can think of is there used to be a restaurant in Scottsdale called Avanti's that had a beautiful woman/parrot design on their doors and matchboxes that I always admired. But, THIS is so not like that!
Uploaded by rosethistleartworks
This one I was watching "Jesus of Nazareth" and thought I could capture Mary. This isn't an actual portrait. I just drew from my imagination. I'm sure that Mary was much more beautiful than my limited talent could muster. The actress who played Mary in that movie is really beautiful. I think she portrayed "Juliet" once, too.
That's right. I turned on the music today. So, kick back and rock out with me all day!!! These are all songs that are very special to me, mainly for my love of God and all that He has brought me through in this short time I live in this earth suit.
If you just can't take it . . . then you can go to the very bottom of this page and hit pause on my playlist.
I love creating pet portraits for people of their favorite pets or wildlife. Felt sculpture, clay sculpture, watercolor pencil, ink, polymer clay are a few of the mediums I work with. I'm so fortunate to live with my family in beautiful eastern Colorado with a view of the sunsets over the Rocky Mountains.
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