Hey guys!

Here are three things to spark your inner missional flame:

💥 INSPIRED BY

Everyone Is On A Mission

Every day, Rod Kitson paints 1 square painting of a view of his apartment.

This is what it looks like when one singular vision becomes depicted by various elements at the same time. When placed together, it’s not perfect. It looks collage-y. It appears more like a tapestry. It captures the raw moments from the vantage point per painting.

If you only look at one painting by itself, you’d be tempted to applaud the beauty of the one, isolated, painting. And its true, one by itself is beautiful.

But when put together, these form a singular vision of a master painter. You see the greater work at work.

This made me think of God’s mission. When we fragment the global church, exalting one version of it over another, we miss the bigger picture. This is God’s, and God’s-alone, work. It’s a singular ,multi-thousand-years-and-generations kind of project.

Let us not forget this when we’re working on our little canvas he’s entrusted us with.

🛠️ EQUIPPED BY

Who Do Your “Glories” Sing To?

“That my glory may sing your praises and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.”
​Psalm 30:12

David does not say here that he will sing.

He says his glory would do it.

He had plenty of glories: wealth, victories in war, a kingdom, God’s covenant, and family lineage to name a few.

When these glories in our lives shine–our accolades, the good things, the blessings, our artwork–whose praise do they sing? Yours? Something or someone else's?

Do they, with all their allusive qualities, declare, “I’m paint splatter in God’s world!” Or are the notes, ingredients, sweat, brush strokes saying the opposite? Are you fashioning them to go against their nature?

The paint wants to declare, “I am malleable, but only to an extent. Look at all the beauty I can mend myself toward. Please do not profane me. Please do not imprison me to your sin, to Satan.”

Our works glory by our allegiance, expressed bodily, our service, and our reverence, expressed by our being faithful to God.

🎨 WHAT I MADE THIS WEEK

5-Minute Digital Painting

I don't care. I'm going to start posting my "makings" in public here in the newsletter. This will keep me on the line for making something each week!

Call it sloppy, but it's worth practicing your craft even if just for a few minutes. I had a brief moment to splash some digital colors down here. I was trying to practice quick gesture reference painting. Then it was time for dinner, so I stopped.

What did you make this last week? (email me and I'll share it with in my next newsletter!)

🚀 SENT WITH

Kevin Kelly

-Matt