Fish Gemstone Carving, Lightning Ridge Black Opal
$150 | Fish Gemstone Carving
by KJ Montoya
Lightning Ridge Black Opal
1.55 Carat, 14mm Long
Email: info@KJOFineArt for purchase information.
Opal in Copper – SOLD
- 1.5 carat Opal wrapped in copper wire on 18″ chain by KJ Montoya
Copper Wrapped Opal
1.5 Carat Welo Opal
SOLD
Contact Info: kjofineart@cox.net
Item #WPWC040314
Social Commentary by KJ
Why does it seem lately that every time I hear something regarding Christianity it’s hateful? Why have we allowed self-righteous bigotry to become a representation of our faith? This is not the faith that Christ taught. He taught us that He came for the sick, not for the healthy. He STOPPED them from stoning the woman for sexual sin. Christ taught us to love our enemies and to bless them EVEN when they persecute us. I understand wanting to wash sin away but that’s NOT our job! That a job done by Christ! Some may point at what happened to the money changers but only HE knows the heart. We are NOT God and that is NOT our place. What is our job? Our job is to put Christ on a stand so that He may give light to the world. And how do we do that? By being peacemakers, by being pure in heart, by feeding the hungry and clothing the poor. That means *I* need to be pure in heart. I have no right to demand it from others. We’re called to be merciful, meek… the list goes on. Y’all know the list. This is stuff we know. I mean, seriously, we KNOW this! So then why, when we see modern day Pharisees taking their wrath out on people that are messing up, or heck, sometimes just people they THINK are messing up, why do we as loving, merciful Christians who actually care about those people just sit back and say nothing? Why are we letting these people speak for Christ when it’s NOT what He said?
I don’t have an instant solution. I’m mostly just venting right now about something that’s heavy on my heart. I know I have no need to defend my God but it breaks my heart and stabs into my soul when I see, even people that I love, sometimes slip into hateful speech. I know it’s a human frailty and I know that I myself have many other faults and I’m not condemning them but… I also know the pain it’s caused others. And I know the pain that it’s caused me as I’ve watched it turn people I love away from the true nature of Christ. The nature that I grew up seeing and loving in my parents as they always gave and continue to give at any cost with no thought for themselves.
So I look to myself. Where have I failed? Why have I remained silent for so long? Well, that’s easy to see. I’ve obviously failed in a lot of areas. I’m not God so yes, I screw up a lot. Lol But I think the main reason I’ve stayed silent too long that that I’ve allowed my own sin to block my communication with God. Cause, see, when that communication is flowing, well, I’m not so silent. I can’t be. I’ve got too much light inside me to be quiet. You know how extreme light actually makes a noise right? Now, not being silent doesn’t mean I have to stand on street corners and yell at people, it means that my life needs to speak so loudly that others around me can’t deny the love of God. That’s the kind of life my folks lived but somehow it’s eluded me to the point where even the one nearest and dearest to my heart has joined those who now bash my beloved God because of these modern day Pharisees. My most beloved is missing the most wonderful thing that has ever existed. I’m not saying she learned it from me because I’ve never even remotely taught that, but maybe the problem is that my life was too silent to overcome their horrible cries. I don’t know. Hammering myself for it won’t fix anything and I know everything isn’t as simplistic as that but still, my life has been too silent.
So God, tonight I ask of You, I beg of You, please, help me to change. Purify my heart and help me to set it apart for You. Cleanse me from within and make me holy, for You, O Lord are truly worthy.
And Christians, I ask you to just take a moment to prayerfully consider, are you letting His light shine? Are you being a true representation of what He really is about? If not, please, consider what it might cost.
Ideas from my head
I went to see Avatar today in 3D. It was an wonderful fantasy that allows you to soar the the skies and through fields of beauty and cheer as peace & unity prevail. I adored the film.
The Na’vi appear very similar in their value structure to the Native American beliefs and others like it that embrace a mother earth and believe that all of life is unified. I can recognize the draw to this way of thinking. Who doesn’t long for peace and unity? How can one find fault in such lofty ideals?
However, the best deceptions are those that are wrapped around a nugget of truth. Inside the best deceptions you will indeed find lofty ideals. But they are only shadows of the full truth, lolling people into a false sense of security only to miss the magnificence of the full truth. Instead of fully embracing the true Glory of God, they are instead sold short, stubbornly refusing to look God full in the face and REALLY dig to find out who He really is…
But agree with me or not, this got me to thinking. During this movie I fully recognized and embraced an inner desire to be in unity with nature, the animals and each other. I watched as the Na’vi were able to link and fully bond with magnificent creatures and truly feel their spirits soaring within them. They were two separate entities and yet managed to become one. I saw the forests of light and beauty and I recognized my strong desire to be them, in that place, in that unity. The movie was a celebration of creation, everywhere they turned they truly SAW the beauty that surrounded them.
But as I watched this, I realized that it is very similar to how God first created us. Before the first sin, we WERE in unity with nature, we were in unity with each other, and most importantly, we were in unity with God. I think those desires still linger inside the human race many generations removed from the Garden of Eden. Those desires are innate within us regardless of culture, upbringing and education and have sprung up all over the globe during all eras. That desire is the nugget of truth that is found within the “Mother Earth” versions of religion.
My sincere prayer is that those of you who dwell inside those beliefs discover the complete fulfillment of these desires. The only true fulfillment is found in Christ Jesus, the Son of the Almighty God, Master Creator. That the blinds will be removed from your eyes and that someday you will dwell with me in perfect harmony, in the place where the lion will lay down with the lamb. That day is coming and it will be more glorious than you can ever imagine.
12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
1 Cor 13:12 NASB
Peace to you and may God go with you in all that you do.
9/11 Poem by my Grandma
NINE ELEVEN
The sky was blue, the birds did fly,
The sun arose in the Eastern sky.
In New York when I woke at seven,…
‘Twas a peaceful morn on Nine Eleven.
Then terror struck and the towers fell.
How many were killed, it was hard to tell.
My Mommy and Daddy are now up in Heaven
Because of what happened on Nine Eleven.
Time went on and day and night,
They searched for victims with all their might.
Can those terrorists ever be forgiven
For what they did on Nine Eleven?
Copyright 2001 Esther Myrtle Edwards
9/11 Poem by my Mom
September 11th, Two Thousand One
Brought death, destruction and pain;
Our wound was deep and our lives…
Will never be the same.
But out of this evil came great good
With stories of courage and daring;
Stories of heroes and unselfish acts,
Stories of love and caring.
We celebrate the human spirit,
Our faith dissolves each fear;
A renewal of strength a nd determination
Springs from every tear.
Shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart,
United we will stand;
The spirit of pride and togetherness
Lives on in this great land.
© Copyright 2001 Idella Pearl Edwards
Letter to my friend
The night was soft and comforting as I lay in bed awaiting sleep. The drone of the fan was soft upon my ear and its light breeze danced across my skin. The sheets were smooth and cool as my toes slid deeper under the blankets. The pale light from the windows mingled with the darkness creating soft blurred forms as my glasses lay beside me on the dresser. The warm spot on my pillow had a comforting scent that often lured me to sleep. All of this was enticing my slumber. But one lone thing kept me awake. Reluctantly, I climbed out of bed and wandered through the dark into the other room. As I turned on the computer screen the brightness stung my eyes. But I knew if I did not write this down, sleep would not come smoothly.
Oh friend my friend, my beloved friend. I feel your deep throbbing pain. I hear your cries of despair. And in the midst of your growing hopelessness I hear your fearful cry, “I’m losing my faith!”
I’ve been where you are but my path is not your path. My answers are not your answers. Your pain, while maybe similar, is uniquely yours. So I cannot say do this or do that and it’ll fix everything. But I can offer you this and hope that you can take it and use it.
When I look at your life I see faith, strong, everlasting faith. Within the course of one week I saw a woman that boldly declared that she is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. I saw a woman that stood with unwavering righteousness and strength against the wars waged against the unborn. And a woman that gently and tenderly led a tiny, precious life to the foot of the Cross. Is this not faith? Can you not see God’s mighty hand at work in your life? Perhaps it’s time to retrain your eyes, to turn them away from the outward things and onto the inward things.
God never promised us a perfect life. No, the scripture speaks of trials and tribulations. It speaks of God’s refining fires. But it also speaks of God’s mercy and grace. Just because your spot right now is painful does not mean He has turned his back on you. I don’t know why you are where you are right now but I do know that He feels your pain even deeper than you do. And I know that He cries out to you, “My child, my precious, precious child. I wish I could show you why. I wish I could take away the pain. But for now, you must endure. But while you walk through these trying times, I’m still here. Every time you shed your tears, I cry as well. Know this, you are my child, my beloved, and I am taking these times and molding you. I am teaching you things that you do not yet understand. Keep your eyes on Me, the prize, that you do not lose your way. Satan is waging battle for your soul but I will not lose you. I have placed my strength inside you to carry you through. I am there, even when you cannot see.”
Faith does not promise us the life that we desire. Faith guides us toward the life that God desires. To us, life means circumstances, where we live, our jobs, our things, our pride and pleasures. To Him, life is truly life. Life continues despite circumstances. It is our love, our worship, our faith.
Spend some time in 1 Cor. Let this book wash you and refresh you. I love you and will continue praying, because all this said, its plain hard to walk.
Now, I’m off to bed. I’m sure my sheets are still cool and the night air will still dance across my skin. As I drift into slumber, I will be lifting you up in prayer.