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The Other Shoe, 02FEB

I felt good today until I realized that I made mistakes today, and this week – they were not earth shattering, but stupid enough – mistakes from rushing and other moments of ugh…

I write now because my mistakes meant that I learned more insight into my faith and a reminder of why my humanness, everyone’s humanness really needs Jesus as our healer, the forgiver, the divine…

“To forgive is divine.”

After my realization of my mistakes, a friend comforted me by saying: to forgive is divine. I said “It’s hardest to forgive oneself…”

And yeah, then I realized I need forgiveness for that statement too… because the basic fact that I can’t actually give myself forgiveness, I can only be the one to ask… yup… Forgiveness is a divine gift as well as a directive.

Forgiveness is divine not human in origin…. yup… we are to forgive but give credit where credit is due…

Forgiveness of human self is the message of Jesus’s reconciliation…

Not forgiving myself is forgoing the mercy Jesus desperately wants to give… I need Jesus… and I can be grateful that I even realized that I went wrong today… humbled by my humanness… grateful that I can try to make amends… blessed that Jesus paused to say “i don’t condemn you, but you realize what you did, right?”

Such insight can be gained from sleepless nights… “maybe a thousand sleepless nights is what it takes to know You’re near…” the song lyric resonates (“Blessings” from Laura Story)…

My missteps were the result of rushing, trying to do the right thing, but I stumbled. Tripping over myself for trying too hard… maybe someday I am going to be grateful for this trial… or forget it all together… yet right now I feel humbled…

See, it is important to know that God does not “drop the other shoe” in our bubble-bursting moments – the “other shoe” is for us to put on and walk with Christ in our humbled humanness… and then to reach for forgiveness… “if the shoe fits…”

We have 2 shoes – JOY and HUMBLENESS – we have to put BOTH shoes on to keep walking…

Even IF I wanted to stop living in joy, because of my sadness, I have to keep walking, stepping out to serve the Lord in Joy.

Even IF I wanted to ignore my humanness, and go back to spreading wonderful joy, I cannot ignore how very human I am – and therefore I have to keep walking, stepping out to serve the Lord in humbleness.

If “the other shoe” fits… it’s because God dropped it in front of us so that we put it on and keep walking in His narrow but sure path…

These steps are for you and you alone (but not alone, we walk WITH the Lord)…

The shoe fits…

Jesus carries the day…

Thank You Jesus…

Amen

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

NOTE: now that I have had some time to reflect on those issues – they seem so small in comparison to life – and I have to say that to walk humbly with the Lord means that we ALSO have to put our own issues into perspective and not make a mountain out of a molehill! in other words, keep walking and don’t let your perceived problems overtake the problems of the world – don’t ignore issues but don’t dwell on them in a selfish way – let them go and get back to the Lord’s work…

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Nothing to Write About is EVERYTHING, 31Jan

Lord knows, He wakes me up early, refreshed, ready to write. But this time I don’t think I have anything to write about!

As I turn over comfy, warmed, I am thankful to have slept well and especially to have found a corner of peace to allow myself this luxury of enjoying peace.

I am so thankful that I am THANKFUL…

Nothing to write about means I have EVERYTHING to thank the Lord for…

Lord, I’m so thankful witnessing that You give us strength and direction and for knowing that “These things will pass” – they actually did pass. They did and I am here to praise Your healing – physical, emotional, and healing thru time fading away the pain.

The moon, the stars, the sunrise are so beautifully distracting this morning – and You are even more beautiful than everything that You made beautiful. Thank you Lord for You – for being a focal point of a new day in Your service.

If I am in a holding pattern of peace it is because You made me look here for peace among the struggles, You focused me to count my blessings and YOU WERE RIGHT.

I did not foresee where I am now, but Lord you knew how to get me here. I have tried to make the best choices – and even if I didn’t, I have prayed for You to use me best You could… I fear You Lord in respect, You know when I feel humbled.  Thankful for my trials, I thank you for Your guidance thru them.

You are the best Lord, nothing I could have imagined compares to knowing you…

I am sorry when I forget You.

I am sorry when I rush You.

I am sorry when I fail to seek You.

I am sorry when I hesitate to serve You.

I’m sorry when I should have shut my mouth.

I’m sorry when I failed to open it.

I am sorry when I got shy and should have shouted.

Do I have work to do for You? Am I too complacent? Oh yeah… I have Your issues in me to work on and yet You allow me to feel Joy. I have Your issues in the world to work on and yet You allow me to stay here with my little section of puzzle (for now)…  You give me rest and You allow me perspective. I will never run out of Your Work. You need me to understand Your pace, and my place… then You need me to work for the benefit of Your place at my pace…

Thank You for allowing me to rest just now, regaining my strength…

Actually, You remind me that I need to look for Your strength not mine… Your agenda not mine… Your joy not mine. Your wings are not just to hide under but for me to soar on.

You are my JOY.

Oh Lord You’re Beautiful…

“if I’m doing good, please help me to never make a sound, except to give all the glory to you.” Keith Green 

Nothing to write is everything to praise!

Thank You for giving me pause to praise.

Amen

—–

My favorite Keith Green song, it is in my head so much…. Oh, Lord You’re Beautiful (Live)” on YouTube https://youtu.be/uVgPQm06g2c

Oh LORD you’re beautiful.

Your face is all I seek.

For when your eyes are on this child.

Your love abounds to me.

—

Oh LORD by body’s tired.

But you keep reminding me.

Of many holy tireless men,

Whose split their blood for thee.

—

I want to take your Word and shine it all around.

But first help me first just live it LORD.

And if I’m doing well help me to never make a sound,

But to give all the glory to you.

—

Oh LORD my faith is small.

And I need a touch from you.

Your Book of books lies undisturbed.

And the prayers from me too few.

—

Oh LORD please light the fire.

That once burned bright and clear.

Replace the lamp of my first love.

That’s fueled with holy fear.

—

I want to take your Word and shine it all around.

But first help me just live it LORD.

And if I’m doing good, please help me to never make a sound,

Except to give all the glory to you.

—

Oh LORD you’re beautiful.

Your face is all I seek.

For when your eyes are on this child.

Your faith abounds to me.

“STRENGTHEN YOUR HEARTS,  FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD IS NEAR” James 5

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Scripture 52, Treasure Old and New, 25Jan

I came across a “new to me” scripture – it’s unusual to have a new one that I never heard, like it was stuck at the end of so much teaching that no one gets to reading and sharing it:

“And He said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old.’ ” Matthew 13:52 New American Standard

I will have to figure this one out – I want to ponder it before I read ahead in my study guide book.  Scripture 52 (I also take special notice of the number 52, that’s a long story…

This end cap parable is near the parable of the wheat harvest separated away from the weeds AFTER they were grown together, and near the parable of the good fish separated from the bad. Here Jesus talks about the end of ages, the bad will be plucked out and thrown into the fire and the righteous clearly standing out… also near the parables of the mustard seed and yeast, all about the kingdom of heaven starting small and growing large… also near the scripture discussion of Jesus telling folks that He is the one fulfilling scripture prophecy…

Old and new… yet this last scripture is DIFFERENT… it’s about showing both old and new as treasures.

Old treasure could include the saints who’ve passed away before the messiah came, and new being believers who already start with a known messiah…

Jesus is the Word, eternally old, and recorded… here Jesus being on Earth is clearly new, a new fulfillment of old wisdom that the scribes witnessed and recorded… in this scripture 52, could the treasure simply be Jesus who is new and old at the same time? And/or the treasure is that Jesus’s effect on us that is new takes on our old ways.   Treasures of stories to show, not hide. Jesus does not want us to hide stories of HIS HEALING. Jesus is all these things…  old and new, He is true.

If we are disciples, then we must show Jesus thru us. In the thoughts of scripture 52, we can show healing of old wounds. We could also show treasures of new changes that Jesus has brought in us – trading our old ways for new. We are new creations in Christ! And how better to show this than to be examples of change – His repair to our brokenness… If you have been changed then tell the world. And give credit where credit is due – bring out the changes and speak highly of the miracle that changes you.

As a scribe, recording the story of Jesus, there are old and new stories to tell. We can all tell stories of the amazing differences God and God’s people have made in our lives… I am glad I subscribe to this thinking and writing about Jesus… So, my thoughts are new to me, NEW, but they are of old ways of the Lord. The Lord makes each person’s faith freshly their own…. that is old and new at the same time…

So, now I will read ahead in my study guide and see what he says – hmmmm…. This author ONLY talked about Jesus instructing the scribes to be scribes… short explanation… perhaps he could have written more – perhaps he could have written a whole page – perhaps that is what I and you are supposed to do – perhaps our whole lives are to be living testaments (not necessarily written but lived) – living out the amazing treasures of new and old of Christ within us – perhaps as scribes a picture means a thousand words… and the WORD means a lifetime of treasure…

I know one of my greatest treasures is to show that I was old and now Jesus made me new (and as my own kind of scribe I am now all about feeling and knowing my newness)… Old wisdom is a treasure,  and New insight into scripture is a treasure too….

How each of us opens up to Jesus in old and new ways is worth treasuring!

and Jesus? Jesus is a treasure…

Who does Jesus treasure? YOU!

You are part of the Kingdom of God!

God wants to see you!

“Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” KJV

Thank You Jesus…

I treasure Your kingdom because of You!

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My Roots – His Net, 20Jun 2015 reprise 2019

Feed on JESUS love and not individual human love and you will never go hungry. Look for the love of Jesus under stones, in the dark spaces, and plain as day in the open…

At first I went to church for the people and to put down my roots. I needed and always will need people, that’s who I am, that will never change. Once in my church family I followed God’s love in a unique path that I didn’t realize I was taking. God drew me near and I found Jesus along the way. In a long term plan, God was reeling me in… Slow but sure… Slow enough that my wriggling didn’t unhook me, and by using a wide hook that was made even wider by the extension of love into and from my church family, a network woven tight, built strong…

Our faith family is a network that is GOD’S fishing net, the tighter the weave, the smaller the fish one can catch, the wider the net, the wider the range of fish one can catch, the stronger the safety net behind the first net, the more fish that won’t get lose when things break…

See Jesus is a Fisher of men… Humans are the fish caught in the nets, but they must then become the nets themselves… They can be the builders of new nets, repairers of old nets, designers of new net styles, and then embed themselves into that net.

Anytime you network in Christ means more nets for His work, for Him to draw upon…

See, after I accepted Jesus, I accepted being part of his net. I know my tools, sometimes I build, sometimes I repair, sometimes I design, but all the time I network from within, by being part of that net… We are called to work in the net as well as exist in the net…  we must be networked to work within and not outside God’s workshop.

I used to go to church – “for the people”…. Jesus caught me in His net… So, I now hunger NOT for people love but for JESUS LOVE… And so I now go to be the church – “for the people”… I want to feed the people JESUS LOVE… I feel JESUS LOVE thru them…

I am here for Jesus. I am a member and a worker/builder/repairer of His Net.

Together we are the net that is made in God’s image.

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Wisdom, 13JAN

Your title means nothing,

Your recognition means little,

Your work means something…  but…

the DIFFERENCE you make means EVERYTHING…

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Be Something, 12JAN

“When it snows, she has no fear for her household”

That’s who I want to be.

By snow I don’t mean just snow, but life…. when “life happens”, I pray that I have prepared my household for dealing with life.

I fear the Lord – not by shaking in my boots, but shaking off my boots – shaking off the muds of life’s work – and preparing my boots to get back out there in the Lord’s service.  I fear the idleness,  not the work. I fear the ineffectiveness, not the work. I fear the Lord enough to know He is keeping His eyes on me. I pray to be something.

I praise the Spirit who whispers to me when I stop being in freefall, but be in stillness.  I try to listen before I leap. I leap because I have listened.

Snow is a gift not a nuisance.

Life is a work not a worry.

Grace is gifted not grabbed.

A woman is a gift not a given.

Life gives wisdom not wishfulness.

Dignity is a duty not a default.

Learning is a life pursuit

Be still to learn to be somebody.

Be somebody

Be the Lord’s

Be

—-

“When it snows, she has no fear for her household for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
 ^…
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.  She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
…
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”

Proverbs 31

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Compartmentalize, 10JAN

Compartmentalize your stress but let the Lord’s SPIRIT pour in… leave the tops open to your compartments…

We hold so many problems at the same time – I could list so many – and yet you know that we are forced to cope…  So, how can we?

We can compartmentalize…

These barriers (forced or natural) of compartmentalized situations allow us to focus on some things while holding back the stress of others in holding zones… We are in charge of our zones… build strong walls… perhaps even make clear walls to keep an eye on your issues, knowing they are contained enough to work on something else…

Compartmentalizing allows us to let us to move on day to day with our lives…  imagine a time when you get a phone call that your child is sick at school – well everything else gets shoved into a big compartment that you will ignore until you get to your child. Can we also do that on a small scale?

So many big and little stresses – and so many big and little joys – one person’s stress is another person’s ignoring situation. It is not that people are cold to some problems – it is just that they might be compartmentalizing them…

But how will we stay sane and connected at the same time? How will we prioritize which momentary compartment to think in? Here is an idea: LEAVE THE LIDS OFF of your compartments!!!  Yes, let the Lord’s spirit flow in thru each compartment – let Him guide you and give you peace in the present… Perhaps not make such rigid walls on these compartments but let them be expandable when necessary – the Lord may fill one section up more and make more room in your life for an event – whether good or bad – the Lord can make those decisions for you much easier – just let Him in…

Flow or flood? Breathe thru your stress – let yourself process it for a moment before exploding or ignoring – survival means that you don’t blow your container sides out… if there is a flood of life, then leaving the top open will let excess flow out – and if you let yourself go with the flow then perhaps your buoyancy and flexibility will float you to the top so you can catch your breathe…

Life is better when angst and joys are shared with friends – and also when not shared – have you ever started complaining and then realized you spent all that time in angst? Sometimes leaving the stress in that compartment and not looking back is a great way to move forward each day… think “let the dead bury the dead” Matthew 8:22 – and you move on to your future…

Process – don’t ignore Joy – don’t trash peace – God is not here to “drop the other shoe” – pursue peace – don’t be the downer and just say “this joy can’t last” – you know that at the end of this race, God has ONLY PEACE in store for us – so practice peace now.

Remember God’s house has many rooms – meaning we all have a space for us with Him in Heaven. Isn’t that the best way to look at these compartments of stress and joy and life? AS TEMPORARY! Don’t store up treasures on this earth means also don’t get stuck in the quagmires of balls and chains of this earth. Remember to step up, outside your containers – maybe even climb up on the top of them but don’t look down – and realize that the Lord lifts you out of this world and back to His – so every day put yourself into that mindset – heal on the go…

Live in this world but not of it – compartmentalize and leave the lids open for the spirit to flow. He will find you where you are… and He will help you thru…

Be at Peace where you are – and Peace will find you!

Amen

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I worry, I pray, I pray more… an object in motion stays in motion… 04Jan

I just got so very very anxious worrying about my daughter’s college applications. But I know she’s in good hands and I just started to pray and that calmed my anxiety down… I really do get anxious at times and yet I don’t because I just pray… an object in motion stays in motion. If I keep busy in prayer,  I will stay in prayer.

My anxiety actually freezes me, my prayer moves me into action… an object in motion stays in motion.

I’m human and I need to use my prayer opportunities… I need God – He never stops, I just drift like out in space if I don’t apply the power of prayer… I freeze in stress, and I stop being thankful for the trials… trials bring humbleness,  prayer and direction… an object in motion stays in motion.

Today I had great news that my Dad’s cancer hasn’t spread – that news is sufficient to make me praise over pine…

Cancer is awful,  but this thorn brings with it an action plan of radiation therapy… my Dad and Mom can be in planning,  in attack mode over cancer,  they can be mobile – an object in motion stays in motion.

The little things that caused me strife today I mostly dismissed saying “I can’t complain” especially hearing the encouraging news – actually none of my problems are problems if I think about them compared to God’s long term plan – His plan is in motion – an object in motion stays in motion.

My joy today was also in hearing my mom’s relief – my joy today was feeling that God has my family in His capable hands – my joy is His gift to me – i didn’t make the joy, i only tapped into His… an object in joy stays in joy…

So why do I stress? My stress is my own and my stress I pray is actually purposefully used to move me, direct me, focus me – my stress can also be called a blessing – IF I make it so –  only IF I give it to God, and trade it for an action plan – a plan in motion stays a plan…

So even if the law of inertia says opposition forces cancel, the object that already was in motion stays in motion… so I could say that even if my joy and stress cancel each other out, God’s plan doesn’t, God’s motion is still moving…

So, I pray to align and accelerate with God’s plan….  What’s Your plan Lord?

God’s plan is in motion… it will stay in motion…

You are Lord of us all… You are God… our greatest motion is drawing closer to you.

If I could remember that You’ve got this covered Lord, I could rest…

If I could remember that You took care of all our burdens thru Jesus, and if I could remember that You give Mercy and Grace in Your acts of Love, and if I could remember that I will live with you forever, and if I could remember my forgetfulness, and if I could remember to BE STILL – then I could rest.

I cannot rest Lord until I seek You for rest, and yet that takes me being in motion… I will try Lord to move closer to you. A child in motion in order to gain rest.

Thanks Lord.

Amen

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Happy close to 2018 – you as readers have been such a blessing to me – reflecting His love in your friendship…

Windows of Life, 30Dec

We are to OPEN whatever windows of opportunities God places in front of us. God places opportunities EVERY DAY.

God wants us to evaluate which windows are for us to open, and which are not… We still need to work them with our elbow grease…

We are also to realize that windows are made of glass – look before you leap – study and pray on which direction to take. Look thru the glass and see if the scene is illuminated by real, true light – or artificially lit… our paths are best if we are walking in His LIGHT…

What about staying where you are and not moving? Perhaps that is because you are already standing in the middle of a certain window of time – a moment of silence – a moment of rest… that window is called the window of opportunity – it’s a moment of PEACE… reflecting our future with Him…

When you see yourself in a window, notice the Light – look hard for the Light – His Light – notice that it is shining thru you! This is because you are responsible for reflecting His forever peace into this finite earthly time and place. Notice how your reflection in this window of time is reflection of His peace… and shine that window – shine it clear as clear can be so all may see His peace.

Keep shining His love thru your piece of His window of peace…

Amen

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Devotion about Living Forever – Because We Do… 28DEC

Interesting duplications… while I’m thinking about my health, and also 2 friends funerals today, my Facebook reminded me of the anniversary of my aunt’s death… a devotion, that I posted then, reminds us that Jesus is calling for us to live forward with Him – FOREVER…

This devotion from a little 1950s book hits it on the head – we are living creatures and we keep living after death…  Additionally, my scripture reading this morning was about Jesus raising Jarius’ daughter…

Was all my reading about death? – but really it is all about life! Think longest term – FOREVER…

Jarius’ daughter reminds me of my awakening AND reminds me to not fall asleep in my faith now…. stay awake in faith forever… Thinking about living forever changes your perspective… we are to live for today, not worry about tomorrow, and be alive forever…  By worrying about today, we should not have time to worry about tomorrow – it’s up to us to make that our mantra!

My sorrow for today’s pain, my hope for forever… my goal to stay awake in my faith…

Just like the woman touching the fringe of Jesus robes, our faith today heals us for living forever.    IT’S OUR FAITH, Jesus always reminds us, which makes things happen…

My prayers are for everyone to believe that too…

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman (Matthew 9)

18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.

20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart,daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.

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Matthew 9 in Michael Card’s “Biblical Imagination” Series, 27Dec

I’m not writing so much these days as I am in deep learning (decompression time from Christmas too)

Anyway…

My Michael Card’s book “Gospel of Matthew” sits too quietly…. actually it screams out at me and I put off reading it – I should take time, I learn so much from it, I could not more highly recommend these 4 books on the gospels!!!!

Here is a tiny book report on the big topic of Mercy.

These are 3 excerpts from the 1st half of Matthew 9, who writes so condensed that there are years of thinking material in such few paragraphs.

I’ll share a few snippets of deep learning:

Matthew was renamed Matthew, he was Levi the tax collector. It was at his house where Jesus ate with many sinners, which upset the Pharisees.  They asked, and Jesus said: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Jesus wants us to know all our healing comes thru God’s mercy, not our doing.

Mercy, “lovingkindness”, is HESED in Hebrew.  God gives hesed. He wants to give hesed.

Our healing can only come when we realize that we need healing – not be blind to our sin like the Pharisees.  Jesus as a doctor comes to minister to the sick – not necessarily illness, but sick with sin.

Matthew shares about Jesus healing a paralyzed man because Jesus saw the impressive faith of his friends – Michael Card reminds us that we are to carry the burdens of our friends to Jesus. First Jesus heals the man from his sins – by forgiveness…. the physical healing follows suit… The forgiveness of sins is paramount to un-paralyzing us to get to heaven.

Jesus always wins praise for God not Himself – the people also gave all praise to God, they saw Jesus with God’s authority.  Everything we do, we need to praise God for.

This is just the first half of one chapter – Matthew’s gospel is the gospel of identity…. It’s a whole new way of thinking for these disciples and crowd – Jesus speaks of not putting new wine in old sacks – not a new patch on old clothes – but instead a whole new way of thinking….  plus feasting NOT fasting when the bridegroom (Jesus) is actually present, and a reminder that He won’t always be present in the flesh,  this is echoed in Michael Card’s song “Come to the Cradle”….  It is a call of living in a whole new way – thru Jesus – our new identity is in and thru Jesus. That’s the way…

The mightiest message in condensed form. Our identity as saved is THRU Jesus, praising God, realizing our sickness of sin, and desiring healing hesed mercy.

Jesus is the way… to God’s mercy…

Amen

Matthew 9

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

The Calling of Matthew

9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus Questioned About Fasting

14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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Practice peace, pause and process. Pray simply, pray on the porch.

You won’t understand this writing about my day at all, but God knows all the details…

A Porch Prayer, 19DEC

There’s nothing like pursuing peace from prayer…

Moving forward along my day yesterday was a noisy and bustling string of things that were not under my control.  My prayers were.

Prayers were the only thing in control.

Let’s start with Xmas, start with school prep, start with teenagers, start with life – keep moving…

Continue forward – commute for prayer – parking lot prayer – phone call prayer – uncertainty prayer

Stop or go?…, work or no?, drive home or keep going? Keep going… Pray..

Work? Do exactly only what ONLY you can do? Do exactly what you ONLY can do?. Do. Just decide. Just work.

Party

Pray, pause in peace… party…

Phone. Prayer. Porch party prayer is removing yourself from the party and being present on the phone for the sake of peace… porch party is prayers while still at the party… porch prayer is where God says, you are at the party,  but not of the party – you work for Me.

Yes Lord, I work for You.

Prayers. I pray. I pause. I am in the world, not of the world.  Pray for all in all places.

Party, people, practical pause for peace within a party. Be present in, be present at, be in His presence… be His presence for prayers.

Watch, watch in prayer, hope, unknown, watch God’s timing play out. Watch.

Smile.

Smile, sing, watch, watch, watch…

Listen

Pray

Pray

Pray

Smile

Sing

Porch

Smile

Porch

Pause

Pray

People

Porch

Car

Move

Pause

Pray

People

His people my people

Pray

People

Peace

Pray

Sleep

Pause

Pray your day

Move always in His timing.

Pray

Practice Peace

Amen

Amendment Amen

Amen

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Christmas Shoes, 17Dec

My feet were hurting and I thought of a friend’s recent commentary about Christmas – that too much of what we do at Christmas is not what God envisioned…  the hustle and bustle – all that was going against the real meaning of Christmas…

My feet are still really hurting – my own fault for not wearing the right shoes for Christmas shopping – for Christmas singing at church – for living thru the day…  I should have thought about the shoes that would have sustained me, but I chose fashion over function.

Guess what this is a writing about?

Christmas – Jesus – our faith! Not really a writing about my feet… I will come right to the point before I add my flowery writing…  If we put Jesus front and center as the sustaining force in our lives, then our faith will fall into place – our excess of Christmas will fade away – and we won’t ache from bad choices… we will rejoice in a sustaining life…

We need to think about living the life that will sustain us – we need to choose Christ over Christmas.

There’s truth in the praise song: “Come to the Cradle”: “The hustle and business lasts year after year, but this little baby won’t always be here”… “Come to the cradle – come and find peace.”

Being out of step with the real meaning of Christmas leaves more than our feet hurting. Yes, being out with my daughter shopping was fabulous – and we even bought her shoes – but neglecting my physical health, while wearing poor shoes, fueled my stress of the hustle and business. Yes, it was wonderfully sweet our time together – shopping, laughs and togetherness – all to keep the spirit flowing – it made my mom heart smile but my feet were so tired…

I wore my good shoes today and I reworked my head about Christmas AGAIN – Again because this readjustment happens every year – actually every day we need to rework our heads about Christ – about picking up the cross – about sustaining the right paths for our feet and our lives… Neglecting our faith will ache worse than our feet…

Jesus came as a baby with nothing, wanting nothing but us… no tinsel, no shopping, no fuss…. later in life Jesus told a want-to-be disciple to not take the time to bury his father (or go thru worldly rituals) but to just “follow me”. A book passage from Michael Card states that in Judaism family was placed in front of faith – and in Christ’s new way of thinking we have to put faith in front of everything including family. Hmmm, that is what God did too, didn’t He – He put faith in front of family – He sacrificed His son to bring the whole world home to him – His peace is dependent upon us listening to Him, He is wanting us home…  and to get home we need to want His love – know His love – share His love – we need Jesus to wrap it all up and with mercy and grace bring us home…

My pained feet reminded me also of a song by my same friend with the Christmas advice – he recently sang me a few verses beautifully: “Christmas shoes” – about a little boy wanting to give his mom a special gift to meet Jesus, as she was near death – how tearfully sweet…  How the child wants to give her a gift for being a dedicated loving mom, and so that she will be beautiful when she sees Jesus as she passes away that night…

In this Christmas season and always, Jesus does see us, and He asks that we see Him, asks that we seek Him out. He’s ready for us. But as a baby needs a home, He needs us to come to Him, He needs us to make room in our hearts. And He needs us to rely on Him to bear the fruit of God’s plan for our lives.

Remember Jesus in all the holiday hustle by remembering the gift He gave us – our eternal life with Him and with Our Father…  Remember (and remember again) that all we need is already inside of us – Jesus reminds us that it is our faith in God that heals us.

How can we reduce our carbon footprint of Christmas excess and instead leave a footprint on the narrow but sure path of our faithful walk back home to God eternal? How can we walk the walk of being Christian – talk the talk and walk the walk – how can we simply be Christians at Christmas? We can simply just be ourselves and seek Him for everything. We can simply take ourselves and our agenda’s out of the mix and follow Him.

We need “Christmas shoes” – sustaining our walk with Christ…

Our Christmas shoes will be a mindset that all we need in life is in Christ – to pray simply, to bring our hopes in Him… to stay in step with Christ…

We celebrate Christmas for the gift of sustaining life in Christ…

We need to remember to choose Christ over Christmas.

Amen

———

Lyrics – Christmas Shoes (Eddie Carswell / Leonard Ahlstrom)

It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin’ to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing ’round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes
His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn’t believe what I heard him say
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my mama, please
It’s Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, daddy says there’s not much time
You see she’s been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if mama meets Jesus tonight
He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, “son, there’s not enough here”
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I’ve got to buy her these Christmas shoes
So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out 
And I’ll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama’s gonna look so great
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my mama, please
It’s Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, daddy says there’s not much time
You see she’s been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if mama meets Jesus tonight

I knew I’d caught a glimpse of heaven’s love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my mama, please
It’s Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, daddy says there’s not much time
You see she’s been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if mama meets Jesus tonight

I want ‘er to look beautiful if mama meets Jesus tonight

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Sentimental in my JOY, 16DEC

Sounds silly to non-sentimental folks, but I feel God allows and forgives my sentimental self… (within reason…).

And then I see when my own sentimental self fades away – and the deep true embers of God’s love persist…

I know that to plow forward in service to the Lord, I am to be looking forward. Yet in my humanness, with my leaky soul, I get humanly sentimental – I enjoy the little things that I perceive God’s Holy Spirit is showing me – those things swirling around to let me know that my humanness is remembered and not discarded as fluff. Sometimes I may see a bird and be reminded that God takes care of the little birds – which means that surely He takes care of us. I smile in knowing His love is intentional to get me thru this world into His eternal one. I cry in knowing that too – I cry feeling His love.

I know that I work for God – I ache for God’s people – I work in, for and on the network of His love…. Luke 1:38 “I am the handmaiden of the Lord”. My boldness and my obedience are BOTH required to serve…

JOY, my perception of God is a God of JOY. When I heard I was classified with the sanguine description to my personality (one of Hippocrates four humors: sanguine choleric, phlegmatic and melancholic), I smiled in JOY because someone understood me… When I heard I was classified a “campaigner” personality type (of the 16personalities website)  I chuckled… how can I not tell folks that even while enduring hardship, JOY is in the Lord… and oh, how much JOY I feel when I remember that God knows me so much…

God always understood me.

God understands you, how could He not!?!

I’m a thinker and precious little mental things connect with me… my time with Our Lord is all the time, but sometimes my brain, heart, eyes go “off the clock”… sometimes I am too noisy to listen, too busy to be still… I get impatient, I fall into not being thankful… Sometimes I get confused – is what I see and hear from Him? or from the glut of human distractions in the world? I worry about the evils spilled into my path – but the scripture reference that helps me discern things of the world and things of Him is to look for fruit – His fruit – spiritual fruit that can be shared by the actions of God’s presence…. what resets my path back to Him is to follow His light with humble walking…

When I’m blue, He finds a way to guide my feet… when I am lost He shepherds me.. when I fuss, He puts me back to work… He’s always looking for me to smile, internally. If I help anyone in this world it is because He shows me mercy…and helps me… It is my JOY to see Him working His Spirit. It is my job to not get in the way of His Way.

Today, I will be blessed to sing my awakening song in church… it’s a big deal for me – it’s also not a big deal too. It’s both an opportunity and a remembrance – but I am the one who allows myself to be sentimental – just as I allow myself to shrug it off… others shrug off things that mean so much to me and others dwell on things I’ve dismissed… we are different people and I will remember that it is OK. “Come to the Cradle ” is a sentimental blessing that I also know is not for me… I’m singing for the Lord. Simultaneously I get to hopefully convey the feeling as i get to personally feel the healing of the line: “come to the cradle, come and find peace ” – “come to the cradle, He waits for you there”… Jesus wants peace for you and all…. In singing the line of the song: “in the innocent upward trusting look of a child” I’m cajoling others to see that face of Jesus. Jesus as a baby trusting us, trusting His Father… I’m also trusting the Lord to understand me, His child… We still have to find peace each day in Him. We are still called to trust. We need to find peace and remind others that we believe in peace. We are called to lead by example… His spirit is to be moved THRU us not just to us.

Jesus as a baby brings JOY and purpose – He was as strong as He was weak… that’s us too – we are weak in ourselves – we are strong in Him…

We are Our Father’s JOY – that’s not sentimental – that’s God’s love.

Feel the JOY… know His healing… trust in Him.

Blessed to be His child. My sentimental joy is nothing compared to my spiritual joy.

Amen

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Hooked in by Christmas, 13Dec

A Christmas ornament fell from the hook and I didn’t hear a crash but instead the branches of the tree caught it, just in time… I found it resting and nestled,  safe but precarious and ready to fall. I grabbed it gently,  and hooked it on the tree.

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A friend gives me encouragement and a focusing thought when I sing… says “Sing Pretty”…

“Sing Pretty”, 29Nov

We are given a voice – we choose how to use it… We are given the ability to sing, to speak, to scream and of course to complain. When we sing in the car, or the shower, we don’t worry about how we sound – yes, it is freeing to sing out strong. When we sing for prayer it doesn’t matter the pitch, it’s simply the plea God hears before we speak.

When we sing in joy and humbled thanks for all the Lord has done, we want to give Him our best, we want to “Sing Pretty”…

What is pretty to the Lord? Is pretty a human attribute? Pretty is up to interpretation but God is not. Giving our best is the perhaps the equivalent of pretty to God who made us in His image. God gave us His best, and gave us Jesus… I wonder what Jesus’s voice sounded like – did He sing? Jesus gave His best because He gave His all.

“Singing pretty” in music might mean relaxing, putting aside stress and angst, dropping baggage – and focusing… that’s our faith too – dropping the angst and feeling the love. “Singing pretty” might catch the attention of a half-listener… that’s true with faith too, our faith might catch the attention of a hurt soul who studies how we live. Our faith and our lives reflecting Him are the shining of light into darkness. Darkness is pretty awful. Hope shared is pretty to see.

Our words don’t sound pretty when we are screaming or carrying on, and certainly don’t sound pretty when we don’t open our mouths at all.  Our words are most pretty to God if we make them with love directed to Him and they are pretty real, pretty honest, and pretty often.

Sharing our love for God and for each other pretty much sums it up.

Pretty much everything we do to serve Him and His children can change the world.

That’s pretty awesome…

Amen

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Butterfly, 28NOV

Lord, I am Your butterfly.

You grew me from a caterpillar. You fed me on Your gifts to nourish me. Your Word opened my ears. I began to change.  I learned.  I grew.

You allowed me to find a safe sanctuary for not resting but for actively changing thru the most amazing series of modifications, inside and out. Within a protected shell I waited. I knew I was changing, but how could I comprehend how amazing this change would be. You knew.

Then you told me to start entering this world again.  I could not remain hidden under the leaves, I had to peer out from my cocoon and stretch and find how to steady my new legs.  All my mass had been shifted and repurposed into a completely different being, and yet my soul, my heart, my mind are still intact – I knew I changed – I knew I was called to take the next step, even if I didn’t know if I was ready…

You told me to fly.

You told me to stretch my wings and feel for the right moment.  You made me capable of everything that I could never have imagined.  You made then remade me.

You made me beautiful.  You made me intricate, complex, strong thru weakness, and capable.

I now can fly.

I can open the gifts of the earthly phase of my life and fly thru the world on Your Spirit. I will be ever watching for danger as well as refuge. And in those peace-filled times I can catch a warm breeze and fly higher and longer – seemingly forever…

I do know that I cannot fly here forever, but you have a place for me eternal – then I will rest….

For now, I will fly.

I will fly and forever tell of You.

I am Your butterfly…

Butterfly, Fly…

Amen

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Pray Simply, 24NOV

I think God wants us to pray without pause for so many reasons…

How can we even do His work if we aren’t taking instructions…

God also would rather us to pray in solitude instead of showmanship…

Personally, in this stage of my life, I think that we are gifted the time to pray for releasing our tears – and healing… and having the realization that He needs us to heal so that He can heal… God wants us all home with Him… and sent His only son to save us, scoop us back up, and take us home. We can’t get there if we don’t pray to be there. And God asks us to help others find the way too…

Pray

Jesus said pray simply, not rambling on, because God already knows what we are saying… God already knows what we need…  so simply pray simply…

The tears though – the tears are best shed when we let down our guards… the closing of doors to pray is an opportunity to open our hearts to release the floodgates of His healing, to clog our ears with tears means we can only hear from within, He calls us from within. His spirit is within us.

The prayer to pray is the Lord’s prayer…

The processing comes with prayer…

We are the people God wants to hear from. Pray Simply and let Him take care of the rest.

1Thessolonians 5

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing,18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Matthew 6

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.”

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Adjust, 24NOV

I think life is always about doing the best you can until you can’t – then adjust and readjust…

Totally true with my aging parents and family.  Totally true with my kids.  Totally try to remind myself of that for myself – because I slide between denial, engagement, focus, distraction, and frustration… and knowing I’m in blessing…., I’m being my own frustration of emotional pinball ricochet right now – yet I am secured with good blessings of work on all sides to keep me steady – not busy work but bungie cords of life. I need to Be Still, then readjust… I have to lighten my pull on the cords of life and let God move me instead.

Focus, forget the empty rhetoric in my head and just Be Still. Be Still… Let God slide me…

Still Lord, please let me talk this out…

My trip up home readjusted my focus into eldercare and yet being on the outside, logistically, in my own situation is strange… I have to readjust now, without stopping my home-life-work duties completely back where my kids are – hours away, but I see that now is my time here up home is to readjust and support them for their comfort. I see how AMAZING God has provided the best care already for my parents… we are blessed – but we need to pray for those in the stress…

Other have readjusted amazingly well – but I am on the delayed second round of catch up…

It’s tough for so many,  I can say that in comparison it has been easy for me to be dealing with my own tough situations – and I also reminds myself that my issues are not as tough or are different tough – but it’s all relative… mostly I praise that when I have had to readjust, God helped –  thanks Lord… I have to readjust my focus now… everyone has an opinion on what you should do,  but God knows best…

Be Still – we say it all the time but it’s true – be still, pray, listen – so that it is the focus knob that you turn – readjust your focus- then start again.

There is a season to each phase of life – (Ecclesiastes 3) – Sometimes you cross different seasons within one day, many times…

Just try to do your best… just take time to breathe… just readjust as you need… just take time to BE STILL – then listen for your next move…

Know that you are in this world but not of it – and take the long view while you work in the minutiae of your life. Help yourself help others most effectively… it is all about doing your best…

Adjust. Re-adjust. Move.

This is new to me, old hat to many… You are all doing a great job of adjusting – I will catch up… God will help…

Be still, close your eyes, turn the internal focus knob instead… God’s whispers are much louder when you become quiet and still…

Amen

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Updraft, 20NOV

Why does Jesus say to lay all your burdens on him and lift your own load? It’s because God needs you to be moved by the Holy Spirit – to do His work….

…and wouldn’t it be easier to be floating around for God’s purpose and helping His plan if we dumped some of the heavy baggage that we ourselves keep carrying?

See, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us help God – sent the Holy Spirit as another helper when Jesus had to leave earthly life…

So, with that flame over your head and the great wind that comes around you – can you feel the updraft caused by the forces of God’s nature? Can you feel that you are being pulled into God’s plan to serve Him by serving His people? There’s so many people and opportunities! Just keep moving forward…

Jesus gives you the freedom to live free forever – watch for His air traffic controller arms signaling the start of a new flight in Him..  sense the wind shift – lifting and taking you higher…

God’s grace and mercy and love gifts are always there for you – let Jesus take your burden- let the Holy Spirit carry on thru your life’s journey – look for, feel, and sense His updrafts…

Go!

——

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

John 14

16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.

Matthew 9

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

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Praise Forward, 09NOV

I’m taking a day for myself and the Lord today…

This is a nice praise from Hannah – old testament – 1 Samuel 1:4-20…  she prayed for a son, then how she kept her promise to the Lord that she would educate and dedicate him to the Lord…

I personally appreciate God has answered my prayers for so many things short term and long term… mostly my prayers were for discernment and peace… the path to peace needs action – the Lord has been faithful and given me guidance. Praying for discernment requires listening… my prayers for discernment continue – we always will need discernment…

And prayers for peace require action too… personally I can add action to repay Him… but scripture tells me that God wants it back only by us “paying it forward”, not back.  That makes sense… Jesus reminded us to look forward when you serve the Lord (“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62)

… and God says let His Word do the work He intends it to do: (So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11)

Hannah prayed for a child, was gifted Samuel. She named him “because I prayed for him” – then, as she promised, she dedicated herself and him to the Lord….

Hannah’s praises are for her deliverance!

I am thankful too – for my heart rejoices in the Lord too!!!

I pray it forward that others also pray it forward…

Amen

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.

2 “There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

3 “Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.

4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.

6 “The Lord brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
7 The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.

“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
on them he has set the world.
9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.

“It is not by strength that one prevails;
10     those who oppose the Lord will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from heaven;
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.

“He will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

————–

Isaiah 55 also praises that God’s word goes forward…

8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”

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Best Advice – God’s Perspective, 03NOV

Best advice I’ve probably ever heard – as I recounted all the ins and outs of life – advice from a pastor counselor friend:

“God’s long journey for us is often best understood, if at all, from a perspective of distance. Trying to understand the here and now without a Cross perspective will either be vague or distorted or both. We may never understand God’s ways, but we must never doubt His timing, His ways, or His ultimate purposes for His chosen children…”

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Our Daily Bread, 02NOV

From saying the Lord’s Prayer today at a funeral…

The Lord’s prayer brought me spirited tears, I was in a roomful of prayer, spoken at a funeral just now…. this brought me to new insight of His love and my deepest tears flowed… the love shared was overflowing… my friend’s father was a tremendous man and faithful child of God sharing His love.  Deep in his faith, he glowed with joy thru thick and thin, 84 years, no complaining even at the end… he shared this same love of God, which comes from God, with everyone…

The most amazing understanding I just realized while praying “and give us this day our Daily Bread” is that God’s gift of Daily Bread is not bread at all,  it’s not bread, not food, not money, not things – although He provides those things too as nourishment in just right quantities not excessively unless He puts you into the job to share His abundance. He wants us to spread His wealth of love.

See, God’s gift of Daily Bread is HIMSELF – His SPIRIT – for our hope, our life now every day – all thru the life-giving connection of Jesus.  God, our Father, connected thru all these souls just now and they all reaffirmed Him as Daily Bread – Jesus filled the room when everyone prayed… Love filled the room when they prayed – a Spirit of family filled the room when they prayed – our Daily Bread was and is our fill with nourishing Faith….

“Give us this day our Daily Bread” – this makes us realize that Jesus is in motion – daily… to awake us to see how the Holy Spirit made this moment happen… allow us to see hear feel how God loves us by being one with Him….

Your gift of Daily Bread was accepted today Lord, Thank You! You just filled our spirits with HOPE, You overflowed our hearts with Living Water, and our tears had to spill out the excess… Tomorrow will be a new mix of tears and joy – please give us our Daily Bread tomorrow too, Lord, and thank you for feeding the world on faith.

Connectedness to each other is God’s way of connecting us to Jesus our brother – our Father gives us everything we need, especially each other.

Thank you for filling my soul today Lord!

Amen

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Camp Rock, 01NOV

I’m at camp,  enjoying the rare 70 degrees in late fall,  just for an alfresco lunch hour away from work, which is only 25 minutes away from here… my boss said I could take comp time vacation after my giant project wrapped up,  and I decided to take it in small increments… this is a mini retreat for prayer and writing… it’s been an interesting year,  but truly God has given me strength thru it all…

I love sitting on this rock, hearing this waterfall. The colors have now changed, it took a long time this year, it was worth coming out here today…

When we are trying to stand firmly on the Rock of Ages we can look around and notice how much diversity is growing on and from the rock – the rock is the anchor – the colors are magical eye-fulls… Jesus says it will all disappear at the end of our time – but for now I will appreciate that I can appreciate this…  even Solomon in all his splendor does not match the beauty of a lily – or a red orange green yellow leaf changing…

Nearby is the waterfall – the rock is just a rock – and water just water – yet combined the roar is ear-filling. Imagine God and Jesus and the Spirit movement- that’s soul-filling.

It is our awareness of noticing it that is a gift from God too…. I like to appreciate His piece of peace even in tiny increments…. imagine how long His peace will be eternally, wow… that’s the fullness of time.

“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

How precious is this time to think about God and thank God. The book of James comes to mind,  to always be humble and praising because we don’t know when Jesus will come again… and to pray, not quarrel,  and help others find peace too… not just sitting on the rock,  but loving and living our best life…

The gift of eternal future starts now. Just sitting on a rock…

——–

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

——

7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

——–

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

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Strangely Dim, 31OCT

I’m not talking JUST about peanut butter M&M’s…..

One of the most true lyrics from a Jesus-inspired praise song is: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus…. and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

Everything grows dim, not just the old favorites of life. Everything.

The Joy of Jesus – that amplifies my joy of life.

The Joy of Jesus also can become a quieter delight, a deeper joy of peace in chaos.

The Joy of Jesus is hope in holding onto hope eternal…

Jesus is better than the most wonderful things on earth, in addition to being a better focus for us as direction in disaster, focus during the toughest times.

And, readjusting our joy of silly things too – good and bad…

Not just peanut butter M&M’s that truly aren’t so good as I remembered….

Halloween this year was nice but not spectacular, but should I be worried about that? No, not at all… the things of earth will grow strangely dim…. Halloween is different, my kids are grown,  my tastebuds don’t like the overly sweet stuff as much now, having changed to healthier eating,  and the decorations are not so important… the silly faces are ok, the gore is too fake for me to worry about,  I’m not into any type of devil worshipping stuff – those bitter aspects of Halloween? I mentally threw them away – those fluffy aspects of Halloween are fading away for me also,  and that’s OK.

Just like my tastebuds now savor tastier treats than those blah treats of my youth, my joy-tastebuds savor truer joys…

“and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”

Yesterday, on Halloween, I mostly enjoyed seeing the joy of the people celebrating with each other. Sharing and witnessing fun joy with friends and family.  With my beloved neighbors, I enjoyed warm weather and a bonfire.  With my solitude, I enjoyed times of focused prayer. In my thankfulness, I mostly enjoyed that I was given an opportunity to really enjoy the day.

Seeing the cutest little costumed kids that parents doted upon, a joy.

Seeing the levity and gratitude of work folks also in costume was fun…

Being able to find JOY IN THE JOURNEY of life is priceless…

If all good things are from God, then moments of peaceful fun are sprinkled on the cake of life… as long as we attribute this cake itself to God Himself.

Joy, who are we to mess with that…

Strangely dim is how both frivolity and fright fades in the focus of God’s grace – the hope of eternal future clears up our current path of life…

It’s Halloween, so let me rush in Christmas now – Joy to the world, the Lord has come, the Savior reigns – lyrics mesh us into Xmas, because, the truth is that Jesus does reign all the time…

Who is better than all today’s earthly troubles? Jesus.

Who is better than all earthly glitter? Jesus.

Worship not the world but Worship Jesus in Spirit and Truth.

These song lyrics are on point:

“Just turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

Amen

609

Soul on Fire, 30OCT

https://youtu.be/i7lv9oMjv_0

I have been thinking about one of my soul sisters, rest her soul, and remembering the one day that she called me and left a message, singing this new praise song: “Soul on Fire”… She knew to reach to God for re-lighting her soul on fire… she was trying to find comfort in action while putting aside her grief and working for our Lord. I loved her energy with the kids, I appreciated her visitations with seniors, God’s big kids – she was always working on loving God’s people…

I think about the “Soul on Fire” lyrics – that’s so fitting for her life. If we are running for God’s heart, what does that mean? We are already in His heart, on His heartstrings…. so perhaps it means that our running is like being a hamster in a wheel or better yet a runner on top of a water wheel making the water wheel of living water move thru God’s kingdom – helping the world…. we are “a cog in something turning”, as Joni Mitchell sings… our efforts for God show the world that when we run for God’s heart, that He is served because others are served… and they are saved when they start running for His heart too….

I thank my sweet friend for running so very hard for God’s heart, and I thank Him for catching hers.

Amen

608

The Gospel of Intensity…

I’ve always tried to learn from advice, I replay it in my head… I was told early on in my awakening that I “was intense” – but that person said they understood – they said also that they were “intense”. For better or worse, it’s good to be understood.

Intense is apparently where God needs some of us to be – not for intense arguing with people, not for political discourse, not for sports stuff, not for grumbling, not for fluff…. Intense is where God needs us FOR HIM! Don’t ever stop being intense for God…

Intense is not always popular, intense is time-consuming, intense is exhausting… be intense anyway…

Teaching, preaching, living, breathing for God… God asks us, His chosen people, to live and love Him by loving and helping His people… Don’t ever stop being intense for God. God’s people need some intense intervention and love.

Intensely God calls and rings your phone off the hook – of course it helps that when Jesus picks up the phone for you, that He puts it on speaker… “Let those who have ears hear!”…

(Jesus catches those missed calls too)

If only people would hear when God’s speaker is a megaphone… let us pray they don’t hesitate to pay attention and follow.

If only people would hear by listening to the whisper, quiet the world to hear the ping of their heart… If only people would feast on the Word and not the fluff… I pray they take the time to Listen, they don’t hesitate to pay attention and follow, and that they look forward, letting the things of earth fade away… I pray that for myself too…

Does God give us a choice? Well if one is hunted down by none other than God Himself – it becomes the only path for those seeking light – serving Jesus –  worshiping God in Spirit and Truth…

Is it easy? The few chosen to be the leaders get scrutinized intensely.  But even thru the mud they are called to give it their all… and move the flocks. Herd them forward because they heard the call…

Life is an unplowed field ready for planting… The world still needs plowing, planting and nurturing of God’s Word…

Is it LIGHT work? Of course, no matter how hard it is, it’s still LIGHT work… shedding LIGHT, sprinkling Living Water, and doing plentiful seeding – the Garden is being re-cultivated – we are called to help…

Where is God most intense? In His love.

Our intensity is but a fraction of His…

God is intense.

God is God.

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Oz – There’s No Place Like Band, 25OCT

If my adventure with my church band were like the Wizard of Oz movie, I would feel to be Dorothy, dropped into the band like a tornado spun me there… and like Dorothy, I had to pick myself up from the whirlwind and start walking… “No, ‘Christmas the Crab’, we are not in Kansas anymore”…

Ok – let’s keep walking… let’s follow the yellow brick road…

My traveling companions of bandmates had already been on this road for a while when I dropped in. We are all in this journey together. I came last but they all had a role in making me feel at home (well home away from home of course – we are but traveling in this world, our home is eternally not in this land of oz… we are in but not of… John 17:16).

My bandmates, like in the movie, all have their amazing abilities and they never needed the wizard to give them a brain or heart or courage, they all had that already!!!

But as Dorothy, I would still need to find my way thru the thick and thin of life… sparkly shoes or not (no shoes are required while singing at practices), we best keep walking…

Just try to remember, Dorothy, to keep walking…

Is the Scarecrow smart? Yes. He helps Dorothy talk things out – Dorothy needed her scarecrows to help. Many of my bandmates have been scarecrows to me, ever willing both with advice or to just let me talk it out… allowing me to talk out and sing out my faith.

Is the Tin-man ticking with a heart? Yes. The oil can (and the Spirit) will help the Tin-man from freezing up. The Tin-man then shared a dance of praises with Dorothy… many of my bandmates are Tin-men to me, they stay limber to act on that immense love that God fills us with.

Is the Lion brave? Yes. Dorothy is encouraging and encouraged by all the bravery.  All of my bandmates are brave to me… We can be brave because God is in control.

Not exactly Oz, but life is a journey, not an ending… faith is a journey, not an ending…. Glenda, the good witch, says to Dorothy, when she was still feeling lost in this world: “Dorothy you always had the power to go home”. Yes, we all have to remember that we always have the hand of Jesus to bring us home… and we can always think about home, even when we feel lost here on earth…

Dorothy will click home at some point but in the meantime she will keep her faith journey alive and active in her heart. She will click her heals someday, and move on to another phase of life, but for now? “There’s no place like band, there’s no place like band, there’s no place like band”…

Keep walking Dorothy… keep walking… put your shoes back on, we will need to walk forward… we will be ok.

“There’s no place like home… there’s no place like home”…

The wizard didn’t help get Dorothy home, it turns out that the power to go home is spiritually placed inside of each of us – we have to realize it – and the friends were (and are) Dorothy’s encouragement – thinking, feeling, action-taking and courageous… Dorothy can think of home and meanwhile stay in her mission for her own strength building and to help others.

Keep your eyes open Dorothy, new adventures await you…

Keep moving…

My bandmates, some have come and gone – we all might take new roads while we are all traveling home… they are going to be in my heart forever…  in my heart with me forever because we are in God’s heart already together… we sing all our way home…

God pulls His ropes within His net and we slide passed each other in life temporarily.  We are but traveling such a brief time… we will sing together forever because we are blessed to be attached inside God’s heartstrings…

Amen

606 (that is hilarious God, the number of this post is “coincidentally 606 – I was born at 6:06 AM – so cool”

Cheer Up! 25Oct

Yay – it’s my birthday!

“Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-20

I’m reading ahead to this week’s Sunday scripture from Mark 10 about Bartimaeus, the phrase “Cheer up” struck me as the most important lesson today – fittingly it is verse 49, and I am 49 years full of life today!

49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”

Wow –  Wouldn’t that be awesome if the crowd around us said to us, every day: “Cheer up, on your feet! Jesus is calling you!!!”

Ain’t that the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the spirit and the truth??!! Jesus is calling you!!!

Amen to that – Jesus is calling and knocking on your door and ears! Your faith is what is growing in you and lifting up your life! Jesus is just waiting for you to jump up and realize it!

The blind man jumped up, gave up everything he had, which was only his cloak, he jumped up to find Jesus had already been calling him!  He believed before he was called, he was healed because he believed.

What if we also called to our blind brothers and sisters, who can see the world but cannot see or feel Jesus’s call?…  What if we called to the world every day and said “Cheer up”!!!  “God’s grace of forgiveness is already here if you hear!” YOU HAVE A PLACE IN HEAVEN! You are healed eternally, feel the joy of Jesus now!

We can try to remember and remind others that Jesus is calling to us to wake us up to the fact that our lives are temporary in blindness – and if we see, it is because we see because of our FAITH – He wants us all to see our place in eternal love!

Do you hear the call? We have to believe in that call! We really have to listen. When Jesus is calling every blind one, He is calling us too! We must believe in Him!

Let those who have ears hear!

Let the blind see!

Let the Light of the World lead!

Let God know we are on our way HOME!

CHEER UP! JUMP UP!

JESUS IS CALLING!

THANKS BE TO GOD!

Hallelujah!!!!

———-

Mark 10:46-52 (NIV)

46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

605

Jesus says: Faith Like Children, NOT Cranky Teenagers… 19OCT

I could think about that parable of the laborers working in the vineyard in multiple ways… Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 20, talks about the kingdom of heaven being like a vineyard – and God has hired laborers  – some started early and some started later and yet the ones who came late got the same wages as the ones who came early… Jesus teaches that God, as the landowner, says: “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? So, the last will be first and the first will be last.”

Again we see this “last is first” statement, which has been replicating in my own readings lately. Jesus does teach this many times, and also teaches us to not be upset about this perceived inequity! So many times He tells us that we are called to put ourselves last… Why? Perhaps Jesus keeps drilling that home because the kingdom of Heaven is near and we are not to let our guard down – it may be closer than we think and Jesus says it is better to be working in the field for God than spend idleness in chatter… Jesus wants us working to strengthen our hearts as the only way to prepare… and spending time complaining about the other people working (even if they came late) is not productive – ESPECIALLY since the Kingdom of Heaven is God’s and not ours – ESPECIALLY since the wages the laborers make (also thought of our salvation) is NOT ours to dole out – but HIS and HIS alone.  Jesus reminds us often that He too works for God and says ALL the glory goes to Him. Jesus came to remind us to stop worrying about our human-perceived inequities – but be grateful for God’s love – because “Love rejoices in the truth, NOT in iniquity!” (1 Corinthians 13:6)

I think of this scripture when I hear folks complaining – perhaps one reason Jesus told us this parable is so that we would TRY to become less cranky in life… our disgruntled nature is so very human – our crankiness very teenager like in our faith – and our jealousy of others might make us resentful enough to stop issuing the rest of the people in the world Grace – the same Grace that is afforded to us…. The scripture is also about not being so greedy and about sharing with others who come after us… and realizing that God does what He wants with HIS STUFF – paramount is for Him to have EVERYONE come home to Heaven. We are all more than just HIS STUFF because we are HIS CHILDREN!

We have to accept that people, as sheep, as laborers, come to the place of forgiveness at various times and still get full forgiveness…. we are to acknowledge that faith as small as a mustard seed is enough to get each person into heaven – because entering Heaven and receiving forgiveness is by God’s grace and not by our doing…. and God gave Jesus to those of us broken on earth to be repaired in Heaven – Jesus reminds us that what is impossible with man is only possible with God…

If we feel saving grace in our hearts, are we still remembering to be growing Christians? We are still called to grow… We always have something to learn and our imperfections that re-occur…

Are we envious of others because of God’s gifts to them? And that clouds our gratefulness of ours? Are we forgetting that salvation is a gift and has nothing to do with us – but we are still called to work very hard regardless…

See, Jesus says we are to enter the kingdom like little children… we are growing Christians, our faith must become more simple and God-dependent – it is not given without sacrifice… Maybe some of us pass thru a cranky teen phase on our own way to being children of faith… we can acknowledge our cranky “what about me?” phase and try to get over it by reminding ourselves that it’s not all about us – but it is all about God! That we are in His plan and should rejoice in that! We should still try to embrace joy and shed our envy… And still labor in the vineyard for whatever wages we agreed to work for – and keep working for all… God is for all – so should we be…

Are we willing to still work – even serve others whom we dislike and disagree with? And do it with JOY? Joy is integral to God… Joy is blessed on those who learn to serve Him now… JOY is given as grace – only at His doing, not ours – not earthly JOY…

Are we allowed to be cranky about earthy things? How about cranky about God’s gifts? Are we like the prodigal son’s other brother, jealous of the returning prodigal son? Are we doing ourselves and God a disservice by withholding grace and not letting ourselves return to childlike acceptance of our faith? We should just let it go…

I remember a friend saying: “God calls all these people, whom I don’t like, His children too “… and it’s true that we can’t see into their hearts, so those late to the table still means they got to the table, and God’s blessings of grace will bring them home…

Are we able to forget our personal agendas and follow His example of being generous with our grace too?

For the first should be last… and stop complaining along the way…

Let us today find and work for God.

There is a lot in life – there is our lot in life – our lifework is a lot – but we can rejoice in working for God…

Amen

—-

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Matthew 20

604

What’s God’s Music?

What kind of music is God playing for your theme song at this moment?…

Perhaps He’s playing the Rocky theme and you need to get-up-and-get back in the game knowing He is giving you the strength.

Perhaps He’s playing that calliope instrument and life is bubbly and fun and filled with joy.

Perhaps it’s a great organ playing Count Dracula scary suspense music and Lord knows where the dark shadows lie in your life…

Perhaps He’s playing the Jeopardy theme song and is waiting for you to make a decision of the answer you’re going to give Him.

Perhaps it’s a Weird Al parody – and your life is seemingly filled with goofballs, but you still have to deal with it all…

Perhaps it’s a vast Broadway chorus and you are in the show-stopper biggest most intense moment of your life…

Perhaps it’s quiet – but you still hear the clock ticking… Perhaps God is telling you to stop marking time… perhaps God is telling you to start making time…

Perhaps God is singing you a lullaby, gently telling you to rest in Him…

Perhaps it’s time for you to be quiet and not hear music, just hear Peace…

Listen to God to hear Peace….

Just Peace….

Peace…

Peace…

Peace…

God’s Music surely is hearing PRAISES for PEACE…

Amen

603

Trickle Effect – rerelease, 14Oct

Revisiting the awakening connections that God established, I edited this email turned blog for re-release… Faith is spread as a trickle effect…

I hesitate changing the exuberant way I wrote the original email… really all my discussions that have the phrase “oooooooh” are how I felt,  learning about Jesus and poking around the new paths in my brain that God set aside for His connections space – that’s all “oooooooh”…  maybe that’s why we have such ripples in our brain,  God can use them when we let Him… Jesus loved discussing faith as the good rabbi He was… using our whole heart, soul and MIND continues as a trickle effect of increasing our faith… sometimes Jesus comes in floods (like for me) and always we need to let the Living Water keep seeping into our lives…. let us all want to be dripping wet with faith….

this was the original dripping wet with exuberance at: https://debbieupper.wordpress.com/2016/12/23/email-with-professor-about-trickle-effect-05sep-257/

Trickle Effect, 05SEP – #257 edited

It interests me how Jesus truly didn’t want to be considered a sideshow attraction… He wanted people to dig deep within themselves, He wanted individual conversions…. And even though miracles also worked to convince folks, Jesus’s intent was simply showing mercy – simply kindness to deserving believers who were in bad straights…. He could have done flamboyant miracles with grandeur, but He didn’t… I was all about the faith of the person asking for mercy.

Thinking about our avenues of teaching and trying to spread the Gospel to the masses, we wonder: what is the best way to reach people? God could have waited and sent Jesus now, in our day and age, when mass media would have spread (or squashed) His message like wildfire… But He didn’t…

But God choose a trickle effect of spreading the Good News…

Some mega churches try a big scale approach… Kinda like the debate people had with free education when it started, questioning if it is better to water down education for all to understand?, or keep education at high level for a few?… I think with faith, God wants the trickle effect – Yes, even at mega churches there is the trickle effect – it might be the person sitting next to you, with whom you can discuss the message’s meaning, where conversations about Jesus occur… It’s the way of the personal trickle down/bleed over effect – where God becomes REAL to you…

I am always wondering where God will take all these pockets of faith next….. Hmmm…. God sure is interesting in His approach….

Feeling and seeing the trickle effect of faith is watching and seeing the Holy Spirit in action…

God wants us to come to Him – one by one – by our own realization that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life!

AMEN

36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

from John 14:10-12, 27 (NIV)

“… The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these…”

“…the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

602

Wakefulness, 17Sep/13Oct

I doubt life is all fate because we have so many choices…

When do you ponder life choices?  Personally, I’m the early morning thinker… and when I finally get up it means I am also the early morning do-er too.

Is it sleeplessness or wakefulness? Depends…

It is best to turn to God to ask.

I always wonder what to do at a 4 AM wake up. I have a choice of a handful of activities, and this morning I would choose going back to sleep, and yet this gifted quiet time, while the noisy world is semi-quiet, is a gift of quiet time with the Lord…

This morning I hear crickets, cicadas, cat, crab and cars…. and just now the creak of my child turning in her sleep…

We turn and turn things over in our minds, we turn and turn so much… We turn all the time while we are awake, therefore we turn in our sleep too…

If I have an ache, I turn over…

If I have a bad dream, I turn…

I have something on my mind, I turn…

I turn in sleeplessness… I turn in wakefulness…

I turn to God…

I believe in God and know that He wants the best for me. When I turn to Him I believe that He will turn my existence into His fruitfulness.

When I focus on God, the turning to Him often causes me to turn my existence into action, if only in my thoughts… To step out and move forward… Whenever and wherever we make plans that may or may not work out in our thoughts, God can make alternate plans for us, we can pray on them and we can evaluate and choose our path, either way we still have roads to traverse.

God’s active love allows us to also turn back to Him when we need a complete U-turn. He gives U direction, but U still need to turn. It’s up to U.

God would prefer we “turnover” our problems completely to Him…

Wakefulness is a gift to hear Him calling us, it’s our turn to listen…

Be still and listen…

Amen

601

Puzzlemaster Jesus, 02Sep/13Oct

Life is being pieced together in front of our eyes… PEACE pieces are being placed… We are the puzzling people Jesus came to save.

Loose pieces butt up against other loose pieces, so we can talk it out with different people and get an appreciation of the other side of the box…

Jesus came to collect those loose pieces (us) and funnel them thru Himself – He knows where you fit – Jesus will glue you in – Jesus will clue you in too.

We are puzzling people! Each of us a puzzle ourselves within the larger plan. Jesus is sorting thru the loose pieces in our hearts with God’s plan in mind. Likewise, we are being set next to other puzzling people in varying stages of progress. When we see others with similar and harder challenges, this gives us courage and perspective to keep sorting thru our internal issues to serve Him better. He knows how to fit you – Jesus will be your glue.

Look to reflect in Jesus as a finished person, a model of perfected love, and see where you may have put a priority out of place. Be accepting of giving up pieces of your life that you tried to hold onto but were not yours to keep. Jesus will justify it all.

Likewise reflect on His instructions and make room for the pieces of the picture you may have missed.  Be accepting of pieces you never knew were for you… Grow… Practice peace at whatever stage of togetherness you are…

Be pieces of Jesus’s PEACE. Help others find their pieces, show them what you know of the box, and especially show them Jesus shining thru the incomplete puzzle of you too.

Be still and let God’s Hand find you without scurrying away. He needs to move your piece into place.

Be at peace amongst all God’s pieces..

AMEN

600

A Peaceful Easy Feeling, Oct 11

I don’t always have a feeling of peace and I probably shouldn’t knowing how bad things are happening in the world, yet God sometimes gives me that peaceful easy feeling – a slice of peace that He shares so that I understand His goal for everyone… The Eagles song of the same name came as a reminder this evening, and I can see that God always gives us reminders that we will have peace (eventually) when focusing on Him… and it’s important for us to be grounded…

For me, I am newly adventuring in life things, and I am “learning to fly, but I ain’t got wings” (thanks to Tom Petty for that lyric reminder)…  Things don’t always go as planned or things don’t always work out – but I try to remember that I am still a daughter of God… Maybe the uneasy feeling is purposeful as a warning or a lesson – maybe if I look at life in that way I will learn more… and I am learning because I am aware that I am a child of God. And God’s timing is His, not mine.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

How we feel does not change the gifts that God gives us – we are praying to feel His love but He doesn’t withhold that – and God does not withhold the one who helps us achieve ultimate peace – He gave us Jesus, the one and only Prince of Peace to help….

One day, when I am at the Lord’s feet, I have prayers that Jesus will stand there and plead my case of life choices – the good and bad – the uninformed and the knowing choices… Those peaceful pauses you might hear during crying for help would be from Jesus’s urging to me to catch my breath… Tissues made from the big robe sleeves, mercy in the touch of the fringes, peace as a gift after pleading my case… Jesus says it is OK, it is OK!… We do have an advocate – a Savior – a new life – we are pulled up and out of our angst by Jesus Himself…

Tonight, things did not work out according to my plans – but maybe they did according to God’s plans… I re-thought it out and once again I realized I have to leave my life plans in the hands of God ,  if things happens they happen, if they don’t they don’t… maybe this or that didn’t… but God did…

God did happen either way…

I love to sing along in life,  so tonight, after things did not work out (or maybe they did) I was scanning a song collection and I “randomly” picked something that popped up in my head: “Peaceful Easy Feeling” the Eagles – the lyric to my pensiveness – God answered lyrically because I was listening – He said that I would be OK –  “I’m already standing, on the ground” – I didn’t know why that song popped up in my head – but the Spirit did – and it was good to have the answer that I didn’t know I was looking for… I’m “already standing on the ground” – at least wanting to very much – standing on solid ground – that realization (again) of being grounded in God – that is what brought me peace. Always our desire to find peace must be formed in the deep belief of God – the lyric registered with me because it matched my recent ongoing brain song from Psalm 1 – “I will delight in the law of the Lord, I will meditate day-and-night,  and like a tree firmly planted I’ll be, grounded in your Word. ” Sometimes Jesus sends His spirit to sing us a soulful song to soothe… That’s what Jesus did tonight…

Peace is in the Word.

Peace is felt in God holding us and by Him reminding us to keep studying and keep trusting, keep swimming, keep paddling,  keep calm, keep focusing on things above… Keep loving God…

While focusing on the LIGHT, I can get “a peaceful easy feeling” – which is simply and exclusively from feeling God’s LOVE shining thru my own unknown situation… I know that my inner moth is attracted to the LIGHT from the best source – the Spirit within…

And whether I am right or wrong on those occasions, that I put my hope in an unknown event, I will try to remember that Jesus will still hold me until my spirit is re-stoked, re-sparked, re-stored…

I’m just learning to fly – learning again in life.  How about Jesus? Well, He already knows how to catch… and He caught me tonight – He catches us when we are learning to fly – without wings….

That’s a peaceful easy feeling – Jesus won’t let us down.

Amen

———–

Thanks Lord for You – thanks Lord for your grounding…

Psalm 1

¹ Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

———

Eagles – Peaceful Easy Feeling:

https://youtu.be/NjofshOBV5s

‘Cause I get a peaceful easy feelin’
And I know you won’t let me down
‘Cause I’m already standin’
I’m already standin’
Yes, I’m already standin’
On the ground

The craving for spiritual milk is really gifted to His followers by the Lord – He knows that they will need Him – in toughest times it is feeding on the cream of spiritual milk. Life’s turmoil churns the spiritual milk we have held in our souls and the cream of comfort rises to the top.  It is getting the rich stuff, not at the bottom of the barrel, but rising to the top when we slow down to let our turmoil settle – and the cream – yes the cream rises.

Our understanding and hungering for the Lord, in joy and in pain, is wanting to partake in pure spiritual milk, because we know that the Lord is good….

As we grow towards our salvation. Jesus rises us to the top.  We are saved by Him and only Him. We are God’s children – He wants to nurture and nourish us here and forever…

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2

Photo credit Living History Farms, Des Moines, IA

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The Cream of Spiritual Milk, 08OCT

Do you know people who shun their spiritual beliefs? Not only do they not realize their salvation, they can’t figure out where to find their joy? It shows – they move thru life OK but deep joy is not there – their comfort during tough times is also not there. While we walk our spiritual journeys we often see others not rooted in His Word – just as Jesus spoke of in the four soils parable, they are dried up seedlings that sprouted without placing their roots in a firm foundation, nothing to feed their roots… I feel bad for those folks… It’s one thing to not know enough about one’s faith – but for some to actually shun it, that is the saddest thing – it is like going to the bank and then refusing free gifts of money – and then mocking the bank for trying to give it away to you…  sad…

My wish is that everyone would want to know the Lord. To know the Lord is to know His Joy, His protection, His compassion,  His mercy.  We are to give God highest praises – all praises – even if we think all we can muster is a little drummer boy’s effort, it is still pleasing to God to give what we have – to be in praise brings so much increased internal joy. I want everyone to feel the joy.  I am a campaigner for God’s Joy – of course God is the only one who can make the folks realize His Joy – my wish is but a minor drop in the bucket of God’s power to help the world realize their Joy is in the Lord.

Actually, I often feel I have much more joy than I am allowed to have…. I feel bad if folks think that I am a Pollyanna – I just wish people could tap into their own joy – I really do… and that would help them tune into God in the rough times too…

The craving for spiritual milk is really gifted to His followers by the Lord – He knows that they will need Him – in toughest times it is feeding on the cream of spiritual milk. Life’s turmoil churns the spiritual milk we have held in our souls and the cream of comfort rises to the top.  It is getting the rich stuff, not at the bottom of the barrel, but rising to the top when we slow down to let our turmoil settle – and the cream – yes the cream rises.

God knows our pain. God also gives until it hurts. Jesus knew the physical pain to take on our burdens to allow us entry into the kingdom…. Jesus’s tears flowed until His blood flowed… and His spirit flowed thru His tears some more – flowing the deepest sorrows of emotional pain for the lost children of God. Surely His emotional pain was severe – and He had compassion for those who believed…

Our understanding and hungering for the Lord in joy and in pain is wanting to partake in pure spiritual milk, because we know that the Lord is good…. all the time…

We are blessed to grow towards our salvation. Jesus rises us to the top.  We are God’s children – He wants to nurture and nourish us here and forever…

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2

Photo credit Living History Farms, Des Moines, IA

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God is NOT a Fairytale, 06Oct

I’m attending a wonderful wedding today – I know it’s going to be beautiful, sweet, fairytale-like and fun!

We may wish fairytales in life, but life is really NOT a fairytale if God Himself is the one directing.

God is NOT a fairytale. God is real – and really at work today!

We are sure that God brought our bride and groom together for His plan. We are filled with JOY watching our bride and groom together.

JOY! Today there will be JOY! Joy will be spilling out from all the happy moments and friends enJOYing the day. Our joy comes from knowing the Lord, knowing He has us in the palm of His hand. So much JOY will overflow that we must spread our joy to others.

Our bride and groom know JOY because they know the Lord, and love Him, and because they share Him with others.

HOPE! Today there will be HOPE! Hope springs from knowing the Lord Himself gives us HOPE. Hope that ultimately we have a life together, with Him, eternally allows us right now to live more hopefully in His love. So much HOPE will bloom that we need to show others that they too can find HOPE.

Our bride and groom know HOPE because they know Jesus, and love Him, and because they share Him with us.

Today there will be LIGHT! LIGHT from the Lord will shine! His light will beam today from everyone’s smiles and darkness will not overcome it! Let us let the LIGHT from the SPIRIT inside each of us spill out – let us watch for the GLOW today – let us share our LIGHT with others. Just allow love to GLOW!

Our bride and groom will GLOW! They beam the LIGHT because they know the Spirit of the Lord moves them, because they love to be moved by the Spirit, and because they share the Spirit openly.

Today there will be LOVE

LOVE from the original source

LOVE in all its forms.

LOVE from God

LOVE to God

LOVE

Our bride and groom today will show LOVE, know love, experience love, and give love. Today they will allow their new love to grow even more.

Love is not a fairytale – God’s emanating love is alive. Our sharing of love needs nurturing, needs studying, needs reality checks.  Love is a process, love is powerful, “love is enough” ONLY if love drives everything else. Love must be allowed to grow.

Love from God – shared AGAPE- must be the foundation of our growth, our JOY, our HOPE, our GLOW.

LOVE FROM GOD WILL GROW.

Love is no fairytale because love is the plan.

God is no fairytale because God Himself is writing this story for our bride and groom, writing this story for us, writing this story for Himself.

The end of this story is the same as the beginning of the story – LOVE.

GOD IS LOVE.

GOD bless our bride and groom, as they continue to show us His love.

AMEN

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SNAP!!! Out of the Mud!!! 30SEP

Oh I love Facebook time hop….. today it reminded me that it was 6 years ago when something in my brain snapped while teaching…. I can still hear and feel that SNAP!….

I said out-loud to the kids: Jesus came as a catalyst for changing the world by spreading the news of God’s love faster… SNAP!… a catalyst in a chemical reaction makes things happen – Jesus makes things happen for God – SNAP! It was two years later, in God’s timing, while my writing was chronicling my processing, God started making my head spin…. I was hunted down by none other than God Himself…. I thought I was going crazy – I said: “wait! what?”

How earth shattering is it to be hunted down by God? How amazing is it to be caught by Jesus who simply gently said “she’s not dead, she’s just asleep…”

I wish I could convey that SNAP, that hunted down feeling… but each and everyone has to realize Jesus for themselves… I don’t fault myself or anyone for not knowing where I was spiritually, I don’t fault and yet I do know I slipped thru the cracks but was still driven to feed others….  when they say “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called” – that’s 100% true…

There’s no formula to faith,  but if you hear a snap,  I promise you there’s something going on with the universe of God’s dust particles, the word of Jesus, and the movement of the Holy Spirit… God is moving a sliding puzzle piece in your head, placing or un-placing a Lego piece, unzipping the separated part of a zipper and re-zipping it right… God knows what and where to adjust our antennae – our job is to listen, hear, believe, change, act…..

God formed the dust particles that are me, got the Holy Spirit swirling them around, and Jesus came to me as a flood of living water…. Christmas Flood is the basis of my blog, my 34 chapters of writing… I’m just trying to scoop up the mud in my brain and help Him help the Kingdom…. you have to learn to love God’s ability to rise us up out of the mud…

Thanks for letting me share… I’m still blown away, but God planted me, like a tree, and grounded me in His Word… I cried begging mercy after I realized what I didn’t realize…  I cry still when I think about what it would have meant if I didn’t SNAP into life with Jesus. My tears of flooding Jesus often come now to soften up my hardened soil of my soul – and the mud is better than stuck in dry ground… at least with mud you can move and you can climb – and you can ask to be cleansed and rise up – with Jesus…

I love you all… thank you for letting me share my experience…

Please know that God loves you…

Jesus saves – wakes – washes – wows…

WOW

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Recapture Pieces of Peace, 29SEP

When mini chapters of life challenges close, there are so many possibilities for us to find ways to reflect.  One day I would like to get together at a particular restaurant where a bunch of us retreat planners had lunch Feb 1st 2015, the day I knew i was 100% with BELIEVING THAT JESUS WAS REALLY GOD’S SON and I was 100% with Jesus, it was the cap of 2 months awakening… years in the making…  my peace only brought after a shocking shaking up of my soul…

…and I want to sit at the window eating sweet potato fries, like I did that day, then go to the 911 garden where I knew – I just knew Jesus had captured me and I had accepted Him as my Lord and Savior after not even knowing I had to do that – that day I was lost driving and God placed me where I needed to reflect in my own mental slice of His garden.. and after revisiting that Garden then I want to go back to a friend’s place for hot cocoa…. I have a hunkering for those sweet potato fries and for a mental piece of an immense moment of God’s peace… both are best shared with friends…

I still feel I have to share my quiet time with not just the Lord but thru writing too, I feel I have to spill it out because I am still broken and needing to ooze about God’s immense love because it is the oozing cementing of that love within our cracks that soothes our brokenness… and I pray others will look for His love to heal them… Maybe someday I will not ooze as much but I knew when I started writing that I didn’t want to become complacent or embarrassed for saying that we need God to heal our brokenness…

The 911 garden for me is trying to find peace in recovered pieces, pieces of peace carefully gathered back from rubble, glued together with love, steel and tears, green grass and grief, water fountains of tears and the flowing living water of healings…. recaptures of the old peace to make new peace…

God’s peace is illuminated by His shining of Light that makes one overlook the darkness of everything else… and so, on 911, when love and hate crumbled together under the weight of the collapsing towers, that scene became a stratified rock of visual light and dark layers.. with knowing God as we do, I can picture the pieces of those crumbles becoming places where He had to scoop up layers of love back to Him, I see souls of love floating out of rubble, and darkness forever trapped down in the muck….

Light from God is so immense that it’s never going to be overshadowed by evil…

Light from God, is LOVE…. our coming to the light and coming to peace with the light is due to love… LOVE before a second coming shows up as oozing love that still seeps from Jesus’s first coming – actually from way before,  because Jesus as the Word made flesh means that in the beginning the Word was looking for us – all of God’s entirety saw us needing His Word… Light came to move us out of darkness, one piece of peace at a time.

God’s light makes even the worse evils that so much more minimal – but it doesn’t always feel that way when we are immersed in pain – oh how painfully we are reminded that we are human and life seems at best a mixture of stratified layers of pain and passion and peace… Life everlasting however will see us lift the LIGHTED lightened pieces of peace out of the rubble… we are to strengthen our hearts…

Personal challenges exist, worldwide pain persists, it’s our hope to focus forward to the beginnings of a beautiful new walk with the Lord, everyday… It is remarkable that He allows us to be pulled thru feelings of so much pain, bleeding out of our souls to only realize this whole time that He’s been trying to fill us up more with sticky ooey gooey oozing healing LOVE…

God is recapturing His peace – from us – for us – for Himself.  His peace is in pieces. He knows how to work thru us to piece it all back together… He loves us…

Let us all keep practicing peace so that pieces of peace will come to LIGHT…

Let us all Love His Peace…

Amen

Peace

595

There are Summer Bugs, Lord!!! 27SEP

I hear them Lord! Chirp chirp chirp,  ….crickets!!! Crickets just like those Peepers Lord that You made me notice in the spring – and those stars you made me notice the previous Fall…. it’s almost almost Fall, but summer is holding it’s own until the last minute.  I’m thankful Lord, I really am, You knew I needed to hear that sound…. I need fall retreat but it’s still the chirp of continued summer – and that’s music to my ears and warmth to my soul… it’s still something to chirp about – and that’s You Lord… I sing praises in chirping peeps and in stunned silence to Your Love…

I do have trouble Lord, but I’ll keep my cards and not trade troubles with others.  I will accept my lot and I will make do – no Lord, I will make better than that – I will make praises with and for my humbling troubles because I remember that You have blessed me endlessly and forever… I will make do with my lot in life but i will make my life do more – for You…

I do have joy, Lord, I have joy and hope – I also have memories that enable to know that You and You alone delivered me from the season of spring peepers to now the end of summer… You are my provider as scripture reminds me. You know what i need and I’m grateful

So, I’ll just snuggle up a little more rest at the end of the night before day dawns, but when I do get going (soon, I’m getting there) I’ll have to make my own chirps because winter brings no sounds of spring peepers or summer bugs – a very quiet season is next – imagine the quiet of falling leaves… imagine the quiet of listening ears…  Imaging me trying to not worry- I’ll just chirp my own way thru the day and keep moving…

Thanks Lord

Amen

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6

https://debbieupper.wordpress.com/2018/05/12/there-are-peepers-lord-26apr-551/

https://debbieupper.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/the-stars-27oct-496/

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Beautiful Mercy, 24SEP

I’m drawn and pulled in many directions, but I knew I wanted to get to one of these Paul Simon farewell concerts or I would have regretted it… Concerts are my choice of retail therapy these last couple years…

I was glad that the train only had one direction, because I couldn’t go backwards- I was worried about my Dad and my Mom, because on my way to that train to the concert I heard about my Dad breaking his leg earlier that day… louder than the wheels turning in my head I could hear them say: “don’t change your plans”… they always say that…. I knew that my brother was there and they all said “it’s ok he’s stable, no surgery for a while… Don’t come…” So I continued on the train – on the one way path I was led on…

We got to the concert with minutes to spare, I got a piece of chocolate from my travelling companion and the music started and we found ourselves in Graceland – that’s the feeling of mercy – forgiveness for fast pace life – forgiveness because we ask for a moment of mercy to put the outside world aside and enjoy our slice of peace – God said: you are ok, you got here and now just relax and enjoy… it’s mercy to be allowed to enjoy, to feel right at home,  to just BE…..

“Hello darkness my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again” …   this time in the darkness there were also thousands of singing souls lifting and lighting up the arena with their spirit of appreciation to live in the moment – everyone was so thankful for Paul Simon – his music lighted up their lives – they were all thankful they were there – thankful for a short period of peace… thankful to sing along… Paul’s 60 plus years of music, all still beautiful…

Beautiful Mercy….

I’m grateful that I heard the Lord comfort me to seemingly say: “enjoy this farewell – enjoy this piece of peace”… and I did – and I reflect now that I was so grateful to be there…

Similarly, at church on Sunday, i knew that I was supposed to be there – it is feeling… Singing Psalm 1, my requested song, seemed perfect regardless if I might start crying,  I didn’t cry because God needed me to not cry – He needed me to be strong – He knew there were many more people who needed to see me strong and to see my prayer and praise of the Lord – people who were in need to be lifted up – many in worse situations than what I was experiencing… it’s all relative…

It is great mercy for the Lord to help you realize that you were led…

God blesses us and leads us…

God gives mercy…

Beautiful mercy…

593

Believing before Beholding – an Open Tomb – an Open Relationship with Christ

The bible and bible folklore uses that word: “Behold” and we put movie theatrics behind it… – “BEHOLD the Risen Christ”! …. Yet in Mark’s Gospel (a writing of Peter’s emotional experiences with Jesus) the Easter morning story ends abruptly – the women at the tomb don’t get to “Behold” the risen Christ, yet… the story ends with them hearing “He is Risen” – but with the women leaving, running in fear… In our lives and in the movies we skip over that running in fear portion – we just want to know the end of the story…

I’ve learned a lot from Michael Card’s “Biblical Imagination” series, where he has the gospels detailed according to the writer’s circumstances. I learned that our memories are a weaving of the different biblical versions plus our theatrical minds filled with John Wayne-like movies…. In truth, there are still many scholar debates of what to include or not in the gospels, even discussions about who is who… this theorist says that Mark is likely the owner of the house where Jesus held the last supper, and perhaps the man running out to hear the commotion at the Garden during Jesus’s arrest was Mark… and guess what? The gospel details the man running out only in a sheet – which he loses in the mob scene during his escape… Why would the bible need a theatrical scene of a man losing his sheet – we focus on the funny image but the image was not that at all – it was running in fear – we skip over that often…

Clearly the gospel authors had target audiences in mind…  Mark’s writings are detailed but not verbose… Mark was recording the account of Peter that would relate best with his readers who were experiencing the tyranny in Rome…. So fear was well known by his readers… He still was conveying a message of faith..   to behold the belief that they would be ok thru the tyranny – without seeing peace right now- that’s the message Mark was sending…

It’s the feeling that God needs us to experience too – believing without always seeing… Behold faith… We are asked to believe both when we are calm and when we are running in fear…

The account of the women indicates that none of the disciples actually believed Jesus would come back risen… in death, a tangible thing, they had to attend to the body. With Jesus’s body gone they only had open questions – that leap of faith, of Jesus being risen, had to be prodded by the angel – just like the cracking of the tomb, the cracking open of our faith requires prodding… Faith from prodding not always proof…

And these women still had immense fear… at this ending of the gospel there is no closure to the readers – perhaps because there is no closure for an open relationship between each person and their faith… we can desire satisfaction with understanding but that takes great leaps of faith…

Do we fear our own leaps of faith? Jesus wants us to believe even thru fear… In bad times do we not want to believe that God is still in control – do we fear faith? it’s all a personal journey… people only believe when they believe, in their own time – faithfully Jesus shepherd’s us, faithfully standing by – He knows it takes a leap of faith to acknowledge Him – He even knows it takes fearful running leaps of faith to process our own faith…

No closure here – only an open tomb – an open relationship – opening our hearts to faith….

The women were running in fear, but they had each other to witness their experience – after running i imagine they talked it out with each other – and as a reader of the story which ends abruptly, I pray they found their faithful open relationship with Jesus.

I pray we all find and open that relationship to Jesus… then we can Behold our belief in Christ…

Amen

Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. —   Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid. Mark 15:40-41, 47

—

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”  Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. Mark 16:1-8

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. Mark 16:9

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What I Learned, 24Sep

I learned I’m human

I learned I’m blessed

I learned God has already been thinking about my next decision

I learned that I don’t need anything but to focus on His plans

I learned His plans need studying

I learned that when you dress up and put on cute shoes and your plans get changed that your shoes are still cute

I learned that you are the same person before and after the clock strikes midnight…

I learned in life that those things you can’t control don’t have to control you

I learned that you get to look at the one shoe remaining after midnight and remember how you felt wearing it just before

I learned to keep learning

I learned to learn faster

I learned to keep moving no matter what

I learned to “choose today whom I will serve” – every day – I learned I had no choice but to make the choice…

I learned I knew all this already

I learned that God still loves me even if I forget what I learned

I learned I had already learned

I learned to walk faster when walking thru the valley of death

I learned to try to BE STILL

I learned to wait upon the Lord

I learned to listen

I learned to call out

I learned to listen even more

I learned my cup overflows

I learned that I love learning

I learned:

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23

591

I wrote this a few years ago, I expanded it…

Paul Simon – Hurricane Eye, 22SEP

Living in the hurricane eye feeling is as real to me today as it ever was… We live in hurricane eyes, if we choose to let Jesus pull us in…

Hurricanes of life surround us, Jesus holds us in the eye… There’s a Paul Simon song (of course), Hurricane Eye,  https://youtu.be/VyPD-N5PaeE

I truly “fell asleep in a washing machine, woke up in a hurricane eye” because Jesus cleansed me with his washing – and He pulled me into that hurricane eye – He gave me peace. But He must hold me anew each day – sometimes grabbing my arms – sometimes gently squeezing my hand. And each day I must hold on tight to Him too.  Each day i don’t always get into the eye completely,  and some days i can’t even see that eye… but He’s got me – He’s got all of us…

Yes, Jesus holds us and we can hold onto Him. Every day…

Finding peace means Jesus holding us tightly back from us running or simply drifting into the hurricane… Finding peace means Jesus sometimes lets us stand on His shoulders and see beyond the eye and remind ourselves that we shouldn’t want to leave His comfort.

And sometimes we need to turn away from looking at that hurricane and bury ourselves in Jesus’s robes and hide…

Peaceful as a hurricane eye is probably as peaceful as we are going to get on earth in a broken world… a spinning crazy broken world – and we do have to hold on because eventually peace will be all there is….

So Hold on… Hold Him…

Hold onto your faith… Hold onto Jesus…

——-

Here’s the end of the lyrics

Over the bridge of time
I’m walking with my family
And the road begins to climb
And it’s oh Lord how we going to pray
With crazy angel voices
All night
Until it’s a new day

Peaceful as a hurricane
Peaceful as a hurricane
Peaceful as a hurricane eye
Peaceful as a hurricane
Peaceful as a hurricane
Peaceful as a hurricane eye
Peaceful as a hurricane eye

You want to be leader?
You want to change the game?
Turn your back on money
Walk away from fame
You want to be a missionary?
Got that missionary zeal?
Let a stranger change your life
How does it make you feel?
You want to be a writer
But you don’t know how or when
Find a quiet place
Use a humble pen

You want to talk talk talk about it
All night squawk about
The ocean and the atmosphere
Well I’ve been away for a long time
And it looks like a mess around here
I’ll be away for a long time
So here’s how the story goes
There was an old woman
Who lived in a shoe
She was baking a cinnamon pie
She fell asleep in a washing machine
Woke up in a hurricane eye

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I don’t know why God took over my brain but ideas just form in my brain like clouds, yes clouds… get enough moisture together and precipitation happens…

Clouds of Faith, 17Jul

We think of the clouds in the sky when we think of our loved ones who’ve gone to heaven…

We also think about Jesus riding in on a cloud when He comes back to Earth…

We watched clouds as children imagining shapes, we still do, we are still children. And we need to become more childlike in God-wonder.

God says there is no way we can know or comprehend all His ways… So I wonder: where does He store all those clouds?

Clouds are puffy, clouds are wispy, clouds can be dark and ominous, high up and in low foggy zones… Clouds can just show up – both in relief to scorching hot Sun – and in disappointment for a sunny carnival about to get rained out… Clouds happen…

We know we need the rain, we need the precipitation… we need the rainy days to get our thoughts together… so we need clouds… both physical and spiritual clouds…

We need to gather and form faith clouds, yes, we as people, children of God, are actually pulled together by the HOLY SPIRIT to form faith bonds with others…  Sometimes cloud molecules are stretched far apart and sometimes they are condensed in a tight bonds… that is true with us too… we drift and we return, hopefully to connect… we create faith clouds…

Jesus said: 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Yes, sometimes our faith molecules – meaning God’s children – are stretched far apart and sometimes they are condensed in a tight bonds… tightened, gathered, grouped, grounded clouds of faith.

Clouds happen when the weather is just right… water molecules are gathered from the ground and evaporated up, the enormity of water weight we can not even begin to comprehend and yet these clouds float…

Our faith collectives do the same – children of faith are collected – gathering with faith brothers and sisters will lighten the situation of the darkest doom…  The problems of life we can not begin to comprehend and yet faith floats us thru it… where 2 or 3 gather? Watch Jesus pull together your personal faith cloud. He will.

Where does God keep all those clouds? Right here all the time… us too, we are made of God’s molecules waiting to be pulled together… we don’t always see the Holy spirit but when we are pushed, prodded, pulled and pooled TOGETHER, when we are spiritually moved together, we will then become an opportunity for Him to precipitate the faith… we are His people – we are held in his storehouses so that He can pull together His faith movers and shakers.

Clouds happen. Faith fulfills.  Faith lifts a situation.

Be still and watch for God…

Be the lift in someone else’s cloud today, lift them with their own faith, lift them with your collective faith – TOGETHER.

Amen

Job 26:8-10
He wraps up the waters in his clouds,
yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.
He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it.
He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness.

—-

Job 37:5-

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
he does great things beyond our understanding.
6 He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work,
he stops all people from their labor.
8 The animals take cover;
they remain in their dens.
9 The tempest comes out from its chamber,
the cold from the driving winds.
10 The breath of God produces ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;
he scatters his lightning through them.
12 At his direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,
or to water his earth and show his love.

14 “Listen to this, Job;
stop and consider God’s wonders.
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
and makes his lightning flash?
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,
those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?

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Rebuilding a Temple of PRAISE, 14SEP

Ah – I love the internet – that lyric “And these are the days of Your servant David, Rebuilding a temple of praise.” From “Days of Elijah” sparked a question in my head and my education was in simple reach of my fingertips… that is an awesome resource of God – the people who fill the internet with scripture (instead of cat videos) are rebuilding their own temple of praise… and the song also was written to say that we too have to stand up against the evils of the world like Elijah did – these are the days that we are to “stand up and speak up for Him.”

I knew David’s son built the big temple – but I had forgotten (and found myself scarcely educated) on the fact that David had the Ark under a tent so that he could worship God – and that David had BUILT A TEMPLE OF PRAISE – actually rebuilt it (learning thru this readings below)… David could not enter the temple of Moses (and only a select few could) – so he made a temple of praise FOR praise – for everyone… So, before Indiana Jones found the Ark in time for the movies, LOL, the Ark of the Covenant (containing all those great God goodies) simply was under a tent – no matter the simple tent – it was all about the praise…

*** That’s us too!!! We are to build, and rebuild, and rebuild again our own temples of praise – find our place for reflection, find our own figurative tent, and find our place to praise the Lord – this also gave way to the saying/lyric “Sacrifice of Praise” – send up the praise – spend the time in praise – and spend the time in rebuilding our own temple – we are human – we are flawed – but when we invite the rebuilding our own temple of praise, God fills us – Jesus heals us – the Spirit moves us…. One of the commentaries below says: “When things do not go as we planned—when God closes a door—we should continue to praise the Lord and then move on in a new direction. Rather than complain about what we can’t do, we should do what we can, giving God the glory. “

Everyone can worship the Lord – everyone can build their temple of praise – everyone can do something to make a difference – and that is what we should do – truly we are blessed to be able to do that! – and we, like in the Days of Elijah, must stand up for God!!!!

AMEN!

Here are good internet reads and some of their text:

• From the author of the song “Days of Elijah” – https://robinmark.com/the-story-behind-days-of-elijah/

“Firstly the song came from watching a television “Review of the Year” at the end of 1994. This was the year of the Rwandan civil war tragedy which claimed 1 million people’s lives, and also when the first ceasefires in N.I. were declared. On this TV review were a lot of daft stories, happy stories, serious stories, and then absolutely devastating stories like the Rwandan situation. As I watched the review unfold I found myself despairing about the state of the world and, in prayer, began asking God if He was really in control and what sort of days were we living in.

I felt in my spirit that He replied to my prayer by saying that indeed He was very much in control and that the days we were living in were special times when He would require Christians to be filled with integrity and to stand up for Him just like Elijah did, particularly with the prophets of Baal. “These are ‘Elijah’ days”. Elijah’s story is in the book of Kings and you can read how he felt isolated and alone in the culture in which he lived. But God told him to stand up and speak for Him.

———-

“Of course David didn’t get to build the structural temple (that’s why the word in the song line is “rebuild”), that was left to Solomon his son, but David was used by God to introduce a revised form of worship, praise and thanksgiving into, firstly, his little tent which he pitched around the Ark of the covenant (the presence of God) and then the temple that Solomon his son built.

This worship, unlike the Mosaic Tabernacle, involved many people being able to come into Gods presence and worship him openly. (In Moses time only one man, the high priest, could enter the Holy of Holies, once a year. David’s tent was a picture of how Christ would enable us to come right into Gods presence, through his sacrifice, and worship openly there).

If you search carefully through the Book of Amos (chapter 9) you will find reference to this “Restoration of David’s Tabernacle”. In Acts this prophecy was used to explain, at the council of Jerusalem, why the “Gentiles” should be allowed to become Christians and worship their saviour without all the legal requirements of the Jewish law. It is also accepted among restoration theologians that this refers to restored Praise and Worship. The physical temple was “Solomon’s”, David’s “temple” was a little tent but you and I are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. It sounds complex, doesn’t it, but if you just understand that the line in the song refers to Praise and Worship before the presence of God just like David enjoyed, then that’s all there needs to be to it!”

———

• https://opentheword.org/2016/09/18/why-did-king-david-build-the-tabernacle-of-david/

“After David became king, he decided to move the Ark of the Covenant to a tent set up in Jerusalem — called the Tabernacle of David (see also 1 Chronicles 16) instead of returning it to the Tabernacle of Moses.

16 Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.17 So they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offering, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. 19 Further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread and one of dates and one of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed each to his house. (2 Samuel 6:16-19 NASV)

Though the Ark of the Covenant was now in Jerusalem, the priests continued making sacrifices at the Tabernacle of Moses  (1 Chronicles 16:37-40).

David deeply desired to be in God’s presence, but he couldn’t do it at the Tabernacle of Moses because of his illegitimacy. But he could do it, if he moved the Ark of the Covenant to a different location and different home. And despite one glitch (2 Samuel 6:6-7), the move had God’s approval.

At the Tabernacle of David, King David now had full, free access to God’s Presence. Further, there was no veil separating people from Ark of the Covenant, as there was in Moses’s tabernacle.

Everyone could come before God’s Presence at this simple tent.

Many of the Psalms were written for worship in the Tabernacle of David. The move sparked a different type of worship than what typically occurred at Moses’s tabernacle. At David’s tabernacle, the people:

• Made sacrifices of praise (instead of animal sacrifices) to God (Psalm 27:6).
• Clapped their hands (Psalm 47:1).
• Lifted their hands in worship (Psalm 134).
• Shouted (Psalm 47:1, 5).
• Danced (2 Samuel 6:16; Psalm 149:3).
• Sought the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:10-11), and
• Played their instruments (1 Chronicles 23:5; Psalm 47:5; Psalm 149:3).

They had glory times in God’s presence.

Aside from these expressions of worship, the psalmists also wrote several time of gentiles coming into the Kingdom of God (Psalm 18:49; Psalm 117:1; Psalm 47:8-9). They would have the same access to God’s presence as the Jews.

The Tabernacle of David existed for a brief time between the Tabernacle of Moses and the Temple that David’s son Solomon constructed. After the temple was completed, the priests transported the Ark of the Covenant from David’s tent into the Temple’s Holy of Holies and the Glory of God fell (2 Chronicles 5:14).

• https://www.gotquestions.org/David-temple.html

Question: “Why didn’t God allow David to build the temple?”

Answer: In 1 Chronicles 17:1, David’s thoughts turn to building a temple for the Lord. The king sent for the prophet Nathan and said, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” The discrepancy bothered David. Why should the king’s house be a palace, while the house of God was just a tent?

At first, Nathan encouraged David to follow through on his desire to build a temple for the Lord (1 Chronicles 17:2). Yet that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, changing their plans: “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in’” (verse 4). God then points out that, in all the long history of the tabernacle, He never once rebuked Israel’s leaders for not building a permanent temple (verses 5–6). Rather than David building a temple, God decided to allow David’s son to oversee this work (verses 11–12).

In response, David offered a prayer of praise: “You, Lord, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Lord, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever” (1 Chronicles 17:26–27). David considered God’s word as a tremendous blessing that affirmed his son would also serve as king.

First Chronicles 22:8 sheds some light on God’s decision not to allow David to build the temple: “You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.” David’s background of shedding blood in times of war was God’s reason for choosing David’s son instead (see also 1 Chronicles 28:3). God wanted a man of peace to construct the temple, not a man of war. His house was to be “a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7).

Since David was forbidden from building the temple himself, he helped to gather materials and prepare the plans for the temple’s construction. He said to Solomon, “I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them. You have many workers: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as those skilled in every kind of work in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you” (1 Chronicles 22:14–16).

Solomon faithfully fulfilled this command during his reign, leading Israel to the height of world power. David’s desire to build a house for the Lord was noble, but God had other plans. David’s reaction to God’s nixing his plan is a model for us. When things do not go as we planned—when God closes a door—we should continue to praise the Lord and then move on in a new direction. Rather than complain about what we can’t do, we should do what we can, giving God the glory. “

GROW, 07SEP

Christmas the crab has taken a back seat to our cat, of course,  but quietly he has grown throughout this year. I thought he was silly talking the biggest shell as his new one, but wow he has grown and filled it!…

I’ve been blessed to be the caretaker of my corner of this world: crab, cat, children..  It’s raining, but I’m in a shell of a beautiful house on a hill. My fingers reach outside my shell to type to the spirit that resides in you lovely friends… I’m encouraged that we encourage each other…

It’s early Saturday morning, I’ve grown to know for the last 3 years that there’s often a new devotion for me to write – but I have to I pause to let it out, and I haven’t been pausing enough lately…. It’s times like these quiet moments in my shell of a house that I stop to think about how blessed I am and like this pouring rain, today’s devotion about spiritual growth is going to pour out of me… I think with my 600 writings that I would have covered spiritual growth a lot, but there’s always room for more growth… I have grown… I urge you all to GROW. Grow in faith…

One should never stop growing in one’s faith…. just like the crab’s tremendous growth this year, our faith will grow to fill the shell around us – our shell is not small, our shell is as big as the hands of God. Do you know how big that is? No, nothing could measure the vastness of Him, therefore our faith could grow to unfathomable sizes too… The smallest growth in faith is HUGE growth, proportional to what we had before… yet we are not to worry about proportion – we simply are called to GROW – there is so much NEW opportunity to see how we connect to the vastness of the shell space of the higher and utmost greatest power around us…

Christmas the crab likes to run for cover, I put him on the openness of the bed and he bolts instantly for darker spaces by the covers, he knows instinctively to gain protection… we need to do that too, except our protection is not in the darkness – our protection is in the LIGHT – our protection is from being in the LIGHT.  Yes it might be tough out in this world, but our best future is to keep growing towards LIGHT anyway.
Instinctually as humans we might run for dark, but as spiritually-filled souls  we are called to grow towards the LIGHT… a smile induced in a sad person is growing towards LIGHT… a chance to make a situation better is growing towards LIGHT… granting forgiveness and mercy to others is growing towards LIGHT… growing humble is growing towards LIGHT…

Let LIGHT lift your eyes to see where to grow your FAITH – then just GROW…

Never stop growing…

Amen

587

Practice Peace, 04Sep

Light invaded my dark, and I had a productive weekend where I intensely felt moments of peace that surpassed the angst I had…

I pray you open this new morning looking for the peace that is looking for you.

Peace finds us and moves us. That’s God’s plan. He’s working those lights that we try to hide ourselves under our own baskets of angst…

My strife subsided – I did not ignore but I kept busy “in the moment” – and so did the Lord. My increasing peace made it possible for me to be a witness of others’ peace in the eye of their own hurricanes – they had difficulties too and yet they were practicing peace. If ever I wanted to hide under my basket of covers, I’m glad I didn’t, I slowly plugged back in and God kept me working – witnessing them on their paths of peace… Don’t hide those lights – besides God will blow the baskets off anyway…

Three church services that day. Three communion opportunities. These were the placeholders in my schedule that kept me moving and became the brackets to my day and I felt light invade my dark – I knew the light that was there – we hear the Lord – “my sheep know my voice and I know them, and they hear me” John 10:27.

One of my favorite moments in between church services was with meeting Bob, I asked him about the painted rock inside the drive-thru tip jar, he was a jovial young soul, I showed him my collection of painted rocks with scripture encouragements in my cup holder, ready to be hidden in hiking trails or wherever, it’s a new project of mine… He was excited about the whole thing and I offered him one, he chose “Practice Peace”… he told me why and I said God Bless you… I ask you reading this to pray for Bob too… I was excited to share, he said he was getting more spiritual – to practice peace is an action item for him… Bob was happy to receive encouragement and that also really encouraged me… basket blown off – the light shined thru my smile – God needs me to smile, I realize that – God needs each of us to shine His light, I knew that but to shine it in a drive-thru window opportunity ONLY happen when you actually drive yourself into them. Drive yourself to find opportunities to share HIS light.

Light invades dark – but we must crack the lid of our own boxes of darkness… We must let the light in…

Later, I got a healing hug from a friend who taught me that exact box thought in a spiritual retreat class – to think about how the light enters a box when it is cracked open even if just a sliver…. Jesus the light of the world. Light peeks in – and it is light – we need to let Jesus enter the box. We need to listen – we are His sheep…

My time that day was also spent at the nursing home, I witnessed with Joe, who sings “Let the be peace on Earth – and let it begin with me”… He clamors for peace and he can and does remind so many by his plea, he moves people to think just like he moves his wheelchair…  yes, we need to make the moves for world peace.  Joe is trying to do just that – no hiding that basket – God is using Joe to shine a very important message…

“Practicing peace” is no game for God, He knows where and what plays to run. We however, as humans, need to “practice peace” actively and put in the effort…

That’s because the Holy Spirit is actively swirling and guiding us – practicing peace means us putting ourselves into His service – a task for us to bring peace to others by giving them HOPE.

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” Luke 14:15-17 NLT

I pray you practice peace today – for yourself – and for others –  importantly for God…

Look for the spirit that lives in you to use you today…

Practice blowing off the basket – shine the wholeness of His light!

Practice Peace.

AMEN

586

Peace Pieced Together, 02SEP

My tears of life overflowed yesterday at home and blessedly my teenager put his hand on my shoulder to comfort me and moved the tissue box close to me and told me to take deep breaths and to pet the cat for comfort… wow…. wow, how did God get me here? God pieced that blessing together a little at a time, everyday working a little in His world to piece together a peace-filling moment – JUST FOR ME – instead of my tears, I was then distracted by the awesomeness of my son knowing how to process this situation to help me…  did you see how mercy and love moved God to move that tissue box toward me using him? I did…. I hear God in the slide… I felt God in the touch… I was distracted by His love fading the world away… I picked up on the pieces of peace that God has been leaving like breadcrumbs along the path to Him…

585

A piece I’ve been meaning to write for my whole life…

Distraction, 02Sep

Distraction should become focus.

In my anxiety, I know I am human – troubled, just uneasy, scared, worried, ugh…

In my Lord, I know I am HIS – I really don’t need to know anything else – because in being HIS I am always in HIS LOVE

I already know the truth – I already know God’s answer to all my anxiety – but I need to get the rest of me to get there I need to feel that peace too…

Here is the answer before all problems existed and the answer once problems arise: “Set your mind on things above.”

I’m not usually anxious but I’m miserable in angst for a particular problem – but there’s nothing I can do at this very moment until a certain day – a day that’s a long way off – therefore I can’t get rid of the burden, nor should I – I’m going to hold on to this issue and yet there’s no reason to burden others, so I guess I have to keep working on problems and tasks at hand, not the mental break or refreshing moment that I want, but I have to deal…. in life we have to deal… for all God’s timing, this angst makes me distracted from my normal angst which was upsetting enough – I pray God to distract me from me… I know I am a complainer when it comes to comparing my angst to HIS greatness!

God distracts us by what He attracts us to – in order to “set your mind on things above”…

Talking about my issues it does seem little to complain about, but big to me in this moment – and yes I am in the disconnect area right now – even though I can see peace ahead, but I’m not there yet…

One place I know to focus is praying on and remembering other friends’ problems instead of mine –  I should clam up about my issues and keep moving… and yes also I should be looking at God’s problem of this broken world – I should speak up instead and take the time to help Him – to tell of Him – yes, we are to spend our time going to God –  working for God – that is how the peace gets pieced back together.

In truth, we should spend ALL our time piecing peace together.

In truth, I can see God sending signs to distract me from me – and attract me to Him.

I pray to not to run into bad times to shock me into counting my blessings – but the world is still a broken place… I am not at peace with the world, nor should I be – worse yet we should not become complacent.

I appreciate hearing and seeing God distract me… “set your mind on things above“…

This morning I hear summer bugs, I hear my hermit crab crunching and clunking his shell, I hear the quiet but stirring of my sleeping teenage babies – do I need anything else to be thankful for?

I ask and know the most important question: Do I hear God? I do, I don’t need anything else but God here…

I have known that God is in all things – I have peace even if I can’t piece it together right now – I am the distraction – God is the peace.

Right now, I hear birds singing and have a warm place to sit. Right now, I hear the hum of the highway, even on a Sunday morning, there are others working much earlier and much harder than me – God is humming while He works us for His peace. Actually, He whistles as He works – that whistling wind will catch your ear – God will too…

I hear in rewind, in my head, my conversations this past week with others who have far worse off issues than me – I often think that God distracts us from our own problems by getting us to remember others… God distracts us from our own problems, we can also remember others being given the joyous opportunities that make the rest of the world fade away by them living in the moment…

Life is best lived in the present- the present is a gift… set your mind on things above and listen to the Lord for clues to discover that path today… we can only follow the Lord if we listen for Him…

I hope to work my peace out by writing – it’s a process – my peace and God’s peace is a process – if I stop to observe my progress then I can see that God placed me in the process to work for Him…

Let’s start the day by looking for His distractions…

His distractions should be our focus.

Amen

—-

PS

586

My tears of life overflowed yesterday at home and blessedly my teenager put his hand on my shoulder to comfort me and moved the tissue box close to me and told me to take deep breaths and to pet the cat for comfort… wow…. wow, how did God get me here? God pieced that blessing together a little at a time, everyday working a little in His world to piece together a peace-filling moment – JUST FOR ME – instead of my tears, I was then distracted by the awesomeness of my son knowing how to process this situation to help me…  did you see how mercy and love moved God to move that tissue box toward me using him? I did…. I hear God in the slide… I felt God in the touch… I was distracted by His love fading the world away… I picked up on the pieces of peace that God has been leaving like breadcrumbs along the path to Him…

584

Tip God’s Hand, 30AUG

Sometimes God lets you know what He’s thinking. Sometimes it might feel like a card game as we wait on the Lord and we don’t know what’s in store. But it’s no game to God, its played out on purpose.  Sometimes, just sometimes God lets you peek at His Cards…

In the end, God Wins! We already knew that! Therefore, we have to believe that He’s got a winning hand already and yes, He’s putting all His chips in…

Does He keep His plays secret? Does He whisper sometimes to you as He makes a move? Do you need to hear him say: “Watch this” or are you already watching?… Do you have a feeling,  as you watch Him rearrange His cards, for what His next play will be?…

When God lets you peek at His hand, does He actually want you to keep it a secret or not?. Maybe His plays need studying first so that we notice His subtle coordination, maybe His plays are way out in the open…. Actually, and in all ways, God wants us to know that He has plans for each of us. And yes, for everyone’s sake, God wants you to “Tip His Hand”…

Tip God’s Hand and tell the world His plans. God may surprise us, but it’s all written for us to know and see… Did He not already make His biggest move by sending Jesus? He has already told us, thru Jesus, that the most important commandment is LOVE – Love God, Love His people. Jesus has given us the directive that God wants us to “BELIEVE IN THE ONE HE SENT” … that’s because Jesus has been watching Gods moves from day 1. In the beginning there was the WORD…

And now? Jesus is now at His Right Hand, Jesus is watching inside every move that God deals. Jesus can and wants to direct your life… Jesus tells each of us individually that we do all fit into God’s plan. Jesus wants us to rest our minds and take comfort in Him, Jesus asks us to let His Holy Spirit lead. He wants us to empty our minds of our plans and fill them with His.

God wins… God wants LOVE to win. GOD made the world and God is sorting out all the cards right now – and we can watch Him as He plays them. We belong to Him!

Yes, God shows us His cards.

And it is no poker face – Love is written all over God’s face…

LET’S TIP GOD’S HAND – LET’S TELL THE WORLD about THE WORD, about the LOVE, about the PLAN…

AMEN

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For all my bluefish friends, and especially swimming souls, may you always be voracious for the Lord!

Voracious, 25AUG

Swells of the ocean up and down, I was getting used to navigating the waves and felt comfortable, not completely but enough… how amazing the ocean and the sand…. so much sand, so much beach and oh how I had so much to praise… Yes, a quick swim at sunrise was worth the drive… worth squashing fears of many things that predominated in my head but they didn’t stop me… I prayed: “please keep me swimming, Lord, even if i doubt my path at times…”

I was happy I was there, I didn’t know if I should have tried to fit that swim time in, with all the logistics, but oh I’m so glad I did… I didn’t know if when falling asleep at 1030pm if a 445 am wakeup alarm would feel terrible. I questioned if it worth that for a sunrise swim?  Yet this would be my first swim of the disappearing season… I also knew that the scriptures say: “all my days have been ordained” – and I thought I’m going to know either way at 4:45am if it was a mistake or not… So guess what? At 4:17am God says: “oh, is this enough pre-alarm time wake up time for you?” Yeah God, really… it’s 4:17am and I am wide awake huh?… God chuckled and I was wide awake? Yeah, all my days have been ordained,ordered and appointed huh?… I get it, I got it, I’m getting out of bed, I’m going Lord… up and out to the beach… LET’S GO!

The stealth outside cat greeted me, it was 5:15 am, and my swimming sister opened her door, smiled and grabbed snacks, and we were off… the drive was just 52 minutes… 52…

At the beach it felt right… the water was so warm! The sun said “welcome to your new day to live for God!” And there were so many people! They were there for the sunrise – they were there for people watching too… 6:30 am never felt so normal for a beach!

I was able to feel comfortable with my choice of an early morning adventure, it is good to know that all our days have been ordained – even if sometimes I doubt my steps…

Swells of the ocean up and down… swell… just keep swimming…

Swells for sure, but it was the calmest of water, I felt peace in motion… We swam and got great exercise.  Then all of a sudden in this calm water there was a Splash Splash Splash!… Wait, what? What in the world was going on? More sprinkled splash splash splashes again, and again – all around us – a big wow – it was coordinated schools of leaping little fish, jumping up at my ear and eye level…. my whole life I never imagined being INSIDE and seeing a school of fish synchronized leaping IN THE AIR! Cool… It was so very cool!!!

BUT WAIT…

“Keep swimming”… just then my VERY knowledgeable swimming sister says “It’s a good time to get out of the water!!!” – what? Oh! With hurried expression it was a sign to escape – not to overpanic but with precautionary and expedited strokes,  we kept swimming fast to shore,  the little bait fish meant a needed meal to bigger fish, maybe a Bluefish! We did NOT want to be on the menu!!!!!… Not necessarily a purposeful attack but we humans can get in the way of life and a fish’s lunch! Quickly we swam to shore, rested on the sand… Whew!  Later we got back in…. Little fish and big fish – all reminders that life may bring you trouble,  but you still have to get back in and keep swimming!

Bluefish, they are naturally hungry,  bluefish know how to chase, and they know how to bite! Bluefish school themselves travel in packs… if there is one hungry fish there are many! Bluefish are so voracious…. I’m grateful and blessed my swimming sister knew the signs of trouble, we rested after that and while we shared a snack we got to share also in the wonder of life… It is amazing that when you realize how far God has already brought you “safe thus far”, it’s a good sign that He wants you to keep hungry for life! Remembering that all LIFE and all LOVE is from God.

So, how can we be voracious Bluefish too? We know we have to eat for health, but what choices do we make for feeding our souls? We make that choice,  we have to nourish our own hungers with the spiritual milk that God provides… How could we even measure how much LOVE God provides for us? We can be minnows or we can be bigger and bigger fish, but we will find out that we are all part of one big ocean of God’s Love.  So when you start seeing all the little love God has already shown on you, it keeps your eyes open for the bigger and bigger LOVE,  and as you expend more of your energy by living for the Lord,  this keeps you hungry for more of God’s love…

God’s love is precious,  abundant,  freeing… it’s natural to be hungry…

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand When I awake, I am still with You. Psalm 139:17-18

It’s natural to know our humanness, it’s ok to feel our weakness,  it’s normal to feel doubts, or to feel weird, or to mourn, and it’s good to keep swimmin for the future… So let us all look for God’s love in all… let’s keep swimming… let’s enjoy all God gives us as opportunities… let’s enjoy life and share the joy… let’s look to each other for direction, motivation and knowledge.

Gobble up as much summer as you can,  every day before it gets cold,  splash your way thru the waves of life, make a school of fish type leap away from trouble, and keep swimming! Be ever vigilant for the signs of trouble! Don’t let fear stop you. Keep swimming.

Gobble up every nourishing bite of God’s love,  be voracious! And share your share. Be blessed to know how to crave spiritual milk…

Enjoy life and make the most of it, even if days are troubled…. each day there is a sunrise and a sunset reset – each day is a gift – each as a new day to bask in God’s Love…

Today is God’s day – everyday – all our days have been ordained…

Live life and love voraciously for God.

Amen

—–

Be Voracious for the Lord!

“2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ….

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  from 1st Peter 2

—–

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? …..” From Psalm 139

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What about God’s Anger? Learning and Applying Wisdom, 21Aug

Wow, the Psalms were written over the course of 500 years, by multiple authors!

I erroneously thought it was just David… it shouldn’t surprise me, I know little old testament bible history, the bible is so vast that there is no way anyone could know it all,  so clearly there is a need to keep studying… and there are so many aspects to the bible, it’s important to know context to help interpret it,  like who was writing psalms while they were under stress,  who was writing while they were at peace…. I would like to understand the people and their feelings, but first and foremost, I need to understand God, … that’s where wisdom comes in. Thankfully we can always ask for more wisdom.

Here’s more info of the history of the psalms: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalms

One psalm by Moses, many by David, but odds and ends by others, many not in the modern bible and different cultures kept different ones…

I think it’s interesting that today’s world brushes the concept (and reality) of God’s anger under the rug. Do modern churches not want to scare people? Or do we acknowledge anger more lightly than we should?  Perhaps is God more selective showing anger these days? Or since we have Jesus with us, reflected in the distinct separation of old and new testament stories, does that mean that God is less angry now? Hmmm… Or do we just not attribute all aspects of life properly? Maybe we do mix up global correction vs individual corrective action by God… I question to understand more… If God can know every hair on our heads, then He can know how to use His anger purposely and very individually… Anger, rebuttal, teaching, it’s all mixed into life… we need to learn from anger, ours and others, and especially from God’s…. Jesus may feel like a golden ticket of relief, but we still have to walk that very narrow path – fear of the Lord means respect of the Lord – it is better to fear God than be flippant, that’s always true… Pray to listen, we all still need wisdom… wisdom means applying what we know. Fruit grows best on strong branches which know how to hold up the fruit of one’s blessings and give the bountiful crops away to balance – it takes wisdom in life to find balance…

I like how Jesus appreciated wisdom and intelligence, I recently read scripture in Mark detailing the conversation with the scribe. The scribe acknowledged that Jesus knew and taught the most important commandments, to love God and love each other… Peter’s recollections, thru Mark’s writings, saw Jesus’s appreciation of thoughtful intelligence – of wisdom… Now everyone would benefit from more wisdom, wisdom means we can have intelligent conversations with the Lord. We can always have conversations with Jesus walking alongside us… There are hard ways and less hard ways to get wisdom from our past history,  so using wisdom for our future is most crucial… Jesus taught for us to live our future.

Moses speaks about wisdom in Psalm 90 – the days are short, we should try to get as much wisdom as we can and use it. We should pray like Moses to get joy by asking the Lord to “establish the works of our hands” – that’s our job – applying wisdom for our future…

Wisdom is to love God and love our neighbors – these are commandments for right now and for the future too…

We need to ask Jesus to help us understand God, that’s a most important first step… wisdom means applying what we know. We know God wants us to apply what we know….

Love is an action. Pray for wisdom to put love into action.

Amen

——-

Psalm 90 – A prayer of Moses the man of God.

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You turn people back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
4 A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.

7 We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
10 Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

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Roll It Off Your Back, 18Aug

I recall reading about the decline of the penguin populations and I feel guilty that I haven’t saved the world yet in science efforts…. face it, I feel guilty about EVERYTHING (even feel guilty about feeling guilty!) – yes guilty,  we need to teach, we need to pray that folks become more in tune with whole world reality… we are in this together…

I know that Jesus was frustrated with the people, and I can be frustrated too, especially with myself, but I need to not let resentment keep me back, I need to keep moving FORWARD. Jesus moved FORWARD, teaching as He went.

I know that Jesus cried on His ride into Jerusalem, because the people were not all saved, I can be sad too, but I need to not let woe keep me back from still riding into my Jerusalem, I need to keep moving FORWARD. Jesus moved FORWARD, teaching as He went.

We must move forward with what we actually can do, and appreciate where each of us have come from… We all must keep moving.

Guilt may remind me to stop being so concerned with my picky “first world problems” and think about the bigger issues – but whether it’s too much guilt (or not enough) I will choose to focus myself knowing that it is NOT actually guilt that moves me forward… what actually moves us all forward is a MUCH STRONGER force, that’s the force of LOVE!!!!

LOVE is the force that beckons us to “seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord.” We are called to pay attention, we are called to act.

I appreciate that for our own problems God says “roll it off your back”, “Keep moving forward”…

Jesus tries to remind us, and the Holy Spirit guides us to do what we can… We know that there will always be world problems… Yes, the goal is no problems, but that’s not our current reality in a broken world, these issues are reminding us we still have God’s work to do.

God says “DO EVERYTHING IN LOVE”

I wake up every morning so very grateful that I’m alive, that I feel well enough and strong… I’m glad that if I remember that I am responsible for me, then I know what I deal with is deal-able, with God’s help… that I’m not responsible for solving ALL the world’s problems – but I am responsible for doing my part to fix them. If I wake up with a shoulderful of LOVE, there is little room from the problems to weigh me down. Actually, LOVE lifts us up from inside and carries us thru the day.

I’m thankful that God helped me thru yesterday.

I’m excited that God has plans for me today…

If we remember we are filled with the LOVE of the Lord, from the Lord, for the Lord, then how can we not roll with LIFE… YES, we need to roll our problems, insults, big and little things off our backs… we need to step forward and leave that pile behind us, and because of LOVE we will power thru.

Let LOVE carry you thru the day.

God lives LOVE, we live LIFE… we are placed in this world, but not of this world, because our treasure is in HEAVEN… we are on earth to use LOVE as a tool for witnessing LIFE, improving LIFE, forgiving LIFE, then LIVING LIFE.

Pick up the LOVE and LIFE moves FORWARD… everything else rolls away…

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Give it ALL back – Give it all FORWARD to God, 15Aug

Instead of giving SOME back to God – just give it ALL back – actually give it all FORWARD to God.

“Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.”  (Proverbs)

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.” (Proverbs)

Jesus commands us to give everything to God – that means EVERYTHING – that means the good and the bad –  the pain and the praise – we are not to think too highly of ourselves for achievements – we are not to get too down on ourselves for failures – the good and the bad and the uneasiness in between, give it all to God – and give God the credit for being able to wake up each day – therefore, each day give the fruits of your labor FORWARD to His credit and His plan…

Give Caesar what is Caesar’s – but to God give what is His – we are His!!! Let us give ourselves to Him!

We ask you Lord to help us remain thankful that we are fruitful – as always thank you for keeping us in Your plan!

—-

3 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

And they were amazed at him.

Link to https://debbieupper.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/proverbs-guard-your-heart-392/

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Give Some Back, 15AUG

We are reminded to give some of our fruit back – a share that the landowner asks for – and then even more. When God hangs fruit on us – when we prosper – when we have blessings – we should share – and give back to God… the tenant farmers in Jesus’ parable are us – in this story they were the authorities who questioned and eventually killed Jesus – but in today’s world we are the ones who need to keep Jesus alive – perhaps we are not “killing” Jesus – but if we fail to share our bountiful harvest of blessings then we are not doing our part to keep Him alive in our hearts and available to others…  and if we fail to share our fruit that God has given us, it will rot and will not be use as effectively as God using it… God would rather give the vineyard to those who appreciate it rather than those who hoard the bounty for themselves…  and if we fail to produce fruit at all, He will cast our dead branches into the fire…

Therefore, it is good for us to give back – we are gifted so much – we can give back – to God…

The Parable of the Tenants (Mark 12)

12 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.

6 “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9 “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:

“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
11 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12 Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

LINK – Fruit with seeds
https://debbieupper.wordpress.com/2017/06/03/fruit-with-seeds-share-02jun-408/

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Warm Spot, 12AUG

Thousands of trees… Christmas trees… not one snowflake in sight… it’s August…

These are living, growing trees which need life-giving sunshine and warm growing time… me too… we all do, we need warm growth, from our roots to our shoots, we need to grow…

Maybe these mountains cool the jet streams just enough to keep the trees from frying, it’s in the 70s not 90s… maybe it’s going to take 10 years to mature a tree, 20, 30, 100 for the biggest, maybe it’s worth waiting for huge growth,  maybe for minimal growth, maybe the tree will still grow even if no one waits…

Like a tree firmly planted, our faith will grow – not because of the cold world, but in the warmth of God’s intricate LOVE. Maybe the world isn’t so cold because God’s plan is for re-vining the garden is working, of course it is… God is filling His world with His souls to prosper and grow, and we pray to find a warm-spot, like in a chilly lake, to anchor and breathe… pause and ponder our next move to the next warm spot… we are in this world but not of this world… we are all in this together…

The warm sunshine keeps these trees growing, it’s the law and pattern of the universe which helps the trees keep growing, if we give them enough space to grow… Albeit much slower, the trees will also persevere thru the cold harsh winter. It’s not that a tree itself would feel the warmth of people coming for Christmas – but we can imagine the scene – the people are going to come for this warm breathing tree at Christmas so they can fill a house with life – they meditate, with song and tinsel, that Christ Himself was born, nurtured, and sacrificed for our eternal warmth in God’s amazing puzzle…

Our collective Christmas souls also need the rest of the year to be nurtured and grow… let our souls soak up God’s warmth, let our souls stay green and not wither, let us try to catch the Holy Spirit jet stream… warm spots move, we should also sway to move thru God’s plan. If we are anchored, like a tree, we will move more freely, with less fear…

We do all fit in God’s plan… God has a warm spot waiting for us… soak up the Sun and soak up His Son… to know, feel and grow eternally grateful…

BE BLESSED…

BE WISE…

FIND GOD’S WARM SPOT…

Psalm 1

Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalm 2…

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

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Late night ramblings at camp, re-edited this morning… ramblings but it’s good (post-vbs) to unclog the writing spigots. I enjoyed the people I was with last night,  but when writing pulls me away, I have to listen – must be a spirit pull people like me need to connect with… God only knows… I feel so blessed to see Him at work… I had another writing spin out of this, it was worth spinning for a while… while camping I climb into a pocket and zipper it up for warmth… but soon I’m going to get out of my comfort zone and return to the Christmas tree farm next door to see the sunrise… (and a hot shower)

Pockets of PEOPLE, 11Aug

A new friend joked at the levels of multiple families I have… I am very very BLESSED to have found welcoming family within so many pockets of people … I just like PEOPLE… I love being placed into pockets of people like me, friendly and grateful…

Of course, I’m always still looking FORWARD – towards new people to connect with – NOT because I don’t appreciate the people I already know – it’s just that there are SO many interesting people with interesting stories – that’s my normal…. My family always chats with whomever is around – the grocery store, the airport line, anytime anyone, that’s just the way I was raised…

Not all people like to chat back, not all are ready to chat when I am – (and I retreat too, and I’m not always in a chatting mood)… I also notice a geographical difference, back home, people look for people, simply saying hi to everyone – I’m not weird, I’m just one of those people…

Here at tonight’s precious campground time there are SO MANY people – all different nationalities – all noisy hustling bustling – thousands it seems… PEOPLE

I have been pensive thinking about the PEOPLE – I pause here – worrying wondering and look across the multitudes – if anything I notice great levels of LOVE exuding from them towards their families – that’s when I hear God’s love… pockets of people…

Families are formed by God for LOVE… God has one big family, we should too…

How many people know that ALL love comes from the Lord? Some pockets of people do! How many know the Lord? Many don’t hop into those deep pockets of peace – I wish they did… That bugs me, it’s impossible to tell where people are… I think about that now and then, I worry about these people, I know many children of God who don’t know Him.  Actually, maybe they know Him, but some don’t know that He’s as active as He is… and do they know Jesus?

Do they connect “the Word” (thru bible knowledge) with the “Word made flesh” Jesus Himself – it’s so individual a transition, one wouldn’t know what they know… (and we are to teach wherever and however we can teach – teach and even when we can’t reach, Jesus says keep moving “shake the sand off your sandals”, and keep moving to welcoming pockets)…

I can witness love but for sure I cannot always see everything that’s going on in God’s plan at the same time, even so I am blessed I get to see pockets.  One by one…

I took a walk to retreat not away from the people but towards a moment of God focus – I crossed into the Christmas tree farm next door – it was blissful and reminded me of my summers on the family farm as a kid… one sweet buttercup showed up into my view – nice reminder of home – one…

The milkweed are like those at home but there are now very few butterflies in nature compared to 30 years ago, I looked anyway for caterpillars, none – but then – one butterfly flew by… one…

I sat quiet back up at camp, loud neighbors playing soccer, then all of a sudden they gathered for dinner, and were drawn quiet – the Dad started saying Grace – not in my native language but in my ear shot, in my eyesight – in my appreciation of being in one pocket of prayer people… one…

A few minutes later a prayer request from a friend – “if you could ask your prayer people for…” – yes, one BIG pocket of prayer people I can call on… one…

See, I may look for more pockets of people – look and look for my people – like the buttercup, like the monarch, like the grace moment, like the prayer moment… one by one God shows us pockets…

One by one God will turn hearts towards Him, God keeps His hands warm, He keeps extra pockets for all…

There are pockets of people, my people, God’s people – even though much in this world fades away, it’s because God wants our ultimate focus…

So –

I’ll keep looking –

I’ll keep loving –

I’ll keep praising…

Thank You Lord, for taking the time to show me – one warm pocket at a time…

Amen

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Find PEACE, Move Thru Your Mountain, 04Aug

I’m in a more peaceful spot, I’m back to reading my Michael Card “Imagination series” on the gospels – Mark 11 – that classic scripture of “Have faith in God – I assure you if anyone says to this mountain: ‘be lifted up and thrown into the sea’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen it will be done for him… therefore I tell you all things you pray and ask for – BELIEVE that you have received them and you will have them… and whenever you stand praying if you have anything against anyone forgive him so that your father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing…. But if you don’t forgive neither will your father in heaven forgive your wrongdoing.”

Michael Card reminds us that it’s a lesson on believing in personal prayer and focusing on forgiveness… Jesus said forgive. We can’t go anywhere or get over any mountain if first we don’t forgive others.

It’s summer, its variable hot weather, I know it’s going to be cold again way too soon… so I need to enjoy today before it goes away… my prayer today includes some healing of my hustle and bustle life – ask the Lord to forgive my preoccupation with myself – my prayer is to pause in prayer…

I long for the feeling of camping… Yet what am I longing for that I don’t already have? The freedom of not worrying, of leaving it all behind? Don’t I have that in Christ, ALREADY? I do but I forget that ALL THE TIME!… I pray for the freedom of being back in a place of nature and harmony with the world, of sitting quietly. Don’t I have that now? I do if I actually stop blocking my own PEACE… So will I achieve it? Christ says that I can.

It is quiet in my house at 6am, and I can open windows,  I have a window of opportunity for knowing peace… I can be quiet and listen to the morning birds, I can “Be Still” and hear the rustling of life moving… it’s just started raining, now pouring, the birds even hush…  my house can be considered a big tent… If I think in peace, then can I find peace and harmony inside my own tent? Can I move my mountains blocking my own peace?

Yes, I can move myself into PEACE.

Yes. I can Be Still and pray to not miss witnessing the peace that’s already here… I can pray to God to forgive my own mountain that blocks His peace… I have obstacles, yet I know they are nothing that God can’t handle… He already knows that He can handle them, and He is, so can I remember to rely on Him?

Christ assured us that we can move mountains, He was standing on a mountain when He said that, and then He moved – moved forward on foot – moved forward in the plan… So, in our prayers we are to believe that we have already obtained what we are praying for… then we have to move thru that plan too.

We can overcome obstacles by prayer, we can let God handle the obstacles for us.  We can believe in what God has ALREADY done… we can pray for God to forgive our doubtfulness in His plan… then get over ourselves, and move forward… we still have to walk over and thru the plan…

My Prayer:

Do I believe in God? I do.

I believe I ALREADY have seen His faithfulness in me.

Do I believe in Christ? I do. I can learn His ways and I do believe in His power…

Can I move a mountain? Not without Him. Has He already moved mountains for me? Oh yeah….

Will He move the next one? Believe in His power and watch what happens…

Will we be required to work thru our mountains? Of course.

Is there peace to be found? YES. I believe in His PEACE, do you?

I believe that you believe too. Thank you for believing too.

Amen

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Unhindered Spirit Flow, Let the World Fade Away 26JUL

It’s been a spirit filled Vacation Bible School week…  I knew it would be…  It is important to know that directive of scripture to give up both the bad and the good to God, yes for sure…, It is important to let the world fade away and to LISTEN to the spirit,  watch for God,  and don’t block the flow… Let the children come unhindered. When we pay attention to the little ones, when we pay attention to the spirit, the whole world fades away…

Yesterday I sat down in front by the pew to watch one soulful slow song video, and just decompress for a second, a gratefulness moment and yet a stressful moment too because of a text message I had just received that I could not do anything about… I sat in decompression and then a little 5yr old girl came right over and sat on my lap, wow, God knew I needed that… with my 2 babies now big kids,  I’ve been gifted hundreds of kids now to enjoy… I’ve been gifted the opportunity to feel the spirit flow from the children, unhindered, and that helps me discern and tap into the existence of more spirit flow…  We can feel the healing flow of the love of children for God in an unhindered way…. it’s the spirit in each of us that want to re-connect, it is an emotional re-vining of the garden that God is working so hard to achieve…. This is why we befriend each other, because the Word of God changes people, and Jesus, the vine, is the Word, so as a branch connector, Jesus connects people… When we pay attention to the spirit, the whole world fades away…

I was present for a child getting sick. The supervisory duty transferred to me and I comforted best I could, then I called His mom, and I comforted some more… I had no choice but to be present. We chatted and he was so calm and yet so sad. When we pay attention to the spirit, whether it is in happy times or in sad, the whole world fades away…

Later that same day, another spirit flow moment – a friend asked me about a personal issue and I started to chat about it and very soon a little girl came over and spontaneously hugged me. I realized at that moment (and said to my friend) that God wants us to be present with these kids and not have me complaining Martha-style… Forgive me Lord. Yes the spirit flow of Grace came and sought me out… I had nothing more important to do than to hug back. When we pay attention to the little ones, the whole world fades away…

When we pay attention to the spirit, the whole world fades away…

I thank you for your VBS prayers… We are blessed to be scattering seeds thousands at a time at VBS… we don’t know what seeds will sprout, we scatter anyway… the littlest seed can grow into a plant that makes thousands of more seeds…. if we choose to stop seeding the garden,  God will find someone else to do it.  If we listen and learn from the CHILDREN,  if we follow the spirit, who knows where our faith will take us…. I urge you all: keep seeding the garden…

“Jesus told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

“His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

“He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables,…

“…blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.

 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.  But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.  The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” (Matthew)

574B – revised

Today is the funeral service for my friend…

I love a certain photo of both of us because you can see both her and I are processing,  thinking seriously about God while our friend was teaching in a confirmation class…  He held up his cell phone and asked the teenagers and us to put his phone number in ours and said we could text for prayer anytime (i did)… that’s a great way to work for God,  simply be available for comforting your friends.  2Corinthians 1:3-5

With my cell phone I both had been able to remain in contact with my dear friend then also just about  a hundred friends before and when she passed… there’s a process to peace… and processing with friends has been a huge blessing for me to start healing…

—-

There is Peace in the Process, There is a Process to Peace

The gift of time to make peace is for each of us to achieve a little more peace – it is a time to pause and pray and place yourself where you mentally should be – Why? for God’s sake – ultimately it is ALL for God’s sake because He loves us, comforts us, and His ultimate goal is PEACE.

Those baptisms, weddings, and funerals – time to achieve some joy and some peace – time to witness that God pulls people closer in both their greatest joy and their greatest sorrow…  Often at a wedding people remember their own – often at a baptism people remember their little children – often at a funeral people look to comfort and be comforted – they look for that piece of peace that God is so eager to hand out – they look at their own lives and their own relationships while sitting in a funeral – they work out (or don’t) their own pain of loss – they nevertheless experience an opportunity to work for a peace that God wants them to have… peace in loss and peace in gain – God is all these things… that’s the truth.

See, God wants us to work out peace for us and others… We should ask to be found. Now is a good time to process our lost-ness, and our found-ness…

How much time did Mary and Martha need to process the death of their brother Lazarus? How much time after did they need to ALSO process that Lazarus then was raised from the dead? Wow… How many people witnessed that and then told their story for them so they could just sit there and take the new time with their brother??? God made time for them, and for Lazarus. He makes time for us too…

How many people were also moved to share repeatedly the tidbit of info that  “Jesus wept” – Jesus Himself wept. How did Jesus process this all? – He was as human as we are, so He weeps for peace too… How does He process knowing all those lost souls? And how much JOY tears are in His processing of the found souls? Can we feel His tears in ours? Will we feel His tears thru us? If we take time to process these deep truths of life, then we will. A piece of truth… A peace in truth…

So today, everyday, take time to process life death peace – there is no set time allotment – take all the time you need – God will make time for you… it’s a process…

… and look for Jesus to find you during that process… Jesus is the connection – gifted from our Father to us – to teach us how to live – to forgive our sins – and to bring us home.  no one goes to the father unless thru the Son…  well that takes time for each person to realize that…  it takes time to process that too…  Now is a good time to process the process that peace will come…

Lord, thank you for time to process – and heal – and for the peace…

There is Peace in the Process. There is a Process for Peace.

Amen

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Thunderous Truth, 06JUL

Knowing God is like being a mom in a thunderstorm… Knowing how intensely powerful the storms around you are – yet it’s you comforting your kids with closeness and calmness – that’s your truth… it will be OK!

God calms His children – especially when they seek Him.

Massive storms in the sky and life bring massive fear… but knowing God is in control is even MORE massive a power – a believer’s brain is preoccupied in prayer.

Having life experiences in storms brings calmness and perspectives. “It will be alright” we can tell our children because it will and because we believe it. thunderstorms pass…

“It will be alright” God says – we will be alright – we can believe it because it’s the Truth…

God is good.

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listento you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29

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EVERYTHING, 05JUL

So much these days I pray for focus,  so much I pray that I finish something so that I can focus on other things – I pray to finish then remove other distracting tasks… of course I pray to focus to use what God has put together within my skill set…,  Yes in EVERYTHING, I ALWAYS wonder if I’m being efficient,  useful, and focused…

If I am (if we are) made in God’s image (of course we are), then I wonder if maybe I need to focus on EVERYTHING at the same time, because isn’t that what God is doing? WOW that’s too much… probably doing EVERYTHING is not supposed to be my focus, maybe only a few things are supposed to be in focus right now – and other things will move closer or farther away and be in focus later – or never…

I don’t have an answer here…

Sometimes I look at poison ivy and say “why is that in God’s plan?” Is it because sometimes we aren’t supposed to go into certain spaces? Is poison ivy  – or mosquitoes – from unbalance in the world after Adam and Eve left the garden? Either way poison ivy blocks us, it makes us think… Life things that are not in focus should make us think – EVERYTHING should make us think about God’s plan.

If I can’t get everywhere, then I should not worry about doing everything at the same time.

If I should NOT worry, then I should be able to take more thinking time thinking about God’s plan. Don’t worry – just think – Don’t worry just Be Still – and focus on stillness too…

Ecclesiastes 3 scriptures remind us that there is a time and a season for everything, it is not supposed to happen or be done at the same time…

God has God focus, God has a plan, God has His Own timing – and even He is not doing everything for everyone at the same time – He is doing what needs to be done at the one time it needed to be done for each and every person – a very very personalization of the plan by God Himself – and that’s EVERYTHING I need to know…

God makes it personal – God makes His plan…

That’s my focus – God’s plan…

Focus

394.5

Yes – “The More We Live – Let Go” – music therapy of this song is therapeutic to writing about modeling Jesus, for the forgiving Jesus… Lots of new to me YES songs are very enlightening… Cool…

Let Go

Forgiveness… “Let go”… Jesus says forgive others as we ask (ok beg) God to forgive us… It’s tough, it’s going to take time… But it’s necessary… Maybe we don’t want to forgive others, maybe we just don’t know how… For people we don’t know, it can be easier, walk away and forget… Like the road rage incident I had, I was fine, the car was fine, he was in severe emotional pain which wasn’t my fault (see previous writing, I saw it over his face… pain… anger… frustration… I felt so sorry… Now if he had hurt my beloved blue Subaru window, when he punched at my face behind the window, this might be a completely different essay, one of a forgiveness that would have taken much longer, but it’s not… and I am fine, because the armor of God and armor of Subaru saved my face, and my faith, and I can forgive, I turned the other cheek and drove away… still scared, still aware, still I can see his face, but it was a need for giving forgiveness to him (and to myself for not being extra careful driving)… yeah maybe we more easily forgive IF incidents don’t hurt…

But what if they do? What if they hurt directly or someone we love? Recent or even if it’s twenty plus years ago? What if I would not personally want to, or seem to be able to, forgive them anyway??

It sounds easier said than done to forgive, and actually it might have to be a ripple effect forgiveness we seek… “Forgive me, oh Lord, because I find it hard to forgive this situation, this person… Forgive them Father for they know not what they do… Forgive them Father especially since they know what they did was wrong”… It’s easier to hear Jesus utter those words then for it to come out of our own mouths. Maybe God hears HIS children cry in pain because there is no glee in forgiveness, only tears in forgiveness – Jesus’s tears – Jesus wept – His cleansing tears for washing our souls… Jesus a gift for our salvation because he can walk the walk and talk the talk of asking God to forgive those people – which also means to forgive us, because we are unforgivable to some others too…

This level of forgiveness might work if whom pained you is someone your see daily, weekly… Maybe you can’t forgive them yet, yet you can try. Even if you are not there yet, God’s asks you to try and God has a mediator in place regardless… Jesus is the mediator – this ripple effect forgiveness might be your only hope: “Jesus help me forgive them for sake of my own forgiveness too – please Jesus ask God to forgive me”.

So this YES song, matches these forgiveness thoughts with the phrase: “Wanna change the world?”…    “The more we give, the more we love, the more we grow.”

That is forgiveness in a nutshell… The more we FORGIVE, the more we grow… Likewise, the more we shed light on the dark spots of our hearts, the more we ask forgiveness for, the more we grow… The more we move towards modeling Jesus the more we obtain the harmony God desires…  eternally in God’s house is where HE is calling all of us together, reassembles what was shattered at the biting of THAT apple…

Yea, we share the world, it’s up to us, we carry God’s burden of forgiving the snowball effect of man’s sins from eternity…

And we will help Jesus by forgiving, LET GO….

And we will help God by picking ourselves up, and moving forward… LET’S GO…

LET GO of the past, LET’S GROW because that’s what God desires…

LET GOD work us over

LET GO

——–
YES
The More We Live – Let Go

“You and I can change the world;
The more we live, the more we learn, the more we know.
From this moment on we share the world;
The more we give, the more we love, the more we grow.
The spirit of imagination can lead us through the dark;
The more we see, the more we try, the more we show.
The evidence of our confusion, life has left its mark;
The more we fear, the more we lie, the more we hide.
As we walk into tomorrow
(Turning away from the path we know)
Holding the future with our hands
(We carry the weight of the world we go)
It’s up to you and I — We hold the key; we hold the answers
All our thoughts of doubt and fear are leaving one by one
The more we live, the more we learn, the more we know.
For each of us the road is clear and life has just begun;
The more we give, the more we love, the more we grow.
It’s time to reach the goals we’ve set for ourselves;
The more we fear, the more we lie, the more we hide.
All we need is just to believe in ourselves;
We face the truth, we see it clear, with no disguise.
Cast away our doubt and sorrow
(Turning away from the past we know)
The Universe at our command
(Conserving the fate of the world we grow)
Together you and I, we hold the key to all the answers
Let go
Let go
Let go
Let go
Let go”

——
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant – Matthew 18:21
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

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Faith in the Flow – Only Tears, Only Love, 05JUL

I attended the funeral of a 64 year old last week but I actually didn’t cry as I didn’t know him at all,  instead I laughed at the amazing stories of his eccentric character… my spirit was joyfully filled and re-fortified with spirit at the sermonist’s sharing proclamations of spirit.  I REALLY appreciated how much life this “flash in the pan” had lived in crazy fun… an earthly life beautiful, flawed, and broken, now at REST. I have faith that he has flowed to heaven.

This week, a BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL but BROKEN 56-year old dear friend is nearing the end unexpectedly. I weep so much,  so many of us are, it bubbles up from our deepest soul pockets, my inbox explodes with messages, these are prayer warriors who have both unparalleled sorrow and collective knowledge of the complete healing that we know the Lord could and will provide. The truth is it’s a miracle either way – either a miracle beyond medical belief in Earthly healing or a miracle because of her belief in Jesus Christ – Jesus saving each of us now and eternally. It is a miracle whichever way – both ways – ALL ways… Always SPIRIT moves in miracles…

Thus this week our collective and individual weeping is our gifted spirit flow because of both miracle paths, because we know of the deepest sorrows of a life cut way too short and we know the highest joys of a life filled with seizing the opportunity to live life under His wing of LOVE.

Our weeping is like spreading the wealth of sorrow – our dear friend cannot medically or physically cry,  so we cry for her. She cannot speak the words of her immense pain,  so we call out for her.  She cannot laugh, so we giggle in our memories. We are the little holes of spirit flow that take over when a big flow is stoppered…. put your finger in a garden hose to stop the main flow and the water will shoot out the sides – maybe a couple or maybe thru hundreds of holes – that’s us – our connective brokenness makes for spirit flow in every way it can. God’s main flow of love is split and sent thru us… Our brokenness brings purposeful healing flow and we become a powerful witness – we have faith in the flow.

The Lord connects us children on Earth in non-random ways, seemingly coincidental but not. Conduits of spirit flow are purposeful in life – and purposeful in life after death – there’s a twisting lever on a garden hose – it’s not a back and forth toggle in real life, it’s one way… So which network of spirit flow that you are connected to will eventually switch over – from life to death – a communion of heaven and saints in Christ – the flow of the spirit is re-vining the garden now – the flow of the spirit might get clogged with earthly mud – but no worries, the pressure buildup will push the flow further down new paths… Have faith in the flow.

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  Galatians 6:2

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 1Corinthians 1:3-5

You and I take on the burden of pain and the blessing of tears from (and for) our dear friends, who are finishing their races on earth. God connects us to share our burdens and our joys. We replace their tears with our own. We comfort others because we have been comforted. We love because we are loved. We cry for the same reasons. Our tears are because of LOVE. Our spirit will use our tears for healing our brokenness from within to push the flow thru the vine to better hydrate the fruitful branches… We grow and heal because of God. We are filled with His LOVE. We have faith in the flow.

Amen

Be God’s Glitter, 02JUL

My Friend, you put the BIG letter G in Glitter. The big G of God.

My Dear, you ARE God’s Glitter.

Your witness to your faith Glitters, you remind us that it is God who holds us TOGETHER. You show how God glues our very finite dust particles TOGETHER for His purpose. And He shines us, sparkles us to Shine HIS LOVE.  God places Glitter on His beloved children with their shining SMILES.

My Dear, how many Glitter specks have you spread? How many faith seeds did you plant?  How many children first heard of Jesus’s saving LOVE because of you? Immeasurable!

How many families and friends faithfully saw the light of Christ shine thru you? Immeasurable!

How many lives were saved by your work being God’s hands and feet and especially God’s Glitter? Only God knows… My Dear you spread the Good News as fast as Glitter could be shaken out of a can… You Shine.

God glued you TOGETHER My Dear to Glitter.

Someday a forgotten box will be opened and Glitter will fall out. That’s God’s Glitter – because you taught God’s child to glue it. Perhaps it created a sparkle in a grandparents’ eyes to receive such a precious homemade gift, a gift that was made with LOVE. Perhaps it Glittered on a photo of a child’s shining Spirit. Perhaps the glitter covered a slew of gluing messes – no matter – it’s the HEALING shake of Glitter that catches our eye.

Glitter My Dear – you know Glitter, you know God – you witnessed that God glues us TOGETHER no matter how broken we are. You taught us to shine thru the tears because Jesus loves us, and that’s all that matters… JESUS CHRIST LOVES US.

Perhaps someday the floor tiles will be replaced and Glitter will ooze out of the cracks – and we will say that God was there. The leaf blowers will never clear all of the Glitter spread with happiness on this Earth.

And we will take up our own Glitter work for you My Dear, because we will Glitter because of God, we will glue, heal, teach,  learn,  love because of God.

We will SMILE because of God.

God’s healing now and eternally can and will Glitter thru our souls.

God’s glorious children are made by His own hands, and His Almighty Hands are completely covered in Glitter.

AMEN

I wrote this for dear friend, I just looked at the VBS art frames she made with my kids – she was the one who started a Facebook group which triggered me to ask a mutual friend, a theology professor, important faith questions – I owe my knowledge of the realness of Jesus in part to the spirit moving thru her…

She was taken off life support last night. We have been praying for a complete healing miracle – I know that the Lord provides her and us the ultimate miracle of complete healing with Jesus – now and forever. I know the Lord glued her together from her brokenness and allowed her to serve Him in JOY – with sparkle – with Glitter…

I started weeping in the car driving and I had to stop to write this witness to her faith – I love her, I know she’s in the Lord’s miraculous hands, I pray that He heals her miraculously, I know He knows what is best. I trust in Him.

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Work It, Holy Spirit, Work It, 02JUL

Was great to have my son’s help lifting the heavy air conditioner into my window,  this annual occurrence is probably the clearest example of having to work TOGETHER – even if one strong person,  like my neighbor whom this year was out of town,  could lift it, the prep work and the guidance is still done best as a team…

It takes our coordination and often our humility to work as a team, to put aside our own way of doing things… ALWAYS we need guidance.   I’m not just talking about air conditioner placement, I’m talking about the Holy Spirit.

Yes my shoulder repair last year allowed me to lift that AC unit with no problem – YAY – but this year it was the first time this needed extra manpower came from a teenager, WOW how he has grown! YAY protein building muscles, for both of us! As you know, muscles not worked get atrophied weak… Yes this also us with the Holy Spirit. It’s not that the Spirit itself is weak, but our working of the spirit can be – we are in danger of not being used by the spirit for our and it’s full potential. Don’t let your branches wither and die…

But we can work it… The spirit urges us to move and be moved… the HOLY SPIRIT is here to work God’s plan… we should be thankful for the strength to work it too, because it comes from God with a purpose:

15  Jesus said: “If you love me, keep my commands.16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

568

I decided to take a short vacation and work on my Mary… I planned this vacation to stop me from spinning my wheels and gathering no traction, I felt I was not even being a good Martha… So just me being me, I knew I could be a better me, if I recharged my batteries, took time for my kids, took time for myself…, if I looked for His hand to pull me up, if I prayed on a plan, if I acted and touched the robe. I knew…

So in front of a peaceful pool, birds singing, cardinals flying, teenagers sleeping, I stopped and wrote (with next morning edits) to thank the Lord for His Mercy, allowing me to tweak the system, my system… thank Him for His healing, both now and forever…

Tweak the System, 23JUN

In our daily travels, all signs point to Jesus waiting for us with open arms to help ourselves to His healing.

We have to tweak the system of our own brokenness to mentally let Him work thru us to heal… to heal ourselves and simultaneously bring His peace to the world. Thru that healing and for that healing we have to be willing to change.

I love the insight that author/singer  Michael Card gives for tidbits of scripture,  he imagines about Jesus’s first miracle of changing water to wine, at the urging of His mother Mary, that Jesus became willing to tweak the system… Even though Jesus knew God’s amazing plan, and said “my time has not yet come”, Jesus tweaked the system – He showed mercy on the situation – and/or knew that situation would come up and He made things happen… He came here to make the big plan happen and do small things too… Jesus is the Word made flesh therefore He spread the Word of God’s LOVE. Along the way, then and now, Jesus healed those seeking Mercy. He tweaked the plan. Maybe that’s the plan, do you think? For us to ask Jesus to heal us for our Father’s peace… Yes, the plan is all about PEACE.

That’s so true for our actions too – Jesus tweaks the system of us within us – and so can we… I bet you that’s the plan, the truth is that we ARE the plan. We need to tweak the plan too.

Jesus says don’t worry about all those unimportant tasks, yes, get them done but don’t dwell on them – instead focus on the most important tasks at hand… if we remember sisters Mary and Martha, we will understand that both had important ways to welcome Jesus: Martha prepped for all the visitors (very important) and yet was reminded by close friend Jesus to also be present (very urgent)… A reminder to be present… if Jesus is in the room, pay attention…

Invite Jesus to work thru your own temple so that you can worship and act on His behalf. Pause, pray, plan, praise. Tweak.

If life is changeable, then tweak it! Change what you can – create a new mission, existence, focus – all while listening to Jesus’s commands to LOVE – to seek justice, to love mercy, to walk humbly (Micah 6:8).

God is doing a new thing thru us!

19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43)

Jesus says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 10:28-30)

Freedom is freeing and intentional: to free up your burdens just give them to Jesus…

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2nd Corinthians 5)

We can tweak the system because we should… we are being given freedom to live, humbly we should be thankful, pray on it, and restart if we fail…

We can become whom Jesus needs us to be – which is simply a better version of ourselves – whom He knew we could always become…

Jesus tweaking the plan, lingering slow enough to let us touch His robe, inviting us to accept His mercy, it’s our faith that heals us.

Tweak your system – Be healed – Tell of His power – Change the World.

Amen

—-

Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” Luke 8:46-48

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Just Need to Want Jesus, 17JUN

I just NEED Jesus, and I want to NEED Jesus, and I NEED to want Jesus.

I just WANT Jesus, and I WANT to need Jesus, and I need to WANT Jesus.

We all do, we just don’t all know that,

I surely didn’t…

I do now…

I LOVE that I know Jesus now, but I didn’t back when I didn’t,  how could I even know what I didn’t know?

I didn’t, but now I do…

Who told me I needed Jesus? God did.

Who told me God loves me? Jesus did.

So do I need more than Jesus?  Well no, but I’m human and humanly I want…

I WANT, because I’m human, therefore I WANT Jesus even more…

But do I REALLY need Him more then I already have Him? Well – No, because He has already been there for me BEFORE I even knew Him. Well – Yes, because He is still there for me to know Him more.

Yes, He knew me first!

So, do I really NEED Him if I already had Him?

Yes…

I still do…

I always will…

I always will WANT Jesus because He is a NEED.

I will always NEED to want Jesus.

We all do… We all do…  we just don’t all know that. But Jesus knows…

Jesus knows…

AMEN

Be the Dot. God is Drawing Us in His Plan, 01MAY-30JUN

God surely has a plan connecting us to Him, that plan is much bigger than we could ever see or imagine… We experience His LOVE – now how can we also be conduits of LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS? How can we connect to each other? How will God use His “connect the dots” plan? How can we BE THE DOTS?

We can be one of those encouraging dots… we can be one of those loving our neighbor dots…

We are able to connect with hundreds maybe thousands of dots of people for prayers… click click click…. dot dot dot…

Do you see all those dots that God is laying down? Can you see God drawing lines in between all those dots? Can you hear the Spirit moving? Can you feel His flow of actions and prayers passing thru us to help others? Oh that’s how God works…. we reach, we touch the robe of God fringe and His love transfers…

You and I are dots that God wants to connect…

I am not a solo lone or special dot, but all of us are HIS dots, made in ink, not just pencil…. God’s dots are all His own…. You are His!

Sometimes maybe it seems like my broken dot spills and splatters when the Spirit floods and flows… I reach for help and prayers whether I am strong or weak… My dot may be spilled out of it’s lines, but God still knows where I am.

Sometimes I open my big mouth to say “wow” at how God works, and maybe that’s the point,  we have to share however we share because God wants to use us as we are…. it’s ok even to be feeling lost and faded away, because God knows where He placed all His dots, and will find you when it is time to reconnect all His dots… (Psalm 139, God will hunt us down)

Weak or strong, faded or bold, ripped or rippling, convoluted or simple,  we dots are to be connected. God will re-light you and delight in you.

We do need to pray to be better dots too… we perhaps could strive to strongly hold the harp string of the harmonic sound wave that God wants to pluck and hear… and perhaps we can strive to create a trampoline bounce dot, so that new strings of praise can be bounced from our dot to new dot spots unknown…

Prayer is flow between the dots. Prayer is the SPIRIT travelling from your dot thru other dots and back and all around the net of life… God not only hears those prayers, HE MADE THOSE PRAYERS, God makes the SPIRIT flow from Him to within us and back to Him…

We can be His hands, feet, and dots… to do His work in His world.

BE THE DOTS, LOVE THE DOTS, look for the connecting stroke of God’s pen.

BE STILL to stop spinning and let God connect to you and thru you…

God’s timing, God’s puzzle, God’s plan

You are a chosen dot… Here is a fun thought:  “But you are a chosen dot, a royal dot, a holy nation of dots, God’s special dot, that you may strung together, lines drawn between, and you can bounce the praises of Him back to Him, who bounced you out of darkness and into His wonderful Light.” 1Peter 2:9 adapted

BE THE DOTS…

Amen

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Bear Fruit for VBS, 16JUN

In Mark 11 (see below about the fig tree and the temple),  Jesus humanly is frustrated at the withering of the people who are capable yet do not bear fruit… and He speaks and acts out. “And His disciples heard Him say it.”

This scripture set is about many things including Jesus very upset that the people forgot to honor the temple, it’s anger at the people who charged extra money for the doves, which were intended as sacrifices that the poorest of people gave (according to author Michael Card)…

Jesus curses the tree, even if it is out of season, that bears no fruit,  the people won’t either until they realize that they should…. the people with “empty works, empty words – that lights the fuse of Jesus’ smoldering frustration”

I pray people who do get it then try to give it,  try to help faith grow… VBS time is an opportunity to use resources to teach, provide, and give comfort to parents and direction to children… Our jobs are to give the doves away, let the children’s spirits shine,  set them up to blossom and fruit… that’s my prayer for VBS, the fruit we already bear is also to be used for His purposes!

VBS brings children’s energy into the church… that’s the spark to our faith – we get to see the fruit already being placed EARLY on these children of God – a church without children will wither..

We can be those children too,  we can bear the fruit that was drying – we can rehydrate – we can find the seeds that are in the fruits we were gifted – then we can plant those seeds… (and lo and behold God will hang more fruit)…

At VBS we send the seeds HOME too – seeds sprouting and seeds planted and preserved for future sprouting… in the children, and in all whom they meet…

Thank you all for your prayers and plantings, THIS IS YOUR/OUR MINISTRY – thanks to the children’s garden of VBS – it’s never too early to bear fruit,  it’s never too late to bear fruit,  it’s God’s timing of course….

God is NEVER out of season…

AMEN

12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”

18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

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Open the Gift, 10JUN

I just now saw a beautiful photo of a beautiful daughter and Mom, both women strong and bold… I know some of their story;   I know it’s the Lord who made them strong!

It got me thinking about why God picks certain times for us to become strong not just for ourselves, but for Him…

It is seemingly as if the time we spend growing is so that we gather the strength and fortitude to stand up to the world – and I know so many in this world may not know it is strength grown from Him… So, when we realize His gift of time to heal, to grow, to shine, then how much MORE grateful we can be (I am) that He found us weak, then He grew us strong.

He Himself chooses us to be His messengers, sometimes subtle or over the top, humble yet direct, soft yet certain, and always thankful!

And He places us in the company of folks that He needs His message sent to… our brokenness not crippling but purposeful… His healing right on time…

He chooses to make us stronger by healing us, if we accept AND take time for His ways.

He gives healing and strength as a gift. When we receive gifts we could and should say thank you, because since it’s a gift we have nothing to do with its gifting – and yet it is up to us to actually open the present up!

Open the present, His present, as in a gift package, and open the present, His present, as in time…

Open the gift and gift it back to Him!

HIS LOVE, HIS PLAN…

HIS present

HIS presence

HIS PURPOSE becomes our purpose…

Open the gift of strength, of time, of healing – and then gift it back to Him!

AMEN

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Jesus Crossing Guard, 01Jun

The crossing guard at school this morning had such a stern look as she gazed down the road. She took a long view to see what was coming and what was going. Was she potentially looking for kids or watching the traffic? It was the most focused look you could imagine, not mean but very discerning… I’ve watched the same crossing guard for 6 years now and when the kids come she checks everything, she’s very thorough, and while her stop sign is up and the kids are crossing in front of her, her face changes and she smiles and greets them and is so happy to see them. She is a crossing guard who does just that – guards – protects – focuses on the task at hand – but she does not forget the joy of the children that she is tasked to take care of. Greeting and guarding go hand in hand.  She needs those kids to pay attention to her just as much as the cars need to pay attention to her. The kids need to cross safely, not hop across the intersection until permission, or jaywalk right into traffic.

That’s Jesus right there!! He is tasked with a mission. He wants us safe. He is our crossing guard – daily and eternally watching, discerning… It is through His cross that we cross to eternal life… It is His guard. He watches and protects. And it is thru His engagement with us that He can share Joy and peace loving smiles…

And Jesus has that long view of a crossing guard… He knows our past, He knows our future, and He’s ever vigilant to watch out for the big and the little things that can trip us up.

And Jesus does not forget to SMILE. Jesus wants to see life, see the joy of His children when they realize they are protected, when they realize they are being taken care of, and when they are crossing and walking WITH HIM.

The handheld stop sign which a crossing guard lifts does not prevent errant cars from speeding, it does not prevent people from completely being out of touch, it does not prevent all the evils in the world… Nor does it stop children who are not paying attention from cutting corners in the road – and in life… We are still children – we are still walking thru a broken world, a distracted and disheveled world, it is a messy world for sure…

Here’s hoping the stop sign for Jesus will catch our attention and we can look at our own actions and learn how to behave in all situations using His LOVE for guidance… Here’s hoping we know to move forward within His gaze.  Let’s hope we make it thru – and not lose our joy.

Remember Jesus has a long view – He sees our sin all the way back to original sin before we were even born – He sees it all, yet He does not judge it – and He forgives it all…. Since we do not even know all the sins we have committed, He forgives us… Since we know sins we still commit, even while we know Him, He forgives… And since we have no idea those sins we will make the future, He forgives.

Jesus has a long view in knowing that we need Him, He keeps that stop sign up and keeps watching, urging us to stay in this narrow path towards Our Father… No one crosses to the Father except thru Jesus – stray off the road and you might get delayed and lost without seeing the guard standing there ready to help.

Jesus will make sure those cars don’t block the box either when we cross, He wants to provide an open walkway – and then, while we are face to face with Him we can see His focusing Love and see His JOYful smiles to see us gazing directly at Him…  Jesus gives us the JOY of the Lord that we can hold on to now – and eternally…

Thank You for the cross Lord Jesus – the cross, the crossing and the crossing over  – thank you for our guiding path now. Greeting and Guarding – we will keep walking toward and with You.

Amen

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Let He Who Boasts, Boast in the Lord, 31May

Sometimes I wonder if I write too much,  but then I read my favorite verbose Paul…. he and I would understand each other… I’m thankful to know it’s a trickle effect of faith from one to another…. God “confirming testimony”…

I’ve been thru trials, but I’m BLESSED. I’m always thinking: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” when I recount my many blessings… People might see me as a Pollyanna, or even ignorant, but I know whose HOPE I hold on to…

1 Corinthians 1 New International Version (NIV)

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God… 4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you.7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord…..

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

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God Watches, 26May

My friend said I could share this true story that shows God is watching out for us even if we are not doing the right things…

After a band gig, a friend’s husband was putting his equipment in his truck. He always locks his truck in between runs because his equipment is expensive. So on one run he comes out and his door is wide open and someone is inside passed out in the driver’s seat, so the cops came and took the man home. Turns out the passed out man mistook the truck for his and after he couldn’t start it he passed out   But my friend’s husband insists he had locked his truck, he said he remembers doing it – so how did he get in? Everyone says someone’s life was saved that night because if that man had gotten into his own truck and driven he certainly would have crashed….

God watches she says, she wonders how the truck got opened, but surely she doesn’t wonder why… 😉

God watches…

God saves…

God is cool…

WOW GOD!

Amen

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Spirit Heal Thyself, 24MAY

I try not to childishly whine, still do, I try not to complain, but that lack of venting out my soul is not good…. I realize as humans we have an internal bubbling volcano of emotions… as a vocal person, venting volcanoes keeps them from exploding….

Without whining, internal and external vocalizing also makes me realize how much others have similar and worse problems,  perspective is priceless… yup, I’m good Lord… I’m going to be fine… I rather should be complaining then acting about injustices in the world – I should be in the world, not of it, but  still walking thru it to work…. (Micah 6:8)

We need to be God’s hands and feet and mouthpiece of PEACE.

So that I can get back to my peace work, I will vent here,  then for the sake of your ears I will delete it all…. yes for privacy too, and yes also because you don’t have time to read all my vents… ready?

Sweet Jesus, here it goes…..

…….

……..

… whew …

Whew, I feel much better. Whether you know what my vents are or not, I feel much better spilling them out from clogging up my soul (but I’m glad I didn’t burden you with reading them!)…

You know what? All of our vents, desires, complaints, praises, and explosive moments, spoken and not, are heard and felt by the SPIRIT… God knows even our wordless groans… (Romans 8) (and they are loud and clear!)

Some folks barely sleep, but when I sleep I am out cold… like that collapse in the couch exhaustion sleep for forever… I praise sound sleep, I’m so grateful… isn’t that amazing that the body and the spirit need rest at the same time and couch coma sets in?… Why mentally are we required to sleep? Jesus wants us to find peace… even in small chunks… Without sleep and without peace we cannot live!

At 2:30 AM, waking me up a few years back, it was as if the SPIRIT said: “now just you and me have time to work things out”… Apparently I needed to question, ponder, praise and feel like I was being heard (by myself?) – but at 2:30 a.m.? …. But yea at 2:30 a.m. and at 4:00 a.m. and at 6:00 a.m. and at high noon and midnight, and every second in between, the SPIRIT IS heard…. God knows all…. who knows everything and is listening? God says “I AM” !!!

God says “I AM”

Jesus says “I AM” your friend, you must remember me!

The Spirit connection says “I AM” ready for healing… physically mentally emotionally spiritually blessedly healing is found in PEACE.

The SPIRIT is ready to move you and work you for God’s PEACE.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11.

Rest your vents, random moments and dreams in the healing SPIRIT of PEACE.

Rest in His PEACE and keep walking…

God loves your PEACE – because He loves you…

Amen

——

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8

8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.  Micah 6

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Be STILL the Child Jesus wants you to be, 19MAY

The Little Children and Jesus

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10

It’s raining – not super cold but dreary – I’m waiting for the warm up to my day, my life,  my future… I’ll get there, just take a moment to think about it first…  it’s a rainy day for a reason, even if I don’t see it… it’s a rainy day for thinking in… the future is filled with God’s plans, take the rainy day moments as a GIFT. Not a hindrance but an opportunity… be an opportunist for God’s work in you,  His child.

Jesus needs to feel the LOVE of the little children, as much as they need Him, we do too… As He needs them… He needs us too… hugging Him back…

Start to think about the message of a rainy day to regroup – as Jesus’s GIFT to us is too – recapture our inner child – not in childish ways but childlike wonder! Childlike innocence! Childlike JOY! Childlike LOVE!

If our doubts prevent ourselves from running like children into Jesus’s arms,  Jesus will rebuke those doubts for us. Remember we CAN run the race, let the Lord handle the rest… let no one steal your Joy!

So childlike “Receiving of the Kingdom of God” – what does that mean?

So many things…

Receiving the kingdom of God is receiving a heart that LOVES…

Receiving the kingdom of God is receiving a SPIRIT that connects to others…

Receiving the kingdom of God is receiving the opportunities that await us…

Receiving the kingdom of God is receiving it NOW, acting NOW like we are in the Kingdom of God – because we are!!! Maybe that garden is weighed down by the worldly things, but children deal with it and keep being children anyway – in awe of the kingdom…

Being a child is having seemingly endless energy… but needing the most rest…

We don’t always know how to deal with the world – a child just takes the world as it comes – deals with the moment – even sometimes tired, cranky (think grocery store moment of a toddler who needs a nap), and needy – a child who gets rest can then get back up to recieve the world in JOY once again… recharged… a child says “No” emphatically when someone tries to take away their JOY…

We have JOY in the Lord; don’t let anyone take away your JOY!

We need to rest our worldly troubles in the Lord, we need to regroup, retool, rebuke evil… We need to relax, rest up in His Love… wake up in His LOVE.

Children run into arms for joy and excitement, children run into arms for protection and reassurance. Are we those children too?

We need to RUN into Jesus’s arms to absorb His LOVE for us to know it’s there… We need to RUN into Jesus’s arms to absorb His LOVE for Him to know we love Him…. We need to RUN into Jesus’s arms to reshare His Love for His people…

Kingdom LOVE comes from within and it’s always present… children share LOVE without hindrance…

The everlasting kingdom might be here now – OR – the kingdom might feel like a long ways away…. But remember, the kingdom ALREADY has a King! The kingdom already has the LOVE!

Let Love reign over, rain on, rein in His children… We are children of the King!

Be still His child…

Be His child still…

Be still and know LOVE…

Amen

559

Transplant, 13MAY

I’m amazed at how God connects us – His timing – His flock – His connections…

We believers should and do cling to each other to strengthen our resolve to put on the armor of God and get back out into the world to do His work… God pairs us up to double time, encourage, stand by, witness in His work… collective prayers are synergistic…

I know it’s a messy world, but we can witness God working the system… I don’t know how better to explain God living in each of us than the fact that He works us to work His system… we have to know that God is not external but intrinsically woven thru our dust particles.

I got such emotional healing as I read thru some beautiful comments in get well cards that I asked the folks at a recent gathering to sign for a local child, who just got a life-saving liver transplant… I saw an opportunity to speak to the 200 plus congregation and I took it – and I asked them to pray for this child and her family and her donor’s family… I didn’t mean to get emotional, but oh I cried instantly when I told them that she has her whole life ahead of her – because she does – and yes we do too – our whole life ahead with God leading – that opportunity to live makes my spirit sing!

Often I feel placed in an open praise loop in life, and at this moment God helped me slip into and thru this 15 second time slot opportunity…. my tears and emotion with my words welled up and instantly there was a smiling soul, right in front of me who enthusiastically said “I had two liver transplants and a kidney transplant!!” –  Oh, how does God do that?! Both giving me the “coincidence” moment, and the support, and thankfully the fitting conclusion to my plea of prayers which got me to finish this 15 second opportunity… it was a loop of praise that I completed –  a HOPE loop – healing on the go… I smiled internally and externally and that pulled my tears back in enough so that I could keep moving…

Oh, that recovery moment for me and that connection placed by God made me smile and realizing that God did that – He did that – I witnessed that connection – I still do… That moment make me weep even more to feel and see and hear an overflowing presence of SPIRIT in front of me (with me in it!)… God works to refill our cups… my spirit-fill to balance the overflow then re-absorb my tears and rehydrated my soul.

I am blessed to be but a transplant of His Spirit where He puts me – YES, God places each of us where He needs, therefore I surely pray to be off to my next spirit-led place… spread tears here and smiles there and Spirit connections everywhere… How wonderful to witness the spirit moving so that we ALL get to cleanse and recharge our many sections of this ONE body of us all together…

God works His system and we are but transplants thru it… He moves us thru the whole body – one body – one SPIRIT – so very many moving parts…

Transplant – we are gifted opportunities to see where we fit – we are gifted opportunities to re-gift how our lives are spirit-charged and recharged… by witness and presence…

How can I help, Lord? – sometimes it’s to take action, sometimes it’s simply to have the pause in deep healing tears to rehydrate the system…

Sometimes to “just” remind us all that we are HIS spirit-moved transplants – the SPIRIT moves us to move…

Happily I got the cards signed, and in doing so, I also got my SPIRIT lifted – I got my hope renewed – I got to step back to see the body of Christ function while also being in the system…

I have faith that this is so normal for God, and so unbelievable to me….

We are called to work the system because God works us in the system!

We are His hands, feet, voices, eyes, transplants…

Where are we going today, Lord?

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It should NOT surprise me how GOD WORKS…

I misheard a song lyric today at marvelous retreat wrap up service, and it’s now the most powerful praise burst that I must write about,  so strong I had to write the lyric on my hand… bugged me all afternoon to write… I will write then rest (like dough)… let the rest lead to a good rise…

ONE LOAF, 12MAY

One Loaf – no, that’s not the lyric, but that’s what I heard!, because I think the Lord loves reminding us all being a part of “ONE LOAF”.

“One bread, one body,

one Lord of all”…

Instead I heard: “One bread, one body,

ONE LOAF of all”…

ONE LOAF – we are all in this together… we collectively are together, vine together, dust to dust together, and as ONE LOAF (like of bread, NOT meatloaf, LOL) we grow and rise and transform together…. connected in a gooey way that grows, then matures into the whole body of Christ…

“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it”. 1Corinthians 12:27

No division – all together – supportive and sacred connections… all tears of JOY and angst equally mix into everyone else’s…. all lost and all found are together… all bowed knees and rocket ship like reaches are together… all made in ONE SPIRIT…

ONE LOAF

Are you still feeling on the edge of your connectedness? Like crumbled cracker meal, not stuck in a nook and cranny? You are NOT; you are within the ONE LOAF…

Are you burnt toast? Branches burnt, crumpled and fire toasted scrapes? You are NOT; you are just losing what hinders you, you are within the ONE LOAF…

Are you undone sticky dough under God’s fingernails? You are NOT forgotten; you are maturing and you are within the ONE LOAF…

Are you tucked and buttered inside the warmth of a nook and cranny? Take a moment to feel the heartiness of God, yes thank You Lord! Then, perhaps in a new way, you need to seek out those who need you as Christ’s messenger the MOST, stretching the loaf in new ways of LOVE, you can and will stick to some connections that God makes and pray that they can also find their own way, to realize they too are within the ONE LOAF…

“God has so composed the body,……. that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”

ONE LOAF – together – with – for – in – thru – Christ – ONE LOAF broken so that Christ could work us back in to Whole…

Grain TOGETHER – The LOAF is ingrained into the WORD – and the WORD is ingrained into you… “gathered together for all”…

One bread, one body, One LOAF, LOVE, LORD of all

Love never ends. LOAF never ends

ONE LOAF – ONE LOVE

AMEN

——-

1Corinthians 12:12-27  For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

—-

Lyrics:

One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless.

And we, though many, throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord.

Verse 1. Gentile or Jew, servant or free, woman or man, no more.

Verse 2. Many the gifts, many the works, one in the Lord of all.

Verse 3. Grain for the fields, scattered and grown, gathered to one, for all.

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I’m Tired Lord, 11MAY

I’m tired Lord. You woke me up 20 minutes before my alarm.

I’m tired Lord,  SNOOZE…. 5 more minutes…

I’m tired Lord,  it’s Friday… TGIF, SNOOZE… 5 more minutes…

I’m tired Lord, yet those birds sound happy, spring has sprung, SNOOZE… 5 more minutes…

I’m tired Lord, these covers are so nice, the house is warm, the sun shines in brightly, SNOOZE… 5 more minutes…

I’m tired Lord, my daughter’s alarm is now going off, she’s such a hard worker, she needs 5 more minutes to SNOOZE… 5 more minutes…

I’m tired Lord, my son’s alarm clock is actually me, he’s tired too, he did so great at his band concert… In addition to his trumpet playing, I’m even more proud and happy watching his social banter with the kids next to him, his smiles and laughter, he needs and gets 5 times 5 more minutes to SNOOZE… 5 more minutes…

I’m tired Lord, the kids are tired, they were up late laughing,  playing with the cat,  filling the house with life and how awesome hearing such intellectual chat, they are so grown up and yet still so wondrously wild!!!… they need 5 more minutes to SNOOZE… 5 more minutes…

I’m tired Lord – the cat’s meow – the crab’s crawl – the house stirs – I’m in awe Lord even if I’m not moving…. I’m listening Lord and I hear life…. that’s You Lord knocking on my head, You rustling Your leaves, You hustling me into the day…

I’m up Lord!!! I’ll take a couple of 5 minutes to write praises – I’m still comfy and warm, tired but happy… I’m still in awe Lord, always in AWE…

Sometimes, like last night, I withdraw, realize I am too quiet and too tired to be my normal social self, the circle of the day slows so that I can see the circle of life…. even tired I was still being Mom, I don’t know any other job that compares in benefits… I’ve worked hard as a mom to give my kids the best, but You gave them their SPIRIT, I take no credit there…

Well, there’s one way that I’m even more in awe – The only additional job to being a Mom, is being a child – more than a child of my parents is especially being a child of God – working for You Lord as Your child…. there is no better 5 MORE minutes or 10,000 MORE years in awe to know I am Yours….

I am awake now Lord,  thanks…. time to begin the day… tired but TGIF…. 5 MORE minutes to praise…

The kids say I’m late now, figures… “Come on Mom! Let’s go!”…  THANKS for making me a Mom,  thanks for the hustling me, Lord…

5 minutes – is that too many to use to write? 5 minutes – is that too many to rest in the PEACE of Our Lord? 5 minutes – is that too many to praise? I don’t think so…

5 MORE minutes…

5 MORE minutes…

THANK GOD! I HAVE 5 MORE MINUTES!

THANKS Lord for 5 more minutes and the all the REST!

AWAKE, ALIVE, A CHILD

Now I’m ready to GO!

Thanks God…

Thanks

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Encounter to Encourage, 26APR/06MAY

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It is God – it is not me, 03MAY

A big take home message from scripture over and over again is that God wants the credit… why? God wants others look to Him too –  and only to Him rather than worldly wins and woes!

A wiki page for Gideon recounts that: “God informed Gideon that the men he had gathered were too many – with so many men, there would be reason for the Israelites to claim the victory as their own instead of acknowledging that God had saved them.”

OH….. that is what speaks to me – when I payoff  a bill, when I make a deadline,  when I can take a moment to rest and SMILE … God found the way for me to get to that point – to get thru life… I have to still put in the effort,  and I have to pay attention… and I have to give credit where credit is due… yes it is still good to fear the Almighty Lord – as a Father – a loving Father –

God wants us to acknowledge that God is the one who saves us both here on Earth and eternally – and that is 100% the truth… we enter our lives with limited power of our own – and sometimes we are distracted and confused too – but GOD IS STILL WITH US…  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

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Be the Dot. God is Drawing in His Plan, 01MAY

My friend got a kick out of the hoopla of a secret video of his basketball game with a “random” stranger that went viral,  200,000 views to date, TV news, in just 3 days,  but he takes it all in stride… Understandibly the man who took the video is so excited about it going viral!! His kids are excited too!! They saw the coolness of the moment and became the conduit of connectedness….  Another friend (a social media savvy friend) saw the newsfeed, tagged me on Facebook when she saw the story and I connected the video taker with my friend … not by social media but physical stopping by to find him at the pizza place on Sunday. He laughed – he said “look at that big dot of white hair” remarking at himself in the video… As he was just being normal friendly gentleman he is, the news here is the world is all looking for connecting to friendliness… it’s a feel good story… God knows we like feel good stories that tug our heartstring…

It’s bigger than the bouncing dot of white hair or the bouncing of a basketball, it’s a warm fuzzy feeling of having HOPE  in mankind… it’s a direction for connection that God wants us to be thinking about… how can we be conduits of LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS? How can we connect? How will God use this “randomness” in His “connect the dots” plan? How can we BE THE DOTS?

God surely has a plan which is connecting us to Him, that plan is much bigger than we could ever see or imagine… there were endless examples for me this week: a new drummer of an old band posted on facebook about his critics hounding him, and the flood of fan encouragement poured in… they were connecting dots of encouragement,  that’s what God’s SPIRIT can do… and we can be one of those encouraging dots…

Another few faith conversations with friends, time to encourage… we can be one of those encouraging dots… we of course can also be one of those loving our neighbor dots too!

So importantly, last night I was half awake on the couch and a text message comes through about one of our Vacation Bible School and girl scout families whose 4yr old daughter needs a liver transplant… So in the course of half an hour, not moving from the couch, I, my girl scout leader and others were able to connect with hundreds maybe thousands of people for prayers… click click click…. dot dot dot… including the person and social media outlet thru the basketball game… dot… dot… dot….

Do you see the dots that God is laying down? Then can you see God drawing lines in between those dots? Can you hear the spirit moving? Can you feel His flow of actions and prayers passing thru us to help others? Oh that’s how God works…. we reach, we touch the robe of God fringe and His love transfers…

I don’t know if any of these connections will come up with a liver donation but what I do know is that being in prayer is the most important thing we can be in. And I thank you for your prayers.

Prayer is flow between the dots. Prayer is the SPIRIT travelling from your dot thru other dots and back and all around the net of life… God not only hears those prayers, HE MADE THOSE PRAYERS, God makes the SPIRIT flow from Him to within us and back to Him…

You and I are dots that God wants to connect…

I am not a solo lone or special dot, but all of us are HIS dots, made in ink, not just pencil…. God’s dots are all His own…. You are His!

Sometimes maybe it seems like my broken dot spills and splatters when the Spirit floods and flows… I reach for help and prayers whether I am strong or weak… and I open my big mouth to say “wow”, and maybe that’s the point,  we all have to share however we share because God wants to use us as we are…. it’s ok even to be feeling lost and faded away, because God knows where He placed all His dots, and will find you (psalm 139 hunt us down) when it is time to reconnect all His dots…

Weak or strong, faded or bold, ripped or rippling, convoluted or simple,  we dots are to be connected. God will re-light you and delight in you.

We do need to pray to be better dots too… we perhaps could strive to strongly hold the harp string of the harmonic sound wave that God wants to pluck and hear… and perhaps we can strive to create a trampoline bounce dot, so that new strings of praise can be bounced from our dot to new dot spots unknown… and we can let our heartstrings be pulled too…

We can be His hands, feet, and dots… to do His work in His world.

BE THE DOTS, LOVE THE DOTS, look for the connecting stroke of God’s pen.

BE STILL to stop spinning and let God connect to you and thru you…

God’s timing, God’s puzzle, God’s plan

You are a chosen dot…

“But you are a chosen dot, a royal dot, a holy nation of dots, God’s special dot, that you may strung together, lines drawn between, and you can bounce the praises of Him back to Him, who bounced you out of darkness and into His wonderful Light.” 1peter 2:9 adapted

BE THE DOTS…

Amen

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Five MORE Minutes, 30APR

A follow up to the previous devotion… thx for prayers

https://debbieupper.wordpress.com/2018/05/14/5-years-5-minutes-27apr-552/

Oops…. car accident prevented by God…

Five more everything gifted by God saving me from the accident I almost caused… no accident whew… THANKS LORD!

I try to be good but I did allow some divisiveness sneak into my world and I allowed it to make me lose focus…

I got distracted…. without giving details, I’ll just say I saw an evil divisiveness invade a situation not involving me it did… and even though it was diffused (praying Jesus words: “Satan get behind me “), it still it had a ripple effect, and I was distracted rethinking about it while driving… evil sneaks in, therefore we are to be vigilant… I need to send a praise to God to let me see it clearly now… God unmasks the situations… I got His save…

I know we should not be surprised by divisive situations because they will present themselves again and again… they still surprise me because I am human… So we prepare and do the best we can and not let the evil in the world steal our focus or our JOY…. the truth is that JOY…

Therefore my needed self-control is to not let the distractions keep me from obeying the TRUTH – that is a gift from the SPIRIT !! A fruit from the spirit… I am blessed to “keep running the race!” Scripture from Paul says: “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through LOVE.

“7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you…

“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5

Thanks Lord for the save…

Five MORE minutes…

Thanks Lord for fruits of the SPIRIT…

Thanks Lord for the TRUTH!

Thanks Lord for helping me continue the race!

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5 years, 5 minutes, 27Apr

My favorite Bowie song – “5 years” – David screams it – I do too…

He sings about only five years left for the Earth… how urgent!… “oh my brain hurts a lot”, he screams!

“We’ve got five years, what a surprise
We’ve got five years, my brain hurts a lot
We’ve got five years, that’s all we’ve got”

I do think about life and death, especially with my long commute, I think about the time we have here, on this Earth… and I think about what Heaven is like…

I wonder looking at the clouds when things will end. I should…

I wonder how “to cram so many things” into such a short time… I should…

I wonder how to rest enough… I should…

I should keep moving. I should keep moving… I should…

What would you do with only 5 years left in life? 5 years? 5 months? 5 days? 5 minutes?

Would we start by thanking the Lord?

WOULD we say: “I LOVE YOU LORD!” constantly?

5 years, 5 minutes? Would I ask for the Lord’s mercy? I should…

5 years? Oh what could I accomplish in 5 years? How many lives could I help? How many times could I tell my kids, my parents that I love them? Tell them constantly? I should…

5 months? Would I take time for myself alone? or would I fill it with every person I could visit as fast as I could? How many hugs could I gather and give in that time? Should I SMILE? I should…

5 days?  Would I go back to finish the unfinished?

Finish that sewing pile? No!

How about finishing that stolen kiss? Maybe!

Would I “Finish the race? Yes! I would finish the race… I should…

5 anything? Would I even tell the people I would be gone? Would I want to burden them? Or inspire them? I should INSPIRE… I should…

5 minutes? How many times would I call out to the Lord? How many times could I question Him? How many times could I thank Him? How many times would I cry: “Why?” How many minutes would it take me to STOP my questioning? How many minutes would it take me to start listening? I should…

How long before the ONLY thing I say is:

“I love You, Lord”

I should…

I would…

I will…

How long before I LISTEN for the Lord?

5 years, 5 minutes?

Focus on loving the Lord?

Focus on loving everything He does and made?

I should…

I love to question “WHY?” – I do…

I love that the ONLY answer He ever gives me is:

“Because I LOVE you!”

I should use every moment to BELIEVE that…

“Because I LOVE you!”

For every moment we live is in His Love, of His Love, and with His Love.

Because of Him we LIVE to LOVE

We should…

Amen

551

I had to mirror my previous writing about the stars – from when I was on a blessing of a retreat 6 months prior –https://debbieupper.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/the-stars-27oct-496/

I HAD to write again – close to the same situation – same camp setting – same road – same nighttime climb of the hill – but different because I was not attending this retreat (and I snuck out early to get home to the kids) there was no one to talk to! – once again the ONLY praise and explosion of my thoughts could be shared with the one and only who deserves the praises – the Lord…

I felt like I was taking a mini retreat while dropping off someone to this retreat…  and this WAS different because instead of the Fall, it was SPRINGtime – yes there were different stars and oh the new sounds that sprung into my ears from the rare sound of the Peepers – “and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise from the ends of the earth… (Isaiah 42)

“There are Peepers, Lord!!!!”, 26APR

I am screaming in my head while walking up the EXACT same hill where just months prior I had screamed in my head: “The stars, Lord!” – To whom can I call out? Again with no one to talk to – I can only call out to YOU, Lord! Only and appropriately only have praise for YOU – “to whom all is due”

I can hear those PEEPERS, Lord! WOW!

I can see those stars!

There are people too, Lord! I can feel them calling out Your praises tonight, even if I can’t see them.

I know they are praising – after I leave camp I will not hear them, but You can hear them, and that makes me happy.

There are REALLY LOUD peepers, Lord. I am floored at how blessed I am at this very moment – to relive an awestruck moment – to hear Your creation so loud… but Lord, why are peepers SO LOUD??? Do they need to hear each other? or perhaps do we need to hear them loud and clear so that we know that they are from You – praising back to You?

Why are the stars SO bright, Lord? Do the stars need to shine to each other? or perhaps do we need to see them so bright so that we know they are a sign from You?

Why is the moon SO mesmerizing, Lord? Does the moon need to startle the world? or perhaps do we need to just say ‘I do not know how God does all these amazing things!’

There’s our world, Lord! Why is our world so diverse, Lord? Is the earth for us or is it for You, Lord? – dust to dust with YOU… Can we remember to look for You in our mesmerization?

Do we need to understand the world to love it? or perhaps do we just need to know that You love it? Can we take care of Your beautiful Earth, Lord? Can you help us? Can we take a moment to care? to stare? to see? to listen? Will Your future children ever get to hear praises out of the voices of peepers? I don’t know – but I pray that they will…

Do we need to understand the people in the world to love them? Or perhaps do we just need to know that You love them and we should too? Will Your future children ever get to hear praises out of the voices of people?  Will Your future children get to feel Your love? I know that answer – they WILL feel your LOVE – but of course I pray that they will know it is from You…

Can we truly ever know how much You love us?

Can I simply walk up this hill and know You are with me always? To the ends of the earth? I can Lord – I can!

Can we keep walking with you Lord? We can Lord – we can!

Can we understand that You most simply and most intricately want to show us that You love us! We can Lord – we can!

Can I hear praising peepers again?

Actually I still do hear those PRAISING PEEPERS – Your Spirit placed them in my head – and LORD, THEY ARE LOUD!

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I reached for my phone when this firecracker of a spirit thought connected in my head last night, but I was in a church service and I had to wait to write… but WOW, please tell me someone had already had this spirited thought, I don’t read much so I think God just has to repopulate these notions again and again in us… my view of the cross changed forever in that moment yesterday… I hold onto the cross not JUST for life after death but for OPEN ARMS – TODAY…

Open Arms, 23APR

The Cross, Jesus’s Cross, is a great physical shape to hold onto in our hands, and the spiritual Cross is essential to hold onto in our faith. The Cross crossed Jesus over, life-death-life.

The shape of the cross, the image, the message, is not JUST of a reminder of the physical torture of Jesus’s tired abused body. But THINK about that shape, Jesus died with OPEN ARMS!!!! Arms that were forced humanly open by nails on wood, but actively mentally held OPEN by Him. When Jesus was at HIS last earthly moments He still kept His open arms OPEN!

Jesus has opened His arms to hold us, His arms to rescue us, His arms to lift us…. look at that shape and remember that His arms on the cross, and forever more, are OPEN ARMS to welcome us HOME…

If we focus on the shape of the cross, we should already feel home… “for today you will be with ME  in paradise”… Feel the love preparing our way thru His way. Christ connects life-death-life by His crossing over for our salvation. He welcomes us today. I invite you to feel how Christ is ready to peel His arms off that cross and lift you today, lift from under your rib cage and hold you TODAY – just as He would hold you FOREVER.

Jesus has OPEN ARMS to hold, hug, lift, LOVE.

We can live again by first living in Jesus’s arms – TODAY…

Hold onto His OPEN ARMS and squeeze Him too. Lift Him up and He will Lift you!

Lift

LOVE

Live

LIVE!!!

AMEN!

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CAPABLE, 15APR

We are human, we are limited, God is INFINITE

God is God

God knits into us His GIFT of strength and His empowering lift of SPIRIT

God makes us CAPABLE…

WOW that is EXHAUSTING!!!

God wants to use us!

CAPABLE

I am stubborn,  short-sighted, cranky

I am simple

I am bold

I am rushed

I am lost

I am blind

I am SO very human, but God is SO very God

CAPABLE

God is CAPABLE of using my humanness for His purposes

Eye-opening for sure

CAPABLE

I am silly

I am flighty

I am a child

I am me

I am so very me, to a flaw, but God is so very God

CAPABLE

God is capable of using my flaws for His purposes

Maturing me

CAPABLE

I am so very shallow, but God is so very God

I look deep inside and know where I stop and God goes deeper, MUCH DEEPER

The infinite vast expansion of the universe is mirrored only in the infinite vast depth inside one’s own soul…

My words, my LOVE, my spirit are NOT from me

My God is infinitely more deep than the depth of me

My God is vaster than the widest expansions of the universe

My God is CAPABLE

My God connects all that is His

CAPABLE

My SPIRIT is His, lent to my mortal body for a flash of the most faint mark of His infinite time

My God gives me His SPIRIT anyway,  for His purpose

My SPIRIT is CAPABLE to reconnect to Him

My SPIRIT is CAPABLE to flow to His SPIRIT in others

My mission is to NOT hinder the flow… HIS FLOW

My mission is to LIVE

My mission is to LOVE

My God is LOVE

LOVE is CAPABLE

God, You are my God

You are CAPABLE

I am me, but

You are God

I LOVE You Lord

I wish to return the LOVE to You thru using Your LOVE

Thank you for making me CAPABLE to LOVE

Thank You for making me Yours

Amen

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Suffering for Christ, Not Ourselves, 14APR

Suffering…. Jesus says we will have struggles, suffering, and strife in life…

We need to choose, however, what is real suffering and what is caused by our focus on worldly things…

Scripture tells us to not worry about what we will eat or drink,  or overindulge in drinking and things that cloud our understanding of reality… what we worry about breeches our understanding of real suffering… our perception of suffering is what becomes an escapism drive… our placation of life to make everything alright for ourselves becomes our drug of choice. We all do this. We are human. Jesus is trying to open our eyes to let us shed our human ways and return to being the forces of LOVE in the world.

Choose suffering over stuff… Choose wisely what to suffer about… Choose to suffer for Christ and NOT for ourselves…

We often don’t understand or choose to negate our distractive ways which make us avoid the real problems in the world…. we are clouded… we continue to be a sinful generation… we forget to work on loving…

Choose LOVE over being lost….

As disciples, we could and should see that Jesus was and is suffering not simply thru physical pain (even though that was tremendous) but thru emotional aching to re-vine a garden of God’s children who are distracted, fighting, squabbling and lost. Can you see the burning branches (John 15) of fruitless human endeavors which make it hard for Jesus and us as disciples to rise a garden back out of the ashes when fires are still actively burning?… We know that we are supposed to shed our concerns but we keep getting distracted… we (you and me) are walking disciples… much of the world hasn’t even started walking yet… ignorance… much of the world can’t even get to disbelief then eventual belief if their ignorance still reigns… seeds not yet planted can not sprout.

Jesus walked continuously with the disciples and yet they were also so very clouded in their belief – but at least they kept walking with Jesus and asking questions… they witnessed miracle after miracle and still had continued disbelief – they even saw repetitions of miracles – loaf after loaf of bread – and yet could not convey the true meaning of their journey back to Christ when He asked them what was going to happen to the Son of Man… they barely grasped that Jesus was actually God’s chosen one… Imagine knowing what we faithfully believe now, that they could have unbelief? Imagine if we saw Jesus transfigured and talking with Moses and Elijah – if we saw Jesus not as a human but in His Godly radiance – would we hesitate for a moment to BELIEVE everything, no questions asked?… Would we?? Peter, John and James saw this REALLY happen and yet the continued discussing and questioning EVEN MORE after the fact than before…. “What does this all mean?” “Does Elijah come first?” “What does it mean to rise from the dead?” (See Mark 9)… Jesus keeps working His plan, but even Jesus was surprised at their disbelief… Jesus may have wished to transfigured them and each of us for a brief moment to show the SPIRIT-filled soul under our heavy humaness…

Jesus wondered and wonders now when His then and current disciples will shed their disbelief? When will they have the knowledge and willingness to move thru the world as God’s hands and feet? And the willingness to teach that Jesus REALLY was real? When?  The disciples were able to perform miracles, as needed – not to be used as sideshows –  but miracles as mercy moments to help the masses…

Similarly, when will we, you and I and the masses, believe that we can do the work that Jesus called us to do – when will can we ALSO provide mercy moments to the masses?  When will we, like they, accept Jesus’s GIFT of the Holy Spirit to guide us. And when will we BELIEVE in His power?

Back to the same question – when will we choose to suffer FOR Christ and NOT for ourselves?… to do this we need to choose to keep walking past our own distractions… to put ourselves last in order to help… to put LOVE first and hate last… to BELIEVE that LOVE will win… We must choose to play to win – for God!

Jesus’s first challenge to us is to BELIEVE. And to LOVE.

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9

Jesus’s challenge to us is to accept the Holy Spirit to guide us.

Jesus’s challenge to us is to keep walking…

Jesus’s challenge to us is to testify about His LOVE,  to plant seeds of faith…. For seeds not yet planted can not sprout, but sprouting seeds give HOPE.

Jesus’s GIFT to us is HOPE

Jesus’s GIFT to us is HIS SPIRIT

Jesus’s GIFT to us is our forgiveness

Jesus’s GIFT to us is our lives

Jesus, “I do BELIEVE, help me overcome my disbelief”

Jesus, “I will keep walking… please light my way… God knows the plan, please help me hear and follow the SPIRIT…”

Jesus, “Please fill my soul with Your SPIRIT…”

Amen

Mark 8

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

John 15

If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.”

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Foundation of LOVE, 10APR

I’m itching to get out in the garden, NOT that I’m gonna have a beautiful garden but I just know I should be out there tilling the soil. NOT that I’m ready to be out in the actual garden, because I still have leaves to rake and I just moved my bare Christmas tree LOL that’s been sitting for 4 months waiting for the compost recycling trash pick up to start again…

And I’m itching to plant, but that’s rushing it, as the garden itself needs a new fence, and the soil needs to be tilled and I need to put a good soil foundation base down before I can actually grow plants that are not choked by weeds…, because otherwise it’s ALL weeds and bunnies…

I’m also thinking this way about the church, the global church… I’m thinking about God’s garden – that He wants – that He is re-growing. We can’t start fixing all the world’s problems and negating all the hate unless 1st we put down a good foundation base and that foundation has to be LOVE! Love that comes from God, love that is pure and truly from God, and love that is meant to be spread through the world…

And just like the garden, sometimes we have to compost the old stuff to give a good rich base to grow again.

The garden that God wants to bring our world back to is right here in our mist, but it needs reconnecting! If Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches and God is the Vinedresser then naturally it’s a mission to reconnect the world, to re-grow the garden…. Our job is planting seeds, our job is tilling the soil, our job is spreading the Good News…

We live locally… but wouldn’t it be great to solve ALL the world’s hunger problems and jet off to every 3rd world country and clean up the air and the water and give food to all the starving children??!! Wouldn’t that be thrilling??. How are we gonna do that? In our churches we are called to develop the future leaders. Our churches are NOT supposed to be comfy zones for us to rest on Sunday morning, they are supposed to be trampolines to spring us into action, they are teaching grounds, they are testing real life situations in Christian love, situations that we can build upon by using the Word of God to move forward… We need to find NOT our comfort but our uncomfort in the world…. We have got work to do, we really really have work to do…

And we need to start with ourselves, clear up our own hate, learn to live more simply, love our enemies, see and share the LOVE that God wants us to share…

If we are a branch of God’s garden, we need to be willing to hold and share the fruit that He places on us…. The fruits of labor (ours and His) will ROT if they are not shared…

Yes, please do what you can…. work locally, teach, develop leaders, grow the collective garden… Yes, enjoy the fruits of our labor but remember that really we have to get back to the basics of garden preparation, we have to grow the LOVE underneath as a foundation, we need to dig down deep and remove the hate…

I can do this with God’s help, in my garden and in His garden.

Till the soil, mulch in the good, plant the seeds, protect LOVE with a fence of the armor of God…

Pray for rain…

Grow…

Start with a base Foundation of LOVE…

LOVE is from God…

Cultivate the LOVE…

546

Bloom, 07APR

Winter is not yet releasing us into spring, snow in April? It’s just flurries, but still we are waiting and waiting for the warmth.

The forsythia started blooming anyway, it snuck its bright yellow flowers incrementally out with every degree of temperature increase…. It’s time to bloom, no matter the impending snow doom. The forsythia will get noticed for its boldness of color.

But oh! Wow, when we do get that big warm-up, wow EVERYTHING is going to bloom all at once!! Watch out my allergy-suffering friends, get ready to be overwhelmed, big time…

Our faith is that the blooms of spring will come eventually…  Our faith is also in God,  but that’s a fraction of God’s faith in us! God’s faith is that we ourselves will bloom in His Love for His Love. God wants us to awaken from our winter of life and see the NEW life in Him… God desires that we will recognize Him and feel how much He loves us. The warmth comes from WITHIN.

God waters the seeds of our faith like He waters the earth. Our faith could and will grow like the flowers of spring, some folks have faith that eeks out incrementally and noticeably early like the forsythia, some folks slowly wake to bloom with taking the time to grow their stems taller and their roots deeper, and some get a shock of faith bloom all at once…. and maybe like those dealing with allergy-inducing pollen bursts from the trees, some folks have to adjust to a new explosive faith that shakes them up and REALLY gets their attention… ACHOO!

Bloom, all God intercessions are for HIS Garden… “He who lives in you…”

God wants to bloom in you. Why? He’s planting and pruning His Garden (John 15).

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1John 4:4

Why???? Why does God want to bloom His LOVE thru us? Because we are the branches of His Love sent into the world today. We are to bear His fruit and share that SPIRIT of LOVE.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1John 4:7-8

LOVE will bloom, spring will come, and God will nurture us and all for His harvest… Let us pray for a new robust season to yield yet another future crop of seeds generated then joyfully spread for God’s future watering…

The SPIRIT of LOVE will burst thru the cold winters of faith. The Garden will Grow…

HOW? We need to tend to and strengthen our faith, develop our boldness, believe,

AND WE WILL BLOOM…

Amen

1 John 4 (below)

Also see

Galatians 2:20-

Romans 8:10-

John 14:20-

John 17:23-

Ephesians 3:17-

Colossians 1:27-

1John 3:24-

Revelation 3:20-

1John 4 KJV

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Knowing God Through Love

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Seeing God Through Love

12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

The Consummation of Love

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.

Obedience by Faith

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

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TOGETHER, 06APR

Together

God wants us to be TOGETHER.

I went to a work happy hour – end of a hectic chapter in the day, beginning of another…. Fun to relax, chat and feel at home with “the regulars” who collectively come sometimes alone to be TOGETHER.  Encouragement all around, people are social creatures by design. We grow closer together for support.

God wants us to be TOGETHER.

I went because a friend sings there, it is fun and very freeing to sing along… MUSIC is an island getaway for our minds, provides a stream of comfort and lets us be together internally harmonizing with our inner peace. Music also gives us lyrics to work out the untangling of rough thoughts of the day and to quiet the loud mental static in our heads… we sing to get our heads together.

God wants us to be TOGETHER.

My singing friend encouraged another great singer, then half a dozen more singers and guitar players that night as they took a turn at the mic, cool… a small gathering majorly amplified in spirit. (I sang my favorite song not on mic but five feet away leaning against a pool table to keep my nerves TOGETHER… my friend encouraged me saying: “you had beautiful harmonies”… SMILES).  The right mix of people was not a coincidence, I witnessed the cozy crowd become the best encouragers – yes, encouragement is a spiritual gift to us from God. Together we harmonize; we make our own oasis of encouraging support (and fun!).

God wants us to be TOGETHER.

I skeddadled out just in time to get to another gathering of community, oh that amazing welcoming feeling stepping into my praise band practice, but not singing this night but rewiring, reworking, untangling networking lines to make it easier each hurried Sunday morning to “plug in” – simplifying our complicated situation so that we can get it together and keep it together before serving the Lord for the congregation to sing along. Together to gather His flock.

God wants us to be TOGETHER.

Come Sunday morning we will each plug into our own style to be the hands, feet, and voice for God, singing and playing together creates harmonies… “where two or three come together in my name, I am with them…” Matthew 18:20… Solo we surely praise, but truly we want to be together to worship, to be His flock.

God wants us to be TOGETHER.

Home (I did make it home), whew, couch collapse, home with the kids, HOME… Together…  Collected, content, comfy couch coma collapse…  “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” by finding joy in the journey, then by finding our way HOME…. Home is finding peace and togetherness, by knowing the Lord is ready to be with us wherever we are mentally or physically (Psalm 139)… and there, together WITH the Lord, we will find rest…

God wants us to be TOGETHER.

Even alone, yes completely alone, we are not alone, God NEVER leaves us… Always we are TOGETHER WITH HIM!  He gathers His flock. He holds us in His hands… We rest our burdens on Him, His HOPE is secured, His LOVE never ending…. For His own togetherness,  He is always looking for us…. Forever….

God wants us to be TOGETHER.

With Him.

Forever.

TOGETHER.

Amen

544

Speak to Hear, 29MAR/08APR

Sometimes I can’t take the time to finish a spirit-led thought – and I promised the Lord I would get back to this one –

“HEAR” it is…

I love Michael Card’s writing as much as his singing – like him i would call myself a “Jesus junkie” – I love pondering the spirit – so this writing came together from two separate non-related items – but when I read and the Spirit connected the dots – boom into my head  – I have to say: “It’s a match”…

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man (Mark 7:31-37)

Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!”(which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

In Mark 7, Jesus opens the ears of a deaf man. Boom… “BE OPENED”…

Mark is a writer of stories of the emotional Jesus – thru the eyes, ears and reminiscings of Peter – His emotional disciple…  Michael Card interprets that this miracle and hearing Jesus’s own native tongue could be Jesus speaking to us – emotionally – “BE OPENED” –  as an urging that Jesus wills for all of us to hear… “BE OPENED”…hear the good news thru your own ears…

Surely CS Lewis has his own take on life, but when I heard this quote recently, I related it immediately even if ironically to that scripture…  CS Lewis wrote: “I wrote the books I should have liked to read. That’s always been my reason for writing. People won’t write the books I want, so I have to do it for myself.” As quoted in C.S. Lewis (1963), by Roger Lancelyn Green, p. 9

CS Lewis writes books that “he himself” wants to read… Although that may sound reverse of us hearing God’s word and not our own selves – it does connect to that fact that we won’t hear Jesus’s words until we hear them thru our own words to our own hearts… the spirit conveys the wisdom – we need to actually formulate and say those words to ourselves and then to our worlds: “Jesus is Lord”…

Jesus was asked to open that man’s ears – then asked the ears themselves to be opened – Jesus asks still today that the whole world of people’s ears be opened – Jesus wants us to open our ears and our mouths…  We won’t hear Jesus until WE OURSELVES ‘be opened” – we need to hear Jesus’s words thru our own ears – thru our own hearts – Jesus won’t ring true until we hear it for ourselves… “so I have to do it for myself” – yes, yes you do…

Yes, Jesus’ teachings were not just for those ancient times – Jesus was and is on a mission to open the whole world’s ears – Jesus taught in tremendous parables, stories that did and will still will be retold, reiterated, and will reverberate and reverberate – shaking us until they rattle enough inside our own ears until our sound barrier shatters…

God scripture does its work before it is returned to God… God wants us to hear Him so we can reiterate AND reverberate His Word back to Him….  “the purpose for which I sent it”

As Jesus is the Word made flesh, then we need to be the flesh that now speaks the words of the Word…

Speak to HEAR!

“…As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands… “ Isaiah 55:10-12

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In Paradise, 02APR

I appreciate that this bible story (in the devotion section of Michael Card’s email newsletter) is cropping up so many many times lately for me – it is the story of the criminals on the crosses with Jesus – it is also one of our “Shipwrecked” VBS stories this year…  Michael Card says the criminal is the ONLY person in the bible who called Jesus by His own name – interesting…  I like the thought that Jesus so much wants to be on a first name basis with each of us – that we are supposed to be close enough to reach to Him without hesitation, NOT JUST when we sink, but when we are running in JOY too…

It was a kinship of pain for those two – Jesus could appreciate that the criminal was in such physical pain but yet still took the time to teach and rebuke the evil from the other criminal – every little bit of rebuke helps – like in James 5:20 “he who converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins” – perhaps it was just so they could have some “peace and quiet” (?) if only for a little bit… I would appreciate that and maybe (?) Jesus did too… taunting on top of pain – tough… Jesus was human and was God at the same time – He humanly enters the next phase of death (and everlasting life) with someone who understood the physical human pain too…

(Of course none of us could imagine Jesus’s and God’s God-sized pain looking at all the lost people – I feel only a fraction of that loss every time I go to a packed store just after church – the packed store has multitudes of  lost folks, can you even imagine the scale of God’s pain? Nope I can’t. )

Of course the most pleasing likely is the sinner’s repentance – “Remember me Jesus” – Like the repentant criminal, we should want relief, and we should ask, not expect but ask… to enter the next phase of life with someone who would welcome us too…  Jesus will welcome us…

Jesus’ humanness that day also hinted to the fulfillment of Jesus’s own suggestion that everyone travel in pairs for mission work while teaching and comforting…  Jesus as God is also forever with God His Father – but in this instance Jesus was very human and while hanging there, and realized that others felt his pain, that repentant criminal maybe understood Him – humanly… We all want someone to understand us…. that’s an emotion Jesus shares with us.

The criminal as a “last” became a “first” – and the “first” self-righteous crowd folks became “last”…  I bet the other non-repentant criminal was alone and was probably a “none” – even though he also was surrounded by multitudes of similarly hateful people, he was alone – and those people were alone too – they were separated from God’s comfort by their own sinfulness of ignorance… but Jesus even extended an amazing grace request to His Father – our Father – for them all… “forgive them for they know not what they do”…

All the one repentant criminal had to do was admit his guilt – and ask forgiveness…. as we remember that we all are sinners of equal sin weight, we all need to do this: simply ask IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH – ask Jesus in our own confessional way – and ask Him by His name – we speak by the spirit to the spirit – and we KNOW that He is the one who will give us that HOPE – of paradise… None other than Jesus can bring us back to paradise…

Yup… died for the lost…. paradise is lost until it is found by reconnecting with Jesus….

Amen

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Michael Card

Date: Sat, Mar 31, 2018
Subject: The Card Community Newsletter – March 2018

From A Violent Grace   p. 103-109

He poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.  For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.                 Isaiah 53:12B

  He had always been a troublemaker, it seems – a criminal, a rebel, an unwanted specimen of humanity.  And two thousand years later, the repentant thief who died with Jesus is still making trouble.  Some people – especially very religious ones – protest that Jesus was too soft on him, too forgiving, as He was with the woman taken in adultery.  Others have used the story of the thief to argue about baptism.  I once heard a preacher say that regardless of what Jesus said about being with Him in paradise, the repentant thief could not have been saved since he “never got wet.”

  But then, it is in the nature of criminals to make trouble.

  Exactly who were the two thieves who died with Jesus?  In the absence of personal information in the Gospels, ancient manuscripts have filled in the gaps with names like Dysmas and Gestas, Joathas and Maggatras, Capnatas and Gamatras, Zoathem and Camma.  But these are most likely guesswork or fiction.

  We don’t know the details of their crimes, either, since we find no mention of titular inscriptions above their heads.  John refers to the simply and perhaps generously as “two others.”

  From Matthew and Mark, we learn that they were robbers or bandits.  Yet because in Roman law robbery was not punishable by death, the charge that brought them to Golgotha must have been more serious than an incident or two of lawbreaking.  Perhaps they had been bandits by profession.  Or perhaps they had been jailed along with Barabbas for taking part in the insurrection mentioned in Mark 15:7.

  Luke’s account of the two thieves is his longest and most significant addition to the crucifixion narrative.  As concerned as he was to emphasize Jesus’ innocence, Luke may have chosen to portray the two guilty men in more detail in order to highlight the contrast between them and Jesus.

  Whoever the two men were and whatever their crime, three men received the sentence of death that day.  Three were flogged.  Three stumbled out of the city, carrying crosses, guarded by soldiers, and followed by tormenting crowds.

  When the three arrived together at Golgotha, an awful sight might have greeted them.  Earlier victims – dying or long since dead – may still have been hanging, since it was customary to display the corpses of those crucified.  In the third century A.D. one witness wrote, “Punished with limbs outstretched, they are fastened and nailed to the stake in the most bitter torment, evil food for birds of prey and grim picking for dogs.”

  Guilt or innocence notwithstanding, the Place of the Skull received the three men with grim indifference.  The soldiers raised the mallets with the same brute force and drove the spikes through the flesh with equal finality.

  When the job was done, three new crosses broke the skyline.  On the left hung a criminal.  On the right, another criminal.  And in between, His arms spread out to each, hung the Son of God.

  The three crosses have been raised and the clamor of the crowd has subsided.  The earlier screams of the two dying thieves have given way to groans and curses.

  Now they turn to the silent man between them, trying to find some relief from their own misery by tormenting Jesus.  “Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him,” wrote Mark (Mark 15:32). 

 “Aren’t you the Christ?” gasps one.  “Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39).

  But somehow, one of the criminals has a sudden change of heart.  Perhaps when he heard the soldiers mocking Jesus, calling him “King,” something in his heart softened and broke.  Maybe the profane ranting of the other thief threw into stark relief the gulf between his own guilt and the silent man’s innocence.  With his next breath, he rebukes the other criminal.

  “Don’t you fear God since you are under the same sentence?” he asks.  “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.  But this man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:40-41).

  And then a miracle happens.  The thief turns to Jesus.  “Jesus,” he pleads, “remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).

  With these words, an unnamed thief becomes the only one we know of to speak to Jesus on the cross without derision or mockery.  An unnamed thief is the only person in the Bible who calls Jesus by His personal name, without any kind of title attached, as if their mutual suffering has placed them on an intimate, first-name basis.  In so doing, he becomes the first to address Jesus the way most of us do today.  And with his words, that unnamed thief becomes the first to be drawn to the crucified Christ.

  Jesus answers with a guarantee.  “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

  Paradise – it is one of the oldest words in our language.  For centuries it has maintained its basic consonantal form, prds.  In Hebrew it is pardes; in Greek, paradeisos.  The best we can tell, it is an ancient Persian form that originally referred to a walled garden.  The word appears two other times in the New Testament.  In 2 Corinthians 12:4, Paul speaks of the vision in which, whether in his body or out of it – he is not sure – he went to paradise and heard “inexpressible things.”  In the same passage he also calls this place “the third heaven.”  In Revelation 2:7, John says he heard Jesus use the word to describe the place where the tree of life grows.

  Was the criminal’s desire for salvation driven only by fear? Was it a pain-crazed plea from between clenched teeth? Or was it a sincere leap of faith based on sudden contrition?

  We don’t know.  The sentence could easily have been the first prayer of an entirely misspent life.  But the thief asked only once – and needed to ask only once.  The Son of God looked over at him and gave him his answer:”Today….”

  A few hours later, Jesus died.

  The thieves clung to life for several hours more.  When the soldiers saw that they were still alive, they picked up heavy mallets and broke their legs.  No longer able to lift up and draw air into their lungs, the two survivors started a grotesque dance, a losing battle with suffocation.  Soon, they too hung still and lifeless against the sky.

  But one of them awoke in paradise.

  Those criminals perfectly represent all humankind.  Like them, we have all sinned.  Like them, we all deserve only death.

  Like one of them, many people today will refuse hope, rejecting the possibility that Jesus could really be King.  The love, mercy, forgiveness, eternal life, and paradise He offers – all will seem impossible, unbelievable, unreachable, unacceptable.

  But some will receive all, simply by asking.

  Jesus was stretched out on that cross between criminals so that we can know for ourselves the amazing reach of His love.  From every wasted life, from every compromised motive, from every personal hell – it reaches all the way to paradise.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, You answered in love the thief crucified beside You.  Answer me, I pray.  You remembered him; remember me this day.  I, too, have been a rebel from birth.  In my coveting I have stolen, and in my anger I have murdered.  I deserve punishment no less than that dying thief.  So look on the one You love and died for.  Remember me in Your mercy so that I may deeply know and faithfully express Your love – and live forever with You in paradise.  Amen

542

There is Good in Good Friday, 31MAR

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)

I was spinning my wheels… Friday – Good Friday – first I was in hyperactive overdrive and actually making good traction – I had work work to do – my responsibility to organize my department’s donations for a mega fundraiser – I had a plan,  just barely the time, and with everyone’s help I powered thru it – whew… FABULOUS… done.

I was still spinning my wheels while shifting the gears of my head, what should I do next? Stay at work at the fundraiser, enjoyable but not sure I could timewise justify my fun when I could go to a local church for Good Friday (since I was an hour from home church), OR take half day vacation and attempt to do a massive errand that could have waited but I was being inpatient but also knew I had this window of time… so i wrapped up my work, knowing I could and would pick up at home later on the laptop and high tailed it out of there… I knew I was rushing, God has convicted me of rushing big time so many times, but still I dashed…

Shifting gears while you’re still in motion strips those very gears that help give you drive… but off I went…

I justified in my brain all I was doing… but that brain also was bugging me “It’s Good Friday what if they are closed?”… I kept going, but it started bugging me louder in my brain… In half an hour I decided to actually call and guess what? CLOSED. Boom. Plan gone… gear stripped,  wheels spinning and no progress… I had driven halfway to nowhere.

Why Lord? “Lord, You always have a plan for me, where am I supposed to be? Where can I find the good here, I messed up but can you direct me, can you salvage these wasted moments, can you make me understand?”

Sometimes it’s sitting in the car, in the moment that you know you just fell, that God could say something, but He lets you hear the QUIET until you stop spinning your own wheels… His mercy comes when we ask Him for mercy. We ask…

Fittingly, I had just read about Jesus giving mercy. A pagan woman with a demon-possessed daughter engaged Jesus in back and forth discussion. Jesus challenged her with a question and she answered truthfully, wittingly, and with the tone of asking for mercy (Mark 7 scripture lesson of feeding crumbs to the puppies)… Jesus had a forgiving heart healed the girl and told her: “For such a reply, you may go…

ME – I said Lord, I was thinking I was on the right track, please have mercy… I sat at that intersection of the road and my brain quieted down… and I asked God for mercy, for direction, for a glimpse of His plan…

Ok, click click click, let me let God turn my wheels now – and re-engage my active brain – the clock said there’s time on the click to go find a “random” church for Good Friday… at least Lord, I could be a warm body to boost the attendance… YES, put me to Your service somewhere… Google maps… make a plan…

God’s timing, I had to find a rest stop, found it, found there was a screaming child in the shopping cart, the mom doing what she could. I wanted to help, so I found something in my car to give him,  I don’t know if I helped, she showed him – “look at the basketball pictures” – I just felt better that I tried… “the child is screaming Lord, I have to try, is this your plan for me today?”… some time ticked away, I saw him a little calmer – I left…

Mission: find a local cute church not a mega church – find a little church with a BIG spirit… not much to ask huh? So what highway was I on? OH YEAH!!!! Click click click, wow I was ONLY 7 minutes away from one of my former Pastors’ church,  7 minutes huh? Off I went… whew, pulled into a decently full parking lot after not even knowing if they were having a service!  I knew at that moment God had shown me mercy… I hit the door 7 minutes late… sat down to absorb the “7 last words of Christ”… I missed the first word, but swooped in the back sat anonymously and the chimes started right behind my ears and I wept, God is that good!! God continues to show me mercy when “I wing it” – when I go astray – when I ask for mercy. Actually before we were born He set up a plan for each of us to be received into Heaven – the mercy of LIFE in His Love… THERE IS GOOD IN GOOD FRIDAY…

Goosebumps don’t describe realization of mercy – tears flow… tears for the littlest of mercies, big tears and shouts of JOY for the biggest mercy – it’s God’s Good Friday – His plan – His Son to gather back all His Children… I sat and wept that even if I wasn’t supposed to be here, His mercy from our engaged conversation landed me here – safe – from humbled moments to my JOY amplified. I stopped spinning my  wheels, I was there NOT JUST for my joy, NOT JUST for their joy too, but because God tweaks the system and saves the day… we can collectively give Him all the praise… THERE IS GOOD IN GOOD FRIDAY…

Stop spinning the wheels when we realize this is just a normal day for God… When we ask, He knows the plan, He directs the plan… THERE IS GOOD IN GOOD FRIDAY…

Goosebumps for a parishioner when I told her how I “randomly” got there… Encouragement for the sermonists as I was able to tell two of them that their delivery touched my heart. I even got to go to lunch with my blessing of a friend! I got home in time for a big work call – and I got to see my kids for dinner – mercy on a very good Friday…

Unlike the woman with a demon possessed daughter, I was NOT in a grave situation – if anything God told me (again) to slowdown – and He had an opportunity to remind me (again) that when I feel like I’m overstretching and go wrong (again) that it is OK to ask for Mercy, Jesus says: “For such a reply, you may go…”

God floats us… if we stop focusing on the Spirit, we will surely crash… If we hold onto His wing, we will soar…

Fittingly the first Word scripture that I missed 7 minutes late was: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” Luke 23:34

Forgive us Father (again) and show us Mercy – Thank You for Jesus!

Jesus saves us – Jesus says “It is finished” – the plan to save us was already placed in our hearts…

Even when we don’t know what we are doing, Jesus intercedes with Our Father… “forgive them”…

THERE IS GOOD IN GOOD FRIDAY…

AMEN

Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” – “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

(Mark 7:24-30, this scripture detailed in Michael Card’s book helped me a few days prior see Jesus acting with Mercy because the woman engaged in back and forth conversation with a heart of asking forgiveness)

541

Closure to Open, 29MAR

a Holy Thursday Reflection

A counselor once told me: “You need closure, so that you can open up fully…”

I thought that was an interesting juxtaposition of terms – of closing to be open…

I’ve been praying on that irony… and I understand. To close wounds allows us to redirect our energy, our purpose, our hope. God heals and we help by allowing Him to do His work.

The Living Water of Jesus was purposefully directed to us, His flow allows us to LIVE.

A rose waiting to bloom is ready to open, but not until directed cues cause the water to enter the petals, the cells to expand, and a bloom form for the eye to behold…. see, feel, smell the sweet aroma of life.

Can you see your heart like a rose ready to bloom? God holds your heart petals together. Can you see how the closures of leaks would not remove the water that may have leaked thru the tears but redirects the water into hydrating flow that will grow you? He will bloom you. He makes all things beautiful…

“You need closure, to open fully…”

Jesus thru His death and resurrection brings back the sweet aroma of life, today, everyday, evermore. Back to the Garden… Easter is the opening, the redirection of His Spirit for our future to be realized in the present – God wants to be known. He blooms new life into us because of closure of Jesus’s short earthly form. The flow of Living Water now available for all.

“You need closure, to open fully…”

Closure is a process none of us takes lightly, nor can we try to force it… Any time we need closure, remember that it’s because Loving God wants redirecting of His Life in and thru you… to open you… to bloom… to bear fruit…. to LIVE… to LIVE now… to LIVE again…

Amen

540

Bobble, 25MAR

You know sometimes (well ALL the time, and especially during Holy Week) we need to “Be Still” and remember the stabilization that Christ gives us. His comfort. His peace.

Often I bet that you, like me, would like to stop the head spinning times and find focus…  Even when we keep busy we sometimes can be so Martha-like that we end up spinning our wheels…

Jesus says:  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

We sometimes work SO hard at keeping ourselves afloat that we become like those red and white fishing bobbles, jumping up and down, sinking then bobbing up, oh the spinning…

How can we stabilize our emotional rollercoasters? Where do we attach our anchors? Where do we cast our lines?

We are to remember, especially at Easter, how much God has loved and still LOVES us… Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

God has sent us a life-saver… if we are a bobble that may float in the water, it’s because of the lift of an air-filled pocket inside… if we are a child of God, it’s because of the LIFT of a Holy Spirit-filled pocket in our soul…

How can we keep our wild ups and our downs on an even plane? It’s about finding our focus to keep from sinking. Sometimes there are snags in the water that will catch our bobbles – stuck – yet what do you think would be the best snag? What if you could sink your hook into wood the shape of a cross? Ah wood floats, Christ floats … If we are accepting that we don’t want to tred water alone, that we do need stabilization for this life and forever, then we ought to long to be caught forever on this floating cross – linked with our fellow swimming souls we can travel together… Let us carry our own crosses, and while we carry each other’s burdens, let us not caught up in the current of woe…

Stabilization – we may not completely stabilize in this world, but in our new life in the risen Christ we will find eternal rest… While in this life can share our joys, lift each other’s spirits, and “do good to all”…

My bobble, I will look for the Spirit-lift, I will try to snag myself into the loving arms of Christ – my Fisherman, my Savior,  my Lord.

I pray you all find comfort in His catch.

WE ARE SAVED!

539

For at least 2 friends this week who both wondered why they wondered about God SO MUCH – I said because Jesus is just adjusting your antenna…

Ping, 22Mar

Yup – we are loved by God, so much that He keeps us thinking about Him… it might make us think (well I certainly did) that we are crazy contemplating Him so much, but He knows it is for our own good… it keeps us bearing His fruit and that means because of Him we are spreading the meanings of His Word and encouraging others…

“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8  (and Psalm 1)…

God is “pinging” us… Yes, like a cell phone, if we were lost in the woods, the ping might help find us. The ping goes BOTH ways – towers and phones – both actively involved in communication…. Isn’t that what happens with God and us too? It’s not God pinging an inanimate object, like a rock, it’s God pinging the SPIRIT within us! We are filled with His SPIRIT, we can answer back, He can stir our souls because we ARE made of His stardust…. Even those souls who don’t know Him personally are His children… He pings them all.

How will we hear? What will we hear? How can we discern thru all the noise?

Perhaps the SPIRIT within each of us is constantly adjusting our antenna?…. Click-click, click-click, is how my Grandmother’s T.V. box for the big roof antenna would sound…

Yes, we can ask Jesus to hold His hands behind our ears like a receiving dish for God’s ping! We can ask Jesus to hold His hands behind our hearts as well, to heal our brokenness… Not simply like the fairytale boy with his finger in the dam to stop it from breaking, no.  Jesus can hold His hands behind our hearts to allow HIS living water to flow thru our hearts and back out thru those same cracks to nourish others… Jesus allows us to show His healing thru our brokenness… Living Water moves…

That’s me – that’s us – broken but on the mend – less us, more Him – lost but found – but NEVER really lost to God, He has been pinging us all along…

The amplification of His signal drowns out the noise, we become a tree next to the noisy rippling life-giving stream, bearing more fruit, connected, rooted in the Living Water… Have you heard the pings of those fellow people calling to God? Messages in a bottle? I bet you have…

I had a crazy dream (well sure many seem crazy) and I was second guessing myself, being filled with guilty feelings, and in the dream a store promotion monopoly game piece floated down from the sky – yet like a fortune cookie it had a saying: “when are you going to listen to the Living Water?” Why in my dream did this message appear? God was and is pinging me – sure it freaks me out, but He’s just calling to me to LISTEN… Ring, ring, pick up the phone – allow myself – all of us – to be forgiven by Jesus’s actions, healed by His message, and moved by His SPIRIT to bear His fruit… Jesus adjusts our antennas “still” – to get REALLY good signal for His teachings…

We are called to hear Jesus’s Words this Easter – “It is finished”…. He died for our sins – done – finished – God’s goal achieved – so what are we waiting for? We know “the rest of the story” – God wins… Open the door. Pick up the phone.

Number one message – God loves you – He wants you to accept your brokenness to accept His healing – He loves you no matter what… And guess what? it’s not just love once a day at the “same time, same God station” – it’s eternal – forever… And why? So that we LOVE HIM and LOVE all His Children… we can show our actions are from His phone conversation in our ear because we picked up HIS call…

Jesus asks: “Let those who have ears, hear”…

Ping…

Amen

538

Traffic Cop, 16MAR

“The communion of saints in heaven and earth”…. my pastor was teaching confirmation class as I sang thru the hallway on the way to the copier machine, the praise band was waiting for me and I had very limited limited time to chat, I wished I could have been in ten places at once… luckily the spirit quickly packed a seed into my ears so that it could sprout later… “the communion of saints in heaven and earth”… I can see her hands stretching to signify those places as she was urging the answers to flow out of our quiet, very quiet, confirmation kids…

I could and did fill in the blank space of sound… Jesus connects heaven and earth… and I scurried off back to band… that seed placed in my ear now sprouts, after a good night sleep, and I can now let the spirit flow back out thru writing… we can all allow the spirit to weave thru the convolutions of our brain traffic. We can bear His fruit by allowing His spirit sprouting.

Jesus brings the saints of heaven and earth together – thru communion – commonality – conduit ….Traffic Cop…

Yes, Traffic Cop – Jesus is the traffic cop – listen for His signal – see and hear the spirit flow – Heaven and Earth together thru communion – His beckoning to us that it is safe to cross the intersection – His reckoning to those who pass to heaven – we all await His instructions.

Jesus is the Traffic Cop…

“We are all saints”,  that was my pastor’s take home message… and we often fail to understand that due to the semantics of language, and being down on ourselves, but we ARE all saints by virtue of Jesus, by victory of Jesus’s resurrection over death… (if I could have lingered at class or anywhere yesterday, I would have,  but I felt swept by the crowds of life…)

Now, don’t we ALL get swept by the crowds? – hard to hear any instructions huh?… we are yapping and fail to listen – sometimes Jesus needs to blow that whistle… Jesus helps us discern the spirit of truth vs the spirit of error… His whistle works both ways – hear the warning, see the way…

Worship in Spirit and in Truth… (LISTEN…)

Blowing the whistle, Jesus surely gets our attention, our closed ears open to the Holy Spirit flow – we move – we can commune and cross…. gee, cross – how did that verbiage translation sneak in there?… because of Jesus’ cross we can now cross safely to heaven… Jesus thru human death on a cross, crosses all of us over with Easter’s Resurrection…

Safe… saints on their way… thanks traffic cop Jesus… Can you see His hands? See His arms stretched out WIDE… thanks Jesus… we are safe thus far… amazing grace…

Safe travels all…

Happy Easter EVERYDAY…

AMEN

—–

1 John 4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spiritof truth and the spirit of falsehood.

537

“That I Might Live”, 11MAR

The repeat message for me these days is that Christ died so we could LIVE… But that repeat should not surprise me, that IS the point of LENT into Easter, the repeat message is Jesus came and is coming again, and the prayer is for us to know WHY… why would He work so hard for our Father, and die? why? “That I might LIVE”….

It’s Lent, sadly I have ignored it mostly so far,  just been busy,,, hard to figure out the seasonal cues this year too with wacky weather… I know Easter is coming, but I’m not ready – mentally or otherwise…

But there is still time, there is hope… We can focus on the message if we choose to.

The disciples were ignorant too… Not that I should use that as an excuse… It’s true that the closest followers of Christ saw miracles and performed miracles, and yet they were ignorant – actually the scripture from Mark (6:52) said “their hearts were hardened”…  WOW… (Michael Card’s book drove this point home for me)…  Yes, Jesus chose folks just like us – HUMAN… hardened hearts miss miracles…

What ceremonial thing should I “give up for lent?” Surely NOT chocolate this year… nope, the best thing I can give up is my ignorance. The best thing i can learn is to LIVE… I can choose to see the gifts every minute that God gives me, especially when I have gifted time to think about Him…

I can choose to give up ignorance… I can choose to see miracles all around…

Christ had compassion for His lost sheep… people are lost… yet my eyes were opened by God thru Christ… I don’t know why me,  why do i get to see the beauty amid the nasty parts of the age we live in? Why do I get to LIVE? Teach? Sing? Praise? Feel JOY? Love? Smile? Because Jesus took compassion to save me and I listened that JOY comes from the Lord…

My heart WAS and IS softened by God bringing me to Jesus – and it’s up to me to keep it from drying out… LENT brings Living Water as a repeat cleansing hydration… we need it… ours and my most cherished gift from God is to LIVE for Him. My ignorance is still great, but Jesus has compassion on me and us… He came to save all… one at a time… every one of us…

The last line of the song “Amazing Love” drives home that Jesus is driving us HOME… I remember now that I should buckle up, it’s Easter… time to LIVE.

And thru Jesus I will LIVE again… Amazing…

Amazing Love…

—

Lyrics: Amazing Love (My Lord what Love is this),  Graham Kendrick

My Lord, what love is this
That pays so dearly
That I, the guilty one
May go free!

Amazing love, O what sacrifice
The Son of God given for me
My debt he pays, and my death he dies
That I might live, that I might live.

And so they watched him die
Despised, rejected
But oh, the blood he shed
Flowed for me!

And now, this love of Christ
Shall flow like rivers
Come wash your guilt away
Live again!

Amazing love, O what sacrifice
The Son of God given for me
My debt he pays, and my death he dies
That I might live, that I might live
That I might LIVE!

536

It’s a Wacky World, 07MAR

Jesus lived in corrupt times… often people are very distraught that we live in corrupt times… we do and He did… life on earth is a work in progress…

John the Baptist, extremely important foreteller of Jesus, was beheaded because of a wacky world of corruption (Mark 6:14-29). He was beheaded by Herod who actually was intrigued by him… and he was beheaded because of Herod Antipas’ off-hand promise, made during a banquet with his wacky, corrupt family – a situation detailed by Mark and explained by Michael Card in his book elaboration of this “Gospel of Passion”…

Michael tells us that gospel writer Mark may have detailed the story for his readers about this impulsive evil mindless behavior of that ruler Herod because the readers were living in a time of Nero’s also brutal rule… it was re-confirming that evil is real, the world was wacky “in the olden times too” – but urging them to keep the faith – the need for Jesus’s hope was real then – the need for Jesus’s hope is real now…

Jesus lived as an example in corrupt times, and so can we…

Jesus was so distraught over the immediate senseless acts, and died for the long term evil influences of the world… He knew we live in a sea of evil influences – we need to keep swimming towards Jesus’s hand… and we can ask for the cleanse of His salvation.  We can grasp the hope others show too, they are living side by side with us on missions here and now.

To swim thru the wackiness of life, we must try to focus on a mission, be the good, do the right thing, show sacrifice for His mission…

And we need to tell redemption stories… explain where good triumphed over evil… spread the good news that we have the hope in Jesus to live now and forever… that we look for the path and so can they… we all can follow where Jesus lights the light…

Jesus had to forge His way thru a dark world filled with problems, ignorance, strife… He left not just breadcrumbs of a trail to lead us all home but he left the whole loaf of His existence for us to find, learn, acknowledge and emulate… His disciples like Mark took time to reach… so should we… our world work is our mission,  planting seeds, leaving more breadcrumb trails…

To follow Jesus out of the World has to start with our search for Him thru it first…

Keep the faith…

———-

John the Baptist Beheaded

¹⁴ King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

¹⁵ Others said, “He is Elijah.”

And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”

¹⁶ But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

¹⁷ For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, ²⁰ because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

²¹ Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³ And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

²⁵ At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

²⁶ The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, ²⁸ and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. ²⁹ On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

535

Prepare the Way, 25Feb (Merry Christmas in February)

I don’t worry when it rains, when I stepped years ago into my house with the realtor, I heard my father repeating my grandfather’s advice “ALWAYS live on a hill”. It rains in spring, as it should, but those 100-year floods come seemingly way too often now, but we are ok, we are on the top of the hill. My neighbors are ok too, because this 1950’s subdivision was established most properly and all the water pours down to an already natural stream and flood plain… The builders took advantage of how the natural landscape already “prepared for rain”…

If there ever is a drought, the best thing a gardener or farmer can do is prepare for the coming flooding rains is prepare the soil by first softening the soil with water – presoak it – allow the soil to open and absorb the needed water.

Preparing for Jesus, we are to presoak in the SPIRIT, to make our own fields soft and ready…

All four Gospels recorded what Isaiah foretold: A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.   –   And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together.” (Isaiah 40, Mark 1, Matthew 3, Luke 3, John 1)

Prophet John urged us to Prepare the Way – get ready. I know you all already are absorbing His great comforting ways… You have strengthened your hearts… And still do…

In a similar fashion, just like if you are someone who placed your children in daycare, you remember those early days when they were sent home with so many new ailments – tough days – but that inoculation built immune system responses that prepared their way for them to be healthier and not missing school in the elementary years… They had already been exposed to the same or similar bugs… Similarly, if you got the flu shot to prepare, you may not cover every strain that comes our way in late winter, but you were able to build up a layer of defense – to be prepared to fight the real danger germs… And a tetanus shot? Well countless times I’m so glad I’ve had it (multiple times) – my immune system prepared for rain… my body prepared for pain… I stepped into the nails, scrapes and harm of day to day life… And my path to recovery was made ready…

We need Jesus for trekking with us through the droughts and pain-causing fields of life. We need to listen to our own wilderness and hear the SPIRIT whisper inside us – reaching and teaching. When we embrace His embrace, then we are prepared for the rain and the reign – to be good soil as we open our ears and the desert of our souls. Jesus is knocking… Let’s let Him in. Let Jesus pull you out and save from sinking when you took your eyes off Him.

We are preparing for now and for eternity: ” 7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” James 5

The Lord is “mighty to save”, as the song lyric harmonizes… So we are called to strengthen our hearts. Jesus is our way…

Prepare the Way…

Amen

—–

Prepare the way
Make straight the path for Him
Let the King of Glory enter in
Let the King of Glory enter in
Who is this King of Glory

The Lord strong and mighty
The Lord mighty to save
The earth is full of His glory
Creation calls prepare the way

His love endureth forever
His power is without an end
His strength is victory’s treasure
Let all who call His name prepare the way

Let the King of Glory enter in
Let the King of Glory enter in
Let the King of Glory enter in
Let the King of Glory enter in
Who is this King of Glory

Jared Anderson
© 2004 Vertical Worship Songs

https://youtu.be/WNjta8VxA4s

534

Watch Your Step, 10Feb (a follow up to #533)

And then I asked the Lord “why is the Sun SO bright and painful to look at directly?”, and then the Lord laughs at me and says “So you look down and watch your steps you silly people”

#FallingTearingRotatorCuffoneYearAgoThisMonth

LOL

533

Good Morning Moon, Good Morning God, 10Feb

So many times I ask the Lord: “Why is the moon SO beautifully lit to catch our eye?”…

I think He answers that it’s so we know where the Sun is, it points to the Sun even if we don’t see it – we can know it’s there – we can feel its warmth – and we can know we are alive to live another day…

That’s just like a reflection of You Lord, yes…

Thank you Lord for today…. I feel Your love and I await Your beautiful sunrise to tickle my eyes….

532

The Warm Glove of God’s Love, 06Feb

Occasionally I drive by and stop at the 911 memorial at the local fire house, it calls to me and I need to touch the steel girder… And today this place with its contemplative music and austere tributes certainly reminded me to put my own real and perceived problems into perspective. I touched the steel with my right hand – ungloved – to feel the energy from the girder but it was freezing… Instead of taking my hand away, I felt compelled to put my other hand on the steel as well, but that one did have a glove on – wow – how warm… How different the feeling…

Immediately, I knew what this meant – I knew I needed to relate it to God’s love. When people face the cold harsh realities of life without knowing and loving the Lord and without reaching to the Lord, it’s a cold hard life… unforgiving and you feel frozen… frozen like you are unable to move into the Lord’s house of many rooms to find peace there… But with that glove on,  we’ve put on the loving warmth of the Lord… WOW…

God’s love not only protects and comforts, God’s love enables us to remain holding on tight. That cold steel and the cold harsh realities of life is exactly the same – but how we approach it surely changes… put on God’s love and you can hold on… put on God’s love and you can keep functioning…

September 11th, I pray that those lost knew God’s love… there is an image in my head thinking about a Bruce Springsteen song,  The Rising, while the people were racing down the towers, those firemen were racing up.

Where does that warmth of God’s love emanate from? His people are His treasures… He fills them with His warm spirit. That warmth in the glove came from internal warmth – warmth captured and sustained by cloth for the hand, physically… and internal warmth captured and sustained for all of God’s love, spiritually…  The warmth captures the feeling of the mighty hands of Jesus lifting you, the winds of the Spirit moving thru you and the emanation of God’s love out from every dust particle that has formed your living breathing being…  It is LOVE – God’s LOVE – God’s love THRU you.

Think about all of God’s people that September 11^th day – while the towers were falling their souls were rising…. And I envision and pray that they felt the warm hand of Jesus grabbing theirs… He was scooping them all up – and yes, He’s always reaching for us too…

His warm love is there when we reach for it.

His LOVE is what is emanating thru us.

His LOVE endures forever.

Amen

531

A thousand different reasons that people and I are waiting today – there’s precedence for the waiting… There’s HOPE for the future…

It Takes Time, 04Feb

Time, waiting waiting… (Sometimes it feels like there’s no time at all… But not when you are waiting)…

Waiting – a biblical mainstay –

Simeon waited his whole life as the Lord promised that he would see the messiah, in the flesh… Simeon was patient…

Noah waited for those flood waters to recede… Must have felt like an eternity – a year or so of waiting – these things take time – Noah had to be patient.

Jesus waited…

The Gospel of Mark – written with urgency while Rome was in chaos – captures the haste of Peter detailing the stories and also the haste of Jesus’s short three years of ministry… And I wonder how many times that Jesus thought, during his forty day retreats into the wilderness, that He needed to balance His sanity and his mission? That’s a human trait, Jesus was ALL in ALL plus human too… If we think it, He’s experienced it. If we wait, He’s waiting with us.

Jesus had to get away from the massive crowds who were seeking his physical healing over HIS message of eternal healing… He did show the physical miracles, because His believers asked – perhaps a side reason was to convince HIS critics – but He was really here to teach the deeper forever healing. Healing that comes from repentance and a willingness to be repaired. Healing comes from your own faith in Him. His message was getting lost… Only time will help spread this message now…

And I wonder ALWAYS if Jesus wished He had more time…

Now He has to wait too… Jesus has to wait, wonder how long until fulfillment of His mission… When will that cloud come by to scoop HIM up to return? Jesus also waits for His Father’s plan – our Father’s plan…

Waiting….

Waiting was what a few men decided NOT to do in Mark 2:1-12 when they ripped off part of the roof of the home Jesus taught in and lowered down a paralyzed man on a stretcher… Jesus’s message that day was that forgiveness of sins is why He came… “I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”(Mark 2:10)…  Michael Card writes about Jesus forgiving of sins plus physical healing: “The visible reality of the man’s healed limbs is evidence of the invisible reality that his sins have been forgiven.” Jesus has been waiting for each of us to realize that for ourselves… Jesus is waiting…

Waiting, waiting for all His lost sheep to turn for home… It’s their faith which heals them… Jesus is waiting what feels like an eternity because it IS an eternity – all those God sends to Jesus will return home. It takes time to realize the search has to travel inside one’s own soul.

The Holy Spirit is here now to fill in the gap. Waiting is replaced by witnessing God’s SPIRIT moving. We should take the time to watch for God while we wait, stay disciplined and focused… What we are to be waiting for is NOT our plan but God’s plan to be fulfilled… Hope is fueled by knowing God is in charge. God is in charge of the time. The plan is fueled by disciplined focus on using God’s time wisely. It takes time to teach the people, one soul at a time.

God is worthy of our attention. He makes it worth the wait… We should work that wait too…

Amen

—–

Mark 2: A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God,saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

530

Anger, Frustration, Wilderness, Lost in a Lost World, God Found Within, 31Jan

I’m not about to copy Michael Card’s whole book about the real, emotional Jesus of the Gospel of Mark, I do urge you to read it, but one more section I will add a picture in here for detailing a most important aspect of Jesus – HE WAS REAL – He got frustrated – He got angry – He felt loneliness… But He continued in His Father’s plan… He found Himself and His mission and His strength… All came from WITHIN Himself by seeking God – and God alone – in the wilderness… Physical and mental wilderness… We are NEVER alone…

GOD IS WITH US – ALWAYS!

Wilderness, Jesus retreated to pray it out… He was driven away from the crazy crowds, you surely can imagine that mob scene… the “man with the plan” couldn’t do his desired teaching, couldn’t connect, couldn’t make it into a perfect scene with ALL the people truly understanding… and He knew it….

Frustration of the situation, just can’t snap HIS fingers and make it all better instantly – how many times have we wanted to do that? for ourselves? for our children? for the aching world?!!!…

Jesus, full of compassion for the individual, emotionally flips “immediately” – He mentally realized the crowd scenes would do Him in, and there was nothing He could humanly do… Everything was in motion… Michael Card teaches that there are more people upset and disturbed by Jesus historically than who understand His ways… The world was/is lost – the Jesus we know was “lost in a lost world”… Working hard but it’s hard work…

Yes, Jesus found his way back out to continue His mission to preach…. God WITHIN pushed Him back to the plan, the road to Jerusalem, still the toughest road to travel, but no one said this was going to be easy… No one, not even God the Father said it’s an easy road. No one, not even God the Son, was above understanding the sheer enormous feeling of loss…

Wilderness, Michael Card reminds us that we have to follow Jesus into the wilderness to understand the depth of His pain – the man who came to save surely felt the immense loss of the people He loves… Still loves the people but frustrated by the loss.

Jesus aches – because He Loves all of us…

GOD IS WITH US ALWAYS…

Imagine His Joy to follow for each of us who find comfort IN HIM…

Amen

38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

—

PS – in writing “lost in a lost world” – immediately the lyrics of the moody blues song of the same name seeped into my brain with exact lyrics about empty shell people – ONLY LOVE will fill that shell… We bend a knee to pray… Amazing matching sentiment… You tube with full lyrics:  https://youtu.be/80nUhHofw0U

Have we forgotten who loves who?
(So many people, so many people)
Children from a family tree
That’s longer than a centipede
Started long ago when you and I
Where only love…
(So many people, so many people)

I woke today, I was crying
Lost in a lost world

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The Emotional Jesus, Gospel of Mark, 26JAN

How I love Michael Card, his music pulled me in and my ears delighted, my heart grew, and now with his writing my head fills in those gaps I really didn’t know I had!!! And they are vast chasms for sure, but nothing is impossible with God, and here’s Mark’s Gospel to bridge gaps by filling the deep chasm in with living water… It will take my whole life to study Jesus…

Jesus is as deep and real and amazing as we can only scarcely imagine – This Gospel of Mark brings another dimension for us to see – Jesus’s emotional human side – as seen and shared by Peter… Mark is like a son to Peter, and records his accounts for the ages… we learn our faith deep inside an emotional deep relationship with Jesus… Their lives for our faith… God is showing that Jesus implored “I know EXACTLY how you feel…”

Cool… Who knew the four complimentary dimensions of the gospels (I constantly say: “why don’t they teach this?” Well, I guess it’s OUR job to seek it out – no, I KNOW it’s OUR job and it is a blessing to seek it out….  then I guess – I don’t have to guess – I KNOW it’s OUR JOB to share what we know) – and it is my amazement that unbelievably this information is lost to the average reader… Luke is the gospel of AMAZEMENT, Mark is the gospel of PASSION… I’m so grateful for deeper thirst of knowledge – and it’s SO important to share…

Mark was writing in the middle of Rome burning and in crisis… We have a connection of real time to history books – we have a book, this gospel, as a connection of real time to Jesus – God’s timing finds us and finds the time to share – Mark had to get this down and written because Peter was running out of time… Peter’s story is NOT lost… We are not lost either.

Mark’s Gospel is showing how Jesus can relate to us in our deepest issues and angst – even when we are emotionally charged, we can be changed, and He WILL find a way to challenge us to be changed… Maybe this understanding comes in the nick of time for us…

God knew I was lost, I didn’t, but He knew where to find me… He still does…

God knows…

He’s been there, and He knows us, our pain, our passion, our path…

Jesus came and comes for us, deeply looking for us to turn our hearts and tune our hearts with Him…  We see that He understands when we are in turmoil too… Joy is found in the understanding of the journey that is sometimes wrought with twists and turns… We look with urgency to God… God urgently aches for us.

Mark wrote with urgency… Peter spoke with urgency… God’s timing for sure…

I can’t wait to read this gospel…

Thanks God for my time to learn…

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Green Flag, 22JAN

Jesus gives us the Green Flag…

In life, I don’t know what lap you are on – only God knows – but I hope you are running a good race!

But even if sometimes we feel like we are in the pit  – just know that we are all STILL IN THIS RACE…  Apostle Paul reminds us: “You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. (Galatians 5:7 The Message)”

Life feels like a race but when you turn the corner and see the Green Flag, you know you are almost done – almost home – one more lap…. Of course this is a ROAD race and God designed this course of variable distance, so only HE knows the length – but you are in charge of your speed and your attention to the road, best to strap in with those seatbelts!… See, the path is narrow but sure – bumpy but sturdy – curved and you can’t always see around the bend… BUT you know you have made it “safe thus far” – that is by God’s grace – you know God says keep motoring – it is time to finish the race…

The greens of Christmastime remind us of life with Christ’s birth – the greens of Easter with our renewal of life – the green flag – look for that green flag. Listen for your pit crew chief Jesus calling out the instructions – Jesus speaks on God’s GPS to get you there. “Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

Look for the Holy Spirit to light your way. God gears us up. Yes, let us check in often with our pit crew chief Jesus, because when we give Him our mindful attention and our heartfelt devotion, then we are given that loving green light to life everlasting…

Some finish the race in super fast speeds, some crawl over the finish line with barely any gas left in their tank, and many are at every speed in between – actually your position at the finish doesn’t matter – because you know the truth – NO ONE is left behind!

And ALL the racers are cheered HOME!

Amen

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Vined Smiles, 20JAN

Was great to visit a friend today who was moved into a retirement community – she feels like a fish out of water… Another friend and I hit the road and she was thrilled to see us. We were blessed to share this time together… We also felt like we escaped and retreated from our busyness to go…

Our friend misses being in her element.  As she is new, she’s learning the ropes and has struggled with a few things you can imagine. It’s been a shock to be plucked out of her routine and her home…  She would rather be home – but better yet, she would probably love to be sitting at camp playing cards with us women’s retreat folks… Wouldn’t you all love to be taking a break at camp right now? So the three of us enjoyed a retreat moment with a few hands of cards… It made her roommate happy too… Her face lit up when we talked about all our friends…

A shining star beamed in just before we were going to leave, she was an aide for the night who was from the other side of the building, and she explained about herself and it was a great match for the night, I was relieved that as soon as my friend feared this new situation after we left, that instantly here came this appointed helper… God provides… He surely watches over all of us…

We prayed before we left and I invited this new aide and the neighbor’s family member (who had just come in the room) to pray with us… As my friend chimed in on prayers, I can’t tell you how blessed the Lord has made me feel to just be able to openly pray and for me to hear others heartfelt prayers… I’m always just appreciative of being open… I also can’t tell you how unreal and blessed it is for me to feel free to sing too… My friend was thrilled about singing and I “just happened” to have song sheets in my car that I take to the nursing home once a month… NOTHING seems to lighten a room better than singing… The neighbor’s face beamed in contentment too as we sang along joyfully… I started to tear up thinking how much it means to me that I get to sing, that the Lord uses me in that way – “whoda thunk” I always tell myself – I know music is a gift, and no one cares if we sing off key in a nursing home, no one cares what you sing, they just want to keep singing… What’s the next song?!

I pray that our friend  gains strength and shares her special self. I pray people see those hidden gifts in her (and all people) and not what folks can’t do… God certainly sees all the possibilities in each of us… God puts a song in our heart, and a smile on our face… God knows how to bless us with people into our lives…

We have an extensive church family… The thought that I envision pairs of us travelling together to go visit folks makes me smile in advance… Our church family is an outside the building kind of family… Our branch of the family is a little twisted, LOL, but the vine pushes thru these folks to each other… My church family makes me smile…

I know I’ve been blessed in witnessing this tremendous spirit that is vined thru smiles…

Thanks God for letting us see Your SMILES…

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The JOY of music is HOPE, 19JAN

I’m copiously reading a lot of scriptures about the Lord protecting us – there ARE a lot of scriptures reminding us how He will protect us… about all HIS ways to comfort us so that we can comfort others…

As ALWAYS, I’m ALWAYS singing… in the car, in the store, in the church, in the nursing home, and especially in my head – with or without the earbuds – music that comes out of your ears provides your mental tabernacle of sanctuary, an ever-expanding sanctuary to feel the PEACE of the Lord. After singing in band on Sunday my memory will resonate like a bell those very special catchy verses that the Lord has laid on my heart. These verses are for the past and surely they are for the present and they definitely are for the future when we will continue to walk with the Lord.

I think music is one of the biggest gifts ever –  even when people are physically or emotionally in the deepest worst places, there still can be a song in our heads bursting or seeping out of our hearts… It doesn’t matter the depth of human intelligence or the languages that we speak, because music is universal… We have soothing songs in our dreams when we sleep, we have songs of heartache to keep us company in bad times, and we have songs of sheer JOY…

If God has taken care of the littlest birds with songs of joy, sorrow, and warning, then surely He will take care of us! (Matthew 6)

We have songs to sing about mercy, love and SALVATION…

With all the hardships thru the ages, thousands and thousands of years, music has continued to delight and direct us – and it must be because the Lord wants to hear us in a state of trying to find BLISS – to be in an active state of BEING STILL – and to be soothing ourselves (psalm 131) calming and quieting ourselves by trusting the Lord – knowing He is present – to be content in ourselves…

This state of looking for comfort is so that we are able to be comforting others (2 Corinthians 1)… and when we look at others we can be grateful for our blessings…

It all means we believe in HOPE…

There’s a TRUE JOY, that we have HOPE…

The JOY of music is the JOY of Hope…

“Put your hope in the Lord now and forever more”…

Amen

Psalm 131
My heart is not proud, Lord,    my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord
both now and forevermore.

Psalm 136:7-8

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.
The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures forever

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you,Lord;
Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

P.S.  I Bow My Heart to Sing, 19JAN

https://youtu.be/WQ7xzvmAAAQ

Of the praise songs we sing in church, this is probably the best line I get to sing – from this Paul Baloche song Your Mercy: “I bow my heart to sing” – i actually bow dip and bow my heart – how could I not?

God gives us Mercy and He blesses us. We are called by God to know we have received God’s mercy. We are called by that and know that He loves us!

Beautiful song…

Beautiful feeling to be loved.

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God Knows 3AM Silver Linings…, 17JAN

Two Facebook posts with scripture in between:

1AM – I can’t shut my brain off now, sigh, fell asleep then awoke… The only consolation to this 1AM is that I heard and saw Christmas the crab eating, he hadn’t moved for a week or more I thought…. I REALLY thought maybe he’s molting again (or worse…) – but he is OK! YAY!

As for everything else most seriously swirling in my head, I ask our prayer warriors to hyperdrive some prayers to folks I know struggling… I appreciate and love that community that keeps us all together… I appreciate the net of community… Thanks

1:30AM – I read some scriptures from last year VBS:

God is with you… At Home:

“You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.” (Psalm 139:3)

God is with you… When You’re Confused:

“And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27)

God is with you… In Dark Times:

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” (Psalm 23:4)

God is with you… Because God Loves You:

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

2AM – a flurry of activity that required my awakeness… Made me forget my problems too…

3AM – I updated Facebook with a new praise post: “3AM does have its advantages,  besides seeing the crab, I was awake to chat with my friend on messenger and see a photo of her brand new grandchild. I was awake to give my daughter a hug who had woke up from being on the couch, then I made her lunch, AND THEN very urgently I discovered that the refrigerator has stopped working sometime during the night, YIKES, and I was able to rescue a few hundred dollars worth of food which is crucial in the life of teenagers! WHEW And I realized that  my unexpected medical reimbursement of $400 is probably going to go straight to a new fridge, earmarked by God earlier in the day I guess, geez… WOW, that’s timing…

SO…  DON’T discount Silver Linings….  To every 3AM there is a purpose, under heaven….  (but I don’t think I should have eaten half a pint of the premium chocolate ice cream that didn’t want to throw away, yummy but bad, but yummy)…”

Yup, now at 3:30 I’m still not sleepy, but I’m more at PEACE… Modified Serenity prayer: No, I can’t change the things I can’t change – my friends both that are in the hospital and headed towards surgery and in strife of life are still in strife, but YES, I can pray for them and ask others to pray… I can change the things I can change – especially when it’s my attitude that needs adjusting… And I pray for the wisdom to find the PEACE in between…

My Lord, thanks for reminding me to look for YOUR PEACE… YOU are my PEACE…

I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” (Psalm 23:4)

Amen

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Signed Sealed Delivered, I’m Yours Lord, 15Jan

Romans 13:1 “Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those which exist are established by God.”

Matthew 22:21 Jesus said: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” 

Render to God the things that are God’s – well that’s a lot – that’s EVERYTHING for His purpose… That includes our time, mind, purpose.

Our time – and what we do – belong to God. He’s in control, but that doesn’t mean we get a cushy lifestyle to our standards… Some may say it’s debatable whether the Lord is a micromanager, yet we know angels work the system… His angels are tasked for work we can’t even dream of, we have no idea, but sometimes we see the result of tweaking the system.

Our mind – we need to focus on God’s will. We also have to be willing to be tweaked by the system. I’m not saying we understand it all, but we have to be listening to be shepherded.  “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. . . . My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” John 10:14, 27

Our purpose – we need to listen, and hear the call to be “fishers of men” type disciples… We need to walk humbly, love mercy, and seek justice for all God’s children (Micah 6:8)… Perhaps the most important start is to share the Word by action and voice… Plant seeds – let God water…  LOVE others as God commands… LOVE GOD…

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”

Love does make the world go around because LOVE is from God… Love is the good stuff that belongs to God – it’s for sharing!

Amen

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Dotted Line, 14JAN

A friend of mine is in the hospital for a reason that’s different than why she was delivered there, but angels seen to have tweaked the system and an unexpected life-saving diagnosis came “out of the blue”…

Maybe it’s a linear solid path that got her there but we only sometimes see the dotted lines… maybe we only see a roundabout path…

Either way all paths point to God being in control…

Thanks Lord for the safety net, thanks for the save!

I have been blessed so many times by the saving grace of the Lord – both the ultimate Grace and the little graces along the way – so many that I don’t even know a fraction of them – but as Peter reminds us we are forever to keep looking to the Lord and not to ourselves – I am to not rush the Lord – I am to be content – we are to remember that the Lord has us in the palm of His Hand!

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Expect Nothing, Gain it All, 13Jan

Easter, all the world is behind us, all is open before us…

Easter, the cross cracked open the path to our future…

Our future’s eternal LIFE with the Lord – STARTS NOW…

This free-flowing LIGHT of the future can guide us thru the present – it is the WORD – the messages that Jesus brought and the SPIRIT that Jesus shared… Jesus came to LIGHT our way – to LIGHTen our load – Jesus is the life – the truth – the way…

Michael Card’s book on Luke (which I just deLIGHTfully finished) reminds us that the disciples had “no expectations” for Jesus to be risen after crucifixion, even though they heard it predicted directly from Jesus on many many occasions…. How could they not understand when it actually happened? Well they didn’t until the LIGHT hit their eyes and opened their hearts… God’s timing… Well – we, individually and collectively, fail to comprehend that too… But when the disciples heard then saw RISEN Jesus Himself??? WOW – was not that presumably the brightest LIGHT in their darkness????… WOW… WOW… AMAZEMENT…

Are we amazed when Jesus LIGHTS our way? WOW…  AMAZEMENT… From NO expectations then gaining EVERYTHING – blinded by the brightest LIGHT. Verse 45: “Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”

LIGHT, can you see it? I pray you find and focus on it… God knows our needs.

God’s timing is His, it’s purposefully His own… Minds are closed until God’s Will is understood… Isn’t that what happens to us as well? Are we blinded by dark until we see the LIGHT? Does the LIGHT becomes brighter when it is focused as well? Either we see instantly or we see slowly – the LIGHT crashing in or creeping in – both ways illuminate the truth of Jesus, He came for us to see the LIGHT…

The LIGHT is the only way to chase away the darkness –  “repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations starting in Jerusalem”.

LIGHT traveled into the disciples hearts in Jerusalem, and then it expanded out into the world. We are called to be part of that LIGHT journey and help it keep moving and illuminating. LIGHT travels and bends when reflected in and thru the hearts of those open to receive it… Reflected LIGHT is bright too…

The last chapter of Luke, the gospel of amazement, amazes even more – Jesus left in ascension while still blessing them, He is still blessing us continuously thru His teaching and thru the Holy Spirit, whom was sent as “another”: “51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.”

JOY – Jesus instilled JOY for the journey ahead… JOY carries thru hardship, the journey will not always be easy, but the journey will continue… The JOY from within sustains because it’s from God WITHIN… The kingdom of God is the kingdom of the heart… The LOVE of God for us brings us to Jesus and THRU Him we are blessed… Jesus blesses WHILE on the journey, we can carry that LIGHT with us ALWAYS…

LIGHT travels. His LIGHT illuminates.

LIGHT travels. His LIGHT is the weight-lifting gift we can share. We can lighten other’s loads by sharing the message of forgiveness…

EASTER – Expect nothing – Gain EVERYTHING…

Follow His LIGHT – JESUS knows the Way…

Amen

Luke 24 (the Emmaus road witnesses run back to tell the others they had seen the risen Jesus…)

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus

50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

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Emmaus Hat Trick, 09JAN

I am grateful for a new program book for United Methodist Women for this year which talks about sacred spaces for encountering God. It’s a series on scriptures that relate to our current lives. It even includes coloring pages for each program. So tonight’s program is to talk about the Walk to Emmaus scripture, where Jesus appeared as a stranger along the road that first Easter morning to folks who were distraught from him being removed from the tomb, they did not realize they were walking with HIM… Later on when they realized it was Jesus they recounted that their hearts had been burning the whole time while He had been discussing the scriptures with them…

It’s our opportunity to realize in our daily lives when we are encountering God.

SO, it amazes me that this walk to Emmaus scripture program was open in the book when I pulled it out of the bag. And in my personal Gospel reading it is the next scripture where my bookmark sits in Michael Card’s book on Luke.  AND of course it’s ALSO the theme retreat I attended in the fall. So there are no coincidences, we call them God sightings in VBS.

I am very grateful how our United Methodist women ladies last month took poinsettias and Christmas cards to our many of our Homebound and persons of concern…  I look forward to hearing these stories tonight. And I appreciate how witnessing their walks strengthens my walk as well – I love hearing how the Lord’s Word and His Love is spread…

God knows when to open ears and eyes to see feel hear HIS love – life itself is more than coincidences and Hat tricks when the maker of the hat is the one wearing it!

¹³ And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

¹⁴ And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

¹⁶ But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

¹⁷ And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

¹⁸ And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

¹⁹ And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

²⁰ And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

²¹ But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

²² Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

²³ And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

²⁴ And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

²⁵ Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

²⁶ Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

²⁷ And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

²⁸ And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

²⁹ But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

³⁰ And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

³¹ And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

³² And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

³³ And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

³⁴ Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

³⁵ And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

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Float Forward, 07 Jan

Best deepest movie look – Boo Radley – Robert Duvall in “To Kill a Mockingbird”… Oh… his deepest look of deep caring towards the child Scout, the smile in his eyes beams from His love … And you can feel the movie actors “exude expressiveness” a great saying my friend wrote… Yeah, God’s LOVE exudes expressiveness…

Yeah, seriously such a deep book and movie, glad my daughter got to watch it with me… we love Netflix… I heard the movie lines as fresh to my ears tonight, having watched it so long ago… I knew each scene coming up but I acutely heard much more this time – and now I can’t help but pick up on the scripture too:

“Let the dead bury the dead”… The sheriff would see that “justice” was served – like the universe correcting itself – letting the town try to heal – and also keeping shy Boo out of the spotlight… Essentially telling all to keep moving forward… (And DON’T kill a Mockingbird…)

The scripture in the movie is adapted from Luke 9, where he actually details Jesus telling a disciple candidate (and us) to stop and drop everything hindering and follow Him… the cost of following Jesus is not looking back… The task at hand is working now for God: “but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

It costs us our personal will to follow Jesus, we are instead to look to God’s Will for us… And our lives sometimes are warning beacons to others and sometimes we are the sweet sounds of a singing mockingbird… Raising the praise…

We have tough choices though, we are NOT to choose human desire over spiritual work…. Oh, a tough spot, this is why we have to cling to the cross for each wrong decision or when we are holding back even if God says “go”…. Or simply because we are human – God knows… We need Jesus and God placed HIM here for us… God’s word and God’s will… God’s way…

Plow forward by looking forward… Timely message for a new year, a new life, a renewal of purpose each day – and if we stumble each day, let’s grab for that cross once again… the song lyric is: “the world behind me, the cross before me… No turning back”

And remember, the cross is made of wood, so even if you think your drowning just grab it, it will float… Jesus floats…  Float forward and let the current carry you… God’s way…

Thank you Jesus for the call, thank you for the saving grace… Thank YOU for YOU.

Amen

———

57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”

62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

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Luke 23, the Last Breath of Jesus, 05Jan

Luke 23 – I’m nearing the end of Luke’s gospel in Michael Card’s “Biblical Imagination” series book… So many lessons in such few verses (posted at the end of this page) near Jesus’s last breath…  Luke’s writing is a way to teach us in heart-convicting lessons shared with astonishment and always careful watch…

In verse 39, the criminals scene shows us God’s mercy – the repentance comes with acknowledging one’s guilt, and the saving comes from understanding and asking Jesus to remember us… Jesus’s continuous ministry message is that He is doing all this by His Father’s command – He will not lose anyone that His Father brings to Him…. If you are drawn to Jesus, then know that God Himself has brought you there! We come for gifted Mercy… Jesus knows our needs, we are led there but it’s up to us to ask, to reach. When we ask Jesus for Mercy, He will tell us that we already have it… (v39-43)

The darkness scene of the crucifixion shows us God’s pain (v44) – the Sun failed – the Son was felled – God’s scale of grief to lose a child?… Jesus’s scale of grief to not reach each lost child of God?… No one could imagine God’s trade off – the human life of Jesus for fulfilling His desire to reach all of us… Painful purpose…

The Temple’s torn curtain scene shows us God’s promise (v45) – Jesus was and IS the answer. Jesus is the promise that God gave us to show that there is no barrier to worship Him. We have a direct link. The curtain that tore was more than a physical and ceremonial event, it was like a foot thick and it instantly split apart… That indicates miracle but what Jesus truly opened for us was THE WAY HOME… God’s promise to bring us under His wing.

The centurion scene shows us it’s never too late to accept Jesus (v47). The man integral in execution was still saved… He was saveable, we are saveable too… NOTHING we do will keep us away from God’s plan to correct and cherish His Children… We are called to be in God’s plan.

The dispersing crowd scene (v48) shows us God’s path for us to see the light out of the darkness…  The massive crowds have seen the darkness of brutal death, then see the darkness of the deepest night… Convinced now that it was no longer an average crucifixion, they were silenced.  They beat their chests in the understanding that something real had happened… If their conviction is felt so sharply here – their darkness SO DARK… How could we NOT imagine our inner darkness too, our deepest pain and doubts…. Where is OUR faith in dark times?

The women on the hill scene shows us steadfast faith (v49) their faith and God’s faith in us… They would have seen the dark too, but they stayed there waiting and watching… They were the ones who travelled with Jesus and were ALWAYS watching… These women became integral in the early voice of the Christian church because they were there. Women who showed the world how to be bold in their presence, in their silence and in their sharing…  We can use these examples as women and men today – to remember that we are called to witness and share…

We are not always understanding this world, we are just visitors, workers in these fields, but ALWAYS we can be watching and be on the ready to move physically and be moved emotionally and to be witness to others of God’s faithfulness – of God’s plan…

God’s Faith in us is that we too will see the LIGHT.

The death of Jesus brings His everlasting life and ours…. And this brings to us OUR chance to witness the commitment of the Lord to us.

Luke’s gospel has one more chapter, I can’t wait to read it…. I suggest that we already know how the contrast will be SO HUGE – not silence – not darkness – but instead, on Easter and forever more, there will be an explosion of sound and LIGHT… Hear the Good News spreading and behold those that see the LIGHT.

After the last human breath of Jesus, we pray to hear the next news of Jesus rising, wait for it to pour into our ears and eyes – to feel its healing to our broken souls – and to speak it as witnesses thru our own mouths…

Easter feels like it is just a faith breath away… It is… Behold the next breathe…

Amen

Luke 23:

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The Death of Jesus

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

518

Jesus Betrayed by Apathy, 03Jan

I’m reading the last bits of Luke about Jesus’s many trials by the Jews and the Romans, it’s interesting to me that the further up the political chain that He gets paraded in front of, it’s just that, a parade…, less substance more show, the rulers don’t want to deal with figuring out what’s really going on…. They really DON’T want to get the real story as it will cost them their lifestyle and power…. And Pilate and Herod want to quiet everything (and maybe wait for an entertaining show)….

Jesus was innocent, but suffered worst of all… Luke tells us of hearings and trials – and thru them Jesus was who He was: a man given a mission… Jesus never hid… Jesus was exposed – was on task – to show the world that He had a message to share – and to show He suffered to understand our suffering…

Whatever the masses construed, Jesus’s silence to Herod indicated there was no defense for what the spiritually-blind could not or did not want to see….  That makes sense – that it didn’t matter what Jesus did, His presence in front of those apathetic hot potato-passing rulers hit on their pre-conceived notion of TROUBLE. Trouble was stirring up the mobs and that was politically bad… But stirring up the mobs was why Jesus came… His coming of course turned the world upside down… It still does… Jesus still reaches to the mobs, still wants to shake up those who are ignorant of their sins, sometimes in silence and sometimes in blatant calling out… as intense in both ways…

As many have been made aware of, beginning a Christian journey means trouble for one’s ignorance… Apathy has to be sacrificed. Beginning and continuing the walk with Jesus is the beginning of awareness of what troubled Him… Continuing the walk with Jesus is to seek justice, love mercy, and especially to walk humbly… Micah 6:8

It’s hot potato passing all over again, we want to preserve our happy existence and pass off the world’s problems to someone else… But that’s not seeking justice… And the evil that permeates the world is not new, we have to fight the right fights… It’s not unusual for not knowing where to start, we are ALL just wanting the best life we can get, but it’s true, I hate to say, many still turn a blind eye to why Jesus came… It’s not hard to simply ignore the outside world, that’s kinda easy, but it IS hard to venture past our own comfort zones… Jesus’ comfort is much more comforting than our worldly comfort zones – it has to be – how could it not?

I have no answers here except to keep walking the narrow path laid out for us… I do know that constantly God pushes us out of our comfort zones… Yet remember that we not alone… He equips us with the tools He has already given us… He sets us into faithful communities to support each other… We are called in the Great Commission to keep Jesus’s spirit alive and moving… To be the hands and feet of God, we have to wrap our heads around the hard work… Stirring up the people with Jesus’s teaching… His message will always be betrayed by apathy… His life-changing teachings are being directed to individuals so that it will stop mob mentality… Jesus’s message changes hearts one by one…. We can at least start with ours…

Luke 23

4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”

#517

Sifted, So Strengthen, 28Dec

Jesus said: 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22

I used to sift – separate the seeds from the rest of the plant material in graduate school, it’s a long process…. And now I am learning a good deal mentally sifting through the gospels, it’s the best life-long process I will ever have… Not necessarily violent sifting as how wheat was thrashed in Jesus’s time, but still it’s internal mental sifting just the same, finding my faith away from the fluff… Quiet time for Being Still to study, shake it up, sort it out.

Michael Card’s writings are just like being in the room with Jesus… helps me study and sift the meaning… He comments (in his “Gospel of Amazement” book page 242) that Luke chronicles so much about Jesus’s prayer life… Jesus prays all the time, converses with our Father so much, and also pre-tells folks what will happen… Jesus knows Simon Peter will be tested, ALL disciples will be tested, even now… Satan’s sifting is severe mind-wrenching… But Jesus knows Simon Peter will come back to be restored, that day on the beach after the resurrection “Do you love me Peter?”… Jesus prays for Simon Peter’s restoration IN ADVANCE…

“Yes Lord, I love You.”

Jesus prays for Simon Peter… Jesus also prays for us – for our past – for our present – for our future… “NOTHING happens without prayer”… Jesus restores…

Jesus knows Satan wants to sift us, thrash us about to see when and how our true faith comes out… Satan might tempt us, but Jesus prays for us… God is supreme.

Michael Card reminds of Paul’s words: “no temptation is more than God can handle” 1Cor10:13… This means God can restore us… We will be sifted, tempted, shaken because, we are human… God provides Jesus who intervenes… We are to do our best to adhere to God’s laws and His Will… We are to focus on Jesus so that we don’t sink… We are to grab for His hand…  No matter what’s ahead, Jesus will be there for us.

There’s a great Facebook meme: “I asked God, “Why are you was taking me thru troubled waters?”. He replied, “Because your enemies can’t swim.”

Satan-sifted…

SAVIOR-Saved…

SALVATION-secured…

Let your Savior strengthen you.

So then: “strengthen your brothers”…

Amen

#516

Ah, this Christmas crab….

(Thanks to Joni Mitchell for the title of this blog)

Come in from the Cold, 26Dec

Christmas the hermit crab was cold, lost in the woods, those October evenings are cold… We took him home… One of the first things I learned about hermit crabs is that they don’t mind being held because they get warmth from your hand… So happy to get Christmas… Our purpose was to be a caregiver… “Come in from the cold”…

Christmas is all about coming in from the cold… Christmas is all about Jesus arriving for His purpose of giving us a way home… God says “Please come in from the cold”… God holds us in the warmth of His hand.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of PEACE.” Isaiah 9:6 NIV

Jesus says “The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:21 NIV

Christmas the crab came to Christmas Eve service, I brought him to show kids, big and little, and talk about next summer’s Vacation Bible School “Shipwrecked, Rescued by Jesus”… So many amazed at the story!… Yup, everyone was happy to see the crab… JOY at Christmas, and at least I knew he wasn’t cold… And the people’s reactions warmed my heart too…  I trust that this crab was a gift as a way for me to share the Good News (God knows I love props)…  shipwrecked then rescued – lost then found – AMAZING GRACE…

Outside, after the service, it was COLD, but I wanted a silly photo opp with the camel at the living nativity… I got that pic but I didn’t expect a REAL baby in the manger! Oh, that’s the best photo for sure… Oh baby Jesus…. This particular baby, little Michael, is fifth generation of our original church living nativity organizers… Sixty years, and now Michael was baby Jesus… Warm and sweet, he was exuding warm baby love from a cold manger… LIGHT beckoning warmth…. Christmas the hermit crab got a pic… Yes, Christmas is all about a warm baby… Jesus, the “Word made flesh” John 1:14

Christmas is all about staying warm by being humanly connected, vined, to the human Jesus, Immanuel, God with us!

Baby Jesus brought the warmth of heaven, but as a baby He started with nothing… Love was provided thru Mary and Joseph to take care of him. We also have and need nothing but LOVE, we live from our connection to this warmth from the LOVE of heaven…

But as time goes by we all need to come in from the cold, don’t we?…

We actually and actively need to physically pick up Jesus to feel His warmth and to grow… We need to actually pick up the human baby who is God living in our hearts and continue living thru spiritual growth… Then we need to urge others to pick up Christmas too – Christ’s LOVE is for sharing…

LOVE from Jesus is waiting, just pick Him up… Christmas is waiting… Christmas is the gift of God to us… Don’t hesitate, pick up Jesus as a baby and commit to raising HIM… Jesus will grow when nurtured in you…

 “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

“The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14

Christmas the hermit crab was SO good until I exceeded his patience – a camel photo opp? no, that was enough he said, he was cold and started to pinch me… Not much pain, but enough to urge me to go back inside, I didn’t have my coat on either… So I came in from the cold… It shouldn’t take cold or pain for us to want to enter the warmth of Jesus either, but many do have pain, life can be tough and we can reach, we will find Jesus is there waiting, He meets us where we are… And we realize JOY is to be found in Jesus.

Christmas is all about you – it’s a gift you have to accept – to take away the pain of being lost and cold, God provides Christ… Jesus’s work is to take away God’s pain of having lost children…

Home, God says come home…

Come in from the cold…

Amen

#515

GAP, 23DEC

You might think it’s funny I’m reading about Easter at Christmas, but the alignment of my bible reading with my time schedule seems classic God’s timing…

The Passover Lamb, Jesus… He was the lamb, sacrificed for us… In Luke 22:7, they prepare for the meal and as Jesus uses the bread and cup, explaining that He is being shared himself in body and blood by God, He explains that there’s a gap of timing before He shares again when the Kingdom of Heaven has been fulfilled…

“14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

Until “IT”, finds fulfillment… IT had a long preparation… IT needed everything to fall into place between Adam and Eve and that last supper feast, the times Jesus remained, left then returned to those disciples and even coming to us now in Spirit… Those gaps of time was filled with God’s timing and His plan… Passover orchestrated by God… These gap times now filled by God… God’s timing is just that, HIS…

What’s the “gap” of time, empty or full?

Full… Fulfillment from Full…

What’s in our own gap? Empty? Full? So do we wait for Christmas, Easter, life, death? What’s in between? How will we spend our “gap” before we see our Lord fulfilled for all? We, like Jesus, have serious work to do in the gap time… We should not forget to fill our lives with purpose for His Fulfilment… Let us let God fill the gap…

Fill the gap…

Help bring everyone home…

Amen

#514

Christmas’ Shell Armor, 22DEC

Christmas the hermit crab has quite the new tough shell…  Christmas is moving around, I enjoy the clunking noises, and he was checking out his old shell too, flipping it like a toy, the one that looks like a Christmas ornament and which earned him his name… It’s so tiny in comparison to the big crab he’s grown into now, only two months after we found him lost in the woods…

Christmas carries such a huge shell with him now – funny how he doesn’t know that he’s in like the most safe place of the aquarium, but he probably knows that I will pick him up and take him out and about… and he NEEDS that protection, because you never knows what’s out in the real world.

I think that’s a good reminder for US also to be putting a shell of Christmas around us, to buffer us, and allow us to go through our days and nights in the real world… and yes a good strong shell is certainly akin the “armor of God” Ephesians 6.

When we are getting ready to venture out, whether it is real or perceived danger in the unknown of life, or simply the complicated scary places that our mind drifts to, Christmas is provided, Christ is provided…. God’s mighty power is sufficient… God asks us, well He tells us, that if we believe in His power, then we may be able to stand our own ground – even if and because we ARE weak, He will provide the exoskeleton of armor and the inner SPIRIT of fortitude…. We are to remember it is OUR FATHER who calls us HIS CHILDREN…. We are sons and daughters of the King… God wants us to do EVERYTHING we can to stand… And then because of Him, we are called to STAND FIRM….

Christmas the crab was found lost in the woods… We were lost too, yet Christmas (Christ) found us! Christmas is always the “Word made flesh”… A baby is vulnerable like us, a crab is vulnerable without his shell… but we are ALL made strong by God!

EVERYTHING we do, we can do most safely and spiritually within the armor of God…. It’s Christmas folks – Venture out – Grab the best mightiest strongest (and even blinged out) shell you can get…

Stand with the armor of God because your feet are firmly placed on the “gospel of PEACE”. Be alert – not just for yourself – but for ALL God’s people…

Amen!

Ephesians 6:10-18(NIV)

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

#513

A Revisit of Mary and Mary Writing… 21Dec

I did not edit the content of my initial processing writings – for good reason – i knew that one day i would look back and see how God has brought me deeper into my faith – especially in my attributes of Mary Magdalene and of Mary in Lazarus’ story – i long to sit at Jesus’ feet these days and learn… it is time for many of us to stop being Martha – Michael Card sings: “Hustle and Business last year after year, but this little baby won’t always be here!”… Yes it is time to come to the cradle, come and find peace.

So today I edit and seriously condense this message now (revisited Christmas processing)…

Revisit of Mary and Mary, 22DEC2014, 21DEC2017

It’s Christmas – who wants to be Mary?  Every woman and every girl – all of us are jumping with our hands up to be Mary in the play – in the living nativity scenes – we all love Mary – I love Mary…

I love Mary’s blue garments – the dead snake at her feet – the roses and flowers we place at her feet… I got to be Mary once in our living nativity – oh the awesomeness of that… a lifetime of aspirations came true. Catholics are not supposed to worship Mary anyway but to “venerate” her…  but let’s face it – Mary is the “end all and the be all” for little Catholic girls – we all want to be Mary.

The Hail Mary – Hail Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners – I can still recite it at great speed – recite it word for word without hesitation and recite in a crisis – like when hearing of my father’s stroke – prayers at lightning speed.

May is Mary’s month –  oh the first crocuses then the daffodils then the lilacs – I so looked forward to those early first spring flowers – the first ones picked and wrapped in a wet paper towel and aluminum foil to carefully carry by hand into my elementary catholic school where every classroom had a statue of Mary…  Oh to place those flowers by her feet.  I still think of the abundance gifts of spring rebirth when I smell that scent of lilacs.  

Although we (or I) aspire to be Mary –  mother Mary – I have to wonder if I am not already or supposed to aspire to be the second Mary – Mary Magdalene.  I am certainly NOT like that third Mary of the bible, Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha – we (I mean I) are too Martha-ish –  I am worrying about this detail and that – I don’t think I can sit and listen to the Lord like Mary – I am certainly not taking the time to sit and read the bible enough. Yes I am  truly Martha… Jesus rightfully scolds me – I mean scolds Martha in Luke 10:  ““you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one – Mary has chosen what is needed...”

Back to the other Mary – Mary Magdalene – some accounts of her said she was a possessed woman – some said she had multiple personalities… Mary M was “cured” “discipled” “brought into the fold” – an apostle in her own right – one of the chosen few who witnessed Jesus’ journeys, teachings, miracles, and trials first hand.  Mary Magdalene first to know Jesus rose from the tomb – first to go on with her duties as a woman to take care of the dead body – she didn’t hesitate to go into the tomb – she was the first to be blessed to witness and believe with her own eyes – she went from “worst to first” – she came from the furthest reaches of sinfulness – from the furthest spiritual distance (by choice or circumstance) from the righteous ways of God – she journeyed far and made it into the fold – made it to the first to hear of the Resurrected Christ and then yes – she told the others too – she was bold and was able to speak of Jesus.

In this time of Christmas – we await the birth of Christ – we are called to give birth to a child placed in our hearts – to raise and nurture the Jesus within us – and we do admire Mary – mother Mary – to be impregnated by that holiest of spirits, giving up her body to birth a God – not to mention to be entrusted to raise baby Jesus and we dream we have her strength and devotion to be the “handmaid of the Lord”  -Luke 1:38.

But let’s also remember that we should aspire to be the other Mary too – Mary Magdalene – let’s not hesitate to embrace our Mary Magdalene – to be willing to be healed by God for all our sins and imperfections, to witness to the miracles of the Lord, to perform our dutiful callings even in the times of greatest crisis, yes, to be willing to be bold and enter the tomb – and most of all – to tell others of the risen Christ.

#512

An Unsuccessful Angel, 18DEC

WOW, I never knew the small tidbit in Luke 22:43 that while the disciples slept in the Mount of Olives, Jesus was attended to by an Angel. The Angel came to strengthen HIM…

This is the only place it is told, in the Gospel of Luke, and not in the other Gospels. I learned this from the Biblical Imagination book series by Michael Card the singer who means so much to me…

Yes, reading the bits and pieces of the Bible in small digestible chunks is where I get the most nutrition of faith and time for comprehension…

Michael Card’s words mean a lot to me this evening and in life… Michael suggests that it seems Jesus has even more anguish AFTER the prayer time while this angel attended – because Jesus discovers His closest friends, the disciples, have betrayed Him by falling asleep… Michael suggests that the angel has been unsuccessful in giving Jesus a lasting relief, so I will extend my extra insight that rings true to me in this event – that even an angel might fail when God’s plans are God’s plans… that makes sense to me now – how can I relate? Are my plans ever being changed and interrupted by God’s plans? Yup… Even if I have the best intention, my plans might crumble? Will my plans sometimes fail? Yup… Yeah, I speculate the thought that even an angel could not make everything better…. Sigh…

See, we know that God’s mission for Jesus, however painful, was to include Jesus’s experience of every broken feeling, every sorrow, every betrayal, every lost hope in the world – and this is because God needs us to know that in truth there is NOTHING that we will ever go thru that Jesus didn’t already suffer…. NOTHING…

Our pain has precedence… We can feel the depth of pain but will we remember that God will pull us out of it?… We will be made whole, eternally, but may stay broken now… Jesus didn’t feel the wholeness on earth, He felt the brokenness, and He stayed with God’s plan anyway… broken… His body for our lives… He suffered to let us know that HE understands.  We are not alone, even if we feel alone, we aren’t… Jesus gets it…

The angel did what the angel could do and yet…. Christ was comforted, but that doesn’t mean all was fixed -“it’s all better?” – nope…. We do what we can, but life doesn’t always fit our plans…

Human worldly ways are faint when facing the will of God…

But perhaps the most important lesson here is that we will persevere, because Jesus could… And we will persevere because God wants us to… We will never be alone… And God so LOVED the world, that He gave His only son…

That’s LOVE…

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”   Luke 22:43

#511

Look Up, 17DEC

It’s Christmas time, three years since I wrote Christmas Flood 17DEC, which started a flood of my faith… now I am continually called to stay awake and to LOOK UP… (Fittingly it’s 2am, I fell asleep on the couch at 8pm, awake at 1am, LOL… God likes to remind me that He calls me when He calls me)… I’m to be awake for HIM. We are ALL to be awake in our FAITH.

The Christmas message simply is that God loves us and Jesus saves… He came to bring us home. He saves us by connecting us to Him… We can feel Him flowing through us, Living Water from the Vine – simple, divine and true… Spiritual growth requires our commitment to keep drinking in His LOVE… Forever…

As much as I’m excited/exhausted with Christmas fluff, I remember ALWAYS that Christmas excess can flood and wash you away! WHOOSH!…

But each Christmas, we are called to actually focus more simply, more divinely, more actively and humbly bow down (before we are knocked down)… and called to worship the most AMAZING gift – baby Jesus… We are called to hone-in on a vastness of God without being distracted by the Christmas human adornments to God… Jesus alone is worthy of our focus… We are called to be ready to give it ALL away for the sake of our King…

It’s Christmas, but actually I’m reading the last chapters of Luke (from Michael Card’s Biblical Imagination series books), and here in Luke’s “gospel of amazement”, Jesus talks ever so seriously to the disciples about end times – this teaching opportunity opened when they were distracted by human adornments to God at the temple – and Jesus refocuses,  brings with them right back to focus on the future… It’s a reality check – HIS reality…  Just before His earthly time is over, Jesus teaches them awareness of end times, theirs and ours… Again, like at Christmas, we are called to cast away the excess and the distractions – to focus… It’s a revelation to those with ears open that we are to “be at the ready”… At end times we certainly may feel like we are to be felled with earthquakes and terror, but instead we are called to stand up and LOOK UP!

We are told to be forever watchful – certainly we would not want to miss the sight of Jesus coming in on a cloud…

25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21

YES we are called NOT to hide but to look forward, this is why we are called to appreciate how Jesus makes us fit for redemption… We are to STAND UP and LOOK UP!

Jesus…

Let us NOT miss the chance to bow down at Christmas for our baby King, to know Him better. Jesus alone holds the HOPE of the world… He is a “LIGHT for REVELATION” as Simon praises in Luke 2 – can you imagine the old man Simon lifting baby Jesus to the sky as he stands up and looks up at Jesus Himself knowing that foretold glory of Jesus – Savior of all who answer the call… Goosebumps… Goosebumps…

Our certain actions to focus our worship will hone us in on the truth… Jesus saves us by gifting us a Christmas focus that we will bring to an Easter redemption focus… and we are to pray for our forever wakefulness… We don’t know when Jesus will come back, nor He, we are called in the meantime to be disciples, to just be ready…

Jesus is a cherished gift forever for our forever…

Christmas is a reminder to keep looking for Christ…

LOOK UP!

Amen

Merry Christmas

Thanks be to God…

#510

Plasmodesmata, 13Dec

Good morning!  Here’s your nerdy word of the day –  The comfort of God flows from person to person like plasmodesmata conducts messages from plant cell to plant cell – if we stay connected, then LOVE will flow… Vined on the microscopic scale…

I think of this VBS scripture often, and it pertains to me so much – “[God gives us comfort so that we can share comfort]”… And I read my “life verse” yesterday, Luke 1:38 “I am the handmade (slave) of the Lord”…. Yeah I work for HIM…

And yeah, it’s fitting for everyone’s situation too, God has given us HIS source of comfort and the ability of comforting others…. Therefore because we look to the Lord, He will use us for His work…  it’s not always easy, but it’s HIS work…

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:4-5

#509

Math as a Spiritual Gift, 06Dec

It’s Saint Nicholas Day – December 6th… A gift would be left in your shoes in old Europe, or in my case on a fancy favorite campground plate! Yeah, my Czech-heritage mom said St Nicholas would take our Christmas wish lists (set out the night before on a special plate) and leave us this huge plate of goodies, yum candy!!! Later as we became teens the plates were filled a bit more practically – like toothpaste and deodorant and socks or stockings, but still some candy…. A tradition on Dec 6th, and St. Nick didn’t disappoint… In college, St. Nick even managed to mail goodies to this dorm room bound homesick girl… Yeah, blessed… blessed gifts!

Today I am thinking of another gift – the gift of math for our use and for our study – but is math really a spiritual gift? Or is math a tool that man developed? Or is math an unveiling of a certain section of our minds for use of divine understanding? Is it a gift for connecting with the great Mathematician in the sky who has counted the uncountable, and has dreamed of spiral Golden Rule ratios to decorate His kingdom with spirals of snail shell to match whorls of flower petals and pinecones? I think so… Yeah I am pretty sure God loves math…

Fascinating nature gives way to FABULOUS Fibonacci numbers which abound in beautiful ways… just look at a sunflower, or a daisy spiral… Why Lord? Why use the most elegant of math to decorate the most transient of wildflowers? Why tantalize math people? Tell me Lord, is looking deeper and deeper into a Mandelbrot set like looking deep into the crevices of Your brain? Or to understand the divine nature that formulated the crevices in our brains?

Lord, if we let YOU do the math, then we find that YOU are timeless…

Lord, if we let YOU do the math, then we find that YOU are infinite…

Your Word endures forever, Your Son, the Word, is also on Your timeline… We become Your sliding beads of the Master Abacus… Jesus keeps us vined as we slide away or spin, our bead will stay connected because You are counting us… You are counting on us… Math, it is all about the MATH…

It’s all God’s LOVE…

Happy St Nicholas Day, may your plate be filled with God’s plans, today and ALWAYS…

Amen

508

“What Her Heart Remembered” song, 01Dec

You know, as powerful and meaningful “Come to the Cradle” is to me as my awakening song, my FAVORITE song in Michael Card’s “the Promise”, which we will present Christmas eve Sunday morning, is the blissful “What her heart remembered”.

This song’s lyric “He would weep A dark so deep, For all her love, She couldn’t comprehend”, tells of the great sorrow Jesus had and has for the lost souls.

In Michael Card’s biblical imagination of his lyrics, we can imagine that Jesus must have had and still has deep cries – knowing, even as a baby, about the brokenness of the world, a continuous conscious stream of every day between Easter and the second coming – imagine HIS sorrow of all the lost sheep…  and this world could not understand – Mary could not – nor we could ever understand the depth of those cries of Jesus..

In between those dark times of not understanding His cries, we can also imagine that Mary could “live in the moment” and feel the bliss of being with baby Jesus… Her baby AND her King…

BLISS is my new favorite word for this Christmas…  we can “live in the moment” – sometimes in sorrow and struggle but always touched with a feeling of bliss knowing we will go home to our Lord…  a feeling of bliss while still being so ever watchful for Jesus’s return…

And I love singing this song of bliss and learning… “marvelous memories” that I too ponder and hide in my heart…

Thanks Jesus, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you and blissful rebirth to us…

BLISS

———

And here’s Michael Card original on YouTube – so beautiful a portrayal

https://youtu.be/QSundvO5FEA

Here are the lyrics, I have written about this song before, but just like Christmas comes every year, it’s good to relive marvelous memories….

“Out in the stable yard
She sees a glow
Could it be angel light?
How would she know?
Shepherds stand wondering
Afraid to come in
But the baby that’s born tonight
Will free them all
To never fear again

“As He lies in a cattle trough
She kneels by His side
Sweet baby breathing
Soft infant sighs
Soft sounds of swallowing
As soft fingers part
Marvelous memories
She pondered then and hid them in her heart

“Like a good
Mother would
Sh learned His cries
If He’d awake
With a bellyache
From hunger or fright
But now and then
Sometimes when
The dark would descend
He would weep
A dark so deep
For all her love
She couldn’t comprehend

“Her warm loving carpenter
His strong gentle hands
His dark and bewildered eyes
Can they understand?
That this Baby she’s given him
Is theirs for a time
In truth came to give Himself
The Treasure and the
Ransom of mankind”

507

ETC., 24NOV

HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone!

I’m so BLESSED that you are all in my life!!!!

This thanksgiving, I’m so thankful for the “ETC”…

This is a photo of a gift tag my Mom wrote on a present for me today… She wrote: “This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for FAMILY, FRIENDS, AIR, FOOD, etc.”

ETC…

How I love my parents and their simple and divine understanding that the ETC is so well worth PRAISE… We have ETC in addition to the most important staples in life, it’s a tremendous gift to be able to wake up every morning and take in the “ETC”…

How BLESSED we are for EVERYTHING… How BLESSED to know that “ETC is from God”… God wants us to feel the LOVE, and then we get ETC too!

“17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17″

God provides…

I am thankful for life itself, then all that ETC too…

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Amen

506

A NEW SHELL FOR FAITH SPACE, 21NOV

Not a coincidence!!!!

Christmas the crab has emerged!! I missed him! He is trying out a new shell, while staying close to his old one… Me too…. Me too…

Christmas the crab has a new skin! He emerged from the sand after molting, and has a Christmas morning-like array of new shells to choose from…. They are certified pre-owned sea snail shells, scooped up, cleaned and I got them on EBAY… Lots of them… knowing one might be JUST right… A new shell for a new skin…

I have a new skin too in many ways but mainly, I am a new creation in Christ (2ndCorinthians)…. I molted off a layer of disbelief in God’s plan, I molted off a veiled existence of the truth, I regrew a new skin of Spirit from within and everything else is relative to that…

I have a new shell too, one of many – of a tabernacle of faith space – I newly have a pre-owned SUBARU – my third Forester – RED – Christmas Red? Actually I prayed for Holy Spirit Pentecostal RED…. my first Subaru was green (271,000 miles), second was blue (239,000 miles), and now I accepted this gift from the Lord of a newish (37,700 miles) portable faith tabernacle to grow safely within… I was granted the gift of FAITH SPACE.

We have all been gifted of FAITH SPACE of community… As local as we have or as big as the world community – all our friends plus all those whom we don’t even know yet…

FAITH SPACE is where we are safe to grow, a shell of protection physical and emotional – the protection and space within these faith communities allows us to grow. And we can grow fruits of the spirit… Fruits given by God.

The ultimate FAITH SPACE is us realizing we are already nestled in the crevices of His hands…. All we need He has provided…

Jesus came at Christmas, came as a baby, the most vulnerable form of human life. He was God’s gift – Jesus is cherished by so many – God’s gift of LOVE – HIS gift of Christ at Christmas is His gift of GRACE…. We needed Christ in this world because God hurts with the loss of His Children – we are broken people, most in this world do not know Him – God wants us whole and he wants his whole world whole… people are caught in the trap of Earthly sin pulling them down,  so Jesus came  first as a baby then Jesus grew his skin thicker, because He knew the brokenness of His people…. This broke Jesus’s heart… Ultimately, His body was broken for us… And we were given the GRACE to go home…

Jesus molted from His earthly body in resurrection, we will too… We will cast off the sin that keeps us down… We will cast off even death… We will go home… We have salvation… We have a Savior…

Our salvation is the ultimate gift that God gives to Himself – He wants all of His Children home – He sent Jesus in a new skin to find us…. The ultimate Christmas gift list that Jesus verbalized was “LET all those with ears hear”…

I’m praising gifted open ears for each of us… I am so glad to hear those that accepted the real gift of the Lord – His Grace thru Christ….  my heart is warmed with seeing the spirit moving thru others…

That is the Christmas gift, opening one’s own shell of FAITH SPACE to see how it joins with that of others… Take a peek, and enjoy the view…

Merry Christmas!

505

Molting within God’s Protective Shell, 19Nov

Christmas the hermit crab started investigating his new digs, his new aquarium home complete with sand and plant material, new shells, water and food.

But then on that exact same day – he disappeared. He was searching and searching, apparently for a long time, digging and digging… Apparently he was searching for a safe place and a chance to shed his skin and start fresh again. Christmas the crab needed to molt!!!! Ah finally…. he must have been relieved… (I was and am nervous, but have done everything I can  and I put it in God’s hands)… So Christmas the crab must have thought sweet sand… Finally…he got the opportunity to find a safe deep nestled pit in this colorful de colores blue sand.

Hermit crabs carry their shells around for protection, they may try out new shells which they adopt, but they are never without a shell. They need them for protection and they fit perfectly inside. They are hermits living in a borrowed abode…. Especially they need protection during molting times when they have to shed their skin and they are completely vulnerable and open for injury, they bury themselves for privacy, safe time for creation of a new skin.

Isn’t that us as well?!!! Yes, we are gifted a shell of safe haven in life, living on this borrowed abode of earth… we decide when we are hermits and when we venture out but always we are gifted to being nestled in God’s hands and under His guiding eye as we change, we grow, we shed that old skin, and we become “new creations in Christ”.

Life brings challenges but always new adventures and God gives us that shot of courage to move forward… God reminds us to guard our hearts because everything we do comes from them (Proverbs 4:23)…. But we are NOT to live timidly. (2 Timothy 1:7) but live in the spirit of power, love and self-control … God gives us freedom and space to grow, and He Himself will bless and keep us. He is our protective Father.

God loves us. God loves you and wants you to find His PEACE. God wants you to take that big deep breath and remove your worry and anxiety and allow yourself to grow.

God needs you to grow, because He knows how you fit best in His plan…

New skin, new life, new mobility, new prospects. New blessings.

And until we shed our earthly skin and go home eternally with our Father, we will move through life “as Christ ambassadors”….

Home awaits, but in the meantime remember that safety net of community, our friends are God’s provisions… Keep growing in His LOVE, and rest in His PEACE…

Amen

——-

2 Corinthians 5 (NIV)

Awaiting the New Body

5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

504

God’s Got the Box, 19Nov

Life is a puzzle, surely you feel that.

At a recent retreat, my new friends and I worked on two intricate and fun jigsaw puzzles during break time. I love puzzles, I did so many as a kid and pausing to work on a puzzle is a rare gift these days. Your mind gets a chance to change up its processing for a while, there’s a soothing challenge ahead of you, oh feasting your eyes on all those colors, looking and looking, drag your hands thru the box, and oh the satisfaction of getting the pieces to fit…. meanwhile you get to chat with friends or work alone and ALWAYS you get to ponder life.

Life is a puzzle and we are all pieces. We are all pieces of God’s amazing puzzle.

When we are sorting through life’s issues and finding our way, often we are wondering where we fit.  But we can feel the comfort of those other people puzzle pieces that we are nestled with, we can feel the fingers stirring up the pieces, we can look past our own edges to see where we might fit… Sometimes it takes a while, maybe our whole lives, to find the right fit. Maybe things snap together easy which is also puzzling.

Thru life we need to remember that we are ALL in God’s puzzle.  God is holding that box lid. He’s got the whole puzzle in His hands.

God is not JUST holding the box looking at the big picture, but HE created that big picture of this puzzle…. Even though that box is full of seemingly random pieces, all shapes and sizes scattered about, He sees the Divine plan.

His LOVE is looking for us – to bring us back home. He even sent Jesus to us, Jesus’s job is to collect all those pieces scattered about, even those that fell off the table…

Jesus looks – Jesus saves.

Next time you are puzzling life, remember that you do fit for His purpose… and His purpose is to want you to know that you are loved. His desire is that you then share that love. Share His Love thru you.

Remember God is holding that puzzle box lid. God knows the plan.

We don’t always know the plan but we need to find peace anyway…. remember that God desires that PEACE.

God knows.

You fit.