Our oldest son is getting married! My heart tenderly feels this quote “they grow up too fast”.
When I heard this song many years ago it became special to me. Fernando Ortega’s lyrics touch my soul, specifically this song because it has become a prayer. When my daughter-in-law to be asked me what song I would like to walk “down the isle” to, I decided this is the song, as well as the prayer for them. Enjoy…
Prayer for Home
Grant them peace, most precious gift of all
Keep the worried world far away and small
When they return, may quiet fill their souls,
Dearest Lord, keep them safe within it's walls.
May the stone be cool beneath their feet.
The canyon breezes circle soft and sweet
When darkness falls, the stars and opal moon
Find them wrapped in each other, ever warm.
Chorus:
May it be a refuge for their love,
A harbor for their deepest prayer.
May they come to flourish in the grove,
Grow ever nearer to You there.
Many a burdened friend in their company rises,
A heavy heart is soon released to fly.
May their table be blessed with laughter and with grace
And by the comfort of kinship be surprised.
Chorus
May the cold wind blow far from their front door
May the winter rains never bring them harm
May their hearthfires burn throughout the night
Grant them peace until morning's perfect light.
Because my son takes care of my posts, I will be taking a break for a few weeks while he and his wife get settled. Posts will resume after Labor Day
8/2/2010
The Battle of Gettysburg
This past week or so my husband and I had been gearing up to take a trip to Gettysburg. Because I am a visual learner (which helps me to retain) we watched the four hour movie called Gettysburg. Watching this helped me make connections when we listened to the audio tour, as we looked at the battlefields, when I pondered the written words of plaques, as I gazed at statues and studied detailed paintings that hung in the museums.
Throughout this time I began to notice something that I kept (and keep) shifting back to, that being, a very grateful heart to those who fought in this battle as well as the many others that have taken place to give me the freedom that I so graciously have.
This began a thought process about why I have freedom in the country I live in. So paying attention to that, I have begun the process of getting a better understanding of not only the Civil War but the Constitution of the United States.
I have heard it said many times it is never too late to learn. So that is what I plan to do, what God has in mind for me concerning the future and what He may want to do with what I learn, I am leaving in His wonderful hands~I am just leaning into what I am sensing He wants me to do.
Is there something that keeps coming to mind over and over and you are not sure why? What would it be like to lean in and ask God to reveal to you what it is He wants you to pay attention to?
7/26/2010
This week has had numerous opportunities to love, joys to express and even trials to travel through. I could share with you a variety of things. As I was trying to narrow down what thoughts I would share, this is what kept coming back to me from the familiar book that I have quoted from several times this summer, “An Altar in the World.”
The chapter starts with this quote:
He who is aching in every limb, worn out by the effort of a day of work, that is to say a day when he has been subject to matter, bears the reality of the universe in his flesh like a thorn. The difficulty for him is to look and to love. If he succeeds, he loves the Real.~Simone Weil
And ends with this statement:
….life offers no shortage of opportunities to engage in physical labor. Sometimes the work comes attached to an ice storm, offering you little choice but to freeze or to cope. Other times it presents itself to you as drudgery, which you may turn into soul work by choosing the labor instead of resenting it. However the openings come to you, they offer you the chance to bear the reality of the universe in your flesh like a thorn. The difficulty, Simone Weil says, is to look upon them with love. Succeed at that ,and you can be sure that what you love is Real, leading you deeper into the More that is your heart’s desire.
These words from others have gone through my mind…
feeling worn out, having a “thorn in the flesh”, often wondering if there will ever be a shortage of physical labor? I have also wondered instead of resenting physical labor what it would be like to lean in and ask myself if I am doing it from a heart’s desire of love?
So, how goes it with you? Are you tired, worn out? What would it be like to move to a place, in the midst of that never ending list, to look and to love? What would shift in you if you looked at a “thorn in your flesh” with love? I am not saying it will be easy. Are you willing to ask the Lover of your Soul to help you work through the thoughts that are taking place with in you right now concerning these things?
7/19/2010
Health
As I walked through this week paying attention to the dynamics of one of the things that is taking place in my life, it became clear to me the need for a permanent adjustment concerning my physical health.
In the spring of 2009 I was having back problems. Because I did not want to have pain, I did what the doctor ordered. I must confess however that after a few months I allowed business as an excuse to “just do the minimal” in order to keep my pain at bay.
In late spring of this year I began having pain in my foot. I was hoping that after a few weeks it would naturally heal. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how one looks at it) the pain stayed and off to the doctor I went! He diagnosed me with a very common foot problem and told me that as we get older and do not use muscles as much we can pull them. So when we do use them and it causes inflammation and therefore pain. The need for medication, Physical Therapy and a cortisone shot became the method of treatment for me. Not something I want to keep taking place on a regular basis!
As I was in the midst of my Physical Therapy session this week, rapid thoughts came to me about taking care of my body. Scripture verses that talk about that very thing, conversations I have had with doctors, including the physical limitations that I have not adhered to, and even the operations I have had. This lead me quite quickly to knowing the necessity to make a lifestyle change for my physical body.
We are body AND spirit. For me, it has become of utmost importance that I make a permanent lifestyle change if I want to live the second half of my life without pain, or at least minimal pain. But most of all I will be honoring God as I pay attention to what I sense is important both spiritually and physically.
How is your spiritual health? In what ways are you paying attention to your physical health? What adjustments need to be made in your lifestyle in order to honor God in these areas of your life?
What will your prayer with God be like this week concerning these things?
7/12/2010
Uninhibited
Where in your life are you uninhibited? Unrestrained? Is there a place that you let go and are unreserved?
Over the years I have either known or observed people who live their life in the fullness of who God created them to be without restraint. One of those people is a gentleman who is unrestrained in his worship on Sunday mornings. Once when I observed him I remember saying in my heart, “Oh, how I would like to be able to worship as he does… uninhibited.”
Last week during our worship service, several times within the lyrics I remember how significant “my soul sings” was to me. Later as I reflected on what it looks like for my soul to sing I realized that I have moved to a place during worship where I am uninhibited during that time. For me, the scriptures that speak of the seraphs saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory," has been a help moving me to that place along with my desire and of course the Lord’s movement in my heart.
Maybe your times of worship are not just when you are singing, but when you are in nature, or when you are serving or maybe some other place where you connect with God in a very unique way. Where ever it is, may it be a place that is unrestrained and uninhibited all bringing glory and honor to God.
7/05/2010
Staying in the moment
This has been my prayer recently: Lord, help me to embrace what you have for me in this moment….
The early morning was cool and the air was still as we loaded our car and began our annual trip to the beach. For the first hour or so, seeing places I was familiar with gave me a sense of comfort knowing that we were going in the right direction. I knew where we could stop to get a drink or use a restroom, and when we passed the restaurant that we had eaten breakfast prior years, it brought back memories of tasty food and relaxing times.
After about 90 minutes, I became at ease knowing that we had just gotten on Route 1 that would take us straight to the beach and by 8:30 am we would be enjoying the sound of crashing waves and absorbing the sun.
However, within a matter of minutes there was a thud from the engine and when I pressed the accelerator-nothing happened. With an “Uh, oh” I steered the car to the side of the road.
Needless to say this moved me to a place of unfamiliarity. Interestingly though, this is what I observed about what took place within me. I did not stress out or become nervous. My mind started moving into what’s the first thing I need to do, then when I needed to, I moved to the next, then the next.
As the next two hours moved on and I began paying attention to what was taking place in the unplanned and unfamiliar. The people who came into our world were friendly and helpful, we had pleasant conversations and I shared my gratitude significantly with each of them. All ended very well considering the circumstances and three hours later we were listening to the crashing waves and absorbing the sun!!
For me in the midst of something I didn’t plan on happening, good came out of it. I stayed in the moment, didn’t worry and had a great sense of peace.
Where have there been times of unplanned interruptions in your life? As you think back to something specific, maybe even this week, how did you handle it? What might God want you to embrace in the moment? What will your prayer with God be like this week as you move into each moment?
6/28/2010
When you live in God, your day begins when you open your eyes, though you have done nothing yourself to open them, and you take your first breath, though there is no reason why this life-giving breeze should be given to you and not to some other. In the dark or in the light, with a stone slab under your back or a feather topper, your day begins when you let God hold you because you do not have the slightest idea how to hold yourself—when you let God raise you up, when you consent to rest to show you get the point, since that is the last thing you would do if you were running the show yourself. When you live in God, your day begins when you lose yourself long enough for God to find you and when God finds you , to lose yourself again in praise.
An Altar in the World.
What are your first thoughts when you read this paragraph? For me, my hearts stirs with thought…
Have you ever given much thought to the first line-doing nothing to open your eyes when you wake and being aware of taking your first breath in the morning? For me, even further I move to the place that I have been given another day to make a difference in the world.
I have often pictured letting God hold me, what would it be like to let God hold you through your day? What could move you to a place long enough for God to find you?
What will your prayer with God be like in the morning when you are first aware that he has given you another glorious day to live?
6/21/2010
Broken Road from Rascal Flats is special to me. When I sing it and relate it to my union with Jesus, it stirs me.
As I go through the lines, much is true of my life…
I set out on a narrow way, many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
When I was younger, true love meant something very different than it does today. The true love of my life is the deep, unexplainable love that I have come to know that Yahweh has for me. I now live in Ephesians 3:17-19 (New International Version) :
17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
The next lines of the song, when I think about lost dreams and things that have broken my heart, the words ring true:
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Where have you gotten lost on the journey? What lost dreams or broken hearts have you had in your life? Have you ever thought about the result that came from them and where they were pointing? When you think about your life and the paths that you have been on is there anything in this song (or maybe another) that you can relate to in your life?
I pray that you would recognize the loving arms of Jesus are waiting for you in the midst of messiness, lost dreams, broken hearts and broken roads and you would begin to grasp the deep, deep love that Christ has for you.
6/7/2010
Thursday, in the cool stillness of early morning, I received a special gift…
I was in the midst of absorbing the bird world and all its happenings when the gift came into sight. Coming from behind one of our blue spruces in the middle of the yard, just along the hedge row, I quietly gasped as a young buck came into sight. Staying as still as I could I watched him move ever so slowly as he nibbled at the grass. His pace was gentle but cautious as he was particularly alert to his surroundings. After lingering for about 5 minutes he gracefully walked into the field out of sight. For me it was delightful gift to take into my day.
I absorbed quite bit in those five minutes just watching one of God’s unique gentle creatures; his pace; his cautiousness, and alertness.
I noticed much about myself too. I didn’t want the moment to end, hoping for him to stay a while. This, I felt, was something for me in those five minutes to hold in my heart, to take into my day, as well as something I won’t forget for a while.
Do you sit in the quite with God? What are your mornings or evenings like? How has He surprised you as you take time with Him each day? What do you hold in your heart that is joyful and you go back to often that puts a smile on your face as well as in your heart?
5/31/2010
Memorial Day
Over the years my dad (step dad) has told many stories about his B52 bomber missions in World War II. If I remember correctly he was on a total of twenty-three. As a child they did not mean as much to me as they do today.
Two years ago, while on vacation, my husband and I toured the Palm Springs Air Museum. We spent a lot of time looking at models, murals and genuine aircraft that have been in various wars. The gentlemen that guided us through the tour were very knowledgeable and I gained a lot of information about aircraft and the wars that we as a nation have been involved in.
Anticipation arose in me as time went on. I knew that within this museum there was a B52 bomber. With the help of my cell phone, I called my dad just before we went in to investigate this machine. Since my dad really enjoys talking about his experience, he was able to share many things with me. Maybe hearing his voice and actually looking at this aircraft at the same time just before I entered it helps to explain what took place next.
I began to well up with tears and did not expect this to happen. Not certain what was going on but something was taking place deep within my soul. At that moment I had immense gratitude for much…things like, the tremendous blessing of freedom that I live in because of people like my father brave enough to stand for what he believes in. Things like, God’s hand of protection on him through twenty-three missions and bringing him home to be part of my life. Things like, I am here today and can say thank you to all the men and women who have given so much for my country. Things like, I am so grateful that I live in a nation such as this…and so much more was running through my mind.
Recently something similar happened…that unexplainable, something touching my soul deep within thing. God is working in me in a way that I am not sure that I can explain or should even try to, but what I want to do is to pay attention and begin to ask questions when things like this happen. Why might this be taking place now? Who is involved and what part do they play in this situation? Is this about God’s work in my life and something that I need to focus on? Am I open to what my wonderful God wants to show me? Is there a resistance to anything and why?
If something like this has taken place in your life I encourage you to pay attention to it. It is taking place for a reason, don’t resist it, lean in and see what God has in store. He loves you deeply and wants the very best for you.
5/24/2010
“There is never a time in your life when you can not be generous.” Erwin McManus
At first thought on hearing this quote, one could immediately say, “Well, this quote can not always be true.”
For me however, this statement is absolutely true, it just depends on what type of generosity you are speaking of.
If your mind goes to finances or material items, unfortunately there could be times in life when one would not have the ability to be generous. I quickly go deeper with this statement. I think about the one thing that all of us have been equipped with to give and are never without…that is, the gift to love and the ability to give it generously.
No one can ever take away the gift of love that we have been given. Do you realize that no matter your circumstances there is never a time in your life when you can not be generous in love? What would it be like to live each day displaying generous love?
I am delighted that one of my favorite recording artists MercyMe, has a new song about generosity and love. This week, when the going gets tough, I pray this song would be the kick start to making you a Generous Mr. or Ms. Lovewell ;-)!
He wakes up every day the same
Believin' he's gonna make a change
Never wonders "if" but "when"
I guarantee he can find a way
To reach out and make somebody's day
'Cause someone took the time with him
He believes it's the little things
That make a great big change
Hey, Mr. Lovewell, doin' today
What you do every day
No matter how small
Believin' that it's all the same
Come on, Mr. Lovewell, oh we could use
A few more just like you
Who care enough to give this life away
'Cause you've been changed
The generous Mr. Lovewell loves today!
It may be a simple "how do you do"
The kind of thing that could pull them through
A minute or two can mean so much
Or maybe it's the one across the street
He's asking if there's anything they need
'Cause they will know what's by our love
It may not be that much to him
But it's the world to them
We all need more Mr. Lovewell...
5/17/2010
Very Blue Eggs
A few weeks ago my husband cut down a blue spruce that was growing too close to our house. He did this per my request, but when he was about to do it he noticed a robin was flying in and out of the tree with bits and pieces of grass and twigs. Concerned that she may have a nest already with eggs in it, he asked me to scan it to make sure before he “took her down”. Peering through the blue/green branches I couldn’t find anything. So, the tree is no more.
About a week later, I noticed at the opposite side of the deck, in another not so big blue spruce, a robin flying away from the tree each time I came out the back door. Since she was flying away in fright and squawking at me all the while, I decided to investigate to see if there was a nest. To my delight there was, along with four bright blue eggs nestled right in the center of it! I knew that I didn’t want to keep the momma robin away too long, so I left in order that she could go back to keeping her precious eggs warm. Plus, I must admit, I had an ulterior motive… I wanted to watch the process of new life that was about to happen and this was literally a “birds eye view” for me!!
I have always had a drawing of sorts, to the process of new life. God shows us so much in it. With these baby birds I had that drawing, not nearly like I do with human life, but I took the time to delight in what was to come and was able to experience God in the midst of his marvelous bird kingdom.
What does new life stir in your heart? When was the last time you said yes to God and took time out of your day or week to delight in Him? If it’s been a while, what is your resistance?
5/10/2010
Longings….
God has been teaching me quite a bit about longings over the past several months. One of the many ways is for weeks now I have been waiting, not so patiently, for the much adored hummingbirds that have been coming to our house for a number of years. May 2nd of last year, on a rainy Saturday morning I saw the first one of the season, so I became anxious as this past week went on and I hadn’t seen any. There was a longing in my heart to see them again.
I found myself peering out the window often, just hoping I would spy them. At times I would even do a double take if I caught a glimpse of movement when my eyes shifted from the outside world to whatever task I was doing inside. When I was outside, I found myself continually turning my head toward the feeder or the clothesline, somehow thinking that my looking would bring them sooner and/or that I didn’t want to miss any part of their time here in my backyard.
You may be wondering why I have this special connection with hummingbirds. Putting my finger on it was difficult until the other day when a good friend of mine shared this statement, “You may not understand this, but I experience God through _________” and filled in the blank. As strange as it may sound as those words were spoken, my heart began to stir, and it was like a light bulb went off because I could totally relate. Although I experience God in many ways there is a special experience I have with Him through hummingbirds.
As God would have it, the morning after I heard those words and made that connection, my longing was fulfilled. In a totally unexpected moment as I sat on my deck, very early in the morning, I heard the familiar hummm. Wow, was I delighted and thankful that again this summer I will be able to have this special experience. The longing in my heart was filled.
What longings do you have? As you think about your life, have there been times that longings were fulfilled in a specific way? Longings are not always filled this side of heaven. In the midst of them not being fulfilled, what is your response to God? What might He be asking of you in the wait?
5/03/2010
Over the weekend someone new was added to our family Our nephew was married Saturday evening and his new wife is now part of our family. The quote below speaks volumes…
The Beauty of Love:
The question is asked, "Is there anything more beautiful in life than a young couple clasping hands and pure hearts in the path of marriage? Can there be anything more beautiful than young love?"
And the answer is given. "Yes, there is a more beautiful thing. It is the spectacle of an old man and an old woman finishing their journey together on that path.
Their hands are gnarled, but still clasped; their faces are seamed, but still radiant; their hearts are physically bowed and tired, but still strong with love and devotion for one another. Yes, there is a more beautiful thing than young love. Old love." Author Unknown
My prayer for them is that no matter what comes their way they would be able to look ahead and embrace the beauty that is ahead. That being of an old man and an old woman finishing their journey together, radiantly loving each other in the unique way that God intends in strong devotion for one another.
What beauty of love do you see around you? What beauty of love do you experience? How is God speaking to your heart through this quote?
4/26/2010
Walking as a Spiritual Practice
An Altar in the World has become a book that has opened my world to becoming more present to things around me. Below is a portion from the chapter called, “The Practice of Walking on the Earth”:
Not everyone is able to walk, but most people can, which makes walking one of the most easily available spiritual practices of all. All it takes is the decision to walk with some awareness, both of who you are and what you are doing. Where you are going is not as important, however counter intuitive that may seem.
Most of us spend so much time thinking about where we have been or where we are supposed to be going that we have a hard time recognizing where we actually are. When someone asks us where we want to be in our lives, the last thing that occurs to us is to look down at our feet and say, “Here, I guess, since this is where I am.”
I notice how much more I notice when I am not preoccupied with getting somewhere.
As with many of my posts I speak of the walking that I do at my home. It’s the same path, but the more I open myself to being aware, the more I find out how much is going on around me.
Last week when I was walking, I noticed the drumming of a woodpecker. It didn’t take long for me to locate him pecking on a lofty tree in my neighbor’s yard. As I turned the corner of my drive way, I heard an echo. After a several seconds though, I became suspicious and wondered if that was another woodpecker?? I really wasn’t sure. As I pondered this interesting succinct reverberation, I wondered-could that be their mating call?? Sure enough, I did a Google search and some woodpeckers “drum” for their mate. What a creative God we have!
Have you considered walking an easy spiritual practice?
What would it be like (even if your walking is limited) to walk with some awareness? What do you think that God may want to speak to you about as you take the time to look down at your feet and pay attention to where you are-literally and figuratively?
I encourage you at some point this week to take a walk, ask God to help you stay focused and be aware. When you return from the walk, journal about your experience-you may be surprised at what God has in store!
4/19/2010
Rearview Mirrors…
Of all the years that I have driven, there have been very few times that I have solely relied on using my rearview and side mirrors to back up the vehicle I am driving. The need to actually turn my head and see with my own eyes seemed like an absolute must. Last summer in an empty parking lot, I took the opportunity to try my hand at only using side view mirrors to back up a sixteen passenger van. I was quite pleased that I did not give in and turn my head to make sure that I was doing ok.
Not too long ago I was driving a large truck that only had side view mirrors. This particular vehicle, because of the design, blocked any view directly behind it (similar to the one pictured above). The need to use the side mirrors became a must. I was actually surprised at the ease of using the mirrors and wondered why I hadn’t done it before and why I still don’t do it very often. Trusting the mirrors is hard thing for me to do.
As I was thinking about this particular occurrence in my life, I began relating it to the trust factor. With more pondering, I particularly began thinking about my trust in God.
On my journey, the mirror visual has been a reminder of a place to shift and trust Him in the midst of life.
Where ever you are on your journey with Christ, when you look in the rear and side mirrors of life, what do you see? When you think about your past, what places did you trust Christ and see him at work? Were there places that you didn’t trust and moved to that place of control? What would it look like in your life to trust the mirrors? If you struggle with trusting God, what is keeping you from moving to that place?
4/12/2010
Anytime I am wronged (or perceived wrong), I have a window to see Jesus clearer by the way I react. If I forgive, I get to experience Him. If I growl bitterness, He seems farther away. Forgiving is the deepest kinship I’ve experienced with Jesus so far, it’s not an easy kinship:
When I suffer
For something I didn’t do
When I pay the price
For someone else’s sin
I rant and stomp my feet
And mutter one thousand
Renditions of
It’s not fair
But You keep silent
As a mouse
Contented
Never ranting,
Weeping
Drops of blood
For the cross
You had to bear
On my behalf
I rant today
Because you didn’t
Because your sacred shoulders
Willingly bore my bore my shame
In silence
I understand a mouse sized bit
Your quiet sacrifice
As I wear the skin of another
Unwillingly
Like a scratchy coat
In summer’s heat
All those words I’ve heard
About walking in Your footfalls
Are true
But it isn’t easy
Wearing this coat
For so long
Maybe we can be kin
In this mouse-muttering
Sacrifice
As the sweat beats down
On earthen brow
And sacred
And maybe through
The scratch of another’s sin
I can finally understand
Your outrageous gift
And love You
All the more
In Silence
“Thin Places” by Mary DeMoth
The Saturday before Easter Sunday, I intentionally watched “The Passion of the Christ”. It moved me more profoundly then it did the first time I viewed it. As I read this portion from Mary’s book, what keeps coming to mind is the beating Christ received unjustly on my behalf.
If you have seen the movie “The Passion of the Christ” when you contrast the intense scene of the beating Christ received with a scratchy coat (from above) what is your reaction? What would it look like when you are in a situation that you feel unjustly wronged to remember this contrast?
When you react to an injustice where do you see Jesus?
What is the deepest kinship you have experienced so far with Jesus?
Have you begun to understand His outrageous gift?
What if it comes through the “scratch of another’s sin”?
4/05/2010
One chilly morning, a few weeks ago, my senses were heightened as I sat on the deck at the back of my home. To some extent it was overwhelming and this poem flowed onto the paper…
One chilly morning
One day before spring
I sat on my deck
Observing glorious things
The leaves had not formed
On our wild cherry trees
So that didn’t stop the cardinal and blue birds
From landing where they pleased
So many bird songs
Almost too mind boggling to count
As I sat there and watched the sunrise
My senses began to mount
Overwhelmed with this beauty
On this almost spring day
I felt my soul longing
Just wanting to stay
A wood pecker pecking
Oh, and what bird is that I hear?
A bird from the jungle?
No, that’s too far from here
The rooster is crowing
Not just once for our wake up call
Does he want our attention?
Is that why he doesn’t seem to stop at all?
Now, hearing sirens and cars in the distance
Makes me know day has now come
Oh if the world could just stop
So I could just stay a while and bask in the sun
But on I must go
Just like the rising sun
God has things for me to do
As I follow my Savior Jesus his Son
Have you ever taken the opportunity to sit and watch the sunrise? Nature? Oh, the beauty of it can be quite overwhelming. If you never have, what is keeping you from taking the time to do it? It is interesting to just sit and listen to what is taking place all around us. I have compared the difference between sunrise and sunset and there are many different things that are going on in nature, what would it be like for you do take the time to do that? What might God want to show you in the things He created for us to enjoy?
3/29/2010
Beauty and the Little Black Lamb
Over the last couple of weeks I have been periodically taking my daily walk. Even though you would think that just walking up and down my driveway it would get monotonous, that is very rarely the case. I am often aware of something new or interesting, especially since I have been paying attention to beauty!
One bright sunny morning as I was walking down the driveway, a little black dot caught my eye. The closer I got the clearer it was-a little black lamb. This is the time of year that there can be many lambs in the pasture that is directly across from our property, but this year there is only one. Maybe that is why it caught my attention. Interestingly enough, this poem came to me quite quickly as I pondered this little black lamb…
One little black lamb
Only a few weeks old
I ask myself,
Why did he stray from the fold?
I see him in the meadow
Away from the rest
And wonder to myself
Why he thinks this is best?
I ponder and this stirs
All day in my heart
I wonder, I wonder
Does this resemble how we start?
We think we know best
As we go on our way
Until at last at our wit’s end
We stop, we listen, He whispers, “Will you come my way?”
O little black lamb
So tiny, so weak
Will you accept the Shepherd’s invitation?
Isn’t He the best that you could ever seek?
There is so much in scripture about shepherds, sheep, and lambs. The Word tells us He is our Good Shepherd and that we are His sheep. It speaks clearly that Jesus was the lamb that was slain-He is the sacrifice for our sin. As we enter Easter week, what do you sense God may be speaking to you about concerning these things and His relationship with you? The poem sums up what I observed in the meadow, and it speaks clearly to my heart, how does it speak to yours?
3/22/2010
More Beauty and Messiness…
At dawn the bluebirds outside my back door captured my attention. As I was watching their frolicking I leaned against the door to listen to other noises taking place outside-hoping to take in the whimsical songbirds that I had enjoyed the day before. As I leaned in I heard more than songs and chirps, I heard voices-angry voices. Once I opened the door to listen, I heard a disturbing conversation as clear as if it was only 10 feet from me. Not hearing all of what was being said, my heart sunk as I thought about what was going on across the street. I began to hold this situation in prayer.
After walking inside with many thoughts going through my mind, I was once again reminded of this theme that is going on in my life. I was observing beauty, but in the midst I heard mess.
Last week I “cashed in” the gift certificate that my daughter gave me for Christmas. The gift certificate was one full day with her. We made plans the week before of everything that we wanted to include in our day together: shopping, good food and laughter. Well, that we did and it was a beautiful day! Our evening concluded with the movie, “Love Happens,” it was a good movie and just about when it was to conclude, the phone rang. Within a brief moment my daughter began to sob. When her conversation ended, as best she could, she explained to me that a friend had chosen to end her life. She sobbed and our hearts ached. Our day ended in messiness.
To some extent I have a conclusion to what God has been showing me over the last month, but there are deeper things He is bringing to the surface in order for me to understand my own humanness as well as those who I share life with.
Remembering what I said a few weeks ago, I am looking for beauty in the mess. What beauty have you observed? I know that He is the Beauty in the mess. Are you looking for Him? Are you aware of His beauty in this messy world? He is inviting you….
The song that is included this week speaks of our human condition…
Dancin in Circles
3/15/2010
Reverence
This song is titled Reverence. Consider listening to this song as you ponder what God might be speaking to your heart about concerning reverence…
The definition of reverence-feelings of deep respect or devotion; respect somebody or something deeply.
Barbara Brown Taylor gives a great description in An Altar in the World of the time in her life as a child where her father did several things to show her reverence. As I was reading, this quote grabbed my attention: Reverence was the proper attitude of a small and curious human being in a vast and fascinating world of experience. This world included people and places as well as things.
This began a process of thinking about reverence in my life as well as the world around me. What in my life lends itself to reverence? Where do I experience reverence? Who do I know that shows the example of reverence for people, places and things? Lord, do I show reverence to you?
I conclude with asking~where is reverence on your journey? What resonates within you when you think about reverence? What would it look like for you to have reverence be part of your life if it is not already?
3/08/2010
Love Extravagantly…
~powerful words that are part of the love chapter from 1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)…
~beautiful words in one of my favorite songs, Goodbye Ordinary by Mercy Me…
~key words being used in a theme for a production that I am blessed to be part of...
Most importantly for me though, they resonate in my heart because of the impact they carry. Not only do I know deep in my heart God loves me this way, but I know that I have been given the invitation to love like this. Oh to live every moment loving extravagantly!
When you hear the words Love Extravagantly, what comes to your mind? What does Loving Extravagantly look like to you? How do you love extravagantly? As you think about this kind of love, where have you sensed it in your life?
With each new day, my prayer for you is that you consider how you can display extravagant love to those you live life with and that when you lay down at night you can rest in knowing that you made a difference in someone’s life because of it…
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (The Message)
As I was thinking about the new design for this web site, these two words, love extravagantly, came to mind because they stir my heart deeply. Thank you to my son who has taken quite some time to layout this new design and thank you to a sweet friend who designed the new banner for me that “speaks” of what is significant to me. Interestingly, last year when I was sitting on the beach in June, I did what I enjoy as I sit near the water’s edge~just far enough where the waves won’t touch me but the sand is wet enough to draw in, writing again and again….Love Extravagantly…above is what it looked like…
03/01/2010
Beauty in the midst of the mess…
An internal struggle was taking place within me this week. My husband and I watched a movie that was very disturbing. In my mind and my heart, I wrestled with the things that took place in the movie-the reality of brutal acts of crime and extreme vengeance.
So what I did was to move to that place I frequently go in my mind and I ask the Lord what to pay attention to. I was wrestling with not wanting to think about the reality of this messy fallen world and thinking at the same time I am reading “An Alter in the World” where I look for Him in everything. So that moved me to a conversation with the Lord that went something like this:
Help me Lord to understand why I am struggling. I would rather not think about these heinous crimes that go on in our world, but I also know that I committed to you that when I want to resist something I will turn and “lean in” and pay attention to what is going on. I am reading, “An Alter in the World” looking for you everywhere in everything and yet the reality is, monstrous things are taking place all the time. How do they go together?
As my week continued the thoughts of beauty kept coming to my mind. Look for beauty. Ok, I will do that.
Keeping that in mind, I started reading another book that is intriguing me called, “Thin Places”. In this memoir the word mess or messiness is on many pages in many of the chapters. Then at some point I began taking the word beauty and messiness and put them together although that seemed odd-but I paid attention.
Although I have not come to a final conclusion about all the things the Lord has in store for me concerning this, what I do realize is that in the midst of life if I don’t look for beauty throughout my day, I can easily go on a downward spiral only thinking about the mess in this world. The reality is that God’s original plan for the world was perfect and beautiful, but when sin entered, messiness came with it, so I must shift and pay attention, so I will find beauty among the mess.
So, if you read last week’s post, how’s it going? Are you finding beauty in your day?
What struggles are taking place right now in your life? Do they seem like an oxymoron? What would it be like to have a conversation with God about what seems not to make sense to you? Even if you can’t come to a conclusion about what is going on in your life, what would it look like to move to a deeper trust in God as you go through the process of discovery
02/22/2010
This week on my early morning drive I glanced in my mirror and what did I catch but a glimpse of beauty in the sunrise! I can still picture it, the orange yellow glow of the sun surrounded by spectacular pink fuchsia. Even though my glimpse was only for a few seconds this brilliant beauty caught my attention.
Throughout my day this picture of beauty kept coming to my mind. As I was pondering what I was to pay attention to I was reminded of the flower that caught my attention in early winter that seemed out of place. Ah! The reminder to look for beauty …
Interestingly enough I am reading “Captivating” by John and Stasi Edlredge. Beauty to Unveil was the subtitle of the section I began reading just only days after seeing this brilliant beauty. Within this section one of the many things that stirred my heart was this statement, “Nature is not primarily functional. It is primarily beautiful.” I continued to read this section with a smile not only on my face but in my heart. Over the last few years I have enjoyed my early morning walks so much and enjoyed the many things that God has created. For me it was a delight just to be observing it and paying attention to what God might be speaking to my heart about in those moments….whether it be through the sounds of the animals in the pasture, the fragrances that seemed astounding, or to the words in the music that touched me deeply on my MP3 player, and yes, even the crickets that sometimes seemed annoying. But when I read the statement above it all seemed to come together, when I am walking I am absorbing beauty. What doesn’t one like and become thrilled over, in beauty?
Beauty is powerful.
Beauty invites.
Beauty nourishes.
Beauty comforts.
Beauty inspires.
Beauty is all around us if we look for it, not only in nature but in people as well.
Are you looking for beauty? What would it be like in the evening to reflect and ask God where there was beauty in your day? Even further how could you be looking for beauty in the moment you are in? What would it look like to celebrate that beauty? What would you be missing if you didn’t look for beauty in your day? If you do not journal, I would ask that you consider doing that for the next week, only if it is to write about the beauty that you see in your day. (Even if you put it on a post it note and place it somewhere that you can see it!)
“Beauty is the essence of God.”
Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
02/15/2010
Responding…
Every moment can be new; it’s how we choose to live in it. It’s how we choose to respond to a situation that makes it what it will become for us.
I had been feeling a little blue, wondering if it was lack of Vitamin D from the sun because I hadn’t been taking my daily walks…or maybe it was because I had been too lazy to exercise and I was keeping those endorphins from doing their job. Another thought that occurred to me was that, maybe I was just tired of winter and ready for summer-yes, I can easily skip spring and go right into summer, because that for me, means it’s getting closer to a week at the beach!
These past several weeks though as I have been reading and reflecting on many things, God’s providence has been very evident. There have been many writings from others that God has used to stir me and to self-reflect on what has been taking place in my heart. The outward circumstances may have had an influence but it is still my choice how I responded to whatever is going on in my life.
Not too long ago I asked the Lord to give my heart a jump start, interestingly enough I had written that in my journal one morning and as I paid attention that day He began that gentle work. As circumstances arise I have been making the choice to respond with hope, faith and love, and trusting Him as His word invites us to.
How are you doing right now? Are you in a place where you feel “blue” or “down”? What would it be like to go to the Lord and ask him to show you what is taking place inside you and maybe even jump start your heart? Where are you paying attention to God at work in your life? Every moment can be new, how will you choose to live in it?
02/08/2010
“Every opportunity is pregnant with possibility.”
Early Friday morning I left to run some errands so I would be able to accomplish everything I hoped before the snow storm hit. First stop, WalMart. As I pulled in the parking lot I was delighted to get “a front row seat”. “Good” I thought, this will help expedite my day. I gathered my things from the car and greeted the lady who parked beside me. We made a few comments back and forth about the weather and I headed inside. After grabbing a cart and proceeding through the door, I stopped at the greeter with a smile and a “Good Morning” as I waited for her to mark my returns. At that point she began…
First she apologized that she was not ready for me and that she wasn’t going to be there in a few days. I showed my concern and for her and began to ask a few questions. Then for about the next ten minutes or so she shared with me many things about her life… I thought about the quote above and knew that this was one of those “pregnant opportunities.” In this instance, a time to listen, to show concern and to offer prayer. I could tell how important it was for her to have someone take the time to be available.
I walked away thinking how interesting it is to me how many people just want you to listen. Other than the lady above, there were several in my day on Friday-total strangers, but they just had this need to have conversation. Even though I had lots to accomplish I stopped and welcomed the opportunity…
When you are out and about, have you ever thought about opportunities that are pregnant with possibilities? What possibilities might God be allowing in your life to share concern for another? In my observation there is a deep need in this world for people to be heard. Sometimes they just want to share what is going on in their life and for someone not to just “fix” what ever is going on. The next time someone wants to share, what would it be like to open your heart and just listen even if it’s a total stranger?
02/01/2010
“Gratitude requires awareness”
Sometimes the simplest statements have such a profound meaning. This statement for me has done that. After I wrote it in my journal I knew that I needed to pay attention to what was taking place in my heart. As I was in quiet with the Lord, what kept running through my mind was, “I think I am a grateful person but is there more? Lord, more that you want me to pay attention to concerning gratitude?”
It was interesting as I sat before the Lord in the quiet, what came to mind next. It was a circumstance where a friend of mine took time out of their day to connect with someone else, to carry on a conversation of genuine concern for a few minutes and even time to laugh.
After that thought came to mind, it’s as if a light bulb went off, gratitude just isn’t for us to be thankful to the Lord for the good things He gives us, but we must share with others the gratefulness in our hearts for what they are doing-showing acts of love. This brings to mind the scripture that we are to consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
The day that all this took place I had the opportunity to thank my friend for taking the time to show concern for someone else. This may seem like a simple thing. But in the fast paced life style we live in, we have no idea what it could mean to someone to say, “I saw what you did and want to encourage you that it was meaningful, even if you didn’t realize it.”
What would it look like to be more aware of gratefulness in your life? Where does gratitude show in your life? Where have you urged someone on to love and good deeds?
01/25/2010
Hearts That Feel What God Feels…that was the title of the chapter I read this week in “The Beautiful Fight.”
Even the title of this chapter stirs something in me, but there are many quotes I highlighted that resonated with my heart. Here are just a few:
When we go to God, he gives us a heart for others.
What has changed my heart? Looking at the situation from God’s standpoint. …God has a way, when I allow him, to give me a new passion, a real empathy, a genuine concern.
…but the quickest way for me to gain God’s heart is to gain God’s thoughts. God’s perspective breeds God’s passion. Thus I have to spend time in Bible study and listening prayer, allowing God to transform me so that he can conform my heart to his.
As we feel with God’s heart, he frees us from defining every event as it only relates to us.
When you see through the eyes of love, nothing can make you stumble-no prejudice, no envy, no resentment, no arrogance, no selfish motives. You can see clearly and accurately, and objectively. If you do not love you do not see. As soon as you give yourself over to hate you stop seeing accurately.
1 John 2:9-11 (New International Version)
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.
These are all powerful words. The scripture comes from God who loves us more than we can imagine. Do you know how much He loves you? If we know that He wants the best for us then how would you listen to the words above? As you sit with God what questions would you ask Him concerning how this has touched you?
I pray Lord that the one reading this would have a great awareness of your presence and love. As they walk through the day may you make them keenly aware of the need to move toward feeling with your heart, knowing that you will free them from defining every event as it only relates to them.
01/18/2010
Spectacular sunset…
Last week on Wednesday evening the sunset was absolutely breathtaking. It almost seemed as if the clouds were glowing like embers from a fire. Beautiful shimmering orange, magnificent rosy pink and illuminating radiant yellow filled the lengthy strings of multiple clouds above the skyline. At that moment, I took the gift of lingering and observing the beauty of the sky-I knew that it would not last long. I just kept staring at it and breathing, I was captivated by the splendor I was able to observe. Almost as I mentioned a few weeks ago, this is etched in my mind and I hope that it is a picture I will not forget. The interesting thing was, had I not come outside and someone point it out to me, I would have been unaware that this beautiful sunset was taking place just on the other side of the walls that surrounded me.
On the drive home, pondering this spectacular sunset, I got to thinking about God’s orchestrated beauty that is taking place all around us that we are unaware of. Many times we can focus so easily on the messiness in this world, we don’t take time to think about the many gifts that are in front of us and even further the gifts of unseen beauty that is taking place “on the other side of the wall” or “on the other side of the world.”
As you read this, what comes to your mind? The next time something beautiful is taking place what will you do? Has there been something spectacular that took place in your life that at some point you were unaware of, and then somewhere along the line, found out the orchestrated beauty that had been taking place? What would it be like to thank God for the unseen things that are taking place all around you?
…thank you Lord for the beauty of our world that is seen and unseen.
*An oversight…in last week’s post I stated that I am reading the book called “Holy Longings”. The book is actually titled “Holy Invitations”. My week was so full of readings about longings that I quoted the wrong title. Please accept my apologies for that mistake.
01/11/2010
“Holy Longing”, “Holy Available”…these are the titles of two books I am reading (“Holy Available” was previously titled “The Beautiful Fight”.)
There is much God has used already in my life through these books in powerful ways; my heart is full of gratitude for that. However, when I ponder just the titles of these books, several questions come to mind….
What Holy longings do I have? How will I move toward them?
Have I considered that God is longing to do something in me and through me in the midst of whatever is going on in my life?
Do I make myself Holy available to God? If I am, God will be able to mold and shape me in to the image of Christ. If I am not, then what is the resistance?
Consider asking yourself these same questions. What will your prayer be like with God as you sit with Him today in light of the answers….
01/04/2010
Is there something that has come into your life that you have remembered so vividly that it is etched in your mind and in your heart? There are many things that I enjoy remembering and some things I wish I could forget. Then there are those things that are so imprinted in my mind that I can almost take myself to the place it impacted me. I can remember precisely where I was standing, how the air felt that surrounded me and exactly what I was doing when it penetrated my heart. I sense things like that God has imprinted on my heart so that I will not forget.
One particular imprint of truth for me was one early morning on a beautiful summer day. The air was warm and I was standing on the west side of my house. My husband and I were trying desperately to stain the deck before the sun came around and chased us to the north side. We were listening to a previously recorded message on the radio about change in the world. The speaker talked about changes that we would like to see in the world, the government, our community, within our family and then he made this statement: “If we want change in our world it must begin with us.” This truth kept rolling through my head and then penetrated my heart. Change must take place within me before I can do anything about what it is I hope will change within my realm. This truth now has a place deep in my soul that I know is stirred by God, so that it will bring Him glory and cause good in the world.
Are there vivid memories for you that had a similar impact? If so, what changes might God be stirring in your heart that He wants you to pay attention to? In the choices you make how can it make a difference in this world? Could it be that the changes you sense God prompting in you may be the beginning of change in your world, in this world?
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