Celebration

I have been reading a book of writers commenting about what they read and why they read it. It is compiled by Philip Yancy and is entitled, "Reality and The Vision: 18 Contemporary Writers Tell Who They Read and Why". Chapter 8 is entitled: The Devotional Masters: A Love Affair. There is one portion that speaks to me in particular. "...this notion that the ordinary stuff of life is filled with spiritual significance is a theme that reverberates throughout all the Devotional Masters. They take our days and our hours and invest them with a sacramental value. And they invite you, they invite me to discover that right where we are is holy ground, in the families we have been given, in the tasks that we are assigned, among our neighbors and friends. It is this that makes living in our modern world bearable, even enjoyable. Indeed, it enables us, as George Fox put it, to "walk cheerfully over the earth."

What an encouraging thought; to think that daily life has a sacred quality to it that can wash over us and color our days in His radiance. I will give it my best effort and send up a prayer to God when I am faced with a mountain of laundry. "Sacred" and "laundry" do not easily walk with each other in harmony according to my thought processes. Yet, in many ways; the performance of these daily duties exercises our spiritual muscles. We are considering others(who are in desperate need of a clean white load)in our actions. I pray that this thought brings you a new portal in your thinking; as it has brought into mine.

Jesus was practical, as I think of it...water into wine at the wedding, feeding the five thousand, etc. He gave us a model for seeing the practical as an invitation to seeing the divine. I will be forever thankful for His willingness to communicate His truth to a cracked vessel like me in terms that reach a human heart.

Joy and fresh bread to you,
Lynne

Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving! If you actually have time to read this on Turkey day, get up now and check the pies in the oven before they burn. Charcoal is not the color of choice when the recipe says "brown". The burnt crusts do not count as a source of fiber. I hear about the food that I burn from my two toughest critics: my kids. I desire to save you the trouble of that scene. Get up and check the pies:)...

Good. Now don't you feel better? I feel better for having reminded you to take care of an important part of Thanksgiving. The pies. Yes, the pies. Pumpkin, apple, pecan, coconut cream, rasberry cream(my mom has a recipe that will make you want to jump up and shout "AMen"). I like a nice hot cup o'joe right next to my pie as I am eating it. I am getting all happy just thinking about it.

Right next to the cup of coffee and the delectable pie is a loved one I am blessed to have in my life. I am more thankful than ever for my loved ones. I could be having soup today, and I wouldn't feel deprived. The food that feeds me richly is from the hand of the Father; the gift of fellowship with those I hold dear. Not only do I have family to reminisce and enjoy the company of; I have a spiritual family at the same time. He created us to have fellowship with one another. What a gift that is for us all year long. The power of praise wells up in my spirit and burns off the mist of worldly care. He has His eye and His heart towards me, His child. Come what may, He is right here with me ready and able to keep me from being destroyed by the pressures of life.

I pray that you give thanks with me today and every day for those precious promises that He provides for us in His word. He is there with ear, hand, and heart ready and able to provide us with all things to sustain us. May His Spirit fellowship with you as you give thanks for all of the blessings in your life. Can't think of any right now?

Look across the table:).

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

A Taste of Quiet

It was actually quiet at my house for a brief spell this morning. Then the kids woke up and the house came alive again. We had a dose of excitement and noise last night. There was an accident down the road somewhere, and the road was blocked off right in front of our house. A fire truck, a passing ambulance, a couple of fire department vehicles, and the utility vehicles evaluating the power lines lit up the sky. We live on a busy road; which means that our power goes out periodically as a result of accidents. Then, the power went out. We camped out in the living room and fell asleep without the street light across the road casting its' light.

I am thinking now of when the lights go out in our spirits. We think the light is gone, and that we are left in the dark. That divine spark is still there, awaiting our attention. He calls to us even when we don't hear the "still, small voice" that speaks of life and hope.

I will leave you now with a parting prayer:

Lord, help us to hear Your voice when we think the light has gone out in our spirit. Remind us that you are with us always. Help us to offer up our "sacrifice of praise" and invite Your presence to illuminate our steps once more.
Amen

The New Math

Count it all joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 2-4


In pondering my challenges,
the mountains seem to peak...
more lofty as I think on them
and consequently fail to seek
the source of all contentment;
counting more of the ragged edges
than the footholds available for my feet
as I try to climb the mountains unassisted;
not succeeding, yet counting all the more
those barriers to peace...

"Count it all joy..." the Spirit whispers to me;
reminding me of unseen hands moulding my clay
into something ultimately beautiful.
The new math of creation's renewal
bids me to count with a reckless abandon
those things that seem to be devoid of their comfort...
and see the glory of seeking His face
in joyful anticipation of fellowship and promise.
"count it all joy..." pours down with the cleansing flood
made available at the foot of the cross;
resting its waters in receptacles of anticipation
of counting the joys
and not the depths of the valleys.

I was reading that last poem to my mom over the phone this morning, and she was commenting that there would be no tears in heaven. I was telling her that she was right, and that the verse was talking about how he turns tears into joy. He "holds our tears" as an act of compassion towards us and brings us into the joy of morning after our weeping.

I further read her the verse about tracing the clouds, and she wept. It has been a difficult time for our family because of illness. The love of Jesus shared with each other is a drawing salve that takes the hurt in our spirits and starts the healing process. What joy the Father gives us when we follow His heart to love each other. The Lord has shown us mercy and has given us grace. His provision is truly amazing;
and as we see His hand at work I know we are assured of His love.

I raise my cup o'joy with yours as I embark on a new journey with the Lord today. He will meet my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. In true Oz fashion, I will recite that over to myself in order to allow it to permeate my thinking. The sword and the shield will be flying today, and my spunk has been renewed as the noonday.

May you rejoice this day in knowing that His grace is sufficient for all of your needs. We need each other; and as we celebrate His love in unity we will arise and show His glory to those who are perishing.

Cup O'Joy!
Lynne

Holding Our Tears

He holds our tears in heaven;
not wasting even one of them
as we seek His face.
Turning water into wine,
He showed His power to transform the ordinary
into that which was more prized;
showing grace and power with great humility...

He holds our tears in heaven;
saving them perhaps until the appointed time
that we are reunited at the marriage supper of the lamb;
fellowshipping with the saints through the ages
and enjoying the presence of the Lord
in the fruition of the promise...

Tracing the Clouds

Tracing the clouds with my fingers;
imagining how You made the stars
and set them all in place;
my eyes arise to heaven
and long to know if You are smiling
down at what You see in me...
Do I please You, father?
Have I heard You clearly as my feet of clay
travel on the dust of earth
and let my spirit soar up to where You are...
The clouds are air and water, Lord...
and they are still reflecting
the glory in Your hands to create beauty out of nothing.
As I finish tracing for the moment,
my spirit hears Your voice
reassuring me of Your love...
and leading me towards the words of life
prepared for me to walk with...

Steadfast?

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." -1 Thessalonians 5:18

"...we cannot always give thanks for the things themselves, but we can always give thanks for God's love and care in the things. He may not have ordered them, but He is in there somewhere, and He is in them to compel, even the most grievous, to work together for our good." -The God of All Comfort by Hannah Whitall Smith


It is the start of a new day as I write this. In my spirit, I am looking up towards the heavens and trying to see the hand of God in my circumstances. I am looking, and looking, and then looking again for the escape hatch that must be there somewhere. The camouflage that must have been there yesterday is still there today, and therefore it eludes me again. My next breath is reminding me of all the reasons I have to be thankful in this life. I am also reminded of the verses in the scriptures that compel and direct me to offer up my incense of thankfulness in the midst of the melee that is life.

I am hoping that today is the start of a fresh new idea that I haven't seen before. I am hoping that the Lord sets something in motion behind the scenes to jumpstart my job search and provide the right opportunity. I am praying that I would be "transformed by the renewing of my mind" so that the Lord would make me into who I was created to be for His glory. Ultimately, I am praying that the Lord would hold on to me when I can't see Him through the clouds around me.

In closing this brief passage of yearning, I pray that the Lord would spur you on towards the adventure He has for you today. May you praise Him and give thanks throughout your day and enjoy His presence through anything you are called to walk through.

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne