I have discovered a patch of unloveliness in the pattern of my days this week. It is fair to say that I have been "in touch with my inner...witch...". It has not been either edifying or lovely by any stretch of thought. I have apologized as I have had opportunity, but I still feel as if I am wearing mud on my face. The dirt on my countenance has felt heavy and has thrown a pattern of heavy earth over me. My imagination paints such a picture of human weakness that I am squirming in my skin.
In describing my attitude as unlovely, I have been generous to myself. Irritations have built up and nettled my spirit to set a depth charge to the molten lava within me. Yes, I have been ready to fight and contend with any presented threat to my comfort zone. I've rationalized my attitude to the point where I label it as "crabby". I doubt that Jesus sees it in such frivolous lighting.
The good news about my attitude is that the Lord can change it around and actually use it for good. How? I can't see that far right now; but I know that He forgives and restores as a matter of routine; imparting grace to the human heart that earnestly seeks Him.
I pray to be restored to the joy of the Lord at His earliest convenience. His desire is that I be a blessing to those around me. He knows that I cannot do that in my own strength; and longs to come alongside and within to breathe new life into my frame and spirit. He is always faithful. I only have the longing to be half as loyal to Him as I trod along in this earthsuit. The meeting of the two camps is set to converge at a divinely appointed time.
My prayer is that the appointment is scheduled and attended by both parties before any festering occurs. The inner closet needs some cleaning. I say Spring cleaning takes place now. The abundant life calls for nothing less.
Joy to you,
Lynne
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
He Is My Joy
He is my joy in the morning;
showing me the love that endures
in ways my speech cannot convey to mortal ear.
He is my joy through my day's journey;
sustaining the breath within me
by the grace and mercy flowing from the cross.
He quiets me with His love as I lay down upon my bed;
dispelling the fear that looms to steal His joy from my grasp,
and singing His love song to me as I dream of the vineyards.
showing me the love that endures
in ways my speech cannot convey to mortal ear.
He is my joy through my day's journey;
sustaining the breath within me
by the grace and mercy flowing from the cross.
He quiets me with His love as I lay down upon my bed;
dispelling the fear that looms to steal His joy from my grasp,
and singing His love song to me as I dream of the vineyards.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Greetings!
I was feeling a bit on the talkative side tonight, and I posted two pieces of mental deposits below this one. I hope there is something that the Lord will use to quicken, soothe, cheer, or bolster you in the coming days.
Joy to you,
Lynne
Joy to you,
Lynne
Glory Train
I am awake at 2:30 in the morning. My mental soup has been sloshing around up there creating a disrespectable noise as I was attempting to sleep. I was dreaming of water, so I suppose that was, in part, a sign that I needed to get up and take care of business? Ok, that was a valid propellant towards consciousness; yet I would have preferred dreamland. Such is life.
I chose the title of Glory Train for this piece because I have been thinking of the accumulation of choices in everyday life. Those choices propell us towards one direction or another; fueling our future and determining our level of productivity.
Still lost in my mental soup? Well, relief is coming. Take a deep breath and just hang in there with me; I think we'll make it to the end together.
The ingredients in my soup are those verses in scripture that speak of confession and forgiveness, guidance and correction. 1 John 4:19, John 3:16, and many more. Common enough verses; yet living and active as an ingredient when the quiet of night descends and the Spirit whispers into our ears about the coming Glory Train. Perspective becomes clearer when the substance of earth is compared to the
stretch of eternity. These days are part water soluble colors; the oil paint will appear as we make those choices that define our days. How do we discern between the water soluble and the more permanent oil paint in our lives? I am still brewing that batch of soup, yet the flavors come to the fore and impress my palate in a fresh way tonight.
That promise of the new day and the glory of heaven needs to fuel us towards a refined purpose in our days to come. Eternity is a long time; and the ride on the Glory Train is going to be past our ability to comprehend it while in these earthen vessels. He has placed eternity in our hearts to keep our eyes on the Glory Train on its' way for us; making the stops and travel issues more bearable in comparison to that endless day.
I chose the title of Glory Train for this piece because I have been thinking of the accumulation of choices in everyday life. Those choices propell us towards one direction or another; fueling our future and determining our level of productivity.
Still lost in my mental soup? Well, relief is coming. Take a deep breath and just hang in there with me; I think we'll make it to the end together.
The ingredients in my soup are those verses in scripture that speak of confession and forgiveness, guidance and correction. 1 John 4:19, John 3:16, and many more. Common enough verses; yet living and active as an ingredient when the quiet of night descends and the Spirit whispers into our ears about the coming Glory Train. Perspective becomes clearer when the substance of earth is compared to the
stretch of eternity. These days are part water soluble colors; the oil paint will appear as we make those choices that define our days. How do we discern between the water soluble and the more permanent oil paint in our lives? I am still brewing that batch of soup, yet the flavors come to the fore and impress my palate in a fresh way tonight.
That promise of the new day and the glory of heaven needs to fuel us towards a refined purpose in our days to come. Eternity is a long time; and the ride on the Glory Train is going to be past our ability to comprehend it while in these earthen vessels. He has placed eternity in our hearts to keep our eyes on the Glory Train on its' way for us; making the stops and travel issues more bearable in comparison to that endless day.
The Banner Waves
I'm trusting for the wind to blow
and push my sinking ship;
towards terra firma p.d.q...
I thought my foot had plugged the hole,
but did it first create
the leaking vortex drawing water
from the sinking craft?
He walked on water, created wine;
from this very stuff...
Oh, to be in posession of the cork
to plug up the hole
and restore said ship to fully functioning status...
fear repented, praise released, in the midst of chaos;
that solid ground will appear on the horizon by the hand of Glory.
and push my sinking ship;
towards terra firma p.d.q...
I thought my foot had plugged the hole,
but did it first create
the leaking vortex drawing water
from the sinking craft?
He walked on water, created wine;
from this very stuff...
Oh, to be in posession of the cork
to plug up the hole
and restore said ship to fully functioning status...
fear repented, praise released, in the midst of chaos;
that solid ground will appear on the horizon by the hand of Glory.
Monday, February 4, 2008
In Shades of Green and Blue
I have been formally bagged by the Green Giant today. I hear of what I see friends and aquaintances are up to, and I feel pressured to catch up. I beat myself up until I am blue in my spirit over what I perceive as lost opportunities and failed attempts to do...something....
I think of what Scriptures say regarding coveting...and the part that says not to do it. I pray that my green fades from the intense kelly green to a more muted moss hue as soon as is humanly(or divinely)possible. I pray that my envy is replaced by a renewed fire to find the path the Lord would have me follow. He has plans for a future and a hope for me. I suppose that I can take it on faith that I have not fallen into disrepair irreparably...
I recall feeling like this as a teenager. I am 40 now. Haven't I outgrown the pubescent yearnings to be someone else? It is more than a rhetorical question. I have to answer it or fail the test again. What is it that they say roses grow in the best? I don't think I heard any mention of rosewater in the expression that I am thinking of. Does that mean my life has to stink before the beauty grows out of it? I think I do reek sometimes, and it isn't of rosewater.
Almighty God is not at fault here. My lenses are corroded and dirty; failing to see what I have been shown. In fact, it is time now to get over myself and do laundry. I am not the only one that reeks; my sink requires a dose of excavation and disinfecting that I have been given the responsibility to take care of on behalf of the family. My blessings overflow...as does my sink.
I am thinking that green is also the color of new growth, spring, and symblolic of new beginnings. Each day is fresh with no mistakes in it...at least for the first ten seconds that we are awake. After that, it is a process of repentance and learning for the rest of the day.
After I do my painting, it is God's idea to shower me with grace; painting that glorious shade of purest white all over me as His love slips in to do a remodeling job on my soul. My spirit is renewed; and I hear Him tell me that His love endures forever.
Lord, quicken my hearing to listen as You try to speak over the noise of my grousing. It was your idea to make me as I am. You have your reasons. Help me not to question the ways in which you put the pieces together. You have the final picture from which to work from; not me.
I think of what Scriptures say regarding coveting...and the part that says not to do it. I pray that my green fades from the intense kelly green to a more muted moss hue as soon as is humanly(or divinely)possible. I pray that my envy is replaced by a renewed fire to find the path the Lord would have me follow. He has plans for a future and a hope for me. I suppose that I can take it on faith that I have not fallen into disrepair irreparably...
I recall feeling like this as a teenager. I am 40 now. Haven't I outgrown the pubescent yearnings to be someone else? It is more than a rhetorical question. I have to answer it or fail the test again. What is it that they say roses grow in the best? I don't think I heard any mention of rosewater in the expression that I am thinking of. Does that mean my life has to stink before the beauty grows out of it? I think I do reek sometimes, and it isn't of rosewater.
Almighty God is not at fault here. My lenses are corroded and dirty; failing to see what I have been shown. In fact, it is time now to get over myself and do laundry. I am not the only one that reeks; my sink requires a dose of excavation and disinfecting that I have been given the responsibility to take care of on behalf of the family. My blessings overflow...as does my sink.
I am thinking that green is also the color of new growth, spring, and symblolic of new beginnings. Each day is fresh with no mistakes in it...at least for the first ten seconds that we are awake. After that, it is a process of repentance and learning for the rest of the day.
After I do my painting, it is God's idea to shower me with grace; painting that glorious shade of purest white all over me as His love slips in to do a remodeling job on my soul. My spirit is renewed; and I hear Him tell me that His love endures forever.
Lord, quicken my hearing to listen as You try to speak over the noise of my grousing. It was your idea to make me as I am. You have your reasons. Help me not to question the ways in which you put the pieces together. You have the final picture from which to work from; not me.
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