Changes

I am once again looking at the computer screen and noticing the time. I am doing what I have done countless times before today with a near reckless abandon in lieu of the fact that I do have to wake up in the morning. That has not changed. I steal this time from the land of dreams regardless of the inevitable consequences. I always have something to say; yet train my internal monologue to seep out in controlled deposits. I love writing; and that has not changed.

Situations change. Jobs come and go. Right now, the job I had has gone on hiatus. That hiatus may end...or it may not. I look for work. I work on my resume. I put the word out in my circles that I am on the hunt for a weekly paycheck and a return to the full-throttle life that I have become accustomed to living. I have been forced to change; and therefore re-evaluate what I want and who I am in the interim. I'm sure that sounds familiar to millions of people in the world today. I am not alone; though the pothole of self-pity tries to suck me in and believe that a job loss devalues me. Work is important. I'm one of those folks that like working.

Ultimately, the changes that come will be filtered through the perceptions that I choose to hold on to in the midst of maleable circumstance. I think I will do better to keep an eye out for the potholes and head for the higher ground at the same time. Opportunity will come for me to use what talents I have to hopefully be a blessing. How many changes will sneak up on me in the future? I am thankful that I am not presently aware of them all; as that knowledge would probably not benefit my mental health. I don't need to know all that will happen five years from now. I have my hands full with today.

Chin up, faith intact, and moving onward; I will meet these changes with a confident mantle. Each day is fresh and will offer new changes to help replace the older ones. It's always something; and these little pep-talks will need to be repeated with each dawn. At this rate, I don't think this day's daybreak will engender an immediate pep-talk. Prayer will be in order in order for me to make it over to the pep-talk station. In that spirit; I shall bid you goodnight.


Cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven to you...

Lynne

The Crown of Age

Recently, I have gone through the experience of having another birthday. I won't go into detail with regards to how many candles might have been placed on my cake; but I will say that I insist on only one to save the fire department grief in the process. Philosophy has decided to roost in my spirit as a result of spending a few too many minutes pondering the past year. In order to break the gaze I had going on my navel; I reminded myself of what I think is most important.

Gray hair happens. Life happens. Friends move on and leave us lonely for a while in the wake of their departure. New challenges present themselves that look a whole lot like the mountain that just began to fade behind me. I am not quite sure that I have caught my breath yet. I am older, but am I wiser for the year added to my life? I can imagine that someone out there is thinking that I need to get over myself and just move on.

In a way, I agree. I do not live under oppressive government controls; I am not in prison or breathing my last few breaths in a hospital. I have children and they are healthy. The Lord takes care of me in ways that I'm sure I cannot fathom. In short, you may wonder what I am complaining about. That is a valid question.

My guess is that I am longing to be who I was created to be; and seeing all too well that my warts and ingrown energies are, of course, failing to protect me from life's bumps and bruises. What do I think I can accomplish by being angry that I cannot reach that perfect place where all of my challenges are resolved? I feel like a brat; demanding of heaven what my shortsighted vision sees as imperative to my happiness.

I pray that His joy once again overtakes my arid spirit and renews my vision and will to follow after that more excellent way that Christ spoke of in the gospels. I want to dance like David danced. I long to discern and go after that still small voice that beckons me to the paths of life.

My hunger draws me onward; towards re-evalutation, towards a necessary repentance of what I know better than to do, and a renewed sense of direction on a daily basis. My consolation lies in the assurance that He is faithful; and that He is waiting to guide me back to where He would have me be.

I will close with one of my grandmother's favorite scripture verses.In Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." I pray that my heart and my mouth will be transformed by the time that the candles are blown out on my birthday cake next year.


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

Lynne

Just A Word?

I have been thinking about the impact that words have. They flood our ears and manipulate our emotions. The right word at the right time can be an almost magical entity; whereas cutting phrases aimed with razor sharp precision wound so many of us. I cannot buy into the thought that words are just words. I am a writer and that may have something to do with it; but there is more at stake than that. Words have power.

Scriptures say much about our use of words. The book of Genesis talks about how God spoke and creation came into being. Believers are encouraged, exhorted, and warned about the use and misuse of speech in everyday life. The way that we use words matters to God and to others around us. It makes a difference when we use speech to encourage each other instead of throwing insults to buffer our pride. It makes a difference when we pray for the irritating people that we live with in our daily lives.

I will be continuing this theme in the next few posts. I will share what I believe that Scripture has to say about the matter. His words are life to us. In light of that truth;I pray that the Lord blesses my efforts at relaying what I believe He has laid on my heart. I look forward to hearing from you.


Cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven to you...

Lynne

December Fades

Short days
follow crisp winds;
reflections on the soul's waters
bring shadows of memory,
lights of discovery,
and clarified goals...
December fades into the winter paths
of January...
leaving behind the celebration
of the Christmas glory.

Sacrifice of Praise

I was thinking about those verses in the Scriptures that speak of the act of praising God. Offering up a sacrifice of praise seems to invite the Spirit of God into our circumstance. My meager understanding was enough to pull a few words out of my spirit and through the keyboard of the computer. May He bring you to a place of praise for your benefit as well as for His glory.



The sacrifice of praise
arose from the ashes;
scenting the offering's remnants.
Joy had come in the morning;
growing from the bile grown in
the gardens of self-seeking...
Act of will and sound of weeping
coming together to offer
the sacrifice of praise
until the emotion caught up
with the act of faith.

Discovery

I'm learning,
leaning,
enjoying the view...
knowing that I can depend
upon the strength of your tender mercies...

I'm rejoicing in sorrows;
releasing my burdens into the hands
of One who knows that my frame is...dust...

You've known my ways
and see past the blinders I cling to;
even when I run into walls
by refusing to take them off...

You've treasured my voice
as I've come before you in pained entreaty...
drawing me to Your heart
as I look for Your face in the melee of circumstance.

You've held me close
and listened patiently
as myopia shaded Your hand from my view...
knowing that I would be rewarded for
my longing for Your truth to be made known to me...

Psalm 19:1

"The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork."

I've taken it to heart to study the clouds as of late. The crisp edges and the darker corners of these vaporous formations enthrall me. They rise up to the heavens; bringing our gaze upwards towards the One who created thm as a nartural part of human existence.

Clouds have been instruments of divine guidance(way back in Genesis), rorschach tests between human psyche unwilling to leak the contents of their soul to mortal agents, and wonderful distractions. The unreachable canvas of the sky holds its' majestic inhabitants in parading costume. They are not usually controlled by human interventions(i.e. cloud seeding).

I imagine while I am watching the clouds that God has an extrordinary sense of beauty and its' importance to the human psyche. I can further imagine that their temporal beauty is only outdone by the eternal beauty that rests beyond our sight. I cannot imagine the beauty of heaven. Mercy does not permit me to gaze upon realms of glory while my body is still among the material of earth. Watching the clouds gives me a miniscule taste of that glory; and for the moment I am satisfied.

Enjoy the clouds and linger to send up a prayer for His presence in your life. Mentally send your concerns on the air in the middle of those vaporous creations; allowing His hand to reach where mortal reasoning cannot...

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

Lynne

Saturday's Child

"Saturday's Child works hard for a living"
-Mother Goose nursery rhyme

This title is the first thing that popped into my head this morning. I'm going to take a wild leap and write my post about it. Mother Goose is hardly the highest expression of literary merit; but it still has a treasured place as a memento of childhood. I can imagine mothers everywhere sitting down with their children and reading them a nursery rhyme before bedtime or naptime. Language has a wonderful way of connecting people at heart level.

I am thinking of myself as a Saturday's child at the moment. I am going to be working hard to help support my family in the years to come. What a joy this is going to be; aside from the lost time with those I am working to support. Standing at the foot of the cross in supplication for mercy and grace each day; I am going to offer up my efforts to the Lord and ask Him to bless them. Money goes fast and there are needs that a paycheck cannot meet. I am a Saturday's child in the respect that I am going to be working hard for a living; yet I have a heavenly Father that is intimately concerned with the unfolding of my days. I am going to trust Him to "supply all my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus" and rest in His faithfulness to do just that. ("And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:19).

This is the day that He has made for His glory. My joy will come as I offer up my day to Him as an act of worship. The invitation is given for Him to take my tiny hand and lead me where He wants me to go; and be who He wants me to be for today. Saturday's child works hard for a living...but sees that work as an opportunity to step into destiny's footprints. Praising Him will be part of that walk; as He will inhabit those praises(Psalm 22:3 NKJV)and bring me into His presence.

My prayer for you today will be for Him to inhabit your praises. Enjoy the work that you find to do and rejoice in it; redeeming the time for His glory.


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

Lynne

Reaching

Stretching up towards Heaven's shores;
my rumbling spirit leads me on
towards the reward of His sustaining joy.
Captured by grace;
my longing draws me towards
the hem of His garment;
My hands raised and stretching themselves
past normal expression;
full expectation of His hand reaching down
to meet me in my need...
Stretching up towards Heaven's shores;
my hunger propels me on...
setting my eyes on those tasks that
warm the Father's heart.

Mental Deposits

I have a writer's imagination. My thought processes jump into the fanciful and sublime and then back to the practical. Daydreaming is a plethora of material; as the pictures play like a movie in my head. In short, I have something brewing in my spirit. It isn't complete; but then again it will never be this side of Glory. It is as if the Lord is doodling in my mind. Rest assured I mean no disrespect to the Most High; I simply lack adequate ability to express what I see in my mind's eye. I need much help from the Lord in this respect; and figure that He can supply the words to match my mental images.

His Word draws me into the feast of the Spirit. He has what I need to survive and hopefully thrive as I follow Him into this adventure of writing. Do I ever hope to publish someday? I will confess that I do have that hope; but it is not the ultimate test of artistic expression. I shall write as I sense Him leading me to write; and that alone is justification for the act.

In concluding this brief expository adventure(and thanks for hanging in there with me, by the way...), Let me express the joy that He gives as He allows me to share what He gives me with you. Come on back and share your mental deposits with me as you are able. His joy is expanded among us as we share in His goodness.


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

Lynne

Note from the Land of Lynne

I have posted two pieces today. I've just had a bunch of material brewing; and don't want to burden the other blogs. Actually, I have a new one on the Edge; so I have confess to that one...Be blessed.

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

Lynne

Father

Father,
Do I please You?
Have I measured up
to who You made me to be?
I need You.
You alone know my heart;
and where the arid places
await the rain...
My fear will bow
to faith once more;
as Your word
Keeps me treading water;
and praising You
for Your willingness to pay so willingly
for what I cannot afford to live without.

Choosing Words

I am sitting down to the computer with a measure of intrepidation tonight. I don't have writer's block at the moment; though indecision over a choice of words has been known to hold me back from finishing some pieces of writing. I am feeling like a tube of toothpaste lately. My mouth opens; and the squishy stuff just oozes. I don't always see the color of the ooze until the words are on the page. Thus, I end up feeling a bit naked. That happens to creative types; we create out of our perception, out of inspiration; and a problem arises when we don't know our own hearts. The problem is: the human heart is deceitful. It's contents are often beyond our best mental gymnastics. Perhaps I speak only for myself; bear with me in that event and just nod when you agree:).

The fire to create that burns within me needs balance; if only to keep me on this side of a locked door. That balance comes as I evalutate the worth of a piece of writing in light of human experience and my understanding of Biblical truth. I am far from perfected in this quest; and will be imperfect until I reach glory(and by that time, language as we know it will probably undergo a few changes at least).

There are those rooms in each of our souls that we keep under lock and key. The shadows and the whispers they contain hold the power to free us or maim us; depending on when and if we unlock the door. That fear of being a "black hole of ministry" can certainly keep my locks safe and ward off the use of a key. I am propelled towards hiding in the shadows to make the futile attempt to put the rooms in order without assistance from the outside world. Ideally, the Lord himself will be in charge of the inventory and protect me from others and myself. Reality lauches a series of leaks grown out of loneliness, misguided defense mechanisms, and just the exposure of daily living. We are what we think; and those gems or impurities rise to the surface. Our skeletons rattle in the closet until we let them out in an attempt to find peace.

That peace only comes from leaning on Jesus and the blessed fellowship of the saints. We cannot hold every piece within our rooms on our own and expect to make a picture out of them. We need the Lord's hand, the interaction of our brothers and sisters; and the courage to step out in faith into each new day. There is a price tag to everything; and the cost can leave us depleted or enriched. The full picture cannot be seen apart from a combination of all of these factors.

Thankfully, I can run to my strong tower of safety and find rest. I can check my perceptions against the reality of what God says about me. Truth will set me free; as it has for so many that have come before me. Whatever He uses to bring fresh levels of wholeness to my being is His business.

Ultimately, I pray to be more of a blessing than a burden. My temptation to just hide until I can fix the marred puzzle pieces is strong; tying me with cords of shame. I can apologize for breathing if you catch me on the right day; and I will mean it from the depths of my being. My only hope is in touching the hem of His garment; for there is where the scales on my eyes fall off and the rejoicing begins.
He is able to do what I cannot do; and His sacrifice of love enables me to keep reaching for grace.


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

Lynne

I've had the following verses brewing in me as I wrote this:
John 3:16
Psalm 144
James 4
...and many more I will discuss at a later date:).

More joy,
Lynne

Face in Hands

Face turned upwards;
allowing the hands to
lift the countenance towards
renewed perspective...
I am held in love,
sought after and
devotedly pursued
amid the sound of singing...
Oh, His eyes toward me
melt the hardened places;
ordering my perceptions
toward the eternal,
toward the pure-flowing streams...
...and toward the joy rediscovered
in the midst of memory-walk.

Psalm 81:1&2

Sing Alound to God our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.
Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute.

Come, Lord, and inhabit my praises;
for You are the source of my joy...
You provide for my every need
by the grace and the mercy provided...
I will sing aloud to You, O God!
I will make a joyful noise to rise up
to the clouds and beyond.
I will purpose in my heart
to gaze on Your creation in remembrance
of all You have done,
all that You promise,
and all that You sustain...
Come, Lord, and inhabit my praises;
for You are the source of my joy...
You stir the longing within me for Your presence,
quicken my spirit to hear Your voice,
and bring me to the pleasant places because of
Your lovingkindnesses...
Let my thankful heart invite You
to come transform me;
for Your hand alone will bring me to
the fruition of the promise.

Good Morning

Greetings and salutations to you all. I have dishes waiting for me in the sink, and I still haven't dressed my feet. Yet, I find the time to sit at the computer and play with the keyboard:). Same old Lynne! I tend to find the time to do what I want to do; whether or not it follows the pattern of responsible decision-making. I'm still waiting to see if I am going to grow up or not. It doesn't look promising as I see the hill fast approaching. Still, I take each day as it comes; as the days tend to stick together and pile up like old mail. I need to make the determination to stop saving those silly pieces of junk mail for book marks and scrap paper. They get lost and I am scrambling to replace the information I need to keep in a more dependable place. I am saying all this to eventually make it to the point of the post: it's always something.
I am believing that the Lord's mercies are new for me this morning. Those tiny habits and sins that clog the flow of efficient living are probably there because I haven't decided to alter them and/or replace them with new habits and perspectives. Let's hear it for new beginnings. What do you hope to adjust in your daily life to make the days easier or more productive? (Am I really being this anal this early in the day? I suppose that I am just a little interesting to the Psychiatric profession as a result).
By God's grace and mercy I will make it from point a to point b today. Those challenges that loom will be pushed aside by the blessings of the day for a time; and that is as it should be. In order to gear up for the challenges; I think we first need to replentish the hope and perspective to make the best choices that we can make. An attitude of gratitude will sustain when the potholes pop up on our path. May the Lord quicken our feet to step to the side just in time; preventing us from risking life and limb in the pit.
He loves us with a passion that goes beyond our ability to comprehend. Join me today in remembering that passion as we approach a new day. He has made this day for His glory and supplies all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. Let's get our praise on and rejoice that He is thinking of us today and every day. May we be changed by focusing our eyes on the riches of His word.


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

Just Thinking...

Today marks the(eventual)closing of another week. It seems as if this week has been a bit stressful; dodging "bullets" and apologizing for missed appointments. I am making plans to retrain for a new career, and yet still dreaming of the writing life. The two will have to get along; as they have no choice in the matter. Each day is fresh with no mistakes in it(though that lasts for only a short time). I am taking a deep breath and diving into another day with hope intact.
It's always someting. The "trick" of surviving daily life is to tie the knot securely and get as comfortable as possible on that knot. Rope burns are minimized if you keep your eyes on the prize: living for Christ. Perspective will come, and the blur in your eyes from fretting over the temporal, passing scenes will clear to reveal new hope and new challenges. Oh, my understanding is incomplete to be sure! I grasp and shake my head at the same time some days. Still, I am sustained by grace. The Lord has provided for my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.
I shall pray today that you can keep your perspective as well. I have been reading in Philippians(4:6&7)about not focusing on those things that bring anxiety and concern. Seems like a lofty goal as I function in an earthsuit, but I will keep refocusing my gaze and praying until it becomes more of a habit in my life. How about you? I invite you to seek God today in your moments of doubt...and in your moments of joy.

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

Lynne

Smoke Signals

Remove the root that festers;
sustaining rot and that putrid stench
of that which has gone bad...
Trace the arrow back to the point of entry, Lord...
calling to mind the sin inflicted by my own hand;
and carving off the calloused flesh to allow
new levels of healing...
draw out the poison, Lord...
and renew the springs of hope and forgiveness;
for what have I done that You cannot forgive?
what have they done that I cannot give a piece of my heart
as a downpayment towards a full release from my judgement?
Soften my heart to seek Your face on that journey towards renewal...
loosening the grip I have on the door I push against to guard against light.
Remove the root that poisons the waters;
and draw back the scales from my eyes.

It's Me Again...

Morning! I just added a new feature on the bottom of my blog page. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you will see a thought-provoking question with list of multiple choice answers. I hope you take a few minutes to put your two-cents into the mix:). I am looking forward to the responses; and I will be sure to change the question once a month(which gives more folks time to put in their two cents:).

Cup o'joy...
Lynne

Addendum...

I neglected to mention that I am stuck on the NKJV these days. I took the last verses I posted on the blog from the NKJV(New King James Version).

Joy and fresh bread...
Lynne