Intercession

Ezekiel 22:30
So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none."

Looking out on the
sea's mist,
my spirit drawn to
dancing with a soft cloak;
the faces come into my memory
and bid me
kneel my spirit's will towards
the dew of heaven...
...the arms of Jesus
hold each one
in tender reverie...
proclaiming grace
and Word
as hedges against
erosions of faith
within human form;
and bringing back
the peace past conscious knowing
to rest upon and
heal
each
furrowed
brow.

Thoughts on Simplicity

I have been thinking of the simplicity of the gospel message. In conjunction with that thought, I have been thinking about the commandments that came down the mountain with Moses back in the book of Exodus. What if the Lord gave us daily punch lists? You know, the kind that come with a work order to a contractor?

Daily Punch List for Lynne
1. Please remember that I am God. Don't try to re-create a source of inspiration or comfort out of man-made contraptions. The computer is a tool that can be over-used. Get up and walk outside once in a while. Rake the leaves. Clean the floor. Practicality can be an exercise in worship.
2. Don't blame me when you get in trouble for doing something stupid. I am here for you, but don't get torqued at me for something you did. It wont get you anywhere you want to go.
3. Yearning for things over relationship and connection with people and their needs will draw you magnetically to trouble with a capital "T". Be aware of thinking the grass is always greener over the other side of the septic tank.
4. Don't harbor murder in your heart. This applies to your temper. There is a reason I included the account of Cain and Abel in the owner's manual. Remember the level of grace extended to you before you write someone off as not having value.

Alright, folks! I think I have enough of a punch list for now. This should keep me busy until Jesus comes back. If I get brave enough, perhaps I should finish the post. Until then, may you enjoy a cup o'joy and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Love,
Lynne

Looking Up

I was noticing the colors in the trees yesterday afternoon. It was late afternoon, in fact, and the sun was casting a late afternoon light just behind the multi-colored leaves. The burst of red leaves among their green counterparts caught my eye and filtered down into my soul with alacrity and ease. If I had a camera with me, I would have taken a picture of it. I am writing now because the beauty just has to be shared.

A dash of color among the mundane; the ordinary being accented with contrast. It propels me to think about how life has those splashes of color thrown in to the ordinary days that we tend to look on with a vague discontent. This is the day that the Lord has made, and the scriptures do tell us to number our days. They are finite. Some days flow by with an efficient ease, and other days seem to trudge by us with weighted down shoes that are stuck on shuffling feet. Perception and accumulated stressors seem to conspire against our joy on a regular basis. We tend to look for something to show us an escape hatch of sorts.

I looked up again at the tree. The red reminded me of the cross. The blood freed us to see the abundant life that Jesus offered to us through His sacrifice. A dash of color in an autumn tree had been used by the hand of the Father to speak to my heart of His grace. I had to look up again to say "I love you" to Jesus for the natural greeting card.

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

Lynne

A Taste of Heaven

The day had come
on the heels of a dark night season.
The longing for heaven
propelled human form to prostrate yearning...

A taste of heaven came to rest;
and settled in as sweet rain on parched soil.
Fulfillment of promise
requited the sweet incense of prayer and worship...

Peace past the realm of human concept
...and faith as stalwart as the carrying beam
gave bedrock to the foundation
of a life that had squandered opportunity presented.

The day had come
on the heels of a dark night season...
Joy discovered in the morning of the soul;
replentishing the water of life from the hand of providence.

Sweet Conversation

I say "Good Morning" to the Lord
and wait for His reply...
thinking how elaborate and deep
His response will be...

"Good Morning, Lynne"
is what I hear...followed by,
"I love you"...

He is not what I expect sometimes,
and infinitely more...
as practical as dew and sun;
He knows my frame and considers the finite
capacity of my understanding.

Mercy He shows to one who does need it;
awaiting instruction and yearning for fellowship
with the One who speaks to my deepest parts
from the vantage point of eternity...

Sweet conversation from deep unto deep;
flowing through time and yet up-to-the-minute...
details attended to with soft nudging pokes;
and vision renewed in the light of His glory.

Morning Song

Looking up towards heaven,
this is the day that the Lord has made...
yet the new day with all of its' promise
retains vestiges of what clings and stings from yesterday...

"My mercies are new every morning" I can hear my Lord say;
yet the fog of emotion pulls me back to the land of regret and anxiety.
I try to cast my care on Him,
but the fishing pole at my side seems to hold onto whatever I attempt to cast.
I feel the care speed back to the depths of my soul...

"My grace is sufficient" adds the Spirit with patience;
knowing my frame is a package of dust and spirit
"fearfully and wonderfully made" as my Lord tells it...
and I choose to believe Him over whatever other source attempts to convince...

Lord, this is the day that You have made.
Help me to rejoice and be glad in the work of Your hands...
for I know that I know that your love endures forever;
awaiting my confessions of failures and fears...

Take my hand today, Lord, as every day...
and hold on tightly as I step out in faith;
knowing that Your grace is sufficient for my needs...
and that You are everything I need to survive.

Watching My Feet...

Watching my feet
as they walk ahead...
the sight of the ground below them
doesn't point the way anywhere.

The sound of my shoes hitting the pavement
reverberates up to the bones of my spine;
reminding me of the congealed dirt that I walk around in...

Watching my feet
as they walk ahead...
I realize that I can't see what is ahead of me;
making it easy for me to bump into a wall
...or someone else who is also watching their feet!

I feel a nudge to look up and I see
that watching my feet has hindered my steps;
as well as those walking around me;
circling each other in confusion;
bumping into each other as amusement park bumper cars...

Beyond the immediate scene of almost comical heights,
I can see the Lord waiting with outstretched hands...
inviting all who will respond to seek
the path of light.