I am looking out my window as I write this, and I see the early morning sun illuminating the landscape. The cars are driving by; on their way to work, I am sure. Back in the house, I am doing what I do; write. This is how most of my days begin. Today is following the pattern. I have heard it said that it takes 30 days to develop a new habit. I am hoping for somewhere between two minutes and a week. I prefer the microwave version of the process; patient being that I am...
It is still January. Traditionally a time of new beginnings. No, I didn't make any resolutions. I tend to panic and break them right away so that the pressure is off. Odd logic, but it is mine; and a sort of escape valve. My point is this: the dawn of a new day in January inspires me to take stock of my life and seek my maker regarding those aspects of my daily life that need ammending. That reminds me...mending...whew...only a few buttons...
My mountains still look like mountains. No amount of dressing them up or reframing them has succeeded in taking them down to mole-hill status. My God is still big enough to handle those mountains, though. I will purpose in my heart to offer Him my hand as I start walking towards those mountains each day. Two steps with Him must be worth more than twenty without Him. My odds of making it are better with the company, I am sure.
I pray that you remember that His mercies are new every morning as you read this. He is faithful in ways we cannot fathom; and our finite minds cannot hold the majesty of His plans. He is with us, and that is what matters. Yes, He is ready to take our hands and lead us on towards new pathways.
Whew! He's got my back. I think I can breathe out now.
Joy to you,
Lynne
Friday, January 25, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Keep on Truckin'
Gotta keep on truckin', brother;
'cause the road ahead has bumps
you're gonna need to step over...
Gotta keep on truckin', sister;
'cause the steam you give off
is gonna warm someone else's heart...
Makin' it from point a to point b,
hanging on to the Master's hand
and waiting for His tugs of direction;
you'll make it to the finish line
if you just keep truckin' along...
Gotta keep on truckin', and keep your eyes on the prize;
knowing that He has promised to stay near...
keeping on that path that leads to the promised land...
'cause the road ahead has bumps
you're gonna need to step over...
Gotta keep on truckin', sister;
'cause the steam you give off
is gonna warm someone else's heart...
Makin' it from point a to point b,
hanging on to the Master's hand
and waiting for His tugs of direction;
you'll make it to the finish line
if you just keep truckin' along...
Gotta keep on truckin', and keep your eyes on the prize;
knowing that He has promised to stay near...
keeping on that path that leads to the promised land...
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Vine Ripe
Hanging in there
on the vine;
lifting my feet
to avoid the sharp points
designed to protect the fruit...
Connected to the vine
in ways unseen to me;
rejoicing in the knowledge
that I don't need to see everything
to know that I wont fall off
before the appointed time...
Moments come
and turn into days...
the years take off
and run with reckless abandon;
yet I know that my times
are in His hands;
and I long to become
vine ripe for the attainment of the prize...
on the vine;
lifting my feet
to avoid the sharp points
designed to protect the fruit...
Connected to the vine
in ways unseen to me;
rejoicing in the knowledge
that I don't need to see everything
to know that I wont fall off
before the appointed time...
Moments come
and turn into days...
the years take off
and run with reckless abandon;
yet I know that my times
are in His hands;
and I long to become
vine ripe for the attainment of the prize...
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Whispers of Micah 7:19
"He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."-Micah 7:19
You cast our sins
into the depths of the sea;
showering mercy down upon us
to the foot of the cross in repentance...
...and I can imagine how the joy
in Your heart flows down to us;
and returns to Your ears
as the grateful praise for your grace...
The whispers of Micah
envelop me, Lord...
bringing to mind that well worn fishing pole
kept near and ready as I hear You
whisper the words of reassurance to my spirit...
"You have confessed. I have forgiven. Hand over
the pole and taste of My rest..."
My praise arises once again on the wind of Your Spirit...
You cast our sins
into the depths of the sea;
showering mercy down upon us
to the foot of the cross in repentance...
...and I can imagine how the joy
in Your heart flows down to us;
and returns to Your ears
as the grateful praise for your grace...
The whispers of Micah
envelop me, Lord...
bringing to mind that well worn fishing pole
kept near and ready as I hear You
whisper the words of reassurance to my spirit...
"You have confessed. I have forgiven. Hand over
the pole and taste of My rest..."
My praise arises once again on the wind of Your Spirit...
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Make Us One
Father, make us one;
as You are with the Son
and the Spirit...
Jesus, our sacrificial lamb
led to the slaughter
for a perfect atonement;
draw our hearts together in love
to lead those that have not seen You
believe in Your love by the power
of the Holy Spirit...
...and thank you, Spirit; for the
sublime comfort You offer as an extension
of the Father's love...
quickening our spirits to hear Your whispers
as You lead us in that perfect way.
as You are with the Son
and the Spirit...
Jesus, our sacrificial lamb
led to the slaughter
for a perfect atonement;
draw our hearts together in love
to lead those that have not seen You
believe in Your love by the power
of the Holy Spirit...
...and thank you, Spirit; for the
sublime comfort You offer as an extension
of the Father's love...
quickening our spirits to hear Your whispers
as You lead us in that perfect way.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
He Rejoices Over Us
Zephaniah 3:17 "...He will rejoice over you with singing." NKJV
He rejoices over us with singing;
celebrating our existence
and finding joy in hearing His own voice
as the music washes over us...
Our security and comfort;
eternal hand of safety and warmth...
joyfully holding our lives in His hands;
and wrapping His spirit around us in peace.
He rejoices over us with singing;
celebrating our existence
and finding joy in hearing His own voice
as the music washes over us...
Our security and comfort;
eternal hand of safety and warmth...
joyfully holding our lives in His hands;
and wrapping His spirit around us in peace.
Friday, December 14, 2007
The Hook
I have been watching the DVD of the last Chronicles of Narnia movie that was put out by Disney a few years ago. The white witch manipulated Edmund with skill and an obvious knowledge of human nature. His unwitting help in her plan to destroy the human intruders and conquer Aslan became clear to him only after a measure of damage was done. There were "hooks" in his nature that made this possible. One of these hooks was his desire to cover his tracks. He doesn't come clean about his contact with the white witch when Lucy discovers him in Narnia for the first time. In response to the white witch's threat to the fox, Edmund volunteers damaging information in an attempt to appease her malice towards the creature. Her praise of his honesty is a cold comfort to him at the same time the fox appeals to him as royalty. The prophecy is acknowledged as the fox addresses Edmund as "Your Majesty".
The white witch's action of freezing the butterfly to death and turning it to stone speaks of the death that sin causes as those hooks dig in and begin the fester the affected area of "flesh".
How many times have we tried to cover our sin in full view of the Father's eyes? In 1 John 4:19, we are told that if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The lie we believe about needing to cover ourselves when we mess up is an all too effective hook that festers in us as we hold onto the hook. Our efforts at trying to cover up the hook and pretend that all is well accomplish nothing to benefit us or others that are affected by the hook. Often, I think that we have stone butterflies caught within our spirits in the form of dead zones; those hooks that have been brought down as we unwittingly embrace the death caused by our sin.
The triumphant return of Aslan(thinly veiled reference to the risen Christ)restores the dead flesh and ignites the fire within once again. Our joy and fulfillment come as we allow Him to remove the hooks and continually learn to forsake impaling ourselves with those hooks in the first place. That process will not complete itself until every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord.
The white witch's action of freezing the butterfly to death and turning it to stone speaks of the death that sin causes as those hooks dig in and begin the fester the affected area of "flesh".
How many times have we tried to cover our sin in full view of the Father's eyes? In 1 John 4:19, we are told that if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The lie we believe about needing to cover ourselves when we mess up is an all too effective hook that festers in us as we hold onto the hook. Our efforts at trying to cover up the hook and pretend that all is well accomplish nothing to benefit us or others that are affected by the hook. Often, I think that we have stone butterflies caught within our spirits in the form of dead zones; those hooks that have been brought down as we unwittingly embrace the death caused by our sin.
The triumphant return of Aslan(thinly veiled reference to the risen Christ)restores the dead flesh and ignites the fire within once again. Our joy and fulfillment come as we allow Him to remove the hooks and continually learn to forsake impaling ourselves with those hooks in the first place. That process will not complete itself until every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)