On, In and Around Mondays - August Ends

Tomatoes change from green to yellow to orange to brilliant red and we slice them thick on toasted bread. We know too well the season's brevity, how rare is the flavour ripened on the vine.

Yesterday we harvested the last of the corn, cutting, bagging and sealing away the freshness for future times of feasting.

Leaves have begun to shower down like rain, landing on my shoulders and head as I stand in the yard. Yet there is time still to relish the flowers that burst forth in colours that should have new names to describe their beauty.

These are again days of rain. The air is chilled and damp. Low pressure systems move through leaving people with throbbing heads and achy joints.

Everything in us seems to resist change, even as it is upon us. Lord help us to release our days into Your more than capable hands.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

Written as part of L. L. Barkat's On, In and Around Mondays . Read more here at Seedlings in Stone.

Awe on a Sunday morning

The hand that paints the sky

reaches out to hold each one

that calls Him Father

Who knew

before He called the light to shine

that this morning you would rise

to praise His name.

Be blessed as you worship today †

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 NIV

My music director

Image via WikipediaAs I woke this morning I saw a vision of a piano keyboard and as I sat down to journal I asked the Lord what He wished to share.

I will play the music of your life. I will write the melody and the harmony. Do not take the conductor's baton from My hand and I will orchestrate.

When you are obedient instruments in My hands there are no sour notes, no missed interludes, no jumbled rhythms.

Will you allow Me to set the rhythm of your days? just as i cause the sun to rise and to set at their appointed times and call the light day and the darkness night, will I also order your life. You can choose to alter my timing in the same way you use electricity to create artifical light and shades to provide the dark, but it will never feel as comfortable or whole as when you walk in My ways.

I am not calling you to a time without electricity - I Am speaking in parables - trying to teach you something. What is your power source?

Many churches have used the slogan "get connected" to promote engagement in church groups, ministries and activities.

But I tell you, the connection must be made with Me first. When My life flows through you, then My power is multiplied.

Take your hands off the keys, little one, and listen as I play.

God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. Genesis 1:5 NIV

Window Views - Watching

The view out the window of my back door today looks quite a bit tamer than what Cass Frear writes about seeing at the Moonboat Cafe.

This is one of our two new barn kittens Pepper, feeling somewhat protected by shovels, brooms and a trash can, while he looks to see what Faith (the dog) is doing.

He may indeed be small, but in his heart he is every bit the wild bobcat that went running through Cass's yard. Or perhaps he thinks himself a lynx. We have those in these parts as well.

Safe in the shadow of the trash can Pepper is free to imagine adventures of various sorts, where he is ever victorious.

But... he will never truly conquer his fear of Faith unless he steps away from his covering, his shelter, his feeling of protection.

Couldn't the same be said of us all? It's time to take a step out of the shadow, knowing that our God is with us and for us.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 NIV

It's time to respond to His command. The same words He spoke to Joshua, He speaks still to us today:

Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take. Joshua 1:9 The Message

Ask the Lord what step He's asking you to take this day. Then grab hold of His promises - and go!

Join Cass at The Moonboat Cafe for more Window Views.

Imperfect Prose - August Moon

Driving home from town last night, rising pale yet solid
eyes deceived into imagining closeness
an intimacy that isn't.
I wanted to reach out to touch
find something tangible
in a season of uncertainty.

Remembering childhood nights, climbing out of the car
with Mom and Dad teaching me as they pointed
to say cheerfully "Hello Mr. Moon"
a greeting I offer up still.

This should be our harvest moon.
Farmers bristle with work both night and day.
There will be no rest, until the fields are clean.
Then perhaps, peace of mind will settle.
Until the seasons turn again.




Join Emily at In the Hush of the Moon for more imperfect prose.

Disturbed and not at all pleasant

Image by Creative Tools via Flickr

This is Thursday. A time to ramble. A time to randomize. A time to rant.

We serve a very big GOD, Who sees all, knows all and Is all. I don't like to give the enemy any more credit than in his pathetic smallness he deserves.

But...

You're messing with my friends.

Some are discouraged. Some are exhausted. Some are facing financial strain. Others are just under fire on the front lines.

Pray today for our dear friend Duane, the prince of pleasant and disturbed thinking. If you haven't heard about his accident, you can catch up on his blog Scribing the Journey .

I know he'll be reading our posts today, so let him know we love him, even though he's getting better drugs than the rest of us.

You might only have one arm to use right now Duane, but God is for you, so even in your weakness you can accomplish much.

I don't think there's a link-up today, at least not that I've heard of so far. But snoop around a bit and I'm sure you'll find the usual suspects, random and disturbed as always.

Word Filled Wednesday - Who is the Builder?

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. Psalm 127:1 NIV

This was the family home we helped build in Kampala, Uganda for Watoto Childcare Ministries. It is indeed the work of the Lord that is being done for the poor, wounded and orphaned ones.

Come enjoy more of His Word at Internet Cafe Devotions

For the children of Gulu Uganda

Bridget Chumbley's One Word at a Time Carnival this week is the word Children. I am reposting words that i wrote for the children in Gulu, Uganda when Rick and I walked among them in December 2007.

Gulu children lost and forgotten,
living terrified in paradise.
Cannot trust in man. Cannot trust in God.
Will your silent cries fill the air around me?
Will the blood cry out?
Will the blood cry out?
Will needless shame cast your eyes down
as you pay for the sins of generations past?
Tender flowers picked too soon.
Young butterflies forced to fly
on wings that have not yet dried.
Will your hearts learn to heal?

I am leaving you now and returning to a life that you have never known. A life of safety and shelter. A life of peace and plenty. To days of freedom and nights without fear. Yes, it seems I am leaving you now but much of my heart will stay here. And on the rest of my heart, that part that remains with me, you are forever inscribed, etched by the hand of our Father. It is He Who brought me here. It is He Who shall bring me here again.

Join us for more words about children this week.

Yearning for glory

I'm thirsty, seeking, longing for something I have not yet seen; waiting for the true glory of the Lord to descend. It is this yearning that leads me on.

For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Romans 8:22-23 NLT

I'm linking up with awesome artists that explore words in pictures. Stop by and explore with us!

Solace in the rain

I'm letting the sound

of rain

silence tongues

that speak only lies.

Voice of the world

snickers of evil

cry of my own flesh

be still.

Drops hit roof

deck, windows

with rhythm

that surely

matches

that

of God's

own

heart.

A melody that soothes.

A call to seek shelter

under mighty wings

that comfort and restore.

Songs of joy

that overcome

darkness, fear

pain.

Praise

in a downpour

that lifts eyes up.

This was written in response to L. L. Barkat's Random Acts of Poetry prompt at High Calling Blogs.

Wet Monday - Here

A prairie Monday
marked by wet creatures
dismal skies
harvest stilled by drizzle
showers, steady rain.
The sound of tractors
and combines
replaced by drops beating
on eavestroughs.

We might not
want
to take time to rest
yet God forces the issue
takes things out of our hands
and holds them in His own.
Reminds us
not to trust
in things seen
but in His promises.

He calls us down to our kness
and back to His heart.

Tomorrow comes soon enough.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV

This was written in response to L. L. Barkat's On, In and Around Mondays at Seedlings in Stone.

Marriage Talk

I'm pouring today at the Marriage Counter of Internet Cafe Devotions and the word is hot and fresh!

Does your husband have moments when he knows that his spiritual life is on a marvelous upswing? He’s been spending time with the Lord and meditating on His Word. God has been showing him new truths and igniting sparks in his spirit. The growth curve has been steep but he’s keeping up. He can rarely keep silent about God’s goodness. He is standing on one the mountain tops the Lord gives us in our daily walk.

And then….. his foot slips.....

Pull a stool right up to the counter to read more.....

Fruits of our labor

Things are ripening in our garden again. Zuchinni, peppers, tomatoes and the first ears of corn. It is a joy to make dinner with the fresh fruits of Rick's labor.

There has been ripening of another sort this weekend. I have been able to harvest the words the Lord has supplied to complete my monthly article for the Marriage Counter at Internet Cafe Devotions, a guest post for (In)Courage and the message I will be guest preaching tomorrow morning as at another church in town.

Now it's time to relax and enjoy a quiet Saturday evening. I feel full and empty at the same time.

Harvest continues.

Window Views - Harvest

Click on picture to enlarge view

Today as I gaze out my window, the skies alternate between sun and clouds, the view first hazy then sharp and clear. My ears settle on the rumble of heavy equipment. No matter the weather, it is time.

A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. Ecclesiastes 3:2 NLT

Harvest time is predictable in its coming, yet sudden as well. The fields are checked, rechecked. There is a sense in the air, something tangible. The urge to go like an itch you can't reach to scratch.

It is time to gather in what has been scattered; to rejoice in what God has done; to roll up our sleeves and toil, knowing Who sustains us.

It is time to think about the Kingdom that is yet to come and pray for the labourers.

"What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!" Matthew 9:37-38 The Message

This was written as part of Cassandra Frear's The Moonboat Cafe Window Views.

Imperfect Prose - Go Low

In the rush of days

and noise

I tune spirit ears

to hear His call

come down to a humble place

where I will cleanse you

to strip away pride

go low

lower

and find Me

where

love will hold you

into stillness
and peace will give you
wings to fly






Stop by Emily's In the hush of the Moon
to share your imperfections.

Disturbed indeed!

There is much to be done around Chez FireFly, most involving words that have to be sorted in this random brain and put into a form that will make sense for articles due and a sermon on Sunday.

Is there an enemy lurking that wishes to keep writers from writing? How many of you have met him? He's been showing his face far, far too often around here.

So this morning, I asked God to help me focus on the tasks at hand, and just as I was about to begin writing I noticed that our dog Faith has gotten covered in blue-bur seeds for the second time this morning. In the early summer these seeds look like tiny green velcro balls, by now, they are mostly brown but still sticky and they gather in clumps all over her body. Rick combed her out once before he went to work, and this second covering came not even an hour later. The longer we allow the seeds to remain, the more of her fur gets stuck and matted, so I just finished spending at least half an hour cleaning her up again!

Was I annoyed by the distraction, yes indeed. Then I remembered how God tends to us over and over and over again, washing away sin and the filth of the world that we we get entrangled in. Does He wish we would finally learn and avoid the sticky seeds? I would imagine so. Yet still in His love, He cleans us up and sets us back on our feet.

Where was I? Words, yes, words that need to come forth, to teach, encourage, and laundry in the dryer to be folded, and zuchinnis growing like crazy and...

This flower that we can't identify no matter how many google searches I do.

If you knw the name of this mystery flower, please share and allow me to check at least one thing off my list today.

Stop by Duane Scott's Scribing the Journey for more rambling by disturbed writers. And when you have moment in the midst of your own randomness, pray that I would find a moment of focus and clarity and that words would flow as He directs.

Word Filled Wednesday - Joy

When the righteous see God in action they'll laugh, they'll sing, they'll laugh and sing for joy. Psalm 68:3 The Message

Join us at Internet Cafe Devotions for more of His Word today!

Tuesdays Unwrapped - Captured moment

click on image to enlarge

Last Tuesday I was blogging about laughter and refreshing and waterfalls of rain. The Lord had said:

Step into Me for a drenching.

For days the air had been heavy and humid, holding moisture that would not release. While I prayed that clear skies would continue over fields and crops that needed to be dry, I was also asking that our garden and flowers would get the rain they were thirsting for.

Ever faithful, later that same day, the Lord gave me a perfect unwrappable moment, to capture an image of His healing upon the petals of a lily, drops that quivered like silver, displaying His love.

While you stop by and visit Emily at Chatting at the Sky for more unwrapped gifts, will you also take a moment to pray in agreement with our farmers that God will bring the harvest He desires in this year of difficult weathers?