29 January 2016

goodbye again hello again

another page turns
as the chapter draws to a close
night follows day
all things sorted by His hand
in beautiful perfection

tomorrow I bid farewell to Pretoria
to friends both new and old
fly back to my Zambian life
to rest in the arms of my husband
while our Father
continues to hold us both
in the sweet spot
the centre of His palm and heart

26 January 2016

new wells

quiet, still and listening 
if I wait for the time of sharing
He Is always faithful to speak

perhaps it is time to dig new wells
go in the way I will lead you
there will be living water for you
in unexpected places
ways you have not thought of
I Am your God
do not follow any other

He moved away from there and dug another well, 
and they did not quarrel over that one; 
so he named it Rehoboth (broad places), 
saying, “For now the Lord has made room for us,
 and we shall be prosperous in the land.” 


 

24 January 2016

keep listening

allowing Him to speak - early on His day
even as all days are His

in the quiet
keep listening
when it is difficult
to hear Me
may well be when I have
the most to say
just be, little one
just be
you are Mine, and I know
what I'm doing
I will direct, Am directing
your every step

breathe, surrender
go limp and be
like a marionette
allow the Master
to pull the strings
yes, you were trained
to believe it is wrong,
weak and foolish
to be a puppet
what better hand
should control your life?

in My time, in My way
for My glory
your life will accomplish
that which I desire

I Am, so relax
be and let Me Be
I am not calling you
to laziness, no, I tell you
there is work to do
but in My strength
and when our purposes collide?
when We work as one?
there is a release of great passion
and joy

keep listening

you know when you know

Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you to fear the Lord
 [with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience].

 

20 January 2016

work to do

Yes, I have work to do here
I wake early, refusing sleep until late
still, away from what is normal
I have found my return
to communion with my Lord
His words this morning:

we are not finished
the plans I have 
stretch farther than you can see
on a road only made smooth
by faith
and trust in Me

its when you let go of My hand
and when you look around
that fear falls
like Peter on the water

he did the impossible
when his eyes
focused on Me

you, little one
can do likewise

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
“Yes, come,” Jesus said. 
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink.
 “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. 
“You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
Matthew 14:28-31 RSV

 

19 January 2016

not writing

there is a stirring in my spirit
aching, itching
a deep knowing
I am missing the one thing
I am meant to do
designed for, gifted
and chosen
I have been called
to proclaim
to create
to write
1 Corinthians 13 turns 
in my mind, twisted
if I have not words
I am nothing

 

18 January 2016

Open door

when a door opens
often the wisest move
takes the most courage

may I be both bold
and brave
choosing to not linger in the shadows
peering out at the sun
but to step out
touched by glory

And while you are at it, add us to your prayers. 
Pray that God would open doors 
and windows and minds and eyes and hearts for the word 
so we can go on telling the mystery of the Anointed
  

03 January 2016

first and always

In the quiet of the morning - I was listening --

If you allow Me to set the course
set the schedule
order your steps and your days
you will face them with both energy and joy
instead of the anxiety and hesitance
that is dragging your spirit low

Even if this calls you
to stand against the plans of men
you will not stand alone

seek Me --
first and always
ask Me --
I Am faithful to answer
listen -
trust our connection
you do hear Me
obey - step out in faith

When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; 
for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour 

 

02 January 2016

Word for 2016

As is my habit, I ended the old and began the new year seeking a personal word 
of direction and focus from the Lord for 2016.  
I waited. And I waited. 
By late afternoon yesterday, the word simply emerged --

CLARITY

The Oxford English Dictionary defines:

1.1 - The quality of being coherent and intelligible
for the sake of clarity, each of these strategies is dealt with separately

1.2 - The quality of being easy to see or hear; sharpness of image or sound
the clarity of the picture

1.3 - The quality of being certain or definite
it was clarity of purpose that he needed

1.4 - The quality of transparency or purity
the crystal clarity of water

It seems that the Lord referred to all the variations of the word 
when He shared with me this morning:

There is much noise and distraction surrounding you
not all of it is bad or evil
yet still can draw you off course
Yes, you need to see and hear with precision
In the days to come
I will sharpen your focus
even place blinders upon you
so that you see only that which I desire

Do not concern yourself
with things I have not called you to
Do not allow the enemy to pervert 
the curious nature I gifted to you
to explore that which you do not need to know
While the world stirs and muddies your view
return to Me
in stillness and calm 
the waters settle
and vision returns

Not only will you live with clarity
but I am confirming and reinforcing
my desire for you to walk in clarity
fully transparent
to Me, to yourself
to those to whom I will send you
no guile
no façades
no masks
as they see right through you
I will appear
and shine

Thus says the Lord God, “When I gather the house of Israel from the nations among whom they are scattered, and I manifest my Holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their own land which I gave to My servant Jacob. 26 They shall live in it securely; and they will build houses, plant vineyards and live securely when I execute judgment on all those around them who despise them. Then they will know [with clarity and confidence] that I am the Lord their God.” Ezekiel 28:25-26 Amplified

And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, [and to progressively understand His plan with clarity and power] and to see the Righteous One [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and to hear a message from His [own] mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men testifying of what you have seen and heard. Acts 22:14-15 Amplified