Be that light

I know I'm not alone in my desire to walk in the perfect will of God.
We ask.  We pray.  We beg at times.
"Lord, what would you like from me?"

This morning  as I opened my journal He answered in simple words that He has used before:

Just as the night can not hold back the morning
darkness can not hold back the light

Where light is 
darkness splinters, cracks and shatters

I call you to be that light

Remembering and reminding others 
that no matter how deep or long the night

morning always comes

 

Loving how His hand moves with Jennifer

 

Sword sharpening

I do not lift

my pen alone

but wait in silent prayer

for His prompting

acknowledging the power

words have to break, to build

to begin a war

or declare victory

All I write

a pale shadow

of His heart

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, 

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; 

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

Cherishing His ways with Jennifer

Sharing a bite of sweet with L. L. Barkat

 

Hush of awe

Hushed with quiet, hushed with awe, I shut the cover of my journal
always gratefully surprised that my Lord would choose to share His heart with me

How can you shine My light when you are busy polishing your own?
It is not your reflection that the world needs.
Do not worry that a cloak of humility will hide you
for it is only then that I am seen.
This then is why I call you to die
die to all your humanness
die to your self hood
die to your self-ish-ness
so that the Me in you would burst forth
This like the rising sun in Isaiah 60:1

Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Isaiah 60:1 Amplified

A bit later in the morning, flickering about the internet world, I connect with a friend who says God has been speaking Isaiah 60 into her heart.

The hush falls harder, yes, through and through indeed.

Triple connections today --

believing that nothing is coincidence with Jennifer

having a bite of something sweet with L. L. Barkat

joining Emily and the broken yet redeemed

Now I know...

The last assignment for Compassion Blog month is to write from the perspective of a sponsored child:

Alone, frightened
cold climbed in deep
and would not let me go.
The blankets you gave
like arms wrapped close
whispering Jesus.

I had never heard that name
but now I know
it means warm.

Alone, frightened
hunger dug in deep
and would not let me go.
The food you sent
poured into all that empty space
whispering Jesus.

I had never heard that name
but now I know
it means full.

You didn't tell me.
You showed me.
Opening your own life
to touch mine.

And now I know
Jesus means love.

As of last Friday, we were at 2,006 sponsorships. We have one week to go! Let's give 1,102 more children the gift of being sponsored this month. 

To find out the most recent sponsorship number for every day this week, follow Compassion on Twitter

 

Feeling the God-Bumps with Jennifer

and walking with the broken but redeemed with Emily

 

Still...

I have been still
in the midst of doing
visiting with my mother

His peace
descends, a thick fog
comforting, healing
sealing Himself in
and the world out

Great, how great is His faithfulness

Praise God, everybody! Applaud God, all people! His love has taken over our lives; God's faithful ways are eternal. Hallelujah!  Psalm 117:2 The Message



Joining Jennifer today in breathing in His presence

 

Learning to live...

Learn to live in the uncertainty

these words from my Lord resound

in shouts, roars, whispers....

because He knows me

the one who used to think she likes surprises

yet clings fast to illusions of control

day after day after day

I wrestle, trying to hold

what cannot rest in my hand

here again I stand, here again I fall

here again I surrender

to thoughts and ways higher

to the One Who brushes each stroke of paint

on this picture that is my life

I don't think the way you think. The way you work isn't the way I work. God's Decree. For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think. 
Isaiah 55:8-9 The Message

Joining Jennifer as Godbumps rise up afresh in my spirit...

 

Losing time

Tomorrow will be summer
again, and it seems
I have just packed away Christmas.

Time is slipping through my fingers
faster than I can ask
where have the hours gone
the days, months, years?

Soon vegetables shall ripen
in the garden that seems just seeded
and I will be about the task
of preserving the harvest
in freezer bags, jars of spicy recipes
quickly, before snow flies
again.

Yet even this worrying has no use.
Perhaps I was never meant to hold time
but let go, let Him
do as He wills
when He wills
He always has
He always shall...

Yes indeed, it won't be long now." God's Decree. Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won't be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills
Amos 9:13 The Message

Joining Jennifer rejoicing in what is never coincidence

and walking in community with Emily and the imperfect

 

Blooming in the shade

The days have grown long now
the vegetable garden begins to explode
with the promise of fruits to come.
Yes, these are the practical plants
seeds that are transformed into body nourishment
for ourselves and others.

Like any other farmer, Rick, the gardener,

does his daily, or twice daily, or thrice daily walkabout

checking progress, whispering prayers

exhaling words of thanksgiving.

These last few days

there has been time for the frills
the colour and chaos of flowers.
We planted in baskets, containers and beds
and I do my daily, or twice daily, or thrice daily walkabout
taken with beauty, whispering prayers
exhaling words of praise.

I hear His voice in these gardens

see the creative work of His hands.

Each flower unique in its thriving

those needing heat do not scorch in the sun

while others demand shade's cooling touch.

He Is, always

both my light and my shelter

I bloom beneath the shadow of His love.

The Lord himself watches over you!

The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.

 Psalm 121:5 NLT

 

Joining Jennifer in celebrating His God-incidences

also walking in community with Emily and the redeemed

 

Grounded

The following words Paul wrote to the Colossians are hidden in my heart and burst forth frequently from my lips:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things Colossians 3:1-2 NIV

My spirit takes wing to abide with my Lord
yet still here
I live in a suit of flesh
flawed, imperfect
inflamed
a weight that anchors me

While I await the results of yesterday's MRI that might explain my hearing issues
I shall move on to new adventures in health

tomorrow I see the surgeon about a fatty tumor on my backside
the lump that bruises from my recumbent cycle seat
the lump that feels discomfort when I lie down
the lump that has been a part of me for most of my adult life...

don't imagine a pea
or an egg
we're talking softball size here

I'm not sure what the next step is
must trust that God will give wisdom
to the hands He has trained to heal

I breathe deep
trying to take in faith
and release apprehension

Tomorrow I will know, perhaps
if and when surgery is scheduled
but I am willing
more than willing
to allow myself to serve
as a sign and wonder
to be His miracle if that is His desire
a signpost pointing
from my imperfection
to Him
perfect in glory

 Gathering here with Jennifer





and Emily where you can read more about her new book Chasing Silhouettes: How to Help a Loved One Battling an Eating Disorder, available for pre-order.


 

Random but listening

Random thoughts spin, hover and take flight
focus seems all but impossible
there is much I want to share
but it seems like I'm pulling words out of a paper bag
my thoughts look like a ransom note...

The first asparagus are pushing their way out of the ground.  Last year Faith realized how delicious they are and now we are trying to teach her that she may not eat them before we get a chance to pick them.

It's my wedding anniversary today -- 12 years ago my life became wrapped with Rick's around the core of God's love -- here again are words I wrote a few years back:

Elizabeth Barrett Browning penned: "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." Let me take a bit of creative license here and say: "Why do I thank God for Rick? Let me count the ways."

• Rick loves God above all else. That keeps his other priorities aligned.
• Rick is not afraid to say "I'm sorry"
• Rick has the same quirky sense of humour I do. We laugh often.
• Rick is a lifelong learner.
• Rick is quick to encourage and support me in whatever I believe God is asking me to do.
• Rick's bag of tricks, his knowledge and abilities fill in the gaps and compliment my own.
• Rick has a heart that has been kneaded, molded and softened by the Lord.
• Rick always finds new ways to surprise me with his kindness.
• Rick handles our finances with skill and Kingdom mindedness.
• Rick is Rick! He is exactly who God created him to be but open to the Lord's ongoing and never ending work in his life. God is taking him from glory to glory, and I get to come along for the ride.

I know without any shadow of doubt that God had His hand upon every detail of my life-to-be with Rick. If you haven't heard the story of our first face-to-face meeting you can click over and read it here.

The rains have stopped for a bit - leaving the new overgrown spring grass dry enough to cut.  I shall spend some time this afternoon riding in circles on my garden tractor,  the first mow of the new year. I will worship, and I will pray, and allow the Lord to whisper His mysteries into my heart.


Seeing Him in all that surrounds me and sharing with Jennifer and the rest

 

I wouldn't choose rain

The rain today
that falls softly without ceasing
is not unexpected
the earth has cried for moisture
preparation for the growing
that is soon to come

While I, feeling chilled
deep in my bones
would have chosen sun
I surrender to needs
greater than my own
attempt to find joy
turn the heat up
flex and extend my aching knee
pour another hot cup

A wise young writer friend Duane Scott
wrote provoking words on Facebook today
mentioning my name among some very gifted writers

Some of my best blogger friends, always have beautiful endings... they always point things back to God. But I know they struggle. I know they have flaws.
But their God and their faith in God outshines all of those flaws and honestly, I think my perception of them becomes a bit false because of it. I forget they're human. (And I start to think they don't have 1/10th the struggles I do)

I answered back:

It is in our flaws, hung out for the world to see that His light truly shines..

He called me sweet and I replied:

we can't be so sweet that we're not real... it's the real touched by His love...

My heart and my intention is to be open, transparent
it often leaves me raw, bleeding
but I will yet praise Him
yes, I will yet praise Him.

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 42:11 Amplified

 

Believing that are no concidences with Jennifer




and walking hand in hand with the redeemed at Emily's

Not quite Spring

It is again a time of waiting
Spring drifts in skittish
her fragrance lingers
only brief moments
before taking flight

taste and see
taste and see
sweet mingles spice
yet He Is good

rain chills the air
refusing to fall
new growth awaits
the water
and the warm

each page I turn
speaks of surrender
letting go
letting Him

while the April winds sing

patience is a lesson that takes a lifetime to learn...

Noticing Him everywhere with Jennifer




and Emily



 

Without looking

Before leaving home
He reminded me
where ever I may go
I need never leave Him

Road heading East from Galena, Illinois

I wasn't listening
as He was speaking
in bright display

Tree in early bloom, Glenview, Illinois

How could I miss
the wonder of His hand
winged joy
delighting in flight

Duck in Port Washington, Wisconsin

Strokes delicate
as His whispering
promises

Orchids at Mitchell Park Domes, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

You need not search or strive
stop a moment, rest here
find me where I wait
ever wait
for you

Black River in La Crosse, Wisconsin

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.  But you would have none of it  Isaiah 30:15 NLT



linking with Jennifer where nothing is coincidence....