stretch - word for 2017

last morning of 2016

first cup of coffee

not thinking much

brain hazy

yet the word was clear

sharp, unmistakable

stretch

I trust as I listen

this word will unfold

for now

let the springing forth

settle in

Enlarge the place of your tent, 

and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; 

spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes

  Isaiah 54:2 Amplified

sharing at Bonnie's

next door

we are in a place

where beauty thrives

in even the driest of seasons

colours both delicate

and brilliant

highlight His glory

pointing to the next open door

I see what you’ve done. Now see what I’ve done. 

I’ve opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. 

You don’t have much strength, I know that; 

you used what you had to keep my Word. 

You didn’t deny me when times were rough.

Revelation 3:8 The Message

 

splintered

I am not now, can never be

perfect, yet over 

and again I am reminded

comforted by His Words

it is not wholeness

He desires, no

it is the splintering

shards, the cracking

broken heart of me

Going through the motions doesn't please you,

    a flawless performance is nothing to you.

I learned God-worship

    when my pride was shattered.

Heart-shattered lives ready for love

    don't for a moment escape God’s notice.

Psalm 51:16-17 The Message

finding whitespace with Bonnie

God-shaped

A life devoted to things 

is a dead life, 

a stump;

    a God-shaped life 

is a flourishing tree

Proverbs 11:28 The Message

His

always

forever

His design

His breath

not by the world

not by my own hand

may my life be shaped 

by His hand alone

joining Lisha in praying give me grace

 

in His name

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, 

in step with each other. 

None of this going off and doing your own thing. 

And cultivate thankfulness. 

Let the Word of Christ—the Message—

have the run of the house. 

Give it plenty of room in your lives. 

Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. 

And sing, sing your hearts out to God! 

Let every detail in your lives—

words, actions, whatever—

be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, 

thanking God the Father every step of the way

Colossians 3:15-17 The Message

needing grace with Lisha

 

all time and now

And now to him who can keep you on your feet, 

standing tall in his bright presence, 

fresh and celebrating—

to our one God, our only Savior, 

through Jesus Christ, our Master, 

be glory, majesty, strength, and rule 

before all time, and now, 

and to the end of all time. 

Yes. 

Jude 1:24-25 The Message

connecting with Lisha for Sunday's Give Me Grace

 

glory in knowing Him

Thus says the Lord: 

“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, 

let not the mighty man glory in his might, 

let not the rich man glory in his riches; 

but let him who glories glory in this, 

that he understands and knows me, 

that I am the Lord 

who practice steadfast love,

justice, and righteousness in the earth; 

for in these things I delight, 

says the Lord.”

  Jeremiah 9:23-24 RSV

singing with Deidra and the Sunday choir

 

as surely as

For as [surely as] the earth 

brings forth its shoots, 

and as a garden causes what is sown in it 

to spring forth, 

so [surely] the Lord God 

will cause rightness and justice and praise 

to spring forth before all the nations 

[through the self-fulfilling power of His word].

Isaiah 61:11 Amplified

rejoicing with the Sunday singers at Deidra's

 

the hard parts

This week Diana has us pondering what we do with the hard stuff in the Bible.

there are so many books to read

page after page after page

of words, facts or fiction

all of questionable veracity

all, but one

this, a letter written

from a heart of love

mercy, grace

a verbal portrait of the author

the perfector of our faith

given to be read

again and again and again

but never alone

with our own eyes and reasoning

the words are flat

ink on paper

beyond comprehension

all of it hard stuff

so I read with an interpreter

the Holy Spirit

gifted, poured out 

and into me

there are words of love

easy to swallow, sweet

and satisfying

but words of correction

direction, can taste dry

stuck in my throat

I can struggle to understand

make sense of things

on my own, choking

and remain unnourished

how much better

to request living water

and let go, trusting

He will make all things

the hard, complicated

sticky things

clear in His perfect timing

help me then, Lord

to remember to release it all

that my answer to 

what do I with the hard things?

would be

I lay them at His feet

living into the answers with Diana

 

ice

Who is the mother of the ice?

    Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?

For the water turns to ice as hard as rock,

    and the surface of the water freezes.

Job 38:29-30 NLT

singing in the Sunday choir with Deidra

 

are you standing firm?

The smooth tricks of scoundrels are evil.

    They plot crooked schemes.

They lie to convict the poor,

    even when the cause of the poor is just.

But generous people plan to do what is generous,

    and they stand firm in their generosity.

Isaiah 32:7-8 NL

I am choosing to stand firm.

In what ways is the Lord asking you to do the same?

Have you followed the Compassion Bloggers?

The World Help Bloggers?

Do you feel called to go?

Or perhaps you're called to send?

Do you want to know more about the work Rick & I plan to do in Malawi?

Ask me!

singing in the Sunday chorus with Deidra

 

government of love

A new government of love will be established

    in the venerable David tradition.

A Ruler you can depend upon

    will head this government,

A Ruler passionate for justice,

    a Ruler quick to set things right.

Isaiah 16:5 The Message

praising Him in community with Deidra

 

slice in the night

the other night, these words came

waking me

again and again

slicing watermelon

to find sugary

goodness

runs like water

to refresh

leave the knife

in My hand

allow Me liberty

to work as

I will

and trust Me

a touch of salt

to the flesh

makes the juice

flow sweeter

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12 NLT

hanging out at the bar with the poets

 

prepare

Click here or on image to see a larger version

I wasn't sure if I was going to hear a clear word to walk me into this new year.  I decided not to press or force the issue, even though I felt a vague sense of disappointment.

Rick and I chose to spend our day, like most January firsts, reflecting and praying.  There is much ahead of us.  This will be a season of support building, planning and allowing God to bend, break and mold our hearts for the long term mission work awaiting us.

Then I experienced what could only be described as what people call a light-bulb moment.

Our word for 2014 flashed large, bright and clear.

PREPARE

There is work to be done, but not in our own power.  Only in Him can we accomplish anything.  I am still learning to relax into the work He has already done.:

Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared Exodus 23:20 RSV

the work He is doing:

Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work 2 Timothy 2:21 NIV

and the work yet for us to do:

but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence 1 Peter 3:15 RSV

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction 2 Timothy 4:2 NIV

Prepare your shields, both large and small, and march out for battle! Jeremiah 46:3 NIV

Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Cast up, cast up the highway! Gather out the stones. Lift up a standard or ensign over and for the peoples Isaiah 62:10 Amplified

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God  Isaiah 40:3 NIV

Is the Lord whispering or perhaps shouting a word into your spirit to focus you in 2014?  Please feel free to share.

  jamming with Bonnie as the new year begins

walking in broken imperfection but graced by His love with Emily
 

God spoke "Light"

First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—

all you see, all you don’t see. 

Earth was a soup of nothingness, 

a bottomless emptiness, 

an inky blackness. 

God’s Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss. 

God spoke: “Light!” 

And light appeared.  

Genesis 1:1-3

rejoicing in Him in community at Deidra's

 

light source

The sun shall no more be your light by day, 

nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you, 

but the Lord shall be to you an everlasting light, 

and your God your glory and your beauty. 

Isaiah 60:19 Amplified

singing with Deidra and the Sunday choir

 

Send me

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 

“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” 

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Isaiah 6:8 RSV

Deidra is back and I'm rejoicing with the Sunday choir

 

His clay

The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. 

He said, “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” 

So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. 

But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, 

so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. 

Then the Lord gave me this message:  

“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? 

As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand."

Jeremiah 18:1-6 NLT

The crushing is not what I would choose

uncomfortable, painful at times

help me then, Lord, to yield 

to Your hand, Your design

so much better than I would imagine

or choose for myself

Day 13 of 31 Days of Surrender