my thorn

don’t call me courageous

that title belongs to those 

who make a choice

to move, or take action

brave? not me

there is nothing I have done

but breathe, or gasp

eyes briefly shut

till the worst of it passes 

dauntless? no

I have simply survived

another moment

another day

 so I wouldn’t get a big head, 

I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. 

Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. 

No danger then of walking around high and mighty! 

At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. 

Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 The Message

psalm 20

psalm 20

if earth is Your ottoman

how merciful your heart

that You do not crush us

under foot

we live in Your shadow

ever sheltered

ever safe

because of love

because of grace

psalm 7

psalm 7

when life seemed unredeemable

not merely broken, shattered

when the pieces could not fit back together

no glue or tape could mend

when You looked upon our depravation

You chose the only tools of restoration

when You boldly took the nails that saved us all

and blood flowed free

and grace flowed free

at Your cross I fall 

claimed and surrendered

where love flows free eternally

rest, yes

we are away

for a time

of refocusing

refinement

and rest

without a vehicle

in an unfamiliar city

bowing low 

to be able receive care

from others

taking has not been easy

yesterday afternoon

I slipped, or tripped

and twisted my back

as pain spasms

the need for rest increases

and yet God Is

holding me, in control

pouring out His grace

saying yes

rest, yes

stay right here

at My feet

 

lakeside rejoicing

The waves beat rhythms against the sand in repeating patterns

more than one would expect from a lake 

that is so often glassy and silent. 

Motorized boats for tourist amusement 

or local fisherman at work 

move around the islands at varying speeds 

surrounded by the much smaller wooden dugout canoes 

and kayaks moved by paddles and arm power. 

The air is thick with moisture 

the sweet scent of frangipane blossoms. 

Here, both on the beach and inland, the pace is slow.  

The visitors seem to always have time 

for another beer, another cigarette.  

The only rush I sense 

is how fast people seem to be running 

away from their lives. 

We come here and find God’s glory 

tropical beauty, painted skies.  

We rise early to dive into His word as the sun rises hot

then we cool our fevered skin in the waves.  

From rooms next to us others emerge eyes blurry 

staggering, looking far too rough for coffee to cure.  

They never make it any farther than the bar 

or a lounge chair where collapsing

with no appearance of happiness 

they begin another day of nothingness.  

Another beer.  Another cigarette.  

Laughter loud, echoing falsely.

Some are passing through

others have made this place their home

living off the profits of tourist trade. 

In the shadow of their lost lives

we walk, we swim, and we feast on local fish.  

I open my senses to reel in all that I can contain

ever aware of this vitality

this wanting to be awake and alive.

It was not that long ago 

that I too sought and savoured the numbness. 

So this day my heart and spirit rejoice 

whispering, singing, shouting with thanksgiving. 

What wondrous redeeming grace.

 

prayer for a stranger

I saw you stagger, hesitate

almost fall

as you stepped slowly

on the dusty red sand road

just outside our gates

you passed first one direction

then the other

and back yet again

while some laughed

and jeered

saying you were drunk

others believed you were blind

and only one

stepped out to help

giving you a long stick

to help you walk

I pray tonight

that if you have a home

you found your way there

unharmed and whole

I pray tonight

that when you fall

it will be into arms

that have waited long 

to embrace you

I pray tonight

knowing there is a God

Who loves you

in your confusion

blindness, despair

Who never loses sight of you

even when you can not see

no matter how lost you are

I pray tonight for you

for me

for the scoffers

for His mercy

and His grace

to drench us all

and leave us shining

with His love

Grace on Parade

I am honored and blessed 

to have Karen Wingate

sharing a bit of the story 

of God's work in my life 

at her blog Grace on Parade today 

where she is 

spreading the fragrance of God's grace everywhere

While I'm busy here

it is still nice to be flickering about the internet.

  

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

 

giving up the "why"

The question Diana asks us to live this week is Why do bad things happen to good people?
I believe that question walks hand in hand with How can there be a loving God in a world where horrible things happen?

I have no answers

and I will not pretend to understand

or try to dig up reasons that sound like excuses

tears have wet pillows, cheeks streaked with why?

frustration grows at an accelerated pace

breathing fast until air is too thin to feed

I am learning to surrender

my need to know

giving up the why?

again and again

I find myself confessing

my heart on its knees

let it be enough to know that You know

so we can move on

to the now what?

remembering we are still in Your arms

even when nothing feels safe

or certain

help us turn the question 

on its head, and ask instead

why do we deserve all the good poured out upon us?

grace, Your grace alone

diving in with Diana

 

sharp edges

cold leaves me

brittle, too close 

to the edge of 

breaking, when what I

seek is unity

wholeness, to be 

a welcoming place

not these fractures

splintered, sharp to the

touch, come near and 

you leave bleeding

if I claim

innocence, lack of

foul intent, the flow

of pain continues

unhindered, hot

and raw

so let me own this

and ask you now

for grace, forgiveness

patience, that you wait

with me for warmer days

hanging out at the pub with the poets
 

giving no power to darkness

I had more than four decades behind me

before I came to faith, forty-three years

of directing my own story

comedy, tragedy, horror film

I laughed at the idea of sin, hell

didn't worry me, I joked

at least there I would finally be

warm

my dive into Jesus was fast

hard and deep

total submersion, much like baptism

even before I took that step 

of public declaration

acknowledgement of my filth

and forgiveness of the same

walked hand in hand

the exchange of my wretchedness

for His righteousness

a transaction solid and complete

abundant grace

that still brings me to tears

not because of who I was, or am

or will be, but only because

of Who He Is

nothing I can do to make myself better

but surrender to what He has

already done

so I need not think long about sin

I need not give too much power 

to the darkness, no

I won't deny His sacrifice

I instead choose freedom

choose light, choose life

But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. Romans 3:21-24 The Message

joining Diana who asks What’s with all this talk about 'sin?'

 

mercy for all

is that a cross in the clouds or Jesus with arms extended to us all?

you're gonna get what you give

seems I heard that over and over during my growing years

(as if growing ever ceases)

if you want to have a friend, be a friend

do unto others

love your neighbor

some lessons have been harder to learn

forgiveness, grace

can I proclaim judgement on others

while expecting mercy for myself?

dare I shout out for punishment for the sins of another

while clothing myself in the truth of His goodness 

while His mercy washes over me?

He Is mercy.  He Is grace.  He is love.

for the least of us

for all of us

every.single.one.

 

talking about mercy with Lisa-Jo

check out what the women of (in)courage are up to in Kenya here

 

Practice leaping

Silence is like a river of grace inviting us to leap unafraid into its beckoning depths. It is dark and mysterious in the waters of grace. Yet in the silent darkness we are given new eyes. In the heart of the divine we can see more clearly who we are. We are renewed and cleansed in this river of silence. There are those among you who fear the Great Silence. It is a foreign land to you. Sometimes it is good to leap into the unknown. Practice leaping.

MACRINA WIEDERKEHR, Seven Sacred Pauses

 

in the stillness with Sandy

 

Nearer than we think

He does not ask much of us, 

merely a thought of Him from time to time, 

a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, 

sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, 

at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present,

He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles 

to take solace in Him as often as you can.

 Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; 

the least little remembrance 

will always be the most pleasing to Him. 

One need not cry out very loudly; 

He is nearer to us than we think. 

Brother Lawrence The Practice of the Presence of God

linking with Sandy as I pray for her rapid healing and recovery

abiding with Cheryl

 

Simple and honest

Here’s what I want you to do: 

find a quiet, secluded place 

so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. 

Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. 

The focus will shift from you to God, 

and you will begin to sense his grace. 

Matthew 6:6 The Message

Continuing on in The Sermon on the Mount for this Lenten season

Joining in the Sunday praise with Deidra

 

Pour out

I sat in the quiet of the morning before sunrise, surrendering my day, yet uncertain about how much of my self remains in control.

I opened my journal to record what He would share:

Trust that I Am leading you.

Remain open and aware of all I place in front of you.  

What appears to be an obstacle may be your greatest opportunity.

Poverty shows up with many faces.  

Be sensitive to the poor in spirit for their needs are great.

Pour out grace.

Pour out patience.

Pour out love.

I did.  I do.   I always will.

Abiding with Cheryl

Seeking quiet with Sandy

 

Grace by Max Lucado

The world we live in is harsh.  It is impossible to measure up, to be good enough.  We fall short again and again.  I need grace. You need grace. Each and every one of us need grace.

In Grace More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine Max Lucado speaks of how grace changes us.

The easy to read style that Lucado is known for betrays the depth of the subject as my heart was tickled, touched and split wide open.  I feel as if I am inside the well known stories he shares:

Within a few moments the courtyard was empty. Jesus, the woman, her critics - they all left. But let's linger. Look at the rocks on the ground, abandoned and unused. And look at the scribbling in the dust. It's the only sermon Jesus ever wrote. Even though we don't know the words, I'm wondering if they read like this:

Grace happens here.

This is a volume that will remain close at hand so I can refer to it often.  I will quote from it's pages to encourage others.  I believe that you will do the same.


Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

 

Unfolding grace...

Knowing His promises

are roots that grow down deep

I rest and recover

in His love and grace

So we’re not giving up. How could we! 

Even though on the outside 

it often looks like things are falling apart on us, 

on the inside, where God is making new life, 

not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.  

2 Corinthians 4:16 The Message

Seeking Him in the quiet with Sandy

 

I'll take His much

There is much that I have learned but more still left unknown
much I have held on to that I need to release into hands that can do much more than mine

Here are the words the Lord shared with me this morning:

Would you take things out of My hands into yours?
You who still must learn of consequences
while I know the end of things before the beginning
I know the reason for every bend in the road
for every break
for every pain
When all is black to you
still I see
Can you surrender to My knowing
even when you do not?
Can you open your hands
and let go?

I will take His much in exchange for anything this world can offer
much forgiveness, much grace, much love
all this and so much more waits for those who choose to live in Him.

And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! 2 Corinthians 3:11 NIV





Joining Peter and the rest today talking about much


 

At the Cross on Saturday

I know a place, a wonderful place

Where accused and condemned

Find mercy and grace

Where the wrongs we have done

And the wrongs done to us

Were nailed there with Him

There at the cross

At the cross,

At the cross

He died for our sin

At the cross,

At the cross

He gave us life again
Randy and Terry Butler/Vineyard Music

Keep your eyes on Jesus,
who both began and finished this race we're in.
Study how he did it.
Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—
that exhilarating finish in and with God—
he could put up with anything along the way:
Cross, shame, whatever.
And now he's there, in the place of honor,
right alongside God. 
Hebrews 12:2 The Message

Taking a moment today for stillness with Sandy