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

 

The Way Bible - Tyndale House

As I frequently mention, I have a yearning for real, for true, for living honest and transparent in the world.  When I read Tyndale House's words about their revision of the 1970's Bible The Way:

Today’s 16–30 year olds are looking for connection to something bigger than themselves. They want something that works and is honest, authentic.

I thought, "yes, indeed", though I am surely in a different age group.  The hunger for authenticity transcends age.

Though perhaps not my favourite, I do enjoy the New Living Translation for a refreshing change of language. The translation, however, is not what sets this Bible apart from others.  It is the notes that introduce each book, the sharp black and white photos, the Living in the Way commentaries that lead to deeper thought about what living like Jesus really means.  What I most enjoy are additions from real people scattered liberally throughout the pages.  These include This Is My Story and What I Wish I'd Known,  true stories of struggle and learning.  There are also the words of hearts crrying out for answers in pages called Laments.

With only an old fashioned cell, not a smart phone, I could not take advantage of the more interactive benefits of this journey through God's Word, and as of yet have not scanned a single QR (quick response) Code,  I'll be interested to see howthat adds to the experience.

The back cover reads:

The answers that Christians have given me just seem to fall flat. Like maybe the people giving them don't even believe what they're saying. What I really want is someone to show me that all of this matters. That there is a better way to live.

Show me that the way of Jesus is better.

I believe and pray this revision of The Way will do just that.

Advanced Reader's Copy of the Bible has been provided courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

The opinions I have expressed are my own.

 

Unfold in faith

The tender flowers of Jacob's ladders pop out their heads
trusting no more snow will scatter cold upon them

leaves expose their stripes of greens
as hostas unfold
hoping the time for frost has passed

and I too, in like manner
extend tendrils of faith
in obedience to His call for transparency

so while it is not easy or comfortable
to come before you naked
it is what He asks today

I can use both your abilities and lack of ability, your strengths and weaknesses

This is why I ask you to be "real", to not pretend when life is hard
to share your doubts, to share your fears, to share your faith even when it wavers

It is that same honesty and willingness to strip down exposing vulnerability that
encourages others

Don't be afraid of falling for it is I Who catches you

The flowers now are trusting in the warmth of Spring
while I must trust in the One Who holds Spring in His hand


 

Heroes and Monsters - J.J. Riebock

I had not heard of Josh James Riebock or his first book mY Generation but when I read the description of his new book Heroes and Monsters: An Honest Look at the Struggle within All of Us I was intrigued:

In this stunningly honest, thoroughly unconventional, and ultimately hopeful book, Josh James Riebock explores issues that form us into the people we are--issues of family, love, intimacy, dreams, grief, purpose, and the unexpected stops along the journey. With artful prose and vivid storytelling, he shows that pain and beauty are so inextricably linked that to lose the former costs us the latter.

Honesty and hope are what I find myself hungry for and Riebock delivers hefty helpings of both as he steps into spaces in his soul that few choose to share.

The transparency in the words one who has learned that life in Christ is not simple kept me turning page after page, laughing, weeping and nodding my head with an "amen" on my lips. This story shows us that life makes more sense to us when we can look back and trace the journey.

We exchange vows, and in doing so, I break an old one. Sure, I swore I’d never get married. But I guess life is a matter of knowing which vows matter most and which ones you’re better off without. Sometimes it’s the broken vows that let us know how far we’ve come.

Riebock has come far indeed and I am grateful that he allows us to come along for the ride.

If you are looking for an easy story, I suggest you leave this book on the shelf. If however, you desire to be challenged and changed as well as entertained don't miss this well written tale.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

 

No masks

It is by choice
by deliberate design
that I walk in this world
unmasked

I have chosen
to know
and be known
a quest that hiding hinders

I have gone beyond wearing my "heart on my sleeve"
beyond naked
to skin glowing thin enough to be transparent
nothing much to peel away

when arrows come
and come they do
the piercing is all the more profound
for the aim is at who I really am
not someone I pretend to be

just me
spotted, wrinkled,
a work in His hands

I used to beat myself up
call myself names
self-accused for my vulnerability
for laying my heart on the line
again and again
instead of vowing "never"

then I heard Him whisper
I created that heart
to be seen and to be shared
and when it breaks
I will repair it
so be not afraid

So here I am
holding on to Him
reaching out to you....

 

Joining Bonnie and others talking about vulnerability as we continue to unwrap love