I stand amazed

when I feel small

lost

uncertain

I open wide my eyes

humbled

amazed I stand

surrounded always

by His glory

His wondrous creation

small indeed

yet not lost

for I am found 

in Him

contrite spirits

lessons this week, have run deep

openness and brokenness

religion versus relationship

repentance

mixed with sessions of practical work

serving, cleaning, humble

bringing any haughty spirit low

no room for pride here

learning to love cross culturally

offering all of myself

as my spiritual act of worship

less of me and more of You, Lord

the cry of my heart

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise

Psalm 51:17 NIV

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 51:17 The Message

 

lower still

Come, oh come! let us away--

Lower, lower every day, 

Oh, what joy it is to race

Down to find the lowest place. 

This the dearest law we know--

"It is happy to go low."

Sweetest urge and sweetest will,

"Let us go down lower still."

Hear the summons night and day

Calling us to come away.

Hannah Hurnard - The Water Song

Hinds Feet on High Places

lower still

strip pride away

till I can in stillness sit 

beside my Lord

simple, humble

no thought of self

but all of Him

seeking that still spot with Sandy

 

On assignment

I am on assignment

my time is not my own

I have come to serve

humbled, weary and distracted

I lean hard into the arms 

of the One Who sent me

and the prayers 

of those who lift me

thanks offered for you

praises raised in my sighs to Him

 

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

Word Filled Wednesday - Open doors

Enter into His gates

 with thanksgiving and a thank offering

and into His courts with praise!

Be thankful and say so to Him,

bless and affectionately praise His name! 

Psalm 100:4 Amplified

The thing I miss most while I'm away from home is the time early in the morning when I sit down, (in what is now called my "Jesus chair") open my journal, and wait on the Lord to speak His truth into my heart.

This is what He shared as the sky grew light this morning:

I will teach you peace and contentment, like the great apostle Paul, in both need and abundance.

You will know in a deeper way that all you see, all you dream of, from the smallest provision like manna on the ground belongs to Me.  Humility will open your eyes to see the truth - you deserve nothing - yet I sustain you.

A heart of gratitude will take you places most never go, down a road walked by My side.

Thankfulness will open doors where beauty and glory shall multiply.

Praise prepares the way as it prepares your heart.

Come visit Internet Cafe Devotions for more wonderful combos of pictures and the Word.

Hear my prayer

The noise
of the world shouts
long and loud
wild dogs nip
at the heels
of my spirit
teeth ripping
into a heart
that longs to listen
to You alone
do not be far from me
oh Lord, hear my prayer

As I wake to a day
new with gifts
scattered
waiting to be
opened, utilized
for a Kingdom cause
let humility
be my cloak
reflecting
not absorbing
glory that is Yours alone
let me not be far from You
oh Lord, hear my prayer

Let us reason together
Your invitation calls
quiet in a world
where reason alone
has reigned
and faith
has been stripped
from the rules
of a game
that I don't
want to play
keep my mind
fixed on You
oh Lord, hear my prayer.

May I disappear
that You
would be all
for the honour is Yours
the glory is Yours
for ever and ever
Yours only, Amen.

He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.] John 3:30 Amplified

Oh, Yes! The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, the honor and power and strength, To our God forever and ever and ever! Oh, Yes!
Revelation 7:12 The Message

Joining Jason HERE for Warrior Poets Circle where he asked us this week to pray in poetry

Visit One Stop Poetry to read more Wednesday One Shot Poems

His Road

As I sat down for my morning time with Jesus I was pondering the word Peter chose for this week - Road.  I knew that the Lord would have something to say, and I share His heart with you here:

Many claim to want to follow, to want to be like Me - but they don't really know what it is they are saying.

Few, if any would walk the road I've walked.

The hardest path, the way of sacrifice; each step an exercise in forgiveness and mercy; every inch an opportunity to grow ever more humble.

"Not My will but Thine be done" I cried out to My Father.

Will My people continue to pray "Lord, Your will be done, as long as it makes me happy - or wealthy - or powerful - or comfortable"?

While I wait, calling always in invitation "abide in Me".  I Am not hard to find - turn onto Surrender Road.

Join us HERE at Peter Pollock's to read more views on the word Road

Refresh Restore. Renew.

The winds again beat against our windows; create havoc with the large, low wind chimes that hang from the front eaves. All night we hear the music, both mellow and fierce.

Snow on the ground is nothing close to solid here, instead it is in constant change, shifting shapes, drifting and re-drifting recreating the landscape hourly.

We listen. We watch. We wonder.

And this morning the Lord said:

Just as the rains came and came and continued to fall in the Spring, so now blows the wind.

For I Am cleaning your land. And that which has been buried will be exposed. And that which has been hidden will be washed into the light. And all that has exalted itself will be brought low.

Confession is your place of safety as you run to Me. Do not allow the enemy to convince you to run from Me as if could hide.

I Am the only hiding place.

Refreshing.  Renewal.  Rebirth.  All this by His hand.  When we turn.  When we cry out as David did, confessing our sin, our need to be cleansed and restored.

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.  Psalm 51:7-12 NLT

Here am I, Lord, help me be willing to be willing.  I am hungry for the joy that comes from resting in the palm of Your hand even as that hand sifts and strips away.  Here am I, humbled and struck with awe.

Refresh.  Restore.  Renew.  For the sake of Your name.

Visit Peter Pollock's to read what others are sharing this week on Renewal.

Rejoice - yes rejoice!

This year, as the season of miracles is upon us, the Lord draws us close and closer and my spirit resonates and dances to the words that Mary sang:
"My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior"

How can my lips remain silent?  How can this heart not tremble in worship?
I tune my spirit to the chorus of angels, rejoicing with all who have gone before
all who sing this day and all who are yet to come.

Rejoice for the light has overcome the darkness.
Rejoice for He has conquered sin and death.
Rejoice for our Savior reigns now and forever more.

The truth of His being
fills me, thrills me
finds me humble and shivering with joy
tears falling hot and sweet
as in awe and wonder, yes
I rejoice!

And Mary said:
“ My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
Luke 1:46-53 NKJV


Peter Pollock has resumed as the host of One Word Carnival.  Join us there as we ponder the word rejoice.

Also submitted as part of The High Calling Blogs Christmas in Verse group project.

Altar of Incense - a Magpie Tale

As I looked upon this bottle of fragrance, I was reminded of a journey I took through the outer courts, inner court and into the holy of holies to meet with my Lord.

I presented myself before each piece of tabernacle furniture –

in the Outer court:
brazen altar = cross
brazen laver = God’s Word (washing of the Word)

in the Inner Court the Holy place:
table of showbread = our will (ground to His will, like the flour for the bread)
golden lampstand = our mind illumined by Holy Spirit
altar of incense = our emotions aligned by worship

and in the Holy of Holies:
Ark of the Covenant = direct Spirit to spirit revelation

What would I sacrifice on this altar Lord, where the fire rages and the heat is more intense than any I have known? What would I hold back? You gave all You had and all You were and You ask for nothing less from me. I cannot be cleansed at the brazen laver, cannot be cleansed by the washing of Your Word until I am reconciled to this altar of sacrifice. So here I am, offering all that’s good and all that’s bad, all that is me. The scent of my flesh as it burns is sour. The pain is unspeakable, as the fire cuts in, hungrily consuming all that it wants. I don’t know if I am moaning or screaming or silent. I wait for the end with the taste of smoke everywhere.

I have passed through the fire, and ashes are falling off the charred remains of who I once was. Now I approach the brazen laver. The water looks like liquid silver, and as I dip my hands in there is no more pain, just a deep soothing refreshment. I splash the water onto every part of me. If this is truth every other part of me was lies. My self was left at the altar and this new skin seems to soak up every drop. Washed, cleansed and revived by Your Word, Your life, I am ready to enter the Holy Place.

As I come before the table of showbread I am amazed that there is so much of “me” left, that I still have a will after my time on the altar. I have been soaked in Your truth and my will transformed, but it remains never-the-less. You didn’t want to destroy my will, You just want to know I will bend my will to Yours. Surrender, submission and obedience, these You desire and would not be possible if I had no will at all. This seems surprising to me, yet You desire for me to be all You created me to be.

The lights from the lampstand may burn continually but not consistently, for they flicker and flare, at times the light much brighter than others. Even though Your Holy Spirit fuels the lamps, my very human nature filters the light, and so it is not pure.

I move on to the altar of incense, desiring to be a sweet fragrant offering to You, Lord. This is the last stop, the final door to the Holy of Holies, and I am not sure I have ever passed through. I do not know if I have ever abandoned myself in worship, there is still too much of me and this altar is much smaller than the brazen altar. Yet, I am so close, so close, let me be devoured again, but this time in awe and in reverent fear. It is not holy fear that has kept me from this place, but fear of man. I am drawn to my knees now, and I say “enough!” I need to know what is behind the curtain. I know You are waiting there and long for me to come. As I offer words of love, words of adoration, indeed I do now grow smaller as You increase. Is this the fragrance You long for?

And I find myself stepping in behind the veil and I cannot stand. The weight of Your presence compels me to prostrate myself before the Ark that holds Your covenant with Your people. And I, I am numbered among them and do not feel worthy. Perhaps that is why I have not come. I have doubted that You would want me. Who am I to come before You? Who am I that You are mindful of me? It is silent in this place, silent in the natural. But in the spirit there is rejoicing, for here we become one.

This is what I envision Lord, and yearn to know what You would say to me about going through this experience at this time.

You are learning so very much My curious child. You were not ready to take this journey until this very time in your life. You are strong enough now to be able to see how little strength you have, and wise enough to know how little strength you need. You have learned that to walk My road your strength must rest in Me alone. As you moved through the tabernacle your eyes were opened in new ways, to see Me and to see yourself. Yes, you saw flaws, but I am so happy that you pressed through. All of those imperfections and rough edges are simply the parts I am still working on. Thank you for offering them to Me.

When you feel unworthy, remember it is not yourself that makes you worthy, but I do. You are and always will be My creation, even when you were not yielded to Me. How much more so now? You will take this journey many times, but always remember the sweetness of this first entrance and how precious it is to Me.

Come read more tales based on Mag33 HERE

Imperfect Prose - Go Low

In the rush of days

and noise

I tune spirit ears

to hear His call

come down to a humble place

where I will cleanse you

to strip away pride

go low

lower

and find Me

where

love will hold you

into stillness
and peace will give you
wings to fly






Stop by Emily's In the hush of the Moon
to share your imperfections.

Transparency

Shadows and light played off a colour

clear and transparent

wanting to be seen and known

simply for what it is.

I desire no pretense

no disguise

I am not playing games

each mark and line are visible

close to the surface.

Fragile and easily torn

by wind, rain,

or trampled

beneath a careless footstep.

In such pure vulnerability

I am totally weak

yet in my surrender

I blossom in His strength.

So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [[a]in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful [b]in divine strength).  2 Corinthians 12:10 Amplified

Ephesians 6:18 Saturdays - Humble

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). Ephesians 6:18 Amplified

As I was looking through some old writings I stumbled across these words about prayer. They are as true today as when I put them on paper six years ago.

What we sow in tears
we shall reap in joy
if we humble ourselves and pray.
Casting out our fears
we are in Your hands
when we humble ourselves and pray.
We are quickened by the rhythms of Your heart
and strengthened by the power of Your love.
We are welcome to come boldly to Your throne
to hear the words that only You could say.
Freedom waits for us
in Your presence Lord
when we worship You day by day.
You will hear our cries
and will heal our land
if we humble ourselves and pray.

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

Are you spending time seeking His presence, waiting in stillness to hear His heartbeat? He is waiting.

Flashback Friday - Forgetting

This week Jo gave us this prompt:

"Let's just run with the theme of FORGETFULNESS. Write about a time when you forgot something or someone. Or write about an experience or person that was UNFORGETTABLE."

I have to take a deep breath, dive in, and trust you won't laugh so hard and so long that I'll never be able to show my face again. But since I know that God despises the proud I submit my tale in humility.

We had recently moved from Rick's home town to a much smaller town about 30 minutes away. He was settling in at his new job and I had quit my work as a cashier at Safeway Foods to work as a cook/waitress at a local diner. Rick would leave to walk to work at 7:30 and I would usually find things to do around the house until it was late enough that I'd have to drive the few short blocks to make it in on time before the breakfast customers started arriving.

On one particularly clear day I decided I would walk, so I made sure I gave myself lots of time. I was enjoying the feel of the warm air and the opportunity to observe the state of everyone else's vegetable gardens as I passed by. Much nicer than driving, I thought, and made a mental note to do this more often.

I actually arrived with much time to spare, so the owner suggested we sit and chat over a cup of coffee or two. I poured us each a cup and brought them to the table. I sat and lifted the cup to my mouth... and... by the grace of God alone, before I parted my lips I realized that I had left home without wearing my false teeth. Now I'm not talking about a tooth or two here and there.. but a full denture on the top and a partial bottom plate that filled in for all but 3 remaining real teeth.

My hand went to my mouth immediately and turning my head I muttered about having to run back home for a minute, promising to be back before my shift was due to start. Instead of a leisurely cup of coffee, I power walked back to the house, mouth shut, fixed my teeth in place and drove back. Not quite the best way to start what had seemed to be a good day.

Now, when you stop chuckling, go visit Jo at Mylestones and add your own Flashback Friday