what my spirit hears

can you hear

the sound of a mother’s tears or

the wail of a young wife left homeless

her husband newly dedicated to the ground?

can you hear

the stretch and strain of nations 

as they attempt to birth themselves

raging against the darkness?

can you hear

the flap of wings not fully formed

desperately unable to fly

breathing thunder

in a silent roar?

have you listened?

can you hear?

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

keep listening

allowing Him to speak - early on His day

even as all days are His

in the quiet

keep listening

when it is difficult

to hear Me

may well be when I have

the most to say

just be, little one

just be

you are Mine, and I know

what I'm doing

I will direct, Am directing

your every step

breathe, surrender

go limp and be

like a marionette

allow the Master

to pull the strings

yes, you were trained

to believe it is wrong,

weak and foolish

to be a puppet

what better hand

should control your life?

in My time, in My way

for My glory

your life will accomplish

that which I desire

I Am, so relax

be and let Me Be

I am not calling you

to laziness, no, I tell you

there is work to do

but in My strength

and when our purposes collide?

when We work as one?

there is a release of great passion

and joy

keep listening

you know when you know

Come, you children, listen to me;

I will teach you to fear the Lord

 [with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience].

  Psalm 34:11 Amplified

 

eyes and ears open

We are in the middle of the first of several visioning trips

as we open our eyes, ears and hearts

to learn what God is asking of us

building new relationships

breaking bread

(or in this case, crocodile)

allowing the Holy Spirit to over-fill us

with the love only He can provide

God is not yet saying yes here

but He also is not saying no

more to come

 

listening

I took time in the silence of the early morning to sit in my Jesus chair, journal in hand, asking the Lord about the word I sensed He gave me for 2014.

Prepare.  That is the word I believe You gave me for this year beginning.  Was I hearing You correctly Lord?  Is there more you want to share today?

You listen well, little one.  I Am pleased when you search My Word to find My heart.  You are wise to acknowledge that all is in My hands and that your part is to surrender to My work.  Yes, much is being prepared for you.  Much has been prepared long, long ago, just waiting for you to walk the path you are now stepping upon.

I know what I know what I have always known.

The surprises that await you will not be a surprise to Me.  FInd strength and peace in that.

a bit later, as I was riding my recumbent exercycle, praising and praying, He added to His words:

Many take the fast road, most take the low road.  I have you on the high road, walking with Me.  And I built the road long, long before, knowing, always knowing you would be here now.

So let your life relax in Mine.  I have loved you from the beginning.  I know the plans I have. A good plan that has you standing in the light, carrying the light.

There will be a highway called the Holy Road. No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road. It’s for God’s people exclusively — impossible to get lost on this road. 
Isaiah 35:8 The Message

 

by listening

I remind myself every morning: 

Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. 

So if I'm going to learn, 

I must do it by listening. 

Larry King

 

in the stillness with Sandy

 

first duty of love

The first duty of love is to listen

Paul Tillich (1886-1965);

Theologian, Philosopher

if I seem quiet here

or non responsive elsewhere

know that I am doing what I am called to

loving in all the ways I can

in silence I adore Him

 

still and listening with Sandy

 

Slippery time

We are past the midway mark in June.  

Morning wakes before I do and light lingers deep into the night.  

It seems like only yesterday there was snow 

covering places now green 

ablaze with the delight of flowers.

Time feels so slippery, impossible to hold.

Journal open today, the Lord spoke to this:

Days will come.

Days will go.

You can do nothing to stop time.

Watch. Listen. Each moment has its reason.

I build moment on moment like brick upon brick.

I have the master plan that you cannot see.

And I, yes I, must remain the chief cornerstone of anything that is built

or it falls in time to nothing

or less than nothing.

What I Am saying is having those things

that don't contain Me

are more dangerous than not having anything.

Watch. Listen.

Keep Me in the middle of it all.

He will be the sure foundation for your times, 

a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; 

the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. 

Isaiah 33:6 NIV

walking with Emily and the broken beloved ones
 

Go forth with courage

I was surprised today to find many bloggers writing about courage.  Each new post confirmed the words Jesus shared with me this morning in my journalling time:

Yes, I Am leading you

moment by moment

word by word

I choose your conversations

and you, little one, have responded in obedience

even when you did not understand what I was asking

I desire to see you continue 

to use that which I give you to encourage others

My words are powerful

when mixed with your very human touch

This is why I ask you to remain close, attentive

listen for what I would have you say

then go forth with courage

Finding my everything in the vine with Cheryl

And so, listen

And so, my children, listen to me, 

for all who follow my ways are joyful. 

Listen to my instruction and be wise. 

Don’t ignore it. 

Proverbs 8:32-33 NLT

 

Rejoicing in Him with the Sunday singers at Deidra's

 

The "release" of submission

Praying about the words given to me for 2013, continue, alert and listen, I opened my journal, asking Jesus what He wanted to share:

Continue to keep your eyes and ears open to notice how I Am guiding you.

There is no need for striving.

Surrender is not a doing but a letting go.

My desire is for you to feel the release of submission, 

allowing My peace and My will to flood over you.

I came to set the captives free.  What you hold, holds you.

Let go.  It is all just empty space.

Free yourself to grab onto Me.

Soaking in the stillness with Sandy

while I abide with Cheryl

 

Continue, Alert, Listen

It has become tradition to pray and seek the Lord for His direction as one year steps aside making way for the new.  I asked Him for a defining word for 2013 but instead of one word He dropped three into my spirit.

Continue.  Alert.  Listen.

I know there is much to ponder as I wait for His wisdom and revelation.  For now, I set them here as stones, to return to again and again as the days move along.

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7 NLT

Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. Mark 13:33 NIV

A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” Luke 9:35 NIV

The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27 Amplified

 

Adding my voice to those who gather at Bonnie's

   

No wasted words

Turn an ear

to listen, hear

so much is missed

in the rush of noise

May none of His words

fall wasted

 

In the quiet with Sandy

 

Sweet play...

When it becomes work, 

I know I have stopped listening...

 
Joining L.L. Barkat digging into sweets today

 

Hearing or listening?

Are your spiritual ears as active as your natural senses?

I'm sharing over at Internet Cafe Devotions today

about listening and hearing...

 

Rust in the cracks

Rust fills in the cracks
the day seems too long and yet gone in an instant
my heart feels hard
but fragile
brittle enough to open far too easily
leaking passion

What do I do with a wheel fixed in place?

There is something calling to me
I can't sense the direction
the wind swirls and jumbles
but I know the Source
I have promised to listen
to follow
to obey

No I am not good at waiting
as my old wood splinters
wobbles and creaks
trying to find beauty there
as rust fills in the cracks



Walking an imperfect road with Emily and the broken but redeemed

 

A wisdom rarely wise

Sitting in my morning chair, often called my "Jesus chair" I must have had today's one word in my mind as I opened my mind, spirit and journal to the Lord to see what He had to share:

Listen not to the voice of the world for it speaks from the logic of man
a wisdom rarely wise
empty of faith
declaring what it deems possible
and impossible

No, I say again, listen not

Your ears of faith will hear
a sweeter song
a melody of life
orchestrations of possibility

The world would box you in
shut you up
shrink you down
insisting there is less
much less than your spirit sees

Let your heart expand, resonate with Mine
as it sings out
more
there is more
there is more

When the servant of the man of God rose early and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was around the city. Elisha’s servant said to him, Alas, my master! What shall we do?
Elisha answered, Fear not; for those with us are more than those with them.
Then Elisha prayed, Lord, I pray You, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15-17 Amplified

Sharing with Peter and the rest where the word today is more

 

Obedience's reward

In the middle of work at the computer

I felt a nudge to start dinner heating

It seemed a bit early, but I didn't argue

This is the sight that met my eyes

as I looked out the kitchen window

Day's end streaking the sky

What else might we be missing

in our slowness to hear

reluctance to listen?

This evening's lesson learned -

He always rewards obedience



But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22 NLT