psalm 18

psalm 18

Lord, hear Your people

thirsty tears streaming

recognising that enough

is not enough of You,

Who will pour out

more than we can hold

broken vessels, created

by divine design to drip

leaking light, truth

love  

God's poet

God's poet is silence!  His song is unspoken

And yet so profound, and so loud, and so far,

That it thrills you and fills you in measures unbroken—

The unceasing song of the first morning star....

~Joaquin Miller

everywhere I go

noise invades, betrays

the truth of silence

keeping me from

the song 

He longs to impart

deep into my spirit

planted in my heart

seeking the stillness with Sandy

 

seeing the ugly idols

Bonnie asked us to share what we are learning about ourselves
at the same time Jennifer Dukes Lee is challenging us
to uncover and face our love idols then surrender them
during Lent and all the days that follow

it isn't easy to look at ugly
and particularly difficult
when the ugly is our own
fully rooted and thriving

I continue to discover how deep
my need to gain approval
of my heart, my thoughts
my words
when I look honestly
I see myself
leaning too hard on comments
virtual pats on the back
blog followers, social networking ego kisses

I think perhaps I write less than I could
or should, permitting fear
to block the flow

for if there is no output to be judged
I won't have to confront the possibility
that my words don't sing to the hearts of others
that my words have no weight, no power
no place to bear fruit

silly, that

for the words are not mine anyway
I have surrendered them
to Him, allowing Him to set the pace
the meter, message,
I am simply a pen
in His hand, the words
already pre-approved

I covet your prayers
as I take this time to soak in truth
allowing it to saturate my heart
silencing seductive lies
and together may we learn
how deep, how wide, how everlasting
is the love He lavishes freely upon us

And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:18 The Message




jamming with Bonnie
 

how do I love?

Valentines Day draws close.

A gift for my husband is hidden until tomorrow.

I will cook with extra attention.

Perhaps we will share a bottle of white zinfandel with dinner.

We will celebrate the one that God created out of two.

We will speak words of love.

What is this love?

For many schooled in literature or poetry

the words of Elizabeth Barrett Browning come to mind:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I can't get past this opening line.

How?  How do I love?

How do I love my husband

my family, my friends

how even do I love myself?

How do I participate in this most impossible and supernatural of acts?

How does a heart, once hard, terrified

shattered by pebbles, stones, boulders thrown

trust enough to risk?

How does such a heart

continue to crack, allowing light to spill in

and compassion to bleed out?

How does what was broken

still bend into the shape of love?

The questions swirl and rush

but a quiet voice trembles clear

louder than the noise.

Only because I Did.  

Only because I Will.

Only because I Am.

And in the freshening calm, I remember.

We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. 

First we were loved, now we love. 

He loved us first. 

John 4:19 The Message

 jamming with Bonnie





and at The Grove with Velvet Ashes

 

truth in weather

morning dawned remarkable

fuchsia streaking light

soon the sky was littered with flurries

did one option better display His glory

simply because I preferred it?

would I deny the truth

of His creation, His control

as the weather shifts

in ways not to my liking?

the rain is His

as much as the sun

the brittle winds

blowing at His command

the ground is covered white

yet there is beauty here

 

joining Lisa-Jo talking about truth

 

truth to rest in

But now thus says the Lord,

he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the waters I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

Isaiah 43:1-2 RSV

in this truth,

in this powerful promise from my Lord

I will sink in and find a place to rest

seeking the stillness with Sandy 

 

and singing with the Sunday choir at Deidra's

 

View from my heart

April began cold and snowy, clouds covered the sun.  As the days moved through, mom passed from life to death.  And the snow fell again.

There were acts of terrorism, lives lost in Boston, explosions in Texas.  One thing flowed into the next.

And I thought like Job, I will yet praise Him.

Ice blew in on the lake and devastated summer cottages and year round homes.  The breath taking power of nature on display.

Nature roared again, in tornado winds that took lives and changed lives forever in Oklahoma. I wondered why I was growing numb.

In these parts there have been horrific highway encounters between cars and semis, more loss, more devastation.  Yesterday, in town, the roads were blocked by fire trucks, ambulances and police cars, the scene shrouded with cloths and my heart cracked to let the tears flow.

The view from here is jagged, hard, dark and sharp.  Life does not appear to be  a safe place.

But still my heart sees colour, bright, pure, shining.  Because He never changes, and His truth is more real than what I see.  I will grab hold of that in the centre of these clouds.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

joining Lisa-Jo talking about view

and abiding with Cheryl

 

Breaking Old Rhythms by Amena Brown

When I was asked to review Breaking Old Rhythms:Answering the Call of a Creative God I wasn't really sure what to expect.  I had no knowledge of the author Amena Brown but felt a pull to dive in.

The call to dive began to make sense as I started reading, for these are deep waters indeed; but what a joy to swim in!

Brown shares in a voice that vibrates with poetic rhythm slicing through to find the truth of life and love and God.  She writes:

We are like instruments in God’s orchestra. That means if we want to be a part of the symphony, we have to learn to follow God’s beat. We are like bones in a body—growing, stretching, discovering and sometimes breaking. God’s rhythm is surgical, breaking, healing and mending where we have grown crooked. We are like trees, extending our branches toward the light. God’s rhythm is the post he ties us to, to make sure we grow straight, with roots growing deep into the soil.

I found my own reading rhythm interrupted by the need to add highlighting to my Kindle version again and again, or to take time to type quotes into my Facebook status.

Yes, it is that good.

There are so many more passages I want to share with you, but instead I'll just urge you to grab this book for your own library.  You'll return to the words many times.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.


 

Bold in love

In the chapter titled Bold Brennan Manning writes:

It is natural to feel fear and insecurity when confronted with the radical demands of the Christian commitment. But enveloped in the lived truth of God’s furious love, insecurity is swallowed up in the solidity of agape, and anguish and fear give way to hope and desire.

How much time have I wasted

worrying that I am not good enough

running from the truth

that indeed I can never be good enough

and He knows, has always known

and if I could but remember

it doesn't change an iota of His great love

I could run into surrender with full abandon

and greater joy

did His first disciples know this without knowing

when they dropped their nets and followed Him?

May my love grow wide and wild

reckless and complete.

continuing on with Sarah and Jason

 

searching

Nothing gives rest 

but the sincere search for truth.

Blaise Pascal

 

Resting in Him with Sandy

after taste

I have no talent

for delicacy

my cakes are sugar coated

not my opinions

I am better built to mince meat

than words

my feet are long, heavy

you know I never could walk

on eggshells

without leaving a trail 

of destruction

so I crack with intention

whisking in fresh air

adding leaven, spice, sweet

the resulting treat

has substance

layered perhaps with contradictions

but genuine

with the lingering after taste

of truth

Hanging out at the pub for Open Link Night

 

Learning to breathe

This week we're looking at the chapter titled Our Father.  Brennan writes about praying with a nun who was living with profound shame issues:

In the next few minutes, I prayed with her for healing. Then I asked her if she would find a quiet place every morning for the next thirty days, sit down in a chair, close her eyes, upturn her palms, and pray this one phrase over and over: 

ABBA, I BELONG TO YOU.  

It’s a prayer of exactly seven syllables, the number that corresponds perfectly to the rhythm of our breathing. As you inhale—Abba. As you exhale—I belong to You. 

Through her tears she agreed: “Yes, Brennan, I will.” 

One of the most moving and poetic follow-up letters I’ve ever received came from this sister. In it she described the inner healing of her heart, a complete forgiveness of her father, and an inner peace she’d never known in her seventy-eight years. She concluded her letter with these words: A year ago, I would’ve signed this letter with my real name in religious life—Sister Mary Genevieve. But from now on, I’m Daddy’s little girl. 

Be aware, this is not sloppy sentimentality or indulgent wishful thinking. But rather a woman who dared to pray in the childlike trust and deep reverence that Jesus said would mark a disciple, and in doing so discovered the furious love of her Abba. 

At the end of the chapter, Manning issues the following challenge:

Prayerfully consider taking a few moments every day for the next month, closing your eyes, upturning your palms, and praying, “Abba, I belong to You.” Don’t make it anything more than that; trust me, it’s enough. 

The world roars, demanding its full share of attention

and here am I bending beneath the weight of it

sifting and sorting, till exhausted I shrug shoulders, 

lift hands, drop it all

the noise too loud, 

black and white shifting in shades of grey

and He smiles, for with great patience 

He has been waiting for this release

bringing me again and again to this point of surrender

face to face with my need for Him

Inhale, slow

taking in more of Him than I can hope to hold

Exhale, slower

declaring the only truth I know

I belong to Him

Joining the discussion at Sarah's

 

The Searchers by Joseph Loconte

I have often wondered what it would have been like to be one of the fellows walking along a road listening to the words of the One walking beside me not yet recognizing Who He Was.  I can't imagine not being able to see Him clearly.

In The Searchers A Quest for Faith in the Valley of Doubt by Joseph Loconte I was given the opportunity to see how at one time or another we all walk the Emmaus road.  As the back cover promises:

Drawing from literature, film, philosophy, history, and politics, Loconte shows how this biblical drama is an integral part of our own story.

As I read through these pages I become more and more convinced that nothing of any importance makes sense to me without the interpretive assistance of the Holy Spirit. Through His eyes I can look upon the world of history and politics and see Jesus in every bit of it.  With my own eyes I simply see what the world sees.

I pray that as you read Loconte's words you allow the Spirit to whisper truth in your ears and that faith would rise clear and strong.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.


 

Letter on a windy day...

This week's assignment for Compassion Bloggers was to write a letter to God about sponsorship.

One week into blog month and 837 children have been sponsored.  We still have at least 2,271 more to go in order to reach our goal.  Visit the sponsorship page here, pray, love these ones...

My precious Lord:

Today marks eleven years since the Twin Towers fell in New York City.

Eleven years since acts of violence forever changed the way we live life.

Security has taken top priority, risen up like a golden calf.

We seem to seek safety above all else.

Your life wasn't safe Lord, you lived each moment

knowing that one day you would pay the ultimate price

your blood, your life, given for us.

The winds are howling strong today

trees trembling in a frenzied dance

the wail like a cry in my spirit, a continuous prayer

let me be more like You

dead to myself and alive in You

living for grace, for love, for mercy and justice

There are so many children who have never known safety

they have never lived in what we would call a home

families are broken, shattered with need

help me to care more for them

then my own comfort

The wind howls still

as my prayers continue

help me be a mother to the motherless

a friend to the weak

let me be filled with Your passion, Lord.

I may be the only Jesus they see

may I reflect You, Lord as You are

not as I might imagine You

True light, true love.

The answer to every question, asked or silent.

Through the acts of my heart and hands

may they taste and see that You are good.

  

 

Adding sweetness

Speaking truth in love,

with sweetness to soften the sharper edges 

the example given by the great apostle Paul. 

May I do the same...

Jumping into the candy box with L.L. Barkat today

 

Keeping His promises

This week Bonnie cued us with the line:

God will make a way

I am busy in the yard and garden, but thought the following post from the past fits in.

I have learned

that man

can twist the truth

side step, embellish

using words

that falsify

or fantasize

but my God says 

that He is not

a man

that He should lie

I must hear

His Words as truth

receiving all He promises

He leaves no room

for doubt

says in this world

you will have trouble

Yes troubles come

surprising 

with their sting

and in the moment

of catching breath

I must hear

His Words as truth

receiving all He promises

He leaves no room

for doubt

I will never leave you

Promises mixed

in eternal blend

I tip the cup

to drink them all

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?  Numbers 23:19 NIV

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV


Joining in a cup of Bonnie's brew...

 

Your paths

Show me Your ways, O Lord; 

teach me Your paths. 

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness 

and teach me, 

for You are the God of my salvation; 

for You [You only and altogether] 

do I wait [expectantly] all the day long.  

Psalm 25:4-5 Amplified

Singing His praises with the Sunday Community at Deidra's

 

Inside the door

I have learned 

that we were meant to live outside 

the gate of the city 

and inside the door of God's heart. 

Outside is where the truth of the human condition is. 

Inside is where the joy of the divine heart is. 

The truth on the outside 

enables us to experience 

the joy on the inside without hoarding it. 

The joy on the inside 

gives us the strength to bear the truth on the outside 

without hiding from it.

Ken Gire in Relentless Pursuit

 

Absorbing the stillness with Sandy