Only because...

Not because of who I was, who I am, or who I will become.

Only because of Who He Was, Who He Is, and Who He Will Be forever.

I was nothing more than dust, rags,

dirty fragments

made whole and holy

by a single drop of blood.

How then could I now be silent?

How can I not speak of His amazing love?

I am compelled by grace.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

Colossians 1:19-22 NIV

Stop by Bridget Chumbley's to read other views on reconciliation.

On, In and Around Mondays - November breaks

The morning started with fog lazy to lift as we woke early to take a vehicle in for a repair appointment. The skies cleared to a brilliant blue, no hints of snow as November breaks.

Late afternoon, with the help of a faithful friend and his chainsaw, the work of cleaning up trees too long left wild finally began. Big maples that appear solid and strong are dying from the inside out, nothing within but rot and dust.

And I hear the voice of my Lord, stirring in my spirit:

Never assume that things are as they seem. The strength comes from the heart, not the shell.

I listen. Twigs snap, shatter, crumble. The whine of the chainsaw competes with the cries of the ravens. The air smells old and new all at once.

The sun will soon set on a day's work done.

I'm linking with L. L. Barkat's On, In and Around Monday - stop by and read what the world looks like through other's eyes today.

Almost November...

Tomorrow the madness begins.

I am taking the National Novel Writing Month NaNoWriMo Challenge for the second year.

God hasn't told me what I'm to be writing about, but writing I will be, 50,000 words in the next 30 days.

I intend to continue to blog regularly as well, but if you notice me more silent than usual, pray that I'm writing, writing, writing away....

Window Views - Ready now

The cold came, and the wind,

loud howl

strong enough to blow away

the predicted snow.

The forecast had ushered in expectation, resignation, the dying of Autumn so that Winter may arise.

I find that in these days of reprise, my heart has prepared and settled.

Come snow. Come icy winds. Come frozen mornings.

I'm ready now.

I will find my shelter in the secret place.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! Psalm 91:1-2 Amplified

Linking to Cassandra Frear's Moonboat Cafe - stop by and read what other's are seeing today.

Speak Lord - I'm listening

Years ago I received a precious gift from the Lord. I could be anywhere at all and suddenly hear the sound of chimes, a silvery flicker, a shimmering sound, just on the edge of my natural senses. After acknowledging the sound I would sense a word, a phrase, a message in my spirit. Once this had happened a few times I realized that I would hear the sound when the Lord had something to share with me.

Lord, You used to call me

with a ring

and I would answer

"here am I"

like picking up the telephone

or opening the door.

Did I grow too accustomed

or familiar?

Did I begin to rely on the gift

instead of the Giver?

Or was it simply time

to remove the easy access

the familiar gate

that had made me lazy?

You have not stopped speaking

but more often than not

You wait until I ask.

I hear you in the breeze

the beat of my heart

the scratching of a pen on crisp pages of my journal

the sky streaming golden at day's end
the warmth of a house shut tight against the wind

my husband's "I love you."

In the "yes, Yes, YES" that rises in my spirit

when I read Your love letter

written for me, for all of Your children

eternal promises.

I will seek. I will wait. I will listen still.

But speak Lord.

And the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel answered, Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening 1 Samuel 3:10 Amplified

I'm double linking today at:

Stop by Bonnie's Faith Barista and see what others have to share about hearing the Lord.

visit Emily at In the Hush of the Moon for more words imperfect

Uncommon wind

Brittle twigs
and branches shatter
scatter
fill the ground
surround
old maples, dying
crying out
in the winds
far too strong
so long

abandoned.

The yard awaits
the promised blanket
of snow
the flow of white
not only covers
imperfection
but washes it away.

So too I

call out
for cleansing
a season of rest
then rebirth.

Stop by One Stop Poetry to read more One Shots

Keep my eyes open, Lord

Cover via Amazon

One hundred jetliners crashing every day, day after day after day. Hundreds of thousands of lives lost. That would surely make the media and the world take notice, right?

That many lives and more are lost each day to illness, starvation, the ravages of poverty. Lives ended one at a time, so silently that our comfortable lives do not feel the whisper of their passing.

Richard Stearns discusses this in Chapter 9 of The Hole in Our Gospel, leaving my heart broken again, gasping for air, on my knees asking the Lord how I can keep myself attentive to things my flesh would rather turn away from.

I may not be able to help the millions, but show me how to bring comfort, provision, life, to one at a time. Help me see the faces in the big picture, and to see the big picture in the eyes of each one.

This chapter makes me dislike myself, and for that I say "Thank you, Mr. Stearns. Thank you."

Come join the discussion this week at Sarah M. Salter's Living Between the Lines.