Place of rest

Word from Thursday morning:

You dreamed of moving 

into a new home with bigger beds

and surely I tell you 

that I will bring you into a place of rest

not rest that will numb you 

and lull you into inactivity

but rest that will restore and rebuild, 

body, mind and spirit

rest that will equip you

to accomplish all I set before you

 

at the point of stillness with Sandy

and in the abiding place with Cheryl

 

Trust not myself

The Lord gave me the words courage, focus and trust for 2012. He has given me new words for the new year, yet I believe I am not release the old words but continue to hold them close.

I am reminded of what He shared with me:

You are correct to place no trust in your flesh, but -- you can trust the Me in you.

With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgement  Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow. Proverb 3:5-6 Contemporary English Version

I can't rely on my emotions to tell me the truth
they so easily lead me in circles, running wild, spinning
I can't trust my own understanding
when I realize each day that I understand less and less
but indeed I hunger to know Him more
that I might trust the Him within



jamming with Bonnie about trust

 

Do you believe in His love?

Each morning, as part of our daily routine, we invite our dog Faith in for a visit.  She is always anxious to receive Rick's attention, gazing up at him with adoring and questioning eyes.  She knows that he is the boss and seems to need a verbal and physical reminder of his love.  Food is good; biscuits are a delight; chasing squirrels and birds and rodents a favourite activity but knowing she is loved is her greatest desire.  Sweet words, rubs and scratches send her off happy with tail wagging.  Her contentment lasts for a short time, but much like us, her belief soon needs reinforcement again.

"Do you love me?  Do you really love me?"  I seem to ask the same of my Heavenly Father, and though my head knows and believes, my heart seeks affirmation.

As I spent time in the silence with Him today, I opened my journal and He spoke to me about this very thing:

Just as your dog looks each day for approval from her master 

and confirmation of his love--

so too can you come to Me

for My love is sure

and never ending

and does not depend on what you've done

or who you are

but Who I Am

Let My love establish your balance and direction

let Me set the course for your day

acknowledge that My ways

are higher, deeper, wiser than your own

then in trust

let go

Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”
Mark 9:23-24 The Message

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” Mark 5:36 NKJV

walking with Emily and the imperfect redeemed

 

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

 

light cracks indigo

branches strain thin

as light cracks indigo

chasing away the night

with life's promise

joining the mood indigo with the Tweetspeak poets

and linking up at the pub

 

Taking back time

We are only given 60 minutes in each hour
24 hours in each day
7 days in each week
and minutes tick on
and hours flash past
days and weeks hurry on
and it feels like life just slips away...

Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath. Psalm 39:4-5 NLT

The beginning of a new year is useful as a time to reflect and pray and plan, a time to put aside bad habits replacing them with something better.  I pondered ways I could take back fleeting time and decided to take a break from playing computer games.

This should have been easy, but habits grow deep.  It felt like my fingers wanted to press keyboard keys, and without a tight reign on my hands I would have clicked to open game boards without even thinking.

It has been more than a month.  I have more time to read, more time to write, more time for real connection with the people God places in my path.  I can't say I don't miss the games, or that I won't ever return to a bit of play now and then, but I am rejoicing that I have moved beyond the automatic, mindlessness of habitual play.

I can't add a minute to the time God has portioned for me, but I can choose to use what He has given in ways that best bring glory to His name.

linking up with Peter today as we talk about habits

 

Have you not heard?

Don’t you know anything? 

Haven’t you been listening?

God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.

    He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.

He doesn’t get tired out, 

doesn’t pause to catch his breath.

    And he knows everything, inside and out.

He energizes those who get tired,

    gives fresh strength to dropouts.

Isaiah 40:28-29 The Message

 

Singing His praise with Sunday chorus at Deidra's