"Behold the man" ... Pilate said. He was challenging the rioting mob to open their eyes to this man who claimed kinship with God ... who claimed to be King. Our challenge today remains unchanged ... but the vision of the 'mob' has changed. They gazed upon a bloodied, tortured, mangled prisoner who was on His way to execution ... but we, the mob of today, who marvel at His testimony, see that same Man bathed in glory! Hallelujah!
The day that my eyes were opened to Jesus was like none other in my life. The teaching that I learned as a child had developed within me the understanding of who this Man was and what it was that He had done for me ... sort of ... but my life was changed forever the day that the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see and my heart to understand that this Man was not only my Savior ... but even more importantly, He was to become the LORD of my life! Hallelujah!
This Jesus ... in Whom there is no equal.
This Jesus ... in Whom there is the purity of faithfulness, compassion and inexhaustible hope.
This Jesus ... in whose presence my problems 'grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace'.
He is complete in everything that He is and everything that He does.
He completes me ... each of us ... as He shapes us and teaches us to be mirror images of Himself.
Each lesson He taught, every truth He uttered, is used to draw us to the beauty of His beautiful Spirit.
I can't think of Him without first loosing thoughts of myself ... thank You, Lord. Turning from the realities of this world I am instantly filled with unspeakable joy as I contemplate time spent with Him in the Spirit. My heart yearns to be totally preoccupied with living in the Spirit ... praying in the Spirit ... hearing, seeing and breathing in the Spirit ... a place of contentment and peace and love beyond description. A place where paradise is a reality and I am forever united with my LORD. A place in which my soul and spirit are one with Him. A place from which I do not want to leave.
We are the apple of His eye and the treasure of His heart. He takes pleasure in us as we seek to learn who He is and allow Him to guide our every thought. Father God, I pray that you will ignite the embers of our heart, Lord, to set us on fire to know You ... and be with You ... our Triune God ... Hallelujah, in Jesus' name.
Amen and amen.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Seasons Turn
To everything ... turn, turn, turn ... there is a season ... turn, turn, turn, and a time to every purpose under heaven. Good song ... even better Scripture! (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
When I was a little girl my family lived in a house that bordered a town park. Some of my fondest memories from that era of my life were birthed by the hours spent in what became my very own back yard playground. Even now I can return in my mind to that place and remember the bell shaped merry-go-round that my sisters and I hung upside down on ... the 10 story slide that singed many a bare leg on a hot summer day (ok, so maybe it wasn't quite that big!), and the swings - oh, the swings were my favorite, for on them you could take flight. But that was another time ... that was another season of my life...
Over the course of time people, rather than parks, became my focus and with this blessing came relationships and a broad bank of memories. Some people, like my children, will go with me into eternity. Others have somehow become etched roses on my heart. While still others were simply a part of God's plan to teach and heal and grow me. And the seasons continue to turn .....
With the help of a beloved friend I have come to realize that I am but a sojourner ... passing through this life on assignment from the Throne Room. I wish that I felt secure in knowing that I had been all that God intended for me to be, for every person He intended for me to touch ... but my humanness recognizes my shortcomings. Consolation comes, however, as I pray that God would grant mercies to cover those things which I unintentionally leave undone. And still the seasons continue to turn.....
Peace is assured if we wait on the assignments that the Lord has for each one of us. Just as seasons of this earth turn at His direction, we must wait on Him as the evolution of each season of our own life unfolds before us. Spring brings with it hope ... Summer strengthens us with promise and endurance ... Fall, with its complexity of beauty and death, bursts forth in both awe inspiring colors and a harvest that sustains and fortifies us during those long Winter nights. In the midst of any season of life we must be willing to enter into whatever it is that God has planned for us ... going through each season of life with the single vision of being used by God to bring glory to His ultimate purpose.
Remembering Jeremiah 29:11 we can endure any test ... any trial ... any season ... "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." His promises are trustworthy. Hope in Him sustains us, no matter what the season, for His love endures forever.
May each of us turn and praise His Holy Name ... turn, and praise the Name of Jesus now and forevermore.
Amen and amen.
When I was a little girl my family lived in a house that bordered a town park. Some of my fondest memories from that era of my life were birthed by the hours spent in what became my very own back yard playground. Even now I can return in my mind to that place and remember the bell shaped merry-go-round that my sisters and I hung upside down on ... the 10 story slide that singed many a bare leg on a hot summer day (ok, so maybe it wasn't quite that big!), and the swings - oh, the swings were my favorite, for on them you could take flight. But that was another time ... that was another season of my life...
Over the course of time people, rather than parks, became my focus and with this blessing came relationships and a broad bank of memories. Some people, like my children, will go with me into eternity. Others have somehow become etched roses on my heart. While still others were simply a part of God's plan to teach and heal and grow me. And the seasons continue to turn .....
With the help of a beloved friend I have come to realize that I am but a sojourner ... passing through this life on assignment from the Throne Room. I wish that I felt secure in knowing that I had been all that God intended for me to be, for every person He intended for me to touch ... but my humanness recognizes my shortcomings. Consolation comes, however, as I pray that God would grant mercies to cover those things which I unintentionally leave undone. And still the seasons continue to turn.....
Peace is assured if we wait on the assignments that the Lord has for each one of us. Just as seasons of this earth turn at His direction, we must wait on Him as the evolution of each season of our own life unfolds before us. Spring brings with it hope ... Summer strengthens us with promise and endurance ... Fall, with its complexity of beauty and death, bursts forth in both awe inspiring colors and a harvest that sustains and fortifies us during those long Winter nights. In the midst of any season of life we must be willing to enter into whatever it is that God has planned for us ... going through each season of life with the single vision of being used by God to bring glory to His ultimate purpose.
Remembering Jeremiah 29:11 we can endure any test ... any trial ... any season ... "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." His promises are trustworthy. Hope in Him sustains us, no matter what the season, for His love endures forever.
May each of us turn and praise His Holy Name ... turn, and praise the Name of Jesus now and forevermore.
Amen and amen.
A Pool of Love
This morning as I woke from a restful night's sleep, I realized immediately that I wasn't alone ... "Good morning, Lord" I said. His welcomed presence was warm and with it I felt both safe and excited to begin another day.
As the moment unfolded He invited me to sense the presence of the spirits of many of my friends who had joined Him at my bedside. "Oh look", I thought ... there's my friend whose current journey is riddled with one struggle after another ... and there's my friend who just had surgery ... and there, at the foot of my bed, stands a woman who endures endless hours of loneliness. Many others who now gathered by the Lord's side were here simply with the hope of hearing a word of encouragement or receiving a soft touch of mercy ........ any sign at all, through me, of God's unconditional love.
In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus tells us to come to Him and take up His yoke for it is easy and His burden is light. I am of the belief that this hope filled teaching is both for the sufferer and for the children of God whose assignment it is to come along side of a weary traveler and offer them, through prayers and kindness, some much needed rest from their burden. Then, and only then, are those who suffer able to bear up under the strain of the burdens that have befallen them. Jesus doesn't just arbitrarily remove our pain ... sometimes He uses His children to redistribute the weight of the burden so that, through those who are willing to stand in the gap for others, the burden is bearable.
By the power of the Holy Spirit I soon found myself in the midst of an experience that now seems surreal. With the richness of His Word utmost in my mind I entered into what appeared to be a pool that offered wisdom and healing and hope. My desire to experience more and more was heightened only by the understanding that this pool was filled to the very brim with nothing less than the Living Water Himself! Hallelujah!
Oh, the joy that filled me when I understood that we could want for nothing more ... that every need would be fulfilled ... every pain eliminated ... every weight lifted.
Anxious to share the Good News, I returned, without hesitation, to the place where my friends had been. There I invited each of them to return with me to the pool for cleansing and refreshment and renewal. Joining together, we praised the Lord's Holy Name and gave thanks for His trustworthy Word ... for His strength in time of need ... and for His endless love. What an honor it is to be a child of God ... to be used by Him to love on others ... to be a bearer of Good News ... and to be counted worthy to share in the burdens of others.
Father God, the day is young ... refreshed and ready, in Jesus' name, I ask that you prepare my way ... providing strength and wisdom and endurance as Your plan for my life comes to fruition. Thank You, Father, for the love that consumes You for each of my friends that gathered here with you today. Bless them Lord, I pray, so that each of them shares in the experience of time spent with You in the everlasting pool of Living Water.
Amen and amen.
As the moment unfolded He invited me to sense the presence of the spirits of many of my friends who had joined Him at my bedside. "Oh look", I thought ... there's my friend whose current journey is riddled with one struggle after another ... and there's my friend who just had surgery ... and there, at the foot of my bed, stands a woman who endures endless hours of loneliness. Many others who now gathered by the Lord's side were here simply with the hope of hearing a word of encouragement or receiving a soft touch of mercy ........ any sign at all, through me, of God's unconditional love.
In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus tells us to come to Him and take up His yoke for it is easy and His burden is light. I am of the belief that this hope filled teaching is both for the sufferer and for the children of God whose assignment it is to come along side of a weary traveler and offer them, through prayers and kindness, some much needed rest from their burden. Then, and only then, are those who suffer able to bear up under the strain of the burdens that have befallen them. Jesus doesn't just arbitrarily remove our pain ... sometimes He uses His children to redistribute the weight of the burden so that, through those who are willing to stand in the gap for others, the burden is bearable.
By the power of the Holy Spirit I soon found myself in the midst of an experience that now seems surreal. With the richness of His Word utmost in my mind I entered into what appeared to be a pool that offered wisdom and healing and hope. My desire to experience more and more was heightened only by the understanding that this pool was filled to the very brim with nothing less than the Living Water Himself! Hallelujah!
Oh, the joy that filled me when I understood that we could want for nothing more ... that every need would be fulfilled ... every pain eliminated ... every weight lifted.
Anxious to share the Good News, I returned, without hesitation, to the place where my friends had been. There I invited each of them to return with me to the pool for cleansing and refreshment and renewal. Joining together, we praised the Lord's Holy Name and gave thanks for His trustworthy Word ... for His strength in time of need ... and for His endless love. What an honor it is to be a child of God ... to be used by Him to love on others ... to be a bearer of Good News ... and to be counted worthy to share in the burdens of others.
Father God, the day is young ... refreshed and ready, in Jesus' name, I ask that you prepare my way ... providing strength and wisdom and endurance as Your plan for my life comes to fruition. Thank You, Father, for the love that consumes You for each of my friends that gathered here with you today. Bless them Lord, I pray, so that each of them shares in the experience of time spent with You in the everlasting pool of Living Water.
Amen and amen.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
It's All In The Beatitudes
The 5th chapter of the Book of Matthew presents us with truths that we commonly refer to as "The Beatitudes'. Boiling the Lord's message down into a nutshell we learn ... Blessed are those who see that it's NOT all about us ... but rather, it's all about God ... no if's ... no and's ... and expecially NO 'yes but's about it!!!
Take as an example of this truth, a time in your life when you were driven to anger. Soon the natural effects of the moment engulf you and suddenly your countenance exposes a 'new' you ... someone that is entirely different than the person that you earnestly strive to be. Then, not long after the moment of ignition, a secondary fire flares up within you as you attempt to defend your righteous position with, 'yes!...but Lord' that disguises itself as self-pity.
This happened to me not so long ago. Looking back on the event I can see clearly that I was innocently caught off guard. I fell into a trap set by the enemy but as it turns out, that mattered not, for even in times of innocence, anger is ugly. Even during these times the cries of 'yes!...but Lord' are heard by someone whose heart's desire is to love unconditionally. I, on the other hand, must confess to you that with the settling of the dust came one last expectation ... my defiant spirit wanted to hear an apology ... for surely in my innocence I was deserving of that ... but wait ... could it be that I had fallen into another trap? .............
It was then that I found that time spent with the Lord somehow gives new perspective ... divine insight ... that WOW moment in which you're left speechless by an awe of Him ...
During our time together the Lord encouraged me to read the Beatitudes through the lens of His eyes. There His light illuminated words like mercy, humility, purity of heart, peacemaker. As the scales began to drop out of my line of vision I could see plainly that in order to obtain the blessing that He so earnestly wanted me to enjoy, I first had to be all that He wanted ME to be. It was clear beyond measure that I was to 'let go' of everything that I laid claim to and 'let God' take care of those things that only He can change.
Miraculously my heart began to melt. Without hesitation I could see that my innocence wasn't the main story line here ... and it wasn't me who was deserving of the apology. I knew, deep within my heart, that I had no right to claim the glory that was His as the heart of the remorseful turned to Him.
Thank You, Jesus, for our time together.
Forgive me, Father, for my haughtiness.
Thank You, Jesus, for the joy that now fills my heart as I clearly see Your footsteps in which I am to follow.
Father God ... always thankful ... always in Jesus' name ... I give You now all my praise for the beauty of the Beatitudes. May I always remember that they first point to You!
Amen and amen.
Take as an example of this truth, a time in your life when you were driven to anger. Soon the natural effects of the moment engulf you and suddenly your countenance exposes a 'new' you ... someone that is entirely different than the person that you earnestly strive to be. Then, not long after the moment of ignition, a secondary fire flares up within you as you attempt to defend your righteous position with, 'yes!...but Lord' that disguises itself as self-pity.
This happened to me not so long ago. Looking back on the event I can see clearly that I was innocently caught off guard. I fell into a trap set by the enemy but as it turns out, that mattered not, for even in times of innocence, anger is ugly. Even during these times the cries of 'yes!...but Lord' are heard by someone whose heart's desire is to love unconditionally. I, on the other hand, must confess to you that with the settling of the dust came one last expectation ... my defiant spirit wanted to hear an apology ... for surely in my innocence I was deserving of that ... but wait ... could it be that I had fallen into another trap? .............
It was then that I found that time spent with the Lord somehow gives new perspective ... divine insight ... that WOW moment in which you're left speechless by an awe of Him ...
During our time together the Lord encouraged me to read the Beatitudes through the lens of His eyes. There His light illuminated words like mercy, humility, purity of heart, peacemaker. As the scales began to drop out of my line of vision I could see plainly that in order to obtain the blessing that He so earnestly wanted me to enjoy, I first had to be all that He wanted ME to be. It was clear beyond measure that I was to 'let go' of everything that I laid claim to and 'let God' take care of those things that only He can change.
Miraculously my heart began to melt. Without hesitation I could see that my innocence wasn't the main story line here ... and it wasn't me who was deserving of the apology. I knew, deep within my heart, that I had no right to claim the glory that was His as the heart of the remorseful turned to Him.
Thank You, Jesus, for our time together.
Forgive me, Father, for my haughtiness.
Thank You, Jesus, for the joy that now fills my heart as I clearly see Your footsteps in which I am to follow.
Father God ... always thankful ... always in Jesus' name ... I give You now all my praise for the beauty of the Beatitudes. May I always remember that they first point to You!
Amen and amen.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Birthing Humility ...
Although it was 33 years ago, I remember, as though it were yesterday, the morning I went into labor with my son, my first born. I had enjoyed a beautiful pregnancy, a time of amazing preparations and incredible discoveries, but the time had arrived for me to go through the birthing process. As the contractions became increasingly apparent I sat on the corner of our bed and soon realized that I wanted NOTHING to do with the labor that lay ahead of me. Fear of the unknown overwhelmed me and despite all that I tried to think of to escape the ordeal ... I had no choice in the matter ... I had to go through the tough part of the birthing process in order to get to the other side where the Lord's glory would so obviously prevail.
The same can be said of situations that come into our everyday lives. Many of us deal with lifelong afflictions ... and others of us fall upon the unexpected diagnosis of some dreaded disease. Whether it's something that is suddenly thrust upon us or it's been a part of our lives for a long time, our inclination is to sit on the corner of our beds and do all we can to find a way to avoid the 'labor' that lay ahead of us. We gather prayer warriors and go to the Lord asking Him to remove the cup from us when, in fact, the assignment that lay ahead of us is to be faced head on. In God's nature we can be assured that He does not set out to assign us with times of overwhelming labor, and there are times that the Holy Spirit will display His power through divine impartations of deliverance, but equally notable are events in which we ... like Jesus Himself ... find that we must endure the cup for the glory of the Father. This isn't something that comes naturally ... or by any means easy ... but nonetheless, our ultimate peace will come as we see that we have birthed a humility in which God's glory is displayed.
Our assignment then comes as we study the Apostle Paul's time spent on the corner of his bed looking for a way to avoid his thorn in the side ... his 'labor' assignment. There, in 2 Cor 12:9 Jesus Himself tells Paul ... "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Not the answer he was hoping for, I'm sure, but when birthing humility ... that perfect surrender of our will over to the will of the Father ... you soon realize that your assignment involves a journey in which we, in and of ourselves, are unable to endure ... to labor. But given the power of the Holy Spirit that lies within us we can be assured of a day in which we stand before the Lord and hear "Well done, my good and faithful servant." (Mt 25:23)
Father God, seeking to encourage, I pray for peace in times of labor. I pray that Jesus is seen by all as truth and strength ... as encouragement and love ... even in our darkest hours. All praise to Your perfect plan. All praise for Your hand that rests on our lives. All praise to the King of kings and the Lord of lords ... our Savior, Jesus, in whom we now pray.
Amen and amen.
The same can be said of situations that come into our everyday lives. Many of us deal with lifelong afflictions ... and others of us fall upon the unexpected diagnosis of some dreaded disease. Whether it's something that is suddenly thrust upon us or it's been a part of our lives for a long time, our inclination is to sit on the corner of our beds and do all we can to find a way to avoid the 'labor' that lay ahead of us. We gather prayer warriors and go to the Lord asking Him to remove the cup from us when, in fact, the assignment that lay ahead of us is to be faced head on. In God's nature we can be assured that He does not set out to assign us with times of overwhelming labor, and there are times that the Holy Spirit will display His power through divine impartations of deliverance, but equally notable are events in which we ... like Jesus Himself ... find that we must endure the cup for the glory of the Father. This isn't something that comes naturally ... or by any means easy ... but nonetheless, our ultimate peace will come as we see that we have birthed a humility in which God's glory is displayed.
Our assignment then comes as we study the Apostle Paul's time spent on the corner of his bed looking for a way to avoid his thorn in the side ... his 'labor' assignment. There, in 2 Cor 12:9 Jesus Himself tells Paul ... "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Not the answer he was hoping for, I'm sure, but when birthing humility ... that perfect surrender of our will over to the will of the Father ... you soon realize that your assignment involves a journey in which we, in and of ourselves, are unable to endure ... to labor. But given the power of the Holy Spirit that lies within us we can be assured of a day in which we stand before the Lord and hear "Well done, my good and faithful servant." (Mt 25:23)
Father God, seeking to encourage, I pray for peace in times of labor. I pray that Jesus is seen by all as truth and strength ... as encouragement and love ... even in our darkest hours. All praise to Your perfect plan. All praise for Your hand that rests on our lives. All praise to the King of kings and the Lord of lords ... our Savior, Jesus, in whom we now pray.
Amen and amen.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Mirror, Mirror On The Wall
Recently I celebrated an anniversary at work that puts me on mark to hit what many would consider to be yet another 'milestone'. The great company that I work for, with its remarkable workers, has faithfully seen me through some of the most difficult challenges I've ever known ... all the while sharing with me some of the most precious moments that lay within the recesses of my heart. It can be argued whether or not these folks are actually part of my family ... I defy anyone to tell me that they aren't.
As I look back over these many years I remember things ... fun things ... that somehow left indelible marks on my memory. One such thing was an employee newsletter that asked the question ... "Who do you resemble?" With the answers to that question came photos of co-workers who resembled Liz Taylor, Meryl Streep and even Benjamin Franklin. It was fun to see how God craves variety all the while seeking out the fun in paring some of us up as look-a-likes of the rich and famous.
One other standout memory from years gone by relates to the time when employees were asked to help decorate a new Christmas tree in our Human Resources area. The incredible talents of fellow co-workers offered homemade ornaments of every kind but my favorite was a small mirror that displayed this haunting question ... "Do you see Christ in this ornament?" Political correctness being what it is these days, sadly, the ornament was not openly displayed for all to see but to this day that mirror ... with its haunting question ... rests on a shelf with the lasting reminder of whom we should aspire to resemble ... Jesus!
It is commonly said that every one of us has a double. Someone out there who is a mirror image of us, so if I were to ask you now ... "Who is it that you resemble?" ... is there a chance that your response to me would be "Jesus"? "No", you say, "that's not possible ... He is too perfect. There's no way that I can walk and talk and love others like Jesus does. I've been hurt - sometimes over and over again by the same person. How can I be expected to extend my hand in forgiveness and compassion like Jesus would? I want nothing more than to be an empty vessel that breathes a willingness to live as one with the Father ... but I know my imperfections - my limitations ... and it just isn't going to happen. The chances of my truly looking like Jesus are, at best, slim.
Well, I confess that at one time in my life I too thought that way. I took the tact that my weaknesses were greater than His strengths but I found out that when your focus is YOU there's no chance you'll see a reflection of HIM. Now, by the Grace of God, what I see when I look in a mirror is the person that the Father sees ... His creation who, being cloaked by the loving Grace of His Son, is as perfect as His precious Son. The Blood that Jesus shed washed away ALL of my imperfections and in the Father's eyes, I AM without blemish!
So then, my part in all of this is to live with the willingness to humble myself as Jesus did ... even when I don't feel like it. Hug the unlovable. Encourage those who are downtrodden. Forgive the offender. Over and over and over again ... until they see that you look like Jesus and they want what you have. Jesus was, and remains to this day, the One we should strive to resemble. I don't mean to make light of it ... it's not something that comes naturally to any one of us ... but with unwavering conviction and constant dedication you will be amazed at the joy that fills your spirit as people see a likeness of Jesus when they look at you.
Father God, I know deep down that true humility is not within my own power but by Your Holy Spirit I claim Oneness with You as I look to be a likeness of Your WONDERFUL Son! Father, in Jesus' name I pray that it may be so.
Amen and amen
As I look back over these many years I remember things ... fun things ... that somehow left indelible marks on my memory. One such thing was an employee newsletter that asked the question ... "Who do you resemble?" With the answers to that question came photos of co-workers who resembled Liz Taylor, Meryl Streep and even Benjamin Franklin. It was fun to see how God craves variety all the while seeking out the fun in paring some of us up as look-a-likes of the rich and famous.
One other standout memory from years gone by relates to the time when employees were asked to help decorate a new Christmas tree in our Human Resources area. The incredible talents of fellow co-workers offered homemade ornaments of every kind but my favorite was a small mirror that displayed this haunting question ... "Do you see Christ in this ornament?" Political correctness being what it is these days, sadly, the ornament was not openly displayed for all to see but to this day that mirror ... with its haunting question ... rests on a shelf with the lasting reminder of whom we should aspire to resemble ... Jesus!
It is commonly said that every one of us has a double. Someone out there who is a mirror image of us, so if I were to ask you now ... "Who is it that you resemble?" ... is there a chance that your response to me would be "Jesus"? "No", you say, "that's not possible ... He is too perfect. There's no way that I can walk and talk and love others like Jesus does. I've been hurt - sometimes over and over again by the same person. How can I be expected to extend my hand in forgiveness and compassion like Jesus would? I want nothing more than to be an empty vessel that breathes a willingness to live as one with the Father ... but I know my imperfections - my limitations ... and it just isn't going to happen. The chances of my truly looking like Jesus are, at best, slim.
Well, I confess that at one time in my life I too thought that way. I took the tact that my weaknesses were greater than His strengths but I found out that when your focus is YOU there's no chance you'll see a reflection of HIM. Now, by the Grace of God, what I see when I look in a mirror is the person that the Father sees ... His creation who, being cloaked by the loving Grace of His Son, is as perfect as His precious Son. The Blood that Jesus shed washed away ALL of my imperfections and in the Father's eyes, I AM without blemish!
So then, my part in all of this is to live with the willingness to humble myself as Jesus did ... even when I don't feel like it. Hug the unlovable. Encourage those who are downtrodden. Forgive the offender. Over and over and over again ... until they see that you look like Jesus and they want what you have. Jesus was, and remains to this day, the One we should strive to resemble. I don't mean to make light of it ... it's not something that comes naturally to any one of us ... but with unwavering conviction and constant dedication you will be amazed at the joy that fills your spirit as people see a likeness of Jesus when they look at you.
Father God, I know deep down that true humility is not within my own power but by Your Holy Spirit I claim Oneness with You as I look to be a likeness of Your WONDERFUL Son! Father, in Jesus' name I pray that it may be so.
Amen and amen
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Behold ... God's Treasure
A dear friend of mine stopped by recently and because God created within her a pure love for flowers and plants and anything that sprouts from the earth, she quickly noticed a need for me to tend to my garden. As she gently brought this situation to my attention I found myself with a desire to cultivate within my heart the same gardening love bug that consumed her. Immediately I set out to tidy up ... snipping first a flower that had fallen to the ground as a result of a heavy rain. The tenderness of her heart, as she offered me direction, was equal only to the tenderness of the treasured gift from God. Taking the gladiola into her hand she soon found some greenery that would serve to dress this single stemmed blossom up like it was the Belle of the Ball. Her wisdom, compassion, gentleness and confidence was nothing short of a treasure to behold and I thank God for the many gifts He offered me in this brief encounter.
This morning, as I look at the flower and greenery that was so artfully placed in a vase, I see that God's incredible gift continues to offer blessings for my day. It is apparent that time has removed the rain drops that once displayed God's nurturing ... and the luster of newness has faded a bit ... but no less brilliant is the beauty of each delicate pedal as they curl up in praise to their Creator. New, subtle colors can now be detected. New blossoms have erupted. New details are standing at the ready to be discovered. Thank You, Father, that Your amazing glory is never ending!
My friend brought God's beauty into my home and for that I am truly thankful. I think now of the similarities that can be extended to so many other aspects of my life. To see the beauty of the friends that God has cultivated in my life ... those who display God's master craftsmanship. Each frail in their humanness but boundless in beauty as they encourage me, support me and build me up.
Although I go through times in which God Himself must prune the withered branches that gather in my midst, I give great thanks for His constant nurturing. My heart's desire is to be a true reflection of who He is. To be the best 'me' that I can be ... and do what I can to bring the best of God out in others.
May I seek to be an empty vessel that displays the beauty that God created within me.
May my eyes see only the good in others ... never their shortcomings.
May I always be willing to love and praise and seek God's will for my life.
An most importantly ... may I leave the pruning of others to the wisdom of God.
Father God, shine your light on those things that need my attention and renew within me, Lord, a desire to let you take care of all the rest. I pray this, most fervently Father, in the blessed name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen and amen.
This morning, as I look at the flower and greenery that was so artfully placed in a vase, I see that God's incredible gift continues to offer blessings for my day. It is apparent that time has removed the rain drops that once displayed God's nurturing ... and the luster of newness has faded a bit ... but no less brilliant is the beauty of each delicate pedal as they curl up in praise to their Creator. New, subtle colors can now be detected. New blossoms have erupted. New details are standing at the ready to be discovered. Thank You, Father, that Your amazing glory is never ending!
My friend brought God's beauty into my home and for that I am truly thankful. I think now of the similarities that can be extended to so many other aspects of my life. To see the beauty of the friends that God has cultivated in my life ... those who display God's master craftsmanship. Each frail in their humanness but boundless in beauty as they encourage me, support me and build me up.
Although I go through times in which God Himself must prune the withered branches that gather in my midst, I give great thanks for His constant nurturing. My heart's desire is to be a true reflection of who He is. To be the best 'me' that I can be ... and do what I can to bring the best of God out in others.
May I seek to be an empty vessel that displays the beauty that God created within me.
May my eyes see only the good in others ... never their shortcomings.
May I always be willing to love and praise and seek God's will for my life.
An most importantly ... may I leave the pruning of others to the wisdom of God.
Father God, shine your light on those things that need my attention and renew within me, Lord, a desire to let you take care of all the rest. I pray this, most fervently Father, in the blessed name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen and amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)