His Love
His Love Endures Forever
This is out of context..Psalm 100:5. These four powerful words. Ponder them, really. When you do you will feel and experience eternity for a split second; as time stands still and your day is on hold in this moment to allow Jesus, King of Kings to love you now, and forever.
Four great words or should I say, 'the greatest', endless, infinite, permanent...FOREVER.
The universe seems to stop for a moment in awe of its Creator.
Take a look at some spectacular Hubble photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11753255@N06/1355653166/
Video & Song
'God of Wonders' Third Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc--ZYUyE2M&feature=related
Makes you feel really small doesn't it?
Thursday
Wednesday
July 30, 2008 Many Words
Many Words
I've been reading more books and blogs these days for information, insight and enjoyment. Books, and blogs and in them there are concerns, defenses, inspirations, direction, support; many commentaries, judgments and biases. Within the genre of 'Spiritual or Christian' reading there are claims to harmony, ultimate truth, spiritual correction, spiritual direction, some just for enjoyment, some analysis, some paraphrasing (which I mostly do). And it is even more interesting when a writer criticizes writing for spiritual or scriptural incorrectness, they are often not without fault, doing the very thing (through the view of the reader) to which they are critiquing.
I make no claims to really know anything about anything. Because as soon as I think I have the answers I find that I have mud on my face or my foot in my mouth. While other reading is purely for information and enjoyment, there is only one book that speaks for Itself, because It is His voice. It never makes a mistake, it never needs judgment, correction, analysis, critiquing, although it has been. It IS Spiritual direction, Spiritual insight and from my perspective it is the most enjoyable, the most informative, and the most insightful, in 30+ years of diligently seeking and reading It, It never has a dull moment, never a contradiction, never shallow. And though it has many words, the words when they aren't torn up by 'other's' view points, speaks for Itself with richness, depth, pure life and pure love, when it is the Holy Spirit directing. They are the living Words of God.
Even though I write every morning on what I feel in my heart, I am not without fault in my human nature of interjecting my 'flesh' thoughts. It is important for me to say that everything that we read making claims to insight in God's word must be taken carefully and we each must 'study to show ourselves approved', Because the bottom line, the only Teacher and Writer without fault is the Author of our faith. I say 'yes', with this gift of length, depth and height.
Ecclesiastes 12:8 "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!" 9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--given by one Shepherd. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
And if you wish, here is a long commentary giving a two sided critique of the book 'The Shack' by William P. Young which has obviously brought much controversy. I've read the book and my opinion, it was delightful and I don't believe it would either sway the faith of a 'mature' or 'baby' Christian. I throughouly enjoyed the dialogue between the Trinity giving me a joyful perspective on the Triune God and how much They love each other. It is fiction, and as all others you will have a critique, if you are able to get through the despair of the tragedy and then the idea of God shows up in human form which Mackenzie needed to experience in order to begin his healing. And I do compare it to C. S. Lewis', 'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe'. Neither one is meant to be read for scriptural accuracy, but for a good read and enjoyment, with obvious intentions by the authors to encourage deeper searching into God's Word. From that perspective, for me, it was a prodding 'goad', obviously successful, as you will see in the blog discussions.
http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/11578109/page1/
So for my 'many' words, I say 'that's quite enough Teresa'. Have a God-(filled) Day!!
http://static.flickr.com/4/9094372_9f8ca29b41.jpg
Video & Song
'Because of Your Love' Paul Baloche
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YyMFL-CGzwg
See Rebecca, what happens with great worship, it stays with us all week!
I've been reading more books and blogs these days for information, insight and enjoyment. Books, and blogs and in them there are concerns, defenses, inspirations, direction, support; many commentaries, judgments and biases. Within the genre of 'Spiritual or Christian' reading there are claims to harmony, ultimate truth, spiritual correction, spiritual direction, some just for enjoyment, some analysis, some paraphrasing (which I mostly do). And it is even more interesting when a writer criticizes writing for spiritual or scriptural incorrectness, they are often not without fault, doing the very thing (through the view of the reader) to which they are critiquing.
I make no claims to really know anything about anything. Because as soon as I think I have the answers I find that I have mud on my face or my foot in my mouth. While other reading is purely for information and enjoyment, there is only one book that speaks for Itself, because It is His voice. It never makes a mistake, it never needs judgment, correction, analysis, critiquing, although it has been. It IS Spiritual direction, Spiritual insight and from my perspective it is the most enjoyable, the most informative, and the most insightful, in 30+ years of diligently seeking and reading It, It never has a dull moment, never a contradiction, never shallow. And though it has many words, the words when they aren't torn up by 'other's' view points, speaks for Itself with richness, depth, pure life and pure love, when it is the Holy Spirit directing. They are the living Words of God.
Even though I write every morning on what I feel in my heart, I am not without fault in my human nature of interjecting my 'flesh' thoughts. It is important for me to say that everything that we read making claims to insight in God's word must be taken carefully and we each must 'study to show ourselves approved', Because the bottom line, the only Teacher and Writer without fault is the Author of our faith. I say 'yes', with this gift of length, depth and height.
Ecclesiastes 12:8 "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!" 9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--given by one Shepherd. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
And if you wish, here is a long commentary giving a two sided critique of the book 'The Shack' by William P. Young which has obviously brought much controversy. I've read the book and my opinion, it was delightful and I don't believe it would either sway the faith of a 'mature' or 'baby' Christian. I throughouly enjoyed the dialogue between the Trinity giving me a joyful perspective on the Triune God and how much They love each other. It is fiction, and as all others you will have a critique, if you are able to get through the despair of the tragedy and then the idea of God shows up in human form which Mackenzie needed to experience in order to begin his healing. And I do compare it to C. S. Lewis', 'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe'. Neither one is meant to be read for scriptural accuracy, but for a good read and enjoyment, with obvious intentions by the authors to encourage deeper searching into God's Word. From that perspective, for me, it was a prodding 'goad', obviously successful, as you will see in the blog discussions.
http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/11578109/page1/
So for my 'many' words, I say 'that's quite enough Teresa'. Have a God-(filled) Day!!
http://static.flickr.com/4/9094372_9f8ca29b41.jpg
Video & Song
'Because of Your Love' Paul Baloche
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YyMFL-CGzwg
See Rebecca, what happens with great worship, it stays with us all week!
Tuesday
July 29, 2008 Our Beautiful Children
Our Beautiful Children
Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house,those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city,the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil;for he gives to his beloved sleep. 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Psalm 144:12 Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace. 13 Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields; 14 our oxen will draw heavy loads. There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets. 15 Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.
You know, our heritage, our children are sincerely the most indescribable beauty in this life we know. Precious gifts, children are gifts, straight from heaven, gifts from God.
The family, if we aren't careful is being bombarded with continuous interference of worldly desires to take away our focus. The family has to be more than praises for outward looks, adornment and accomplishments. Our children are more than the metaphor of 'plants' and 'carved pillars'. Our lives together is more than the analogy of abundance and wealth in 'things'. The abundance is our heritage and beauty of life; our beautiful children and their beautiful children and theirs, this is the ultimate blessing in this life. And somehow we over time have lost sight, mainly in this great land of material abundance.
Life is precious, our children, are priceless beyond measure reaching for generations and for eternity. We will never be separated, we are His, and He is ours, we are each others, forever.
Our children, the most indescribable gifts in this life and waiting in heaven we know.
http://static.flickr.com/2319/2319158351_abeab26aa8.jpg
So worth it 5 days later!
Video & Song
'Indescribable' Chris Tomlin
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KlKhw_o6kzE&feature=related
Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house,those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city,the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil;for he gives to his beloved sleep. 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Psalm 144:12 Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace. 13 Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields; 14 our oxen will draw heavy loads. There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets. 15 Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.
You know, our heritage, our children are sincerely the most indescribable beauty in this life we know. Precious gifts, children are gifts, straight from heaven, gifts from God.
The family, if we aren't careful is being bombarded with continuous interference of worldly desires to take away our focus. The family has to be more than praises for outward looks, adornment and accomplishments. Our children are more than the metaphor of 'plants' and 'carved pillars'. Our lives together is more than the analogy of abundance and wealth in 'things'. The abundance is our heritage and beauty of life; our beautiful children and their beautiful children and theirs, this is the ultimate blessing in this life. And somehow we over time have lost sight, mainly in this great land of material abundance.
Life is precious, our children, are priceless beyond measure reaching for generations and for eternity. We will never be separated, we are His, and He is ours, we are each others, forever.
Our children, the most indescribable gifts in this life and waiting in heaven we know.
http://static.flickr.com/2319/2319158351_abeab26aa8.jpg
So worth it 5 days later!
Video & Song
'Indescribable' Chris Tomlin
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KlKhw_o6kzE&feature=related
Monday
July 28, 2008, All Eyes On Him
All Eyes On Him
I have a choice in the midst of storms and turmoil, disaster and devastation, exhaustion, confusion and uncertainty or lack to choose my only Source of peace, beauty, triumph and abundance.
I must keep my eyes on Christ alone; He is the light at the end of the tunnel and peace at the end of every storm; He is our peace, our beauty, our victory, our joy and our abundant love.
As we walk through our days with uncertainty, and turmoil, step carefully and everything that tries to take our focus away from our only Source of salvation will fall by our side.
We know the flesh does not need to die physically for us to be set free. The flesh follows with our Spirit as it is set free.
JESUS CHRIST THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER. we have a choice to look at the storms and floods or we can look at His path and walk through on dry land to the other side....Even the walls won't fall in on us!
Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." 15 And the Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.....21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
Nothing is different, today He fights for us; it is Jesus stretching out His hand.
http://www.goodnewsmedia.com/bible.av.htm/newbook4/Jesus_calms_storm.jpg
Video & Song
'In Christ Alone' Newsboys
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FsgwfliQoqg
I have a choice in the midst of storms and turmoil, disaster and devastation, exhaustion, confusion and uncertainty or lack to choose my only Source of peace, beauty, triumph and abundance.
I must keep my eyes on Christ alone; He is the light at the end of the tunnel and peace at the end of every storm; He is our peace, our beauty, our victory, our joy and our abundant love.
As we walk through our days with uncertainty, and turmoil, step carefully and everything that tries to take our focus away from our only Source of salvation will fall by our side.
We know the flesh does not need to die physically for us to be set free. The flesh follows with our Spirit as it is set free.
JESUS CHRIST THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER. we have a choice to look at the storms and floods or we can look at His path and walk through on dry land to the other side....Even the walls won't fall in on us!
Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." 15 And the Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.....21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
Nothing is different, today He fights for us; it is Jesus stretching out His hand.
http://www.goodnewsmedia.com/bible.av.htm/newbook4/Jesus_calms_storm.jpg
Video & Song
'In Christ Alone' Newsboys
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FsgwfliQoqg
Sunday
July 27, 2008, Hold On
Hold On
2 Corinthians 6:4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet
possessing everything.
Do you ever wonder how we live, how we hold on? Constantly being reduced to bring endurance and patience. This is our entire lives as we strive until we are released from this body. It is endurance and although we here in the United States can honestly say we don't have the foggiest idea what real hardship or imprisonment or hunger is, our hardship and lack is in love and relationships. Either void, forces us to rely on the Lord to continually fill the gaps and sometimes be the only Source of love and comfort expressed through His Words.
Yes, we are dying yet we live on. Life is unfair, and with others who understand and exhort (forceful, impelling encouragement) we find strength to live on. We are constantly being reduced and we find some way to hold on with only One Source for eternal life.
Hebrews 3:13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Don't be misdirected and turn your back on each other, but love
one another while it is still today.
Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
We all have tribulations, even feel alone even in the midst of family and friends. If we are truthful we will admit it. When we can find the right perspective and can be honest in those situations which reduce us, all we see is hope because somehow even in these tribulations we will always find peace in Him alone. The absolute truth, we are covered 'in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love and in the power
of God'.
http://static.flickr.com/109/287198954_e48d86f924.jpg
Video & Song
'Bring the Rain' Mercy Me
http://youtube.com/watch?v=e8HgAVenbUU
2 Corinthians 6:4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet
possessing everything.
Do you ever wonder how we live, how we hold on? Constantly being reduced to bring endurance and patience. This is our entire lives as we strive until we are released from this body. It is endurance and although we here in the United States can honestly say we don't have the foggiest idea what real hardship or imprisonment or hunger is, our hardship and lack is in love and relationships. Either void, forces us to rely on the Lord to continually fill the gaps and sometimes be the only Source of love and comfort expressed through His Words.
Yes, we are dying yet we live on. Life is unfair, and with others who understand and exhort (forceful, impelling encouragement) we find strength to live on. We are constantly being reduced and we find some way to hold on with only One Source for eternal life.
Hebrews 3:13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Don't be misdirected and turn your back on each other, but love
one another while it is still today.
Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
We all have tribulations, even feel alone even in the midst of family and friends. If we are truthful we will admit it. When we can find the right perspective and can be honest in those situations which reduce us, all we see is hope because somehow even in these tribulations we will always find peace in Him alone. The absolute truth, we are covered 'in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love and in the power
of God'.
http://static.flickr.com/109/287198954_e48d86f924.jpg
Video & Song
'Bring the Rain' Mercy Me
http://youtube.com/watch?v=e8HgAVenbUU
Saturday
July 26, 2008 Friends
Friends
1 Corinthians 12: 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Hosea 6:1 "Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day (Yes, He lives that we may live, my addition) he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. 3 Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."
Have you ever laughed so hard you cried? Have you ever cried so hard you laughed? Deeply connected emotions, which I am grateful to be able to experience. We are deeply connected in the same way, emotional human beings, when one cries we cry, when one laughs we laugh, whether physically apart or together we are deeply connected emotionally and spiritually. Life is grieving and rejoicing together. Everywhere as brothers and sisters, we experience each other, we are connected to each other.
God does not tempt us, His gifts are perfect for each of us. Every occurrence in our lives is for our personal journey, strength and growth. Some of the journey tears us apart and He will restore us. We each are on a personal journey all headed in the same direction.
James 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.
We died with Christ, and we live with Him, He is Truth. We burst forth as new fruit with His rain, bringing us new life.
Acts 10:36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord
of all.
Creed in you, friend.
Creed in your smile,
window opened in your being.
Creed in your look,
mirror of your honesty.
Creed in your hand, always stiff for debit.
Creed in yours I embrace,
sincere acceptance of your heart.
Creed in your word,
expression of that it loves and it hopes.
Creed in you, friend,
therefore, simply,
in the eloquenza of Hush.
Elena Oshiro
You know it is true, we are with each other, always.
We grieve with together and we rejoice together.
We are friends forever...
Yes we are.
http://static.flickr.com/1008/1396716697_65501d73d1.jpg
Video & Song
'Friends' Michael W Smith
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oOCJAVlESEo
1 Corinthians 12: 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Hosea 6:1 "Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day (Yes, He lives that we may live, my addition) he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. 3 Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."
Have you ever laughed so hard you cried? Have you ever cried so hard you laughed? Deeply connected emotions, which I am grateful to be able to experience. We are deeply connected in the same way, emotional human beings, when one cries we cry, when one laughs we laugh, whether physically apart or together we are deeply connected emotionally and spiritually. Life is grieving and rejoicing together. Everywhere as brothers and sisters, we experience each other, we are connected to each other.
God does not tempt us, His gifts are perfect for each of us. Every occurrence in our lives is for our personal journey, strength and growth. Some of the journey tears us apart and He will restore us. We each are on a personal journey all headed in the same direction.
James 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.
We died with Christ, and we live with Him, He is Truth. We burst forth as new fruit with His rain, bringing us new life.
Acts 10:36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord
of all.
Creed in you, friend.
Creed in your smile,
window opened in your being.
Creed in your look,
mirror of your honesty.
Creed in your hand, always stiff for debit.
Creed in yours I embrace,
sincere acceptance of your heart.
Creed in your word,
expression of that it loves and it hopes.
Creed in you, friend,
therefore, simply,
in the eloquenza of Hush.
Elena Oshiro
You know it is true, we are with each other, always.
We grieve with together and we rejoice together.
We are friends forever...
Yes we are.
http://static.flickr.com/1008/1396716697_65501d73d1.jpg
Video & Song
'Friends' Michael W Smith
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oOCJAVlESEo
Friday
July 25, Crucified With Christ
Crucified with Christ
Galatians 2:20 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
When I first surrendered my life to the Lord I remember asking Him 'How much do you love me?' and He showed me the cross. I asked Him 'How can you love everyone with such love?, He showed me the cross again and asked me to come up on it with Him and be crucified with Him and in that moment I understond His unconditional, infinite love of all mankind. He said to me 'This is how I love'. For years I could not speak of what I experienced, it was and still is the most profound experience I have had in my journey with Him and I am thankful that He has brought this to my memory after all these years.
I believe this scripture is not that our flesh is literally crucified with Him, it is that our minds are crucified and renewed, our thoughts are changed to understanding His love so our hearts freely love. When our minds are renewed the flesh
follows, the heart is freer.
Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
And what is the prefect will of God?
Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
And as we surrender to Christ to be renewed in our minds by being crucified with Him, our hearts which love have no obstacle and can freely pour out the love He asks of us as we serve one another.
Yeshua our Messiah, Blessed be His Name.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1298/1364989499_23dd50ae0f.jpg?v=0
Video & Song
'Blessed Be Your Name' Matt Redman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qp11X6LKYY&NR=1
Galatians 2:20 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
When I first surrendered my life to the Lord I remember asking Him 'How much do you love me?' and He showed me the cross. I asked Him 'How can you love everyone with such love?, He showed me the cross again and asked me to come up on it with Him and be crucified with Him and in that moment I understond His unconditional, infinite love of all mankind. He said to me 'This is how I love'. For years I could not speak of what I experienced, it was and still is the most profound experience I have had in my journey with Him and I am thankful that He has brought this to my memory after all these years.
I believe this scripture is not that our flesh is literally crucified with Him, it is that our minds are crucified and renewed, our thoughts are changed to understanding His love so our hearts freely love. When our minds are renewed the flesh
follows, the heart is freer.
Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
And what is the prefect will of God?
Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
And as we surrender to Christ to be renewed in our minds by being crucified with Him, our hearts which love have no obstacle and can freely pour out the love He asks of us as we serve one another.
Yeshua our Messiah, Blessed be His Name.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1298/1364989499_23dd50ae0f.jpg?v=0
Video & Song
'Blessed Be Your Name' Matt Redman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qp11X6LKYY&NR=1
Thursday
July 24, 2008, He Is
He Is
He Has. He Does. He Is.
Deuteronomy 3:24 'Adonai ELOHIM, you have begun to reveal your greatness to your servant, and your strong hand - for what other god is there in heaven or on earth that can do the works and mighty deeds that you do?
Video & Song
'Who Am I' Casting Crowns
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VU_rTX23V7Q
http://static.flickr.com/168/450348014_6cc22525b9.jpg
He Has. He Does. He Is.
Deuteronomy 3:24 'Adonai ELOHIM, you have begun to reveal your greatness to your servant, and your strong hand - for what other god is there in heaven or on earth that can do the works and mighty deeds that you do?
Video & Song
'Who Am I' Casting Crowns
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VU_rTX23V7Q
http://static.flickr.com/168/450348014_6cc22525b9.jpg
Wednesday
July 23, 2008 Embrace
Embrace
Song of Solomon 2:1 I'm just a wildflower picked from the plains of Sharon, a lotus blossom from the valley pools. 2 A lotus blossoming in a swamp of weeds - that's my dear friend among the girls in the village. 3 As an apricot tree stands out in the forest, my lover stands above the young men in town. All I want is to sit in his shade, to taste and savor his delicious love. 4 He took me home with him for a festive meal, but his eyes feasted on me! 5 Oh! Give me something refreshing to eat - and quickly! Apricots, raisins - anything. I'm about to faint with love! 6 His left hand cradles my head, and his right arm encircles my waist! 7 Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe - and you're ready. 8 Look! Listen! There's my lover! Do you see him coming? Vaulting the mountains, leaping the hills. 9 My lover is like a gazelle, graceful; like a young stag, virile. Look at him there, on tiptoe at the gate, all ears, all eyes - ready! 10 My lover has arrived and he's speaking to me! Get up, my dear friend, fair and beautiful lover - come to me! 11 Look around you: Winter is over; the winter rains are over, gone! 12 Spring flowers are in blossom all over. The whole world's a choir - and singing! Spring warblers are filling the forest with sweet arpeggios. 13 Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed, and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms. Oh, get up, dear friend, my fair and beautiful lover - come to me! 14 Come, my shy and modest dove - leave your seclusion, come out in the open. Let me see your face, let me hear your voice. For your voice is soothing and your face is ravishing. 15 Then you must protect me from the foxes, foxes on the prowl, Foxes who would like nothing better than to get into our flowering garden. 16 My lover is mine, and I am his. Nightly he strolls in our garden, Delighting in the flowers 17 until dawn breathes its light and night slips away. Turn to me, dear lover. Come like a gazelle. Leap like a wild stag on delectable mountains! ___The Message
'Excite' the deeper original meaning, 'uwr' in Hebrew means 'to be exposed, be bared, be laid bare', aroused, waken.
He is calling us. This is poetry and beauty, our desire for the Lord and His desire for us. How we are so unworthy and the metaphors used are wonderful and very real. The banquet is waiting, when we are ready to answer His call, we search with a deeper yearning as He yearns for us. When we are ready He embraces us, He is our Lord, graceful, gentle, everything in creation gazes on His beauty and is captivated by His voice.
All of creation burst with song and intense color and fragrance. He wants to see our face and hear our voice; we call to Him, we want to see His face and hear His voice.
How can there be anything more incredibly beautiful!!
http://www.freespiritart.com/images/weistling-the-promise.jpg
Video & Song
'Indescribable' Chris Tomlin
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KlKhw_o6kzE&feature=related
Song of Solomon 2:1 I'm just a wildflower picked from the plains of Sharon, a lotus blossom from the valley pools. 2 A lotus blossoming in a swamp of weeds - that's my dear friend among the girls in the village. 3 As an apricot tree stands out in the forest, my lover stands above the young men in town. All I want is to sit in his shade, to taste and savor his delicious love. 4 He took me home with him for a festive meal, but his eyes feasted on me! 5 Oh! Give me something refreshing to eat - and quickly! Apricots, raisins - anything. I'm about to faint with love! 6 His left hand cradles my head, and his right arm encircles my waist! 7 Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe - and you're ready. 8 Look! Listen! There's my lover! Do you see him coming? Vaulting the mountains, leaping the hills. 9 My lover is like a gazelle, graceful; like a young stag, virile. Look at him there, on tiptoe at the gate, all ears, all eyes - ready! 10 My lover has arrived and he's speaking to me! Get up, my dear friend, fair and beautiful lover - come to me! 11 Look around you: Winter is over; the winter rains are over, gone! 12 Spring flowers are in blossom all over. The whole world's a choir - and singing! Spring warblers are filling the forest with sweet arpeggios. 13 Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed, and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms. Oh, get up, dear friend, my fair and beautiful lover - come to me! 14 Come, my shy and modest dove - leave your seclusion, come out in the open. Let me see your face, let me hear your voice. For your voice is soothing and your face is ravishing. 15 Then you must protect me from the foxes, foxes on the prowl, Foxes who would like nothing better than to get into our flowering garden. 16 My lover is mine, and I am his. Nightly he strolls in our garden, Delighting in the flowers 17 until dawn breathes its light and night slips away. Turn to me, dear lover. Come like a gazelle. Leap like a wild stag on delectable mountains! ___The Message
'Excite' the deeper original meaning, 'uwr' in Hebrew means 'to be exposed, be bared, be laid bare', aroused, waken.
He is calling us. This is poetry and beauty, our desire for the Lord and His desire for us. How we are so unworthy and the metaphors used are wonderful and very real. The banquet is waiting, when we are ready to answer His call, we search with a deeper yearning as He yearns for us. When we are ready He embraces us, He is our Lord, graceful, gentle, everything in creation gazes on His beauty and is captivated by His voice.
All of creation burst with song and intense color and fragrance. He wants to see our face and hear our voice; we call to Him, we want to see His face and hear His voice.
How can there be anything more incredibly beautiful!!
http://www.freespiritart.com/images/weistling-the-promise.jpg
Video & Song
'Indescribable' Chris Tomlin
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KlKhw_o6kzE&feature=related
Tuesday
July 22, 2008 Prayer
Prayer
1 Samuel 1:12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." 15 "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.
Ecclesiates 5:7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.
Matthew 5:7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Do you see it? When our hearts are moved, many words aren't necessary.
When we pray with words with another, it encourages and lifts up. It isn't the quantity of
words coming out of our mouths. God 'hears' our hearts. Words are for us, some comforting,
some damaging, some many, some few. When speaking to the Lord, the only sound we
need to make with our mouth is the sound of our soul's cry, it can be heard to the heavens.
http://static.flickr.com/49/191497464_fdea22e143.jpg
Video & Song
"I Will Lift My Eyes' Bebo Norman
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8h3QLS8wmxQ&feature=related
1 Samuel 1:12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." 15 "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.
Ecclesiates 5:7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.
Matthew 5:7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Do you see it? When our hearts are moved, many words aren't necessary.
When we pray with words with another, it encourages and lifts up. It isn't the quantity of
words coming out of our mouths. God 'hears' our hearts. Words are for us, some comforting,
some damaging, some many, some few. When speaking to the Lord, the only sound we
need to make with our mouth is the sound of our soul's cry, it can be heard to the heavens.
http://static.flickr.com/49/191497464_fdea22e143.jpg
Video & Song
"I Will Lift My Eyes' Bebo Norman
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8h3QLS8wmxQ&feature=related
Monday
July 21, 2008 Free To Be
Free To Be
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed (truly). 37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.
The Son. Truly free!! He is our freedom from bondage. When we draw near to Him, Who is Truth, we find His Truth.
Wow, thinking about our liberty here in the United States of America, we can say the same thing as a reason for killing the Word. We have everything we need, right? We are decedents of Abraham living in a land of plenty. Everything available to us, everything. We have fallen away from 'Truth' in order to do it on our own. Losing sight, and in bondage to 'things', the other gods.
We are being called, with a great call, to pray at 8pm Central Time, for our country, our officials and the upcoming elections, for God's will for us, 'He will fight for us'. It is time as with Nehemiah to rebuild the walls that have been destroyed, building with one hand and a sword in the other. And this time the sword is His Word
The colors red, white, and blue did not have meanings for the Stars and Stripes when it was adopted in 1777. However, the colors in the Great Seal did have specific meanings. Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal, stated:
'The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; white signifies purity and innocence, red, hardiness and valor, and blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice.'"
Each of the fifty white stars indicates a state in the present United States. The thirteen horizontal red and white stripes symbolize the thirteen colonies represented in the Continental Congress in 1777. A book about the flag published in 1977 by the House of Representatives states:
"The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun."
Nehemiah 4:16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. 19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"
Our walls are damaged, we need to spread out across the walls to rebuild. Our weapons are spiritual and there is only One Son, He will set us free, He will bind us together. Our sword and weapons are prayer and the Living Word of God. Put on our armor Ephesians 6, and take up our sword, :17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Freedom to be free, I'm feeling very patriotic today. We live in a great country. If we can slow down enough to see where we are and what we are doing to ourselves in our separation and 'pursuit of happiness' when this has become the 'pursuit of other gods or things'.
Abide with the Son, and be set free.
http://static.flickr.com/2340/2335764850_a903669ab2.jpg
Video & Song
"God Bless The USA' Lee Greenwood
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RssIN3ustUw
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed (truly). 37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.
The Son. Truly free!! He is our freedom from bondage. When we draw near to Him, Who is Truth, we find His Truth.
Wow, thinking about our liberty here in the United States of America, we can say the same thing as a reason for killing the Word. We have everything we need, right? We are decedents of Abraham living in a land of plenty. Everything available to us, everything. We have fallen away from 'Truth' in order to do it on our own. Losing sight, and in bondage to 'things', the other gods.
We are being called, with a great call, to pray at 8pm Central Time, for our country, our officials and the upcoming elections, for God's will for us, 'He will fight for us'. It is time as with Nehemiah to rebuild the walls that have been destroyed, building with one hand and a sword in the other. And this time the sword is His Word
The colors red, white, and blue did not have meanings for the Stars and Stripes when it was adopted in 1777. However, the colors in the Great Seal did have specific meanings. Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal, stated:
'The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; white signifies purity and innocence, red, hardiness and valor, and blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice.'"
Each of the fifty white stars indicates a state in the present United States. The thirteen horizontal red and white stripes symbolize the thirteen colonies represented in the Continental Congress in 1777. A book about the flag published in 1977 by the House of Representatives states:
"The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun."
Nehemiah 4:16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. 19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"
Our walls are damaged, we need to spread out across the walls to rebuild. Our weapons are spiritual and there is only One Son, He will set us free, He will bind us together. Our sword and weapons are prayer and the Living Word of God. Put on our armor Ephesians 6, and take up our sword, :17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Freedom to be free, I'm feeling very patriotic today. We live in a great country. If we can slow down enough to see where we are and what we are doing to ourselves in our separation and 'pursuit of happiness' when this has become the 'pursuit of other gods or things'.
Abide with the Son, and be set free.
http://static.flickr.com/2340/2335764850_a903669ab2.jpg
Video & Song
"God Bless The USA' Lee Greenwood
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RssIN3ustUw
Sunday
July 20, 2008 Renew Us
Renew Us
John 5:21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
Lamentations 5:21 Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old
If we could only grasp that there really is never any waiting in the Spirit other than being with the Lord. If God is everlasting, always was, is and always will be, how can time be measured? It is our flesh that separates us from the everlasting presence before God. We are a Spiritual being first with an earthly body, not a body first with a Spirit. Our connection with God is our Spirit within us, forever. When we draw near to God it is our Spirit not our flesh. Our choice of Jesus within us restores us, He guides us, He comforts us, and He delivers us.
Life is after death, life is before death, because our Spirit within us never tires, just as He never tires, our Spirit never needs to wait, our Spirit within us is in constant communion with God. This is what restores us day after day.
We are Spirit beings first, with a body.
Lord draw us close to You, renew us.
http://static.flickr.com/227/484545962_f425bcbd49.jpg
Video & Song
'Amazed' Lincoln Brewster
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9qVkzdK6N20
John 5:21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
Lamentations 5:21 Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old
If we could only grasp that there really is never any waiting in the Spirit other than being with the Lord. If God is everlasting, always was, is and always will be, how can time be measured? It is our flesh that separates us from the everlasting presence before God. We are a Spiritual being first with an earthly body, not a body first with a Spirit. Our connection with God is our Spirit within us, forever. When we draw near to God it is our Spirit not our flesh. Our choice of Jesus within us restores us, He guides us, He comforts us, and He delivers us.
Life is after death, life is before death, because our Spirit within us never tires, just as He never tires, our Spirit never needs to wait, our Spirit within us is in constant communion with God. This is what restores us day after day.
We are Spirit beings first, with a body.
Lord draw us close to You, renew us.
http://static.flickr.com/227/484545962_f425bcbd49.jpg
Video & Song
'Amazed' Lincoln Brewster
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9qVkzdK6N20
Saturday
July 19, 2008 Soft Rain
Soft Rain
Psalm 143:6 Stretched out my hands to you, as thirsty for you as a desert thirsts for rain.
Yesterday, it was so welcomed to see soft rain with the sun shining. It is one of those wonderful experiences in nature that mesmerizes me. Maybe it is because there are wonderful memories of running through it as a child.
I welcome His soft rain from the heavens, it refreshes me in dry times, in difficult times, in mourning, in brokenness, and it is always available.
We really are always thirsty and when the rain comes, we welcome it, it is the only rain that restores, renews and refreshes us because The Son is in it.
http://top411.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/gold-rainbow-2-lrg-opt.jpg
Video & Song
'Healing Rain' Michael W Smith
http://youtube.com/watch?v=G1GY-ztFkSw&feature=related
Psalm 143:6 Stretched out my hands to you, as thirsty for you as a desert thirsts for rain.
Yesterday, it was so welcomed to see soft rain with the sun shining. It is one of those wonderful experiences in nature that mesmerizes me. Maybe it is because there are wonderful memories of running through it as a child.
I welcome His soft rain from the heavens, it refreshes me in dry times, in difficult times, in mourning, in brokenness, and it is always available.
We really are always thirsty and when the rain comes, we welcome it, it is the only rain that restores, renews and refreshes us because The Son is in it.
http://top411.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/gold-rainbow-2-lrg-opt.jpg
Video & Song
'Healing Rain' Michael W Smith
http://youtube.com/watch?v=G1GY-ztFkSw&feature=related
Friday
July 18, 2008 Christmas In July
Christmas In July
Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
The song 'Falling On My Knees" is still ringing within me for two days now. And I love every second. Even in my sleep I hear it. You know how it is once you hear a song it stays with you. What an awesome, wonderful thing to have with you, a song of incredible awareness of who we are in His presence. It is my continuous reminder.
This awesome day when Christ was born, what it must have been like. Can you put yourself there? Just see, feel, hear, all that is going on around you, I can only imagine the presence of God with Mary and Joseph, and then can you imagine hearing the a heavenly host of angels, what it must have sounded like!! WOW. The Savior of the world is born, Even the angels cry out in praise to Him. What else is there, really? But to worship Him, be in His presence and do His will. And you don't really have to be on your knees all the time to do it. It is in your home, your conversations, your presence with people around you, at work, everywhere you go you have the choice to be in His presence.
He came that we all may live!! Choose life. It is now, and it is to come, forever and ever.
Video & Song
'Rescue' Desperation Band
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZEO12GqfKPM&feature=related
http://www.bergoiata.org/fe/divers54/Heaven
Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
The song 'Falling On My Knees" is still ringing within me for two days now. And I love every second. Even in my sleep I hear it. You know how it is once you hear a song it stays with you. What an awesome, wonderful thing to have with you, a song of incredible awareness of who we are in His presence. It is my continuous reminder.
This awesome day when Christ was born, what it must have been like. Can you put yourself there? Just see, feel, hear, all that is going on around you, I can only imagine the presence of God with Mary and Joseph, and then can you imagine hearing the a heavenly host of angels, what it must have sounded like!! WOW. The Savior of the world is born, Even the angels cry out in praise to Him. What else is there, really? But to worship Him, be in His presence and do His will. And you don't really have to be on your knees all the time to do it. It is in your home, your conversations, your presence with people around you, at work, everywhere you go you have the choice to be in His presence.
He came that we all may live!! Choose life. It is now, and it is to come, forever and ever.
Video & Song
'Rescue' Desperation Band
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZEO12GqfKPM&feature=related
http://www.bergoiata.org/fe/divers54/Heaven
Thursday
July 17, 2008 Our Father
Our Father
Isaiah 45:17 But Israel will be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced, to ages everlasting. 18 For this is what the Lord says-- he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited-- he says: "I am the Lord, and there is no other. 19 I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob's descendants, 'Seek me in vain.' I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right. 20 "Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save. 21 Declare what is to be, present it-- let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. 22 "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 24 They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.'" All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. 25 But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.
This has to be one of my most favorite chapters in scriptures. To hear His voice speak in His Word as it is written. These are the words that bring awareness of God's greatness and awesome nature and presence. As He speaks it's like thunder and strong, steadfast and secure.
It leaves us with a sense of the same strength and security. We have a Father who is strong
and not weak. We can be secure as He watches over us and takes care of us, protecting us.
Listen to His voice, He is a Father who speaks with authority and love, never hurting
or abusive? A God who is all Love and nothing less, with love that cannot be compared
even to the love of a most caring and protective earthly father.
It isn't that our earthly fathers ever could give such perfect love. Feeling loved and secure in a child comes from an earthly father asking forgiveness for falling short, showing he can cry, being vulnerable before God....this is strength, certainly not weakness as the world has taught. It is no wonder that the enemy has twisted the need for our earthly fathers to feel they need to hold it all in, not to express their fears and shortcomings. Because it distorted our view in sorting out the differences between our Father God and our father on earth.
God the Father, all knowing, all loving, kind, gentle, forgiving, protective, saving, watchful, sure, steadfast, righteous, everlasting, creator, founder, no other, light, the one and only true God. He is a God that does not demand that our knee bow, He speaks of what is, that every knee will bow in His awesome presence, His very nature will pull us down to our knees.
Experience His presence in all the softness and quiet of your prayer time. Let Him saturate you with His powerful love and grace. You will not stand, it is not possible to stand when you are that close to Him. You will feel a sense of covering over your head, we are so unworthy. It is written, 'our righteousness is as filthy rags' (Isaiah 64:6) in His presence. But He sees beyond the outside, He sees the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).
http://static.flickr.com/1346/900036343_21e7908d7c.jpg
Video & Song
'Falling On My Knees" Kathrynn Scott
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Js5OnLeunQ
Isaiah 45:17 But Israel will be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced, to ages everlasting. 18 For this is what the Lord says-- he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited-- he says: "I am the Lord, and there is no other. 19 I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob's descendants, 'Seek me in vain.' I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right. 20 "Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save. 21 Declare what is to be, present it-- let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. 22 "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 24 They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.'" All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. 25 But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.
This has to be one of my most favorite chapters in scriptures. To hear His voice speak in His Word as it is written. These are the words that bring awareness of God's greatness and awesome nature and presence. As He speaks it's like thunder and strong, steadfast and secure.
It leaves us with a sense of the same strength and security. We have a Father who is strong
and not weak. We can be secure as He watches over us and takes care of us, protecting us.
Listen to His voice, He is a Father who speaks with authority and love, never hurting
or abusive? A God who is all Love and nothing less, with love that cannot be compared
even to the love of a most caring and protective earthly father.
It isn't that our earthly fathers ever could give such perfect love. Feeling loved and secure in a child comes from an earthly father asking forgiveness for falling short, showing he can cry, being vulnerable before God....this is strength, certainly not weakness as the world has taught. It is no wonder that the enemy has twisted the need for our earthly fathers to feel they need to hold it all in, not to express their fears and shortcomings. Because it distorted our view in sorting out the differences between our Father God and our father on earth.
God the Father, all knowing, all loving, kind, gentle, forgiving, protective, saving, watchful, sure, steadfast, righteous, everlasting, creator, founder, no other, light, the one and only true God. He is a God that does not demand that our knee bow, He speaks of what is, that every knee will bow in His awesome presence, His very nature will pull us down to our knees.
Experience His presence in all the softness and quiet of your prayer time. Let Him saturate you with His powerful love and grace. You will not stand, it is not possible to stand when you are that close to Him. You will feel a sense of covering over your head, we are so unworthy. It is written, 'our righteousness is as filthy rags' (Isaiah 64:6) in His presence. But He sees beyond the outside, He sees the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).
http://static.flickr.com/1346/900036343_21e7908d7c.jpg
Video & Song
'Falling On My Knees" Kathrynn Scott
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Js5OnLeunQ
Wednesday
July 16, 2008 One Cord
One Cord
We are one in the Spirit....yes we are.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow...Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and A THREEFOLD CORD IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
The Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, You, Me and all others. Body, mind and spirit. We are twisted and together in love. Two are better than one, but three together in His Spirit and His Love cannot be broken. Think about a rope and it is twisted or braided together, its purpose is for strength.
We have come to a time in our lives where there is separateness in communities, families and church. We are thinking alone, doing alone and living alone. We have become independent in both our thinking and physically. 'I can do it myself, and I don't need anyone else.' There is a deep sadness in this. In the conditioning of independence and seeking fortune and fame, we have created a system that neither sees each other nor is easily available for each other whether because of time restrictions or distance. We are brothers and sisters. How is must grieve Him Who loves us with Love that is more than enough for everyone of His children.
The beauty of the three stranded cord is we are never separated and if we do become separated we become weak. It is time for us to stop and look at our precious created family all around us. To become connected with them, not just in thoughts but with our hearts. To take time to 'pay attention', 'to see' and allow ourselves to 'be seen'.
There are times in our lives we decide to slow down on our own and then there are times when slowing down seems to be out of our control. It's as if He is making a way for us to stop and look at who we are, who is near us, and look at Me.
Over the past 10 years I have be fortunate to be a part of a church and community where the people genuinely care and love and it is evident in many ways. And yesterday it was evident again as a dear young Pastor Aaron and his wife Anita quickly made calls to help and a precious sister Terri picked my husband and I up on the side of 249 Fwy in Montgomery county when our car broke down. And the calls and emails from my church and friends and family and concerns to help us made me realize how blessed we are and that we (none of us) are really never alone and helpless. I am so thankful to all of you, and Ken and I feel and see your love. WOW! And Ken will rest in Him and on his flight to the other side of the earth, literally, to China, knowing that we are fine here.
And in this same community there has been in our dear brother, Jim's family, the death of his precious niece. Please pray for them in these days to come for comfort that only can come for the Lord. We may not be able to be there physically with him and his family but we are holding them in our hearts and when one grieves we all grieve, and we do.
http://static.flickr.com/2178/2259084757_0c11c4306d.jpg
Video & Song
'Who Am I' Casting Crowns
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZGU76is9BuY&feature=related
We are one in the Spirit....yes we are.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow...Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and A THREEFOLD CORD IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
The Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, You, Me and all others. Body, mind and spirit. We are twisted and together in love. Two are better than one, but three together in His Spirit and His Love cannot be broken. Think about a rope and it is twisted or braided together, its purpose is for strength.
We have come to a time in our lives where there is separateness in communities, families and church. We are thinking alone, doing alone and living alone. We have become independent in both our thinking and physically. 'I can do it myself, and I don't need anyone else.' There is a deep sadness in this. In the conditioning of independence and seeking fortune and fame, we have created a system that neither sees each other nor is easily available for each other whether because of time restrictions or distance. We are brothers and sisters. How is must grieve Him Who loves us with Love that is more than enough for everyone of His children.
The beauty of the three stranded cord is we are never separated and if we do become separated we become weak. It is time for us to stop and look at our precious created family all around us. To become connected with them, not just in thoughts but with our hearts. To take time to 'pay attention', 'to see' and allow ourselves to 'be seen'.
There are times in our lives we decide to slow down on our own and then there are times when slowing down seems to be out of our control. It's as if He is making a way for us to stop and look at who we are, who is near us, and look at Me.
Over the past 10 years I have be fortunate to be a part of a church and community where the people genuinely care and love and it is evident in many ways. And yesterday it was evident again as a dear young Pastor Aaron and his wife Anita quickly made calls to help and a precious sister Terri picked my husband and I up on the side of 249 Fwy in Montgomery county when our car broke down. And the calls and emails from my church and friends and family and concerns to help us made me realize how blessed we are and that we (none of us) are really never alone and helpless. I am so thankful to all of you, and Ken and I feel and see your love. WOW! And Ken will rest in Him and on his flight to the other side of the earth, literally, to China, knowing that we are fine here.
And in this same community there has been in our dear brother, Jim's family, the death of his precious niece. Please pray for them in these days to come for comfort that only can come for the Lord. We may not be able to be there physically with him and his family but we are holding them in our hearts and when one grieves we all grieve, and we do.
http://static.flickr.com/2178/2259084757_0c11c4306d.jpg
Video & Song
'Who Am I' Casting Crowns
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZGU76is9BuY&feature=related
Tuesday
July 15, 2008 Special Delivery
Special Delivery
Isaiah 40:1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
What heart stirring words to hear from God. What I see is a beautiful hope like the wonderful stories a little girl dreams of when her knight in shining armor comes riding on a horse to rescue her, and sweeps her off her feet and they ride off in the distance to live happily ever after.
After all the suffering, Jerusalem, (God's people first, remembering we are now joint heirs by adoption) after we have all suffered because we could not find The Way and fell short of His glory. It is in the desert where we will see Him and find Him. He will come in His glory and everything in His path will submit to His return, even the very earth and all that is in it. I never really thought about the extent of this, all that He created that has breath; even what doesn't have breath, the mountains, the hills, the valleys...the rocks.
All eyes will be on the glory of the Lord. What a glorious waiting! Once again He will come in the least likely place, as He was born in the least likely place for a King. The desert and wilderness will be His entry place. Not in a palace but in the desert (and to think, nothing has changed, He meets us in the desert places of our lives, the times we draw close to Him).
Who will be ready? Who will prepare The Way? Who will be waiting for Him?
These words come special delivery to you. The 'her', 'the little girl' is His church, 'she' has the heart of a child and is waiting. This is a real life story.
Your Prince of Peace is returning to rescue you!, He will sweep you of your feet and you will live with Him happily ever after.
http://static.flickr.com/1097/1111996179_1d8ae229cc.jpg
Video & Song
'Nothing But the Blood' Matt Redman
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2ewYC4hPRMM
Isaiah 40:1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
What heart stirring words to hear from God. What I see is a beautiful hope like the wonderful stories a little girl dreams of when her knight in shining armor comes riding on a horse to rescue her, and sweeps her off her feet and they ride off in the distance to live happily ever after.
After all the suffering, Jerusalem, (God's people first, remembering we are now joint heirs by adoption) after we have all suffered because we could not find The Way and fell short of His glory. It is in the desert where we will see Him and find Him. He will come in His glory and everything in His path will submit to His return, even the very earth and all that is in it. I never really thought about the extent of this, all that He created that has breath; even what doesn't have breath, the mountains, the hills, the valleys...the rocks.
All eyes will be on the glory of the Lord. What a glorious waiting! Once again He will come in the least likely place, as He was born in the least likely place for a King. The desert and wilderness will be His entry place. Not in a palace but in the desert (and to think, nothing has changed, He meets us in the desert places of our lives, the times we draw close to Him).
Who will be ready? Who will prepare The Way? Who will be waiting for Him?
These words come special delivery to you. The 'her', 'the little girl' is His church, 'she' has the heart of a child and is waiting. This is a real life story.
Your Prince of Peace is returning to rescue you!, He will sweep you of your feet and you will live with Him happily ever after.
http://static.flickr.com/1097/1111996179_1d8ae229cc.jpg
Video & Song
'Nothing But the Blood' Matt Redman
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2ewYC4hPRMM
Monday
July 14, 2008 Silent
Silent
We all come to this time in our lives where we need to be still and silent.
Ecclesiastes 3: 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
I actually thought of just typing the word 'silent' and its meaning but I'll type a bit more because we all need a time to be silent and not use words. Just meditate on the things so awesome and beautiful around us in His glorious creation. Giving attention to our Creator. And really when I think about it, when that day really comes, I know I will be silent in His awesome presence.
And it is the time we can hear His voice, because it is 'still' and softly spoken.
Silence, it's not always a place of anguish in the desert, it is a time of peaceful, inner searching another way to be refreshed, replenished and renewed.
Preach the gospel at all times and whenever necessary use words. St. Frances of Assisi
So that's it.
http://static.flickr.com/44/149685493_bd5caf6bf2.jpg
Video & Song
'Be Still My Soul' Selah
http://youtube.com/watch?v=c9zHn4QSH-8
We all come to this time in our lives where we need to be still and silent.
Ecclesiastes 3: 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
I actually thought of just typing the word 'silent' and its meaning but I'll type a bit more because we all need a time to be silent and not use words. Just meditate on the things so awesome and beautiful around us in His glorious creation. Giving attention to our Creator. And really when I think about it, when that day really comes, I know I will be silent in His awesome presence.
And it is the time we can hear His voice, because it is 'still' and softly spoken.
Silence, it's not always a place of anguish in the desert, it is a time of peaceful, inner searching another way to be refreshed, replenished and renewed.
Preach the gospel at all times and whenever necessary use words. St. Frances of Assisi
So that's it.
http://static.flickr.com/44/149685493_bd5caf6bf2.jpg
Video & Song
'Be Still My Soul' Selah
http://youtube.com/watch?v=c9zHn4QSH-8
Sunday
July 13, 2008 Worship
Worship
Psalm 100:2 Worship (Hebrew, abad; serve) the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Psalm 99:5 Exalt the Lord our God and worship ( Hebrew, Shachah; bow down) at his footstool; he is holy.
Greek, proskuneo; to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence; origin, pros; to the advantage of, at, near, by, to, towards, with, with regard to
John 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
Pick your preposition, to be 'near' or 'at' as we bow down in His presence. It is a real place in this life. It is heaven on earth to be 'with' or 'near' the Father
Our hearts before Him, 'with' our hearts, 'in' spirit, 'in' truth. It is not the outward man, it is the heart. It is the outward man responding to the heart 'within'.
The Lord looks at our hearts. 1 Samuel 16:7
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_bF.P6HlIyisBm0ajzbkF/SIG=12kpjam65/EXP=1216035343/**http://www.drawneartogod.com/paintings/Worship%20Explosion.JPG
Videos & Songs
'Here I Am To Worship' Hillsong
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pNq5n-Fu8z0
'Come, Now Is The Time To Worship' Phillips, Craig & Dean
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YzRfB0oN6Wo&feature=related
Psalm 100:2 Worship (Hebrew, abad; serve) the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Psalm 99:5 Exalt the Lord our God and worship ( Hebrew, Shachah; bow down) at his footstool; he is holy.
Greek, proskuneo; to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence; origin, pros; to the advantage of, at, near, by, to, towards, with, with regard to
John 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
Pick your preposition, to be 'near' or 'at' as we bow down in His presence. It is a real place in this life. It is heaven on earth to be 'with' or 'near' the Father
Our hearts before Him, 'with' our hearts, 'in' spirit, 'in' truth. It is not the outward man, it is the heart. It is the outward man responding to the heart 'within'.
The Lord looks at our hearts. 1 Samuel 16:7
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_bF.P6HlIyisBm0ajzbkF/SIG=12kpjam65/EXP=1216035343/**http://www.drawneartogod.com/paintings/Worship%20Explosion.JPG
Videos & Songs
'Here I Am To Worship' Hillsong
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pNq5n-Fu8z0
'Come, Now Is The Time To Worship' Phillips, Craig & Dean
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YzRfB0oN6Wo&feature=related
Saturday
July 12, 2008 Pray
Pray
Pray; Greek; prosuchomai, origin pro, before; pros, to the advantage of, at, near, by, to, towards, with, with regard to
prosecute; To pursue (an undertaking, for example) until completion; follow to the very end.; To chase or pursue (a vessel): "He held a dispatch saying that [they] had prosecuted and probably killed an Echo-class missile submarine" (Tom Clancy).; To carry on, engage in, or practice.
Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'" 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
This is the greatest legacy of spiritual overcoming passed down from our ancestors lives to our parents lives, our lives, our children's lives, children's children's lives, our brother's and sister's (and spiritual) and for all lives that will continue in the future long after we are gone.
Prayer is like a symphony that continues playing, and infinite playing concert in God's ears. It moves mountains, it sustains, it gives hope, it prepares, opens doors, it is the connection of love that has no time limit and there is no specific time necessary to pray. Just pray and pass on this legacy.
Pray as your heart speaks to you. Keeping your heart the gauge for when and for whom to pray. It is a love act to pray for your family, spouse, children, for every vision and need.
Prayer is a symphony, we are playing a beautiful concert around the world together and it never stops, and God hears it all and is pleased. So play (pray) your instrument (your heart's cry) and pursue until the end...until Christ's comes again.
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_bDr5lnhIHTwBIyujzbkF/SIG=12oec28mo/EXP=1215948921/**http://oneyearbible.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/praying_hands.jpg
Video & Song
'The Lord's Prayer' in the original Aramaic
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RUIlaRKOT7A&feature=related
Pray; Greek; prosuchomai, origin pro, before; pros, to the advantage of, at, near, by, to, towards, with, with regard to
prosecute; To pursue (an undertaking, for example) until completion; follow to the very end.; To chase or pursue (a vessel): "He held a dispatch saying that [they] had prosecuted and probably killed an Echo-class missile submarine" (Tom Clancy).; To carry on, engage in, or practice.
Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'" 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
This is the greatest legacy of spiritual overcoming passed down from our ancestors lives to our parents lives, our lives, our children's lives, children's children's lives, our brother's and sister's (and spiritual) and for all lives that will continue in the future long after we are gone.
Prayer is like a symphony that continues playing, and infinite playing concert in God's ears. It moves mountains, it sustains, it gives hope, it prepares, opens doors, it is the connection of love that has no time limit and there is no specific time necessary to pray. Just pray and pass on this legacy.
Pray as your heart speaks to you. Keeping your heart the gauge for when and for whom to pray. It is a love act to pray for your family, spouse, children, for every vision and need.
Prayer is a symphony, we are playing a beautiful concert around the world together and it never stops, and God hears it all and is pleased. So play (pray) your instrument (your heart's cry) and pursue until the end...until Christ's comes again.
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_bDr5lnhIHTwBIyujzbkF/SIG=12oec28mo/EXP=1215948921/**http://oneyearbible.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/praying_hands.jpg
Video & Song
'The Lord's Prayer' in the original Aramaic
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RUIlaRKOT7A&feature=related
Friday
July 11, 2008 First Love
First Love
The Lord's total engulfing grace and love, there really isn't anything else that will do, there is no one else who will do. there is no other answer for anything in life. The thought of this beauty becomes so overwhelming it really is an experience of Heaven on Earth.
I was just sharing my thoughts of the scripture bringing me back to my first love Revelation 2:4 and how I use to think there must be a way to experience that again. That is, the newness and wonder of realizing all the the Lord did for 'me' and as time went on even as hard as I tried to hold on to that experience, my life over time became the desert places and the mountain tops over and over again. And anyone who understands what I am saying, those mountain top times seem very short to the desert times. I'm sure they are no different in time, they are the same, it is our resistance that makes them seem longer. I searched hard to find that place of unmoving faith, it comes from only One Source. I am sharing the deeper heart of my spirit and soul now as I speak. This desire was never achievable with the mind, it is not possible to experience love with the mind.
He takes our wounded hearts and He mends them and gently reshapes them to experience real love again. All the broken spots are made strong and now it can be filled up, it won't leak out what He is trying to give us. It's not just understanding anymore, it is living it. With the heart mended, the overflow is more than enough for me and it spills out to others, to every precious life surrounding me, my husband, my children, my dear friends, everyone I meet.
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_bF8lLndIjXYBy26jzbkF/SIG=1259h4m5t/EXP=1215856549/**http://oneyearbibleimages.com/jesus_salvation.jpg
Video & Song
'Rescue' Desperation Band
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RRrUrwEwrMw&feature=related
The Lord's total engulfing grace and love, there really isn't anything else that will do, there is no one else who will do. there is no other answer for anything in life. The thought of this beauty becomes so overwhelming it really is an experience of Heaven on Earth.
I was just sharing my thoughts of the scripture bringing me back to my first love Revelation 2:4 and how I use to think there must be a way to experience that again. That is, the newness and wonder of realizing all the the Lord did for 'me' and as time went on even as hard as I tried to hold on to that experience, my life over time became the desert places and the mountain tops over and over again. And anyone who understands what I am saying, those mountain top times seem very short to the desert times. I'm sure they are no different in time, they are the same, it is our resistance that makes them seem longer. I searched hard to find that place of unmoving faith, it comes from only One Source. I am sharing the deeper heart of my spirit and soul now as I speak. This desire was never achievable with the mind, it is not possible to experience love with the mind.
He takes our wounded hearts and He mends them and gently reshapes them to experience real love again. All the broken spots are made strong and now it can be filled up, it won't leak out what He is trying to give us. It's not just understanding anymore, it is living it. With the heart mended, the overflow is more than enough for me and it spills out to others, to every precious life surrounding me, my husband, my children, my dear friends, everyone I meet.
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_bF8lLndIjXYBy26jzbkF/SIG=1259h4m5t/EXP=1215856549/**http://oneyearbibleimages.com/jesus_salvation.jpg
Video & Song
'Rescue' Desperation Band
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RRrUrwEwrMw&feature=related
Thursday
July 10, 2008 No Words
No Words
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 ___ NIV
He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we're awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we're alive with him! 1 Thessalonians 5:10 ___ The Message
I have no words. There is only beauty and love.
It takes my breath away so I can live.
http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m369/Majik101_photo/The_Cross.jpg
Video & Song
'Beauty of the Lord' Desparation Band
http://youtube.com/watch?v=r2bEuHo1dbs&feature=related
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 ___ NIV
He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we're awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we're alive with him! 1 Thessalonians 5:10 ___ The Message
I have no words. There is only beauty and love.
It takes my breath away so I can live.
http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m369/Majik101_photo/The_Cross.jpg
Video & Song
'Beauty of the Lord' Desparation Band
http://youtube.com/watch?v=r2bEuHo1dbs&feature=related
Wednesday
July 9, 2008 Love, An Act of Worship
Love, An Act of Worship
Day after day, week after week, looking at time can be overwhelming. If we can reduce our focus on the moment and fully experience 'God with us' in this moment, every single breath, we are then fully aware of our relationship with Him. We experience His love, compassion, grace and mercy. Then throughout our day, we can make every motion an act of worship to our awesome God and do it all for Him. Whatever we do, even our breath is worship to Him. We must not ever forget that any act we do, whether work in an office, work for a client, work in preparation of anything, cleaning, cooking, etc., if we really stop and think about doing it all for the Lord, it becomes our very act of worship to Him.
He is Glorious, He is Omnipotent, He is Truth, He is Love.
Whatever we do, it is ministry for someone. Think about it. Even washing clothes, doing the dishes, writing business proposals, filing charts, answering calls, it doesn't matter, when it is offered with joy it becomes a ministry in serving someone else. We have a choice whether to do it with love or with a heavy heart.
I do not know one person that isn't seeking love, not one, that is you and me. When we genuinely love, what we do throughout our day becomes a gift to someone else, an act of love which begins a response to His love. We are only vessels carrying His love and His grace. We are lights in a world of despair. His light shines in every act we do.
So as we go through our day, we really see this act of worship, and do it all to the glory of God.
We are His representatives, let everyone see His 'unconditional love' in us.
'Put on Love'
1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ...:23 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
2 John 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for stranger.
Even the smallest creatures give praise to God as they work...Psalm 150:6
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/home_photo_aussiegall.jpg
Video & Song
"What Will You Do?' Dallas Holmes
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nSxxN9vhyEs
Day after day, week after week, looking at time can be overwhelming. If we can reduce our focus on the moment and fully experience 'God with us' in this moment, every single breath, we are then fully aware of our relationship with Him. We experience His love, compassion, grace and mercy. Then throughout our day, we can make every motion an act of worship to our awesome God and do it all for Him. Whatever we do, even our breath is worship to Him. We must not ever forget that any act we do, whether work in an office, work for a client, work in preparation of anything, cleaning, cooking, etc., if we really stop and think about doing it all for the Lord, it becomes our very act of worship to Him.
He is Glorious, He is Omnipotent, He is Truth, He is Love.
Whatever we do, it is ministry for someone. Think about it. Even washing clothes, doing the dishes, writing business proposals, filing charts, answering calls, it doesn't matter, when it is offered with joy it becomes a ministry in serving someone else. We have a choice whether to do it with love or with a heavy heart.
I do not know one person that isn't seeking love, not one, that is you and me. When we genuinely love, what we do throughout our day becomes a gift to someone else, an act of love which begins a response to His love. We are only vessels carrying His love and His grace. We are lights in a world of despair. His light shines in every act we do.
So as we go through our day, we really see this act of worship, and do it all to the glory of God.
We are His representatives, let everyone see His 'unconditional love' in us.
'Put on Love'
1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ...:23 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
2 John 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for stranger.
Even the smallest creatures give praise to God as they work...Psalm 150:6
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/home_photo_aussiegall.jpg
Video & Song
"What Will You Do?' Dallas Holmes
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nSxxN9vhyEs
Tuesday
July 8, 2008 Freedom
Freedom
Really see this - we die to sin as we die with Christ, He took our sin upon Himself. We died with Christ and are raised alive with Him. And with our new life there is a guiding truth; sin has no power over you, it no longer controls you, this 'truth' sets you free from the bondage of sin. It doesn't get better than this, this is true freedom in this life and it's eternal.
The irony is we are blinded by the pain of sin (and no doubt, sin is our pain) and think it is freedom. True freedom is experienced from within, it is experienced deep within the heart of your soul. This freedom comes from death in Christ and now we live with Him. Abundant living, more alive than life itself. This living far exceeds any riches of this earth, abundant life which cannot be measure in this world's terms.
This is a death that is beautiful and pain free; break free to real life, real freedom.
There is nothing more to say. This whole chapter 6 of Romans is so perfect to describe our walk in Christ to freedom as we live in Him and put away our pain(sin) which has no more voice or power over us. Don't give sin 'the time of day' :12.
This version is from ___ The Message
Romans 6:1 So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? 2 I should hope not! If we've left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? 3 Or didn't you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace - a new life in a new land! 4 When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. 5 Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country. 6 Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the Cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life - no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this: 7 8 If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. 9 We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. 10 When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. 11 From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did. 12 That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. 13 Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time - remember, you've been raised from the dead! - into God's way of doing things. 14 Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God. 15 So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? 16 Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. 17 But thank God you've started listening to a new master, 18 one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom! 19 I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing - not caring about others, not caring about God - the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness? 20 As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn't have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. 21 But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you're proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end. 22 But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! 23 Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1158/1389662208_71b2f8f9a5.jpg?v=0
Another song that stayed with me...
Video & Song
'Crucified with Christ' Phillips Craig and Dean
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=25wG9C0s1kA
Wasn't this original song was from
the singing group 2nd Chapter of Acts?
Really see this - we die to sin as we die with Christ, He took our sin upon Himself. We died with Christ and are raised alive with Him. And with our new life there is a guiding truth; sin has no power over you, it no longer controls you, this 'truth' sets you free from the bondage of sin. It doesn't get better than this, this is true freedom in this life and it's eternal.
The irony is we are blinded by the pain of sin (and no doubt, sin is our pain) and think it is freedom. True freedom is experienced from within, it is experienced deep within the heart of your soul. This freedom comes from death in Christ and now we live with Him. Abundant living, more alive than life itself. This living far exceeds any riches of this earth, abundant life which cannot be measure in this world's terms.
This is a death that is beautiful and pain free; break free to real life, real freedom.
There is nothing more to say. This whole chapter 6 of Romans is so perfect to describe our walk in Christ to freedom as we live in Him and put away our pain(sin) which has no more voice or power over us. Don't give sin 'the time of day' :12.
This version is from ___ The Message
Romans 6:1 So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? 2 I should hope not! If we've left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? 3 Or didn't you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace - a new life in a new land! 4 When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. 5 Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country. 6 Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the Cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life - no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this: 7 8 If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. 9 We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. 10 When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. 11 From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did. 12 That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. 13 Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time - remember, you've been raised from the dead! - into God's way of doing things. 14 Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God. 15 So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? 16 Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. 17 But thank God you've started listening to a new master, 18 one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom! 19 I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing - not caring about others, not caring about God - the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness? 20 As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn't have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. 21 But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you're proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end. 22 But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! 23 Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1158/1389662208_71b2f8f9a5.jpg?v=0
Another song that stayed with me...
Video & Song
'Crucified with Christ' Phillips Craig and Dean
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=25wG9C0s1kA
Wasn't this original song was from
the singing group 2nd Chapter of Acts?
Monday
July 7, Step by Step
Step by Step
Today I go out Lord with no plan but for you to show me step by step Your way.
Psalm 139:17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
This is the way that sets me free, without fear, without being anxious, to walk with the Lord and seek Him moment by moment. Breathe with Him, walk with Him, invite Him into my home, my work, my car when I'm driving, the days are His, day after day.
We get caught up in moments of uncertainty, matters that are difficult to find our way through them and answers that seem to never come. We do have a choice. Lord, let us hear Your voice.
Every face I see I will see You, everything I touch I will see Your plan. Every open door I will see Your direction. Every closed door I will see it's either not time or it's finished. Lord God of heaven and earth You are exalted. We seek Your face and not Your hand. You supply our every need. I understand the excess is for Your Kingdom, that is for Your work on earth as it is in heaven.
Every moment today I will be aware of Your presence, I will be aware of Your direction regardless of my activities and where I go. I will rest knowing regardless of what I see with my eyes, You are with me, and You are showing me the way. How can I ask for more but to live for You, moment by moment. This is heaven on earth. This is the peace of Your Holy Spirit that goes beyond all understanding.
Psalm 25:4 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. 6 Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord.
My eyes are wide open to Your guidance every moment of my day.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2575023100_104582759d.jpg?v=0
This is on my heart from last night
Video & Song
'I Give You My Heart' Hillsong
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5v9r2HdVjPY&feature=related
Today I go out Lord with no plan but for you to show me step by step Your way.
Psalm 139:17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
This is the way that sets me free, without fear, without being anxious, to walk with the Lord and seek Him moment by moment. Breathe with Him, walk with Him, invite Him into my home, my work, my car when I'm driving, the days are His, day after day.
We get caught up in moments of uncertainty, matters that are difficult to find our way through them and answers that seem to never come. We do have a choice. Lord, let us hear Your voice.
Every face I see I will see You, everything I touch I will see Your plan. Every open door I will see Your direction. Every closed door I will see it's either not time or it's finished. Lord God of heaven and earth You are exalted. We seek Your face and not Your hand. You supply our every need. I understand the excess is for Your Kingdom, that is for Your work on earth as it is in heaven.
Every moment today I will be aware of Your presence, I will be aware of Your direction regardless of my activities and where I go. I will rest knowing regardless of what I see with my eyes, You are with me, and You are showing me the way. How can I ask for more but to live for You, moment by moment. This is heaven on earth. This is the peace of Your Holy Spirit that goes beyond all understanding.
Psalm 25:4 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. 6 Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord.
My eyes are wide open to Your guidance every moment of my day.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2575023100_104582759d.jpg?v=0
This is on my heart from last night
Video & Song
'I Give You My Heart' Hillsong
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5v9r2HdVjPY&feature=related
Sunday
July 6, 2008 Search
Search
You are my help in time of trouble, there is no other who stands ready to give love and mercy and redemption. You are our greatest beginning, the in-between and the ultimate end of our journey when we stand before You face to face. Why do we look to anyone but you? Why do we search when You are ultimately the one we are searching for? What can give us joy and peace but You?
Why should I search where there is still another ending? Why should I search any longer when I have found Truth? All other logic and philosophies are Your knowledge because all knowledge comes from you, and it is enjoyable to study and ponder, but You fulfill them all. They all point back to You. You are the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father, Your Father, our Father, except through You.
All of creation and everything we experience and will experience is of Your kingdom. All mankind searches for Your truth, some may call it nirvana, raptured bliss and enlightenment. The ultimate end is eternal life with You and through You. You stand in Love for all Your Creation. You see all things and know all things. Your hand is not too small that You cannot supply. Your vision is not too short that You cannot see and Your heart has compassion for us all. Your steadfast love never ceases.
We cry out to You our Lord and our everlasting God, You do give us all what we need for life and to have life more abundantly and it doesn't matter how and when it comes to us. Our vision and heart with You is our ultimate answer.
May we find rest in You, now and forever.
Isaiah 33:2 O Lord, be gracious to us; We have waited for You. Be their arm every morning, Our salvation also in the time of trouble.
I love this scripture!!
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1159/873100700_52f3b71597_m.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/23/33200760_6e0ded2479_m.jpg
Video & Song
'I Could Sing of Your Love Forever' Delirious
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NE6sisrjPNk&feature=related
You are my help in time of trouble, there is no other who stands ready to give love and mercy and redemption. You are our greatest beginning, the in-between and the ultimate end of our journey when we stand before You face to face. Why do we look to anyone but you? Why do we search when You are ultimately the one we are searching for? What can give us joy and peace but You?
Why should I search where there is still another ending? Why should I search any longer when I have found Truth? All other logic and philosophies are Your knowledge because all knowledge comes from you, and it is enjoyable to study and ponder, but You fulfill them all. They all point back to You. You are the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father, Your Father, our Father, except through You.
All of creation and everything we experience and will experience is of Your kingdom. All mankind searches for Your truth, some may call it nirvana, raptured bliss and enlightenment. The ultimate end is eternal life with You and through You. You stand in Love for all Your Creation. You see all things and know all things. Your hand is not too small that You cannot supply. Your vision is not too short that You cannot see and Your heart has compassion for us all. Your steadfast love never ceases.
We cry out to You our Lord and our everlasting God, You do give us all what we need for life and to have life more abundantly and it doesn't matter how and when it comes to us. Our vision and heart with You is our ultimate answer.
May we find rest in You, now and forever.
Isaiah 33:2 O Lord, be gracious to us; We have waited for You. Be their arm every morning, Our salvation also in the time of trouble.
I love this scripture!!
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1159/873100700_52f3b71597_m.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/23/33200760_6e0ded2479_m.jpg
Video & Song
'I Could Sing of Your Love Forever' Delirious
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NE6sisrjPNk&feature=related
Saturday
July 5, 2008 Genuine Love
Genuine Love
I've talked about birth as life and death as life, but what about life in between.
There is no disconnection between each. As we are created to love and serve God and love and serve each other. There is no time in relation to any of these. It is continuous.
Life is filled with emotions, joy and grief. We learn to overcome obstacles and defeat throughout every day. We are transformed daily through the renewing of our minds. We cast off the old and become new.
From the day we are born into this world we experience love and rejection through touch and facial expressions. As we grow older we experience pain and hurt of rejection when we don't fit into social molds, or molds even within our own families. Genuine love cannot be faked, it is all inclusive, unconditional, nourishes and protects. Then there is the lie about the word love that is exclusive, damaging, hurtful, the word 'love' in itself becomes confused with the truth of genuine love. The lies which skew our understanding of genuine love form our view of ourselves and others around us, as a result our vision is obstructed. It is not until we find real truth and genuine love that we begin the process of healing and become set free.
Numbers 18:18 God, slow to get angry and huge in loyal love, forgiving iniquity and rebellion and sin; Still, never just whitewashing sin. But extending the fallout of parents' sins to children into the third, even the fourth generation. ___ The Message
Our vision and hearing as we view life begins at home. And after the damage and 'fallout' there is still redeeming grace within each generation.
1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. __ NIV
Regardless of what has occurred in time, His infinite glory and grace is able to give us what we need when we are ready, in a moments time to be transformed. And as we are transformed and the scales fall off our eyes and our ears begin to hear, we must serve and reach out to each other, being careful to reach out with His genuine love and His genuine truth. Because Jesus Christ took it all upon Himself, willingly sacrificed Himself that we would know Genuine Love.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2389/2250395225_4aee25e28d_m.jpg
With scenes from The Passion
Video & Song
'Grace Flows Down' Chris Tomlin
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zlNE0pHwrng&feature=related
I've talked about birth as life and death as life, but what about life in between.
There is no disconnection between each. As we are created to love and serve God and love and serve each other. There is no time in relation to any of these. It is continuous.
Life is filled with emotions, joy and grief. We learn to overcome obstacles and defeat throughout every day. We are transformed daily through the renewing of our minds. We cast off the old and become new.
From the day we are born into this world we experience love and rejection through touch and facial expressions. As we grow older we experience pain and hurt of rejection when we don't fit into social molds, or molds even within our own families. Genuine love cannot be faked, it is all inclusive, unconditional, nourishes and protects. Then there is the lie about the word love that is exclusive, damaging, hurtful, the word 'love' in itself becomes confused with the truth of genuine love. The lies which skew our understanding of genuine love form our view of ourselves and others around us, as a result our vision is obstructed. It is not until we find real truth and genuine love that we begin the process of healing and become set free.
Numbers 18:18 God, slow to get angry and huge in loyal love, forgiving iniquity and rebellion and sin; Still, never just whitewashing sin. But extending the fallout of parents' sins to children into the third, even the fourth generation. ___ The Message
Our vision and hearing as we view life begins at home. And after the damage and 'fallout' there is still redeeming grace within each generation.
1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. __ NIV
Regardless of what has occurred in time, His infinite glory and grace is able to give us what we need when we are ready, in a moments time to be transformed. And as we are transformed and the scales fall off our eyes and our ears begin to hear, we must serve and reach out to each other, being careful to reach out with His genuine love and His genuine truth. Because Jesus Christ took it all upon Himself, willingly sacrificed Himself that we would know Genuine Love.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2389/2250395225_4aee25e28d_m.jpg
With scenes from The Passion
Video & Song
'Grace Flows Down' Chris Tomlin
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zlNE0pHwrng&feature=related
Friday
July 4, 2008 Life, Libery and Vision
Life, Libery and Vision
Today we celebrate our Independence Day. It is the vision and guts of men and women that saw hope in God and freedom in Him through the means of this great 'new' land to declare independence from Great Britian on this day in 1776.
We are the land of the free and the brave. We have lived strong, a beacon to the rest of the world. We have been the ones who stood for democracy and fought to redeem the oppressed. We looked to God to be with us and saw His vision.
Now our primary site and vision is turned on wealth throughout this great country and has become the driving force for all decisions made to the devastation of 'the people'. Vision is no longer for the people, but rather the dollar. The dollar, the driving force in goverment, businesses, homes, churches, families and even our young children.
We cannot serve mammon and God. Matthew 6:24 We cannot lose sight of the fact if we continue in the direction we are going we will be faced with some hard decisions. And it will not be the hand of God who brings devastation but our own hand. Can we open our eyes and begin to see each other and love each other as His children? Can we cry out to Him for forgiveness of our shortsightedness looking at money to supply our needs instead of God?
All the protests of the 'words' In God We Trust on money mean nothing, it doesn't make money or mammon in these situations a sacred blessing. Money is not our God, we do not worship the money. Or do we? And the inscription of these words on it doesn't make it God's money. Money is a means by which our 'needs' are met and it is what we make of it, or whether it becomes everything we want.
When devastation comes, which will we choose, 'things' or each other? Which will we see as necessary, 'money or things' or each other? We are here for each other.
This is my desire and prayer for the United States of America and the world, that we turn our hearts and keep them on Him, Who is our God, Who is love, Who loves us with an everlasting love, Who does supply our every need. That we see each other with a pure heart and our hope is in Him not money.
We live in a great country and His blessings have been with us. Let us turn our hearts and look in the right direction. This does not mean money.
2 Corinthians 6:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." ___ Declaration of Independence
Our 'unalienable rights', the Source is evident, in our Lives, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, we are His people forever.
Hold on to this 'pure' vision, Who is our only security.
http://static.flickr.com/135/326278151_841af2de2c.jpg
Video & Song
'Heal Our Land' Jamie Rivera
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1zjTSLLLYlk&feature=related
Today we celebrate our Independence Day. It is the vision and guts of men and women that saw hope in God and freedom in Him through the means of this great 'new' land to declare independence from Great Britian on this day in 1776.
We are the land of the free and the brave. We have lived strong, a beacon to the rest of the world. We have been the ones who stood for democracy and fought to redeem the oppressed. We looked to God to be with us and saw His vision.
Now our primary site and vision is turned on wealth throughout this great country and has become the driving force for all decisions made to the devastation of 'the people'. Vision is no longer for the people, but rather the dollar. The dollar, the driving force in goverment, businesses, homes, churches, families and even our young children.
We cannot serve mammon and God. Matthew 6:24 We cannot lose sight of the fact if we continue in the direction we are going we will be faced with some hard decisions. And it will not be the hand of God who brings devastation but our own hand. Can we open our eyes and begin to see each other and love each other as His children? Can we cry out to Him for forgiveness of our shortsightedness looking at money to supply our needs instead of God?
All the protests of the 'words' In God We Trust on money mean nothing, it doesn't make money or mammon in these situations a sacred blessing. Money is not our God, we do not worship the money. Or do we? And the inscription of these words on it doesn't make it God's money. Money is a means by which our 'needs' are met and it is what we make of it, or whether it becomes everything we want.
When devastation comes, which will we choose, 'things' or each other? Which will we see as necessary, 'money or things' or each other? We are here for each other.
This is my desire and prayer for the United States of America and the world, that we turn our hearts and keep them on Him, Who is our God, Who is love, Who loves us with an everlasting love, Who does supply our every need. That we see each other with a pure heart and our hope is in Him not money.
We live in a great country and His blessings have been with us. Let us turn our hearts and look in the right direction. This does not mean money.
2 Corinthians 6:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." ___ Declaration of Independence
Our 'unalienable rights', the Source is evident, in our Lives, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, we are His people forever.
Hold on to this 'pure' vision, Who is our only security.
http://static.flickr.com/135/326278151_841af2de2c.jpg
Video & Song
'Heal Our Land' Jamie Rivera
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1zjTSLLLYlk&feature=related
Thursday
July 3, 2008 Beauty in Diversity
Beauty in Diversity
There is room enough for everyone and everything.
Real diversity is so beautiful. From my perspective as an artist it's like a kaleidoscope constantly changing. Everywhere, everything, and everyone. It's another one of those profound, eyes wide open experiences. Take a look.
I do think about the artistry of God's hand, like a painter, sculptor and of course the scriptures also talk about Him being the Potter. No two things are alike that are created by His hand; leaves, trees, even considering the number of branches, and not that I would count them but I'm sure even the number of leaves on each are different within the same kind of trees. Flowers, insects, birds, dogs, cats, camels. And the one thing that brings us all together is 'life and breath'. Even plants breath as filters for our air.
Can we fathom what God was and is really doing? All of these things have been put here for our pleasure, for our needs. Sometimes I think He was having a blast, enjoying the process of His creation, I love it!! Maybe only an artist can relate. Maybe you can see and feel what I am talking about. Because it isn't like one painting in front of me trying to capture God's beauty. It's like the entire earth was His canvas and platform. Think about the mandrill's beautifully painted faces, a baboon with enormous canines and they are fruit eaters.
I love thinking about all the beauty in life. I love looking at the diversity in people and their faces. WOW! Just thinking about all this is too profound. Just 'trying' to think about all this gives me a glimpse of who God is and His heart.
This is where it is easy for me to slow down and be in 'this' moment. I don't have to struggle with anything cluttering up my mind, from the past, or the future, with cleaning the house, dealing with traffic, paying the bills etc. I just 'stop' and the whole earth seems to stop for me to give me a nano second of understanding God's heart. Yes, He does love us, no doubt about it!
Yes, there is room for everyone and everything to give praise back, in thanksgiving to Him for who He is and what He has done for us.
Psalm 33:13 The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. 14 From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; 15 He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.
Isaiah 42:10 10 Sing to God a brand-new song, sing his praises all over the world! Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause, with all the far-flung islands joining in. 11 Let the desert and its camps raise a tune, calling the Kedar nomads to join in. Let the villagers in Sela round up a choir and perform from the tops of the mountains. 12 Make God's glory resound; echo his praises from coast to coast.
Psalm 98:4 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. 5 Sing to the Lord with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a psalm, 6 With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, 9 For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity.
Also consider the great symphony of His creation and He being the Master Conductor of it all.
And here's the mandrill if you want to see and think about this for awhile.
http://sp1.yt-thm-a02.yimg.com/image/1/f12/604415140
Video & Song
'All Things' Hillsong
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zy9YXys4gnk
There is room enough for everyone and everything.
Real diversity is so beautiful. From my perspective as an artist it's like a kaleidoscope constantly changing. Everywhere, everything, and everyone. It's another one of those profound, eyes wide open experiences. Take a look.
I do think about the artistry of God's hand, like a painter, sculptor and of course the scriptures also talk about Him being the Potter. No two things are alike that are created by His hand; leaves, trees, even considering the number of branches, and not that I would count them but I'm sure even the number of leaves on each are different within the same kind of trees. Flowers, insects, birds, dogs, cats, camels. And the one thing that brings us all together is 'life and breath'. Even plants breath as filters for our air.
Can we fathom what God was and is really doing? All of these things have been put here for our pleasure, for our needs. Sometimes I think He was having a blast, enjoying the process of His creation, I love it!! Maybe only an artist can relate. Maybe you can see and feel what I am talking about. Because it isn't like one painting in front of me trying to capture God's beauty. It's like the entire earth was His canvas and platform. Think about the mandrill's beautifully painted faces, a baboon with enormous canines and they are fruit eaters.
I love thinking about all the beauty in life. I love looking at the diversity in people and their faces. WOW! Just thinking about all this is too profound. Just 'trying' to think about all this gives me a glimpse of who God is and His heart.
This is where it is easy for me to slow down and be in 'this' moment. I don't have to struggle with anything cluttering up my mind, from the past, or the future, with cleaning the house, dealing with traffic, paying the bills etc. I just 'stop' and the whole earth seems to stop for me to give me a nano second of understanding God's heart. Yes, He does love us, no doubt about it!
Yes, there is room for everyone and everything to give praise back, in thanksgiving to Him for who He is and what He has done for us.
Psalm 33:13 The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. 14 From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; 15 He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.
Isaiah 42:10 10 Sing to God a brand-new song, sing his praises all over the world! Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause, with all the far-flung islands joining in. 11 Let the desert and its camps raise a tune, calling the Kedar nomads to join in. Let the villagers in Sela round up a choir and perform from the tops of the mountains. 12 Make God's glory resound; echo his praises from coast to coast.
Psalm 98:4 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. 5 Sing to the Lord with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a psalm, 6 With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, 9 For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity.
Also consider the great symphony of His creation and He being the Master Conductor of it all.
And here's the mandrill if you want to see and think about this for awhile.
http://sp1.yt-thm-a02.yimg.com/image/1/f12/604415140
Video & Song
'All Things' Hillsong
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zy9YXys4gnk
Wednesday
July 2, 2008 Living in Service
Living in Service
Is it I am here for you? Or you are here for me? Or we are here for them? Or they are here for us?
The answer, as the Lord is always here for us, in the same way we are here for Him and each other.
Our very existence is to serve God and to serve each other. To love God, to love yourself and to love your neighbor (who are everyone you encounter).
It is so beautiful just to think on this throughout your day. As you are with family, and coworkers, clients, everyone you pass and meet, whether in a store or office think of your 'service'. And in the serving them, you are spreading His love to them.
1 Thessalonians 2:11 You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child, 12 holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life. __ The Message
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/23/112957423_79df86edaf.jpg?v=0
My husband found this song. It brings back memories. But it also reminds me who I am. This is exactly where I want to be in the presence of God, in serving Him and other children (both adults and young). To have the mind of Christ and a heart of a child. This is where my eyes are open and love pours out.
Listen carefully..
Video & Song
'The Warrior Is A Child' Twila Paris
http://youtube.com/watch?v=K5o2YY5BRUg&feature=related
Is it I am here for you? Or you are here for me? Or we are here for them? Or they are here for us?
The answer, as the Lord is always here for us, in the same way we are here for Him and each other.
Our very existence is to serve God and to serve each other. To love God, to love yourself and to love your neighbor (who are everyone you encounter).
It is so beautiful just to think on this throughout your day. As you are with family, and coworkers, clients, everyone you pass and meet, whether in a store or office think of your 'service'. And in the serving them, you are spreading His love to them.
1 Thessalonians 2:11 You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child, 12 holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life. __ The Message
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/23/112957423_79df86edaf.jpg?v=0
My husband found this song. It brings back memories. But it also reminds me who I am. This is exactly where I want to be in the presence of God, in serving Him and other children (both adults and young). To have the mind of Christ and a heart of a child. This is where my eyes are open and love pours out.
Listen carefully..
Video & Song
'The Warrior Is A Child' Twila Paris
http://youtube.com/watch?v=K5o2YY5BRUg&feature=related
Tuesday
July 1, 2008 Freedom or Fear
Freedom or Fear
What an unexpected response yesterday morning as I passed by a group of 'American?' men picketing and the 'day laborers' men, had moved less than 1/2 block down the street. As I was driving by at 40 miles per hour the 'wordy' signs weren't all legible except those in bold or red protesting illegal immigrants 'taking our jobs'. Screaming signs, 'secure our borders!'. Maybe about 8 to 10 men both picketers and the same number of day laborers. And who really knows if they are illegal immigrants or not.
I just watched a movie 'The Golden Door' in hopes to catch a glimpse of my Sicilian grandparents journey into this country. And there is no difference to the vision of immigrants today coming in from Mexico. They, like them, come into the United States for a better life. As previous immigrants some come for the illusion of prosperity and wealth, and some from government oppression and poverty. And we are them, descendants of 'them'. They are those who sought a better education and a better life, in most cases from absolutely nothing, into small communities and small businesses. Not only for their generation but for generations after that. Community and closeness of family within these small communities mimics the norm in the old country.
So back to my response . I didn't even make it to the next light and I began bawl. I called my husband and tried to communicate my feelings on what I just saw and couldn't even talk. At the same time I'm thinking this is not good to do this while I'm driving. The only thing I was able to get out of my mouth was the scripture, 'perfect love casts out all fear'. Honestly, I was surprised at my reaction. It was a deep hurting for all of them. My husband consoled me and told me to dive into the peace within me and allow the Lord to cover me with His wings.
It was in response to their fear, I was empathetic to their hurt and pain in both the day laborers and the picketers. The quick passing peripheral view of what was occurring might have been described as a 'peaceful demonstration' in the media but it was anything but peaceful. The projection was of hate and fear. And as I think of all of us, anyone living within this great country, we are all here for the same reason the day laborers or illegal immigrants are here...vision... freedom and a little heaven on earth.
Where is love? Where is our love for one another? If perfect love casts out all fear, then in love we have nothing to fear. No fear of illegals coming into our country, no fear that they are taking our jobs, no fear of race or creed.
The very words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty tell the story of our ancestors. And who am I to say the newest immigrants are not worthy. I would say this speaks of love...
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
We are God's people, we are all God's children. We need to find our place of unconditional love and put on the mind of Christ and love as He loved.
Isaiah 58:6 "This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. 7 What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. 8 Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. 9 Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.' A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places, If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins, 10 If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
Real change, real love shines bright
And just in time for our Independence Day Celebration!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/73/197663118_e26fe4c6dc.jpg?v=0
Video & Song
'Perfect Love' Hillsong
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_zslw6WulFo
What an unexpected response yesterday morning as I passed by a group of 'American?' men picketing and the 'day laborers' men, had moved less than 1/2 block down the street. As I was driving by at 40 miles per hour the 'wordy' signs weren't all legible except those in bold or red protesting illegal immigrants 'taking our jobs'. Screaming signs, 'secure our borders!'. Maybe about 8 to 10 men both picketers and the same number of day laborers. And who really knows if they are illegal immigrants or not.
I just watched a movie 'The Golden Door' in hopes to catch a glimpse of my Sicilian grandparents journey into this country. And there is no difference to the vision of immigrants today coming in from Mexico. They, like them, come into the United States for a better life. As previous immigrants some come for the illusion of prosperity and wealth, and some from government oppression and poverty. And we are them, descendants of 'them'. They are those who sought a better education and a better life, in most cases from absolutely nothing, into small communities and small businesses. Not only for their generation but for generations after that. Community and closeness of family within these small communities mimics the norm in the old country.
So back to my response . I didn't even make it to the next light and I began bawl. I called my husband and tried to communicate my feelings on what I just saw and couldn't even talk. At the same time I'm thinking this is not good to do this while I'm driving. The only thing I was able to get out of my mouth was the scripture, 'perfect love casts out all fear'. Honestly, I was surprised at my reaction. It was a deep hurting for all of them. My husband consoled me and told me to dive into the peace within me and allow the Lord to cover me with His wings.
It was in response to their fear, I was empathetic to their hurt and pain in both the day laborers and the picketers. The quick passing peripheral view of what was occurring might have been described as a 'peaceful demonstration' in the media but it was anything but peaceful. The projection was of hate and fear. And as I think of all of us, anyone living within this great country, we are all here for the same reason the day laborers or illegal immigrants are here...vision... freedom and a little heaven on earth.
Where is love? Where is our love for one another? If perfect love casts out all fear, then in love we have nothing to fear. No fear of illegals coming into our country, no fear that they are taking our jobs, no fear of race or creed.
The very words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty tell the story of our ancestors. And who am I to say the newest immigrants are not worthy. I would say this speaks of love...
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
We are God's people, we are all God's children. We need to find our place of unconditional love and put on the mind of Christ and love as He loved.
Isaiah 58:6 "This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. 7 What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. 8 Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. 9 Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.' A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places, If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins, 10 If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
Real change, real love shines bright
And just in time for our Independence Day Celebration!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/73/197663118_e26fe4c6dc.jpg?v=0
Video & Song
'Perfect Love' Hillsong
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_zslw6WulFo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)