Monday

September 28, 2009 Leaving the avoidance and diving into the expression of love

We are fearful, hurting people, carefully concealing our avoidance of love in many ways. Enslaved victim, victimizing, victimizer, power loosing, power taking, power seeking, power expecting, power requiring experiences create vaulted hearts that can only be opened by the Hand of God. Healing takes place through experiencing His Grace and His Unconditional Love through individuals who know there are no risks at all to lay down their lives for one another. Surrendering to giving and receiving Love, allows the walls of careful concealing within bus'y'ness (and other forms of avoidance) to crumble so the full experience of God Love can flow.

My desire, my purpose, my hope in this life is to seek His deeper 'Love' relationship with family and those that I am privileged to know on my life's path. My desire is to allow Love to flow freely to me, within me and from me without restriction or avoidance. My life is not my own. It has taken my whole life (and will continue to) to let go of the hiding, restricting, avoiding, withholding of Love.

God's Word is not a riddle to be 'figured out'. Hearing His voice and seeing His face are to be found 'within' the surrender to His Love. He calls us to Love with His Love. This is deep within you and me.

God calls you and me His friend. We are friends. There is no higher calling in this life, it is Heaven on Earth. This is Joy. We know.

John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

There is no doubt that I am finding myself in my expression in art. These fractal flames are amazing. I am more than ready to dive right into the middle of this expression.



Teresa Parsons
hisheartmyheart@gmail.com






Thursday

September 24, 2009 The Door Opens

Today, today, today is the day the Lord really has made. I do rejoice and I am glad in it. He is an all knowing and loving God.

What does it look like when a door opens and you just begin to see the light piercing through the threshold? When there isn't a clear view of what is on the other side? But we know that there is 'light' and in that 'light' we will know that God never leaves us or forsakes us.

Ken and I are at this amazing place of total surrender. We will be moving in a week to two weeks and getting ready to step through a door that hasn't fully opened yet. We may hear many thoughts or advice but to let everyone know, Ken and I together have total peace in 'today' and 'today' we are clear on this.

We don't know where we will move yet (we are totally open as we seek wisdom), we are clear like never before. We are looking for a small farm in Tomball/Magnolia area, and all that is needed for the move. We are seeking a place where we can begin a small (expanding to large) organic community farm. I am sharing our desire in hopes that someone is connecting with our hearts.

We are asking God and sending the request through His cyberspace waiting for an answer. He knows our hearts.

There's the door opening for us, here we go!!



I had to add this....what a great idea! An artist's apiary.....after all the farm needs pollination.

Wednesday

September 23, 2009 Nouwen say, 'The Dance of Life' It is our lives today

This is another part of today's post by Jim Spivey, It is everyone's life, not just ours we are right in the middle of experiencing this. We didn't openly express the details of all our circumstances with everyone we know, family, church members, some know parts, some know everything. I love my husband Ken's openness of living his life out in the open, no secrets, no hiding, he's expressing it fully.

We know this, God is steering and we are in this place of joy in the middle of it all. I can stay focused on God's amazing love in every situation, recapturing the purpose and plan of God in my life. And those who are close to us in our lives, know full well, it hasn't been easy getting here, that is, this place of surrender.
Love you all!
--------------
"There is within you a lamb and a lion. Spiritual maturity is the ability and freedom to let lamb and lion lie down together, side by side. Your lion is your adult, aggressive, capable, competent self. It is your initiative-taking and decision-making self. But there is also your fearful, vulnerable lamb, the part of you that needs affection, affirmation, nurturing, and support. When you heed only your lion, you will find yourself overextended and exhausted. When you take notice only of your lamb, you will easily become a victim of your need for other people's attention. The art of spiritual living is to fully claim both your lion and your lamb, with them fused into an integrated whole. Then you can act assertively without denying your own needs. And you can ask for attention and care without betraying your talent to offer leadership.

Developing your true identity as a child of God in no way means giving up your worldly responsibilities. Likewise, claiming your adult self in no way means that you cannot become increasingly a child of God. In fact, the opposite is true. The more you can feel safe as a child of God, the freer you will be to claim your mission in the world as a responsible human being. And the more you claim that you have a unique set of tasks to fulfill for God with your life, the more open you will be to letting your deepest needs be met. The kingdom of peace that Jesus came to establish begins when your lion and your lamb can freely and fearlessly lie down together."-- Henri Nouwen, in The Dance of Life


Here it is, our lives, Jesus is right in the middle of this heart and while the flames are all around us.

Tuesday

September 22, 2009, A Wondeful Life

Here I am drinking a B-Day cup of Jo in my favorite cup. Ken and I enjoy these cups because of special memories. My oldest son Josh gave these his/hers matching cups to Ken and I over 20 years ago clanging glass in a beautiful child wrapped box. I can't think of a better way to start my 55th birthday....in Europe I would be in my 56th year...I think I'll wait, I like the U.S. number much better.



And here's how I feel today...

Thank you Mom for choosing life for me, I love you and love my life.

'It is astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen' Frances Burnett

There are so many, many life lessons with an open gift of Grace to do over and over, again and again.

'Remember no man is a failure who has friends....and family.
I ring the bell for my husband Ken, there is an angel who is smiling at you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc8N8zq77oc

And then my other son Jesse sends me this wonderful, to get my day started, youtube video putting another big smile on my face. I must share it with you...

http://uk.video.yahoo.com/watch/1329298/4600400

And as I finish this up it is pouring down raining here. Maybe I won't be able to do anything but stay right here with my family in our apartment. And if that is the case...thank you God. It really is a wonderful life because the Son is shining and angels really are all around.

Off to be with family and friends today...It is a wonderful life!

Teresa Parsons
His Heart My Heart Your Heart
hisheartmyheart@gmail.com

Monday

September 21, 2009 Affliction Awakens to Joy in the Morning


I thought about the Lord saying 'I will never leave you or forsake you'. Only after allowing myself to question the purpose of feeling alone and pondering how Jesus felt from the garden to the cross was I able to see the richness and direction for new life in this message. I see a relation within marriage as Christ refers to His love for the Body as a husband loving his wife. This is our vow from the beginning. Our choice is to hold each other in love. Jesus is the only one, who is always and forever present in time of need, in every difficult circumstance, every fearful situation, who sticks it out with us, in thick and thin, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer. This blows my mind and it should, only my spirit can understand it fully.

'Affliction comes to us, not to make us sad but sober; not to make us sorry but wise.' H.G Wells

We choose life, we choose it to open peace within our souls, which does pass all understanding of our carnal minds. I can only experience this by choosing to hold onto Jesus.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3204/3133496327_49363f6339.jpg

We are weeping together with a father and mother as they mourn the passing of their child. In the morning there is joy that Rhyder now 'rhydes' in the arms of Jesus. He is perfect and perfectly safe, and we will see him again. Life has been chosen today, that is a promise; Eternal Life that is His promise.

Affliction comes and spills us out until we're emptied and nothing is left and at the very bottom Jesus is always with us. We weep all night long, He hears our cries and brings joy in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

Lamentations 3:21 But there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: 22 God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. 23 They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! 24 I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left. 25 God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. (The Message)

Sunday

September 20, 2009 Life

It is time, I am beginning again and with much on my heart, after two days of love, sorrow, pain and joy.

Whether a brief moment or many years, our relationships are more precious than gold. We breathe and our hearts beat in rhythm together.

My birthday is coming up in 3 days and every moment that I have been allowed to walk the face of this earth is precious. Life is precious with a life changing purpose, a plan, and a calling, I've made many choices in my life, in the beginning my parents chose life for me. And here I am 55 years later, feeling only an iota closer to understanding the full magnitude of Life, embracing all emotions through pain and joy.

Surrender and death brings life, new life, abundant life. My heart is speaking and not my mind, this ongoing choice to surrender brings continuous new life, through the renewing of my mind and the dying to 'self', in order that this vessel be restored, in order that my heart be continually exposed until life flows within and through me and connects every encounter in my eternal lifetime.

Job 1:20 Job got to his feet, ripped his robe, shaved his head, then fell to the ground and worshiped: 21 Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked I'll return to the womb of the earth. God gives, God takes. God's name be ever blessed. 22 Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God. NIV

Job stayed connected with God through his pain and suffering and loss. This is what life feels like, this is our lives. We wait in ashes and scrape our sores and emerge out of the depths of our crying into New Life.

We are experiencing amazing heart connection with God and each other in life and by choosing life, in birth and being born again. The beauty is happening all around us, even today a child is born and a child dies, a man dies and a man lives. If we aren't alert we will miss the preciousness and magnificence of the immense beauty of God's purpose and plan.

One precious man, Pastor James is struggling and paralyzed after a car accident and the pain of watching his suffering along with the joy of his heart touches hearts all over this city, the country and the world. And then experiencing over a thousand people who came to say 'I love you!' I know he feels the love.

One precious baby Rhyder, who really continues to live, lived his life with purpose and his parents did choose life for him. What a beautiful gift to be chosen to be a part of experiencing the moments of Rhyder's life with you Dave and Michelle, in joy, sorrow and pain. Rhyder's precious holy life 'is' set apart for God's glory, and all over this city, the country and world, he absolutely did touch hearts and thousands of us want to send love to you and hold you and grieve with you.

Like a butterfly emerging out of its chrysalis a 'gold sheath' we ourselves emerge in metamorphosis 'changed form', to rebirth and new life.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2126/1733625271_8d4f270df1.jpg

Isn't this the most amazing creature? I was just sharing with my husband Friday afternoon when our attempts failed to take a cell phone photo of a butterfly on a flower, I have had the joyful experience at least 3 times in my life, holding up my pointer finger and a nearby butterfly landed on my fingertip. It didn't happen this time but it reminded me of the example of our lives. God is saying to both Ken and I, 'We are emerging into a new life'..... Double WOW!

Oh and by the way, when you see a finger pointing up in Renaissance art, those depicted were pointing to the Heavens and to God. And...and...and...Renaissance means 'Rebirth', 'Reawakening', 'To be Born Again', 'New Life' !!! Triple WOW!!

I am really feeling this one ...
James 1:2 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. The Message ...

and today is now tomorrow since I wrote this late through midnight. I have been loving this time inside my heart, sharing it on the outside so that we can have communion together.

Teresa Parsons

Tuesday

September 8, 2009 Disconnection and a Cyclical Life of Amazing Grace

I was reading in the Voice of Luke by Bryan McLaren last night. An awesome look at the scriptures in a modern day conversation. After all, the scriptures are timeless and we live in the Living Word, Now.

The Pharisees, the self righteous lay people, they/'we' are blind to Grace. I say 'we' because we are blinded by our circumstances and pain when we lose 'sight' of the Promise. It is in the surrender that we are able to allow our spiritual minds to be renewed, this comes within the surrender of our carnal mind to God. Life is cyclical. We experience our carnal mind within our judgement, in hatred, in bitterness, in resentment and destruction of our inner man/woman from unreleased pain. It is in the release of our pain that we experience the Beauty and Grace of His Unending Love.

The definition of sin is 'being disconnected from God' in any manner. In every form of disconnection from God there is a putrid, rotting of the inner man/woman so much so that the effects of even our silence can destroy us from within and all who are with us, both family and friends.

In the case of the Pharisees they were disconnected from God and each other. They did not know or understand Jesus and because of this they did not understand who they were, where they came from and what they had become.

We must surrender all and die to this world in order that we may fully live. Disconnection then brings us to the place of Grace that we may be reconnected. What control do we have over our future? The cycle is continuous. The place where we began is the place where we end. We must fall apart in order to be restored.

All the universe exists in and because of His love. We have been given a great gift; when we freely receive His Love then we freely give His Love. It is in this place of surrender that we can find Faith, Hope, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self Control. This is not our carnal nature, it is the nature of the Holy Spirit and there is an unending battle in the carnal mind to produce this Fruit. When we allow our 'self' to be emptied there is a perpetual refilling of abundant overflow of God's Amazing Grace. The investment and return is exponential.

What we call the beginning is often the end
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
The end is where we start from.…


T.S. Eliot

We use to say 'take out the trash'. Looks like my boxes of carefully concealed trash and Grace is right there in the middle of it all blowing it up to smithereens!



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/2715122964_199888231e.jpg

Monday

September 7, 2009 Our everyday, ordinary life

The 'born again' experience is not a one time experience but an ongoing yearning that never ceases. Forgiveness is not sought one time but all the time. We are continuously living 'inward' examples (reflecting outward) of Grace, not outward performance to 'appear' free on the inside, 'Unconditional' Love, the only true love transfers and transforms from 'within' vs. the world's 'conditional' fake love which requires and expects 'outward' performance. We walk in our own relationship with God first as His Light is abundantly clear, there is no confusion in His Light. 'Teaching and preaching' vs. 'sharing from the heart' is based on human interpretation and personal experiences from prelearned religion or dogma and cannot set His people free, because it not from the depths of God's Spirit and Truth. There is nothing required or expected, nothing extravagant that 'we' must do. GOD'S WORD STANDS ALONE. And we can more than be alive on this Living Bread by totally surrendering to what is necessary vs. what appears to be necessary.

Romans 12: 1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life — your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life — and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. 3 I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God (or each other). No, God brings it all to you (to each personally). The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what He does for us, not by what we are and what we do for Him (or each other). 4-6 In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't. 6-8 If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face. 9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. 11-13 Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help those who are needy; be inventive in hospitality. 14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't try to be the great somebody. 17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it." 20-21 Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. (The Message)

Sunday

September 6, 2009 Truth in Anger

It has been almost a month since I've posted. I guess I am really in a cramp.

But the other day I became really angry and Ken and actually did go to bed that way. If no other reason, it might be that if you do your dreams are angry. Seems like the anger continued throughout my dreams. In the morning I got up and apologized for being so angry at him.

I am thankful that it is okay to have the full gamut of feelings, whatever is needed when I need it. And regardless of the outward circumstances I choose to put on the new me every day and be renewed in the spirit of my mind.

There is truth to be found in anger, anger in itself is not sin, tell the truth while there is still time to do so.

Ephesians 4: 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, putting away lying,"Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.

Saturday

September 5, 2009, Waiting for the light

Every now and then I become stiffled. Ever hear of 'writer's cramp'? Well, I believe that there are similar situations for life's cramp. Finding our way through situations that cloud our visibility is inevitable. The good news is the clouds pass fairly quickly usually dumping necessary rain and cooling the atmosphere, unless there is an ongoing storm it may take a little longer.