Friday, November 16, 2012

Thanksgiving Breath

I'm so grateful that all I have to do is remain. Simple, but not easy. Take some time to enjoy these refreshing words and photos put together by my friend, Gem.
Just click here:
Happy Thanksgiving...Enjoy!!!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Notorious Sinners

During my coffee time with the Jesus today, I was surprised what stood out to me in the gospel reading from Luke 15:1-10. The phrase, "notorious sinners often came to listen." Stop and picture the most notorious sinner you know. Now, imagine them sitting at the feet of Jesus again and again.

He sees through the darkness in me.

This habit disgusted the church people. The religious leaders. The ones who knew Scripture. This familiar scene made them complain to Jesus. They couldn't stand that He was associated with known sinners.

Lord, what was it about You that made notorious screw ups come to you often? I know what You taught was clear truth---and not anything a worldly mindset would be attracted to. You told them they had to repent. Go a different way. Give up their life of sin and follow You! Yet, these sinners, were drawn to listen to you often---aggravating the religious leaders to no end.


You weren't ashamed to be with them. You didn't try and meet with them secretly or hold special meetings for them. You were simply with them teaching them. You 'associated' with them and everyone knew it.
You didn't do it for show.
You just were You. Love. 
Available to all.
And the sick came. Soul sick, heart sick, sick sick, weary sick, tired sick, sin sick...they came and You loved them.
Prisoners.
Captives.
Oppressed.

People who the "church" labeled as despised and hopeless. A waste of time.

Dear Sweet Jesus, You're inviting me to see that people with bad reputations are Your specialty. You teach them Yourself. You search them out. With You they are safe and open for healing, freedom, grace. You're inviting me to see that the 'notorious sinners' in my family (including me!) are being taught by You.

In Your eyes, there is never hopelessness reflected. There is never an expression that communicates: LOST CAUSE.

You are the power of love that frees, that heals, that restores, that searches, that finds, that carries lost lambs on your own shoulders into the safe home of Your heart as You live in ours.

Lord Jesus, my Abba, I pray that all of us notorious sinners would come often to listen to You! That we would realize again and again the lengths you go to find Your lost children---and may we celebrate fully when You carry the repentant home (to Your true Church). I pray that I/we would be associated with notorious sinners because they are drawn to Your home in our hearts.

Your heart is FOR the lost; my heart can be hard against the lost. Thank You for Your pursuit. Thank You for carrying me as I repent of my sin of unbelief that notorious sinners will be saved by You.

The educated scrutinized Your love, the sinners experienced it. The religious dismissed the lost, You sat with them often. They wrote them off as evil, You wrote them in as Loved. Give me ears to hear.
Listen.


Saturday, November 3, 2012

Why?

Morning

I love the stillness and calmness of the morning. Everything's in place for the day You've made. The air is still, the sky is holding the sun, the birds are chirping--the day You've created is unfolding. Your rule, Your order is reigning.

At night my soul tends to forget. The temporary invades the eternal and my mind leads my heart down crooked paths; paths that lead me to worry, or greed---thirst.

But, every morning [now] I hear You whisper,

"Come to Me,
I'm waiting.
I have water for you. I've prepared your bread for the day.
I love you.
I can't wait to serve you."

Deep breath.

I get my hot coffee, sink in to my comfy chair and feel Your Spirit enfold me. I feel welcomed, wanted, loved---home---known.
I'm where I belong.
In this place I'm understood and I receive understanding. You open Your hand and satisfy.
I come. I be. I receive.
You're here. You ARE. You pour.

You reveal, You instruct, You comfort, convict, and heal.
You give.
Rest, peace, light-ness.

You invite me to live my day IN You. Abide. I live.

Oh Abba, where was I?
WHY did it take me so long to learn to live in this One-ness?
To experience how wide, how long, how high and how deep Your love is For me?

Come to Me all you who are:
too busy
exhausted
rushing
hurt
angry
confused
lonely
burned out
bored
doubtful
disappointed
sick
broken
scared
guilty
heartbroken
hopeless

and I will Give.
(Matthew 11:18-20)

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Prayer Direction

My friend and mentor, Alan Fadling, recently blogged about how we pray. His blog often gives me much needed direction in my effort to daily abide in Christ. The blog was entitled: Soul Prayers and Situational Prayers

As I've pondered his reflection question for a several days now (I am a slow processor!), I've realized that most often my prayers, especially for me and my closest family members, are situational rather than soulful. So, as an exercise to help me draw near to God with the souls of those I love, I wrote out Paul's prayer from Ephesians 3 to be prayed for those I love. Lingering in this prayer is overwhelming when you realize the magnitude of Paul's requests. I encourage you to take some time and slowly walk through this prayer, interceding for those you love, and approaching the throne of grace for yourself as well.

Can this be our reality??? Wow...look at this list carefully. THIS is God's desire for you/me/us!!!
Ephesians 3:14-21

Abba, I pray from Your glorious unlimited resources that You will empower us with inner strength through Your Spirit.
 
Then Christ will make His home in our hearts as we trust in Him. 

Our roots will grow down into Your love and keep us strong. 

And, may we have the power to understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. 

May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. 

Then we will be complete with all the fulness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to You God, You who are able through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to You.

Infinitely more...did you catch that? more than I can even think of to ask. That takes a lot of 'prayer pressure' off! What a Father.




Forty and Flying Free!

Celebrating life being different for our daughters at 40 than it was for many of us. My oldest daughter turned 40 this week. At one point in...