Our Father’s Heart
June 17, 2013
The reason I’m here …
To reveal our Father’s heart
Good news for the poor
Freedom for the prisoners
He releases the oppressed
The blind will see the light
The sick will be healed at last
The lonely friends will have friends
His promises restore life
His forever love renews
Focusing on Jesus
I have trained to listen each day
My friend forever
I have no greater joy here
Than living with his presence
Enduring the pain
Incomprehensible loss
Grief that overwhelms
He holds me close to his heart
His love secures and gives hope
My lived experience says
I have a friend big enough
To enter my losses with love
And understanding
His compassion draws me
His story is compelling
What mattered to him captures
His mind is brilliant
He always sees the person
Religion has kept hidden
Incomprehensible love
That is in the now
I cannot fathom
The depth of our Father’s love
In silence I come
Laughter breaks forth in my soul
Joy enters the darkest room
The story revealed in the Bible in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John have focused me on a real man. The daily practice of choosing who would be the most influential person in my life (over the last fifty years) has led me to inexpressible joy. This is poetry from my soul. It comes out of a lived experience through pain. This gift of joy is available to all.
A pinhole of light
June 16, 2013
Comes in the deepest darkness
Hope found me waiting There’s a room of loss
In the heart of everyone
I go to the pain
Death cannot hold me
I am not afraid to live
A gift I receive
Joy is to my soul
What blood is to my body
This belief I hold
A certain unseen
Available to each one
Unspeakable love
Everyone has an amazing story. I believe each person is being pursued by inexpressible love. Make time to reflect. I am indebted beyond words to so many who have made that love real to me by the way they live. These things, along with my personal story, are discussed in my book “Delta Blues – Darkness to Life”. It will be available in the fall. The introduction to my book is on my new web site:
http://www.coachinglifematters.org/delta-blues.html
Thank you, Landon Saunders for this deep true heart felt line I heard you speak 16 years ago: “Joy is to your soul what blood is to your body.” Thank you, Paul, for what you said from prison about not fixing our eyes on what is seen and but on what is unseen because what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal. Thank you, Sarah Young for sharing your interpretation of Jesus’ invitation,”When you approach me in stillness and trust, you are strengthened.” Thank you Rebecca Greer for your words, “pinhole of light.” Your story inspires me beyond words. Joy is my lived experience!
Joy and Pain
May 3, 2013
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:16-17
“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11
*I got the phrase “Twin Sisters” from a poem my wife Charlotte wrote years ago.
For my nephew Kirk, on his birthday
Soaking
January 8, 2013
I’ll soak in your thoughts
Remember the things you say
Write them on my heart
Please light the flame in my soul
Let it burn for you today
I will enter your throne room
In quiet and wait for you
I am so slow to hear you
You words are simple
I’ll act on your words
Reflect, only you are God
I’ll light the candle of hope
Receive your mercy
Accept your peace in the storm
Receive your gentle presence
Gratitude fills me
I choose to believe the truth
He’s stored life for me
In the sight of all mankind
My cup overflows with love
“The words I speak are Spirit”
His words are light to my soul
I believe them like a son
Holding Father’s hand
Going out not knowing
Trusting He will lead the way
~
My Utmost for His Higest – January 3
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young – January 3
Psalm 31:19-20; John 6:33, 16:33; Psalm 97:2,3,20,11
“When a man gets to God, it is by most simple ways—words.” Oswald Chambers
I Light Up My House
December 29, 2012
~
This morning I lit a candle. I dropped to my knees. I said The Lord’s Prayer slowly and thoughtfully, meditating on the words: “Father,” “kingdom,” “your will,” “on earth as it is in heaven,” “forgiveness” and “temptation.” Then I moved into a focused reading of Psalms 16, contemplating David’s interaction with God. As I did these things, a metaphor came to me.
My body is the tabernacle of God. Mentally, I go throughout the tabernacle lighting the candles in each room. The light of love from the Father illuminates the main room. As I move from room to room, I light the candle that brightens its darkness. I light the candles of peace in each room. Forgiveness is the brightest light that brings the gentle presence of God with his awareness of my story. The candle of joy is lit and affirms the power of His indwelling presence that will never leave or forsake me. The rooms are filled with comfort as the light illuminates the deep grief and loss I have no words for …. Then there is the candle of hope, the certainty of a God who will always keep all of His promises.
~
My temptation is to let all the noise of my heart, coming from the dark rooms, draw me into action, before I let the light in that guides me in this treacherous wonder-filled journey. I then awaken to the joy of the house I live in and continually listen to the counsel I receive.
~~
“God is light and in him is no darkness at all.”
I John 1:5
*Tabernacle=dwelling place
God the Initiator
December 16, 2012
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I have heard his voice
The voice of the Beloved
My God and my friend
~
He speaks in the night
And comes to me by day
My part is to seek
To surrender all my heart
My mind and my soul today
~
He has already spoken
Through the life of his dear son
If you need more he will give
He knows what you need
~
I trust the one who loves me
Who kept silent at his death
And raised him from death to show
Everlasting love
~
I know my first love
There is no one to compare
Fifty one years I’ve followed
Stumbling in his arms
Only to discover this
God’s the initiator
~
God initiated his love by sending his only son. He need not speak again, but he does. He will come to you when you need him, in the way you need him. His voice speaks loudest in the sending of his only son into the world. I pray the world is listening. I pray I am listening. I pray the advent of his coming into the world means he comes into my heart like a fresh spring today.
The Invisible Factor
December 7, 2012
~
Looking back I see
The invisible factor
In solitude I found it
A love without end
The people I hold sacred
Are the treasures of my life
~
Two things are invisible
Hidden wanting to be found
There are evil intentions
Then there are the good
~
What takes place in me
My emotions and feelings
My invisible thinking
Will direct my life
~
You will not see it
You’ll know it by my actions
There are no secrets
~
So I’ll guard my heart
I’ll decide where I focus
The gift that I have
Is I get to make the choice
I choose invisible joy
~
I am free to go
Follow the internal lead
Choose who I will trust
Looking back I am aware
Of a love who seeks me out
Reflections written after meditating on the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:29-31; and Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:18; Colossians 2:2-3. and in Hebrews 11:27. The invisible factor will always rule the choices. No exceptions!
I celebrate this morning I get to choose who it is that will be the most influential thinker in my life today. The book “Jesus Calling” is a good place to start. I have learned that I am powerless under my feelings. They will dictate the choices unless I recognized and understand where those feelings are taking me. The invisible lies must be exposed. Also, it helps to know where they come from. If you will train to think through your choices, to look down stream at where those choices are taking you, to seek help from those you see are living in joy, and to call on the One who brings this mysterious love, you will find your way to joy.
~
Miracle Presence
November 14, 2012
~
I will listen to one voice
The one that can be trusted
He has been tested and tried
He heals all my wounds
~
This daily practice
Of choosing not to worry
Just because he said
“Don’t worry about your life”
“What does worry add to you?”
I have found a key
For healing and freeing men
Helping people move forward
Through obstacles
Understanding your own story
The richness of your own life
~
If you look within
The wounded places stand out
You survived the pain
Do you know the reason why
And where to find the healing
~
He knows your story
Understands right where you are
And offers healing
Who is this one who is present
Who makes a promise of life
~
Know his story well
Listen only to his voice
What he says is relevant
Connected and true
I know how much he loves me
~
I’ll be strong and courageous
I will not give in to lies
I’ll be kind and merciful
And love without end
~
Because Jesus loves
I’ll love you with the same love
Forgiveness at the center
Miracle Presence
I believe with all my heart
His resurrection power
~
Energy given
When I decide to believe
And act in obedience
Against my feelings
Then his healing touch will come
I drink the living water
~
“Faith needs to meet people where they live otherwise it is irrelevant.” Glenn Hinson
For fifty-one years, I have asked the real hard questions about human relationships. No one has made more sense to me about life than Jesus of Nazareth. His teachings and the way he treated a person were contrary to the religion of his day. They killed him for it. They are contrary to the religion of my day. What mattered to him was the person. It will take your best mind to look carefully at your own story, and his story to make the connection. The distractions of your own pain, and the distractions of others vying for your time and energy are formidable obstacles. When Jesus said, “I came to give life and give it abundantly” I said he is either a liar, crazy or telling the truth. I was in such a desperate state I was compelled to search out the facts of his story. I wanted to know how he put his pants on, who he ran around with, what was important to him, because he gave a promise that was outlandish, but one I so desperately wanted to be true.
Reflections this morning are from Jesus Calling , by Sarah Young as well as Luke 12:22-26, II Corinthians 10:5, Deuteronomy 31:6, John 4.
Who Are the Heroes?
November 12, 2012
“Life breaks everyone”
A line that is familiar
But some become strong
~
The human heart will judge you
Whether you are religious
Or just believe in yourself
On the twists and turns of life
You’re wise to seek good counsel
The ones who can admit
Tell the truth about themselves
Come out from hiding
Hold themselves accountable
Then arise from the ashes
The General Petraeus
A leader in the country
Told the truth about himself
Then resigned his job
Many condemn him
His own heart judges him most
How he handles this
Will be the test of his life
King David can be of help
Power does corrupt
Pride makes one vulnerable
Easily deceived
Lust will dismantle the soul
Greed poisons the human heart
A leader has fallen hard
His great opportunity
Is to model now a way
To be forgiven
One way to escape
The deep judgment of your heart
Meet one that’s greater
Who knows your story so well
Who loves you like his own son
~
General Petraeus, your story is not over. God meets you with the same compassion he met David the King, the “woman at the well”, “the Centurion”, “the thief on the cross” and me. I pray mercy reigns for you, your wife and your children. Let the world see now, how a leader rises by the grace of God.
Ernest Hemingway stated: ”The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.”
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up to us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”Romans 8:32, Psalm 51
With Great Joy I Move
October 13, 2012
Desire of Your Heart
October 9, 2012
Proverbs 8; Psalms 36-40; Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
What I Believe
October 5, 2012
It’s a look of love
I know what the face of love is
I accept the peace He gives
My faith is in Him
I grew up in darkness
A light came cloaked in kindness
Gentleness and love
I looked in the face of God
In the face of mother love
My father emotionally-handicapped
The God of all love
Sent grandmothers and neighbors
And His angels to attend
I love to tell His story
Light comes in darkness
The fire of joy can be lit
The human soul is restored
I rejoice in His friendship
This friend gave His life for me
There’s no one like Him
The loud voice of fear
Hidden behind guilt and shame
Must be brought into the light
I’ll watch when the door opens
Be ready to give
Make the mysterious love
Plain to those who are seeking
With patience and loving care
Crowned with forgiveness
Wisdom Available
October 4, 2012
To find the treasure
Ear – listen for wisdom
Eye – search with great intent
Heart – apply the understanding
~
Then you’ll understand
What it means to revere God
Gain knowledge of God
You’ll discover the wisdom
Embrace the insights
You’re my shield, O God
Your righteousness - my protector
I walk in your peace
Your promises restore me
Your Divine Power saves me
Psalm 7:10
I will trust in you
With all my heart I seek you
It’s you I believe
You have never forsaken
Those who seek with all their heart
Psalm 9: 9,10
Is there room for God
Pride can fill up the heart
Lust will poison it
Greed causes one to act out
These three things bring great destruction
God helps the fatherless ones
Breaks the arm of the wicked
The Lord is King forever
You rule with mercy
Proverbs 2; Psalms 6-10;
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
Command Joy
October 2, 2012
There is a way to command joy
A truth I learned through the years
It will take your best thinking
Learned through suffering
Thoughtful reflections
When there seems to be no hope
The cry of desperation
Of a child who’s all alone
Is heard in the darkest hour
There is energy
Available to those who ask
It is joy for life
~
Over thirty years ago, Landon Saunders spoke to me about the fact that “you can command joy.” It is true. We visited again this past weekend, and he spoke that it is not something you will get to “someday”, but it is an “energy” you can access in the now. Think with me about it this month.
During the month of October, I invite you to read and reflect with me through Psalms and Proverbs. Over the years, Psalms has been my mother and Proverbs has been my father. They gave me language for my pain, hope for my future and joy for my present. I read through them every month, and find something new every time.
