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

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

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.

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.

~

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.

“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