Secret Choices in Life
April 9, 2015
*
There are only two choices
One is wisdom, one is folly
It’s a daily decision
It’s very simple
*
This invitation
To choose the road you will take
You’re free to decide
*
If you want to know just ask
Your Father’s glad to tell you
Is there anyone asking
You answer for you
*
You can know which road
It is your freedom to choose
We all have been hurt
I’m no exception to this
We all get it in the neck
*
There is a secret
To be found in both choices
They’re both inviting
*
One will bring you understanding
Stolen water will taste sweet
Food that’s eaten in secret
Is so delicious
*
This secret life leads to death
They don’t know the dead lay there
Folly’s guest will die quickly
And not remembered
*
Understanding leads to life
Doing right adds to learning
Darkness of death is exposed
Years added to life
*
Where do I begin
First, stand in awe of your God
Seek knowledge and good insight
God’s a real person
He knows my name and loves me
Even though I chose folly
*
A promise I claim daily
God never forsakes those who seek
To know and find out the truth
About God and self
*
Understanding comes
Love flourishes in secret
In stillness God comes
Embracing us in folly
Surprising us with real joy
*
They’re no exceptions
In this world we will suffer
A reality
The world we build will shatter
The pressures are just too great
*
Folly and wisdom
Which direction will you choose
You can medicate and die
Surrender and live
This love surpasses knowledge
Understanding will breathe life
*
These reflections come after reading and meditating on Psalm 9 and Proverbs 9. I have a practice I do each day to tune my soul to the basic realities of life. I live my life in a day. “I number my days by one.” Bob Nelson I practice the basic fundamentals of soul each day like a musician practices his instruments. I practice seeking understanding above all else or I find my soul deceived by my own pride, lust and greed that sit in the secret places inviting me to choose to feed their hunger. This daily practice of stillness has lead me to the secret place of joy where I have been surprised with an intimate friendship of Presence that is not based on my feelings. It is based on discovering what is true about the world, self, God and real friendship. Folly taste good in the moment. It leads to death. Understanding will breathe life. It leads to Joy.
*
Proverbs has been my Father. Psalms has been my mother over the last 54 years.
*
Proverbs 9:6 “Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear (stand in reverent awe) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Psalm 9:10 “Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
The Simple Truth
March 29, 2015
*
There’s a simple truth
Hidden behind all the noise
We are born Beloved
This truth will always get lost
Because of the failure of man
*
How to recover
That is my biggest question
I found the process
There are no easy answers
I now know where to begin
*
Wounded souls cry out
The sick know that they need help
They are the ones who can hear
The desperate door
The one I avoided the most
Is the one that I walked through
*
There are two commands
Love God, love one another
The secret is here
*
We say we love God
I think we really mean it
There are two problems with this
The first: “Who is God?”
Second: “Who is my neighbor?”
Love them like you love yourself
*
You cannot love God
If you do not love yourself
The place to begin
You must learn to love yourself
When all others forsake you
*
There’s greatness in you
You are made in God’s image
You are wonderfully made
Beloved and cherished
You are larger than your pain
I learned this from my Teacher
*
Others have forsaken me
My parents and friends left me
Talents, health, gifts failed me
That’s when love came
*
Over the years of listening to thousands of stories of people searching for meaningful relationships, I found this one thing to be true. Until a person decides to accept their own greatness in the midst of the massive failure they feel from their own life and from how significant others have failed them, they will stay trapped in the darkness of desperation. There is a fire in the human soul that at some point will rise up and fight. It is my job, once a person decides to fight, to give those I meet the life tools I have discovered to build a “life that loves to happen no matter what happens.” History is full of lives that made this decision to live by walking through the doorway of desperation. The Master Truth I know to be true regardless of circumstances is this. “You are Beloved.”
*
Proverbs 29:11; Psalms 59:17; 89:15; 89:26; 89:30-33
*
http://www.coachinglifematters.com
The Voice of the Children
March 19, 2015
*
I cannot be far
From the world of suffering
My eyes are open
I can’t bear the pain alone
Can I believe that You are near
*
My mind is trained to listen
To the voices that speak truth
I see faces of children
Abandoned and lost
*
I’ll not sit silent
Show me what to do today
How can I respond
Take up a timely action
Give and make a difference
*
We must do it together
Join hands as did the children
Link hands all around the world
Make love real today
Declare love larger than death
Hear the voice of the children
*
Bring your people together
Let’s stand with the voice of love
Let the little children come
There’s safety with Him
*
Reflections today after reading Psalm 19, 49, 79, 109 and 139; Proverbs 19. God declares His presence and love. Let us join Him today.
*
Read Story on March 4, 2015 – Your Story Matters
Contact: http://www.frrme.org
Arabs-Jews-Christians Unite in Response to Terror
March 4, 2015
Springs of Hope – A global Forum creating a new narrative for the Voice of Victims of Terrorism being held in Jerusalem March 1-4.
*
A grandfather stood before the ISIS group and was given the option of denying his faith or watching his grandchildren be slaughtered in front of him. He denied his faith and called his minister, Andrew White, to confess. “Will God forgive me?” This was his question. When the terrorist approached the children for them to deny their faith in Jesus or else die, they joined hands and said, “We cannot deny our Jesus. We love him.” Then, they each were killed.
*
This is the third day of the conference on Terror I am attending in Jerusalem. The sad reality is that we are sitting within the beginning of a movement that is coming to fruition. A group of people are intentionally killing men, women and children who do not agree with them. It is happening here before our very eyes.; just as the Holocaust happened. These are real people in real time. And, it demands a response from me, from us.
*
I was born during the Holocaust in 1942. Here, I am meeting with the children of people who were born during this horrendous time or immediately thereafter. Their parents survived and lived with the trauma of PTSD. And the impact afflicted on them as the children of Holocaust victims is and was horrendous. I met Peter (not his name) whose parents met in Auschwitz and married afterward. They all suffered and continue to suffer. I do not know what I am going to do, but I am going to do something.
*
What I am witnessing is that there are refugee camps with children who have had no food for a month. We can begin by getting them food. My new friend, Andrew White, who is the Anglican Vicar of Bagdad told the story of a little boy who heard him speak to his school. After school the boy brought him a dollar to help the children. He shared this with many people who want the children to be fed and asked them to began sending their dollars. If you are interested in joining me, in giving this Anglican Vicar a dollar for the children, the address of where to send your donation is:
*
Address: Go to website www.frrme.org: To make a donation
*
You may also go online to discover information regarding Andrew, his remarkable life and the books he has written. He can no longer be in Bagdad or they will kill him. Although he remains in contact with those who are caring for one another and those in the refuge camps. He is truly on the front-line of this tragedy. His bodyguard was standing beside him as I talked with him. Andrew is the real deal, a man that can be trusted, and any and all monies donated will make it to the children. This I can assure you.
*
We cannot sit by and do nothing. Please join me in praying for these people and what you can do. I can give a dollar and so can you. This, at least, will be an immediate start.
*
If you will, join me in sending dollars for food and care for those driven out of their homes and land and will likely never return. I will not stand by and do nothing. It is something we can do now. This is just the beginning.
*
Consider sharing this tweet.
Keeping Perspective in Jerusalem
March 2, 2015
*
In the face of terror one feels the powerlessness like no one can imagine. I am sitting among people who have lived it this week in Jerusalem. Last night I met a man and his 25 year old daughter. She was kidnapped in France when she was only three years old. It was seven years before he and his wife were able to get their daughter home. “All to Bring Victoria Home” by Delwyn Jones Schmidt – check Amazon.
*
As I read Psalm 32 and 62 this morning David reminds us that there is only one place to go to when the terror man comes upon man. Then I listened to the story of a man whose parents met in Auschwitz in Poland. Both his parents lost most of their love ones, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers in the camp. Incomprehensible!!! I experience the joy in both of these people. In reflecting on these Psalms I found a place to go that is helping me keep perspective by setting my heart, mind and soul on the giver of light and life. David the Psalmist led me there in reading Psalm 32 and 62.
*
Tighten the strings of my heart
Draw near to me, Gracious Lord
I am yours to do as you will
Your joy – my center
*
I sense your divine power
Please deliver me from pride
I pray for humility
Love will rule my life
*
The lust for recognition
Deliver me from man’s applause
I want a pure heart, O God
Courage to do right
*
I am powerless
Deliver me from man’s greed
Fill me with your peace
May compassion flow through me
The light of your presence seen
*
God says:
“I will instruct you
And teach you the way to go
I will counsel you
My eyes will be fixed on you”
There’s no greater joy than this
*
You’re my hiding place
The giver of love and life
Your promises renew me
Your light breaks the dawn
Brings hope in the darkest times
You count my tears; I’m refreshed
*
Let it be so!
The Master’s Strings of Love
February 28, 2015
*
I met a master violinist in Jerusalem last night. I listened to her talk about how all the strings of the violin work together to make the beautiful music. Only one string cannot deliver the magnificence. They must all be tightened to the appropriate tension. When I awake in this morning I ask the Lord to tighten the strings of my heart that will join others in bringing the beauty of love to the hearts of those I meet today. “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118
*
I am a single string
Seeking to be tuned to life
Tightened by the Lord
I want the sound of your heart
That’s tuned to the mind of Love
*
I will make music
I cannot do it alone
I am looking for other strings
Tightened by your love
Who are practicing daily
Tuned to the rhythm of joy
*
This discipline works
Orchestrated with others
Who are listening
To the director of Life
Compelled by the Master’s love
*
I am in the orchestra
Watching every move he makes
Moving with grace and rhythm
Surprised with the sound
*
All those who hear it
Cannot deny its beauty
Know it is from God
Healing Process
February 26, 2015
*
There is a healing process
For those aware of the wound
Who name the lie adopted
This deep soul cancer
*
When a person is ready
Desperate for the healing
Then choose to fight for your life
And Renounce the lie
Revoke the insidious
Darkness with the light of life
*
The Secret hidden
To be discovered by all
Who are seeking truth
You are the “Beloved of God”
Healed and made whole by this love*
*
Replace the lie that’s hidden
Believe in the love that’s given
With all your heart, soul and mind
This mysterious joy
*
This revelation of love
Made clear in your own story
Remembering the times
You arose above the pain
Finding greatness in your soul
*
I choose to respond
Feed the Master Truth of Love
Daily focus on this light
Move with intention
Toward this pinhole of light
This inexpressible joy
*
I know this process is true
I live it each day of life
Like a mirror I reflect
Unspeakable love
*
At the heart is forgiveness
For myself and enemies
For my parents and dear friends
Who’re only human
*
Yes, it is a choice
Feelings will not dominate
My heart is open
I’ll choose to respond daily
I’ll receive love and give it
*
The death of these lies
Is a painful decision
The lies are so familiar
Only His love compels me
To trust love larger than me – (love demonstrated)
*
This is a process of deliverance from myself. When man is at the center destruction follows. This does not need to be proven. Look at past history; look at the present; you can know the past will dictate the future unless man discovers the greatness of real love.
*
That love must begin by training to love you so you will then know how to love others. Light the fire in your own soul by turning from the lies handed down to us from generations. When feelings dominate, death follows. When truth dominates freedom follows. Choose love and forgiveness and Joy follows.
Five Decisions for Life
February 22, 2015
*
I need the tools
The ones that open the mind
To inexpressible joy
There’s a way to find peace
That passes understanding
*
Five decisions must be made
First a decision to live
Then don’t make friends with your pain
Are two essentials
*
Now you are ready
Take Responsibility
Stop blaming others and self
This is the big one
There’s no growth till this happens
Life begins with your beliefs
*
The past is a gift
You know what you don’t want
Or you know what you do want
Get a clear vision
Of who you are and what you want
Then you will know the questions
*
This is the big one
Decide you are worth fighting for
Yes, you are worth it
Your value is in being
You must learn to love yourself
*
So there are five gifts you must give yourself
1) Decide to Live
2) Decide to Not Make Friends with Your Pain
3) Decide to Take Responsibility
4) Decide to Get a Clear Vision
5) Decide You Are Worth Fighting For
*
All the best on your journey.
*
For more information go to http://www.coachinglifematters.com.
Your Story Matters 