viewing God's daily sunrise as His grand entrance, akin to the entrance of the Fonz on Happy Days (when it was "filmed in front of a live studio audience"); the audience would explode with applause. Do we stand in such awe, amazement, and delight when we encounter the glories of God? Do we stand applauding Him? NCH.
God is better at justice; He's far more fair.
praying in His power, storming the gates of heaven. calling it what it is - sin. S.Brooks
17 July 2011
I can withstand much, but composure is hardest to gain when small fingers and voices are exalting You.
coming ready to worship...having worshiped already that morning...
i love how He answers - 'you're going to seek Me and prioritize Me -- wait and see what blessings I have in store for you.'
7 August 2011
"diversity in expression; unity in worship" S.B.
28 August 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
wandering the caverns
It is a dangerous place to travel, without a guide.
Those deep, dark, distant caverns of our self-pitying hearts.
Those places where sin grows like weeds, prickly, undesirable, engulfing any sprout of love.
Those places in the recesses of our hearts that confuse, confound, conquer us when unawares.
We oughtn't to travel alone there, to those unexplored, unexamined, unknown grounds. It is our responsibility to enlist the Guide.
He will gladly come, with joy, with grace, with Light.
He will come battle-ready, sword gleaming and sharpened, fires blazing.
He will come not only as the Guide, but as Soldier, Slayer, Savior.
He will come in power, prepared to not only wrench the weeds of sin by the root, but to set them ablaze, burning till nothing remains - till it is all consumed.
Do not go alone; go armed with the King Himself, the One equipped to not only empty the caverns, but to replenish them with life, light, truth.
But do go; go swiftly. And when that painful wrenching of sin by the Master is over, we will find He leaves behind His sweet fragrance, His joy, His peace, His Light, His Love.
"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
-Psalm 51:6-12
Those deep, dark, distant caverns of our self-pitying hearts.
Those places where sin grows like weeds, prickly, undesirable, engulfing any sprout of love.
Those places in the recesses of our hearts that confuse, confound, conquer us when unawares.
We oughtn't to travel alone there, to those unexplored, unexamined, unknown grounds. It is our responsibility to enlist the Guide.
He will gladly come, with joy, with grace, with Light.
He will come battle-ready, sword gleaming and sharpened, fires blazing.
He will come not only as the Guide, but as Soldier, Slayer, Savior.
He will come in power, prepared to not only wrench the weeds of sin by the root, but to set them ablaze, burning till nothing remains - till it is all consumed.
Do not go alone; go armed with the King Himself, the One equipped to not only empty the caverns, but to replenish them with life, light, truth.
But do go; go swiftly. And when that painful wrenching of sin by the Master is over, we will find He leaves behind His sweet fragrance, His joy, His peace, His Light, His Love.
"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
-Psalm 51:6-12
Monday, August 29, 2011
it was scarlet
it hung in silence,
dangling there alone.
shouts rose loud around it,
chaos filled the air.
people scattered, gathered.
it hung alone,
ready to rescue.
it dangled quietly,
waiting to be looked upon for salvation.
it was simple,
it was life for those clinging to it.
there, against the walls of toppling Jericho, Rahab's rope hung as the reminder,
the one thing offering hope,
the one thing that would save her, her family.
and it did.
and it was scarlet.
He hung in silence,
dangling there alone.
shouts rose loud around Him,
chaos filled the air.
people scattered, gathered.
He hung alone,
ready to rescue.
He dangled quietly,
waiting to be looked upon for salvation.
He was simple,
He was life for those clinging to Him.
there, against the walls of sin and darkness, Jesus hung as the Redeemer,
the One offering hope,
the One Who would save those who believed.
and He did.
and He does.
and His blood flowed scarlet.
dangling there alone.
shouts rose loud around it,
chaos filled the air.
people scattered, gathered.
it hung alone,
ready to rescue.
it dangled quietly,
waiting to be looked upon for salvation.
it was simple,
it was life for those clinging to it.
there, against the walls of toppling Jericho, Rahab's rope hung as the reminder,
the one thing offering hope,
the one thing that would save her, her family.
and it did.
and it was scarlet.
He hung in silence,
dangling there alone.
shouts rose loud around Him,
chaos filled the air.
people scattered, gathered.
He hung alone,
ready to rescue.
He dangled quietly,
waiting to be looked upon for salvation.
He was simple,
He was life for those clinging to Him.
there, against the walls of sin and darkness, Jesus hung as the Redeemer,
the One offering hope,
the One Who would save those who believed.
and He did.
and He does.
and His blood flowed scarlet.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
aroma
In the lovely, bursting Springtime, I'd love to park myself under a blossoming crabapple tree, basking in its beauty and absorbing its sweet fragrance. There's nothing quite like it, those Spring trees with their arrays of colors, perfectly shaped petals, fragrances floating freely.
I think God requires more of me, though, than to simply drink in those sweet fragrances He's made. I think He desires that I become so drenched in the fragrance of Christ that wherever I go, that fragrance, His fragrance, goes right with me, moving among anyone who may be near.
Blossom aromas are likened to that of Christ: The fragrances aren't made to be kept, but shared, spread...
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him." 2 Corinthians 2:14
I think God requires more of me, though, than to simply drink in those sweet fragrances He's made. I think He desires that I become so drenched in the fragrance of Christ that wherever I go, that fragrance, His fragrance, goes right with me, moving among anyone who may be near.
Blossom aromas are likened to that of Christ: The fragrances aren't made to be kept, but shared, spread...
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him." 2 Corinthians 2:14
You're Beautiful
I see your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say... You’re Beautiful
I see your pow’r in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
Its all proclaiming who you are... You’re beautiful
I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are setting on your heavenly throne
Soon you will be coming home... You’re Beautiful
When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing... You’re Beautiful
-Phil Wickham
The colors of the morning are inside your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say... You’re Beautiful
I see your pow’r in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
Its all proclaiming who you are... You’re beautiful
I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are setting on your heavenly throne
Soon you will be coming home... You’re Beautiful
When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing... You’re Beautiful
-Phil Wickham
Sunday, July 3, 2011
the joy of the father
I was much like the older brother when God set my husband free...
While the Father was rejoicing, my heart threw daggers,
I spat,
I resented,
my heart raged within me.
I didn't think I had deserved to live through those days of the locusts,
those years that had been eaten and destroyed.
I deserved better, I deserved the party the younger brother was receiving who...
was brought out of the gallows,
back from death,
up from the muck,
to God,
to his father.
The older son raged, "'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property...comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
'My son, the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" Luke 15:29-32
Thank You for giving me a heart to see with new eyes and a full heart those who have been rescued, those who are no longer feasting with the pigs, those who have returned, whom You have brought back.
God, would you cause me and believers everywhere to be those who rejoice over the lives that are redeemed, found, saved, transformed. Would you drive out every drop of bitterness, resentment, selfishness and give hearts of compassion, joy, perseverance, worship. Help me honor You.
I love You. Thanks for loving me first.
While the Father was rejoicing, my heart threw daggers,
I spat,
I resented,
my heart raged within me.
I didn't think I had deserved to live through those days of the locusts,
those years that had been eaten and destroyed.
I deserved better, I deserved the party the younger brother was receiving who...
was brought out of the gallows,
back from death,
up from the muck,
to God,
to his father.
The older son raged, "'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property...comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
'My son, the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" Luke 15:29-32
Thank You for giving me a heart to see with new eyes and a full heart those who have been rescued, those who are no longer feasting with the pigs, those who have returned, whom You have brought back.
God, would you cause me and believers everywhere to be those who rejoice over the lives that are redeemed, found, saved, transformed. Would you drive out every drop of bitterness, resentment, selfishness and give hearts of compassion, joy, perseverance, worship. Help me honor You.
I love You. Thanks for loving me first.
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