simple worship

i love that they came prepared to worship...
they came with gifts for a king, for the King.
They came with hearts ready to yield to this child,
to this boy King.
They came with knees ready to touch the dirt beneath,
kneeling with heads bowed, honoring Royalty.
They came because the night sky looked different than the night before.
There was a new star in that sky that had never showed itself.
They were beckoned, summoned, to follow that star.
That star would lead them to the King of the Jews, to a King
wordlessly demanding their worship, their gifts, their travel to Himself.
What a night.
What a trip those Magi made from the far East.
What a star.
What a story.
What lovely Truth.
What a beginning to His purpose to grow to die for those He made.
What a Savior.
What a King.
This is Christmas.
Let's worship.

snowflakes and sunshine

The day was cloudy, still.
The air was wet, cold.
Clouds were releasing their moisture in the form of drizzle.
It was December 7th, 2011.
The cafe was warm, welcoming.
The surprise awaited outside.
We stepped out the door to falling snow.
Lovely, white.
I said goodbye to my friend.
I rounded the corner of the cozy brick building to my car.
The man stepped to the sidewalk from his truck, smiled in my direction.
His hands outstretched in front of him.
The smile was contagious, and I returned my own, "Snow!" I said, grinning.
His response warmed my heart, "I always say, it's sunshine in the form of snowflakes."
Indeed, God's most cloudy days are filled with sunshine too, but we've got to sometimes look beyond the clouds.
Thank you, sir, for the sunshine.
Thank You, God, for that gentleman in my path yesterday.

emotions

Emotions overwhelm, surprise, comfort, express.
And so, just now with eyes full of moisture, I realize how thankful I am for God's creation of emotions.  I love that He gave these lovely ways for our bodies to release, remember, restore.  

There is an emotion for every circumstance, every known situation, every waiting surprise, every shock in life.

There are tears aroused when we least expect them, burning cheeks when we're embarrassed, angry, worn.  There is war, constriction in our hearts when we struggle between decisions.

There is a tireless ache that wears on me, knowing my heart aches, yearns, longs for my Savior.  It is an incredible wanting, an inexpressible desire.  So deep, so full, so rich.  The way He draws me to Himself, shows Himself, reveals Himself.  It renders my words insufficient...stops me in my tracks.

And so I weep, draining that storehouse of tears.  And my heart loves Jesus more.  I need Him so much.

Give me love

Give me love.
Let it sweep over me.  Like a million slowly falling raindrops, wetting the earth, cooling my heart.
Let it flood over me like the golden summer sun, warming my fingers, heating my cheeks.
Let it blow over me like the breezes in the sweetest smelling meadow on earth, perfuming my hair with its fragrance, catching me like a kite.
Let it move around me like the song of the whippoorwills, singing to my soul, conducting the orchestra of my heart.
Let love find me, and let it never leave me.

random thoughts during worship

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

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

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.