A Dream? Part One

I walk - amazed!.

 

My senses overwhelmed with sights, sounds, smells.

Stunning beauty - the atmosphere shimmers with colors I can't describe.

My ears hear songs of wondrous harmony and breathtaking

music softly playing on finely tuned instruments.

The air is sweet,

delicately perfumed with a fragrance so intoxicating

I inhale deeply - close my eyes and savor it.

 

In front of me I see a beautifully sculpted double door.

Its gleaming panels -burnished and polished-

reflecting a glorious light emanating from the other side.

It opens as I approach.

I step across the threshold.

 

I can't see!

A light so bright, so intense yet soothing - comforting,

envelopes me.

It is part of me,

filling each cell with a golden glow

till I am totally and completely saturated with its splendor.

 

My eyes adjust slowly.

I become aware again of  voices singing, louder now.

The words, understandable and incredible!

 

"Holy, Holy, Holy

Lord God Almighty!

 

Worthy is the Lamb

to receive honor and glory.

Who is filled with wisdom and power!"

 

I fall to my knees unable to stand.

Tears of joy and sadness flow freely.

My hearts fills with intense longing - yet terrified to be so close to the King.

I bow my head, cover my face with my hands and weep.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Shake the "comfort Zone" of Your Heart

I hate glibly spoken catch phrases.

They're just fluff floating past. No comfort, nothing to hang on to when you are in that dark place.
No help when fear and uncertainty shake the "comfort Zone" of your heart when you hear words like:

 

Cancer

Job loss

Pay cuts

Car accident

Arrest

Emergency room

ICU

NICU

 

This is "rubber meets the road"time with our faith.

 

 I read recently that;

 

Trust - stops obsession and worry

Thankfulness - stops complaining and criticism

 

 

Trust in whom? Giving thanks to whom?

Do we believe what we easily share with others experiencing dark times?

Are our words meaningful and based on a relationship that is solid and firm?

Do we still our mind and heart, actively clearing the clutter, to know our God?

 

This past weekend, hit with some "disquieting words" I asked myself these very questions.

AND again the verses came flooding in:

 

Psalm 138 - He will answer when I call, The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me

Psalm 139 - He knows me better than I know myself, He surrounds me and places His hand on me,

                    His thoughts about me are too numerous to count.

Psalm 130 - I wait for the Lord and strengthen my hope with His Word

Psalm 126 - The Lord has done great things for me and I am filled with Joy

Psalm 121 - The Lord, my protection

Psalm 117 - The Lord loves me with a great love, unfailing love, enduring love

Zephaniah 3: 17 - The Lord is with me, He is mighty to save, He delights in me, He will  quiet me  

                     with His love and sings over me, rejoicing in me

 

When we are shaken, run to Him. Read His promises. Dwell on His greatness and love toward us.

Determine to be thankful in all things and trust His heart!

 

It's not fun, growing up is hard. Let's be real and encourage each other.  

Let's be still and know He is God!

Hand to Hold

"What was that!!!!" shouts Finnlay on our walk around the block. "A big train horn" I replied, smiling at his enthusiasm. "Great", he replies and then chugga-chugs a few steps.

"Oh, I hear a big airplane!" shouting again at the top of his lungs. I watch him look up and all around to track down that plane.

 "Hey, Mimi, look at the flowers!" we walk to the entrance of our development. The garden area is filled with vinca's of all colors and hues. He stops to smell the flowers and picks a few for me.

"Look, circles!" he excitedly points to the man-hole covers and then runs off to find squares.

"Hey, Mimi, bumpies!" as we walk along the sidewalk with bubble bumps for traction. (he loved to go over these in a stroller when he was smaller)

We continue our walk through the neighborhood finding circles and squares, blue one and red ones.
Stopping occasionally to see ants crossing  our path or watching birds flying overhead. Finnlay focusing on his discoveries and Wendy, our poodle and I walking quietly behind .

Turning a corner we walk beside a fence stretching the full side of a patio home. From the other side comes fierce barking and growling. Finnlay says nothing, he quietly comes to my side, reaches up and takes hold of my hand. We walk unhurriedly, hand in hand to the end of the fence. The barking subsides and away he goes exploring the next ant hill or rock or stick.

Powerful lesson, huh!

Psalm 121

iPhones, iPads, internet . . oh my!

Do we take time to "Be still and know God"?

 know, ie: (dictionary.com)
1. to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty

2. to have established or fixed in the mind or memory

3. to be cognizant or aware of

4. be acquainted with (a thing, place, person, etc.), as by sight, experience, or report

5. to understand from experience or attainment

How can we know unless we are still?

 

How can we BE STILL?

 We live in a constant state of distraction -

 kids, work, schedules, TV, movies, internet, radio, Cd's, iPhones, texting, e-mails, iPads and the list goes on and on.

 

Is there a danger of becoming "hooked" on technology? Don't get me wrong. I love the technology and all the bene's that give me access to just about anything, anywhere, anyone at anytime.

But does this "access" reinforce the thinking;

"the world revolves around me, my needs, my friends, my enjoyment?"

 

Can our time be so filled with technology's busy-ness that we lack quiet time? Do we hear the bird's singing in the mornings? Do we feel the warm breezes,  see the beautiful flowers, the clouds floating by? Hear the sweet cadence of our loved one's voice or see the expressions ripple across their face?

 

Sorry, back to the subject - and then there's God. He (and all that HE is!) waits for us!

Incredibly, with no condemnation, not a frown, no huffiness, no guilt.  There is a patience, a smile, a longing to fill our hearts with His unfailing love, peace and wisdom.

 

Arms extended in invitation

A promise of healing and strength

Answers to our questions

A dancing partner in our joys

An encourager in our journey

 A safe harbor from the storm

 

 

Come away from the noise, the screen and keypad and get to KNOW the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Now that's something to get "hooked" on!

 

 

"Hide" our Pain!!!!

Three blogs later, all deleted and now the fourth.

Just want you to know, I am praying for you today.

We try so hard to "hide" our pain from others.

Don't want to bother anyone.
"They" don't have problems like I do and won't understand.
I should be able to handle this myself.
Others seem to have it all together so why would I open up and spill out "stuff"?
Men don't share!
Don't want to be judged?
Why show my weakness?

and the BIG ONE, the great LIE - If you are a Christian you don't have these issues!

Let's get real! We ALL have a heart that's stitched up, bandaged up and put back together.
Each of us experiences grief, disappointment and pain. Sometimes we run. Sometimes we hide or ignore "it". But "it" won't go away, not really. Face to pain confrontation is inevitable.

We must hang on to the promise we are NOT alone!

Psalm 139 tells us "God is intimately acquainted with all our ways" We can't run far enough, hide deep enough, climb high enough to escape His presence in our lives. He is there with us, holding us, comforting us, loving us in all things, through all things.

But what about us?

Are we ready to see others as hurting, broken hearts. Needing tending by our hands that are guided by His? WE ALL have a story of healing, time in God's recovery room. Can we share the times we heard God say "It's ok, I'm here, I love you, I will take care of you!"

Can we seek out help and comfort from others? That's courageous! First, pray and ask the Lord who to go to - He knows who is ready to help carry the load. Second - know you are not alone!


Challenge: Can we "BE REAL", share our pain and God's healing?

What!? God can use my flaws????

Again, back to that perfection thing!

Think about it. If God, as stated in Psalm 139, formed us, then we are as David claims "fearfully and wonderfully made". Each strand of DNA was carefully knit together in a specific pattern to be you and me.

As a labor and delivery nurse I have seen my share of births. Each a miracle, an incredibly thrilling experience - to see little people being brought into this world. Already formed and functioning. Most according to man's "norm" but all according to God's plan.

Got bad eyesight, bad back, poor lungs? Still all according to God's plan.  Compassionate and patient or just give me the bottom line type? All according to God's plan. Look at David - the musician, the warrior and Solomon - the writer, the teacher. Different but again, God's plan.

We don't have to be the same. Differences are welcome in our body! How would we get around if we were one big heart? How could communication happen if we were only a liver? Paul uses the body as an example of how the church functions in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. (Good humor in that chapter!)

A video was sent to me this week of  Nick Vujicic an Aussie born with no arms and no legs. In his 20's now and amazing! He has not let this "disability" stop him. In fact, there is not much he can't accomplish. He is not bitter, he is not into pity parties. Instead, with encouragement and support from his family and friends he realized God gave him mega flaws for a reason.

"Turning my struggles into something that would glorify God and bless others,

 I realized my purpose! The Lord was going to use me to encourage and inspire

others to live to their fullest potential and not let anything get in the way of accomplishing

their hopes and dreams." 

Bottom line?  We are unique, special, one of a kind - stamped with "made by God". He uses us, warts and all, to accomplish His purpose. He loves our flaws. Those flaws can glorify God because they point our heart to Him!

Why does the Lord put up with me?

I'm walking the dog. I hear thunder, turn around and book it for home - after all, lightening precedes a storm!

Picture this! Storm clouds coming, kids swimming in the complex pool, lots of rumblings from above and the two women looking after these kids - one of the phone and one texting or playing a game - la . . . lala.

Well, I yell  (non too graciously, I might add) over the wrought iron fence

 "There's a storm coming,

lightening can strike before the storm gets here.

It's time to get out of the pool . . .

NOW!"

"Stupid women!" I mutter to myself as they glare at me.

I am sure the Lord was laughing as I ran in the door to look out the front window to see if they were getting out of the pool!

My intentions were good - my delivery of the message, not so much!

So now the guilt, the "shoulda, woulda, coulda", the "that was not very Christian like" stuff.

Again, back to the perfection thing - the grace thing - the mercy thing.

"Walking" (persistence not perfection)  in Jesus steps is not easy. He doesn't  promise us ease.

He promises us we will never be alone on this journey!

So, yes, we cry, we blow it - yell at the kids, the dog, the neighbors - we doubt,

we fear and worry, get mad and get sad, feel guilty.

THEN

We look up.

We see the Father's tender smile.

We see His compassion and love.

We feel His arms around us.

We hear His sweet voice,

 "I'm right here.

 I love you and will comfort you as a mother comforts her child

because

you are Mine. 

 You are precious to Me!"