Friday, September 30, 2011

Overflowing

I want to sing a song so that it fills the air, but the air cannot possibly hold what I treasure in my heart. So I slowly release the gratitude overflowing from a place deep inside. A place where he speaks tenderly, offering wholeness to everything broken. And he calls me his own.

Do you know this God I love? Do you know Jesus? My heart is overwhelmed by his goodness.

"I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the LORD
and put their trust in him."
-Psalm 40:1-3

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Truth

He carries loads of metaphors in his hands, all heavy like suitcases. Still, he delivers each one with ease when they flow from his pen, all smooth and fluid. And he writes the truth the way no other can.

Have you read his story?

"I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ."
-Galatians 1:11,12

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Overwhelmed

I get caught in the thick of things where life grows tall like grass in summer. So when time sinks low in the sky, I wonder how I end up so far away from everything I know to be familiar. Still, the hand of heaven gently leads me back day after day.

"Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning."
-Lamentations 3:23

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Enter In

I tried to let go of control, but control would not let go of me. I then tried to check my need for perfection at the door, but perfection seemed to still need me. So when I entered into a relationship with Christ, I was surprised to discover both perfection and control laying on the floor behind me.

"... he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory."
-Isaiah 61:3

Monday, September 26, 2011

Digging Deeper

We do not have to dread the details of the day when we know the details are determined by God...But we still ought to submit to his plan. So I seek his will in places where I know it can be found. And I feel so thankful to know that God does not play games of hide and seek, but leads me to a place of understanding as I dig deeper in his Word.

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
-Romans 12:1,2

Sunday, September 25, 2011

A Steel Train

My life is a steel train rushing full steam ahead. Sometimes I feel as though I am a passenger en route to a clear destination, and life is full of meaning and purpose. Other times I feel like a box car child, running alongside the train, trying to hitch a ride. And then there are times when I sit in the comfort of my seat from the confines of the train station, watching my life go by.

I love the days when I am traveling on to a place where mountain tops collide with the sky instead of running to catch up or sitting in a lonely, stale room.

Where are you today? Are you on board this train called life?

Jesus says in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Saturday, September 24, 2011

God Speaks

I travel on a dusty road. Some days the sun shines its warmth on my face. And other days I just know the sun shines even though I cannot see it beyond the clouds.

I travel on a broken road. Some days the voice of God whispers in my ear. And other days I just know God speaks even though I cannot hear him this side of heaven.

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." -Jesus (John 10:27)

Friday, September 23, 2011

Goodness

I thought the opportunity to receive the goodness of God arrived on my doorstep an hour too late. But then I realized the goodness of God never arrives late. I just happened to be looking in the wrong place. So instead of finding it in a package on my front porch, I discovered it perched in a tree, singing sweetly. Then I discovered it setting in the sky, all fiery and orange.
And as I looked even further, I found the goodness of God wrapped tightly around my heart.

Have you discovered the goodness of God?

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
-Romans 1:20

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Holding Steady

Finding a common ground when no common ground exists is like discovering a level place to stand in the midst of soggy ground. But the place that holds steady is not always the place we call familiar. Still, new territories can lend themselves to new horizons, depending on the point of view.

How are things from where you stand?

"He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm."
-Psalm 40:2

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Overgrown

It was late in the day before I realized how overgrown my life had become with plans strewn across the afternoon and people crowded around. Life suddenly flooded with activity. Then conversations rose as dense as fog, dulling my senses to my surroundings. So it should have come as no surprise when fatigue set in, hanging low in the sky, lingering until dusk discovered the night. Then darkness set in. And yet I still found my way home thanks to a well lit path.

"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
-Psalm 119:105

Monday, September 19, 2011

Planting

If patience grew as plentiful as grapes growing like clusters of jewels on a vine, then I would pick a plethora. But the heat of summer has left everything dry, so I find patience to be lacking. Still, I wait in hopes that a new vineyard will sprout, only not in the soil of a fertile field, but somewhere in the soil of my heart.

"Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant."
-Galatians 6:7

Friday, September 16, 2011

The Climb

At first I only planned to walk a mile, but ended up walking for what seemed like a lifetime. That's probably because I thought the road would be flat and smoothly paved, but I mostly climbed along a steep, narrow road. And as I climbed, I began to shed layer after layer of myself. The sun grew warmer, and more and more of me melted out of my pores, falling onto the very same dirt my feet then trampled. So that as I reached the top, I saw only a mere shadow of who I was at the bottom.

"That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me."
-Colossians 1:29

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Refusing

Indulgence peeks around the corner, trying to catch my eye. She shimmers and sparkles, tempting me to draw her near to myself. Part of me wants to, but I mostly know that nothing she offers will last. So I turn away, refusing to entertain her.

"And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" -Mark 8:36

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Getting Creative

Once again I stare at a blank page, but this time the blank page seems to stare back at me. So I rummage through my mind, anxious to see what kind of creativity I will discover. Will I pull out some words to weave a novel, or poetry to create a symphony of sound? Either way, I cannot find anything like this to call my own, no matter how hard I try. So I turn to the One who holds creativity in the palm of his hand, only to realize that his hand is holding mine.

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands."
-Psalm 19:1

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Whole

I carried pieces of me in my pocket until God asked me to hold out my hands. But like a child refusing to let something precious go, I kept my fists tightly clenched...until he opened his hands to show me he has so much more.

"But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed."
-Isaiah 53:5

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Traveler

I weathered travel the way a traveler weathers a storm. And as I dealt with delays, I found the delays also dealt with me. They slowed me down as I moved along this road called life. And my baggage grew heavy while my strength began to fail until I found another traveler walking my very same road. Then he offered to carry my burdens as his own.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
-Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30)

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Sinking

I thought I knew how to feel comfortable in my own skin, like an old pair of jeans all worn and familiar. But those kind of comforts leave me sitting at the surface and the surface won't let me stay. So I sink deeply into somewhere unknown only to discover more layers of me.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well."
-Psalm 139:14

Friday, September 2, 2011

My Bleeding Heart

When I write I don't like to bleed on paper, but sometimes my heart spills out, then overflows. And it catches me by surprise because I always forget my heart can bleed. Still, the paper doesn't mind, even when the words start to smear. And I ask my heart why it can't just ache instead.

"Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy."
-Proverbs 14:10

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Blue

For years I shared my life, but hid my heart and held my breath. And instead of someone checking my pulse, I simply got a pat on the back before I discovered I wasn't even breathing. So by the time I realized I was in trouble, my heart had already turned blue.

How is your heart doing?

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."
-Proverbs 4:23