Oh, How He Loves us!

Oh, How he loves us!

It’s messy, it’s raw,

It’s real.

Oh, How he loves us!

In Abandonment,

Without fear.

Oh, How He loves us!

As worshipers

Draw near.

Oh, How He loves us!

With passion and

Compelling beauty.

Oh, How he loves us!

With deep Conviction,

Unlike pious duty.

Many Parts

“Just as a body, though one has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”1 Corinthians 12:12

Does the foot tell the eye?

“I do not belong to you.”

If it wasn’t for the eye

We could not see.

If it wasn’t for the foot

We could not walk.

Does the ear tell the hand?

“I am not a part of the body.”

If it wasn’t for the ear,

We could not hear.

If it wasn’t for the hand,

We could not hold.

Does the head tell the mouth?

“I do not need you.”

If it wasn’t for the head,

We would not know.

If it wasn’t for the mouth,

We would not go.

Lost Treasure

The thing about Jesus is that he values, “One Life”.  He would be walking, people crowding him, pressing into him, and yet he noticed that one life.  Perhaps he notices what no one else notices…

“The woman who touched the hem of his garmet, the blind man that cried out, “Jesus, son of David have mercy on me.”  Zaccheus who climbed a tree, the Samaritan woman who walked alone in the dead of the heat to get water.”

Jesus notices that one life and values it immensely and that’s what makes him so unique and amazing. 

Perhaps our lives are measured by who we notice as we walk along the path; as we stop and talk to people, and invite them into our homes.  Jesus always notices.

The Good Shepherd will leave the many to go find that one caught in the thicket.

If we only knew how much Jesus values the lost soul, the desperate, the lonely and the wounded.

If you are like me and are one, or all of the above, I want you to know that Jesus notices you and values you more than Gold or Silver.  He will search for you like lost treasure until he finds you and brings you safely home.

Even Angels

The one prayer that is like a wave gathered in a sea of prayers is, “Jesus, Son of David, Have Mercy on me.”  Jesus will never pass you by when you pray such a prayer.

He heard Bartimaeus sitting on the side of the road, and He healed him.

He heard the tax collector standing at a distance, and He forgave him.

The humble and desperate prayers of these seekers caught Jesus’ attention.

This morning, as I was praying this prayer God gave me a vision of the Cross- and I standing as one of the many people gathered there all seeking deliverance by His sovereign mercy; the flow of blood and water from His side, which heals and cleanses all infirmities and sets men and women free to walk faithfully.

Who else can claim such a Merciful Savior as I?  Even Angels long to look into these things. 1 Peter 1:12

New Season

Move towards peace-

We were all strangers-

A word spoken,

A song sung,

A hand shaken-

Love won!

Good Samaritans

Filled the room,

Tears and stories

Of immigrants

In need of

Sanctuary soon.

One life,

One step

Towards freedom.

In Solidarity

And hope

We enter

a new season!

Peacemakers

“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.”  Matthew 5:9

Peace has

Come near.

Peace on

The streets,

Peace in

The neighborhood,

Peace in our places

Of Worship.

We preach peace

To those afar,

But I tell you

Peace has come

Near to us today.

Preach peace

On every mountainside,

And valley low.

Beloved peacemakers-

Dear Children of God.

For once

You were far

Away,

But now you have

Been brought near

By the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)

The Eucalyptus Tree

Dedicated to my nieces:

Dreams turn seeds into Flowers.

Where we are planted we dare to grow.

In Shade and Sunlight-

We reach our true height;

Underneath The Eucalyptus tree.

The Cup

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Matthew 10:42

Inner Poverty

Receives the cup,

The smallest

Token,

The smallest

Drop.

It doesn’t

Take much

To fill us

Up.

Beggars,

Blind, &

Broken,

We line

Up-

To see

The Savior-

Bandage

Us up.

Once

Forgotten-

Now restored

He returned

To Thank

The Lord! 

Mosaics

“My sacrifice, Oh God is a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”  Psalm 51:17

Our Brokenness is what we offer to God.  It is His best material to work with. 

When we take communion, we break the bread and recite Jesus’ words, “This is my body given for you, and do this in remembrance of me.”

Brokenness is Holy ground when consecrated to God. 

Whatever your brokenness may be: a broken heart, a broken mind, a broken body, a broken dream-Let God gather the pieces. 

I love Mosaics.  I often look at them in awe and wonder.  I always wished I could create a Mosaic work of art, because I believe that is what our lives are.

God gathers the broken pieces of our lives and he creates something beautiful.  He creates a Mosaic masterpiece with color and texture and design unlike any other Life’s work.

God can turn your ashes into beauty.  He can turn your mourning into Joy.  He can take your heaviness and clothe you with garments of Praise for the display of His Splendor! (From Isaiah 61)

The Living Word

Jesus, He walked among us.

He’s Emmanuel-The God who’s

With us.

He’s Christ, my redeemer and friend.

He’s Lord of all-He’s Sovereign.

He’s Master, Servant, Lover, and teacher;

He’s The Living Word, to every seeker.

He’s the Son of God, Who

Sit’s enthroned

Above.

He’s the Son of man-

That came to

Show us Love.

More than Conquerors!

How deep the Father's Love for us

 “I will not boast in anything,

No gifts, no power, no wisdom;

But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection”

Any gifts we have, any power, any wisdom should point us and others to Jesus Christ.  It all comes from the Father.  “Every good and perfect gift is from above.”(James 1:17)  It’s “Christ in us, the Hope of Glory.”  (Colossians 1:27) The irony, that Christ uses our gifts to point others to Himself and not the other way around. 

We are imperfect, and so are our gifts.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away. (1 Corinthians 12:9-10)

It all begins and ends with Jesus Christ.  He’s the Alpha and the Omega, The beginning and the End. Whatever measure He uses us in this Life, it’s all to His Glory. 

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly!”  He always bears witness to the power of life over death!

And at the Cross he conquered sin and death once and for all!   “At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.…” (Matthew 27:51-52)

What can we say, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us!”  (Romans 8:37)

Forgiveness

It’s hard to not become angry, bitter, and resentful in this life.  We need to constantly be forgiving people; forgiving people for not being God.

We are desperate, we are needy, and we are sensitive.  We long for love and no human love will ever be good enough.

We have no other choice but to forgive and let people off the hook.  Let people go and cling to God. 

If we want to be free people we need to forgive.  One of Jesus’ last words on the Cross was “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

Forgiveness is powerful.  It proclaims Jesus and His work on the Cross.

We need to keep forgiving, every night before we close our eyes. 

“Father, please grant me the freedom to forgive people when they are unloving, and forgive me for moments when I am, too.   Help me to receive your love and forgiveness; the good work that you began and finished on the cross.  Let it be evident in my heart and life, so that I can be free from resentment, bitterness and rage in order to be more full of love-so I can uprightly offer myself to you and others.”

In Jesus Name.

On Pilgrimage (Dedicated to Jesus)

To be a pilgrim means to be on the move, slowly,
To notice your luggage becoming lighter,
To seek for treasures that do not rust
To be comfortable with your heart’s questions,
To be moving toward the Holy Ground of home with empty hands and bare feet.

Macrina Wiederkehr (Tourist or Pilgrim)

Where can we meet?

You and I?

A pilgrim-

a sojourner,

Once a friend,

Now, a brother.

We, seeking

hidden treasure-

The Hunt

Is on!

Revealing

Your

Heart

Questions

And mine.

I am

Comfortable

Moving

Slowly,

Empty hands

Bare feet

Holy.

I won't 

Look to

The luggage

Or the rust.

I'll take your

Hand in

Simple trust.

                                           

 "Who do you say I am?" Mark 8:29

As the Deer..

As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God. Psalm 42:1

My older sister was in the Peace Corps in Tanzania, Africa for 2 and ½ years.  I got to spend a summer there with her once.  When she returned from Africa, she brought back a guitar that a Sister from the Catholic School she worked at taught her how to play.  My older sister taught both my younger sister and I how to play it.  She is and always will be a great teacher.

It was a dark time in my life when I learned to play the guitar.  I had graduated from college, and felt disconnected from the friendships and community life I had there.  I was jobless, and unsure of what to do.  So I played that guitar with my sisters and worshiped God!

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs for you.  You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you.” 

There was something about that song that always touched my heart; the thirsting, the longing, the desiring, the worshiping… 

“I love you more than Gold or Silver, only you can satisfy.  You alone are the real Joy giver, and the apple of my eye.”

Just reading those words makes me sigh…

It’s God alone that is the real Joy giver, only He can satisfy…  That’s why we come empty and unsatisfied in Holy Longing, so the one who fills our cup and satisfies our needs can do the job that only He can do!

Let's offer up our hunger and thirst to God first!

His Eye is on the Sparrow

“His eye is on the Sparrow and I know He watches me!”

As a child, after my parents divorced, my mother decided that the three of us, girls should get baptized.  The day of the baptism we all waded together in the water and the Pastor called out to us, “Who wants to go first?”  I, typically the shyest of the three girls felt boldness, perhaps for the first time in my life and I walked towards the Pastor, and he baptized me.

I think I shocked myself and most definitely my mother, sisters and grandmother (in particular) who was in attendance.

I always have cherished that memory.  What was it about that day that I no longer felt timid or afraid?  Was it the Holy Spirit drawing me to Himself?

I was recently at a Wednesday night church service and that memory came up for me. I felt as if God was saying to me, "I remember even the small steps of faith you took as a child!'

You see, God always remembers.  He’s amazing!  He never forgets not one day of your life! 

³⁰ And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:30-31

Eternal Pleasures

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

There is a skip-

 In my step today.

Not in the papers

Piled high, but in

The blueness of

The sky.

I watched a child

Pass me by

Humming a tune;

The cow jumped

Over the moon.

Candles lay

Upon my shoulder,                                                                                                                   

And a prayer to                                                                            

Watch me over.

Sleepy children

Fill the room,

 In Stained-glass

Windows-half-past noon.

Eternal pleasures-

Watch and wait,

Path of life

Joy of Fate!

Your Presence

Your

Presence

Is what

I seek,

A cloud of

Witnesses

I meet.

In Love

With a

Savior

-humble

And meek.

I dance

-I wait

At your

Blessed,

 Wounded

Feet.

Aware

That

I,

More a

Sinner

Than

A saint.

Enveloped

By your

Goodness

And your

Grace.

At last,

 In

Joy-

For you

Have

Come

near.

In your

Presence-

I do not
fear.

Under His Care...

“Come; let us bow down in worship,

Let us kneel before the Lord our

Maker; for he is our God and

We are the people of his pasture,

The flock under his care.”

Under His care we are His Flock,

Under His care We are the People!

Under His care, He is our God!

Under His care we kneel down and

Worship!

Under His care we come…

Under His care- we bow

As one!

(From Psalm 95)

Twas Grace!

“'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed”  
John Newton

The greatest lesson God will ever teach us is one of Grace.  It’s all about Grace.  Grace is your most beautiful moment.  When we find grace hidden in our lives, and when we are able to give Grace to others that’s when humility, beauty, and goodness find their voice.

“You stoop down to make me great!” (2 Samuel 22:36)  Grace is the litmus test of greatness. It is no small thing to be grace-filled.

Grace defined is “favor, goodwill, and loving-kindness.”  Grace is not something we deserve.  It is unmerited favor granted by God.

It can be easy to receive grace from God and others, but difficult to give it when we have felt wronged, mistreated or underestimated.  Human beings are difficult by nature- and so we need a Grace-filled God. 

The times in my life I have given grace to others, who may or may not have deserved it, I’ve had to humble myself, and I have found peace and joy in the process.

God is always pleased when His children are acting out of a place of Grace, and not pride or Self-Will by definition.

Grace is a journey.  At the beginning we found grace, and at the end we will again receive grace from the hand of our Father. 

Dear God, I pray that we would remember the hour we first believed and received the grace to be your child.  I pray you would bring to mind the many times you and others have given grace to us in times of need.   We know we don’t deserve it, but we are so grateful to receive it from you and others.  Please enable us to be givers of the grace we first received, and help us to enter into your peace, and joy in knowing that we are all in this together.  Thank you for being our wonderful savior, and friend.

Daughters

Under God’s Covering,

Pouring down Love.

A Shepherd,

A Watchman,

From Abraham’s

Brood.

Showers of

Blessing,

In Tabernacle’s

Of Praise.

A descendant

Of Miriam,

An offspring

To Raise.

From Old

To New Testament,

From Judges to

Jesus.

Our Daughters of Jesse,

And Princesses of Egypt.

We gather together,

And tell unknown stories,

Once Captive in Israel,

Now Zion of Glory!

He was there.

For every setback, For every failure, For every moment of rejection, For every denial, For every wound, For every sickness, For every act of violence, For every disease, For every lie, For every act of abandonment, For every act of hatred..

He stood in the gap for us. 

He believed for us.

He took on our pain.

He took on our shame.

He remembered our name.

He spoke the truth to us.

He loved and He cured us.

Jesus never abandoned us.

Jesus always befriended us.

Jesus fought hard for us.

Jesus always advocated for us.

For every seed of Hope planted,

For every word of Life granted,

For every flower of Joy scented,

He was there.

 “For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”  Isaiah 53:12