High Places

Only you, Oh LORD, deserve to be exalted!

Perversion...for me to sit in the high place that is reserved for You.

We worm our way to the top, sometimes oblivious of the climb. Self-centered, unaffected by the path of destruction, we simply cannot live out our appointed position. Discontent with humility...unwilling to accept servanthood...exchanging Your plan for a season of glory. Father, guard me from such malady for I fear the long and crippling fall! Quickly open my eyes to the aftermath of elevating myself before You and others.

You, alone, be exalted!

Mother's Day 2010

We will not hide these truths from our children;

we will tell the next generation

about the glorious deeds of the LORD,

about His power and his mighty wonders.

Psalm 78:4 NLT

May is He awareness month

Less of me, more of You...I've been watching life through new lenses. Sadly, I observe a  malignancy attacking Kingdom life. The life-sucking "M" word...Me!  I asked for fresh perspective; not to be disappointed.  New cases of selfishness crop up daily, growing in  epidemic proportion, but the ugliness is overshadowed by promising cure.  One wise woman calls from the wilderness, challenging the sin-sick to shed their self-medicating approach to scripture study, replacing it with intentional search for the One who gives life to the Holy pages. I take the bait and plunge. Genesis: chapter one...His rich character calls from each life altering verse .  Exodus: chapter three and four...an evolving list shatters my complacent spirit.
May births healing from my chronic condition.

                       LORD, eradicate my Me disease! 
               Infuse me with growing   knowledge of only You.      

Physician of my sin-sick soul,

To thee I bring my case;

My raging malady control,

And heal me by thy grace.

John Newton  1779

Crossing

Piercing cry of death...young wife crumples in grief...tears tumble from men folk...
Forty four years cut short by an invasion of germs...a weakened heart ceasing to beat...
I stand at the edge of this unfolding crisis, beginning the dance of indecision. Do I penetrate this circle of love or do I simply retreat, assuming the preferred role of onlooker? My heart is crumbling for a family all too familiar with hardship, but my mind floods with "what if's." What if they reject a love offering? What if the spectators deem it invasive? What if I fumble?
The line is crossed by a force bigger than me, a holy Wind that sweeps me toward the carnage. He sends me to color the dark with His hope, a promise to rescue and restore.
A stranger's arm that wraps...a simple prayer that cries...one insecure soul who is chosen to cross over.

Father, You are faithful in Your love! Today, You will hold a family close. Today, You will spread Your balm over them. Today, You will call me to the edge again and once more, I will ask You to help me cross.

It's Spring!

For, lo, the winter is past,

the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth;

the time of the singing of birds is come.

Song of Solomon 2:11-12

I must remember

Crossbeam tearing wounded flesh...hammer striking iron...

  shrieks of unfathomable pain...drops of redemption blood...

wincing with each agonizing breath...

trembling limbs stretched...

startled eyes searching the heavens...haunting thoughts of abandonment and betrayal...

uncontrollable sobs from a grieving mother...

jeers from a lost crowd...repentant cries from a thief...

merciful eyes forgiving humanity...

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,

so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;

by his wounds you have been healed. I Peter 2:24

Taste and See

Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it...

'Take, eat; this is My body." Matt. 26:26

Before I remember, I examine.

Do I seek only Living Bread? Does He completely satisfy me? 
Do I seek leaven instead of He who knew none? 

'I am the Bread of Life' John 6:48
Jesus, let me feed on nothing but You.
'You shall set the shewbread on the table
before Me always.'  Exodus 25:30
Examine me, Oh Bread of Presence... afflicted and wounded One...face of the LORD;
that You might gaze upon me...that I might 
enjoy your presence. 

Taste and see for the LORD is good...Psalm 34:8.

'If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.' John 6:51