Mark 10: 51-52 (HCSB) Jesus answered him, “What do you want Me to do for you? ” “Rabbouni,”the blind man told Him, “I want to see! ” 52 “Go your way,” Jesus told him. “Your faith has healed you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Him on the road.
Lord, I want to see. Be blind no more.
I want to see the hurt, under the hate.
I want to see love being found.
I want to see hearts being freed.
Lord, I want to see. Be blind no more.
I want to be free of planks and slivers.
I want to see grace flowing and moving.
I want to see hearts changing now.
Lord, I want to see. Be blind no more.
I want to see past my own hurt and fear.
I want to see love coming and going.
I want to see a glimpse of Your glory.
Lord, I want to see. Be blind no more.
I want to see the blessings, not the mess.
I want to see the joy overflowing too!
I want to see my heart in Your hands.
Lord, I want to see. Be blind no more.
I want to see the blessing in a failure.
I want to see the promise of heaven.
I want to see You, in the great and small.
Lord, I want to see. Be blind no more.
Sometimes when we want to talk, God asks us to sing. When we want to teach a lesson, He gives us poetry. Be brightly blessed, always and in all ways.
Showing posts with label grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grace. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Water from stones
Have you ever been in a place where you could choose between showing the love of God and speaking your mind? Ever had the choice, at the end of a frustrating day or at the beginning of a long awaited task to stop and be filled with God's grace or filled with your own stuff?
We aren't alone. If you want to read about someone who really understood that check this out:
We aren't alone. If you want to read about someone who really understood that check this out:
Water From the Rock
Numbers 20 1 In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. 2 Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. 3 They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! 4 Why did you bring the LORD’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? 5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”
6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. 7 The LORD said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
9 So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
13 These were the waters of Meribah,[a] where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he was proved holy among them.
I really wanted you to read the whole thing. All of it. The frustration of taking the people through the wilderness to the edge of their new home. The years and years of arguing with people who could only think of their past in glowing terms instead of working towards a promised golden future. The Israelite's could not pull it together.
Are you nodding with empathy because you know how Moses felt? Or are you the complainer in the bunch? Do you feel like someone, somewhere is having it better than you do right here and now? Are you thinking you know what God wants you to do without asking of Him?
Moses asked, God spoke and Moses still did not listen. How many times Mama's and Daddy's have you felt THAT? Talking, talking, asking, asking and getting nothing. No respect. No listening. No love.
Uh...hold that thought...right there. Yeah that'll do. Now ask yourself this - do you do the same thing with God? When He speaks are we already doing our own thing in our minds? When He tells us the fruits of the spirit are we trying to glue a few of our own to the tree? Are we not both complaining Israelites and frustrated Moses? At the same time even, at least some days.
This is not easy. Doing it on our own is impossible. God doesn't even want us to try. He wants us to trust Him.
Strong willed, smart and determined. Sensitive and big hearted. That's my little boy. Easily frustrated and afraid. Faith filled and God seeking. And yet still a child needing me to help him.
When he is like an Israelite in the desert, complaining and making no sense, it can be hard not to be a frustrated Moses. To smack down with the staff. To shout loud. To put my foot down as the Mama. Proverbs as a hammer. Ouch...yeah it hurts. A lot.
When talking doesn't work. When being the heavy makes it worse. What can we do? Do what God said to in the first place. Honour Him. Be the fruits of the spirit.
Quiet voice, "Hey Daddy play his favorite gospel song please.".
Quiet Mama speaking to Daddy, "Daddy let this storm pass."
Suddenly a hostile, complaining, confused child enjoys some fruits of the spirit, starts singing and dancing to the Lord, right off the naughty spot and into my arms. No more tears. No more fears. Just waters from the stones, washing our hearts and easing our thirst for Him.
We have hard jobs to do as parents, we have challenges as families, but I believe if we seek God before we give in to our frustrations we will find Him and in finding Him we will find the solution.
This, of course, is very much like shampoo instructions: apply, lather, rinse, repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. God's grace, however, has no limits and no end. There are no last chances for those under His grace.
Find that song, or poem that can bring everyone's hearts to God. Use it.
This is ours: John the Revelator
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Free to breathe
Everyone will be welcome to link up to their work, new or old, and I encourage you to visit the links and leave some encouragement for each other.
Today's poem, to start us off, came to me last night.
Free To Breathe
The world is built on pressure.
Gravity keeps us held down.
Jobs, family, expectations
keep us held tightly too.
It can be hard to breathe.
Feeling the tight chest, panic.
Too little, too much, too soon
and sometimes way too late.
Sin weighs heavy when the
devil lies and we believe him.
Sin crushes us, a weight that
is not ours to carry alone.
We hold on too hard to the
things this world promises.
We let go of the gifts that
come with no price tag.
We sink back, and wait to die.
Our spirits weigh heavy in us.
We fall to our knees and pray.
We wait for judgement to fall.
Holding our breath, we wait.
Yet when we trust in Him
we can fall back and learn
to breathe the freedom of grace.
Free to breathe, free from sin.
Free to breathe, free from shame.
Free to breathe, past the pain.
Free to breathe, costing only faith.
Fall deeply into grace, all the way.
Let grace cover your face,
fill your mouth and nose, eyes and ears.
And find there you are free to breathe.
Souls find space, spirits find the sun.
We can breathe in freedom.
We are redeemed, free to breathe.
A second chance called grace.
Copyright 2012 Shanyn Silinski
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
An audience of One
Matthew 6:4
so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Pray in secret. Give in secret. But it isn't a secret if God knows! It is only secret from people. That is to combat our human tendency to compete. We want to be the fastest, the best, the wisest, the most commented upon or followed. We crave that very thing which caused Satan to fall and that is our own pride fulfilled. It is like emptying the ocean with a thimble.
Pray in secret. Give in secret. Write not for the comments, cash or accolades but for Him. Write, sing, pray, create and live for Him.
It takes a lot to put ourselves out there creatively. We risk judgement, ridicule, misunderstanding or worse not being noticed at all!
A friend wrote about judgement today, you can read about it here (Thanks Carey!) and it really really convicted me. It made me pray. It made me think.
We serve. We pray. We love. We give. We offer ourselves and actions to God as a blessing. We obey when He prompts us to action. We listen for the whisper of the Holy Spirit. We don't own it though.
We may wash the feet of a sister or a brother. We care enough to serve them. But it ends there for us. We don't own their feet, nor the cleansing. We gave it away, freely, as a love offering. Those don't have strings.
We don't get to question or judge whether they walk in dirt or mud again. It's not our affair, even if we did wash their feet.
God blesses us with the words, images, art and song to lift up our brothers and sisters. We give it as a love offering. It is no longer ours to covet. It is no longer ours to expect praise for. We've done it for God, and it belongs to Him.
BUT WAIT...THERE IS MORE! Our job is not done!
Romans 12:8
if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
God also expects His children to love, encourage, serve and care for each other. We are supposed to be the encouragers to others! We are supposed to show them love and grace. We are to lift them up. Love them.
We don't get to ask for that back. (part of me cries here though - we shouldn't have to ask should we? if we are to encourage each other that assumes a two way exchange of encouragement doesn't it?)
We don't get to ask for that back. God already has asked for it back, for us! Encourage each other. Lift each other up. Be there for each other in prayer, love and in actions.
Our love offerings are given to God, for His use to encourage our brothers and sisters. To convict them. To challenge them. To bring them to song or prayer. To move them to action against wrong. They are for His use. We write, sing, love, pray and serve for an audience of One.
Matthew 25:40
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
We serve Him by serving each other! We show God's love by loving. We show how life lived in grace looks by living it out loud. Actively. By words. By actions.
God blessed you with skills and talents to be used for His glory. They may not be the ones you wish you had or the ones you wish He'd use. But they are exactly what He knows is needed when He calls for them. Can we be obedient to that?
Can we truly read someone's efforts, and leave some love?
Can we see a call for help and answer it?
Can we really pray when we type 'praying'?
Can we reach out our hands and hearts wholly?
Can we truly say, Your will and not my own?
If the only feedback you got was from God - would you be excited to hear His words or terrified? Let's be overjoyed that He is our audience of One, let's be so excited we tremble that we can be His children. Let's be the reason someone looks closer at our faith because of our joy, because we live under grace, because of Him.
so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Pray in secret. Give in secret. But it isn't a secret if God knows! It is only secret from people. That is to combat our human tendency to compete. We want to be the fastest, the best, the wisest, the most commented upon or followed. We crave that very thing which caused Satan to fall and that is our own pride fulfilled. It is like emptying the ocean with a thimble.
Pray in secret. Give in secret. Write not for the comments, cash or accolades but for Him. Write, sing, pray, create and live for Him.
It takes a lot to put ourselves out there creatively. We risk judgement, ridicule, misunderstanding or worse not being noticed at all!
A friend wrote about judgement today, you can read about it here (Thanks Carey!) and it really really convicted me. It made me pray. It made me think.
We serve. We pray. We love. We give. We offer ourselves and actions to God as a blessing. We obey when He prompts us to action. We listen for the whisper of the Holy Spirit. We don't own it though.
We may wash the feet of a sister or a brother. We care enough to serve them. But it ends there for us. We don't own their feet, nor the cleansing. We gave it away, freely, as a love offering. Those don't have strings.
We don't get to question or judge whether they walk in dirt or mud again. It's not our affair, even if we did wash their feet.
God blesses us with the words, images, art and song to lift up our brothers and sisters. We give it as a love offering. It is no longer ours to covet. It is no longer ours to expect praise for. We've done it for God, and it belongs to Him.
BUT WAIT...THERE IS MORE! Our job is not done!
Romans 12:8
if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
God also expects His children to love, encourage, serve and care for each other. We are supposed to be the encouragers to others! We are supposed to show them love and grace. We are to lift them up. Love them.
We don't get to ask for that back. (part of me cries here though - we shouldn't have to ask should we? if we are to encourage each other that assumes a two way exchange of encouragement doesn't it?)
We don't get to ask for that back. God already has asked for it back, for us! Encourage each other. Lift each other up. Be there for each other in prayer, love and in actions.
Our love offerings are given to God, for His use to encourage our brothers and sisters. To convict them. To challenge them. To bring them to song or prayer. To move them to action against wrong. They are for His use. We write, sing, love, pray and serve for an audience of One.
Matthew 25:40
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
We serve Him by serving each other! We show God's love by loving. We show how life lived in grace looks by living it out loud. Actively. By words. By actions.
God blessed you with skills and talents to be used for His glory. They may not be the ones you wish you had or the ones you wish He'd use. But they are exactly what He knows is needed when He calls for them. Can we be obedient to that?
Can we truly read someone's efforts, and leave some love?
Can we see a call for help and answer it?
Can we really pray when we type 'praying'?
Can we reach out our hands and hearts wholly?
Can we truly say, Your will and not my own?
If the only feedback you got was from God - would you be excited to hear His words or terrified? Let's be overjoyed that He is our audience of One, let's be so excited we tremble that we can be His children. Let's be the reason someone looks closer at our faith because of our joy, because we live under grace, because of Him.
Friday, February 3, 2012
What's your poverty?
 |
| What do you have? Is it better than what I have? Can I have it? I want it. I think. |
The one thing we talked about that could have been a sensitive issue was poverty and money. I never thought about it the way she does and she had not considered how I look at it. It was enlightening. Neither was out to change the other's mind. We were talking.
She emailed me this morning to clarify what she had said. She was afraid she had offended me. I wasn't offended, and I messaged her back saying that. But it still weighs upon my heart what we talked about. We each saw the same concept, the same word in such different ways.
Consider that. Two sisters, in Christ. Faith filled, redeemed by grace, understanding our words and works are nothing without grace and love. And yet on this issue and one other we are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Not in conflict because we are not judging or questioning, we are seeking to understand.
In what I saw as abundance she saw poverty. Where I saw friends as family, she saw only family OR friends. What I saw as a chance to see yourself as a blessing she saw as her being bereft at making a wrong choice.
Instead of arguing, we explored and found that much like a sphere, you can be on side very far apart and yet that makes you on the other side very close together.
She still may think I'm a bit crazy! And I will still worry for her heart. But we neither judged nor tried to discount the other's path. What a richness and joy that is! What a blessing! Her strong faith leads her, just as mine does me. But God in His great wisdom does not have us walking the same paths, roads or wandering the same deserts.
When we talk about hot trigger words like poverty with other believers are we speaking with our hearts tuned to God? Or are we so certain in our rightness that we feel righteous? There are many kinds of poverty - poverty of physical needs, poverty of spirit, poverty of fellowship and poverty of _____________.
God doesn't just speak of physical poverty, He speaks of poverty of spirit as well. If you have all the physical abundance in the world and don't have a richness in your soul then you too are sitting in poverty.
In the town I live near there are many huge homes and fancy yards. The secret is what is inside. Very often yard furniture or nothing. The people invested everything they had in an outward show of wealth and were left with a hollow, empty space to live in. This is much like our hearts as well...so much of our lives can be dedicated to the exterior that we neglect the soul, the spirit, the Temple.
It wasn't a word I would have chosen to use, poverty, because I see it in quite a different way. But to her it felt and looked just like it should. And it wasn't acceptable to her family, to her. And she felt led by God to go back to a place where she had an abundance to share with her brothers and sisters. Her path. I pray she finds her way and is blessed as she travels it.
How do you share your abundance? Do you question if you have anything to share? We all do! God gives us an abundance in the poverty of life without Him. Are we going to share our talents, gifts and time? Are we going to be bold and ask to be shown how to find abundance in our poverty?
I normally share a verse, but I invite you to share the verses that speak to you on this!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Are you offended?
"And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Matthew 11:17)
Have you ever thought about this? Someone being offended by our faith. It happens, people feel defensive or feel they have been hurt by a Christian and that because of the actions of a person they are justified in being offended by Jesus. Perhaps they are offended by a Bible they never read.
What is there to be offended by in Jesus? Plenty! He did exactly what a good Jewish boy and a potential King should never do. He got down, and into the mud, with people who could do nothing for Him! What could a leper, a bleeding woman, a tax collector, soldier, sailor or spy do for the Son of God? Nothing. That, for people who measure success on an earthly scale are offended by this. They were so offended that they crucified Him! They were so offended they entrapped Him, lied about Him and stole from Him.
Offending people in power can be dangerous. It can be deadly. Offend an old lady, a homeless person or a child you don't lose much. At least not in human terms. But to Jesus, who counts each hair and sparrow, you can lose it all. You've lost it all when you don't treat the "least of them" as you would Him.
Who was offended by Jesus? Many were. Many in positions of power and many who were not. They were offended that He didn't come as the King they wanted. They were offended that He healed on the Sabbath. They were offended when He chose the poor, unclean, crooked and young.
If it was a school yard, and we were picking teams for a game, Jesus would have picked all of us last choices first! That gives me shivers! Athlete or leper? You know who He choose! King or poor widow? She got called first! Spinster sisters, a dead guy risen again, a former prostitute and more! The little kids and their Mama's. The orphans and the sick. What a dream team!
Who could be offended? Anyone who thought that Jesus should be what they wanted instead of what they needed!
Think of the people who are not offended by Jesus. Those who know the peace of grace, the relief of redemption and the safety of love. Are you offended by Jesus? Were you ever trapped in the mindset that Jesus was offensive because of imperfect people? I so often hear people speaking of our faith, of our Lord, in ways that are cruel and filled with hurt. These souls have not known grace and love and are offended. Not by something they know, and are justified in being offended by, but in something they do not know. That they have not had a chance to be shown. They haven't seen our faith in action.
Blessed are those who are not offended by me. Not ashamed. Not afraid. Not confused. No Jesus said Not offended! When you read about what Jesus taught and what Jesus did are you proud or offended? Is there something in the gospel that you are uncomfortable sharing because it offends you? Have you thought about it...what stops you from sharing the love and grace that showers us from His hand?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Live, don't die alive
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:12-13
Have you ever really thought about this verse? Really thought about it? About how it could mean so much more? The laying down your life means more than dying.
Laying down your life for a friend...what could that mean?
Jesus did it for us. With great grace. In our fallible and human way can we try to do less?
What in your life can be laid down for a friend? Your expectations? Your need to judge or be right. Perhaps you need to lay down the need for them to 'pay you back' or 'set things right'. Maybe it is bigger than that!
What if laying down your life meant laying down a dream? Bending down to help someone stand up again? What if it meant leaving behind the life you made for the one God created for you?
After reading my Bible and praying I believe that there is more to this verse than our physical death. It is our physical life! The food in your freezer (or garden). The extra clothes you've been keeping. The LIFE you build and cling to needs to be let go in love. The thing you want to sell, maybe needs to be shared? That desire of your heart should be surrendered to the desire of God's will.
Our lives are meant to be lived fully and lived full of grace and that requires living. Not dying. No in acting like we've died because we are giving. We need to face life full of love, and joy and in that loving joy share our lives. Our time, our bread and wine (figuratively and literally).
Do you understand why? It isn't ours to start with! God provides us with everything we need, we provide the loving labour to work for His kingdom. It is HIS anyway. Why are we so selfish with what isn't ours? Share a smile, a hug, a quick text.
Lay down your reputation and speak up for someone. Lay down your life to show someone living grace. Speak up for people trying again and again. Speak up for those with no voice, no hope and be the vessel of God's hope, love and voice. Lay down your uniform of the day. Bare that soul down to the laugh lines and fearful moments. God wants our lives to be lived.
Do you want a life of 'wish I had' or a life of 'glad I did'?
It is a sad and horrific fact that many saints have died for Jesus. But it is an even sadder and more horrific fact that many thousands more have failed to live on day for Him. Millions cry for relief, some of them are in your home, your family, your church.
Willing to die for our faith has long been held as a 'gold standard' but I truly believe the real challenge in laying down our lives is to continue doing so, and finding in the sacrifice that we begin to live the life God wanted us to live all along!
Love without shame. Show grace with radical freedom. Don't stop believing that God has something amazing waiting for us to step towards Him in utter faith.
Laying down your life for a friend...what could that mean?
Jesus did it for us. With great grace. In our fallible and human way can we try to do less?
What in your life can be laid down for a friend? Your expectations? Your need to judge or be right. Perhaps you need to lay down the need for them to 'pay you back' or 'set things right'. Maybe it is bigger than that!
What if laying down your life meant laying down a dream? Bending down to help someone stand up again? What if it meant leaving behind the life you made for the one God created for you?
After reading my Bible and praying I believe that there is more to this verse than our physical death. It is our physical life! The food in your freezer (or garden). The extra clothes you've been keeping. The LIFE you build and cling to needs to be let go in love. The thing you want to sell, maybe needs to be shared? That desire of your heart should be surrendered to the desire of God's will.
Our lives are meant to be lived fully and lived full of grace and that requires living. Not dying. No in acting like we've died because we are giving. We need to face life full of love, and joy and in that loving joy share our lives. Our time, our bread and wine (figuratively and literally).
Do you understand why? It isn't ours to start with! God provides us with everything we need, we provide the loving labour to work for His kingdom. It is HIS anyway. Why are we so selfish with what isn't ours? Share a smile, a hug, a quick text.
Lay down your reputation and speak up for someone. Lay down your life to show someone living grace. Speak up for people trying again and again. Speak up for those with no voice, no hope and be the vessel of God's hope, love and voice. Lay down your uniform of the day. Bare that soul down to the laugh lines and fearful moments. God wants our lives to be lived.
Do you want a life of 'wish I had' or a life of 'glad I did'?
It is a sad and horrific fact that many saints have died for Jesus. But it is an even sadder and more horrific fact that many thousands more have failed to live on day for Him. Millions cry for relief, some of them are in your home, your family, your church.
Willing to die for our faith has long been held as a 'gold standard' but I truly believe the real challenge in laying down our lives is to continue doing so, and finding in the sacrifice that we begin to live the life God wanted us to live all along!
Love without shame. Show grace with radical freedom. Don't stop believing that God has something amazing waiting for us to step towards Him in utter faith.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Praying in Line
Waiting in line. It can be a test. But I wonder why? It doesn't have to be. Those moments when we are angry at being behind someone or status-updating in frustration and wondering why other people are in our way are perfect opportunities to take a deep breath, and pray.
Yeah, pray. Pray for that slow clerk - it could be her first day, or her last or her hardest. Pray for that slow driver - he could be losing his licence, or have lost her husband or losing their life. Pray for that person who takes 20 items to the 15 or less lane - maybe there is a sick baby at home, or a sick husband or they are so tired they didn't see.
Which of these people deserves grace less than you? Which of these people are unworthy of a caring word and a prayer? None! Not a single one.
Matthew 25:40 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
What would it take for you to slow down and instead of being angry or frustrated to offer a prayer? What would it take for you to say thanks, or offer some kindness in your busy day? Are we more important than our brothers and sisters in Christ? I don't think so. Actually I know we are not! God doesn't play favorites, why should we? Grace is free. Share some!
1 Timothy 2:1-2 1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Pray for each other. Offer the people you see to the Lord, direct the shower of grace to them.
It isn't easy, I know. We are encouraged to be first, fastest and best. We need to be encouraged to slow down and pray. We need to be encouraged to show grace and love, to pray for each other.
I'm praying for you, as you read this, I've asked God that when you get here that He shower you with grace for your day. Bright blessings, always and in all ways!
Monday, September 19, 2011
The people you pass by
3 John 1:5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.
Have you ever prayed for people as you drove? Stood in line? Got passed on the shoulder? Maybe experienced someone honking their horn or washing your windows at a red light? Have you ever thought about praying for them?
My husband phoned to tell me this story today, "I was driving and I saw a woman, with her life in her car and U-haul. Stuffed animals on the dash, dog on the front seat, and she was on the move. I thought about her, and said a prayer for her to have a safe journey and that she finds what she needs when she gets to there. I wonder if someone prayed for you, dear, when you ran away to start your life again? Maybe we need to pray more for the people we pass by in life."
Maybe we need to pray more for the people we pass by in life.
The frustrated bus driver. The horn honking road rager. The slow checker at the express lane. The server who needs to ask again what you ordered. The red faced Mama and the screaming tired babe. The sad boy watching Daddy go to work. The dog owner putting up posters for their lost friend. The pastor with dwindling flock and confidence. For the police officer on their way to a call. For the farmer in the field.
Who did you pass by today? Perhaps they were an angel, they could have been a brother or sister in Christ. They could have been at the well looking for water that soothes a soul's thirst.
Instead of watching the world go by, what if we prayed it along the way?
Radical grace. Loving grace. Children of a loving, living God can we do any thing less?
Have you ever prayed for people as you drove? Stood in line? Got passed on the shoulder? Maybe experienced someone honking their horn or washing your windows at a red light? Have you ever thought about praying for them?
My husband phoned to tell me this story today, "I was driving and I saw a woman, with her life in her car and U-haul. Stuffed animals on the dash, dog on the front seat, and she was on the move. I thought about her, and said a prayer for her to have a safe journey and that she finds what she needs when she gets to there. I wonder if someone prayed for you, dear, when you ran away to start your life again? Maybe we need to pray more for the people we pass by in life."
Maybe we need to pray more for the people we pass by in life.
The frustrated bus driver. The horn honking road rager. The slow checker at the express lane. The server who needs to ask again what you ordered. The red faced Mama and the screaming tired babe. The sad boy watching Daddy go to work. The dog owner putting up posters for their lost friend. The pastor with dwindling flock and confidence. For the police officer on their way to a call. For the farmer in the field.
Who did you pass by today? Perhaps they were an angel, they could have been a brother or sister in Christ. They could have been at the well looking for water that soothes a soul's thirst.
Instead of watching the world go by, what if we prayed it along the way?
Radical grace. Loving grace. Children of a loving, living God can we do any thing less?
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Two Days Later
Ten years ago the face of the world changed. For many of us it changed in a way that haunts us still. There are people who only think of the DAY - 9/11 and remember it for all the horror that it was. For all the hope that withered and the heroism that inspires us.
John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
For me the days before and the days after have the biggest impact. They are the ones that bring me to prayer in gratitude and intercession. They are the ones that I won't forget.
Two days before I was in New York, in Manhattan, with the Fire Marshalls. We ate lunch, we drove around, we talked about coming together the following spring for a training exchange. We laughed about family, life and how different it was for a Canadian fire fighter from the prairies and for the high rise smoke eaters of NYC. It was a meeting of two different worlds. It was a meeting of common ground. It was the beginning of friendships.
The day after 9/11 I waited to hear who made it out and we mourned who didn't. We set up chat rooms and we talked long into the night. We all couldn't go to be there and help but we found ways to support each other across the miles. We found ways to pray and share and stick together.
Those waiting days, hours, were accented by the silent skies above. Heightened security. Crazy fears. Silent skies. No jet streams. no flights that were not military. It was so frightening to think the world could be suddenly so changed.
Raising money for families, sharing stories, sending love and support. Listening to the darkness of the days when hope withered away. There is nothing worse for the responder community. We serve, we protect, we pull life from the wreckage. There was so little to do, everyone was ready and prepared but nothing prepared us for this.
Jesus rose on the third day. I cannot help but think that His people felt like we did. The world was changed forever. The curtain ripped, the sky darkened, the Beloved entombed. No washing of feet, no gentle lessons. Nothing but silent skies and darkness.
Nothing Jesus could do or say was enough preparation for His death. Nothing Jesus could promise or paint with words could express their amazement at His resurrection.
Faith sometimes requires us to take the darkest, most silent path and in that journey we find not only the light within, but also the light of God without. On those dark days we walked around by feel and there were a lot of tears, some dark gallows humor and tons of prayers. We connected in ways that brought us closer. It didn't matter where you were from. It mattered that you knew the smell of smoke and understood the call that brought us all to serve in ways big and small.
Why can't we, as sisters and brothers in Christ, do the same? We know the stain of sin and the miracle of redemption. We are His people, living in wonderful grace. We, who have so much, need to take a few lessons from the open hands of those who had nothing to give but their bodies for people they did not know but loved all the same.
1 John 3:16 "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to laydown our lives for our brothers and sisters."
Trust me, the best friend you never knew you had is the one who pulls you from the fire. From the wreckage. From the disaster. From your doom. Everyone who reaches out and finds a hand grasping theirs knows it. It doesn't matter whose hand it is, it matters that we reach out. That we keep reaching. We keep loving. Praying. Believing. Being.
Where did your hands reach today? Was it with God's love and grace they were filled? Fists cannot give or receive anything but pain and fear. Open hands can reach, grasp, pull and hold. They give, and receive. Jesus's hands were open for us. How can ours be anything less?
(Kelty, Bill, Frank, Ron - miss you my friends, praying for your families and you. Proud to call you and all who responded in every way the could brothers and sisters.)
John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
For me the days before and the days after have the biggest impact. They are the ones that bring me to prayer in gratitude and intercession. They are the ones that I won't forget.
Two days before I was in New York, in Manhattan, with the Fire Marshalls. We ate lunch, we drove around, we talked about coming together the following spring for a training exchange. We laughed about family, life and how different it was for a Canadian fire fighter from the prairies and for the high rise smoke eaters of NYC. It was a meeting of two different worlds. It was a meeting of common ground. It was the beginning of friendships.
The day after 9/11 I waited to hear who made it out and we mourned who didn't. We set up chat rooms and we talked long into the night. We all couldn't go to be there and help but we found ways to support each other across the miles. We found ways to pray and share and stick together.
Those waiting days, hours, were accented by the silent skies above. Heightened security. Crazy fears. Silent skies. No jet streams. no flights that were not military. It was so frightening to think the world could be suddenly so changed.
Raising money for families, sharing stories, sending love and support. Listening to the darkness of the days when hope withered away. There is nothing worse for the responder community. We serve, we protect, we pull life from the wreckage. There was so little to do, everyone was ready and prepared but nothing prepared us for this.
Jesus rose on the third day. I cannot help but think that His people felt like we did. The world was changed forever. The curtain ripped, the sky darkened, the Beloved entombed. No washing of feet, no gentle lessons. Nothing but silent skies and darkness.
Nothing Jesus could do or say was enough preparation for His death. Nothing Jesus could promise or paint with words could express their amazement at His resurrection.
Faith sometimes requires us to take the darkest, most silent path and in that journey we find not only the light within, but also the light of God without. On those dark days we walked around by feel and there were a lot of tears, some dark gallows humor and tons of prayers. We connected in ways that brought us closer. It didn't matter where you were from. It mattered that you knew the smell of smoke and understood the call that brought us all to serve in ways big and small.
Why can't we, as sisters and brothers in Christ, do the same? We know the stain of sin and the miracle of redemption. We are His people, living in wonderful grace. We, who have so much, need to take a few lessons from the open hands of those who had nothing to give but their bodies for people they did not know but loved all the same.
1 John 3:16 "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to laydown our lives for our brothers and sisters."
Trust me, the best friend you never knew you had is the one who pulls you from the fire. From the wreckage. From the disaster. From your doom. Everyone who reaches out and finds a hand grasping theirs knows it. It doesn't matter whose hand it is, it matters that we reach out. That we keep reaching. We keep loving. Praying. Believing. Being.
Where did your hands reach today? Was it with God's love and grace they were filled? Fists cannot give or receive anything but pain and fear. Open hands can reach, grasp, pull and hold. They give, and receive. Jesus's hands were open for us. How can ours be anything less?
(Kelty, Bill, Frank, Ron - miss you my friends, praying for your families and you. Proud to call you and all who responded in every way the could brothers and sisters.)
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Grace abundant
When the daughter turns away grace is abundant.
When she has the babe and shares months later grace is abundant.
When the boundaries for safety and sanity are stepped back from grace is abundant.
Grace is abundant in tears of hurt and frustration. Grace is abundant in times when it hurts with 'might have beens'. Grace is abundant when prayers and mercy come hard and the only thing to do is love.
No sense in wasting love in anger nor is there time to be lost feeling the ache of 'what if'. Grace flows abundant in tears of fear, pain and joy.
What if she came tomorrow or what if she never comes. What if we never see or hear more than what we dream of and pray. Grace stays abundant. Grace stays. Grace.
No one earns it. Not one is worthy of it. And yet it rains down abundant upon us all. When the cloak of it all is love and the love is woven in grace then grace is over, under, around and through.
In the breath that catches.
In the wish that dies upon silent lips.
In the words that never fly spoken.
In the heart that reaches and reaches.
Grace calls us to love. Grace calls us. Grace calls. Grace.
She knows who she is, and while she may never read these words God knows they are my prayer for her, for the babe, for them and our families.
When she has the babe and shares months later grace is abundant.
When the boundaries for safety and sanity are stepped back from grace is abundant.
Grace is abundant in tears of hurt and frustration. Grace is abundant in times when it hurts with 'might have beens'. Grace is abundant when prayers and mercy come hard and the only thing to do is love.
No sense in wasting love in anger nor is there time to be lost feeling the ache of 'what if'. Grace flows abundant in tears of fear, pain and joy.
What if she came tomorrow or what if she never comes. What if we never see or hear more than what we dream of and pray. Grace stays abundant. Grace stays. Grace.
No one earns it. Not one is worthy of it. And yet it rains down abundant upon us all. When the cloak of it all is love and the love is woven in grace then grace is over, under, around and through.
In the breath that catches.
In the wish that dies upon silent lips.
In the words that never fly spoken.
In the heart that reaches and reaches.
Grace calls us to love. Grace calls us. Grace calls. Grace.
She knows who she is, and while she may never read these words God knows they are my prayer for her, for the babe, for them and our families.
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