Clap Your Hands

Stevie Wonder sang a song while he was just a pup with the words, “Clap your hands just a little bit louder” and this morning I did just that. It felt awesome to shout into the air the greatness of our King!

Psalm 47:1-2 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!

Busy Body Speak

Ever hear about busy bodies? I do often, but not quite in the sense they are busy doing anything other than being in other people’s business. I am not fond of this personality type. Something inside me just wants to always walk away and find a “good book” to read instead.

I had something happen though and it made me realize how “imperfect” I was. Shocking really!!! The busy speak began to take on new life in which I was one of the topics. Suddenly I could feel my ears tingle and I found myself straining to hear conversations that were being whispered.

Isn’t it funny how easy it is to ignore “busy body” speak until it starts to be about you? I put my “good book” in my backpack this morning and I also grabbed some uplifting music for my player which turns up pretty loud in volume. I will once more become oblivious about being in someone’s conversation and instead turn my thoughts upward.

Humming Soothes The Soul

I find myself humming a lot lately without realizing what I am doing. Being a thinker I often analyze my responses to situations and I came to conclude this humming is for self-preservation. I have been facing a great deal of stress lately but instead of opening my mouth to say something negative I have been humming an uplifting melody to quiet my soul.

Eph 5:19

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord

Apathy Of Human Beings

Listening to a talk this weekend I was moved by something quoted from a blind woman who had real vision!

“Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all—the apathy of human beings.” Helen Keller

Definition of apathy: a state of indifference — where an individual has an absence of interest or concern to certain aspects of emotional, social, or physical life.

Crossed-up Life

Life is coming at us fast and we can be bowled over by our circumstances and words of discouragement offered by others or we can lean upon the only safe structure there is. Being a writer I have to spell out my pains and either hold onto them or pin them upon the cross of hope. My hope isn’t found by holding onto this stuff but rather letting go of it all.

In other words I am living a “Crossed-up life”. Care to join me?

Humility

I read an article today that spoke of humility. Basically it said the quicker we learn humility the quicker we can move forward and may even gain a position of leadership. Pride stops us from making progress in the area of humility. No one likes to admit they are wrong and even less to have to admit it to others.

It is hard for me to understand true humility because it doesn’t need to confess itself. True humility just is.

Prov 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

My Father’s Friends

My cage has been rattled pretty good this week with a fierceness I find familiar. My heart is rejoicing because I can feel victory to be had. My enemy likes to come at me hard and even goes after my family when I am up to my Father’s work. The nastier he gets the more I am reminded to stand firm. This morning I called upon some friends of my Father’s to help me out. Believe me these aren’t the chubby faced babies in diapers either!
Psalm 91:11 For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways

Taking Back The Peace

Who stole my peace of mind? I have kept asking the wrong question since I am the one who has been giving away what is rightfully mine.

Who stole my voice? Again I asked the wrong question since it was I who didn’t open my mouth to speak when I should have.

I found my voice returned this morning and I am taking back the peace which belongs to me!

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

So Above It

Being busy is part of our lives and sometimes I just want to put on the brakes. Literally slam on them until everything comes to a complete halt no matter how abrupt.

I was watching a movie last night called “End Of The Spear” and I rather enjoy the redemptive story despite some of the graphic violence along the way. It reminds me not everyone has a smooth path to redemption. One of my favorite scenes is the plane flying low over a river as it wound its way through the jungle. I wanted to be in that plane just soaking in all the beauty from above. Not in the mix of the jungle but far above it.

My wanting to slam on the breaks today reminded me of that beauty and my longing for a peacefulness I should’ve had. Instead I could feel my peace slipping in and out of my grasp simply because I couldn’t control the circumstances around me. My inner-self has a safety valve I’ve used all my life. Withdrawal! When things are getting too “out of my hands” I start pulling away from all that is good for me. I don’t want to be in the mix but rather I seek to be so “above it” which is why I keep thinking about that plane.

I know my Father has other plans for me and He knows my flaws well. There will be no “withdrawal” this time. The “Master’s plan” is not for me to be “above” anything right now. It’s time to grow again despite my discomfort and as soon as I realize I am not the one in control and leave it to better hands, the sooner my peace will return while I continue my freefall into the great unknown.

We Win!

We Win

(Lyrics by David Crowder)

We’re gonna shout loud,
loud until the walls come down

Because we’ve already won
And You don’t have a chance
Yeah we’ve already won
No you don’t have a chance
It’s already done
And you don’t have a chance
Because we’ve already won!
We have already won!