January 2009 – DebraBee

January 31, 2009

Gentle Whisper

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There is a beautiful area I go to spend time pondering the vastness of my heavenly Father. Somehow He just seems more real to me when I am not in some walled up room or building but rather outdoors. Yet even in wide open spaces there are still too many people to distract my attention so when I am really wanting to feel His presence intimately I must push on up a hill until I reach the top.

Most day trekkers don’t come here, just the more adventurous hikers. I don’t consider myself a real hiker by any means but there is just a real hunger to want to go higher. This seems to echo a calling within my heart. In the quietness of the windy breeze blowing on these upper hills I listen for a whisper. I can’t make out the words yet but I know it’s calling me closer.

I love being in this breeze while I close my eyes. Sitting still I tilt my head back to let the sun warm my face and imagine my Father looking down at me. When I long to be touched by His hands I can feel the breeze caress every inch of me and I enjoy the way it blows my hair. Listening carefully I hear the music in the beautiful calls of birds flying to and fro. The grass sways in a rhythm where the stalks are moved to rub against each other, playing a precious song all their own. If I am near a tree, the leaves shake about like tambourines.

It is here I love to listen for His “gentle whisper”.

1 Kings 19:11-12 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

January 30, 2009

Righteousness Must Be Restored

In our history there are weights and measures. It’s in everything we are and in everything we do. Even a brief look at this topic online opens up a volume of information beyond the scope of anything I am educated to share aside from a topical framework.

What do we think of when looking at the title “weights and measures”? I can only guess at the varied answers. My thoughts were taken to the scales of justice. Ever really look at the symbols for justice? Often they are caricatures of a woman; blindfolded, who holds a set of scales in her left hand and a sword in the right hand.

Something in our world today is truly amiss. Our symbol for justice has been used to mock at our hearts. Yes, justice is blind but only to those who deserve it. The scales are tipped to rule in favor of those who have the best lawyers and lobbyists. The sword in the right hand has not been lifted yet.

It’s time to cry out and declare righteousness over our nation and over our lives! If we ourselves don’t offer prayers for this need who will?

Luke 18:7 (NIV) And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

January 29, 2009

Purpose To Stop & Look Around

The day has slipped away so fast. So has the week actually. With schedules being a bit hectic it is important to purposely stop and look around to see where we are living instead of driving through life a hundred miles and hour.

Tonight we got to stop and look at the beauty of a crescent moon with an adjacent star lit up so bright I had to wonder at it’s meaning.

January 28, 2009

Checkmate!

I like to live in the regions where I can be literally disconnected from my physical surroundings. As I float around in my happy place, rarely do I open my eyes unless I happen to be driving. A mere conversation or phone call can bring me tumbling from my thoughts on high, down into the hemisphere of this existence I am currently passing through; the alien in a foreign land.

This is about the time I realize my inner man has been “checked”. Have I told you about my inner man, or should I speak from the female viewpoint and tell you of my inner woman? Actually I call her “whoa-man”? I keep trying to remember the old “whoa-man” should long ago have been “offed” but let’s be frank; that fleshly being likes to resurrect as if starring in a movie sequel straight out of “Friday the 13^th“. Perhaps I should just start referring to her as Jasonique? Nah, she doesn’t deserve a name beyond…”offed”!

I have been studying with the Master however and He is teaching me new maneuvers to truly put my inner whoa-man in check for good. He’s teaching me about the final move…..checkmate!

Eph 4:22-24 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness

January 27, 2009

A Little Help

A song hit my heart tonight so I just had to hum a few verses and try to remember the lyrics. The only clear sentence that came to mind is “I get by with a little help from my friends.” I sit here grinning about the lovely people who lift my heart and my very life with joy.

I can look back over times in my life when I felt I didn’t have a friend in name but like most things in this world, it was a lie meant to isolate me. How many of us have been cut from the herd of healthy relationships because the “father of lies” wove a mighty tale of untruths?

I long for a day when the lies are vanquished and friends can not be counted.

January 26, 2009

Ink As A Cure

I loved this quote because as a writer I have found a medicine in the art of pouring out what may be smoldering inside. We can never light up the rest of the world if we are unwilling to share our own fire.

January 25, 2009

His Essence Draws Me Deeper Still

I can smell her perfume upon my clothes long after I left her company. I don’t see her often but I am so touched she knows my name and seeks me out to share encouraging words and hugs. I don’t feel that I deserve her attention but like so many things my heavenly Father gives me in His grace, I receive it as offered….in love.

I feel a hesitation to change my clothes too quickly. Her perfume upon me is a reminder of Abba Father’s love. When I am in His presence, the aroma of His love covers me like an incense I cannot see with my natural eyes. I am moved by it, my Spirit is aroused by it, I want to linger in it, unable to leave. It’s intoxicating but not like the world sees intoxication. Instead I find it fulfilling; swirling in and around me, drawing me to go deeper still into His great mystery. How could I not accept such an invitation?

Nothing will hold me back; He’s making sure of that.

Psalms 42:7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me

January 24, 2009

Looking For Something Good

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There is an artist named Bill Withers who recorded for about 15 years prolifically and had many hits all of us probably know if only by the tune. “Lovely Day, Ain’t No Sunshine, Lean On Me, Use Me Up” just to name a few more commonly recognized songs. I have no idea of this guy’s ideology but I certainly can appreciate the truth he offers in some of his lyrics. Despite many being written from the humanistic viewpoint, the absolute hope offered is easily distinguished when we choose to sing them with a heavenly perspective.

Now mind you, everyone has their opinion and doctrine but I absolutely love the beautiful messages offered in most people who sing from their heart with pure hope!

My perspective…..O’ Lord, my life is yours…so…..shouldn’t I be poured out as a drink offering upon a thirsty land?

When you love me I can’t get enough
I-I and I, wanna spread the news
That if it feels this good getting used
Oh, you just keep on using me
Until you use me up

And how many times have any of us not been able to relate to some aspect of the following….?

Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won’t let show

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you’d understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Phip 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things

January 23, 2009

Water Drops On My Kitchen Window

The clouds have finally come to drizzle their moisture. They bring refreshing nourishment to our rivers and lakes. I look out my kitchen window and the distant street lights are distorted in the misting haze. When I focus my eyes upon the window itself I can see the drops of water gather in multitudes of tiny drops. Though they may look the same I know full well each has different attributes.

Always I am taken back to wonder….who am I? Although a drop in the universe, I too have been given different attributes. How wonderful to have been made different in the grand scheme of the universe!

January 22, 2009

Following Another Road

When Dorothy started down her path on the yellow brick road she was being encouraged by a lot of singing “munchkins”. I can’t say my path is yellow but it’s certainly “lit up” pretty good. I read a lot so it helps keep me on the right path but also I am very encouraged by those who walk in real love. Their singing transcends worship. Their very lives are a song.

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