January 2009 – Page 3

January 11, 2009

Shunts

So often as people, we do what it takes to get by, leaving our hearts in some kind of “lock box” for protection. In our humanistic wisdom we actually think we are doing ourselves a favor. No harm no foul right?

When I was pursuing a degree in education I learned about shunts. In raw definition, this is the act or process of turning aside or moving to an alternate course. (Just think of an electric current diverted) In examining my own life I am seeing for the first time how many “shunts” I have installed into my daily routine. I wonder how many areas of my life would be recharged if I finally let the current of love run its natural course? Who could I be? What could I do? Who might I touch?

It’s time to find out……

January 10, 2009

Lost In Translation?

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For kicks I looked up the definition of “download” today and an overwhelming amount of sites gave me back the general consensus “transfer of data from a central computer source”. We are conscious beings and I have never met anyone who wasn’t looking for more “download”.

What I have come across is those who can’t understand the message or how it gets lost in translation.

January 9, 2009

Breaking A Heart For More Room

I once heard somewhere a heart broken is merely one needing to make more room for love. It didn’t make much sense to me until I saw a visual picture. A heart closed up and sealed isn’t able to hold the things that overflow, therefore it had to be broken open to give access to those crevices where more could be fit into it.

With a new mindset I purposely ask for a heart broken. Not crushed, but kept in a place of surrender. I want to finally love others as I love myself.

Psalm 51:17 (NIV) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise

January 8, 2009

My Rug Cafe

Coming home from work I had to “run an errand for our kids”, that’s what the hubby said. He rarely asks me to go out of my way for errands so I agreed. Traffic was fairly light so I was able so zoom along the freeway pretty quickly and take the exit I needed. Adding to my delight, when I got to the store there was a sweet parking spot right in front! Wow, I thought and said my thanks again to the “big God”.

In and out, I ran my errand and still easily got home in light traffic. Along the way I felt such inner peace which had been with me all day. I loved this mindset. I didn’t even mind when I got home that I had to make a couple trips in and out to take in the bags. Once I got to my kitchen however my inner peace began to creep away from me quickly.

There was much to be done. Crumbs, dishes and a vacuum was in order. As I started to empty the sink so I could run some hot water I smashed one of my finger tips. About this time my wonderful husband walked in to “help me”. I walked away for a few minutes unable to “deal with this” for the time being.

Than it hit me, I wanted to go to a special place and this afternoon it was hanging on my own wall; a scenic café setting with some flowers (I love flowers), a water fountain and charming surroundings. Looking carefully I couldn’t see any crumbs, nor did I see a fat lazy cat or a shedding dog panting, wanting to be noticed. There were no dirty dishes on any of the tables. Sighing inwardly all I could imagine was sitting under the umbrella outside and chatting with those I loved to be with….yes this was a happy place….

Vvrrrroooommmm, oh drats, the vacuum cleaner was interrupting my pleasant thoughts. Well, those dishes will only become a bigger pile if not dealt with now so it’s time to roll up my sleeves but at least I can look over my shoulder now and again to see where I long to be for dinner.

January 7, 2009

Is It Safe?

A couple decades or more ago there was a movie called “The Marathon Man”. It was some kind of edge of your seat flick where a young guy is chased all over the city for reasons he doesn’t understand after his brother is killed. Finally he is captured and a seemingly insane torture dentist induces painful procedures all the while asking and screaming at the guy “Is it safe?” Eventually the young guy figures out what this nut case is after but not until he’s escaped the grasp of this man and raced around the city like a madman trying to figure out who he can trust.

I was thinking about my spiritual journey this evening and this movie popped into my thoughts. I think many of us share this same experience in various forms throughout our lives. We seek God wondering if He’s for real but all the while we have the enemy chasing us down with various schemes and plots to wear us down until we don’t know who to trust and we want to stop running the race. When we finally think we have found our savior in Jesus we spend a great deal of time wondering, “Is it safe?”

Is He for real? Can we trust this savior Jesus? Is it safe to trust in Him? I can only speak for myself tonight, but there are 2000 years worth of testimonies to read. Not only is He for real, but yes, it is safe to trust in Him.

January 6, 2009

More To Come

The air was cold and crisp despite the sun’s bright rays. We hit the track late in the afternoon but it was good timing, not many people out today. It’d been a while since I had been for a good hike so my flesh groaned a bit. As we walked side by side I enjoyed the quiet thoughts of my husband. They fluctuated between deep discussion to easy fluff. I loved his company. I felt I could be myself with this man and I had nothing to hide. Even so I know, and so does he, there is more to come from our relationship.

January 6, 2009

History Of Power Loss

“One of the great uses of literary history is to keep on reminding us that while man is constantly acquiring new powers he is also constantly losing old ones.” C.S. Lewis

January 4, 2009

For The Love Of……?

Love……….what is your experience of this insatiable emotion? I myself can only name but a few…….

Love given

Love withheld

Love hurts

Love pain

Love lost

Love searched for

Love as a drug

Love needed

Love twisted

Love desired

Love denied

Love understood

Love misplaced

Love unfulfilled

Love undeniable

Love beyond ourselves

Love without reason

Love without expectation

Love with exception

Love unimaginable

Love simply to love because nothing is more expressive

We are so different, all of us, and yet one thing is consistently the same. We are all in some way dealing with love and its many facets. For those who may not love each other, you are still in some way chasing a form of love albeit for your idol. Money? Fame? Popularity?

What are we giving our love to? Does anyone ask why we seek love in the first place, and how come we are looking so hard for it in others or things?

1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us

January 3, 2009

Profitable Times

While reading a book this morning it was thought provoking on idolatry. We all know one of the ten commandments spoke of there being no other gods before Me, meaning our heavenly Father wants us to only worship Him.

I got to thinking about how easy it is to consistently fool ourselves with daily idols. Instead of spending time in the presence of the Lord I can dismiss that thought and turn on the television to watch something mindless. The dissatisfaction of this action later makes me irritated with myself that I wasted my precious time. This small example is but one of a dozen I could name in any given day.

It’s not very profitable for me to beat myself up over things I cannot change but it is rewarding to have my thoughts readjusted to recognize today is a brand new day and I have the opportunity to spend quality time with my Abba Father. I’m guaranteed this will surely be profitable.

January 2, 2009

Mood Music Or Art From Beautiful People

Mood music? A general question for all…do we put in music to fit our mood or do we listen to music and it sets our mood? I love the arts in all forms and I can’t define all the forms I have come across. Being a writer of course I am passionate about writing. I like the limitless places one can take a reader and all we need is the ability to describe our thoughts on paper.

Music however is beyond words and can convey in moments what may take chapters to describe for emotional content. A painting on the other hand is just what the cliché says, “worth a thousand words”. Sculpture is still another form but so often we cannot touch the art and often stand in awe but long to be nearer.

How we view art can be limited however. I am often drawn to people not because they are known for any “art form” our natural world recognizes but more for their own expression of art as they themselves see it. Sometimes these persons don’t even realize they are artistic. Food for instance, it is amazing how many people can approach food like art. Friendships too. Some people are just born to make friends but also make those friends feel special, not like they are part of some collection.

I guess to me, people themselves are art. How they live, how they interact and especially the many ways they give of themselves to the enjoyment of others. Yeah, I know not all of these expressions are beautiful but those who understand their gifting are the most beautiful creatures on earth.