Month: March 2010

Love unexpected dropped me to my knees and then lower still. I could feel tears upon my cheeks as I wondered at this expression of the heart. I held a ring in my hand with a note of generosity and love. My mind went blank in the moment and I could but wonder at such a gift. I knew only in part the beauty of its meaningful offering.

Looking out the window I could see the clouds roll back and the promise of open heavens began to emerge. I had set the ring upon my counter and now it was time to try it on. It fit but one finger with perfection and that was where I wore my wedding ring.

I had found a new place of quiet and it looked out at a huge field. The weather change made for real beauty. I got outside my car to enjoy the activity of bees, ladybugs and butterflies in the field of green. The lilacs were especially busy with their flowers being loved on by everything.

My eyes took in the tall heads of grass that most resembled wheat, making me think thoughts of harvest. These only seemed to be growing near the edge of the field where I stood. Looking out at the expanse, I wondered if I just couldn’t see the rest from where I was standing. I knew what I was to concentrate on and spoke my heart until it was almost time to leave.

Heading back to my car I stopped suddenly and actually began to laugh. Though my eyes had been on them for quite some time, I didn’t actually see the lamps standing in the high grass where no streets were. Again I was reminded of the harvest which was going to be drawn to such lights. They stood tall in the field to be easily seen in darkness.

I saw her when I went to grab some lunch. A homeless woman begging for help on a familiar corner. I see a few faces now and again but don’t often carry cash. Today I had a few bucks and as I tried to eat, my thoughts kept going back to her form. I hadn’t even seen her face yet. It was useless to try and finish so I put my tray back and headed for the door without any idea of what I might say to her.

I detest condescending attitudes myself and I wanted to take care with her dignity. She was precious to my Father and I knew it. When I got to the truck I still had an unopened bottle of water. I grabbed that and the remainder of my cash to go talk to this friend whose name I did not yet know.

It was a busy place very near my work and I said a quiet prayer that I would be hidden from all prying eyes. It would wound me to be prideful about sharing a moment of compassion.

The bottle of water was the ice breaker. She said she hadn’t had anything to drink and my heart ached for her. I was honest to say I didn’t have much but she was welcome to what I did have and she spoke, “anything helps”. This small act of kindness seemed little enough so I asked her if she would like me to pray for her.

I shared with her the heart of Jesus who is help and hope. She suffered from fear, sickness and disease. Her home was a temporary hotel room. When I asked her name I laughed when she told me, “Bobbie”. I had been missing my husband to the degree it was hurting my heart. Before I left her, she gave me the gift of letting me hug another “Bobbie” with blue eyes of real warmth.

Fruit…tasty fruit is to be had. Imagine yourself biting into the most amazing piece of fruit. The juices are so much they run down your chin onto your hands holding it and then down your arms. The sweetness of its flavor is an explosion to your senses.

Ask for it and it shall be yours…..receive it and share with all you meet.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful

I live near a city where life on the streets is for real. No precious bedroom community. It’s all about immediate needs for survival. A tune humming in my head from a rap artist has been repetitive…”I want to be free (that’s the truth)”…

Much of what I listen to now is worship and praise, but still I’ve been drawn back to this music for a couple days. I searched my back room to find the artist and put it in my deck. What I realize is a confession. I stopped listening to this cd because it “was less than Godly!” Let me be real. I didn’t want to absorb any profanity or negative input into my ideal of what life should be for me. I had completely forgotten the reason I ever owned the music in the first place….”I want to be free!”

Friends, how are we supposed to relate to the world around us if we are so hung up on what we might be offended by? How can we ever be in touch with the harvest if we can’t remember or know who they are?

To the ends of the earth; what does that mean to most of us? I’d have to say we need to go into the darkest places of our communities. That’s just for starters….

Act 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The end of winter is passing and I enjoyed the fresh blooms beginning to emerge for flowers with an eye upon newly budding tree limbs. Standing underneath one of them I could hear an anticipation of what is to come; a bursting forth in newness and beauty.

Looking over the city I love, my heart felt desire to share the passion burning within. An hour is upon us for real change. I soaked in my surroundings. I wanted to be reminded of those who had stood here before me through the years. The pioneers who had plowed this ground from the very first day they came to be here. The harvest belongs to them as well.  How I longed for my eyes to be open to the great cloud of witnesses who have been waiting for this time.

Amo 9:13  (NKJV) “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip with sweet wine, And all the hills shall flow with it.

Amo 9:13  (Message) “Yes indeed, it won’t be long now.” GOD’s Decree. “Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once–and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills.

It’s a fascinating study to look at our feelings and especially the variety of expression for them. That famous melancholic song from long ago, “feelings, nothing more than feelings” is almost ironic in its chorus. Every art form upon the planet is nothing less than an outward interpretation of our very “feelings” or emotional make up.

Considering we were made in the image of our heavenly Father, I am intrigued by the variety of declarations for what we can feel. I think we are missing something huge in this aspect. Do we want to know God’s emotions? Do we want to know His creativity? Do we want to know His depth? Do we want to know His love? Rather than just read about Him, how about we open our eyes and see Him all around us?

Every person you will ever meet was created in the image of….

Gen 1:27  So God created man in his own image…

“I’m just a soul whose intentions are good, Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood” *

I like to listen to this now and again because it rings true within my heart. I never want to hurt others with my actions or my words but let’s face it, the only way to avoid misunderstandings is to drop out of society altogether. When a misunderstanding occurs, my resolve is to get out from under it as fast as possible by apologizing quickly anywhere I may have stumbled.

This is the place where things can get interesting. In a society where “I’m sorry” doesn’t really mean much, I have to search my heart to make sure I mean it. My language has to be more than words, because I know who is looking deep within, and His gaze is ever upon me. This is where my apology matters. Whether or not the one I speak it to accepts, my concern is more about my heart being sure of what I say.

* The Animals

It’s a stunning view when you see cloud cover hide an entire mountain top, leaving only the lower hill area exposed so you understand the size of what you are looking at. When I watched this from a distance I was wondering what it might feel like to be on that mountain this day. To walk in it’s midst. I was fascinated to watch the cloud lift and expose the top to my sight…….I long to have my face in the cloud.