A buzz phrase sizzles in the community of those who seek something more than themselves; “social justice”. We need to have eyes to recognize what true justice looks like or we may be swept away by distractions. Emotional exhaustion will culminate without true hearts moving in love, mercy and compassion.
Cocoon
My memories held me in a cocoon. I felt trapped within. My body and mind hurt to sort them out. I lay still, waiting for revelation of hope and truth. In this place of rest a catharsis takes place. Soon enough I emerge into freedom.
HE Will Wait
She sits in a corner wondering, “does anyone see me?” She says nothing to draw attention to herself. HE watches her and says “I SEE YOU”! HE reaches out HIS arms to embrace her with truth and encouragement. HE is gentle and slow. She has not yet eyes to recognize HIS love. Her heart is curious to wonder, but she is scared to draw near to this much truth. HE will wait for HIS bride.
Fighting Against Forces
Anger was waging war within my soul and I was right to feel it. The difficult part was understanding how to focus its rage in the right direction. Words come registering the truth of who we are and what we are meant to do.
“Back off I’ll take you on, head strong to take on anyone, I know that you are wrong and this is not where you belong” *
Eph 6:12 (CEV) We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world.
* Lyrics by Trapt, Head StrongI Want To Hold Your Hand
He reached for my hand and I could feel his fingers intertwine with mine. It might be just another day, but when I paid attention, I remembered to absorb how special these moments could be. We had a chore to accomplish and he willingly met me to get it done together. I liked listening to him when he chose to talk. He could make me laugh often. He could make me smile lots.
Do We Really Know?
He was a man of the church, zealous and devout in his beliefs. He was educated in theology and knew his bible inside out. Saul even went to a high priest of his church asking permission to continue persecuting other believers he felt were spreading false teaching. This permission was given. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Acts 9:4-5a
This is a wonderful lesson in how we can know our word but still not know our Lord Jesus. Even our leaders can stumble in this area. We can be religious without ever being the love we are meant to be.
Who Are You Praying For?
I can only wonder at the outcome of those I pray for?….. The young man had no arm but he lifted his stump freely. His empty white sleeve waved like some kind of flag. At some point he shook my hand and offered a genuine smile. Later I heard his story and hope embraced my heart again. His story was that of “drug dealer and player”. He died in a car accident and experienced hell, but also encountered Jesus’ hope. He was given grace to come back to life, to share his testimony. This encounter changed his life as he had known it. I rejoice with this young man for reasons personal to my own heart.
When I heard him speak, someone asked him a pertinent question, “who prayed for you?” He responded that it had been a grandparent…who are you praying for?
Something Of Worth
Time is precious. The value of this currency often gets lost among media pressures to spend it. None of us knows the number of days within our banks. Do we have more or do we have less? If we knew, would we spend it differently? Confronting this thought on a regular basis, we can make each day count for something of worth.
In His People
You were spotted when you came out of hiding. Your poison you wanted to infect us with. Your restrictions you wanted to exert over freedoms. Your tricks have not changed from times of old. You still try to use sickness, disease, religion and fear to control hearts. A bitterness you tried to bring but it was not received. Even when you tried to disguise yourself in light, you were exposed to the true light of love. You have met Jesus in His people.
Joh 4:23-24 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Shadow Of Turning
I live in a world where black and white fight to exist and it often bleeds into gray; a world where shadows exist. Righteousness battles wickedness; and the lines blur for those who lose their way. A compromised heart begins to say navigation is possible in shady places.
We must fly above these lies. We must fly through clouds of obscurity…
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.