Sun warms my skin like Christ warms my soul. While a bee hovers over top keeping a friendly watch.
I feel, at times, I become lost in this stunning sea of creation. Falling forward, to quickly overwhelmed by the smell of leaves dead and alive. The distinctive sweet smokey smell of pine needles.
I sit back upon Ponderosa Pine. It holds me, it hugs me. Like a good friend does. There are moments of light and there are moments of darkness. But these places feel safe. These places feel home.
This is where it feels best. Out here in the vast vegetation of natural inspiration. Feeding and building upon this playground of thoughts, prayers and stillness.
The breeze...The breeze helps creation wave in the midst of joyful arms that are lifted up in constant praise. These arms of trees...Branches.
Forever grateful for being created for a purpose.
It's amazing what, "practicing the pause", can really unlock, breaking away bits and pieces of these man made stone walls.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Births and Deaths
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[a] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Births and deaths. There are new things that happen in our lives that cause rebirths of realizing Gods love and our need for knowing and feeling Gods love. There are also deaths that mark the ends of pieces that we used to be. All these things happening in this small tiny sprint called life to do our best to neither gain or loose that love that God pours upon us.
There was a birth yesterday, among the trees. Among the tall trees of Doug Fir, Red giants and spunky Pines. My feet move swiftly upon the earth with company as we laughed and jumped on duff. Getting lost, following tracks as they bend around mountains and switch back and forth. Smells of steel, coal and Ponderosa Pine. I am distracted by the vibrant greens and browns that shimmer from glory rays through tree tops. Beautiful.
Jetting off the tracks to run and explore massive trunks and stumps like curious kids we were created to be. Glory to God in the highest.
This tent was hugged into the creation that is always new yet so old. But constantly being rediscovered. Being born into different seasons and perspectives. New eyes... Revivals.
There are deaths too... But all of it comes to this:
I am a new creation. Because of all of these things I am made new. Everyday.
New Living Translation (NLT)
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[a] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Births and deaths. There are new things that happen in our lives that cause rebirths of realizing Gods love and our need for knowing and feeling Gods love. There are also deaths that mark the ends of pieces that we used to be. All these things happening in this small tiny sprint called life to do our best to neither gain or loose that love that God pours upon us.
There was a birth yesterday, among the trees. Among the tall trees of Doug Fir, Red giants and spunky Pines. My feet move swiftly upon the earth with company as we laughed and jumped on duff. Getting lost, following tracks as they bend around mountains and switch back and forth. Smells of steel, coal and Ponderosa Pine. I am distracted by the vibrant greens and browns that shimmer from glory rays through tree tops. Beautiful.
Jetting off the tracks to run and explore massive trunks and stumps like curious kids we were created to be. Glory to God in the highest.
This tent was hugged into the creation that is always new yet so old. But constantly being rediscovered. Being born into different seasons and perspectives. New eyes... Revivals.
There are deaths too... But all of it comes to this:
I am a new creation. Because of all of these things I am made new. Everyday.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Blank Pages
I picked up a new mole skin today. I looked at it as I sat back into the car and thought about how this little book simply just does not have enough pages. Thinking back upon how quickly I filled my last journal I jumped to a thought of racking up millage for marathon training. Once you get past a certain number, the numbers don't really matter. It's about endurance. But what does it matter? Running or writing? There are not enough pages in this little black book. Looking towards the collections on my dresser of little books with words in them. Many, many words.
There will never be a little book big enough to hold all the words that bleed onto each page. These books are temporary. Just like this tent. Writing in this little black, soft covered, lined book seems so meaningless when you have such little room.
Isn't that the same as life though? We put ourselves into these edged boxes of criteria. But it's what we do with what we create inside of it. It's what bursts into life from just thoughts developing into plans that then become actions and then experiences.
These blank pages have plenty of potential... Let's get started.
There will never be a little book big enough to hold all the words that bleed onto each page. These books are temporary. Just like this tent. Writing in this little black, soft covered, lined book seems so meaningless when you have such little room.
Isn't that the same as life though? We put ourselves into these edged boxes of criteria. But it's what we do with what we create inside of it. It's what bursts into life from just thoughts developing into plans that then become actions and then experiences.
These blank pages have plenty of potential... Let's get started.
Things.
Things I have noticed as of late:
-Rain is beautiful.
-Quality time is key.
-Sleeping while it rains is delicate and sweet.
-Old places become newer all the time.
-Gods words speak louder truth than any of us ever could.
-Honest is better than excuse.
-Running in the rain is freeing.
-Prayer travels faster than text messages or internet.
-Unplugging from technology and plugging into creation is good for everything.
-Gods timing in all things is best.
-"I really love you" swells the heart even more than, "I love you".
-Being blunt is good.
-So is grieving.
-Body aches and soreness is one of the best feelings.
-Seasons like these are simply stunning.
-Rain is beautiful.
-Quality time is key.
-Sleeping while it rains is delicate and sweet.
-Old places become newer all the time.
-Gods words speak louder truth than any of us ever could.
-Honest is better than excuse.
-Running in the rain is freeing.
-Prayer travels faster than text messages or internet.
-Unplugging from technology and plugging into creation is good for everything.
-Gods timing in all things is best.
-"I really love you" swells the heart even more than, "I love you".
-Being blunt is good.
-So is grieving.
-Body aches and soreness is one of the best feelings.
-Seasons like these are simply stunning.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
If you want me to.
Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
15 Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.[b]
16 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
17 I said to myself,
“God will bring into judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.”
18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath[c]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
Keep reading...
Tonight I began to understand more- Better. This fire, this calling is not something we learn. It is something that God builds within our DNA. It is what has been planned from the very beginning. It is clear to see that our futures are unclear to us. But to our incredible Father, it is crystal clear.
It may not be the way we choose but God, you never said it would be easy. Whoa am I thankful and filled with such things I can't create words while feeling your grace and love tonight.
As I lay my head down tonight I pray for the children... Your children. That you would protect those who have met you and those who have yet to. I thank you for these scars that you lay upon us, to remind us. I pray that I could even feel a mere splinter of what you feel.
Bending... Breaking...Mending
Praise God.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Thoughts bubbling like a 3rd grade Science project
My mind is reeling upon why the Lord does what He does. I feel like at times He awakens us from night terrors. Rocking our R.E.M. Cycles of comfort and repetition. Pulling the covers off our bodies to feel the weather of reality around us. Which then makes me think...
How can I fix this for myself? How do I make myself more comfortable? But (really) how can I tell others to put on a jacket? To take care of themselves? Or better yet, let the Lord take care of them?
Micah 2:6-13
6 “Do not prophesy,” their prophets say.
“Do not prophesy about these things;
disgrace will not overtake us.”
7 You descendants of Jacob, should it be said,
“Does the LORD become[a] impatient?
Does he do such things?”
“Do not my words do good
to the one whose ways are upright?
8 Lately my people have risen up
like an enemy.
You strip off the rich robe
from those who pass by without a care,
like men returning from battle.
9 You drive the women of my people
from their pleasant homes.
You take away my blessing
from their children forever.
10 Get up, go away!
For this is not your resting place,
because it is defiled,
it is ruined, beyond all remedy.
11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says,
‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’
that would be just the prophet for this people!
I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
like a flock in its pasture;
the place will throng with people.
13 The One who breaks open the way will go up before them;
they will break through the gate and go out.
Their King will pass through before them,
the LORD at their head.”
For serious now. These aren't things to be ignored. Not something to wake up lightly enough to throw your leg out of the comforter to become apart of the club.
God's been shaking me awake lately. Making me see what things have been eating away at my everything while equally causing saw dust to cover up what is true. What must I do to sweep up this place? This place meaning my views and perspectives. My patience and my heart. How do I unclog such places so that they openly flow again?
I'm sorry if none of that makes sense. If it does make sense, do you feel me and do you agree?
...What a chain reaction that comes from two simple words,
"Follow me".
How can I fix this for myself? How do I make myself more comfortable? But (really) how can I tell others to put on a jacket? To take care of themselves? Or better yet, let the Lord take care of them?
Micah 2:6-13
6 “Do not prophesy,” their prophets say.
“Do not prophesy about these things;
disgrace will not overtake us.”
7 You descendants of Jacob, should it be said,
“Does the LORD become[a] impatient?
Does he do such things?”
“Do not my words do good
to the one whose ways are upright?
8 Lately my people have risen up
like an enemy.
You strip off the rich robe
from those who pass by without a care,
like men returning from battle.
9 You drive the women of my people
from their pleasant homes.
You take away my blessing
from their children forever.
10 Get up, go away!
For this is not your resting place,
because it is defiled,
it is ruined, beyond all remedy.
11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says,
‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’
that would be just the prophet for this people!
Deliverance Promised
12 “I will surely gather all of you, Jacob;I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
like a flock in its pasture;
the place will throng with people.
13 The One who breaks open the way will go up before them;
they will break through the gate and go out.
Their King will pass through before them,
the LORD at their head.”
For serious now. These aren't things to be ignored. Not something to wake up lightly enough to throw your leg out of the comforter to become apart of the club.
God's been shaking me awake lately. Making me see what things have been eating away at my everything while equally causing saw dust to cover up what is true. What must I do to sweep up this place? This place meaning my views and perspectives. My patience and my heart. How do I unclog such places so that they openly flow again?
I'm sorry if none of that makes sense. If it does make sense, do you feel me and do you agree?
...What a chain reaction that comes from two simple words,
"Follow me".
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