Land of Lynne

Changes

2009-09-29T20:39:00.000-07:00

I am once again looking at the computer screen and noticing the time. I am doing what I have done countless times before today with a near reckless abandon in lieu of the fact that I do have to wake up in the morning. That has not changed. I steal this time from the land of dreams regardless of the inevitable consequences. I always have something to say; yet train my internal monologue to seep out in controlled deposits. I love writing; and that has not changed.

Situations change. Jobs come and go. Right now, the job I had has gone on hiatus. That hiatus may end...or it may not. I look for work. I work on my resume. I put the word out in my circles that I am on the hunt for a weekly paycheck and a return to the full-throttle life that I have become accustomed to living. I have been forced to change; and therefore re-evaluate what I want and who I am in the interim. I'm sure that sounds familiar to millions of people in the world today. I am not alone; though the pothole of self-pity tries to suck me in and believe that a job loss devalues me. Work is important. I'm one of those folks that like working.

Ultimately, the changes that come will be filtered through the perceptions that I choose to hold on to in the midst of maleable circumstance. I think I will do better to keep an eye out for the potholes and head for the higher ground at the same time. Opportunity will come for me to use what talents I have to hopefully be a blessing. How many changes will sneak up on me in the future? I am thankful that I am not presently aware of them all; as that knowledge would probably not benefit my mental health. I don't need to know all that will happen five years from now. I have my hands full with today.

Chin up, faith intact, and moving onward; I will meet these changes with a confident mantle. Each day is fresh and will offer new changes to help replace the older ones. It's always something; and these little pep-talks will need to be repeated with each dawn. At this rate, I don't think this day's daybreak will engender an immediate pep-talk. Prayer will be in order in order for me to make it over to the pep-talk station. In that spirit; I shall bid you goodnight.

Cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven to you...

Lynne

The Crown of Age

2009-01-18T14:02:00.000-08:00

Recently, I have gone through the experience of having another birthday. I won't go into detail with regards to how many candles might have been placed on my cake; but I will say that I insist on only one to save the fire department grief in the process. Philosophy has decided to roost in my spirit as a result of spending a few too many minutes pondering the past year. In order to break the gaze I had going on my navel; I reminded myself of what I think is most important.

Gray hair happens. Life happens. Friends move on and leave us lonely for a while in the wake of their departure. New challenges present themselves that look a whole lot like the mountain that just began to fade behind me. I am not quite sure that I have caught my breath yet. I am older, but am I wiser for the year added to my life? I can imagine that someone out there is thinking that I need to get over myself and just move on.

In a way, I agree. I do not live under oppressive government controls; I am not in prison or breathing my last few breaths in a hospital. I have children and they are healthy. The Lord takes care of me in ways that I'm sure I cannot fathom. In short, you may wonder what I am complaining about. That is a valid question.

My guess is that I am longing to be who I was created to be; and seeing all too well that my warts and ingrown energies are, of course, failing to protect me from life's bumps and bruises. What do I think I can accomplish by being angry that I cannot reach that perfect place where all of my challenges are resolved? I feel like a brat; demanding of heaven what my shortsighted vision sees as imperative to my happiness.

I pray that His joy once again overtakes my arid spirit and renews my vision and will to follow after that more excellent way that Christ spoke of in the gospels. I want to dance like David danced. I long to discern and go after that still small voice that beckons me to the paths of life.

My hunger draws me onward; towards re-evalutation, towards a necessary repentance of what I know better than to do, and a renewed sense of direction on a daily basis. My consolation lies in the assurance that He is faithful; and that He is waiting to guide me back to where He would have me be.

I will close with one of my grandmother's favorite scripture verses.In Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." I pray that my heart and my mouth will be transformed by the time that the candles are blown out on my birthday cake next year.

Cup o' joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

Just A Word?

2009-01-05T12:52:00.001-08:00

I have been thinking about the impact that words have. They flood our ears and manipulate our emotions. The right word at the right time can be an almost magical entity; whereas cutting phrases aimed with razor sharp precision wound so many of us. I cannot buy into the thought that words are just words. I am a writer and that may have something to do with it; but there is more at stake than that. Words have power.

Scriptures say much about our use of words. The book of Genesis talks about how God spoke and creation came into being. Believers are encouraged, exhorted, and warned about the use and misuse of speech in everyday life. The way that we use words matters to God and to others around us. It makes a difference when we use speech to encourage each other instead of throwing insults to buffer our pride. It makes a difference when we pray for the irritating people that we live with in our daily lives.

I will be continuing this theme in the next few posts. I will share what I believe that Scripture has to say about the matter. His words are life to us. In light of that truth;I pray that the Lord blesses my efforts at relaying what I believe He has laid on my heart. I look forward to hearing from you.

Cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven to you...

Lynne

December Fades

2008-12-28T13:20:00.000-08:00

Short days
follow crisp winds;
reflections on the soul's waters
bring shadows of memory,
lights of discovery,
and clarified goals...
December fades into the winter paths
of January...
leaving behind the celebration
of the Christmas glory.

Sacrifice of Praise

2008-09-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about those verses in the Scriptures that speak of the act of praising God. Offering up a sacrifice of praise seems to invite the Spirit of God into our circumstance. My meager understanding was enough to pull a few words out of my spirit and through the keyboard of the computer. May He bring you to a place of praise for your benefit as well as for His glory.

The sacrifice of praise
arose from the ashes;
scenting the offering's remnants.
Joy had come in the morning;
growing from the bile grown in
the gardens of self-seeking...
Act of will and sound of weeping
coming together to offer
the sacrifice of praise
until the emotion caught up
with the act of faith.

Discovery

2008-08-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

I'm learning,
leaning,
enjoying the view...
knowing that I can depend
upon the strength of your tender mercies...

I'm rejoicing in sorrows;
releasing my burdens into the hands
of One who knows that my frame is...dust...

You've known my ways
and see past the blinders I cling to;
even when I run into walls
by refusing to take them off...

You've treasured my voice
as I've come before you in pained entreaty...
drawing me to Your heart
as I look for Your face in the melee of circumstance.

You've held me close
and listened patiently
as myopia shaded Your hand from my view...
knowing that I would be rewarded for
my longing for Your truth to be made known to me...

Psalm 19:1

2008-08-11T16:45:00.000-07:00

"The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork."

I've taken it to heart to study the clouds as of late. The crisp edges and the darker corners of these vaporous formations enthrall me. They rise up to the heavens; bringing our gaze upwards towards the One who created thm as a nartural part of human existence.

Clouds have been instruments of divine guidance(way back in Genesis), rorschach tests between human psyche unwilling to leak the contents of their soul to mortal agents, and wonderful distractions. The unreachable canvas of the sky holds its' majestic inhabitants in parading costume. They are not usually controlled by human interventions(i.e. cloud seeding).

I imagine while I am watching the clouds that God has an extrordinary sense of beauty and its' importance to the human psyche. I can further imagine that their temporal beauty is only outdone by the eternal beauty that rests beyond our sight. I cannot imagine the beauty of heaven. Mercy does not permit me to gaze upon realms of glory while my body is still among the material of earth. Watching the clouds gives me a miniscule taste of that glory; and for the moment I am satisfied.

Enjoy the clouds and linger to send up a prayer for His presence in your life. Mentally send your concerns on the air in the middle of those vaporous creations; allowing His hand to reach where mortal reasoning cannot...

...and then have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

Saturday's Child

2008-07-19T03:33:00.001-07:00

"Saturday's Child works hard for a living"
-Mother Goose nursery rhyme

This title is the first thing that popped into my head this morning. I'm going to take a wild leap and write my post about it. Mother Goose is hardly the highest expression of literary merit; but it still has a treasured place as a memento of childhood. I can imagine mothers everywhere sitting down with their children and reading them a nursery rhyme before bedtime or naptime. Language has a wonderful way of connecting people at heart level.

I am thinking of myself as a Saturday's child at the moment. I am going to be working hard to help support my family in the years to come. What a joy this is going to be; aside from the lost time with those I am working to support. Standing at the foot of the cross in supplication for mercy and grace each day; I am going to offer up my efforts to the Lord and ask Him to bless them. Money goes fast and there are needs that a paycheck cannot meet. I am a Saturday's child in the respect that I am going to be working hard for a living; yet I have a heavenly Father that is intimately concerned with the unfolding of my days. I am going to trust Him to "supply all my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus" and rest in His faithfulness to do just that. ("And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:19).

This is the day that He has made for His glory. My joy will come as I offer up my day to Him as an act of worship. The invitation is given for Him to take my tiny hand and lead me where He wants me to go; and be who He wants me to be for today. Saturday's child works hard for a living...but sees that work as an opportunity to step into destiny's footprints. Praising Him will be part of that walk; as He will inhabit those praises(Psalm 22:3 NKJV)and bring me into His presence.

My prayer for you today will be for Him to inhabit your praises. Enjoy the work that you find to do and rejoice in it; redeeming the time for His glory.

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

Reaching

2008-07-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

Stretching up towards Heaven's shores;
my rumbling spirit leads me on
towards the reward of His sustaining joy.
Captured by grace;
my longing draws me towards
the hem of His garment;
My hands raised and stretching themselves
past normal expression;
full expectation of His hand reaching down
to meet me in my need...
Stretching up towards Heaven's shores;
my hunger propels me on...
setting my eyes on those tasks that
warm the Father's heart.

Mental Deposits

2008-06-30T03:53:00.000-07:00

I have a writer's imagination. My thought processes jump into the fanciful and sublime and then back to the practical. Daydreaming is a plethora of material; as the pictures play like a movie in my head. In short, I have something brewing in my spirit. It isn't complete; but then again it will never be this side of Glory. It is as if the Lord is doodling in my mind. Rest assured I mean no disrespect to the Most High; I simply lack adequate ability to express what I see in my mind's eye. I need much help from the Lord in this respect; and figure that He can supply the words to match my mental images.

His Word draws me into the feast of the Spirit. He has what I need to survive and hopefully thrive as I follow Him into this adventure of writing. Do I ever hope to publish someday? I will confess that I do have that hope; but it is not the ultimate test of artistic expression. I shall write as I sense Him leading me to write; and that alone is justification for the act.

In concluding this brief expository adventure(and thanks for hanging in there with me, by the way...), Let me express the joy that He gives as He allows me to share what He gives me with you. Come on back and share your mental deposits with me as you are able. His joy is expanded among us as we share in His goodness.

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

Note from the Land of Lynne

2008-06-17T19:58:00.001-07:00

I have posted two pieces today. I've just had a bunch of material brewing; and don't want to burden the other blogs. Actually, I have a new one on the Edge; so I have confess to that one...Be blessed.

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

Father

2008-06-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

Father,
Do I please You?
Have I measured up
to who You made me to be?
I need You.
You alone know my heart;
and where the arid places
await the rain...
My fear will bow
to faith once more;
as Your word
Keeps me treading water;
and praising You
for Your willingness to pay so willingly
for what I cannot afford to live without.

Choosing Words

2008-06-16T19:24:00.000-07:00

I am sitting down to the computer with a measure of intrepidation tonight. I don't have writer's block at the moment; though indecision over a choice of words has been known to hold me back from finishing some pieces of writing. I am feeling like a tube of toothpaste lately. My mouth opens; and the squishy stuff just oozes. I don't always see the color of the ooze until the words are on the page. Thus, I end up feeling a bit naked. That happens to creative types; we create out of our perception, out of inspiration; and a problem arises when we don't know our own hearts. The problem is: the human heart is deceitful. It's contents are often beyond our best mental gymnastics. Perhaps I speak only for myself; bear with me in that event and just nod when you agree:).

The fire to create that burns within me needs balance; if only to keep me on this side of a locked door. That balance comes as I evalutate the worth of a piece of writing in light of human experience and my understanding of Biblical truth. I am far from perfected in this quest; and will be imperfect until I reach glory(and by that time, language as we know it will probably undergo a few changes at least).

There are those rooms in each of our souls that we keep under lock and key. The shadows and the whispers they contain hold the power to free us or maim us; depending on when and if we unlock the door. That fear of being a "black hole of ministry" can certainly keep my locks safe and ward off the use of a key. I am propelled towards hiding in the shadows to make the futile attempt to put the rooms in order without assistance from the outside world. Ideally, the Lord himself will be in charge of the inventory and protect me from others and myself. Reality lauches a series of leaks grown out of loneliness, misguided defense mechanisms, and just the exposure of daily living. We are what we think; and those gems or impurities rise to the surface. Our skeletons rattle in the closet until we let them out in an attempt to find peace.

That peace only comes from leaning on Jesus and the blessed fellowship of the saints. We cannot hold every piece within our rooms on our own and expect to make a picture out of them. We need the Lord's hand, the interaction of our brothers and sisters; and the courage to step out in faith into each new day. There is a price tag to everything; and the cost can leave us depleted or enriched. The full picture cannot be seen apart from a combination of all of these factors.

Thankfully, I can run to my strong tower of safety and find rest. I can check my perceptions against the reality of what God says about me. Truth will set me free; as it has for so many that have come before me. Whatever He uses to bring fresh levels of wholeness to my being is His business.

Ultimately, I pray to be more of a blessing than a burden. My temptation to just hide until I can fix the marred puzzle pieces is strong; tying me with cords of shame. I can apologize for breathing if you catch me on the right day; and I will mean it from the depths of my being. My only hope is in touching the hem of His garment; for there is where the scales on my eyes fall off and the rejoicing begins.
He is able to do what I cannot do; and His sacrifice of love enables me to keep reaching for grace.

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

I've had the following verses brewing in me as I wrote this:
John 3:16
Psalm 144
James 4
...and many more I will discuss at a later date:).

More joy,
Lynne

Face in Hands

2008-06-09T03:02:00.000-07:00

Face turned upwards;
allowing the hands to
lift the countenance towards
renewed perspective...
I am held in love,
sought after and
devotedly pursued
amid the sound of singing...
Oh, His eyes toward me
melt the hardened places;
ordering my perceptions
toward the eternal,
toward the pure-flowing streams...
...and toward the joy rediscovered
in the midst of memory-walk.

Psalm 81:1&2

2008-06-02T04:03:00.000-07:00

Sing Alound to God our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.
Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute.

Come, Lord, and inhabit my praises;
for You are the source of my joy...
You provide for my every need
by the grace and the mercy provided...
I will sing aloud to You, O God!
I will make a joyful noise to rise up
to the clouds and beyond.
I will purpose in my heart
to gaze on Your creation in remembrance
of all You have done,
all that You promise,
and all that You sustain...
Come, Lord, and inhabit my praises;
for You are the source of my joy...
You stir the longing within me for Your presence,
quicken my spirit to hear Your voice,
and bring me to the pleasant places because of
Your lovingkindnesses...
Let my thankful heart invite You
to come transform me;
for Your hand alone will bring me to
the fruition of the promise.

Good Morning

2008-05-26T04:25:00.000-07:00

Greetings and salutations to you all. I have dishes waiting for me in the sink, and I still haven't dressed my feet. Yet, I find the time to sit at the computer and play with the keyboard:). Same old Lynne! I tend to find the time to do what I want to do; whether or not it follows the pattern of responsible decision-making. I'm still waiting to see if I am going to grow up or not. It doesn't look promising as I see the hill fast approaching. Still, I take each day as it comes; as the days tend to stick together and pile up like old mail. I need to make the determination to stop saving those silly pieces of junk mail for book marks and scrap paper. They get lost and I am scrambling to replace the information I need to keep in a more dependable place. I am saying all this to eventually make it to the point of the post: it's always something.
I am believing that the Lord's mercies are new for me this morning. Those tiny habits and sins that clog the flow of efficient living are probably there because I haven't decided to alter them and/or replace them with new habits and perspectives. Let's hear it for new beginnings. What do you hope to adjust in your daily life to make the days easier or more productive? (Am I really being this anal this early in the day? I suppose that I am just a little interesting to the Psychiatric profession as a result).
By God's grace and mercy I will make it from point a to point b today. Those challenges that loom will be pushed aside by the blessings of the day for a time; and that is as it should be. In order to gear up for the challenges; I think we first need to replentish the hope and perspective to make the best choices that we can make. An attitude of gratitude will sustain when the potholes pop up on our path. May the Lord quicken our feet to step to the side just in time; preventing us from risking life and limb in the pit.
He loves us with a passion that goes beyond our ability to comprehend. Join me today in remembering that passion as we approach a new day. He has made this day for His glory and supplies all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. Let's get our praise on and rejoice that He is thinking of us today and every day. May we be changed by focusing our eyes on the riches of His word.

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...
Lynne

Just Thinking...

2008-05-16T04:21:00.001-07:00

Today marks the(eventual)closing of another week. It seems as if this week has been a bit stressful; dodging "bullets" and apologizing for missed appointments. I am making plans to retrain for a new career, and yet still dreaming of the writing life. The two will have to get along; as they have no choice in the matter. Each day is fresh with no mistakes in it(though that lasts for only a short time). I am taking a deep breath and diving into another day with hope intact.
It's always someting. The "trick" of surviving daily life is to tie the knot securely and get as comfortable as possible on that knot. Rope burns are minimized if you keep your eyes on the prize: living for Christ. Perspective will come, and the blur in your eyes from fretting over the temporal, passing scenes will clear to reveal new hope and new challenges. Oh, my understanding is incomplete to be sure! I grasp and shake my head at the same time some days. Still, I am sustained by grace. The Lord has provided for my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.
I shall pray today that you can keep your perspective as well. I have been reading in Philippians(4:6&7)about not focusing on those things that bring anxiety and concern. Seems like a lofty goal as I function in an earthsuit, but I will keep refocusing my gaze and praying until it becomes more of a habit in my life. How about you? I invite you to seek God today in your moments of doubt...and in your moments of joy.

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

Smoke Signals

2008-05-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

Remove the root that festers;
sustaining rot and that putrid stench
of that which has gone bad...
Trace the arrow back to the point of entry, Lord...
calling to mind the sin inflicted by my own hand;
and carving off the calloused flesh to allow
new levels of healing...
draw out the poison, Lord...
and renew the springs of hope and forgiveness;
for what have I done that You cannot forgive?
what have they done that I cannot give a piece of my heart
as a downpayment towards a full release from my judgement?
Soften my heart to seek Your face on that journey towards renewal...
loosening the grip I have on the door I push against to guard against light.
Remove the root that poisons the waters;
and draw back the scales from my eyes.

It's Me Again...

2008-05-04T03:58:00.000-07:00

Morning! I just added a new feature on the bottom of my blog page. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you will see a thought-provoking question with list of multiple choice answers. I hope you take a few minutes to put your two-cents into the mix:). I am looking forward to the responses; and I will be sure to change the question once a month(which gives more folks time to put in their two cents:).

Cup o'joy...
Lynne

Addendum...

2008-05-04T03:32:00.000-07:00

I neglected to mention that I am stuck on the NKJV these days. I took the last verses I posted on the blog from the NKJV(New King James Version).

Joy and fresh bread...
Lynne

Rejoice...

2008-05-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

Philippians 4:4-9

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God;and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

This verse goes with the last post. There is so much in it that I could write for a lifetime on all the Spirit stirs up within me as I read it. I pray that He would show you today how to rejoice in Him. In these days of anxiety, I pray that He teaches us anew how to stay in an attitude of prayer. We need His strength to focus on those things that are lovely, true, of good report, and praiseworthy. Let's praise Him and invite His presence in our lives; and may it increase in the days to come.

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

Dancing in the Raindrops

2008-05-02T19:32:00.000-07:00

"Rejoice" He says...
while the apparent scent of dung
floats up to my nostrils;
burning away any illusion of
easy jubilation...
Still, act of will
and leap of faith
combine to form a tenuous bridge
towards grace and gratitude;
knowing that my eyes are not accustomed
to seeing the rush of angels' wings...
"Rejoice in the Lord always..."
brought a puzzling rampage of inner rebellion;
as my selfish desires pushed themselves to the
forerfront of my consciousness.
Finally...
I looked down and noticed the water slapping playfully
against my dancing feet;
bringing me to the foot of the cross
and arising again with the jubilation of knowing His presence...
Once again, I see His beauty in the water of provision
and rejoice in the promise that the droughts have their endings.

Re-Runs and Cold Pizza...

2008-04-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

I recall when I was a single gal and in my first apartment that a Saturday night could very well include a good book and a plate containing a couple of pieces of cold pizza. Cold pizza and iced coffee are wonderful bedfellows. Maybe it would be a re-run of an old TV show. I am stepping out of the closet as a Trekkie...

The re-run was not the only thing that repeated in this scenario. I would sometimes have to reach for the tums, an open window, or a combination of both. Freedom is a dangerous thing when it is indulged in to excess. Had I kept more company as a grave-shift hermit, I might have been forced to eschew such behavior in favor of being more sociable.

Human nature tends to seek out the comfortable and familiar places and routines; returning to a previous path has its' allure. Re-runs end the way that we expect them to. Cold pizza tastes like...cold pizza. It may be an aquired taste, but once you have it programmed in your neurons; it is found in the endorphin zone:).

New life has its' way of moving us past our comfort zones towards unexplored country, however. Life has changed and expanded the sights and sounds of daily life for me. Luckily for me, my husband also likes re-runs and cold pizza. What a man. He turns on the tube, and I reach for the pizza and the window...and there is love:)...Heaven alone can surpass such simple joys. I can hardly wait.

Cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven....

Lynne

Joy In The Journey

2008-04-11T22:05:00.000-07:00

I may be taking a leap of faith with regards to what I sense as the Lord's leading, but I am thinking that I am being encouraged to remember that there is much joy in the journey with Him(even in the midst of stressful situations). I am not talking about being happy with the situation at hand. No. I am really not saying that...

However, there are moments to be grasped and praises to be sung in the midst of anything. He inhabits our praises and ushers in words of comfort by the Holy Spirit
when we seek Him with our whole heart. Trying to see the situation from His perspective isn't always possible; but just making the effort to remember that His ways are past our understanding can jolt us out of a self-inflicted pity party. If I am "going down", I want to "go down" swinging. You may think of it as a giant raspberry in the face of our adversary. "I still love the Lord, even though I am confused at the moment. So there."

He is worthy of our praise in the valleys as well as the mountains. My prayer is to stay out of the pit as much as possible. I am setting the goal on the prize of being like Him. If I fall on my derriere, I want as much cushion as possible. Praise is like that cushion...bringing the joy of Lord into the darkness of the valleys. He is able to make all things new in His timing. He is that awesome.

Have a cup o'joy and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

Praying for Patience...

2008-04-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

I think I must have been praying for patience lately. I am pushing jello up a hill, it seems; and the result is a mess. I am honestly a tad irritated, confused, and would just like to "take my ball and go home." This sounds pretty human, and it is. On days like this, I think I can understand why hermits sign off on the normal bumps and bruises brought on by interpersonal contact. We seem to grow contentious quite easily; brandying about strong emotional responses to comments not intended to inflame either soul or spirit. I am ready to fight.

On the other hand, I am praying with confidence that the events of my days will either blow over or morph into a glorious blessing that I haven't fathomed yet. I am still trying to clean the steam from my lenses brought about by the emissions of my ears. I know it must be either for my good or brought about by my own human failing. I am going to go for a walk or just consider conversation kept on a most superficial level for about a week as a breather. I might look for the bullseye my husband uses to practice his archery skill just to take out some of my aggression. The dross has to go somewhere; and I figure that is a safe outlet.

The only thing left to do is to lay my heart before the Lord and just seek Him with regards to what I am doing wrong. It is not my responsibility to explain myself ad nauseum until the other parties are convinced I am in the right. I am not sure I am right in the first place. He knows what's best. I, for one, don't want to talk to another human being until the Lord and myself have had some time together. He is my hiding place, and I rejoice in knowing that He has an answer. The question is: am I going to listen? I pray that I do.
Joy in the Journey,
Lynne

The Learning Curve

2008-04-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

I recall the phrase "grading on the curve" in school. It was a mixed bag, as I never knew if the grade I received was a true reflection of the quality of work I produced. I am sure it pulled my fat out of the fire academically a few times; I must admit. There is no pride in that admission; only guilt. What does this have to do with my post? Hang in there, and you will see...
Can you imagine if God "graded us on the curve"? What a mess that would be. He has standards; not a round-table of discussion with regards to what the cost will be for falling off the wagon. It would depend too much on the actions of fickle humanity and the chameleon-like behavior that humanity puts forth as righteous.
It seems to me that we act like He evaluates us on the curve. I know that I do when I start evaluating my worth against what others are able to do. I am not them; and that sets up an impossible standard. My learning curve is set by the Lord; and not by evaluating my worth against what others are called to do and to be. I would love to be able to master music theory, understand physics, or publish a novel. It would even be nice to hike the Appalachian trail or work out of my house and make enough money to put my kids through college. The eye is never satisfied.
Instead, I propose that the learning curve begin where we are. Wherever we are on the journey towards becoming like Him, let's begin each day with the expectancy that comes from knowing who He is. That is the best place to be on the learning curve.

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Love,
Lynne

To Grow Where I am Planted

2008-03-29T15:55:00.000-07:00

I have a plaque hanging in my bathroom that exhorts me to realize that God blesses every day(and it is up to me to notice). It was given to me by a family member that I cherish. I am reminded of her every morning as I read it, and every night as I get ready for bed. It brings so many things to my mind when I think about what it means to live in joy and celebrate the work of His hands.

In my mind, I am thinking of what I would be like if I truly grasped the faithfulness of God in my circumstances. Do I trust Him? Why don't I trust Him more? Do I really want to "pray for patience" in order to grow more like Him? I don't want to take on more than I can handle; but do I really know what I can handle? He tells me that I am never given more than I can handle. I confess that I doubt that He knows what He is doing sometimes when it comes to that question. Is that sin? Yes. Those moments of cowardice come to me in moments of weakness. He comes through for me. He is faithful.

Choosing to glorify Him right where I am and seek His presence in my daily life is what I think that the phrase means. Is there some measure of contentedness that must come to me in order to achieve this? Perhaps. Is it a sentence to just settle for whatever and not try to develop what I feel drawn towards as my callings in this life? I don't think so.

It is my prayer to discern each day what I need to focus on in order to grow in my walk with the Lord. That punch list will change as I grow closer to His image. That is going to take the rest of my days. In my spirit, I know that it is all worth it; as eternity is in my heart as a draw towards the prize set before me.

Have a cup o'joy,
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven..

Lynne

Singin' and Swingin'

2008-03-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

Singin' and swingin'
and getting merry like Christmas;
I'm getting the hang
of this praisin' thang...
Glory surrounds me
as the song in my heart grows;
carving out nooks for the Spirit
...and washing my spirit
in mercy and grace...
Singin' and swingin'
as a statement of faith;
as I am caught between the now
...and the "not yet" that I am so longing for...

It is Monday again.

2008-03-17T06:41:00.000-07:00

I haven't figured out how to change the date on that last post. Suffice it to say, I did not post it on March 4. Bear with me as I try to figure out how to fix that snafu.

Joy,
Lynne

Mixing Colors

2008-03-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

My daughter has been experimenting with her creative side. Her mediums include crayons, food coloring, and poster paints. Her face is the canvas at times; as she creates new designs on her face, the floor, and the table. She is learning about mixing colors, too. Yesterday, she was experimenting with a kelly green and a stark white. It was a delightful color. I noticed as I started trying to get it out of her bedroom rug.
I think life is much like that rug, in a way. The colors that we have to work with separate and combine as expressions of who we are on any given day. The intensity of the hues varies to the degree that we let light in to either soften the color or keep the intensity strong. Our colors throw shadows and paint either joy or doors that shut out light for a while.
I have always loved the color of royal blue. The intensity and the impression of vibrancy have drawn me as a mosquito to a bug zapper. I could get lost in that color for weeks and not miss the outside world. I need other colors, though. The darker colors add important accents to my life; breaking up the luxurious color experience of the blues and the greens.

My prayer for you is to enjoy the colors you have on your palette today. Make your own music and rejoice in the day that the Lord has given to you.

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

Choosing Joy

2008-03-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

I was listening to a woman on a talk show speak of the power of praising God regardless of circumstance. She went so far as to say that she would respond to an inquiry about how she was doing with a "choosing joy" response. I had recalled the verse that compells us to "choose life", and how our choices add up to either the abundant life or something far less than we were meant to experience. The phrase seemed to make sense. I have been thinking about that choice of joy on and off this week. Yes, I have been "brewing" something in response to that phrase. It will not release me from its' grasp. I figure that I am either just obsessing as a result of a personality quirk or the Lord is really trying to get my attention.

On the way to choosing joy this week, I got stuck here and there on the daily potholes and the overall picture of my life as I see it. Eventually, I started dodging the potholes and refocusing on the Lord. I may have to go back to a few of those potholes and fill them in as a part of being a responsible adult. In the midst of those responsibilities, challenges, and mountain shadows I long to praise Him with a single-minded heart. Regardless of the circumstance I find myself in, He is the Alpha and the Omega. This temporal struggle of life will be a small blip on the screen of eternity. Perspective is powerful; and when powered by faith it is a glorious propellant towards the abundant life.

My prayer today is that we will be enabled by the Holy Spirit to refocus our energies towards that powerful instrument of praise. He is worthy regardless of the view we get from the vantage point of our scratched lenses. His sacrifice and grace enable us to overcome the struggles of walking this earth in our clay packages.

Cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven to you...

Lynne

Attitude

2008-02-24T20:12:00.000-08:00

I have discovered a patch of unloveliness in the pattern of my days this week. It is fair to say that I have been "in touch with my inner...witch...". It has not been either edifying or lovely by any stretch of thought. I have apologized as I have had opportunity, but I still feel as if I am wearing mud on my face. The dirt on my countenance has felt heavy and has thrown a pattern of heavy earth over me. My imagination paints such a picture of human weakness that I am squirming in my skin.

In describing my attitude as unlovely, I have been generous to myself. Irritations have built up and nettled my spirit to set a depth charge to the molten lava within me. Yes, I have been ready to fight and contend with any presented threat to my comfort zone. I've rationalized my attitude to the point where I label it as "crabby". I doubt that Jesus sees it in such frivolous lighting.

The good news about my attitude is that the Lord can change it around and actually use it for good. How? I can't see that far right now; but I know that He forgives and restores as a matter of routine; imparting grace to the human heart that earnestly seeks Him.

I pray to be restored to the joy of the Lord at His earliest convenience. His desire is that I be a blessing to those around me. He knows that I cannot do that in my own strength; and longs to come alongside and within to breathe new life into my frame and spirit. He is always faithful. I only have the longing to be half as loyal to Him as I trod along in this earthsuit. The meeting of the two camps is set to converge at a divinely appointed time.

My prayer is that the appointment is scheduled and attended by both parties before any festering occurs. The inner closet needs some cleaning. I say Spring cleaning takes place now. The abundant life calls for nothing less.

Joy to you,
Lynne

He Is My Joy

2008-02-16T14:48:00.000-08:00

He is my joy in the morning;
showing me the love that endures
in ways my speech cannot convey to mortal ear.

He is my joy through my day's journey;
sustaining the breath within me
by the grace and mercy flowing from the cross.

He quiets me with His love as I lay down upon my bed;
dispelling the fear that looms to steal His joy from my grasp,
and singing His love song to me as I dream of the vineyards.

Greetings!

2008-02-08T23:54:00.001-08:00

I was feeling a bit on the talkative side tonight, and I posted two pieces of mental deposits below this one. I hope there is something that the Lord will use to quicken, soothe, cheer, or bolster you in the coming days.

Joy to you,
Lynne

Glory Train

2008-02-08T23:31:00.000-08:00

I am awake at 2:30 in the morning. My mental soup has been sloshing around up there creating a disrespectable noise as I was attempting to sleep. I was dreaming of water, so I suppose that was, in part, a sign that I needed to get up and take care of business? Ok, that was a valid propellant towards consciousness; yet I would have preferred dreamland. Such is life.
I chose the title of Glory Train for this piece because I have been thinking of the accumulation of choices in everyday life. Those choices propell us towards one direction or another; fueling our future and determining our level of productivity.
Still lost in my mental soup? Well, relief is coming. Take a deep breath and just hang in there with me; I think we'll make it to the end together.
The ingredients in my soup are those verses in scripture that speak of confession and forgiveness, guidance and correction. 1 John 4:19, John 3:16, and many more. Common enough verses; yet living and active as an ingredient when the quiet of night descends and the Spirit whispers into our ears about the coming Glory Train. Perspective becomes clearer when the substance of earth is compared to the
stretch of eternity. These days are part water soluble colors; the oil paint will appear as we make those choices that define our days. How do we discern between the water soluble and the more permanent oil paint in our lives? I am still brewing that batch of soup, yet the flavors come to the fore and impress my palate in a fresh way tonight.
That promise of the new day and the glory of heaven needs to fuel us towards a refined purpose in our days to come. Eternity is a long time; and the ride on the Glory Train is going to be past our ability to comprehend it while in these earthen vessels. He has placed eternity in our hearts to keep our eyes on the Glory Train on its' way for us; making the stops and travel issues more bearable in comparison to that endless day.

The Banner Waves

2008-02-08T23:14:00.000-08:00

I'm trusting for the wind to blow
and push my sinking ship;
towards terra firma p.d.q...
I thought my foot had plugged the hole,
but did it first create
the leaking vortex drawing water
from the sinking craft?

He walked on water, created wine;
from this very stuff...
Oh, to be in posession of the cork
to plug up the hole
and restore said ship to fully functioning status...
fear repented, praise released, in the midst of chaos;
that solid ground will appear on the horizon by the hand of Glory.

In Shades of Green and Blue

2008-02-04T16:19:00.000-08:00

I have been formally bagged by the Green Giant today. I hear of what I see friends and aquaintances are up to, and I feel pressured to catch up. I beat myself up until I am blue in my spirit over what I perceive as lost opportunities and failed attempts to do...something....
I think of what Scriptures say regarding coveting...and the part that says not to do it. I pray that my green fades from the intense kelly green to a more muted moss hue as soon as is humanly(or divinely)possible. I pray that my envy is replaced by a renewed fire to find the path the Lord would have me follow. He has plans for a future and a hope for me. I suppose that I can take it on faith that I have not fallen into disrepair irreparably...
I recall feeling like this as a teenager. I am 40 now. Haven't I outgrown the pubescent yearnings to be someone else? It is more than a rhetorical question. I have to answer it or fail the test again. What is it that they say roses grow in the best? I don't think I heard any mention of rosewater in the expression that I am thinking of. Does that mean my life has to stink before the beauty grows out of it? I think I do reek sometimes, and it isn't of rosewater.
Almighty God is not at fault here. My lenses are corroded and dirty; failing to see what I have been shown. In fact, it is time now to get over myself and do laundry. I am not the only one that reeks; my sink requires a dose of excavation and disinfecting that I have been given the responsibility to take care of on behalf of the family. My blessings overflow...as does my sink.
I am thinking that green is also the color of new growth, spring, and symblolic of new beginnings. Each day is fresh with no mistakes in it...at least for the first ten seconds that we are awake. After that, it is a process of repentance and learning for the rest of the day.
After I do my painting, it is God's idea to shower me with grace; painting that glorious shade of purest white all over me as His love slips in to do a remodeling job on my soul. My spirit is renewed; and I hear Him tell me that His love endures forever.
Lord, quicken my hearing to listen as You try to speak over the noise of my grousing. It was your idea to make me as I am. You have your reasons. Help me not to question the ways in which you put the pieces together. You have the final picture from which to work from; not me.

A New Beginning

2008-01-25T04:02:00.000-08:00

I am looking out my window as I write this, and I see the early morning sun illuminating the landscape. The cars are driving by; on their way to work, I am sure. Back in the house, I am doing what I do; write. This is how most of my days begin. Today is following the pattern. I have heard it said that it takes 30 days to develop a new habit. I am hoping for somewhere between two minutes and a week. I prefer the microwave version of the process; patient being that I am...

It is still January. Traditionally a time of new beginnings. No, I didn't make any resolutions. I tend to panic and break them right away so that the pressure is off. Odd logic, but it is mine; and a sort of escape valve. My point is this: the dawn of a new day in January inspires me to take stock of my life and seek my maker regarding those aspects of my daily life that need ammending. That reminds me...mending...whew...only a few buttons...

My mountains still look like mountains. No amount of dressing them up or reframing them has succeeded in taking them down to mole-hill status. My God is still big enough to handle those mountains, though. I will purpose in my heart to offer Him my hand as I start walking towards those mountains each day. Two steps with Him must be worth more than twenty without Him. My odds of making it are better with the company, I am sure.

I pray that you remember that His mercies are new every morning as you read this. He is faithful in ways we cannot fathom; and our finite minds cannot hold the majesty of His plans. He is with us, and that is what matters. Yes, He is ready to take our hands and lead us on towards new pathways.

Whew! He's got my back. I think I can breathe out now.

Joy to you,
Lynne

Keep on Truckin'

2008-01-22T13:00:00.000-08:00

Gotta keep on truckin', brother;
'cause the road ahead has bumps
you're gonna need to step over...

Gotta keep on truckin', sister;
'cause the steam you give off
is gonna warm someone else's heart...

Makin' it from point a to point b,
hanging on to the Master's hand
and waiting for His tugs of direction;
you'll make it to the finish line
if you just keep truckin' along...

Gotta keep on truckin', and keep your eyes on the prize;
knowing that He has promised to stay near...
keeping on that path that leads to the promised land...

Vine Ripe

2008-01-15T22:41:00.000-08:00

Hanging in there
on the vine;
lifting my feet
to avoid the sharp points
designed to protect the fruit...

Connected to the vine
in ways unseen to me;
rejoicing in the knowledge
that I don't need to see everything
to know that I wont fall off
before the appointed time...

Moments come
and turn into days...
the years take off
and run with reckless abandon;
yet I know that my times
are in His hands;
and I long to become
vine ripe for the attainment of the prize...

Whispers of Micah 7:19

2008-01-10T18:13:00.000-08:00

"He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."-Micah 7:19

You cast our sins
into the depths of the sea;
showering mercy down upon us
to the foot of the cross in repentance...
...and I can imagine how the joy
in Your heart flows down to us;
and returns to Your ears
as the grateful praise for your grace...

The whispers of Micah
envelop me, Lord...
bringing to mind that well worn fishing pole
kept near and ready as I hear You
whisper the words of reassurance to my spirit...
"You have confessed. I have forgiven. Hand over
the pole and taste of My rest..."
My praise arises once again on the wind of Your Spirit...

Make Us One

2007-12-29T00:44:00.000-08:00

Father, make us one;
as You are with the Son
and the Spirit...

Jesus, our sacrificial lamb
led to the slaughter
for a perfect atonement;
draw our hearts together in love
to lead those that have not seen You
believe in Your love by the power
of the Holy Spirit...

...and thank you, Spirit; for the
sublime comfort You offer as an extension
of the Father's love...
quickening our spirits to hear Your whispers
as You lead us in that perfect way.

He Rejoices Over Us

2007-12-19T03:32:00.000-08:00

Zephaniah 3:17 "...He will rejoice over you with singing." NKJV

He rejoices over us with singing;
celebrating our existence
and finding joy in hearing His own voice
as the music washes over us...

Our security and comfort;
eternal hand of safety and warmth...
joyfully holding our lives in His hands;
and wrapping His spirit around us in peace.

The Hook

2007-12-14T15:10:00.000-08:00

I have been watching the DVD of the last Chronicles of Narnia movie that was put out by Disney a few years ago. The white witch manipulated Edmund with skill and an obvious knowledge of human nature. His unwitting help in her plan to destroy the human intruders and conquer Aslan became clear to him only after a measure of damage was done. There were "hooks" in his nature that made this possible. One of these hooks was his desire to cover his tracks. He doesn't come clean about his contact with the white witch when Lucy discovers him in Narnia for the first time. In response to the white witch's threat to the fox, Edmund volunteers damaging information in an attempt to appease her malice towards the creature. Her praise of his honesty is a cold comfort to him at the same time the fox appeals to him as royalty. The prophecy is acknowledged as the fox addresses Edmund as "Your Majesty".
The white witch's action of freezing the butterfly to death and turning it to stone speaks of the death that sin causes as those hooks dig in and begin the fester the affected area of "flesh".
How many times have we tried to cover our sin in full view of the Father's eyes? In 1 John 4:19, we are told that if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The lie we believe about needing to cover ourselves when we mess up is an all too effective hook that festers in us as we hold onto the hook. Our efforts at trying to cover up the hook and pretend that all is well accomplish nothing to benefit us or others that are affected by the hook. Often, I think that we have stone butterflies caught within our spirits in the form of dead zones; those hooks that have been brought down as we unwittingly embrace the death caused by our sin.
The triumphant return of Aslan(thinly veiled reference to the risen Christ)restores the dead flesh and ignites the fire within once again. Our joy and fulfillment come as we allow Him to remove the hooks and continually learn to forsake impaling ourselves with those hooks in the first place. That process will not complete itself until every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord.

Home and Hearth

2007-12-05T06:48:00.000-08:00

My husband has this theory of male/female roles that I have found truly amusing; oh, I meant to say amazing:)...The male is the hunter-gatherer as in the cave-man days and the female is geared towards cave maintenance. Yes, there is some truth in that; yet the overall simplification of gender roles has me scratching my head. My raison d'etre as been reduced to home-making; while the pressure of the surrounding culture would have me be the career woman that brings home half of the game captured on the way back from beating the rugs...

The cold fact is that I am a domesticated female concerned at least in part with home and hearth. I may have to become the career woman at some point; but I am still in the process of trying to figure that out. I cashier at a local supermarket and work for a home care agency as well. My value to society will be gauged on the level of education my children achieve, the car in my driveway, and the degrees listed on my resume. I am in trouble.

I am not in the least the picture of the Proverbs 31 woman. Lord willing, I will grow closer to that ideal as I draw closer to the Lord. In the meantime, I will seek Him for the answers on how to combine home and hearth with bringing home the road kill.

I just hope my insurance will cover me this time...

Joy,
Lynne

A New Day

2007-12-01T06:08:00.000-08:00

Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. -Philippians 2:2

Harmony can be difficult among the body of Christ when our flesh gets in the way of our desire to follow Christ. Human frailty and hurt feelings cloud the issues with an emotional camouflage. Seeking Christ instead of a listening ear for our complaints is the key, I think; to getting us back to where we need to be. Letting go of real or perceived hurts frees us up to worship and grow towards who the Lord would have us become.

It is snowing outside at the moment. The wind is whipping aimless flakes of the white stuff in many different directions. It seems that modern life is much like this snow squall; so many things happening at once. Those little barbs of annoyance or injured pride often seem to lack reason; making us unsure of what happened to bring them about.

I believe that the Lord would have us put away our small annoyances in favor of seeing the big picture. We are human and so prone to falling far short of the Lord's compassion and mercy. The forgiveness and mercy we extend to our brethren will go a long way towards freeing us and them of the bondage of bitterness and roots of unforgiveness. It can happen to any one of us. The damage to our fellowship with each other and to God is seen in many ways: broken fellowship, a restlessness with our situations, and a distortion of the image that we represent to those who don't know Christ. Our joy will increase as we grow closer to the Father's heart.

Celebration

2007-11-25T03:54:00.000-08:00

I have been reading a book of writers commenting about what they read and why they read it. It is compiled by Philip Yancy and is entitled, "Reality and The Vision: 18 Contemporary Writers Tell Who They Read and Why". Chapter 8 is entitled: The Devotional Masters: A Love Affair. There is one portion that speaks to me in particular. "...this notion that the ordinary stuff of life is filled with spiritual significance is a theme that reverberates throughout all the Devotional Masters. They take our days and our hours and invest them with a sacramental value. And they invite you, they invite me to discover that right where we are is holy ground, in the families we have been given, in the tasks that we are assigned, among our neighbors and friends. It is this that makes living in our modern world bearable, even enjoyable. Indeed, it enables us, as George Fox put it, to "walk cheerfully over the earth."

What an encouraging thought; to think that daily life has a sacred quality to it that can wash over us and color our days in His radiance. I will give it my best effort and send up a prayer to God when I am faced with a mountain of laundry. "Sacred" and "laundry" do not easily walk with each other in harmony according to my thought processes. Yet, in many ways; the performance of these daily duties exercises our spiritual muscles. We are considering others(who are in desperate need of a clean white load)in our actions. I pray that this thought brings you a new portal in your thinking; as it has brought into mine.

Jesus was practical, as I think of it...water into wine at the wedding, feeding the five thousand, etc. He gave us a model for seeing the practical as an invitation to seeing the divine. I will be forever thankful for His willingness to communicate His truth to a cracked vessel like me in terms that reach a human heart.

Joy and fresh bread to you,
Lynne

Giving Thanks

2007-11-22T02:52:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! If you actually have time to read this on Turkey day, get up now and check the pies in the oven before they burn. Charcoal is not the color of choice when the recipe says "brown". The burnt crusts do not count as a source of fiber. I hear about the food that I burn from my two toughest critics: my kids. I desire to save you the trouble of that scene. Get up and check the pies:)...

Good. Now don't you feel better? I feel better for having reminded you to take care of an important part of Thanksgiving. The pies. Yes, the pies. Pumpkin, apple, pecan, coconut cream, rasberry cream(my mom has a recipe that will make you want to jump up and shout "AMen"). I like a nice hot cup o'joe right next to my pie as I am eating it. I am getting all happy just thinking about it.

Right next to the cup of coffee and the delectable pie is a loved one I am blessed to have in my life. I am more thankful than ever for my loved ones. I could be having soup today, and I wouldn't feel deprived. The food that feeds me richly is from the hand of the Father; the gift of fellowship with those I hold dear. Not only do I have family to reminisce and enjoy the company of; I have a spiritual family at the same time. He created us to have fellowship with one another. What a gift that is for us all year long. The power of praise wells up in my spirit and burns off the mist of worldly care. He has His eye and His heart towards me, His child. Come what may, He is right here with me ready and able to keep me from being destroyed by the pressures of life.

I pray that you give thanks with me today and every day for those precious promises that He provides for us in His word. He is there with ear, hand, and heart ready and able to provide us with all things to sustain us. May His Spirit fellowship with you as you give thanks for all of the blessings in your life. Can't think of any right now?

Look across the table:).

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

A Taste of Quiet

2007-11-16T03:48:00.001-08:00

It was actually quiet at my house for a brief spell this morning. Then the kids woke up and the house came alive again. We had a dose of excitement and noise last night. There was an accident down the road somewhere, and the road was blocked off right in front of our house. A fire truck, a passing ambulance, a couple of fire department vehicles, and the utility vehicles evaluating the power lines lit up the sky. We live on a busy road; which means that our power goes out periodically as a result of accidents. Then, the power went out. We camped out in the living room and fell asleep without the street light across the road casting its' light.

I am thinking now of when the lights go out in our spirits. We think the light is gone, and that we are left in the dark. That divine spark is still there, awaiting our attention. He calls to us even when we don't hear the "still, small voice" that speaks of life and hope.

I will leave you now with a parting prayer:

Lord, help us to hear Your voice when we think the light has gone out in our spirit. Remind us that you are with us always. Help us to offer up our "sacrifice of praise" and invite Your presence to illuminate our steps once more.
Amen

The New Math

2007-11-11T22:55:00.000-08:00

Count it all joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 2-4

In pondering my challenges,
the mountains seem to peak...
more lofty as I think on them
and consequently fail to seek
the source of all contentment;
counting more of the ragged edges
than the footholds available for my feet
as I try to climb the mountains unassisted;
not succeeding, yet counting all the more
those barriers to peace...

"Count it all joy..." the Spirit whispers to me;
reminding me of unseen hands moulding my clay
into something ultimately beautiful.
The new math of creation's renewal
bids me to count with a reckless abandon
those things that seem to be devoid of their comfort...
and see the glory of seeking His face
in joyful anticipation of fellowship and promise.
"count it all joy..." pours down with the cleansing flood
made available at the foot of the cross;
resting its waters in receptacles of anticipation
of counting the joys
and not the depths of the valleys.

2007-11-06T06:54:00.001-08:00

I was reading that last poem to my mom over the phone this morning, and she was commenting that there would be no tears in heaven. I was telling her that she was right, and that the verse was talking about how he turns tears into joy. He "holds our tears" as an act of compassion towards us and brings us into the joy of morning after our weeping.

I further read her the verse about tracing the clouds, and she wept. It has been a difficult time for our family because of illness. The love of Jesus shared with each other is a drawing salve that takes the hurt in our spirits and starts the healing process. What joy the Father gives us when we follow His heart to love each other. The Lord has shown us mercy and has given us grace. His provision is truly amazing;
and as we see His hand at work I know we are assured of His love.

I raise my cup o'joy with yours as I embark on a new journey with the Lord today. He will meet my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. In true Oz fashion, I will recite that over to myself in order to allow it to permeate my thinking. The sword and the shield will be flying today, and my spunk has been renewed as the noonday.

May you rejoice this day in knowing that His grace is sufficient for all of your needs. We need each other; and as we celebrate His love in unity we will arise and show His glory to those who are perishing.

Cup O'Joy!
Lynne

Holding Our Tears

2007-11-06T06:13:00.000-08:00

He holds our tears in heaven;
not wasting even one of them
as we seek His face.
Turning water into wine,
He showed His power to transform the ordinary
into that which was more prized;
showing grace and power with great humility...

He holds our tears in heaven;
saving them perhaps until the appointed time
that we are reunited at the marriage supper of the lamb;
fellowshipping with the saints through the ages
and enjoying the presence of the Lord
in the fruition of the promise...

Tracing the Clouds

2007-11-04T05:18:00.000-08:00

Tracing the clouds with my fingers;
imagining how You made the stars
and set them all in place;
my eyes arise to heaven
and long to know if You are smiling
down at what You see in me...
Do I please You, father?
Have I heard You clearly as my feet of clay
travel on the dust of earth
and let my spirit soar up to where You are...
The clouds are air and water, Lord...
and they are still reflecting
the glory in Your hands to create beauty out of nothing.
As I finish tracing for the moment,
my spirit hears Your voice
reassuring me of Your love...
and leading me towards the words of life
prepared for me to walk with...

Steadfast?

2007-11-03T04:24:00.000-07:00

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." -1 Thessalonians 5:18

"...we cannot always give thanks for the things themselves, but we can always give thanks for God's love and care in the things. He may not have ordered them, but He is in there somewhere, and He is in them to compel, even the most grievous, to work together for our good." -The God of All Comfort by Hannah Whitall Smith

It is the start of a new day as I write this. In my spirit, I am looking up towards the heavens and trying to see the hand of God in my circumstances. I am looking, and looking, and then looking again for the escape hatch that must be there somewhere. The camouflage that must have been there yesterday is still there today, and therefore it eludes me again. My next breath is reminding me of all the reasons I have to be thankful in this life. I am also reminded of the verses in the scriptures that compel and direct me to offer up my incense of thankfulness in the midst of the melee that is life.

I am hoping that today is the start of a fresh new idea that I haven't seen before. I am hoping that the Lord sets something in motion behind the scenes to jumpstart my job search and provide the right opportunity. I am praying that I would be "transformed by the renewing of my mind" so that the Lord would make me into who I was created to be for His glory. Ultimately, I am praying that the Lord would hold on to me when I can't see Him through the clouds around me.

In closing this brief passage of yearning, I pray that the Lord would spur you on towards the adventure He has for you today. May you praise Him and give thanks throughout your day and enjoy His presence through anything you are called to walk through.

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

Letting the Rocks Cry Out

2007-10-27T19:29:00.000-07:00

Sister, don't let the rocks cry out
before you stand with hands upraised to praise Him!
Sister, don't let the rocks cry out;
letting those things without the breath of God within them
offer up their sacrifice of praise...

Brother, don't let the rocks cry out
before you offer up thanksgiving for His mercies!
Brother, don't let the rocks cry out;
witholding the garlands of praise from Him who created
the heavens and the earth with words;
the strength in His spirit propelling the elements into action...

Children, don't let the rocks cry out
before you sing together of His marvelous love!
Children, don't let the rocks cry out;
letting the sound of the praises in your hearts to escape;
inviting Him to inhabit your praises;
knowing that where Love is there is peace past human comprehension...

Arise

2007-10-22T04:33:00.000-07:00

Let the praises rise to the throne of heaven
amidst the dust of earth;
cradling the wind with hues of purple
and mists of silver and gold...
seek the Lord and know beyond reason
that Glory revealed has provided
the road to salvation...
Arise and let the praises go forth;
inviting His presence
through colors of darkness;
knowing that truth lives in vibrancy
beyond and within the confines of the human spirit
...all because of love's enduring promises.

Divine Touch

2007-10-20T21:39:00.000-07:00

Oh, that marvelous ache that propels
my spirit towards the throne of heaven...
deep unto deep touching
for the sake of divine yearnings.
Eternity in my heart;
I am in awe of the drawing salve that
pulls out the dust of earth
and rips the veil from my eyes...
giving me a fresh taste of the bread of heaven
as I breathe in the mundane
mingled in with the eternal.

Beginnings...

2007-10-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

"In the beginning..." I read in Your word, Lord...
You started it all with Your words and Your hands...
setting in motion all history's vantage;
propelling creation towards predestined plan.
Beginning is not always easy, Lord;
yet You bid us to come...
away from the noise and commotion of busy days
towards solace found in communion with You.
From the beginning creation showed Your glory;
the beauty and function broke concept's ability to
place creation in a neat little box.
Joy became full when the hill fell under shadow;
permitting the sacrificed lamb to release the promise.

Sustaining Joy

2007-10-15T04:26:00.000-07:00

Sacrifice of praise
arising from my spirit;
joy remaining from the vestiges
of past victories...
Allowing present concerns
and unresolved questions to float by;
looking past the mist of this present darkness
to discover the Rock awaiting me...
praise unfastening the tensile strength of
talon's grip upon my soul...
releasing me to soar with the bird I am watching
as I sit on solid ground.

Sunshine on Shadow

2007-10-11T12:16:00.000-07:00

Sunshine in shadow
repels the depth of mental fire;
coexisting
light and dark
boxing with each other for positions
in the realm of glory...
Clarity revealed
through that contrast of wills;
flesh and spirit
competing for time and consideration;
penetrating gaze of light on darkness' fingers...
boring through evil with sword and shield...
flashing in conflict
for control of the soul.

Mercy's Gift

2007-10-11T12:13:00.002-07:00

Mercy
came to me one day...
in elegance and grace;
presented as a soothing oil;
balm's generosity onto
the soul's canvas...
Mercy's gift
came in a box of redemption;
brought down
by Calvary's flow...
Mercy flows
over the scars and divots;
filling in gaps
created by
falling...
the flesh melting off
when the fire came to stay...
refining the dross
from carnage of flesh...

So Sweet

2007-10-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

It is so sweet
to trust You, Lord...
Your mercies
refresh us
with the dawn of each new day.
Grace flows down
and the praises rise up,
enveloping pain
and pleasure
in the light of eternity.

I'll trust You, Lord
past the strain of reason;
holding onto
handles of faith
through focus on the words of life...
holding onto truth revealed.

It is so sweet to
hear Your voice...
from echoes of eternity
from nature's witness
from the whispers of inner confirmation...

It is so sweet, Lord;
when the song in the night
allows me
to touch the hem of your garment.

Intercession

2007-10-11T12:01:00.000-07:00

Ezekiel 22:30
So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none."

Looking out on the
sea's mist,
my spirit drawn to
dancing with a soft cloak;
the faces come into my memory
and bid me
kneel my spirit's will towards
the dew of heaven...
...the arms of Jesus
hold each one
in tender reverie...
proclaiming grace
and Word
as hedges against
erosions of faith
within human form;
and bringing back
the peace past conscious knowing
to rest upon and
heal
each
furrowed
brow.

Thoughts on Simplicity

2007-10-06T04:06:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking of the simplicity of the gospel message. In conjunction with that thought, I have been thinking about the commandments that came down the mountain with Moses back in the book of Exodus. What if the Lord gave us daily punch lists? You know, the kind that come with a work order to a contractor?

Daily Punch List for Lynne
1. Please remember that I am God. Don't try to re-create a source of inspiration or comfort out of man-made contraptions. The computer is a tool that can be over-used. Get up and walk outside once in a while. Rake the leaves. Clean the floor. Practicality can be an exercise in worship.
2. Don't blame me when you get in trouble for doing something stupid. I am here for you, but don't get torqued at me for something you did. It wont get you anywhere you want to go.
3. Yearning for things over relationship and connection with people and their needs will draw you magnetically to trouble with a capital "T". Be aware of thinking the grass is always greener over the other side of the septic tank.
4. Don't harbor murder in your heart. This applies to your temper. There is a reason I included the account of Cain and Abel in the owner's manual. Remember the level of grace extended to you before you write someone off as not having value.

Alright, folks! I think I have enough of a punch list for now. This should keep me busy until Jesus comes back. If I get brave enough, perhaps I should finish the post. Until then, may you enjoy a cup o'joy and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Love,
Lynne

Looking Up

2007-10-06T02:57:00.000-07:00

I was noticing the colors in the trees yesterday afternoon. It was late afternoon, in fact, and the sun was casting a late afternoon light just behind the multi-colored leaves. The burst of red leaves among their green counterparts caught my eye and filtered down into my soul with alacrity and ease. If I had a camera with me, I would have taken a picture of it. I am writing now because the beauty just has to be shared.

A dash of color among the mundane; the ordinary being accented with contrast. It propels me to think about how life has those splashes of color thrown in to the ordinary days that we tend to look on with a vague discontent. This is the day that the Lord has made, and the scriptures do tell us to number our days. They are finite. Some days flow by with an efficient ease, and other days seem to trudge by us with weighted down shoes that are stuck on shuffling feet. Perception and accumulated stressors seem to conspire against our joy on a regular basis. We tend to look for something to show us an escape hatch of sorts.

I looked up again at the tree. The red reminded me of the cross. The blood freed us to see the abundant life that Jesus offered to us through His sacrifice. A dash of color in an autumn tree had been used by the hand of the Father to speak to my heart of His grace. I had to look up again to say "I love you" to Jesus for the natural greeting card.

Have a cup o'joy,
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

A Taste of Heaven

2007-10-01T16:03:00.000-07:00

The day had come
on the heels of a dark night season.
The longing for heaven
propelled human form to prostrate yearning...

A taste of heaven came to rest;
and settled in as sweet rain on parched soil.
Fulfillment of promise
requited the sweet incense of prayer and worship...

Peace past the realm of human concept
...and faith as stalwart as the carrying beam
gave bedrock to the foundation
of a life that had squandered opportunity presented.

The day had come
on the heels of a dark night season...
Joy discovered in the morning of the soul;
replentishing the water of life from the hand of providence.

Sweet Conversation

2007-09-26T03:44:00.000-07:00

I say "Good Morning" to the Lord
and wait for His reply...
thinking how elaborate and deep
His response will be...

"Good Morning, Lynne"
is what I hear...followed by,
"I love you"...

He is not what I expect sometimes,
and infinitely more...
as practical as dew and sun;
He knows my frame and considers the finite
capacity of my understanding.

Mercy He shows to one who does need it;
awaiting instruction and yearning for fellowship
with the One who speaks to my deepest parts
from the vantage point of eternity...

Sweet conversation from deep unto deep;
flowing through time and yet up-to-the-minute...
details attended to with soft nudging pokes;
and vision renewed in the light of His glory.

Morning Song

2007-09-19T03:31:00.000-07:00

Looking up towards heaven,
this is the day that the Lord has made...
yet the new day with all of its' promise
retains vestiges of what clings and stings from yesterday...

"My mercies are new every morning" I can hear my Lord say;
yet the fog of emotion pulls me back to the land of regret and anxiety.
I try to cast my care on Him,
but the fishing pole at my side seems to hold onto whatever I attempt to cast.
I feel the care speed back to the depths of my soul...

"My grace is sufficient" adds the Spirit with patience;
knowing my frame is a package of dust and spirit
"fearfully and wonderfully made" as my Lord tells it...
and I choose to believe Him over whatever other source attempts to convince...

Lord, this is the day that You have made.
Help me to rejoice and be glad in the work of Your hands...
for I know that I know that your love endures forever;
awaiting my confessions of failures and fears...

Take my hand today, Lord, as every day...
and hold on tightly as I step out in faith;
knowing that Your grace is sufficient for my needs...
and that You are everything I need to survive.

Watching My Feet...

2007-09-18T06:11:00.000-07:00

Watching my feet
as they walk ahead...
the sight of the ground below them
doesn't point the way anywhere.

The sound of my shoes hitting the pavement
reverberates up to the bones of my spine;
reminding me of the congealed dirt that I walk around in...

Watching my feet
as they walk ahead...
I realize that I can't see what is ahead of me;
making it easy for me to bump into a wall
...or someone else who is also watching their feet!

I feel a nudge to look up and I see
that watching my feet has hindered my steps;
as well as those walking around me;
circling each other in confusion;
bumping into each other as amusement park bumper cars...

Beyond the immediate scene of almost comical heights,
I can see the Lord waiting with outstretched hands...
inviting all who will respond to seek
the path of light.

While You Were Waiting...

2007-09-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

While I was waiting for my life to start
the days and the years
came and went.

While I was waiting for something better,
the blessings I had were
laid out before me as a grand buffet.

While I was waiting for my big day to come,
the wind and the wheat blew;
friends called me over,
and the anticipation built up to a
high-flying peak.

While I was waiting for my child to come,
the sights of young mothers filled me
with joy overflowing...
and I dreamed of hearing my child's heart beat...

While I was waiting...
life carried on and presented itself
in glory and anguish;
flowing in grace
and calling me to fellowship with the Father...

While I was waiting...
He gave me life that I was waiting for.

"While you were waiting" I could hear Him say...
"I was preparing the paths ahead; adjusting and
moulding you to take the next step. While you were waiting
I was there beside you...waiting for you to acknowledge Me.
What joy to my heart it was when you looked for Me, child...
knowing My hand was in all that you saw..."

Layers

2007-09-09T04:42:00.000-07:00

One
by
one
the layers
peel off...
exposing to
daylight
their spots of decay;
ripping off
tender shoots of seeds
planted in once fertile soil..
...layer after layer..
darkness
and
light
coexisting much too comfortably;
neither strong enough
to take the lead as the layers continue
falling...
until the core reveals newness of life
replanted by the Maker's hand.

Strength to Strength

2007-09-07T22:59:00.000-07:00

From strength to strength
and glory to glory,
The Lord leads us on
towards the prize
and the pastures.
Each step taken
on faith in spite of feeling
propels each wanderer
on the way...
to the life
...to the next step...

From strength to strength
and glory to glory,
the Lord leads us on
to discover His heart;
the longing He has in His heart
for our hand...
...to have fellowship
with Him
and the joy of the brethren...
gloriously sharing our lives
in His heart.

The Stone in His Hand

2007-09-02T18:57:00.001-07:00

A feeling of power
rested in the palm of his hand;
holding the smooth stone
led him to feel superior
to the object of his derision...

She was an object;
delegated to the realm of damaged goods
and devalued in his estimation
with trial by jury neglected
...out of a misguided sense of justice.

"Vengeance is Mine saith the Lord"
the Bible did say, didn't it?
The memories of sunday school entered into
the forefront of his thoughts...

Still, he was justified in throwing the stone.
She had sinned; really messed up this time.
Her example would prevent her from doing it again,
and send a message to those even contemplating
wandering into the degradation of human flesh.

His girth made throwing difficult;
and then there was that nasty habit of blasphemy...
His temper made him hard to live with;
leading his family to tread on delicate ground
...just to breathe easily...

The warmth of the Savior's love
made it through one of the cracks in his armor;
melting the ice and length of chain that
held him captive to sin in his own right...

Down he fell and let the stone tumble to the dry earth.
His eyes looked up to heaven in entreaty;
speaking the volumes his heart was unable to verbalize...
and flinching in acknowledgement of his own falls from grace.

Rejoicing in the God of All Comfort...

2007-08-31T05:36:00.001-07:00

"It is not because things are good that we are to thank the Lord, but because He is good."-Hannah Whitall Smith from The God of All Comfort.

This throws the gauntlet down to my flesh when life's mountains seem insurmountable. The passages that deal with praise in the Bible are numerous, and yet can seem hollow when we are blinded by our emotional states. Human weakness and the limits of our understanding can chain us to the dark side of the moon. Praise breaks us out of those chains and propels us towards the joy of the Lord; which is our strength.

I admit to being an emotional creature with marked intensities and a streak of the melancholy firmly rooted within the constraints of my personality. The Lord has His reasons for creating each of us with our temperaments, and we often fail to thank God for His wisdom in giving us what we have in that department. The grass is always greener; careening our gaze towards comparison with others and thinking that their temperament gives them an edge over us.

In light of today being the day that the Lord has made, I am going to try to rejoice in the God of all comfort. Lifting up that sacrifice of praise will raise my dry bones out of the grave into the awareness of His presence.

Have a cup o'joy,
Lynne

Mouse Bites

2007-08-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

The mouse
in the crevice
saw that sweet morsel...
abandoned by human resign...
...the smell,
the aroma
rose to his nostrils...
enticing his taste buds
to propel his feet towards action.
("Seize the day" he'd often heard
in unprotected pantries).
Launching from his haunches,
the mouse
tasted the thrill
of capturing joy...
for human loss had provided his dinner...
to satisfy hunger;
raising his hopes of
finding more...

Thursday Night

2007-08-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

Clutter of bills...
mountains of laundry
building
the
giant
felt from within...
cluttered perception
jaundiced by worry...
approaching the spirit that
cowered within...then shouts of
Organize!
Organize!
taunted the pale one...
...besieged,
...tormented...
...nettled...
...distraut...
and wondering how the divide would be crossed...
...Peace, Be still
uttered the Savior;
extending His hand
to the creature in awe...
for awaiting the child's
response to His leading;
His gratified pale one accepted
His grace...

The Open Door

2007-08-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

The door opened,
and then it shut...the slam of the door
against the casing was reverberating through my marrow...

I looked around and saw another door;
and then another...

so many choices?
How could I choose?

That still, small voice came with the next breeze;
and whispered His guidance to calm and to soothe...
for the words in my spirit were bathed in beauty
and blessed simplicity; echoes of verses I thought I'd forgotten...

My eyes were averted from the door set before me,
and persuaded in faith to look past to the next;
for peace preceded the touch of my hand to the knob
as I opened the door to find my Lord waiting there.

Beyond

2007-08-23T17:14:00.000-07:00

Looking beyond the present haze,
the promise awaits to bestow fresh vision;
invigorating weakened faith
grown lax from contentment with lesser morsels...

Beyond the present,
Beyond the veil,
Beyond the pressing concerns...
...Jesus awaits our voice in His ear;
as His outstretched hands ready us
for the journey ahead.

Hope renewed refreshes the spirit,
the life of love growing up out of mire.
Faith coming up from the struggle with shadows;
rearming the sword with a galvanized zeal.

Beyond this day lies the promise awaiting;
that fresh wind of life from the Father of Lights...

Eyes on the Prize

2007-08-19T19:01:00.000-07:00

Philippians 3:14
"I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

I'll keep my eyes on the prize,
knowing that blesssed fellowship will bolster my strength and renew my spirit...
knowing also that the finish line has the best fringe benefits of any job...
knowing that with the Lord we are never alone; contrary to how our emotions lie...

I'll keep my eyes on the prize,
keeping the song of salvation in my heart as the Spirit leads me on...
singing that song as a celebration,
a sword,
and a victory cry to shout to the world of the power of God
...to change our hearts,
...and sometimes our circumstances for our good and His glory...

I'll keep my eyes on the prize,
knowing that the joy of the Lord is my strength,
knowing that weeping may endure for a night...and that joy comes in the morning.
knowing past reason that the word of the Lord is true, and that His love endures forever...

I'll keep my eyes on the prize,
because I believe that what lies ahead is more precious than gold...
...and that nothing in our earthly realm has the ability to compare with
the treasures of knowing the Lord...

I'll keep my eyes on the prize,
celebrating the work of His hands as my feet of clay seek to follow the path that
He would have me wallk in...looking for the good way so that I may walk in it...
celebrating the fellowship of believers because I know I cannot run the race alone...
celebrating the promise of heaven as a fragrant balm covering the divots of my soul...

I'll keep my eyes on the prize,
for I know that He lives and awaits my drawing near to Him in expectancy and faith...

I'll keep my eyes on the prize,
rejoicing in turbulent weather because He gives me that song of joy in the night seasons...

I'll keep my eyes on the prize,
because the prize is worth any travail I shall ever experience while living in my earthsuit...

Early Morning Stillness...

2007-08-15T01:23:00.000-07:00

It is early morning as I write this, and my house is quiet. Everyone else is sleeping still, and allowing me to sit at the computer and write. This is a sip of joy to be sure, and my cup is full.

These mornings draw me towards reading, writing, praying, meditating, and taking inventory of my inner world. The quiet tends to pull the inward outward and tends to draw out the themes of my mental notebook. My prayer today is that the notebook contents are put in a form that is edifying to the Lord; placed squarely on the altar of sacrifice for His name's sake...

The song in my heart is forming for the day's activities. The Lord is gracious to give me a song in the night seasons as well as my waking hours. Praise poured out of a thankful soul invites the sweetness of His presence and performs soul surgery on those parts that need attention from the Great Physician. He shows me my need and holds my hand as He leads me beside the still waters. Oh, the beauty of morning in the divine plan! I know I am not alone in my observation; and know that people before me and after me will experience the same patch of life.

My prayer for you today is that you find that place that invites the Lord to visit you. Have a conversation with your maker and rediscover the joys of fellowship with Him. Nothing on earth compares with it, and nothing on earth can replace it. I shall leave you with this verse:
"With one sacrifice he made perfect forever those who are being made holy"
...Hebrews 10:14

Temperament and grace...

2007-08-12T20:13:00.000-07:00

I have been reading about temperament types and the power of the Holy Spirit to transform them into His likeness. Reading about the carnal results of each of the temperament types has been a mixed bag of goodies in my estimation. Each temperament has its'strengths and weaknesses that, if brought to the extremes of human tendency can produce both delight and disaster. Hope stood afar from me as I read some of this material, and faith was waiting with the escape hatch for me to reach for the hand of the Lord.

Daily the believer has to return the ground that he or she has relinquished through careless living or battles lost to the enemy. Giving up individual right to pet sins and indulgences stings the comfort zone of the flesh; yet gives the spirit renewed life. The foot of the cross awaits us each day for us to visit and lay down our control as well as our burdens. That shed blood still has the power to dissolve the chains of tyranny imposed by our wandering flesh and the embedded arrows of darkness.

Refusing to abandon ourselves to overwhelming guilt over our weaknesses, let us look to the cross for that transforming power of the shed blood of Jesus. He is able to transform our temperament weaknesses from deficits to benefits. I pray that we can cultivate the habit of refocusing our eyes on Jesus instead of the cracks in our pots and the breaks in our armour.

Peace...we are beloved lambs cared for by our shepherd...

Have a cup o'joy,
Lynne

A Tainted Reflection

2007-08-09T22:54:00.000-07:00

Psalm 119:77
Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live.

She caught a glimpse of her face in the mirror as she passed by the front hallway of the house. Her hair was a mess, and there was a new wrinkle forming around her eye. Time had worked against her today and assaulted her vanity. Who did she look like today? Was it her mother's eyes? Her father's complexion? The smirk on her face that her husband claimed she passed on to the next generation? Ella thought about her reflection for a minute and then pushed it out of her mind. In fact, her mind took a leap-frog approach and replaced the mental image of her face for something else...

It was her goal as a believer in Jesus to try to reflect the image of God. How was that going to be possible today? The mental build-up of junk sloshed around in her thought processes to produce a pac man mentality; moving from thought to thought quickly so that she would get to the one that seemed manageable for the moment. What was she thinking of before she slipped into the sin of vanity? She stopped and looked at the bird bath next to the split-rail fence in her backyard. There was a fresh deposit of rainwater being pushed by a passing wind. Did a bird have the experience of catching his reflection in the water today? Was the movement of the water a hindrance to his burst of vanity? Surely, the existential question of whether it was him or not in the reflection would have been answered by the sound of an approaching cat sooner or later. There were a number of feral kitties meandering around the area these days, and the immediate concern of that bird would not be so intellectual if he were apprehended by a hungry predator.

Her brain was wandering and taking a mental detour in an effort to delay dealing with reality. Catching that glimpse of herself in the mirror was a mental jolt; producing the question in her mind that pushed her to consider who she was going to reflect today. Would she be a reflection of all that the Lord had done in her life? Would she be an embarassment to the cause of Christ or a blessing to others? Where was her mind today? Would it be stuck on selfish concerns or yield to the call of the Spirit to refocus itself on Jesus? The feel of the floor beneath her feet struck her as reminder that she was caught in an earthsuit. The mission for today was to hopefully be able to crawl out of her own head and more fully engage herself in the life outside of her own thoughts. The tainted reflection in the mirror propelled her to pray that the Lord would let His tender mercies reach her today and teach her how to live for the eternal.

Strength for the Journey

2007-08-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

She was singing her own song to the Lord. The words had been in her for years, assuaging soul aches and haunting her in the night seasons...

"Sing,oh to the Savior now...for His redeeming grace...Sing, oh to the Savior now...His grace is just a prayer away..."

The minor keys rose out of her and pushed their way out into the air as sound waves into the atmosphere. She felt the heaviness lift and a renewed hope begin to glow from her eyes as she heard the Spirit of the Lord whisper a gentle word of encouragement to her heart. Ella was home again. The fruition of grace settled in and left behind a thorn of anxiety that the pit would become her residence once more.

Today was a good day. The memory of the past and a natural bent for the drifts of melancholy were with her still, yet the words of her savior were right there alongside her as well. Moments could be savored and strength could be drawn from the awareness of the Lord's presence through her days. The daily goal was to reach for the sword more than for the fishing pole. In her mind, even the fishing pole brought up verses of verdant truth instead of the stench of dead fish. This was a sign of the Lord's faithfulness. His healing touch had done something wonderful.

Ella was in the grocery store today, checking out customers and chatting with them as they were waiting for the printer to produce their receipt. It was noticeably slow in it's delivery of receipts. She joked that someone had either prayed for patience when making the machine; or the purchaser of the printers had decided to invest in the economy model over the more efficient choice. This garnered her a laugh or two and relaxed the customers into a more amenable state of mind. Grocery shopping brought out a crabby streak in some customers that erupted and was soothed over by showing grace and eating crow when necessary...

Her heart was working on her next post for the blog she wrote. She was a writer. She had rediscovered a raison d'etre and a steam vent all in one. The Lord was using what He gave her for His glory. There was nothing better to be chosen over this.

"Thank You for shopping with us. Have a great one, Ma'am!"

The customer looked back and gave her their familiar smile and a gentle response. Prayer was enveloping that customer as she left the checkout area and followed her to her car. Ella knew that this was where she needed to be for the moment.

Today had turned out well...and her love for the Lord grew...

Father's Day

2007-08-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

The letter was sitting on the kitchen table. He had read it a few times over, but still felt himself drawn to the envelope with his daughter's handwriting on it. He could hear her voice as he read it, and yet felt as if he didn't quite know her. She was his little girl, and now she was married with children of her own. It was her turn now to care for them, keep an eye on them, worry about them...

She had never done something like this before for Father's day. She had designed her own cards for him, with her own copyright symbol on the back. He couldn't understand why she had not started writing stories or doing more with her writing than she was...but now she wrote him a letter for Father's day. He had been curious as to what the letter could contain. She had never done this before now. Maybe it was because he hadn't been feeling well lately. Whatever the reason, his emotions were playing ping-pong inside of his head. So many memories were coming back to the forefront of his mind as he read the letter again...

Dear Dad,

I thought about what I would do for Father's Day, and was coming up short. Then, I remembered that I gave mom a letter for Mother's Day and she seemed to like it. This is a break from tradition for us. Hey, it is more than you received last year. Sorry about that. Like I said, this is a new thing for both of us. I can imagine that you are feeling a bit awkward at this point, but rest assured that you have nothing to fear. Once you get over the initial shock, you may actually like hearing from me like this. Let's shoot for the moon!

I have always felt secure in your love. Even when you've been crabby, I have known that you have always had my best interest at heart. I have picked up on the real meaning of your questions about how my car is running and whether I have checked the oil lately. I get the picture. I love you, too.

Having a family of my own now has given me an idea of what you must have experienced as a parent. I know how you got your gray hair. It wasn't from Clairol, either! Parenthood can be stressful. I have heard it said that when you become a parent, a piece of your heart walks around outside of your body. I believe that is an accurate metaphor of how it feels to be a parent and watch your children grow. I also believe that God makes us so cute as babies that when we are teenagers our parents remember that before they decide whether to kill us or not. I suspect that may have been the reason that you let me survive into adulthood. I appreciate your forbearance more than I know how to express.

The tears were coming as he read the lines of the letter to himself. Why didn't she ever tell him these things before? What makes people wait to share their hearts with their loved ones? The ache dissipated as he continued to read the handwriting of his daughter. She was going easy on him, but that was to be expected. It was Father's day, and he hadn't been well. His illness affected everyone; from his wife and children to his siblings and extended family on both sides of the family tree.
Still, she hadn't said anything like this before in all of the years that they had known each other. Better late than never, he figured...

He read on and grew eager to see how the letter ended..."richly blessed to have you has a father...thankful for the opportunity to let you know how much I love you...sure that neither one of us feel comfortable with expressing these things to each other verbally as sincerely as we mean them..."

The words were hers, alright. She had a timid side to her that took over and shut her down in terms of communicating. If she didn't want to talk, then he had better luck roping an buffalo in New York City.

His heart was full of nostalgia and gratitude as he read the closing words to his Father's day present...
"May God impress upon your heart the tremendous impact that you have had on my character. Your love has made such a difference in my life....Love you!"

Anna was coming into the room; sporting a look of curiosity on her face that clearly meant she was curious about the letter. His wife of over 46 years was a part of all he held dear. She was beautiful and he adored her. Their children were their gifts to each other; and God's gift to them ultimately.

"Well, dear...how was it?"

"Good. Very nice. I guess I didn't do such a bad job raising her after all...I must've done something right..."

"Happy Father's Day."

The exchange ended with a kiss and a brief hug before Anna heard the buzzer go off on the dryer. She rubbed his back for a moment and excused herself to take care of the laundry. He held the letter in his hands for a moment, and then placed the letter back in the envelope before placing it back on the kitchen table. He would read it again later, just to hear her voice saying what he had wanted to hear for so long. It felt good to be loved.

Psalm 50:15

2007-08-04T04:19:00.000-07:00

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."

What an awesome thought that the maker of heaven and earth would invite me to call upon Him! My finite understanding cannot get a handle on just how immense and powerful the nature of God is. It is almost too much for me to even imagine. He says that He will deliver us, and that we will glorify Him. I feel like a little kid getting ready to enter a massive park for the first time. The awe and wonder in my soul fills my cup to the very top; how much more can I hold?

The answer to this last dilemna is clear to me. I am propelled by His love and mercy to do what I was designed for: praise, worship, and writing. (You knew that last one was coming, didn't you?) The frame of His glory and provision flood my soul's landscape and fill in the valleys with good things. I am His sheep, and He is the Good Sheperd. His arms of love enfold me and infuse my spirit with hope, peace, and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven.

My prayer for you today is that you seek and get a taste of the Lord's goodness. Open up the door to your soul, and let your spirit get a good soaking rain. It IS good to give thanks to the Lord. We were made to praise the Lord, and it can be the most fulfilling activity of our existence; as our praises invite the Lord's presence.

Have a cup o'joy,
Lynne

Passion's Flood

2007-08-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

The heart had chains around it,
stout and strong...
firmly holding to the bound flesh...

Passions's flood descended
to cleanse and free the heart;
dissolving fear and bondage
with a power unmatched elsewhere in the universe...

The mist surrounded the created pump of life,
dawning the light around it that originated from
the hand of God...

Sweet communion brought the eyes of my heart back
to the reality of human form and trial's nearness...
Passion's flood descended to bring freedom to the captive.

Staying on the Sunny Side...

2007-08-01T11:08:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about the expression lately that says,"Perception is everything". I have to come down on the side of...both sides of this comment. There is much wisdom contained in that comment. I also think that it is an oversimplification that can lead to a load of guilt.

While it is true that a positive outlook can forestall or eliminate the bad habit of pessimism, there is no denying those events in life that cause legitimate concern. Illnesses, financial struggles, interpersonal conflicts, and major life events all produce their fair share of challenges. These challenges are certainly eased by the perception that "this too shall pass", but not magically eliminated. The impact of an event can be felt long after the initial shock to the system.

Fortunately for us, there is a way to lighten the load and invite the Lord's presence into our situations. Are you ready for this one? When you hear it and say, "Oh, I have heard of that before!" I wonder if you will dismiss the power behind the concept. That is up to you. However, I pray that the Lord speaks to you of the freedom available through trying to approach coping with hardship this way.

Pray for the Lord to bring a song to your heart. Spend time praising Him in those pockets of time that normally bring to mind all of the impending mountains moving in on your valley of peace. I am not suggesting that you magically ignore the situation you're in. Praising God and shifting your focus allows for greater intervention of the Lord's power in your life. Perception is adjusted to make the load lighter, and your mind is more occupied with the big picture of God's plans for your life. I am not suggesting that this will be easy, but starting to cultivate the habit in your life will bring amazing results your way.

His words are life, and bring us into His presence when we meditate on them. Far from living in denial or a state of false pretense; praise and prayer are our power tools for survival in a world that only seems to value outward successes and pleasant appearances. Real life is a mixture of roses and manure, no matter how we try to dress up the packaging.

Have a cup o'joy as you get a fresh taste of the bread of heaven. The marriage supper of the Lamb is coming to a planet near you. Let's keep our focus on the Lord, the author and the finisher of our faith.

Musings on Psalm 34:18

2007-07-31T15:36:00.000-07:00

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

I felt You near
and know Your Spirit
brought the words of Life to
refresh my own...

I knew the encouragement of Your promise...
...of joy coming in the morning
though I could not see the evidence of redemption
in circumstance...

Within me, I wanted to hand You the wounds
and the tears,
but did not know if I could relinquish them in my own strength...

"Teach me to let go, Lord"
I offered up through a veil of weeping...
...and I knew there was noone else like You.

Teach me how to "taste and see" again...
renew my hunger for Your nearness
while the desert looms with arid dreams...

Take from me the broken dreams and
restore to me the hope lost from faded choices...
restore to me, Lord, that which the locusts have eaten...

...so that You may be glorified...

I see in my heart
the desolation chosen over gardens of life,
and the sorrow grown from the thriving tares...
You redeem Your servants, Lord...
and none will perish who take refuge in You...

So now I cleave to You,
and long for your presence...
Clear the tares from the harvest wheat...
purifying me from the sin I've harbored...

Renew my hope...

Joy in the Morning

2007-07-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

"The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him,
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord"

-Lamentations 3:25-26

Awaiting the voice,
straining to sort through the
echoes of past sins
and competing stations of mental noise;
the sound of seagulls and rushing wind
swirls around the figure seated on the shore...

Hope is squeezed out of unspoken requests
and sent to the ear of Jesus with eyes reflecting
sun as well as shadows in the light of day...
"Help me, Jesus" arises from the depths
of confusion and desolate passages;
bringing the freedom to shift focus from the temporal
to the joy of the eternal city awaiting...
...and joy ushers in the peace beyond reason
along with the morning of mercies renewed...

Bridging the Gap

2007-07-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

Ezekiel 22:30
"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none."

The figure of clay stands next to the edge,
looking over at the abyss and seeing the other side of the gap...
Looking up, the Spirit moved within soul and sinew;
stirring up the faith within and speaking from deep to deep...

Hands uplifted
rising skyward to reach the hem of glory...
inward locks unfastened,
releasing scrolls and spreading balm as a drawing salve...

Prayer escaping from the depths
arises to the throne of heaven...
following the Spirit's leading to
bring the needs to the awaiting altar...

Spirit walkway grows and bridges
the chasm once supporting naught but air and warfare...
strength and beauty growing with
the blessing of obedience to the call...

Angels brought to conquer sin and darkness...
building steps to bring an end to gaping loss as
strength is brought alongside struggling clay;
raising high the banner of surpassing glory...

Delight and Wonder

2007-07-25T04:19:00.001-07:00

You delight in Me,
child of mine,
what love awaits your seeking heart
amidst the tempests!
I inhabit your songs
of praise to My name...
working in your heart
as the invitation arises for me to mold you
into the image of Jesus...
From time beginning,
your face I have seen in my heart...
your name written on my palm quickened my Spirit
as I planned a future and a hope for you...
The desires of your heart await you,
as you continue to trust in My love...
In the appointed season, my plans
will come to fruition
in the soil of your spirit..
for My word will accomplish My plans
for your life.

September 29, 1996

2007-07-25T04:19:00.000-07:00

Out and about
Your world, I see
glimpses of You
waiting for me...
Wind whispers
and bright leaves
watch Autumn birds
call each other towards warmer skies...
Harvest time of earth and soul,
awaiting the heart of the seeker...
Out and about
the world's busy pace...
the moment arrives to
take a pause for joyous thanksgiving,
All creatures created to drink in your presence.

The Coming Season

2007-07-24T13:49:00.000-07:00

Ecclesiastes 3:1
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.

There will be a time
for fruition of the dream,
nurtured through the
seeds of endurance and hope.
The dream adapts to the roads followed...
tailored to the needs of the soul
...as seen through the eyes of God.
Glory being drawn out of divine refining;
obstacles leading onward
to the ripening of glory and grace...
Fruition,
mission engraved upon the tender portion
as deep calls unto deep.
The seeds being sown
through the remnants of many days...
There will be a time
for the fulfillment of the vision...

Note: This was written in October of 1996. I dug this one out of an old journal and just tweaked a word or two...I pray it is a blessing and a word of encouragement...

Running to the Tower

2007-07-23T15:48:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe

Off in the distance,
I see the tower rising above the horizon.
I'm out of breath from running in circles...
worn in body and spirit...

The perimeter shines;
drawing me to the light with the warmth of tender mercies.
The windows have faces and movement behind them;
a gathering beckons my soul to join in...

Coming upon the door of the tower,
I knock and the hinges move effortlessly open...
inviting me in to the feast of the banquet;
and joining the singing of angels before us...

His presence is there,
and fellowship sweeter than taste could impart to my senses...
The joy of the Lord in full bloom; and communion with family
as a peace-giving dream...

The eyes of my spirit gaze upon Glory,
and my flesh has been changed in an instant to immutable sinew...
...the promise fulfilled from His promise and grace...

Mercy Falling

2007-07-21T04:46:00.000-07:00

"The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy" Psalm 147:11

It is a glorious thought to rest upon;that the Lord takes pleasure in me when I hope in His mercy. I take a palpable comfort in knowing that He encourages me to seek Him; and that that seeking will be rewarded with a visible answer or the comfort of knowing that He is still with me. A shawl of gentle breezes rests on my shoulders as the sweet fragrance of His presence comes to my aid. In the face of adversity, that knowing is a discernable sign of mercy falling.

He is the tower that I run to when I feel suddenly adrift. I figure if He made my mind and knows how the lump works, I can rest assured that He can fix or ameliorate the quirks in the works. He has His reasons for it all, and I can rest assured that He is in control. I think the process of seeking Him gives him a legal invitation to enter those places in me that have resisted the force of light.

His company resolves the gray mist of the shadows in the human soul and breaks the chains of loneliness each soul must deal with. I pray that mercy falls in your life today as you seek His presence. He is indeed a strong tower that the human spirit can run to and find safety.

Human language is inadequate in expressing the experience of the spirit, but I pray I have conveyed a small part of the point I have been trying to make. That point? Mercy is a glorious expression of the Father's love towards us. Telling the story of His love and sacrifice has the power to transform lives and draw us to Him. There is no better way to spend our days here on earth than to follow and serve Him.

Have a cup o'joy,
...and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

Musings on 2 Corinthians 12:9

2007-07-19T02:52:00.000-07:00

"And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me". NKJV

This verse has to be one of the most quoted verses in all of scripture. It appears to my eyes that most of us walking around in our earthsuits have to continually refer to verses like these to make it from point a to point b. In human terms, weakness is not the desired state of being. Who do you know that wakes up in the morning and says to themselves, "I want to be weak today"? It isn't my first thought of the day, and I venture to guess that it isn't yours, either.

God is past amazing to the finite human mind. We don't see a fraction of what He sees(I am thinking that is a good thing), and our limited vision tends to lead us to focus on the mountain instead of the travel guide. Yet our God tells us that His grace is sufficient. He goes on to say that His strength is made perfect in that weakness that we often fail to appreciate. Those moments are brief when I enjoy being weak; so much so that I hardly recognize those moments when they come...

Having the power of Christ resting on me is worth wading through all of the perceived junk I have to wade through in order to get to the relief zone. He is so faithful to get us from point a to point b...and beyond. I am thankful today that He is willing to put up with us long enough to accomplish these ends. Yes, I am glad that He is the one with the supply of patience.

Have a cup o'joy,
Lynne

Lynne, Interrupted....

2007-07-16T02:44:00.000-07:00

Land sakes alive, folks...that last one was a short post, wasn't it? In all honesty, I had begun something last night and just wasn't able to get around to finishing it. I must have pressed a button somewhere, and I posted a verse of scripture with nothing else written underneath it. I was interrupted by a fussy child that wanted mamma right there and then. Just to be sure that her crawling on me and squeezing my neck were signs that she wanted to cuddle, I asked her if she wanted mamma...My daughter said in a sweet squeak,"Yes."

My momma heart just melted and the computer was put on the back burner with the heat on low. My child needed me and was letting me know in not so subtle terms that she needed me. A mother's love for a child is mysterious, and at times; overwhelming in its' intensity. I forgot the computer was there for a while, and all I could see was her drooping lower lip and her tears. My lip was drooping, too; and my heart was softened to the consistency of a tub of margarine on top of a hot car.(That was graphic, but you get the point...)

I like to think of the Father's heart being like that melting margarine. John 3:16's
declaration,"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" lets the cat out of the bag in terms of His heart towards us. Thank God that He does love us like that.

I also like to think that He does not mind us interrupting His schedule of planetary maintenance for our earthly emergencies. We can crawl to the feet of Jesus whenever we have need of our Father's love and attention. His love is that intense, mysterious;drawing us out of ourselves to yearn for His presence. He IS love, and that love makes all the difference.

Bread Ties and Chewing Gum

2007-07-11T06:56:00.000-07:00

This is a bizarre title for a post. I have to agree with you there. However, I think I will be able to make a coherent point by the end of the piece. Hang in there with me and send up a prayer(no specific reason, but hanging in there and praying never hurt anyone that I have ever heard of...). Bread ties and chewing gum are whimsical household items that I am going to use to make an observation about life. You're still with me? God is merciful...

Bread ties and chewing gum remind me of those little habits I have picked up along the way to distract myself from dealing with reality. My favorites include staring at the bulleting board at the back of the church sanctuary building, fixating on a light fixture, studying my shoes, and scanning the crowd to see who didn't make it on any given Sunday...I have also slipped into the habit of mentally writing letters and traveling with more stuff than it would take to spend a week on vacation...baggage comes in more than one form...

Chewing gum makes me think of the efforts that I use to keep my outward facade from degenerating into honesty. The gum has this nasty little habit of sticking so well sometimes that it hurts to pull it off. It also comes loose when I am sweating and squirming to arrange my bread ties at the same time I am propping the gum under my facade. If you can mentally imagine these things, it may seem ridiculous, but hold on;I am making my way slowly to the point of my post today.

These devices do not work to keep all of my pieces together. I have been using the same m.o. for years, and it is insane. They don't work, and what is worse they can further isolate me from other believers. That isolation works a subtle and yet obvious concoction of an intense nature. Juggling bread ties and chewing gum keeps my eyes on me and off of Jesus. That is where I need to be focusing my gaze. My navel
has long since lost it's appeal. I refuse to paint it or put a piercing there. I would not bring attention to my neurotic thought processes if it were not for the fact that others have them, too. It is also true that holding on to my bread ties and chewing gum in secret turns toxic. I cannot live and stay in hiding. I don't think anyone juggles that skillfully without paying a high price.

In closing my post today, I pray that the Lord reaches in to where you live and shows you if you have any bread ties and wads of chewing gum that need to be heaved. Pitch them and don't look back longingly at where they land. You do not need them. You need a hug.

Thanks for bearing with me while I made every effort at making a coherent point. I appreciate your patience and pray that you are blessed by what the Lord has put on my heart today.

Have a cup o'joy...
Lynne

2007-07-10T04:42:00.000-07:00

Good Morning, everyone!

It am writing you as the day is still fairly new. I have read and responded to an email or two, and have had the usual detours of chasing my two-year old off of the countertops. Both of my children are still waking up and have not slipped into full-throttle speed as of yet. Life is beautiful.

The coffee is good, and the sun is shining outside. I watch the cars drive past one of my kitchen windows on their way to work, shopping, the beach...and know that my day will soon include the same thing. I had the day off yesterday, so I suppose it wont be so bad to go back to work today. I may even enjoy chatting with some of my co-workers.

I am reminded of that verse in scripture that talks about God's mercies being new every morning. What an amazing thought. That is an immense amount of mercy being poured out on our behalf. I am right there under the spigot; soaking up the grace that I need so dearly. I pray that you get under the cleansing flood today and receive that grace that He is offering.

I have to go now. The rest of my day is calling me away from the computer. I still have to get the kids dressed and fed. I have to get myself dressed and enough caffeine pumped into my system to coherently make change at the register. I will be writing in my mind as I work and just pray that I can walk and chew gum at the same time...I have to keep my mind occupied or else it just wanders off...

I really have to go now. Thanks for visiting The Land of Lynne today.

Be blessed,
...and have a cup o'joy...

Lynne

2007-07-09T03:49:00.000-07:00

Musings on Jeremiah 29: 11-14

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29: 11-14 NKJV

These are familiar words to many people. They are a balm for the soul when we are blinded by our emotions. They are a gently prodding invitation to seek God when the thought of having a future and a hope seems like a mixed blessing. I am convinced that this passage was crafted with those times in mind.

I think that we just have to take it on faith sometimes when we pray that He is listening. This may sound brash as well as apostate; yet there are those times in life that seem to block up the ears of heaven. Our limited understanding of all that God sees seems to pull us back from reaching the ears of heaven. Emotions cloud our judgement and present images before our minds that seem to block out the light of heaven.

Joy floods the human soul when the full strength of these verses latch on to those images and illuminate our thinking. He is there for us in so many ways. His presence in our circumstances is always amazing to me. Those unspoken needs that arise are often met with answers that come at such an opportune time. The cries of our hearts are heard and He answers with a word or an image that is as a cool drink on a hot day. I have listened to the messages on Sunday mornings so many times and had the words speak to my heart in just the way I needed to help me put one foot in front of the other. How glorious is a word in due season. So many times the seasons come and the word that we seek from God seems overdue.

I have learned that the best thing to do in these times is to just hang on and keep refocusing our energies on Jesus. Replace the images that distress by placing yourself in a scene from the scriptures. Write the Lord a letter in your heart. Sing a familiar chorus and pray that the Spirit would flood your soul and fill in the cracks of your heart's dry soil. Tears are a release, but sometimes they aren't available. His words are the software that will bring you to a place of refreshment.

I write this to myself as well as to anyone who cares to read it. The Lord has done some great things in my life. I don't pretend to fully understand what hits me half the time. The other half only wants to deal with what it absolutely has to and no more. I have the shut-off valve painted in neon green in my mind. I use it freely and probably abuse its' use if truth be told.

In closing, I have to say that there is so much more to say. Words would be inadequate to explain what is in my heart. A computer screen has its' limitations in terms of human communication. I shall just have to entrust the Lord with the job of blessing my words so that they will reach where they need to reach. The unction to write what the Lord has put on my heart has been obeyed as much as is humanly possible for the moment. The Holy Spirit will take over and accomplish what the Lord intends for what I have written.

I pray that you would know the riches of His grace today.

Have a cup o'joy,

Lynne