Holy God of Light,
And we rest in the assurance of your salvation.
We rest in You the anchor of our soul.
We rest in your truth, we rest in your grace.
We delight ourselves in your presence.
We accept your offer of kinship.
We enter in, we enter into all that you have for us.
We taste and see that you are the living God.
We eat of your word, we meditate on your truth.
We fix our eyes, yes we focus our hearts on your life giving truth words.
We are under your grace.
We are cloaked in your garments of faithfulness.
We are yours, your sons and daughters.
Be Holy in our hearts.
Be the one above all else.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
Day 129: 29/07/2013
And you ask me what grace is. I can't even respond but my mind is constantly contemplating its depths. And this my friend, this is what grace is. to me. today:
My room is a mess.
My bed isn't made.
Piles of campfire smell filled clothes and blankets litter my house.
Dead flowers in a vase, petals surrounding its circumference.
Unwashed bed hair in a messy pony-tail.
Makeup-less face.
Bought coffee.
.Peace.
and I feel it...
this slow rhythm of becoming okay with my mess.
this slow steady process of coming to peace with it.
this uncharted journey of the realization that You are the one who straightens and tidies.
I don't figure my life out and get my own shit together....
You do.
You and your marvelous, peace-filled grace.
You love me in the midst of this.
You love me just as I am with my unwashed hair and messy campfire smelling room.
You love me and this brings peace.
Not the false testimony of "peace peace" that comes from my strenuous efforts to organize my clutter. But instead comes from the deep, concrete, assured peace that simply comes from being loved by you.
and that love.
That crazy, messy, unpredictable, wild love that is absolutely and in no-way dependant upon my internal organizational skills, but 100% dependant upon Your unfathomable, over-generous, mercy filled grace.
You undo me.
Again and again you undo me.
I am my beloved's and he is mine.
This is grace. This is grace to me. today.
My room is a mess.
My bed isn't made.
Piles of campfire smell filled clothes and blankets litter my house.
Dead flowers in a vase, petals surrounding its circumference.
Unwashed bed hair in a messy pony-tail.
Makeup-less face.
Bought coffee.
.Peace.
and I feel it...
this slow rhythm of becoming okay with my mess.
this slow steady process of coming to peace with it.
this uncharted journey of the realization that You are the one who straightens and tidies.
I don't figure my life out and get my own shit together....
You do.
You and your marvelous, peace-filled grace.
You love me in the midst of this.
You love me just as I am with my unwashed hair and messy campfire smelling room.
You love me and this brings peace.
Not the false testimony of "peace peace" that comes from my strenuous efforts to organize my clutter. But instead comes from the deep, concrete, assured peace that simply comes from being loved by you.
and that love.
That crazy, messy, unpredictable, wild love that is absolutely and in no-way dependant upon my internal organizational skills, but 100% dependant upon Your unfathomable, over-generous, mercy filled grace.
You undo me.
Again and again you undo me.
I am my beloved's and he is mine.
This is grace. This is grace to me. today.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Day 128: 28/07/2013
Holy God, the Victor,
We announce your victory, and we announce it loud, loud to ourselves and our places of defeat. We announce it to the nightmares, and the nagging twitch of a sleepy eye.
Christ is Lord.
Christ is overcomer.
Christ is victor.
We announce it until we're blue in the face. Until our minds stop spitting out lies of defeat.
You are healer,
You are other,
You are ours, ours now.
Let your abundant life be upon us.
Let your kingdom come.
Amen.
We announce your victory, and we announce it loud, loud to ourselves and our places of defeat. We announce it to the nightmares, and the nagging twitch of a sleepy eye.
Christ is Lord.
Christ is overcomer.
Christ is victor.
We announce it until we're blue in the face. Until our minds stop spitting out lies of defeat.
You are healer,
You are other,
You are ours, ours now.
Let your abundant life be upon us.
Let your kingdom come.
Amen.
Day 127:28/07/2013
So I was camping this weekend, hence all of these going up at once. Saturday morning was one of the best still times I've had with God in a long time. My scheduled psalm to read through was Psalm 119 (the longest). I was struck anew by some of the beautiful lines and couldn't help myself but to use them in a responsive prayer. Enjoy!
Holy Light of Love,
Oh and your goodness chases us like the light the shade.
You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
And your love is as sure as a sunburn after a whole day in the sun.
Burn my with your love, make me uncomfortable, push me out of my comfort zones.
Get all over me and in everything like the sand at the beach.
The unfolding of your words gives light; the sum of your word is truth.
Chase out the doubt, scatter the darkness.
I will mediate on your wondrous works.
Accept my freewill offering of praise, O lord.
For it is you whom I seek. You who is holy, you who is other.
Make your testimonies my heritage forever.
For they are the joy of my heart.
Be holy in my heart.
Be set apart.
Be above all else
My other, my holy, we love you. Amen.
Holy Light of Love,
Oh and your goodness chases us like the light the shade.
You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
And your love is as sure as a sunburn after a whole day in the sun.
Burn my with your love, make me uncomfortable, push me out of my comfort zones.
Get all over me and in everything like the sand at the beach.
The unfolding of your words gives light; the sum of your word is truth.
Chase out the doubt, scatter the darkness.
I will mediate on your wondrous works.
Accept my freewill offering of praise, O lord.
For it is you whom I seek. You who is holy, you who is other.
Make your testimonies my heritage forever.
For they are the joy of my heart.
Be holy in my heart.
Be set apart.
Be above all else
My other, my holy, we love you. Amen.
Day 126:26/07/2013
God,
And your good sun just keeps on shining on us.
We rest and relax in the beauty of this day,
in the assurance of you and your salvation.
And we feel the healing,
we feel your goodness encircling us.
we struggle and we push back and we put our hope in other things...
yes we scatter our eggs like a parent preparing for an Easter egg hunt.
Until, until you quietly come behind me.
Ready to catch me at my moment of panic, the moment my basket is empty.
But you catch me, me with my empty basket.
You speak kind words of love and grace all over me.
You retrace my steps with me, you bend down and help me gather those eggs---every last one.
And when this day is done.
When the sun has gone to be, and the embers have turned to coals.
I place my basket, my full basket in your loving hands.
Yes I put my hope in you.
All day long, I put my hope in you and in you only.
yes I put all of my eggs in one basket...your basket.
Amen.
And your good sun just keeps on shining on us.
We rest and relax in the beauty of this day,
in the assurance of you and your salvation.
And we feel the healing,
we feel your goodness encircling us.
we struggle and we push back and we put our hope in other things...
yes we scatter our eggs like a parent preparing for an Easter egg hunt.
Until, until you quietly come behind me.
Ready to catch me at my moment of panic, the moment my basket is empty.
But you catch me, me with my empty basket.
You speak kind words of love and grace all over me.
You retrace my steps with me, you bend down and help me gather those eggs---every last one.
And when this day is done.
When the sun has gone to be, and the embers have turned to coals.
I place my basket, my full basket in your loving hands.
Yes I put my hope in you.
All day long, I put my hope in you and in you only.
yes I put all of my eggs in one basket...your basket.
Amen.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Day 125: 25/07/2013
Holy sweetness...
And I might have a cold today, and my throat might be sore and there might be an ache in my head...
but your love is just overriding all of it.
And my eyes might be heavy with tiredness, and my shoulders might feel like bricks with weariness...
but your joy is just lifting off the weights.
And I might feel scattered all over this earth, and I might feel overwhelmed by a long day ahead of me...
but your patience is just steadying me.
And I might feel tone deaf, and maybe my vocabulary feels broken and might not be able to smell your goodness...
but your senses are coming alive in me.
And I might want to frantically clean every inch of this house, and maybe the store too, and maybe I'll clean until I'm completely exhausted...
but your stillness is calming this internal storm.
Because it's you.
It's only you.
You are the one.
And So we seek you.
We seek the Lord our God in this land of the living.
We seek you, Christ.
We seek you, Spirit.
We seek you, Father.
We seek you and your healing.
Amen.
And I might have a cold today, and my throat might be sore and there might be an ache in my head...
but your love is just overriding all of it.
And my eyes might be heavy with tiredness, and my shoulders might feel like bricks with weariness...
but your joy is just lifting off the weights.
And I might feel scattered all over this earth, and I might feel overwhelmed by a long day ahead of me...
but your patience is just steadying me.
And I might feel tone deaf, and maybe my vocabulary feels broken and might not be able to smell your goodness...
but your senses are coming alive in me.
And I might want to frantically clean every inch of this house, and maybe the store too, and maybe I'll clean until I'm completely exhausted...
but your stillness is calming this internal storm.
Because it's you.
It's only you.
You are the one.
And So we seek you.
We seek the Lord our God in this land of the living.
We seek you, Christ.
We seek you, Spirit.
We seek you, Father.
We seek you and your healing.
Amen.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Day 124: 24/07/2013
And when it's hectic and my brain feels so scattered and the store and the house just seem to be in an unending mess.
And when the computer won't start and you have to talk to Isaac in Idaho and the coffee spills and the store opens late and your heart just seems to break and break and break some more.
And all you can do is wonder how so many things could go wrong before 8:30am!
I still hear you.
Faintly.
But I hear you:
"Today is not just another day to get through, it's a day to unfold.....why clench your fists when things that are outside of your control go wrong? Why yell in frustration? Why utter curses at the top of your lungs?
Stop.
Be Still.
Feel my heart beat, baby girl. I've got this. All of this. All of it. All of you. I've got it. And this day that I made, this day that I gave you is good. So rejoice. Give your thanks. Shout them from the roof top.
All I do and all I give is out of faithfulness. Yes, my perpetual and perfect faithfulness. So rest easy. Don't carry the weight so heavy.
Rest easy."
And when the computer won't start and you have to talk to Isaac in Idaho and the coffee spills and the store opens late and your heart just seems to break and break and break some more.
And all you can do is wonder how so many things could go wrong before 8:30am!
I still hear you.
Faintly.
But I hear you:
"Today is not just another day to get through, it's a day to unfold.....why clench your fists when things that are outside of your control go wrong? Why yell in frustration? Why utter curses at the top of your lungs?
Stop.
Be Still.
Feel my heart beat, baby girl. I've got this. All of this. All of it. All of you. I've got it. And this day that I made, this day that I gave you is good. So rejoice. Give your thanks. Shout them from the roof top.
All I do and all I give is out of faithfulness. Yes, my perpetual and perfect faithfulness. So rest easy. Don't carry the weight so heavy.
Rest easy."
Day 123: 23/07/2013
Holy God,
We lift our hands to you in praise.
We open our hands to you--we receive what you give us.
We give you our thanks.
we give you our thanks because that's all that's left for us to do.
We lay down at your feet in defeat.
We pull out our white flag yet again.
YOURS is the glory. YOURS is the honour. YOURS is the power.
Amen.
We lift our hands to you in praise.
We open our hands to you--we receive what you give us.
We give you our thanks.
we give you our thanks because that's all that's left for us to do.
We lay down at your feet in defeat.
We pull out our white flag yet again.
YOURS is the glory. YOURS is the honour. YOURS is the power.
Amen.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Day 122: 22/07/2013
Holy God,
My eyes are heavy with tears,
my body weighed down with fears.
Information overload is the light phrase,
resounding words place me in this haze.
The darkness weighs heavy,
the unanswered questions of many.
Listen to your children!
Do you not hear their screaming?
My eyes are heavy with tears,
my body weighed down with fears.
Information overload is the light phrase,
resounding words place me in this haze.
The darkness weighs heavy,
the unanswered questions of many.
Listen to your children!
Do you not hear their screaming?
Day 121: 21/07/2013
Holy God,
We worship you in spirit and in truth.
We put you first-- we set you apart as holy, as other in our lives.
Put the mind of Christ in us--implant it deep at the core of our thinking.
Re-arrange our lives with you at the center, the focus.
We fall on our face in awe of you.
We love you, our other, our holy.
Amen.
We worship you in spirit and in truth.
We put you first-- we set you apart as holy, as other in our lives.
Put the mind of Christ in us--implant it deep at the core of our thinking.
Re-arrange our lives with you at the center, the focus.
We fall on our face in awe of you.
We love you, our other, our holy.
Amen.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Day 120 (Bonus post)
I just need to write some more today...
You came into my store today. And the second your mama referred to me as "auntie" I knew your little feet had walked on other terrains of God's green earth. And my heart leapt.
I helped you put your tanned, calloused feet into pretty pink sandals. And I just wished so bad that pretty pink sandals could just take away the massive wound in my soul.
Your mama, she looked into my eyes and I knew, just knew that she got it.
got me.
got me and my mess.
We talked, we talked about how living by two seas just rips your heart in two. I swallowed back tears as if my soul was just scattered and shattered yesterday. And I thought about how two halves just never do make a whole, or they do, but they make a hole. A hole that just aches, and aches and aches
So I pray for you little one, I advocate for you as your auntie, as your mama's sister. her sister in Christ.
I pray that you would be enfolded in all the love and brightness of this earth. That you would keep your heart open wide to receive the love of Christ and the love of others. That the gnawing need to isolate, to separate, to run, to hide, would be only a faint whisper in your little ears. That being found and being known, that loving and being loved would not scare you but exhilarate you. That the lies of not belonging would never touch you, not even once for a second. And I pray that your heart would be swallowed up by the good, faithful, sure love of Christ, which is not false and is always faithful and that it would be manifested in your life through other people. I pray these things over you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
You came into my store today. And the second your mama referred to me as "auntie" I knew your little feet had walked on other terrains of God's green earth. And my heart leapt.
I helped you put your tanned, calloused feet into pretty pink sandals. And I just wished so bad that pretty pink sandals could just take away the massive wound in my soul.
Your mama, she looked into my eyes and I knew, just knew that she got it.
got me.
got me and my mess.
We talked, we talked about how living by two seas just rips your heart in two. I swallowed back tears as if my soul was just scattered and shattered yesterday. And I thought about how two halves just never do make a whole, or they do, but they make a hole. A hole that just aches, and aches and aches
So I pray for you little one, I advocate for you as your auntie, as your mama's sister. her sister in Christ.
I pray that you would be enfolded in all the love and brightness of this earth. That you would keep your heart open wide to receive the love of Christ and the love of others. That the gnawing need to isolate, to separate, to run, to hide, would be only a faint whisper in your little ears. That being found and being known, that loving and being loved would not scare you but exhilarate you. That the lies of not belonging would never touch you, not even once for a second. And I pray that your heart would be swallowed up by the good, faithful, sure love of Christ, which is not false and is always faithful and that it would be manifested in your life through other people. I pray these things over you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 120: 20/07/2013
Sweet Father in heaven,
We give you thanks for the solid sleep, the dreamless sleep.
We give thanks for conversations with wine on the deck until late into the night.
We give thanks for the sun which seems to shine endlessly brightening our spirits.
We give thanks for clarity of thought and quick planning of lessons.
We give thanks for coffee, the soothing flavour and smell.
We give thanks for all the good things you've given us.
We love you.
We give you thanks.
We give you praise.
You are worthy.
Amen.
We give you thanks for the solid sleep, the dreamless sleep.
We give thanks for conversations with wine on the deck until late into the night.
We give thanks for the sun which seems to shine endlessly brightening our spirits.
We give thanks for clarity of thought and quick planning of lessons.
We give thanks for coffee, the soothing flavour and smell.
We give thanks for all the good things you've given us.
We love you.
We give you thanks.
We give you praise.
You are worthy.
Amen.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Day 119: 19/07/2013
Holy One,
You strip us down to the core.
You peel back our façade.
You find us.
We cower in fear.
We reach for anything to cover us
anything to help us hide.
But you are all about finding.
All about being known and knowing.
You quiet our fears.
You speak truth to our unworthiness,
life to our inadequacies.
You are a changer and a mover.
A finder and a keeper.
And in your presence alone is there rest.
Around you is the only space of freedom.
In your care is the only source of peace.
And you,
you my friend,
are way more than enough,
for this,
for me.
Amen.
You strip us down to the core.
You peel back our façade.
You find us.
We cower in fear.
We reach for anything to cover us
anything to help us hide.
But you are all about finding.
All about being known and knowing.
You quiet our fears.
You speak truth to our unworthiness,
life to our inadequacies.
You are a changer and a mover.
A finder and a keeper.
And in your presence alone is there rest.
Around you is the only space of freedom.
In your care is the only source of peace.
And you,
you my friend,
are way more than enough,
for this,
for me.
Amen.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Day 118: 18/07/2013
God,
I wake.
I whisper to you: "I'm gonna need your grace all over this day, I'm gonna need your mercy to just carry me".
I hear you respond:
"My little one, my grace has already gone ahead of you, my mercy, my patient, steadfast, faithful love has already gone ahead.
Sit with me.
wait on me.
Let me fill your mind with truths.
Let me speak of my love for you, which is beyond your comprehension.
Let me assure you that though you face many unknowns, none of them are unknowns to me.
Lean back and float, float on the assurance that I am who I say I am.
I promised and I am faithful to my promises.
There is not a single place on this earth that I am not. Why believe you fears?
Rest in me little one, my grace is far more than enough, yes, even for this day, even for you.
I love you, my little one, my little child of light. "
I wake.
I whisper to you: "I'm gonna need your grace all over this day, I'm gonna need your mercy to just carry me".
I hear you respond:
"My little one, my grace has already gone ahead of you, my mercy, my patient, steadfast, faithful love has already gone ahead.
Sit with me.
wait on me.
Let me fill your mind with truths.
Let me speak of my love for you, which is beyond your comprehension.
Let me assure you that though you face many unknowns, none of them are unknowns to me.
Lean back and float, float on the assurance that I am who I say I am.
I promised and I am faithful to my promises.
There is not a single place on this earth that I am not. Why believe you fears?
Rest in me little one, my grace is far more than enough, yes, even for this day, even for you.
I love you, my little one, my little child of light. "
Day 117: 17/07/2013
Holy God,
I rest in you, and in you only.
You alone are the on who makes my foot not to slip.
You alone are my healer.
Heal me Lord.
Lord have mercy, on me, a sinner.
Amen.
I rest in you, and in you only.
You alone are the on who makes my foot not to slip.
You alone are my healer.
Heal me Lord.
Lord have mercy, on me, a sinner.
Amen.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Day 116:16/07/2013
Gracious God,
The morning is here.
And your sun just keeps on shinning down warming up every inch of this earth straight to the core.
And my coffee echoes the sun's mystery warmth.
Already I'm aware of how much I need your grace on this day.
Your mystery grace that reverberates in the deepest caverns of my soul.
Your mystery grace that trembles hope quakes where there was only despair.
Your mystery grace that propels me deeper and fuller into you.
Be heavy upon this day.
Be deep in my soul.
Splatter your love like a carefree-child with paint.
My life is your canvas.
Giver.
I love you my other, my holy.
Amen.
The morning is here.
And your sun just keeps on shinning down warming up every inch of this earth straight to the core.
And my coffee echoes the sun's mystery warmth.
Already I'm aware of how much I need your grace on this day.
Your mystery grace that reverberates in the deepest caverns of my soul.
Your mystery grace that trembles hope quakes where there was only despair.
Your mystery grace that propels me deeper and fuller into you.
Be heavy upon this day.
Be deep in my soul.
Splatter your love like a carefree-child with paint.
My life is your canvas.
Giver.
I love you my other, my holy.
Amen.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Day 115: 15/07/2013
Holy God,
The distractions are endless, and this heart, this heart that claims to be steadfast just wanders off. Wanders off and does its own thing....
Call me back.
Clear the path.
Make the way straight.
Order our lives,
order our hearts with you at the top.
Be relentless in your pursuit,
Don't hold back.
Show us our idols,
show us the things we love more than you.
And then teach us how to love you first.
Teach us how to make you the highest trump card,
the one we rearrange plans for.
Help us to be slow to speak and quick to listen.
Open our ears to hear your words of life,
Open our eyes to see you in all your splendor.
We love you,
our other, our holy.
Set our hearts upon you once again.
The distractions are endless, and this heart, this heart that claims to be steadfast just wanders off. Wanders off and does its own thing....
Call me back.
Clear the path.
Make the way straight.
Order our lives,
order our hearts with you at the top.
Be relentless in your pursuit,
Don't hold back.
Show us our idols,
show us the things we love more than you.
And then teach us how to love you first.
Teach us how to make you the highest trump card,
the one we rearrange plans for.
Help us to be slow to speak and quick to listen.
Open our ears to hear your words of life,
Open our eyes to see you in all your splendor.
We love you,
our other, our holy.
Set our hearts upon you once again.
Day 114: 14/07/2013
Holy God,
And we come into your presence...
abandon our hearts to you,
heal our apostasy.
break down divisions and fractures.
Set captives free, heal the blind, raise the dead...just do your thing.
wash over us in all you wonder and all your mystery.
wash over us like a slow, perfect tidal wave.
Delight us once again in the mystery of who you are.
Show us again and again your wonders.
Show us again your unity, your love, your incredible covenant faithfulness, that is never lacking and is always exceedingly above and beyond.
Draw us deeper and fuller into you.
And we come into your presence...
abandon our hearts to you,
heal our apostasy.
break down divisions and fractures.
Set captives free, heal the blind, raise the dead...just do your thing.
wash over us in all you wonder and all your mystery.
wash over us like a slow, perfect tidal wave.
Delight us once again in the mystery of who you are.
Show us again and again your wonders.
Show us again your unity, your love, your incredible covenant faithfulness, that is never lacking and is always exceedingly above and beyond.
Draw us deeper and fuller into you.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Day 113: 13/07/2013
Holy God,
Some mornings, some mornings just like this one, I sit at your feet.
I sit at your feet and weep for all my unworthiness.
You melt my heart, and I speak hate back to you.
You plan good, I choose destruction.
You send goodness and mercy to follow me, and I swat them away.
Yet your love for me is reckless
It knows no end, it knows no boundaries.
It chases me and overwhelms me.
I am undone.
I cannot comprehend you, you my other, my holy.
Make my feet to stay and not to run.
Amen.
Some mornings, some mornings just like this one, I sit at your feet.
I sit at your feet and weep for all my unworthiness.
You melt my heart, and I speak hate back to you.
You plan good, I choose destruction.
You send goodness and mercy to follow me, and I swat them away.
Yet your love for me is reckless
It knows no end, it knows no boundaries.
It chases me and overwhelms me.
I am undone.
I cannot comprehend you, you my other, my holy.
Make my feet to stay and not to run.
Amen.
Day 112: 12/07/2013
Holy God,
Oh and we can barely breath for all the goodness you have shown us.
Butterflies everywhere...how you show them to me reminding me of your faithfulness and steadfast love.
You're healing me bit by bit and I feel it sticking. I feel my wound growing new skin.
Don't stop now. Be faithful to see it through.
I'm almost sure you will but fill my doubt reserve with faith.
I love you.
Some days I can hardly take it all in.
I'm overwhelmed and undone by you.
Oh and we can barely breath for all the goodness you have shown us.
Butterflies everywhere...how you show them to me reminding me of your faithfulness and steadfast love.
You're healing me bit by bit and I feel it sticking. I feel my wound growing new skin.
Don't stop now. Be faithful to see it through.
I'm almost sure you will but fill my doubt reserve with faith.
I love you.
Some days I can hardly take it all in.
I'm overwhelmed and undone by you.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Day 111: 11/07/2013
Holy God,
We bounced as high as we could.
Our hearts seemed to float in mid space.
Laughter, giggles, joy just spilling out all over the place.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Our hearts pounding in our chests we slurp down watermelon...
this is what summer is about.
We laugh, and flop on the couch tired but exhilarated.
We see the goodness of our God in this land of the living.
The bone in my ring finger that broke tobogganing aches... the weather is changing.
And it's early...and this world is still waking up
But I know its an orange creamsicle kind of day.
We will not forget the wonders you have shown us.
Be all over our day.
Be all over our hearts.
Be all over us.
Amen.
We bounced as high as we could.
Our hearts seemed to float in mid space.
Laughter, giggles, joy just spilling out all over the place.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Our hearts pounding in our chests we slurp down watermelon...
this is what summer is about.
We laugh, and flop on the couch tired but exhilarated.
We see the goodness of our God in this land of the living.
The bone in my ring finger that broke tobogganing aches... the weather is changing.
And it's early...and this world is still waking up
But I know its an orange creamsicle kind of day.
We will not forget the wonders you have shown us.
Be all over our day.
Be all over our hearts.
Be all over us.
Amen.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Day 110: 10/07/2013
Holy God,
The distractions are everywhere, millions of them all begging for my attention.
Collect my thoughts.
Focus my heart on you.
Quiet me with your steadfast love.
Make known to me your wonders.
We put our hope in you.
Yes, we put all of our eggs in one basket, in your basket.
You are the one who heals.
You are the one who rescues.
You are the one who makes the crooked places straight.
You are the one who makes known to us the pathway of life.
So we look to you.
In all the tedious and time-standing-still moments of our lives.
We look to you.
We rest in you.
We love you.
Amen.
The distractions are everywhere, millions of them all begging for my attention.
Collect my thoughts.
Focus my heart on you.
Quiet me with your steadfast love.
Make known to me your wonders.
We put our hope in you.
Yes, we put all of our eggs in one basket, in your basket.
You are the one who heals.
You are the one who rescues.
You are the one who makes the crooked places straight.
You are the one who makes known to us the pathway of life.
So we look to you.
In all the tedious and time-standing-still moments of our lives.
We look to you.
We rest in you.
We love you.
Amen.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Day 109: 09/07/2013
Holy God,
I don't feel like writing today. This is a complete act of obedience and will power. My mind is tired and my heart too. I just want to rest, to freeze time and just breathe. I feel overwhelmed by a myriad of choices to make that give rise to millions upon millions of unanswerable questions and the whole thing just makes me exhausted.
So I look at you.
The one I need.
The only one I need.
I look into your kind eyes and thoughtful smile and my heart stills.
And I don't feel so overwhelmed anymore.
I feel your assurance come, like the clarity of plunging into the lake.
Keep me here.
Keep me in this place of awe and surrender.
Keep me with you.
Amen.
I don't feel like writing today. This is a complete act of obedience and will power. My mind is tired and my heart too. I just want to rest, to freeze time and just breathe. I feel overwhelmed by a myriad of choices to make that give rise to millions upon millions of unanswerable questions and the whole thing just makes me exhausted.
So I look at you.
The one I need.
The only one I need.
I look into your kind eyes and thoughtful smile and my heart stills.
And I don't feel so overwhelmed anymore.
I feel your assurance come, like the clarity of plunging into the lake.
Keep me here.
Keep me in this place of awe and surrender.
Keep me with you.
Amen.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Day 108: 08/07/2013
Holy God,
Oh you still us.
You quiet us with your love.
You make us lie down and rest.
You heal us.
You invite us to celebrate.
We respond:
You are our God.
We love you, our other.
We love you, our healer or strengthener.
We come, we enter, we rejoice.
We love you, our other, our holy.
We love you.
Let it be
Amen.
Oh you still us.
You quiet us with your love.
You make us lie down and rest.
You heal us.
You invite us to celebrate.
We respond:
You are our God.
We love you, our other.
We love you, our healer or strengthener.
We come, we enter, we rejoice.
We love you, our other, our holy.
We love you.
Let it be
Amen.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Day 107: 07/07/2013
Holy God,
And we seek you.
We seek you first,
we seek you above all else.
Lord have mercy.
And we wait on you.
We wait on you in the midst of our uncertainties.
we wait on you in every season of our lives.
Lord have mercy.
And we trust you.
We trust you with all the questions not answered.
We trust you in the wonders you have shown us.
Lord have mercy.
And we praise you.
We praise you with our heads bowed low.
We praise you with loud shouts and in the quiet chambers of our hearts.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy on us this day.
In the moments of confession, in the moments of praise, in the sacred, and the ordinary.
Lord have mercy.
And we seek you.
We seek you first,
we seek you above all else.
Lord have mercy.
And we wait on you.
We wait on you in the midst of our uncertainties.
we wait on you in every season of our lives.
Lord have mercy.
And we trust you.
We trust you with all the questions not answered.
We trust you in the wonders you have shown us.
Lord have mercy.
And we praise you.
We praise you with our heads bowed low.
We praise you with loud shouts and in the quiet chambers of our hearts.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy on us this day.
In the moments of confession, in the moments of praise, in the sacred, and the ordinary.
Lord have mercy.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Day 106: 06/07/2013
I sit on my deck and drink my coffee and I hear you say:
Oh my little one, rest your heart deeply in me. Let it be immersed in my over abundant love, that is not false and is always sure. Sure like a boomerang finding its way back.
Fix your eyes on me, look into my face, watch how your doubts vanish as you look into the eyes of truth. Just watch them fall off you as you are embraced by my faithful love, which is sure and strong.
Put down your worries, put them into my hands, which are strong and kind: nothing is beyond my ability to redeem.
Surrender to me, stop fighting, stop running way, run TO me. When have I ever not caught you? When have I ever not embraced you with more love than you can handle? Run to me and settle in. For I have much to teach you, much to show you, much to heal you.
You, yes you my beautiful one, I love you. And if you could always feel and know the depths of that love you would never fear again. Don't take advantage of it, but count on it. Yes, you can count on me. So let go of all the heaviness you carry, and rest with me. Let us walk hand in hand through the next days, knowing that I always walk ahead and with you in every moment.
I am more than enough, just fall back into me and see.
I love you, my little one. rest.
Oh my little one, rest your heart deeply in me. Let it be immersed in my over abundant love, that is not false and is always sure. Sure like a boomerang finding its way back.
Fix your eyes on me, look into my face, watch how your doubts vanish as you look into the eyes of truth. Just watch them fall off you as you are embraced by my faithful love, which is sure and strong.
Put down your worries, put them into my hands, which are strong and kind: nothing is beyond my ability to redeem.
Surrender to me, stop fighting, stop running way, run TO me. When have I ever not caught you? When have I ever not embraced you with more love than you can handle? Run to me and settle in. For I have much to teach you, much to show you, much to heal you.
You, yes you my beautiful one, I love you. And if you could always feel and know the depths of that love you would never fear again. Don't take advantage of it, but count on it. Yes, you can count on me. So let go of all the heaviness you carry, and rest with me. Let us walk hand in hand through the next days, knowing that I always walk ahead and with you in every moment.
I am more than enough, just fall back into me and see.
I love you, my little one. rest.
Day 105: 05/07/013
Holy God,
And this day that you made us,
this day that you gave us,
just beckons us to bow.
We mull on your truths,
we listen to their rhythms...
make your cadence our heartbeat.
Butterflies brighten, sunshine straightens.
Minor moments, precarious pauses
all bring our hearts back into alignment.
And that's what we want.
That's our single wish, our top priority:
to move to your patterns in your time signature.
We surrender to your conducting.
We have seen and have come to know that you truly are the God who saves.
And this day that you made us,
this day that you gave us,
just beckons us to bow.
We mull on your truths,
we listen to their rhythms...
make your cadence our heartbeat.
Butterflies brighten, sunshine straightens.
Minor moments, precarious pauses
all bring our hearts back into alignment.
And that's what we want.
That's our single wish, our top priority:
to move to your patterns in your time signature.
We surrender to your conducting.
We have seen and have come to know that you truly are the God who saves.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Day 104:04/07/2013
Holy God,
We wake up, and the whole earth just seems to groan in living pangs.
And I pull out the prayer candles and lite them all around this little house.
And I settle into my spot because I know we're gonna be here a while.
The darkness is heavy, pressing in on every side, on all corners of this earth of yours.
But your light, your light just dispels that darkness in one swift movement.
And I'm not so sure what's going on in the realm I cannot see, but I feel it, I feel it heavy today.
So God,
Guide us and bless us.
Teach us how to walk wisely on this earth of yours.
Teach us to say a loud "yes" to you and your ways,
and a strong "no" to the things that are not of you.
Teach us to walk in the light as you are in the light.
Let us be like little moths that do not rest until they have found the light.
Help us to be brave, to pray what you say without holding back.
Instill in us your ever abiding love and make our lives a prepared dwelling place for you.
We love you.
We delight in you.
We want to risk with you.
Lord, have mercy on us this day.
Amen.
We wake up, and the whole earth just seems to groan in living pangs.
And I pull out the prayer candles and lite them all around this little house.
And I settle into my spot because I know we're gonna be here a while.
The darkness is heavy, pressing in on every side, on all corners of this earth of yours.
But your light, your light just dispels that darkness in one swift movement.
And I'm not so sure what's going on in the realm I cannot see, but I feel it, I feel it heavy today.
So God,
Guide us and bless us.
Teach us how to walk wisely on this earth of yours.
Teach us to say a loud "yes" to you and your ways,
and a strong "no" to the things that are not of you.
Teach us to walk in the light as you are in the light.
Let us be like little moths that do not rest until they have found the light.
Help us to be brave, to pray what you say without holding back.
Instill in us your ever abiding love and make our lives a prepared dwelling place for you.
We love you.
We delight in you.
We want to risk with you.
Lord, have mercy on us this day.
Amen.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Day 103: 03/07/2013
Holy God,
Yes, you are Holy, set apart, above the chaos, our other.
We look to you.
We stop for a moment and turn our faces towards you.
We stop for a while and look into your eyes.
And our fears, those fears that follow us wherever we go,
those fears about inadequacy, about abandonment, about being too much, or not enough,
those fears about feeling purposeless, the ones that question why we're here, and where we're going.
those fears that seem to always resurface no matter how much growth, how much counselling,
yes those fears,
they melt
in your presence.
they melt
and I am undone.
Undone because your kindness recklessly chases me when I am so unkind.
Undone because your tender patience never runs dry and is always faithful even when I'm exasperating.
Undone because your love pursues me more aggressively when I spit at you in fear.
Undone because you hunt me down and force feed me truth when I'm gorging on lies.
Undone because you show up when I push you away, when I slam the door in your face and kick you out.
Undone because you just sit with me in this mess of a life. You sit with me and order my chaos.
And I am 143,000,000% overwhelmed by your khesed (Hebrew: loving-kindness) which is not false and is always faithful.
Yes, you are Holy, set apart, above the chaos, our other.
We look to you.
We stop for a moment and turn our faces towards you.
We stop for a while and look into your eyes.
And our fears, those fears that follow us wherever we go,
those fears about inadequacy, about abandonment, about being too much, or not enough,
those fears about feeling purposeless, the ones that question why we're here, and where we're going.
those fears that seem to always resurface no matter how much growth, how much counselling,
yes those fears,
they melt
in your presence.
they melt
and I am undone.
Undone because your kindness recklessly chases me when I am so unkind.
Undone because your tender patience never runs dry and is always faithful even when I'm exasperating.
Undone because your love pursues me more aggressively when I spit at you in fear.
Undone because you hunt me down and force feed me truth when I'm gorging on lies.
Undone because you show up when I push you away, when I slam the door in your face and kick you out.
Undone because you just sit with me in this mess of a life. You sit with me and order my chaos.
And I am 143,000,000% overwhelmed by your khesed (Hebrew: loving-kindness) which is not false and is always faithful.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Day 102/02/07/2013
Musings more than prayers or poems today...
I hear you whisper to me: "Life and love aren't problems to be solved, they're moments to live". I scribble it on a post-it and put it in my purse lest I forget. Cause this one, this mess of woman, is quick to forget and slow to remember. Evening comes and I transfer that post it to my silver evening clutch as if the physical presences of the words will allow this truth to come into fruition.
And its not even 24 hours later, I'm standing there in my early morning delight, sipping my coffee and browsing used books like time isn't moving, and I read it: "Life isn't like a book. Life isn't logical or sensible or orderly. Life is a mess most of the time. And theology must be lived in the midst of that mess"(Charles Colson). And I hear you loud and clear.
I'm ashamed at how quick I am to reduce this miracle of a life to a system. Like our adventures in life are a massive math equation to solve, or an never ending paper to edit. But its NOT, its a gift. A gift that cannot be reduced down to a formula.
And I don't know how to do this, how to not deduce the facts to predict the most likely outcomes and make my life moves. I don't know how to float patiently on the sea of a million unanswerable questions.
So today, today I pray with this in mind:
Lord help me to float on this sea of questions.
Help me to rest in your unquenchable love, which is a fact, which is something I'm sure of.
Help me be more sure of it.
Awaken to me the moments of my life, scatter the equations.
I love you my other, my holy. Amen.
I hear you whisper to me: "Life and love aren't problems to be solved, they're moments to live". I scribble it on a post-it and put it in my purse lest I forget. Cause this one, this mess of woman, is quick to forget and slow to remember. Evening comes and I transfer that post it to my silver evening clutch as if the physical presences of the words will allow this truth to come into fruition.
And its not even 24 hours later, I'm standing there in my early morning delight, sipping my coffee and browsing used books like time isn't moving, and I read it: "Life isn't like a book. Life isn't logical or sensible or orderly. Life is a mess most of the time. And theology must be lived in the midst of that mess"(Charles Colson). And I hear you loud and clear.
I'm ashamed at how quick I am to reduce this miracle of a life to a system. Like our adventures in life are a massive math equation to solve, or an never ending paper to edit. But its NOT, its a gift. A gift that cannot be reduced down to a formula.
And I don't know how to do this, how to not deduce the facts to predict the most likely outcomes and make my life moves. I don't know how to float patiently on the sea of a million unanswerable questions.
So today, today I pray with this in mind:
Lord help me to float on this sea of questions.
Help me to rest in your unquenchable love, which is a fact, which is something I'm sure of.
Help me be more sure of it.
Awaken to me the moments of my life, scatter the equations.
I love you my other, my holy. Amen.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Day 101:01/07/2013
Holy God,
I wake and I feel like a Dalmatian who's spots are all scattered.
Re-order my insides, but me back together, untangle my mind.
Dispel the chaos and confusion and let me think with singleness of focus.
Let me enter into all that you have for me this day.
May I not be a stranger at your table, but one who is known by you.
Scatter the lies and unbelief, let me walk in steadfastness and truth.
May I partake of what you give me.
May I not shy away in fear, or turn back in defeat,
but may I walk boldly with my hand in yours.
I love you, you my other.
May this day be within and without me.
In the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
I wake and I feel like a Dalmatian who's spots are all scattered.
Re-order my insides, but me back together, untangle my mind.
Dispel the chaos and confusion and let me think with singleness of focus.
Let me enter into all that you have for me this day.
May I not be a stranger at your table, but one who is known by you.
Scatter the lies and unbelief, let me walk in steadfastness and truth.
May I partake of what you give me.
May I not shy away in fear, or turn back in defeat,
but may I walk boldly with my hand in yours.
I love you, you my other.
May this day be within and without me.
In the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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