Choose life

Deuteronomy 30:19

I have set before you life and death;....therefore choose life.

when you are weary, choose life.

when there is confusion,when there is pain,

when your only experience is rain,

choose life.

when the sun is hidden,and you are tested and tried,

when all that is within you is a cry.

choose life.

when answers seem far, and uncertainty surrounds,

choose life.

when you have fallen from grace and mercy is unseen,

choose life.

just breathe.

and choose life.

Steadied

A dear one to me recently expressed her fear in a scary situation. I longed for and fished for something comforting to say, to steady her world. I found myself in my core just as fearful, I immediately shared this with my Saviour, (as if He did not already know.) His gentle whisper back was; "child, your very hairs..."

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:7

Photo: aloha update, Kona Hi.

safe in His arms

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: Deut. 33:27

Evacuees stand around Shinjuku Central Park in Tokyo Japan March 11, 2011.(photograph from atlantic.com)

When we are at unrest. When everything seems uncertain. When fear grasps at our heart. When the earth is shaking. When all we have is broken. We will be safe in His arms. The same arms that raised the lame to walk, ordered the seas to calm. The hands that clasped the widows,the hands that folded in fervent prayer on the mountain. These very same hands that were pierced for you and me are the ones we cling to now. We will be safe in His arms.

Thirst

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’John 7:37-38

all who thirst let them come to you. let them come to you and drink from the fountain of hope in the midst of their trouble. that you may put their sweet heads at rest. that you may fulfill the emptiness that resides in their being. that you may quench this thirst. this desperation for more, for peace,for joy, for rest. they do not know it is You they need. their life giver, their Saviour. how am I so blessed to know You? thank you. help me show You, prove yourself in me. it is my prayer, i ask now.

(Photograph from the orange county register news)

My hope

My hope is built

On nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust

The sweetest frame

But wholly lean

On Jesus' name

When the mountains are falling

When the waters are rising

I shall be safe in You

Though the nations are quaking

Every kingdom be shaken

Still I will rest in You

When darkness seems

To hide Your face

I rest on Your

Unchanging graces

In every high

And stormy gale

My anchor holds

Within the veil

-Matt Redman- lyrics to "My Hope"

Silence in Silence

In this place of silence I come to ask;

Reasons that my soul questions,

Answers that my heart yearns for;

In this place of silence

I ask for a reply;

Answers to my deepest care's

So that I may rest in knowledge;

Still in this place of silence;

with more questions than before;

I kneel ,I plead with You;

To just even whisper your will

I find myself kneeling

Then look up at your light;

I worship because you are holy

I worship with all might

In this silence I've been returned ;

The joy of my salvation;

Answers to my questions,

burdens of my heart ,

have flown away with the winter wind

I leave just thankful in their stead.

Forever and for always I pray that I remember,

The thankfulness and love I receive only in You

And for that alone

Silence in silence is good.

His great love

His great love covers all

Covers the sparrow with protection through flight

Covers the earth with sunshine and snow

Covers the animals with thick, fur coats.

Covers the nations with mercy and grace

Covers His children with His sheltering wing,

Look around today wherever you are. Watch trains, plains and vehicles at high speeds safely get to their destinations. Watch your children play in innocence.

Watch the animals gather food, even in our Alaska winter. Then reflect on how He has watched over you, His child and know, bask in His great love!

Wait

Psalms 52:9

I will praise thee forever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it good before thy saints.

Patiently or impatiently I still must wait. The lapse of time from the beginning of the wait to the moment in time when the outcome has been performed is beautiful in itself.

My wait if patient is lovely, beneficial to my being. The wait of a beautiful thing always takes time.

The growth time of a seedling into a strong apple tree. The formation of new life, from conception unto birth. The education of a Physician. The construction of a high rise. A masterpiece from an artists brush...

The outcome always enriched... always enjoyed... because of the wait.

Vision

Come meet me, sweet Jesus

May the wind of change blow through me

Speak your Spirit I ask, heal my heart

All I have are prayers, unless you come;

Bring to life whats inside of me

change my heart until all I see is you

That the vision I have of you today will be the ending of my ways

Unchain my heart, it's the only way to freedom

You and You alone, there is a work you have already done

Finish what needs to be completed in me

That the beginning of you will be the ending of me;

And all the works that I have done will burn up in the sun,

That you may reign in my song

Luke 1:68

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people.

Beautiful things

Beauty in a flower

Beauty in the bee

Beauty in a lions strength

Beauty in the weakness of a lamb

Beauty in a sun warmed beach

Beauty in the chill of a storm

Beauty in a Father's love

Beauty in a Mother's touch

Beauty in a baby's smile

Beauty in the eye's shed tear

Beauty in ashes

Beauty in the dance

Beauty in repentance

Beauty in forgiveness

Beauty in the manger

Beauty of the cross

Beauty in redemption

Beauty in life eternal

"He makes beautiful things..."

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He hath made everything beautiful in His time:...

Strength

Strengthen me Lord!

That I might not be rooted here

Lifted high close to heaven, upon your steady rock

Weakened and poured out, but strong in You

If the waves here leave scars

I think of you

One who bears many for me

Infuse me with your power

Leaning on the heritage of those gone before

Able me to stand before the walls of temptation

Lord, plant me on your highest mountain top

In your eternal strength

So that each root, lifting storm will only lead me closer to You

Colossians 1:11

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness;

Caretaker

You care for me and it crushes all the fear I have inside,

Your child, hand in hand we walk side by side

You convince me in the whisper of the trees

In the warmth and glory of the sun

You compassions never fail me, no matter how fast I might have run

In your breath alone I feel so small

Mercy, sweet mercy I bask in, in the morning

Grace, peace and rest are given at the dawning

Through joy or in trial even in my deepest mourning

Secure in my Saviour, He gets me into light

A walk with You in the garden, to tell me all will be alright

I was told by a friend today living on the other side of our country that they had prayed for us at a specific time last week, a specific time last week in which I really needed it.

His care over me, His compassion for me...even in my weakness astonishes me and gives me a thankful heart this morning. "Oh yes He cares"!

Lam.3:22-23 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

sidewalk...

She stepped onto the sidewalk and started on her way, at first just toddling, steps excited and sporadic.

Each new one brought such joy and surprise. There were flowers to pick and bright, green grass to smell. The air was warm and the sun shone above brightly.

Legs grew stronger and her way became faster. The sun shown brightly still and pine needles danced in the wind. Rain showers came, and with them was always a rainbow of promise after.

The sidewalk narrowed.

The walking space became smaller due to the mounds of ice and snow. The ice though clear and beautiful at times could be so very sharp and cold. If not careful it would cut and leave wounds deep.

Her steps were forced to be slower, cumbered steps that only came with great effort.

The snow sparkling and beautiful comforted and blanketed the ice, hiding many times the ugliness and threat.

Up ahead the sidewalk appeared changed, it was clear and shining , she forged ahead quickly, ready for the run once again!

What came was a shock. Her footing was lost, she slipped and slid out of control, ICE! Ice that was black and cold,deceiving to the naked eye.

The fall so hard.....it jarred every bone, shook her to her very core.

Only left was a coldness, unable to shake, a loneliness that could not be denied.

Where was the Sun?

Where was her strength?

Her legs lay limp, injured by the fall... wearied by the run.

Thoughts of first steps on the sidewalk enveloped her memory. She missed the joy, longed for the peace and the pureness of new discovery.

Where was this place?

Did this sidewalk really lead to such an unfulfilled dead end?

All at once she was lifted in power and might, though afraid she felt not, she was so comforted by His sight.

His strong steps could not falter though the ice was so thick,

His arms wrapped tightly around her and all was right.

He carried her into a garden so fair,

with birds singing and fireflies dancing all over in delight.

She grew strength in her legs and again in her heart

soon she was ready to seek back out the

"sidewalk"

Again it had changed this time with a light

it was clear

the end she saw was pure and shining

Celestial, bright full of hope and His grace,

her step though careful

were lighter now in this place.

I love to run, even in the winter I strap on ice cleats and run in the snow and ice. While running thoughts of the ,at times, treacherous sidewalk we run on in life made me think. I wrote this for a friend who had a "slippery run" recently,overcoming the fall, in Jesus name she shines, running forward now, it is beautiful, it is an encouragement to me..

Col. 1:9-13 " That ye might walk worthy of the Lord."

His song

Psalms 40:3

And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

How powerful the song that you have given me

How pure and how beautiful it plays

Truth pours out of it's anthem

Hope flow's from it's page

The lost rejoice at it's words

The saints worship at the melody

This song lifts high

Can reach the farthest way

Help me to deliver

Strengthen me to proclaim

Tainted not by me

Harmonious in You

Until I hear the angels sing

This song that is from You

Abide

Beside her I knelt for prayer,

and when I did I felt His presence so near

It was my amazing Jesus standing there!

He squeezed my hand and said "please don't fear"

"Lord, she has left me, I can not bear it;"

"You conquered the grave, conquer hers?"

He whispered, "she is not dead"

"She sleeps then I know, but never will I see her eyes here again

So far from us she is and ever will be"

He whispered, "she is not a sleep"

"But I long for her my Jesus, I want to keep her here,

though she will be with you

still so far, too far from me"

He whispered, "I am here"

"Jesus how do I know that she awaits for me?

She is not dead, and she does not sleep?"

He whispered, "abide with me"

Truly, in many of my most desperate times is where I have felt my Saviour the closest.

I pray "Abide with Him. Why do we wander? Why do we seek out anything beside Thee?

I Samuel 2:2

There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Charity

1 Corinthians 13:2

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity I am nothing.

The strength received from my Holy God can be enlightening to my soul. I can walk forward in confidence with a faith unshakable, and a determination unstoppable. But without love, but without the charity of my amazing Father, how fruitless it would look to a hopeless world, without love?

Oh God, help me to only show your love, to only show your strength. And to only show your compassion, that I might not get in your way, that I may not cause one of your dear one's to stumble!