25 December 2012

this day

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
 “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.  And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Luke 2:7-20

Merry Christmas!

Love:)

R

21 December 2012

welcome to our world- chris rice


Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting
Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long awaited Holy Stranger
Make yourself at home
Please make yourself at home

Bring your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
World now breaking Heaven's silence
Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world

18 December 2012

hosanna - hillsong

I see the King of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

Hosanna, Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

And I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees

Hosanna, Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

Hosanna, Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Hosanna, Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest


Hosanna. Come save us,
the broken.


Love:)

R

15 December 2012

a thought from h.w.longfellow

And in despair, I bowed my head.
"There is no peace on earth," I said, 

"For hate is strong and mocks the song,
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells, more loud and deep,
"God is not dead, nor does He sleep,
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men!"
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

No,
He's not dead.
Even in the whys.
Peace to you today.


Love:)

R

11 December 2012

rest

Bent just a little,
shoulder lowered,
one leg just a tiny bit longer.
They say it's random
but she knows.

The weight of the world
has a way of bending you.

Bending a little
but not breaking.

Because He's there.
quietly whispering into the still of the night
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,
and learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30)

Oh, the rest.
 It saves her.

When her brain threatens to explode
thanks to
chemistry
and history
and math.

The rest.

To remember the importance of resting.

Really, truly resting.
She makes herself take every possible
Sunday off.
Focus on Him.
And it's okay.
Still has an A in chemistry.
(For now:)

Ancient history hasn't killed her yet.

His yoke has made all the difference.

This advent,
consider resting?
It helps.


Love:)

R

The Fall - Gungor

The fall, the fall, oh God the fall of man
The fruit is found in every eye and every hand
Nothing there is nothing yet in truest form
We walk like ghost upon the earth, the ground in groans

How long, how long will you wait?
How long, how long till you save us all, save us all

Turn your face to me, turn your face to me
Turn your face to me, turn your face to me

The light, the light, the morning light is gone
And all that's left is fragile breath and failing lungs
The night, the night, the guiding night has come
Igniting love with his bride more precious than the dark

How long, how long will you wait?
How long, how long till you save us all, save us all

Turn your face to me, turn your face to me
Turn your face to me, turn your face to me


How long, how long must we wait?

Turn your face to me, turn your face to me
Turn your face to me, turn your face to me

09 December 2012

for us

The grace of
God
Become flesh,
reaching down,
walking among us.

God
into our world
walking.
Breathing.
Healing.
Breaking.

Grace.

Love:)

R

Here with us- Joy Williams

03 December 2012

Psalm 66:1-5

Shout for joy to God, all the earth;   
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
 All the earth worships you
and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name.” Selah
Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

30 November 2012

steal my show- tobymac


Another cold night
Another late flight
It's almost show time, and Diverse City's waitin' on me
We got a packed house, the crowd is callin' out
They want the beat to drop, but what we really need is You

If You wanna steal my show, I'll sit back and watch You go
If You got somethin' to say, go on and take it away
Need You to steal my show, can't wait to watch You go
So take it away


So now the crowd is hype, that you showed up tonight
Anticipatin', cravin' somethin' more than smoke and lights
So I'll step out the way, I'll give You center stage
Alight
Spotlight
Give 'em what they came for ...
If You wanna steal my show, I'll sit back and watch You go
If You got somethin' to say, go on and take it away
Need You to steal my show, can't wait to watch You go
So take it away


When You arrive, we come to life
Our hearts collide, they're beating in the same time
You're comin' through, all eyes on You
Our hearts collide, they're beating in the same time, beating in the same time

No matter who we are, no matter what we do
Every day we can choose to say ...

If You wanna steal my show, I'll sit back and watch You go
If You got somethin' to say, go on and take it away
Need You to steal my show, can't wait to watch You go
So take it away



My life
My friends
My heart
It's all Yours, God
Take it away
My dreams
My fears
My family
My career
Take it away
Take it away
It's all Yours, God
Take it away
Take it away
It's You I wanna live for


What a song to live by!

Love:)

R

28 November 2012

plans

They say in your teens you think you know it all.
Whatever.

If I knew it all-
I wouldn't have any questions.

Questions are never in short supply in my brain.

Why, Father?
Why them?

Where are you, Abba?
What are you doing?

But the biggest question,
the one with an answer that I know but wish I didn't?

Why doesn't your plan match mine?

Maybe I should really ask
why my plan doesn't match His.

I like plans.
This firstborn? She likes to know what's going on.
Plans are nice.

Compared to His, though?
Mine are no good.

Lord,
Erase my plans.
I've got no idea what I'm doing.
Guide me along the narrow path
of your plan.

You see far beyond me.

You see far around me.

You see far behind me

You know what You're doing.

Teach my heart that truth.

Keep showing me how to look for Your plan.

You're good.

You're plans are good.

Far better than my own.

Love You always.

~Me

This is the prayer I pray over and over,
when right now?
It doesn't all make sense.

Slowly learning that that's okay.

Love:)

R

26 November 2012

on love

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.  But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:16-18


So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.  We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother
 1 John 4:16-21


Enjoy your day, friends.

Love:)

R

14 November 2012

psalm 34

I bless God every chance I get;
my lungs expand with his praise
I live and breathe God;
if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy:
 Join me in spreading the news;
together let’s get the word out.
 God met me more than halfway,
he freed me from my anxious fears.
 Look at him; give him your warmest smile.
Never hide your feelings from him.
 When I was desperate, I called out,
and God got me out of a tight spot.
 God’s angel sets up a circle
of protection around us while we pray.
 Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.
 Worship God if you want the best;
worship opens doors to all his goodness.
 Young lions on the prowl get hungry,
but God-seekers are full of God.
Come, children, listen closely;
I’ll give you a lesson in God worship.
 Who out there has a lust for life?
Can’t wait each day to come upon beauty?
Guard your tongue from profanity,
and no more lying through your teeth.
 Turn your back on sin; do something good.
Embrace peace—don’t let it get away!
God keeps an eye on his friends,
his ears pick up every moan and groan.
 God won’t put up with rebels;
he’ll cull them from the pack.
 Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,
ready to rescue you.
 If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there;
if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.
 Disciples so often get into trouble;
still, God is there every time.
 He’s your bodyguard, shielding every bone;
not even a finger gets broken.
 The wicked commit slow suicide;
they waste their lives hating the good.
 God pays for each slave’s freedom;
no one who runs to him loses out.
 
 
Very much this.
Read this today, and
it is so good.
Praying:)
 
Love:)
 
R

11 November 2012

a question for Eve's daughters

There is this paradox in my brain when it comes to beauty.

One part of me says
You are made to want to be lovely. It is okay to feel pretty, to look in a mirror and think "wow. This outfit really looks good on me today" or "sweet, my skin looks really not-dry and my crazy-curly hair is looking nice today." what about "hey, look- I'm getting abbs! Wow, I can see all those muscles now."

But then there is this other voice...
one that tells me
Don't spend any time looking in the mirror. Don't worry about looking anything but clean and neat. Don't care about it. Anything else is vanity. If you are not careful, you will fall into sin. You are vain when you want to look pretty, vain when you feel that you do. Vanity is a sin.

This argument goes round and round my head,
and confuses me.

Is it wrong to be happy with how you look?

Is it a bad thing to see that you're in much better shape than you've ever been,
and and be pleased?

You should know,
I'm not a girly-girl.
At all.

I don't wear make-up,
don't care much about fashion,
hate shopping.

But I like to feel nice.

A message is sent to many Christan girls that inner beauty is the only thing that matters to God.
Caring about anything else is wrong.
I don't think that it's bad to emphasize inner beauty,
but in this world of women who
cut themselves,
stave themselves,
spend thousands on clothes and make-up,
hours on dressing,
because they see so many 'flaws'?

My heart breaks for them.
They are so beautiful,
and no one tells them.
Or they won't listen.

We are missing something.
I think.

I feel like God tells me I am lovely to Him.
I feel like He's made a point lately to tell me in tons of ways that I am beautiful.
Yes, inside, but specifically lately, outside.

He designed the lilies.
Then He tells me I am worth far more than them.

Why do I feel so vain when I'm happy with something about me?

So many lovely girls struggle with negative self-image,
many I know.

I've worked hard to not dislike my body,
after all- this is exactly how I was created to be.
But I feel guilty when I like it.

Oh, the lies told told to the daughters of Eve.

I'm so confused.
It frustrates me.
Has anyone else felt like this?

At all?

Thoughts?


Love:)

R

06 November 2012

forever true....




remember this today,
as we
wait
wondering who will lead us.

Love:)

R

04 November 2012

Psalm 16:11



You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever.

01 November 2012

another reason

 We spend time giving anyone and everyone a chance to give thanks for things that have gone well for them of late… we do this because it trains us to “name the goodness” that comes into our lives as a gift straight from the hand of the Creator. That is to say, nothing good has ever happened to you that God was not totally involved in. God is never further away from you than your last breath. That goes a long way towards defusing the despair that so often seeks to engulf us.
-Andrew Arndt, lead pastor for Bloom, Denver, Co

Love this!
Such a good thought.
Another reason for Eucharisto.
Thankful for so much today.



Love:)

R

29 October 2012

Somebody's Baby - Jon Foreman

She yells, "if you were homeless
Sure as hell you'd be drunk
Or high or trying to get there
Or begging for junk
When people don't want you
They just throw you money for beer."

Her name was November
She went by Autumn or Fall
It was seven long years
Since the Autumn when all
Of her nightmares grew fingers
And all of her dreams grew a tear

She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
And she's somebody's baby still


She screams, "Well if you've never
Gone at it alone, well then go ahead
You better throw the first stone
You got one lonely stoner
Waiting to bring to her knees"

She dreams about heaven
Remembering hell
As a nightmare she visits
And knows all too well
Every now and again
When she's sober she brushes her teeth

She's somebody's baby...

Today was her birthday
Strangely enough
When the cops found her body
At the foot of the bluff
The annonymous caller this morning
Tipped off the police

They got her I.D
From her dental remains
The same fillings intact
The same nicotine stains
The birth and the death were both over
With no one to grieve

She's somebody's baby

Oh, Lord.
Give us your eyes.
Grant that we never throw the stones.
Show us how we can be You to the broken.

Please don't ever let us
not see
this pain.
I don't want to become
callused.

Come soon, Lord.
We are so broken.

Love:)

R

27 October 2012

calling

cease to do evil,
learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow's cause.

Isaiah 1:17

Be Somebody- Thousand Foot Krutch

I’m just the boy inside the man, not exactly who you think I am
Trying to trace my steps back here again, so many times
I’m just a speck inside your hand, you came and made me who I am
I remember where it all began, so clearly

I feel a million miles away, still you connect me in your way
And you created me, something I would’ve never seen
When I can only see the floor, you made my window a door
So when they say they don’t believe, I hope that they see you in me
After all the lights go down, I’m just the words you are the sound
A strange type of chemistry, how you’ve become a part of me
And when I sit alone at night, your thoughts burn through me like a fire
You’re the only one who knows, who I really am

We all wanna be somebody, we just need a taste of who we are
We all wanna be somebody, we’re willing to go but not that far

And we’re all see through, just like glass
And we can shatter just as fast
That light’s been burned out for a while, I still see it every time I pass
It was lost in the coldness of my mind, behind a box of reasons why
I never doubted it was there, just took a little time to find
And even when...

I feel a million miles away, still you connect me in your way
And you created me, something I would’ve never seen
When I can only see the floor, you made my window a door
So when they say they don’t believe I hope that they see you in me
After all the lights go down, I’m just the words you are the sound
A strange type of chemistry, how you’ve become a part of me
And when I sit alone at night, your thoughts burn through me like a fire
You’re the only one who knows, who I really am

We all wanna be somebody, we just need a taste of who we are
We all wanna be somebody, we’re willing to go but not that far
We all wanna be somebody, we just need a taste of who we are
We all wanna be somebody, we’re willing to go but not that far

I’m just the boy inside the man, not exactly who you think I am
Trying to trace my steps back here again, so many times
When I can only see the floor, you made my window a door
So when they say they don’t believe, I hope that they see you and me

22 October 2012

peace today

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

21 October 2012

let there be - Gungor

A soundtrack for Creation?
I would think.
Enjoy your Sabbath rest.
May you have light where there is darkness.

Love:)

R

18 October 2012

thankful today

Today....
I give thanks for
frozen yogurt
the rain storm
her arms around me, telling me that its okay to not be perfect as I cry
him laughing as I'm totally grossed out
us standing around chatting
that its okay if I'm not totally perfect
that I am loved anyway
her telling me "I'm here for you, even while I'm racing you!"
the rain sound outside
days getting colder
joy.
peace.

Yes, today,
I am so grateful for these things.
I'm the oldest,
perfectionist,
of course,
and when I don't meet the goals I set,
I'm not happy.
So grateful today for friends and coaches who tell me its okay to have an off day.
To not always be perfect.
To remind me of how far I've come.
So grateful for a God who does the same.
Who tells me I am
Loved.
Honoured.
Precious.
Lovely.
Not because of who I am.
But because of
Grace.

Remember today,
friends!

Love:)

R

08 October 2012

augustine on agape

What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.

-Saint Augustine

04 October 2012

playing jonah

Have you ever talked loud to drown out the voice you didn't want to hear?
Not that you'd ever admit it,
but when you got down to the heart of things,
you didn't want to hear the words
you
knew
to be
Truth.
I just did.

Have you ever been so sure of something,
but then little roadblocks came up,
and you said
"Never mind."
"Maybe it's changed."

Have you ever tried to block
out the Message?
What you knew to be true?

Right?
His will?

I'd hear,
plug my ears.
and go
"lalala. I caann't heeeaaar youuu!"

There's now this little wall around my heart.

Oh, Lord.
Forgive me.

Break that wall.

I hear you.
What you want?
Make it happen if it needs too.

Father,
I'm so sorry.

This was terrible.

I don't want to play Jonah.
I love how clear and loud you've been.

Now I see:
It's all an exercise in
shutting up.
Listening.
Silence.
And even as I write this?
The song that comes up on Pandora?

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
Should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace


Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame
Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart, in my soul
I give you control
Consume me from the inside out
Let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring you praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out
(From the Inside Out -Hillsong)



The lies say
you failed.
I did.

But my God,
King of Kings,

He forgives.

I'll fail thousands of times.
I'm so sorry.

But I am Yours.
I love You.

Speak with me again,
please?
I'll listen.
I hear You.

Love:)
R


01 October 2012

made for another world


Not My Photo-Wish it was!

If I find in myself desires that nothing in this world can satisfy, than the only logical conclusion is that I was made for another world.

-C.S. Lewis

24 September 2012

for when you feel unlovely

"I stand by a bed where a  young woman lies, her face postoperative, her mouth twisted in palsy, clownish. A tiny twig of her facial nerve,the one to the muscles of her mouth, has been severed. She will be thus from now on. The The surgeon had followed with religious fervor the curve of her flesh, I promise you that. Nevertheless, to remove the tumor in her cheek I had to cut the little nerve.
   Her young husband is in the room. He stands on the opposite side of the bed and together they seem to dwell in the evening lamplight, isolated from me, private. Who are they, I ask myself, he and this wry mouth I have made, who gaze at and touch each other so generously, greedily? The young woman speaks.
    "Will my mouth always be like this?" she asks.
     "Yes," I say, "it will. It is because the nerve was cut.'
    She nods and is silent. But the young man smiles.
     "I like it." he says, "It is kind of cute."
   All at once I know who he is. I understand and I lower my gaze. One is not bold in an encounter with a god. Unmindful he bends to kiss her crooked mouth and I am so close I can see how he twists his lips to accommodate to hers, to show her that their kiss still works."

-From Richard Selzer, M.D's book Mortal Lessons. Excerpt in Brennan Manning's book  The Ragamuffin Gospel


That story has resonated with me.

Our God,

He is like that- showing, even in our unloveliness that we are still lovely to Him.

Oh, the foolishness of grace.

I am so grateful for it.

Love:)


R

the grace of wonder

"Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder.
Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice
of Your universe. Delight me to see how Your
Christ plays in ten thousand places, lovely in limbs,

lovely in eyes not his, to the Father through the
 features of men's faces. Each day enrapture me with
your marvelous things without number.
I do not ask to see the reason for it all;
I ask only to share the wonder of it all."

Joshua Abraham Heschel

Love:)

R

20 September 2012

Isaiah 49:15-16a

Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.
Behold,

I have engraved you on the palms of my hands

Love:)

R

17 September 2012

my prayer today- join me in it?

Father~

That I would hear your will loud and clear.

Your will,
not mine.
And Abba, can I be honest?
Which is kind of rhetorical since you know every though of my heart,
but still?
Your will?
It scares the crap out of me sometimes.
It's a good kind of scary,
though.
Usually. (:

I pray to be in the center of it,
but your will kind of reminds me of a storm.
The center is simply the eye.

Oh Father God,
Be with my lovely friends.
They're going through so much,
some of which I know,
and a lot of which I don't.
Be what they need.
Let them know how much you love them.
How much I do.

 I love you.
Love how you do things.

In thanks for the miracles you work in my life.
The ones I see.
The ones I don't.

That your will be done in my life.

I love you.
I'm so glad you love us.

Love:)

R

16 September 2012

O great love of God- David Crowder Band

Victim of our sacrifice
Gift of love a perfect life
All for a wayward bride
All for a wayward bride

See the lion and the lamb
How he sits at your right hand
Waiting to come again
Waiting to come again

Oh great love of God
Who takes away the sin of all of us
Gone forever
Heaven open wide in a resurrection
You won't be denied bringing life to the dead and dying

Servant king of rich and poor
Beggar that the world ignores
Oh let me see your face
Hidden in simple things

Oh great love of God
Who takes away the sin of all of us
Gone forever
Heaven open wide in your resurrection
You won't be denied bringing life to the dead and dying
You won't be denied we will rise and we'll sing forever

This is not a song
This is a revival
A revival

This is not a death
This is us waking
This is a return back to life
Oh your life all I'm living for
Your life in my life oh it's life that I'm dying for

Oh great love of God
Who takes away the sin of all of us
Gone forever

Oh great love of God
Who takes away the sin of all of us
Gone forever
Heaven open wide in your resurrection
You won't be denied bringing life to the dead and dying
You won't be denied we will rise and we'll sing forever

15 September 2012

this is mercy

Once upon a time there was a man,
who went on a trip.
And while he was traveling,
he was mugged.
His attackers beat him up,
stole his stuff,
left him half naked,
lying on the side of the street.

As he lay there,
the pastor of  a church in town came walking along on his lunch break.
When he saw the man,
looking pretty bad,
lying there,
he crossed over to the other side of the street.
He thought to himself
"Man, wonder how much he had to drink last night.
Better let him sleep it off."
And so he went on his way,
sure that he should have nothing to do with the man,
because of his image,
you know.

A little later on a successful businessman came walking along,
and saw the man lying there.
Out of curiosity he went over and looked at the man.
He poked him with his toe,
and the man winced,
but remained unresponsive.
"Hm. Someone should do something about the homeless problem here.
This guy's had it rough." thought the businessman.
He checked his watch.
"I'll be late for the meeting if I don't hurry," he thought, and went on his way.

Still a little later a wealthy drug dealer came along.
He saw the man,
and had pity on him.
He went back to his car,
hefted the unconscious man into it,
and drove to the nearest hospital.
In the ER he told the nurse
"Write me down as his contact and send all the bills to me.
Let me know when he wakes up.
Here's my cell number.
I'll be back tomorrow."
The nurse did as he asked.

Which man are you?
I confess,
sometimes,
I am the businessman,
with not enough time
for every one's problem.
God have mercy on me.

Mercy.
It changes everything.
Grace.
Life-changer.

Love:)

R

PS: The real story is here.

08 September 2012

today you are

You, today, are enough.
You are not too much.

You are what you were created to be.
Bought,
at great price,
all
for
Love.
For being
you.
Broken,
imperfect,
messed up
you.

This,
friends,
is the grace
and the glory of our God.

Love:)

R

Be Still- The Fray

Be still and know that I'm with you
Be still and know that I am here
Be still and know that I'm with you
Be still, be still, and know

When darkness comes upon you
And covers you with fear and shame
Be still and know that I'm with you
And I will say your name

If terror falls upon your bed
And sleep no longer comes
Remember all the words I said
Be still, be still, and know

And when you go through the valley
And the shadow comes down from the hill
If morning never comes to be
Be still, be still, be still

If you forget the way to go
And lose where you came from
If no one is standing beside you
Be still and know I am

Be still and know that I'm with you
Be still and know I am

Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10a

02 September 2012

a blessing for your sunday

May God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen
(from the Book of Common Prayer)



Yes.
Love:)

R

29 August 2012

Christ is Risen- Matt Maher

Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely you bled, for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!

Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bow to none but heavens will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold you down
In strength you reign
Forever let your church proclaim

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave

Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
The glory of God has defeated the night!

Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
Our God is not dead, he's alive! he's alive!

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave


Rise up from the grave...

This song has held me today.
Might I suggest you hit play,
sit quietly,
and,
worship.
Play it until the words sink into you.
Our God is Not dead. He's Alive! He's Alive!

Love:)

R

all for love

 
Ezikiel By Gungor
 
Then God ordered me, "Start all over: Love your wife again, your wife who's in bed with her latest boyfriend, your cheating wife.
Love her the way I, God, love the Israelite people,
even as they flirt and party with every god that takes their fancy."
 I did it. I paid good money to get her back.
It cost me the price of a slave.
Then I told her, "From now on you're living with me.
No more whoring, no more sleeping around.
You're living with me and I'm living with you."  The people of Israel are going to live a long time
stripped of security and protection,
without religion and comfort,
godless and prayerless.
But in time they'll come back, these Israelites,
come back looking for their God and their David-King.
They'll come back chastened to reverence
before God and his good gifts, ready for the End of the story of his love.
(Hosea 3, The Message)

26 August 2012

martin luther on grace


Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.
-Martin Luther

22 August 2012

Psalm 33:18-22

But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
those who rely on his unfailing love.
 He rescues them from death
and keeps them alive in times of famine.
We put our hope in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield. 
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
for our hope is in you alone.
 

19 August 2012

watching for Rescue

I sit here in the quiet.
Hear the sounds from the kitchen of dinner being made.
Hear the sounds of the birds outside the window,
the wind in the hundreds of trees out behind the house.

It is still.
Peaceful.
A little misty,
a little gray,
the Northwest August day.

My heart is still heavy inside me.

All has been good,
and suddenly everything has fallen.
So many lives that I love are hurting right now.
These brokenness's are scars of the Fall,
and I am aching for the Redemption.

Surely there is to be rescue?
They love Him.

What if I simply don't see it?
The Rescuer has come.
He walks among us still.

His plans,
so much greater than mine,
are at work.

He is here,
now.
Bringing His desire for our lives into being.
Working through everything.

Pruning,
trimming,
sometimes even breaking,
so that we will bear good fruit.

the Master won't ever
walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.

His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
He takes no pleasure in making life hard,
in throwing roadblocks in the way

(Lamentations 3:31b-33 MSG)

I hold fast to this promise.
God is not a cosmic grandfather,
throwing blessings and curses to us with equal care.
He doesn't "have it in for us."

No, He has plans for our good. To give us hope, a future.
He is mysterious,
I don't know His ways.
He's God.
To quote Mr. Beaver in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,
" 'course He isn't safe! But He's good. He's the King, I tell you."
Yes.
He's good.

It is not safe, not easy to walk with Him.

Still, I wouldn't want it any other way.
To do so would be to minimize Him.
I cannot flip to the end of the hard parts of this story, and make sure that everything is all right.
But I do know how the story ends.

.....Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Revelation 21:1-7 ESV

And that, that is enough.

Love:)

R

10 August 2012

I will trust You-Steven Curtis Chapman

I don't even wanna breathe right now
All I wanna do is close my eyes
But I don't wanna open them again
Until I'm standing on the other side

I don't even wanna be right now
I don't wanna think another thought
And I don't wanna feel this pain I feel
And right now, pain is all I've got

It feels like it's all I've got, but I know it's not
No, I know You're all I've got

And I will trust You, I'll trust You
Trust You, God, I will
Even when I don't understand, even then I will say again
You are my God, and I will trust You

God, I'm longing for the day to come
When this cloudy glass I'm looking through
Is shattered in a million pieces
And finally I can just see You

God, You know I believe it's true
I know I will see You
But until the day I do

I will trust You, trust You
Trust You, God, I will
Even when I don't understand
Even then I will say again

You are my God, and I'll trust You
And with every breath I take
And for every day that breaks
I will trust You
I will trust You
And when nothing is making sense
Even then I will say again

God, I trust You
I will trust You
I know Your heart is good
I know Your love is strong
And I know Your plans for me
Are much better than my own

So I will trust You, trust You
I trust You, God, I do
Even when I can't see the end
And I will trust You
I will trust You, I will
Even when I don't understand
Even then I will say again

I will trust You, I will trust You, I will
I know Your heart is good,
Your love is strong,
Your plans for me are better than my own
Yeah, Your heart is good
Your love is strong
Your plans for me are better than my own
And I trust You
You are my God
And I will trust You


Just.This. YES!


Love:)

R

falling deeper

What about  the Christ makes you think
that makes me fall even deeper in love with You?

What of the gifts takes your breath away?

How often do I forget that my God is not only my God,
but also the most ardent lover of my soul?

Why does it not take my breath away to think that He knows everything about me
And loves me the same.

Wants me.

Pursues me.

Grants me the sunset and the sound of rain on the roof,
the seal behind my kayak,
his laugh,
mist on the sea,
the feel of the water in my hands,
the early-morning birdsong,
the rich red of the dahlia,
her kind words,
all these gifts-
sheer love.

Only love grants these rich and lavish gifts.
Only love.
Only King-love.

Reading of Him gathering the children about Him,
imagining him laughing with them,
kissing the little girls, wrestling with the little boys.

It makes me fall even deeper into this crazy ocean of love.

Watch for His gifts for you-
seek them out.
They are there.

Because of love.

Love:)

R

10,000 Reasons- Matt Redman

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
Lord, I'll worship Your holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name

24 July 2012

yeah...

let the waters rise- MIKESCHAIR

Don't know where to begin, it's like my world's cavin' in
And I try but I can't control my fear, where do I go from here?
Sometimes it's so hard to pray when You feel so far away
But I am willin' to go where You want me to and God I trust You

There's a ragin' sea right in front of me
Wants to pull me in, bring me to my knees
So let the waters rise if You want them to
I will follow You, I will follow You, I will follow You

I will swim in the deep 'cause You'll bein' next to me
You're in the eye of the storm and the calm of the sea
You're never out of reach
God, You know where I've been and You were there with me then
You were faithful before, You'll be faithful again, I'm holdin' Your hand

There's a ragin' sea right in front of me
Wants to pull me in, bring me to my knees
So let the waters rise if You want them to
I will follow You, I will follow You, I will follow You

God Your love is enough, You will pull me through, I'm holdin' onto You
God Your love is enough, I will follow You, I will follow You

There's a ragin' sea right in front of me
Wants to pull me in, bring me to my knees
So let the waters rise if You want them to
I will follow You, I will follow You, I will follow You

This song is kind of my life story right now.

Love:)

R

23 July 2012

package deal

It's hard to know exactly what I'm hearing right now.

Praying for clarity in His voice.

But I think the big thing I'm hearing is this-

He delights in fixing the broken.

Broken spirits, minds, hearts, bodies.

We tend to think that God only wants to fix our souls.
That somehow the rest of us is less important.

But we're a package deal.
:)

He wants us to be whole.

Remember.

Love:)

R

21 July 2012

so many questions


When your days get crazy........
Remember who's walking beside you.

Watch for the gifts.
Learn to see the blessing in the madness.

He's been wherever you are, and wherever you're going.
So grateful for that.

These verses have stuck way out to me in the last week or so.

They're right on time, too.

"When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions:
Wait for hope to appear.
Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face.
The "worst" is never the worst.

 Why? Because the Master won't ever
walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
He takes no pleasure in making life hard,
in throwing roadblocks in the way"

(Lamentations 3:28-33 MSG)

I have so many questions right now.
So many whys.

I need the silence right now.

I need to listen,

not to speak.

God.
You know what You're doing.
That I trust.
Also-I believe I will see hope in it all.

This is all I need to say right now.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Remember that.

Love:)

R

the Lord's prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.

17 July 2012

our God is in control- Steven Curtis Chapman

This is not how it should be
This is not how it could be
This is how it is
And our God is in control

This is not how it will be
When we finally will see
We'll see with our own eyes
He was always in control

And we'll sing holy, holy, holy is our God
And we will finally really understand what it means
So we'll sing holy, holy, holy is our God
While we're waiting for that day

This is not where we planned to be
When we started this journey
But this is where we are
And our God is in control

Though this first taste is bitter
There will be sweetness forever
When we finally taste and see
That our God is in control

And we'll sing holy, holy, holy is our God
And we will finally really understand what it means
So we'll sing holy, holy, holy is our God
While we're waiting for that day

We're waiting for that day
We'll keep on waiting for that day
And we will rise
Our God is in control

(Holy, holy, holy)

Our God is in control

(Holy, holy, holy)

Our God is in control

(Holy, holy, holy)


Love:)

R

13 July 2012

to my friend in the DR.....

To my friend in the DR......just heard your family's news.

And I hope that you see this.
I'll write, too.
But this is fast.
And hope that you know that if you need someone to talk to.....
I'd love to listen.
I hope I'll see you if you all come.
I miss you.
Miss your words.

All I can say is that our God is strong.
He is good.
He's got good plans for us.
Plans to prosper us and not to harm us.
To give us a hope and a future.
I know your lovely heart for Him.
He knows.
He hears.


Oh my friend........
Hugs from me.

I love you,
love your family.

He is strong.

He loves you.

listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
 For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
I gave Cush and Seba in your place.
Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.

(Isaiah 43: 1b-4)
Wish I could be there.

Love you SO much, friend!

R

Beauty from Pain- Superchick


The lights go out all around me
One last candle to keep out the night
And then the darkness surrounds me
I know I'm alive but I feel like I've died
And all that's left is to accept that it's over
My dreams ran like sand through the fists that I made
I try to keep warm but I just grow colder
I feel like I'm slipping away

After all this has passed, I still will remain
After I've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today, someday I'll hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain

My whole world is the pain inside me
The best I can do is just get through the day
When life before is only a memory
I wonder why God lets me walk through this place
And though I can't understand why this happened
I know that I will when I look back someday
And see how you've brought beauty from ashes
And made me as gold purified through these flames

After all this has passed, I still will remain
After I've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today, someday I'll hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain

Here I am at the end of me (at the end of me)
Tryin' to hold to what I can't see (to what I can't see)
I forgot how to hope
This night's been so long
I cling to Your promise
There will be a dawn

After all this has passed, I still will remain
After I've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today, someday I'll hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain

I belive it.

Love:)

R


Consume Me- DC Talk

Lovely traces
I can sense you in everything
The way that you move me
Takes me far away
I seek no escape
I'm dreaming through your eyes
I am wandering through your mind
I'm overtaken by the way that you deliver me
I'm transcended
There's no place I'd rather be
Than here in heaven
Without you I'm incomplete
It's hopeless

You consume me, you consume me
Like a burning flame running through my veins
You consume me moving through me
Anytime, anyplace you invade my space

Wholly devoted
I immerse myself in you
Baptize me in your love
Cause drowning in the thought of you
Floods my soul
I'm taken by the things you do
God, you know
It doesn't matter what I lose
I'm yours
You consume me, you consume me
Like a burning flame running through my veins
You consume me moving through me
Anytime, anyplace you invade my space

 I am in your hands
Under your command
Like a puppet on a string
[Lord you know]
I am willing to
Put my faith in you
So before the world I sing
[consume me]

You consume me, you consume me
Burning flame, through my veins
You consume me moving through me
Anytime, anyplace you invade my space
You consume me [oh, you know that I surrender]
I am consumed, I'm consumed with you

There's no other way I can fly
It's you and i, you and i
There's no other way I can fly
It's you and i, you and i


Love:)

R

12 July 2012

paul on communion

The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,

   "This is my body, broken for you.
Do this to remember me.
After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:
This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.
Each time you drink this cup, remember me."

What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.
Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of "remembrance" you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.
 If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences.

(1 Corinthians 11:25-29 MSG)