Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Impossible...But God




Impossible…But God!

          It seemed impossible. . .
                  
Mary could not understand how God could use
                             her to be Jesus' mother.  According to natural law
                             it couldn't happen.  Her questions and doubts
                             were many, but her surrendered heart was all God
                             needed. "Be it unto me according to thy word…"

                   It seemed impossible…But God!

* * * * * * *

          It seemed impossible. . .

                   The sky opened with angel light. "Peace on earth" was
                             sung to Jewish shepherds whose country was
                             occupied by the Roman Empire.  Their fear was
                             evident but their belief was stronger.  Going to
                             the stable and seeing the Saviour changed these
                             defeated men into boldly joyful witnesses of the
                             Newborn Messiah.

                   It seemed impossible…But God!
                  
* * * * * * *




It seemed impossible. . .

                   A star, defying the laws of time and space, begged
                             further investigation.  Because they had made
                             the natural world their study, the Wisemen knew
                             this was a miracle. Leaving behind the old way of
                             seeing things, they followed the star to Bethlehem.
                             The Creator was found--just a child!  Devotion and
                             worship were now given to Him alone.

                   It seemed impossible…But God!

* * * * * * *

          It seemed impossible. . .

                   The baby of that manger growing into manhood: all God
                             and all man.  Jesus, bearing our griefs and carrying
                             our sorrows, came to his own, but they received
                             Him not.  Then, the Only Begotten of the Father
                             hung on a cross while angels stood with wings
                             folded in silence.

                   It seemed impossible…But God!

* * * * * * *

It seemed impossible. . .

                   Christ was dead.
                             The Promise of peace and Goodwill toward men
                             was buried in a heavily guarded tomb. For three
                             days and nights hope was gone, but then the
                             Saviour arose at dawn. "I am the resurrection, and
                             the life; he that believeth in me, though he were
                             dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and
                             believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou
                             this?"

                   It seemed impossible…But God!

* * * * * * *

          It seemed impossible. . .

                   God, the holy and just One, reached in Perfect love to me, the sinner, Not by works but by grace through faith, salvation became mine forever.
      This same invitation is offered to all:
                            
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
                             LORD Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God
                             hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved.
                             For whosoever shall call upon the name of the
                             Lord shall be saved."

                   It may seem impossible…But God!

* * * * * * *

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8

The See Saw



                                                                                     The See Saw

The see-saw took me up and down
One moment flung recklessly into the air,
The next seated securely on the ground.

Up and down,
Down and up

Fear
Focused only on "What if?" or "Just in case!"
Faith
Fastened faintly on the Father's Face

Up and down,
Down and up

"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
My mind a tortured teeter totter
Sometimes it worries--sometimes it prays

Up and down
Down and up

Fear
Seeks prey with this notorious premise:
"Yea, hath God said?"

Faith
Sounds praise with this glorious promise:
"The LORD is my helper!"

Up and down
Down and up

Choose faith! Then choose it again and again!
Fight fear--Speak God's Truth to the doubt within

Faith finds Christ's Cross a rewarding start
A Friend holding our hand and healing our heart

Rooted in the Sure Foundation of His Presence
Resting in the Safe Embrace of Love's Perfections

No longer
Up and down
Down and up
Feet stand on the Solid Rock

"The Lord is my helper, I will not fear…"


Based on Heb. 13:6; Jas. 1:6-8; Phil. 4:6-8; I John 4:18

Monday, October 21, 2013

A New View of an Old Story

Exodus 14:21, 27
      "And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided."
      "And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea."


I think that I must be very unobservant. This story has been told to me all my life; however, I never noticed some of the descriptions of what was really happening.

1.  I didn't realize that they crossed at night!  So many of the hard things that happen are magnified by darkness.  Sometimes our emotions enter darkness--the good news is that God makes a path in the sea!
The darkness is there at times, but so is His presence--both behind and before us.

2.  They needed to walk into the wind.  When eagles fly, they fly into the wind. To win the victory in life, we need to face the storm.  This was not like a walk in the park--the Israelites needed to trust God.

3.  Some of the Israelites that had reached safety could still see their loved ones being chased by the enemy.  They needed to trust God to bring them across the sea.  Imagine how they must have felt!

4.  Victory came in the morning!  Everyone was safe. The enemy was destroyed in the sea-the very thing that seemed overwhelming.  I can trust God's character to help me grow in the Red Sea crossings that I face. He knows exactly what I need to be a success--mostly it is just more of Him.  So glad He loves me.

5.  The victory song was personal.  God wants a personal relationship--not a show and tell.  Do I praise Him or do I seek praise from others?  So glad that He is MY strength--because I am so very weak, MY song--because I crave  music for my soul, and MY salvation--because I am a sinner who accepted the Saviour. 

Thursday, October 17, 2013

The Latch



The Latch

            I left the gate open, but the shades down.
              If anyone wanted to come in, they would have to knock long
                                  At a locked door
                                           And be patient.

            Once, a long time ago, the door was open to all.
              A child trusts everyone until they prove her wrong—
                                    Knocking over lamps, ruining rugs,
 breaking windows


                        Perspective distorted
                                    Broken trust
                                                Wounded heart
                                                            Crippled Soul

Then—a knock

            A gently insistent knock
                        I pretended not to hear, not to hope, only to hide.

            A muffled still small voice….
                        He knows my name!
                            “I am your Shepherd and
I strengthen the sick,
                                                I seek the lost and
bind the broken.”

            My heart cries with longing to draw the latch,
                        My head shouts a warning to keep it fast.

He waits…and knocks

I know the cost:
 Letting go of the past
Breaking the shell cast
            Of my own thoughts for His.

I lift the shade a fraction
But, O, blinding Light!

            I sink to my knees and cover my face.
                        “I cannot receive your peace.”
                                    He offers His grace.

           


                        Patiently knocking
                                    Quietly pleading           
                                                Lovingly healing
                                                            Slowly Changing

Me

Rev. 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me.

2 Cor. 6:2
(...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)


I lift the latch
And let the Lord, my Shepherd,
Enter.


(Based on Scripture from Ezekiel 34:11, 12, 16)

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

My Baby Grand

God is so good!

     A week ago Sunday, as my husband was watching football, a friend of his sent him a text.  It told of a baby grand piano in our town that was being offered on Craig's list.  My husband is NOT tech savy so he had no idea how to send an e-mail in reply; however, his friend did send them our phone number.  By 9:00 that evening the couple who had listed the piano called back--and we missed the call!  At around midnight my husband was looking at his messages when he inadvertently dialed their number.  Doing all he could to stop it from going through, he tried to shut down his phone. Too late--the call went through enough for them to have heard. They called us right back.  My husband apologized over and over for calling so late.  They mentioned that they had still been up and that it was no problem.  They also set up an appointment for us to come see the piano at 9 a.m. the next morning.

     I was so excited.  The next morning I grabbed an arrangement of "Jesus Loves Me" and my book of Chopin Waltzes.  As I walked into the room, I noticed how beautiful the piano was.  Tiger maple! It didn't even have dust.  I sat on the bench and started playing "Jesus Loves Me".  It was so beautiful--I was almost crying!  I started playing Chopin's Waltz in Ab major.  I knew that this piano was for me!

    We asked what they were asking for the piano--It was FREE!  All we had to do was move it.  Correction, Bill had to move it!  He studied Google for the next few days, built a piano board, and moved the piano. He had it down to such a science that he was told he could start a business moving pianos!  I don't see that in his future--I think he has had about enough. It only took an hour and a half to get it from their house to set up in mine.

    What is so awesome about this?  About a year ago, I started praying for a baby grand piano. My new church did not have an acoustic piano and I was having trouble getting the synthesizer to "sing".  After I had been praying for awhile,  my husband found an upright for sale in Lewiston.  That piano is now at our church.  Since I had a piano at home and at church, I stopped praying.  God, however, did not stop working. At about the same time as I had originally started praying, this couple started to think about giving away their piano.  Just the time I needed to remember that God cares about all the details of our lives,  He worked this whole thing out! Every morning one of the first things I see is my great big love gift from my Heavenly Father.  The One who knows my needs and wants.The One who understands everything about me.  The One who loves so much, abundantly, greatly, and way beyond all that I could ask or think! 




Tuesday, October 1, 2013

The Threefold Cord



A Threefold Cord

Faith

        Hearing the voice of my Gracious Father
        Leaving self-pity, my spirit grows calmer
        Following closely, awaiting His answer
        Letting Him author the days and the hours

Hope

        Looking forward with glad anticipation
        Pressing toward Christ, my footsteps hasten
        Seeing the future--Heaven's happy occasion
        Holding confidence in Him--a sure persuasion

Love

        Reaching out to share God's awesome care
        Showing others joy--not deep, dark despair
        Overcoming selfishness--my constant prayer
        Giving graciously to everyone, everywhere



And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
I Cor. 13:13    

Friday, September 13, 2013

My Captain's Care

Seaglass...
    Broken by the selfish deeds of others
    Soul scattered, scarred, and uncovered
 
Seashells...
   Emptied of the thing so very precious
   Private pain filling each hallow crevice

Seastones...
   Weighty matters of my daily life
    Burdens and duties and so much strife!

All of these my Captain will carry
It is only for me to release my hold
Free to serve with a heart that's merry
Resting in love as His promise unfolds.


Friday, August 30, 2013

On Being Broken

      Why do we hide our brokenness? Are we afraid to be real? Do we realize that every person has broken pieces and needs love and concern--not our hypocritical piousness? In James 5:16 it tells us, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." So thankful that I have a Heavenly Father willing to love my broken pieces!




                            Sea   Glass
                  

Broken…

            No longer the object that I once was
                     A jagged piece of nothing
                              Refused and useless.

Overwhelmed…

          Sinking deeper and deeper into the dark green
                    Salt wearing away the sharp edges
                                Tossed and bruised.

Lonely…

      Thrown on the sand by a burst of sea foam
                      No one can reach me
                                 On an island…solo
                  
               Treasured...
            
             Leather sandals on the beach
                      The Artist’s wounded hands lift
                                   Me up….
                  
                         Beautiful


Psalm 139:17-18 and 23-24
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Not the Ninety and Nine



Not the Ninety and Nine

Calling…

Their names echo out on the
Mountain high
All but one lamb to the
Shepherd came nigh

Counting…

The ninety and nine are safe
In the fold
The Shepherd leaves all
For the one in the cold

Searching…

The Shepherd draws close
To His one little lamb
While thorns and briars
Make wounds in His hands

Reaching…

His touch is so gentle
To gather in
This precious lamb
To safety again

Loving

The oil of healing
Pours over its head
Close to the Shepherd and
Willingly led

Rejoicing…

The party begins for the
One lone and lost
Now found and loved and
Bought with a cost


Ps. 23:1
 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

His Unfailing Love



His Unfailing Love

Love never selfish
Of unending patience
Calming me

Love never doubting
Holds highest hopes
Encouraging me

Love never deceiving
Tells truth kindly
Changing me

Love never forsaking
Overcomes obstacles
Empowering me

Love never fearsome
Speaking His promises
Perfecting me

Love never failing
Of infinite understanding
Reaching me

Herein is love, not that we loved God,
But that he loved us, and sent his Son
To be the propitiation for our sins.
I John 4:10

Based on I Cor. 13, Ro. 8:35-39,  I John 4-5

I am so glad that Jesus loves me!

Friday, August 16, 2013

Weeping

John 11:35 "Jesus wept."
 
  The shortest verse in the Bible is also one of the most powerful.Jesus truly cared for those He served. He carried a burden of love.  Other examples of this are Jeremiah, Moses, and Paul. Do I love at this level? Am I selfish in my service? Do I see the pain in the eyes of others? Studying I Cor. 13 has been very convicting. Instead of seeing with my human understanding, may I look at others with the compassion of Christ--and weep. 

My Soul

Character, Conviction, Consciousness
One's life
Christ's love indwelling compelling to care

Shall Weep

Dripping, dropping Downpours
Deep Sadness
My hurting heart splashing soundlessly from my eyes

In Secret Places

Forest, Field, and Ocean Front
Everywhere
My passionate prayer reaches upward to Heaven

For You      
  

Based on Jer. 13:17, Is. 53:4-5, John 11:35

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Perspectives



Perspective


Doing what is right in mine own eyes
Looking at the "In-Between"
Inside is Outside
And upside down

Chaos




Trusting in the LORD with all my heart
Finding a fresher, fuller focus
Outside holds inside
And down goes up

Clarity

Sunday, July 21, 2013

The Sonata



The Sonata

With eagerness awaiting the opening chord,
Our instruments in tune and facing forward.
Audience hushed,
Excitement reigns.
All ears trained toward

The Sonata


This particular piece is difficult and long
Three mighty movements in one special song
With heart beat raised
I lift my gaze
To focus firmly upon

The Maestro


He stands and waves his white baton
Melody and harmony play and run
Happy children
Skipping and dancing
'Til the first movement finds

It's ending 

  
 The joyful sounds were soon replaced
A minor key sang sorrows embraced
Tears and timing
All as planned
Work that is guided by the

Maestro's hand


The second movement finally done
But the third is not yet begun
So silent now
Trusting God's Will
I practice patience and

Being still

Saturday, July 13, 2013

The Music of Your Hands!




Sweet Little Red Bird

The beauty hidden in a tree
A singer and his whistled tune
His presence heard but yet unseen

Your feathers, I know, have a crimson hue
And though you have a much higher view
How I wish that you would appear on cue! 



Dear Heavenly Father

For faith's substance I humbly pray
Tho' Promised Things seem far away
Proof of Your plans appear delayed  


Your truth is known by faith alone
Your eyes see miracles yet unshown
Your voice will still my heart's deep moan

And when I can’t see your hands
I know you are at work
Because in the quiet of my heart

I Hear Your Music!