Fire for HIM

While contemplating big change in my home, including cleaning out closets, reorganizing cabinets, painting marked walls, and adding new lighting, I began to think about our hearts and Psalm 51.  "Generous in love—God, give grace!  Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt... You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all... What you’re after is truth from the inside out... Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.  Soak me...and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.  Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing... God make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life." I had been feeling guilty about how I had let the dust bunnies pile up, papers get mixed with toys or dishes, overall need for upgrade in appearance and habits of use in my home.  But God is not a condemning God.  He is BIG, but he does not pound us with our sho...

In my family, most of my sisters could care less what others think about them.  For me, it has been a struggle as far back as I remember.  Really, though, why should others' opinions matter? I am not saying to be mean and cruel.  Maybe why that is why it has been so important for me to examine my actions and words.  I could not stand when others around me were hateful or insensitive. Regardless, if anything weighs so heavily in our decision making...it can consume our thinking and shade our judgement.  " ...We will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about.... We will not be influenced... with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church." (Eph. 4:14-15 NLT) Truth: God's truth does grow us up in Him, molding us to a heart more like Christ.  It is time we speak the truth in love to ourselves about...

Last evening, my children were watching a historical cartoon.  In the movie, someone looked into a shiny helmet and saw their eyes magnified.  This image startled the character.  What they saw was distorted due to the convex shape of the mirror.  How often do we find ourselves looking into a convex image?  We even put that looking glass on our heads and wear it like a helmet (our daily thinking about ourselves).  Every time we take it off to check our image, we see that distortion looking back at us.  We have allowed the convex nature of the mirror to determine our perception of ourselves.  According to the physics classroom, the focal point is in direct correlation to the distance of the image from the mirror.  Anyone else out there feeling conviction regarding our human nature and thought patterns?  This spoke volumes to me.  God did not intend for us to see distortio...

(Disclaimer:  Although not graphic, the following blog may be disturbing to animal lovers) A few years ago, a black and white stray cat had five kittens in our hydrangea bush.  After fostering her and the litter for Animal Rescue Foundation, we kept two of the kittens (one tabby gray, one fully black).  Both have always been very docile and loving.  They were made to live outside due to their potty habits indoors, but they were fixed and have been pampered greatly by the six of us throughout their lifetime.  The children would even make them beds next to theirs or carry them in their purses when they were kittens.  The cats became comfortable being carted around in cotton pillow cases and would relax and fall asleep on jousled walks with the kids.  I tell you all of this to let you know they were a treasured part of our family. Driving  my children to school on Friday, I saw a fully b...

I was thinking about why many people see a broken mirror seen as 'bad luck'?  We are afraid og letting go of the familiar, even the deception regarding self. Are we HOLDING onto the image of self = stamina, sense of well being?  Is it true that the image we have seen for so long, surrendered and broken is a bad thing? THINK ABOUT IT:  When we look into the reflection in the mirror and gaze into the eyes of the Father, we see ourselves through the window of love from the ONE who made 'you'. "The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing."  (Zephaniah 3:17)

It is time to DIG DEEP.  "   I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.     It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well " (Luke 6:47-48 NLT) Websters defines "dig" as "to turn up or remove..." and "deep" as "extending far downward, inward, or backward".  What if we really dug deep and removed the shifting places, replacing the truth of Christ there for us to stand on.  Cleaning out closets can be a daunting task.  Funny how the same theme rolls over and over in our lives until we get it.  I actually had started both this blog and the task of closet cleaning several months ago.  I set both aside without completion.  While visiting with my mother this past weekend, I picked up a home magazine.  The feature article was about closet clea...

Immersed:  this is a word that keeps tumbling around in my heart and mind.  Webster's defines "immerse" to mean, "to plunge into or as if into a liquid; to baptize by dipping under water; to involve deeply, engross, as in thought."  What is we "immersed" ourselves into God's love?  According to the definition, it is not a toe-tipping sample of an experience.  It is rather a "baptism" of fluid: to deeply ponder and let it swell over you.  When I visited Hawaii almost two years ago, David and I went to a beach with gigantic waves.  To get out into the water, one had to wade through t he waves.  Almost instantly, they were up under your arms and still so clear that you could see your feet.  Before I knew it, a wave crashed into me and splashed over my head and into my nose.  Hours later, salt water was stilling pouring from my sinuses.  I do not mean to gross you out.  I use this story to help paint the pictu...

How does the rose vine climb higher?  I noticed the detailed arms reaching out from it's vine today.  I have one in my window.  The arms that hold onto the wall and allow the vine to climb higher have been spinning their green and holding fast to push the rose upwards.  They are delicate spirals, which contain such strength and determination. Lord, let me spin and delight in You and Your plan today.  Ever turning my face toward Your Light of Life and drinking in Your Word, I will rise higher and allow the dirt to stay at my feet.  I love You, Lord.   In You is goodness, grace, and infinite mercy.

Consider a stone in the river....  " And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:5) I have always been somewhat of a rock hound.  One of my favorite trips was traveling out west with a group of students from ORU.  We were lead by our God-fearing Earth Science teacher.  What an experience!  It was wonderful.  We started out our mornings with breakfast and worship and spent our days digging in the dirt or hiking canyons. Just a glance at a river rock today, made me start thinking of many Summer vacations to Colorado with my family.  We would put our feet in the cold water and search for our favorite river rocks.  They were a rainbow of color, and the closer to the middle of the river, the smoother the stone.  Even though rocks have different components, they all start as part of a larger mass.  Over time, the shaking of th...

"In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will rest ore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation." (I Peter 5:10 NLT) Lately when I worship, I see myself spinning on ice with my head held back in abandon.  The Word has many scriptures on dancing before the Lord.  When my heart reaches out to Him or I know He is there, I begin to see a dance of worship in my mind that corresponds to my heart yearning to spin before Him.  The ice I have seen this week is like a frozen pond out in a forest.  The sun is shining.  It is beautiful.  My mouth is curved up in a smile, and my body is spinning wildly and with graceful movement.  I do not know how to ice skate.  I have been a few times, and my efforts are less than fluid.  Ballet doesn't exactly transfer to the ice without training.  My home...

Yesterday, my three year old daughter was walking behind me on a sidewalk at a school.  I knew she was following me, but I wanted her closer to me.  I wanted to touch her.  I put my hand behind me and continued to walk forward.  When she did not grab my hand right away, I looked back at her to see if she saw me reaching for her.  When I realized that she was looking around and not at my hand, I turned around and gently took her hand and we walked together. Immediately, I was reminded of how the Heavenly Father does that for us.  He is ALWAYS walking ahead of us, aware of us, and desiring that we follow Him into GOOD things.  He longs to hold our hand and have us walk with Him, in ALL circumstances. My prayer for this week is that I not wait on Him to find me.  I want to run to catch up to Him, grab Him around the waist, hold His hand and walk with Him in JOY.  " But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lo...

Beautiful Day  Soft and Chilly Morning Green Mist in the Afternoon Roaring Fire View Across the Meadow Warms the Soul Sweet Rain of Love Fun in the Puddles Wheels Splash Waterworks on Car Girls' Laughter All Around Sun Breaks Through Blue Sky Background Grey Clouds Painted Gold About Evening Draws Nigh Silver Silhouette of Nature Budding Branches Reach High

Today is a cloudy day.  It has been a cloudy day in more ways than one.  Clouds seem to block the sun, but they always have a potential of rain. You see, I did something I try never to do.  I went to sleep last night, without releasing the weights of the day.  This is never good for me.  It forms clouds blocking my heart.  Yuck! Yesterday, before I allowed junk to roll in and rest in my back yard, a song was pouring up from my heart.  This morning, the lyrics of that song kept tumbling in my mind.  My heart was stirred at their meaning. My eyes down Heart heavy with the world Weary, tired, and longing for nothing... Then I saw the Lilly turn I looked up The branches swayed with the wind I looked at the clouds And saw the sun break through I felt your love - I felt your love I saw the light I heard Your truth I saw Your love break through You are amazing Speaking to me Sayinw you made me lovely You said, "My uniqueness is from You" "My p...

Yesterday, I was walking in an older district of our town.  The homes have well groomed yards and are often grandiose in scale and architectural detail.  It is quite a sight-seeing experience, especially with trees already blooming for the spring. The wind was blowing.  Suddenly, in the midst of all the beauty, something caught my eye.  It was not a swing, a gate, a dog, or a beautiful bay window.  Caught in the branches of a tree, was a red Mylar balloon.  It was difficult not to just stop and stare at this unusual sight.  It was not what my senses were expecting.  I continued to desire to look at the image, and  I longed to know more about it.  How long had it been there?  What kind of balloon was it.  Who did it belong to?  All of these questions reminded of another experience and thought that had been mulling around in my head for the last couple of days.  We had a red visitor at our house on Saturda...

This morning, the rain began to come down in sheets.  We have a metal rooftop, so it was obvious that the sky had opened to moisten the ground.  I opened some windows and doors.  Without gutters on a two-story house, the view out the front door literally had become a curtain of water.  I went out and took a deep breath of the watery perfume...so good and refreshing.  I had to have more of this.  I went out my garage and a little into the driveway.  I stood and watched.  The yard was already full of water, and streams were running down the hill and joining together to race down the driveway, the mud color telling me they were taking part of my yard with them.  So much water...and all at once.  The most pleasant sight was the rain itself falling from the sky.  Gorgeous drops of rain clung to everything, adorning anything it touched.  Even our old, rusty basketball...

Today I realized so very much  Each moment that has a sense of wonder The pounding drive to go forward It is in these moments  And the reflection thereof that lessons are learned In them we gain an understanding of the plan for our lives Our eyes are widened to take in the Wonder of God Our hearts swell to receive His love