Fire for HIM

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Would you get out of the way?  This question sounds so rude, but it can be freeing to complete the request. What if we moved our selfish pride, fears, and ‘stuff’ out of the way between us and God? Would we be able to see more clearly and breathe better? " Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." (I Cor. 13:12 NLT) Being that I am due to deliver a baby any day, my sisters came to help me complete the many tasks still on my list. My list quickly became obsolete, when these outsiders to my home invaded. They were on a mission of love to see my home run more smoothly, beautifully, and devoid of clutter and excess ‘stuff’ in every room. The task seemed overwhelming to me, but I wanted to help them paint, move furniture, and clean. One sister kept saying, “I love you, ...

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...

When I looked out the window this afternoon, I was mesmerized by a constantly changing light pattern on the ceiling of the patio.  Circular in shape, this Kaleidoscope of movement provided a pleasant reprieve from the chaos around.  Thoughts of God's view of us and the call he has on our lives to live through him began flooding through my mind and heart. "...We constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling,  and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness  and your every deed prompted by faith.   We pray this so that the name of our     Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace  of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. "  (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NIV) I chuckled to myself as I thought about the sun painting on the ceiling:  beautiful, waves dancing, always making new patterns.  The irony was that I had mentally noted the containe...

Translucency defined:  The act of letting light pass through...as frosted glass. (Webster's) Most everyone has observed or used frosted light bulbs.  We were replacing a few yesterday.  They are very fragile objects, but they change the appearance of a room, making everything in it more visible.  I heard a testimony a few days ago of an individual that had submitted their heart to Christ after running for years.  They described seeing the world through different eyes and hearing the birds chirp for the first time.  Their focus was no longer on themselves, but their senses picked up on all that God delights in.  He delights in us.  Some of us are more fragile than others.  We are all different, hand-crafted by the same Creator.  What if we truly let His light shine through our humanness, giving Him the ultimate glory?  That is my desire today.  I long to see myself through His eyes, grasp hold of my purposes like never befor...

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...

Low light outside Haze wrapped around me Trees holding their breath Unmoving and at peace Bunny nibbles  On blades of grass Light scent of roses Red with delight Beauty and blessing  Still morning provides