Clawing to hang onto peace

The highest point we are familiar with is not enough. We have to go higher.

Hanging out in the murky water occasionally will not give us identity or peace. Knowing we are not guilty or shameful and not allowing others to place that on our skin.

Rise above. Take me up above the garbage.
Not who I previously claimed to be but a new creation. One that cannot be stained by standing in the wrong position.

Grime does not stick. Innocence and purity is who we proclaim now.
Acting justly and humbly to those that cast us in a poor light. Forgiveness walks before me.

No one said it would be easy. The most difficult bumps are the unexpected.
Freedom, He said. But it doesn't come without declaration.

The sacrifice has been offered, now it has to be ingested.

Painful, growing, burning. Suffering.
This life is for a moment. A leaf in the wind.

Our time is short. The end...significant.

Scratching to hang onto peace. No one can steal, unless it is given away.
Peace above all circumstances, He said.

Touch it, smell it, float in it. Peace.
I am the Living Water, He said.

We are not desperate for the world. We are desperate for the ONE.
See us. Know us. Love us. Forever.

What angle are we viewing others?

How my non-believing father models Christ's freedom

I grew up in an amazing family. A family that really understands freedom and embodies how to encourage each other and sends them out to do the best they can. Jealousy does not exist between my siblings.

My father was and still is currently a non-believer. He is not a Christian.
People ask me how I know this. Because he says.
I'm not sure what or where to classify him and I don't really worry about that piece.

What I do know is he taught me what freedom is and how to live that way.
Christ came for freedom. How can a man who doesn't know Jesus model this so well? Because Jesus knows him.

Jesus makes deposits in all people, not just the ones that believe in Him.
Once we know Him, we understand the deposit and our true identity but His love is for all of humanity.

I spent most of my life not knowing Jesus, but He always knew me. In fact, He knew me before I was born. When I hear Christians say they don't know how people make it without having Christ in their lives, I say, I do. I know.

When you grow up in a good family, are moderately intelligent, an extrovert, have a decent job, just really no big needs, it's amazing how long you can go without Him.

It's the day I woke up and realized that I have a huge void and my life is empty. That's when the search began.

Jesus made deposits in my life for 30+ years before I realized I needed Him. That's what love does. Love gives even when it's not recognized...or realized...or respected. I can look back and see His hand all over the first 30 years of my life.

My level of freedom runs deep. It is the understanding not only of what and who Jesus is but who my earthly father is. To have that background is more precious than gold.

I can say a lot of things of where my father falls short, but none of those are fruitful, especially since anyone close to me could also do the same in my case. I choose to see the positive legacy that he is leaving me.

God makes deposits that truly are a testimony of who He is, even when the person receiving doesn't recognize what's happening.

Tragedy into blooming

Come now.
Come now.
Not later.
Come now.

We invite you to come and partake in the banquet here.
Feast with us.

Tragedy after tragedy.
Come.
Pick up the broken pieces and make them better than before.

You are a God of restoration and redemption.
Come.

The invitation to make right what has been taken is now.

The enemy has no power here.
We have given up our inheritance to a thief and murderer.

Reach into lilies and pluck.
Intended for later.
Now is the time.
Flowers bloom now on your command, which we hold.
Gifts for a later time, given in a different season.
Now they give fragrance.
Now they bloom.
Now they are seen.
Now they are enjoyed.
Now they are ALIVE.

From rest do we command.
Resting in You.
Feasting in You.

Use us.
Feast with us.
See us. Again.

Commune.

The whirlwind of who you are overtakes all we lack.
Our shortcomings no longer are part of the equation.

The formula is gone.
Laws are written and torn to pieces to be eaten and swallowed to become part of our heartbeat.
The heart that beats in time with you so we only do what you do.
We see you.
Become part of you.
 You become part of us.
Overtake us.

Swallow us up until we are a pool of water at your disposal.
Water flowing at your command.
A puddle.

Love us.
Make us into the creation in your image.
Love us.
A mirror of image.
Love us.

Love so we can put our arms around the world and hold.
Love us so we can reach out and receive.

Every

 Every

   The sun rises. A promise of a new day. A day made just for you. New breath.

Breathing life into all that's in front of you. And the past. Restoration for the soul.

    Fingerprints of God's art over creation. Sighing, opening, pressing through

darkness to enter into freshness.

    Sunrise, newness, promises, washing, creating that particular day to show love

to all He created. Birds sing and are aware of the privilege.

    Leaves always at attention for the next season. Waiting for the notion to change.

Fall. Begin to grow.

    Flowers anticipating permission to push forth through the Earth. Beauty

and color surrounding.

    Rain falls on command. Snow lets down and melts when told.

    All creation bears His fingerprint. Down to the smallest, supposedly insignificant

molecule.

    The symphony crescendos and rests at His voice. All are obedient to the loving

and gracious One. It's because of the desire for love that we come to know the

goodness and faithfulness of Him.

    Scratching and clawing for more. Never reaching. Wanting love and asking in

every corner, never to be satisfied. Screaming, maddening searches for something that

has been there since the beginning. Never leaving. Always desiring...you.

    Love that never leaves is not a design humans would create. Leaving is what

we've done well. Running away. Hurting before we are damaged forever.
   
    No more hiding. Full nakedness. Complete seeing of our souls. To reconvene

with the only True love of the universe.

    He covers with white flowing silk. Running in joy. Running, crashing, passionate

embrace of love that has always been. From the beginning. In the beginning.

    He knows every inch, every thought, every breath, every molecule. Every.

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture

A molecule of water. 

H2O.

A drop in the roaring ocean or a drip on the sidewalk.

Our lives are either a particle in the ocean of the body of Christ

Unifying in agreement of the Creator

Or a drip on the sidewalk, more concerned with our purpose and agenda.

Make my life more valuable than the viewing of the small piece I am. 

Show me the bigger picture of what you are striving for here.

Bringing glory

Brought glory

Bring glory

Will bring glory to You. 

We are to bring it, now. 

In the present.

Crush me, kill me, push my identity and destiny to second place behind bringing you glory.

Out of Your glory, you give me all I need.

Sacrifice me on your alter.

I throw my crown at your feet, disrobe and wash your feet. 

Naked in recognition of who you are. 

Clothed only in righteousness.

Humiliate me for your sake.

We are but a particle in the body of rushing water. 

But all the while...you see me. 

You see me. 

You see each cell you created, the bones, the muscle, the tendons you carefully picked for my unique body. 

My mind tuned perfectly. 

My organs that function in time with your heart.

Take my eyes off the cells of my body and make me like them. 

Obedient to your every word. 

My breath moves on your command.

The leaves fall at your word. 

The flowers bloom when you say. 

Make me like the birds in the sky and the ant on the ground.

Make me like the smallest creature, with delicate features.

Everything in existence bends when you speak. 

To bring glory to You.

Gender, qualified servants and other questions