"And sometimes I envy that blissful ignorance [of fresh love, awaiting marriage, untested by trials]. But then I don't. Because a love that cannot be quenched by many waters is more valuable. And that's what I have. A refined love. An action love. The kind of love that took Jesus to the cross. I know that love because I know heartache in love. I know sacrifice in love. I know death in love. Father, You think that's a gift. So I thank You for my hardships! And for this true love that quiets all my expectations. This love makes me more like You."
It's perspective like this - one that my heart desires yet hasn't yet asked for - that I know is brought to me because of God's heart for me to be less like me and more like Him.
Do you, Coli, know how often you bring perspective to me, unbeknownst to you, when I dare to open up my world through words? You are so committed to reading my rants and so good at bringing clarity to my - often times - cloudy eyes.
Thank You, my SisNBff, for doing what you do best... Being a Friend!!!!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Expectations Unmet
Hope and hopelessness
I both watched it and lived it all in the same day
Some eyes radiated joy
Where others showed no signs of life
A room filled with current strangers
Offered the potential of future friends
My heart is saddened by the heaviness of heartache
While being uplifted by the freshness of new love
Though I'm not that far removed
From my new beginnings
Life has crept in like a thief in the night
And stolen precious jewels
Not the ones I wear around my neck
But the jewels I treasure in my heart
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Gentleness
Self-Control
Leaving in its wake a constant reminder
of Expectations Unmet
Words of affirmation can fill a heart in one moment
A love tank is full
And a smile is returned
The umbrella of Expectations Unmet safely tucked away for now
Hours pass as we walk in the borrowed happiness of
Two hearts' anticipation for their future
We've watched love grow from afar
And now we're in the midst of celebrating it
But even celebration can't completely cover
The dose of reality that is birthed
from Expectations Unmet
An afternoon of sunshine and smiles
Where revelations were shared and hearts revealed
Has turned into a nighttime of darkness
Where Pandora's Box of the Past
Has once again replaced
strain for Love
heaviness for Joy
chaos for Peace
quick fuses for Patience
harsh words for Kindness
judgment for Goodness
hard hearts for Gentleness
and damage for Self-control
How do I escape the baggage of my past
Of actions and reactions conditioned in me by life
Is it really as easy as climbing into the coffin of daily sacrifice
The one I drag behind me instead of crawling into
When will the line I walk
Of selfishness over selflessness
Cease to exist
My days dawn with the fresh breath of new life
Yet so often they end with the toxic fumes of my struggles
and Expectations Unmet
I both watched it and lived it all in the same day
Some eyes radiated joy
Where others showed no signs of life
A room filled with current strangers
Offered the potential of future friends
My heart is saddened by the heaviness of heartache
While being uplifted by the freshness of new love
Though I'm not that far removed
From my new beginnings
Life has crept in like a thief in the night
And stolen precious jewels
Not the ones I wear around my neck
But the jewels I treasure in my heart
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Gentleness
Self-Control
Leaving in its wake a constant reminder
of Expectations Unmet
Words of affirmation can fill a heart in one moment
A love tank is full
And a smile is returned
The umbrella of Expectations Unmet safely tucked away for now
Hours pass as we walk in the borrowed happiness of
Two hearts' anticipation for their future
We've watched love grow from afar
And now we're in the midst of celebrating it
But even celebration can't completely cover
The dose of reality that is birthed
from Expectations Unmet
An afternoon of sunshine and smiles
Where revelations were shared and hearts revealed
Has turned into a nighttime of darkness
Where Pandora's Box of the Past
Has once again replaced
strain for Love
heaviness for Joy
chaos for Peace
quick fuses for Patience
harsh words for Kindness
judgment for Goodness
hard hearts for Gentleness
and damage for Self-control
How do I escape the baggage of my past
Of actions and reactions conditioned in me by life
Is it really as easy as climbing into the coffin of daily sacrifice
The one I drag behind me instead of crawling into
When will the line I walk
Of selfishness over selflessness
Cease to exist
My days dawn with the fresh breath of new life
Yet so often they end with the toxic fumes of my struggles
and Expectations Unmet
Re-Presenting Life
A room full of so many hearts broken
While one radiates the glow of new life
Too many still lonely
A few entangled in the bitterness of envy
While they ask the question, "Why not me?"
Others drown in the sea of Unknown
Clinging to the life raft of the renewed hope in her eyes
Time is a constant reminder
Of years passing by
Of life and love lost
So many stories lie behind their eyes
Of vows broken, promises unkept
Yet still she shines in the midst of it all
Her heartache has been healed
By the promise of her Savior
For a future and a hope
Of the plans He knew He had for her
Plans for him... Plans for them
And the promise of love forever
Sealed by a covenant of words
By a vow of, "I Do and I Will"
How dichotomous life can be
When perspectives of opposite ends looms great
Where mountain top highs and death valley lows
Are so obviously represented in the space of one room
Eager expectation shines new for her future of tomorrows
While hopelessness belies the facade so many others want to hide
Only You, Father, can
Restore hope to the hopeless
Renew faith for the faithless
Reveal life in the mirror of lifelessness
Redeem love for the loved-less
She is Your shining star today
Representing restoration, renewal, revelation and redemption
May the reality of her past heartache
And the present of her life anew
Mix with the anticipation of her future days
To bring glory and honor to You
And hope to those who celebrated with her
And all that she represents
While one radiates the glow of new life
Too many still lonely
A few entangled in the bitterness of envy
While they ask the question, "Why not me?"
Others drown in the sea of Unknown
Clinging to the life raft of the renewed hope in her eyes
Time is a constant reminder
Of years passing by
Of life and love lost
So many stories lie behind their eyes
Of vows broken, promises unkept
Yet still she shines in the midst of it all
Her heartache has been healed
By the promise of her Savior
For a future and a hope
Of the plans He knew He had for her
Plans for him... Plans for them
And the promise of love forever
Sealed by a covenant of words
By a vow of, "I Do and I Will"
How dichotomous life can be
When perspectives of opposite ends looms great
Where mountain top highs and death valley lows
Are so obviously represented in the space of one room
Eager expectation shines new for her future of tomorrows
While hopelessness belies the facade so many others want to hide
Only You, Father, can
Restore hope to the hopeless
Renew faith for the faithless
Reveal life in the mirror of lifelessness
Redeem love for the loved-less
She is Your shining star today
Representing restoration, renewal, revelation and redemption
May the reality of her past heartache
And the present of her life anew
Mix with the anticipation of her future days
To bring glory and honor to You
And hope to those who celebrated with her
And all that she represents
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Remade
My heart has heard You say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming." ~Psalm 27:8
Last night, after a long day of accomplishing so much - the list of To Do's seemed endless - I breathed a sigh of relief that what I had set out to do, and even more, was finally completed... and it was only 11:00pm. Only 11pm? My busy day was behind me. Well, 99% of it was. I had focused my energies in a purposeful way and had placed check marks next to the list of tasks that constantly run through my head. Done, done, done, done...
And yet, as I sat for a couple minutes finally thinking of nothing - it had been the first time all day - that small voice that I know so well spoke to me, "Get your Bible".
(It's ironic how hearing God's voice can instantly stir two opposite emotions in me - one of excitement that I've just heard God, and the other of guilt that God had to remind me to come spend time with Him. It brings to mind the picture of an angel whispering in my ear as my heart responds with joy to the holy message. And then my enemy wastes not even a second to whisper in my other ear; questioning me, condemning me, making me feel shame over the joy of hearing from my Savior.)
So, I opened my Bible and my heart was prompted to turn to the Psalms and read the one that matched last night's date... Psalm 27. As I read, verse 8 stuck out to me...
My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming."
This morning I woke up with the need to start my day with the Lord. Oh, it wasn't but a couple months ago that I woke up daily with the overwhelming need to be in front of God, to hear His voice, to spend time soaking up His presence with worship. But lately, since God has been showering blessing after blessing upon us, that need has faded - bit by bit - until it was only a thought that crossed my mind. I won't lament about that now. I'll just say that even though I often recognized this crisis, I did nothing about the fact that I was allowing myself to become complacent, lazy... self-sufficient.
As I sat in my living room, I opened back up to Psalm 27 and read it again. I listened to a couple praise songs and then was strongly drawn to the outdoors. I picked up my laptop, my earphones, my Bible and my cup o' Joe and headed out my back door. It was warm already. The sun was shining, but it felt good. I instantly knew that God had called my heart and was going to meet me.
I chose my songs, pushed play and closed my eyes. The sun's warmth was at my back and a cool breeze drifted over me. It took but seconds for my heart to be lifted to the heavenlies; to be drawn into God's presence. The only way this moment could have been better is if it was taking place while sitting on cool sand and watching ocean waves roll into shore, one by one.
Singing to the lyrics that I know so well, I knew I was right where I was supposed to be. Then it happened.
As I sang, "Sweep me away in your love, where nothing else matters", I was reminded of the burden I was choosing to carry; the burden of self-sufficiency and complacency, task lists, and all of my want-to's and supposed need-to's. And in that same moment, Jesus came and removed it all from me. By doing this, He allowed me to feel - for the first time in two months - the full joy of being in His presence... where nothing else matters.
Tears rollin down my face
because of Your mercy and tender embrace
The peace that just overflows
It's here that I know You have been waiting
To sweep me away in your love...
Where nothing else matters
As I finished this song, Jesus moved me on to the next one, where He broke me in the most tender way that I have ever been broken. So sweetly did He do this, that the pain that came from breaking my stubborn heart felt good... necessary. My heart itself wasn't breaking, the self-imposed, reinforced shell of "fear, self-protection, stubbornness and selfishness" was falling off, like shelves of polar ice fall into a waiting ocean of forgiveness, love, mercy and grace.
Here in Your hands, You have remade me...
All of my heart I give you now
Laying aside my fears and doubt
You are the life from which I draw my breath
Breaking my heart, You beckon me
Desperate for You I ever cling
You are the hope for which I gain my strength
I have been Remade
As I sang these words, my heart was overwhelmed by a flood of varying emotions that rushed in like a set of waves that couldn't wait to break on shore. Sobs of hurt, guilt, anger and shame poured out of me as the wall I had built, brick by brick, came crashing down. I literally could not control my tears. From within the deepest part of me, my spirit cried over the condition of my soul. But in the moments that followed, I no longer felt the condemnation of my complacent choices; instead, I felt the longing for Jesus that had been missing. My Spirit so greatly missed the companionship of my Savior. I then cried over the relationship and fellowship I had chosen so carelessly to place on the shelf of "tomorrow".
God has placed in me an incredible capacity to go deep with Him through worship. When I'm lost in worship, my Spirit connects with Him in ways for which I can't seem to find words. It's this initial call to worship that moves me into a greater prayer life and a deeper desire for God's Word; and also changes my heart perspective from me to Him. And yet, it's this door to His throne room that I closed without thought of the repercussions to my soul. God didn't remove the door, I simply kept choosing not to open it.
Instead, I chose the other doors... the ones marked "Tasks", "Chores" and "To Do". I also gladly walked through the doors marked "Fun", "Family" and "Relaxation". Ironically, none of these doors can be labeled as bad choices because all of them have their place of necessity in my life. Unfortunately, what I chose to ignore was the ginormous warning sign that preceded these doors...
WARNING! WALKING THROUGH THESE DOORS WITHOUT FIRST ENTERING THROUGH THE DOOR OF WORSHIP IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR SOUL AND WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF LIFE!
God has shown me today that the choices I've made lately - selfish, self-centered, self-focused and self-reliant choices - have kept me from the very source of life that feeds me and from being the very person He created me to be.
Today, I have been Remade... Again!
Last night, after a long day of accomplishing so much - the list of To Do's seemed endless - I breathed a sigh of relief that what I had set out to do, and even more, was finally completed... and it was only 11:00pm. Only 11pm? My busy day was behind me. Well, 99% of it was. I had focused my energies in a purposeful way and had placed check marks next to the list of tasks that constantly run through my head. Done, done, done, done...
And yet, as I sat for a couple minutes finally thinking of nothing - it had been the first time all day - that small voice that I know so well spoke to me, "Get your Bible".
(It's ironic how hearing God's voice can instantly stir two opposite emotions in me - one of excitement that I've just heard God, and the other of guilt that God had to remind me to come spend time with Him. It brings to mind the picture of an angel whispering in my ear as my heart responds with joy to the holy message. And then my enemy wastes not even a second to whisper in my other ear; questioning me, condemning me, making me feel shame over the joy of hearing from my Savior.)
So, I opened my Bible and my heart was prompted to turn to the Psalms and read the one that matched last night's date... Psalm 27. As I read, verse 8 stuck out to me...
My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming."
This morning I woke up with the need to start my day with the Lord. Oh, it wasn't but a couple months ago that I woke up daily with the overwhelming need to be in front of God, to hear His voice, to spend time soaking up His presence with worship. But lately, since God has been showering blessing after blessing upon us, that need has faded - bit by bit - until it was only a thought that crossed my mind. I won't lament about that now. I'll just say that even though I often recognized this crisis, I did nothing about the fact that I was allowing myself to become complacent, lazy... self-sufficient.
As I sat in my living room, I opened back up to Psalm 27 and read it again. I listened to a couple praise songs and then was strongly drawn to the outdoors. I picked up my laptop, my earphones, my Bible and my cup o' Joe and headed out my back door. It was warm already. The sun was shining, but it felt good. I instantly knew that God had called my heart and was going to meet me.
I chose my songs, pushed play and closed my eyes. The sun's warmth was at my back and a cool breeze drifted over me. It took but seconds for my heart to be lifted to the heavenlies; to be drawn into God's presence. The only way this moment could have been better is if it was taking place while sitting on cool sand and watching ocean waves roll into shore, one by one.
Singing to the lyrics that I know so well, I knew I was right where I was supposed to be. Then it happened.
As I sang, "Sweep me away in your love, where nothing else matters", I was reminded of the burden I was choosing to carry; the burden of self-sufficiency and complacency, task lists, and all of my want-to's and supposed need-to's. And in that same moment, Jesus came and removed it all from me. By doing this, He allowed me to feel - for the first time in two months - the full joy of being in His presence... where nothing else matters.
Tears rollin down my face
because of Your mercy and tender embrace
The peace that just overflows
It's here that I know You have been waiting
To sweep me away in your love...
Where nothing else matters
As I finished this song, Jesus moved me on to the next one, where He broke me in the most tender way that I have ever been broken. So sweetly did He do this, that the pain that came from breaking my stubborn heart felt good... necessary. My heart itself wasn't breaking, the self-imposed, reinforced shell of "fear, self-protection, stubbornness and selfishness" was falling off, like shelves of polar ice fall into a waiting ocean of forgiveness, love, mercy and grace.
Here in Your hands, You have remade me...
All of my heart I give you now
Laying aside my fears and doubt
You are the life from which I draw my breath
Breaking my heart, You beckon me
Desperate for You I ever cling
You are the hope for which I gain my strength
I have been Remade
As I sang these words, my heart was overwhelmed by a flood of varying emotions that rushed in like a set of waves that couldn't wait to break on shore. Sobs of hurt, guilt, anger and shame poured out of me as the wall I had built, brick by brick, came crashing down. I literally could not control my tears. From within the deepest part of me, my spirit cried over the condition of my soul. But in the moments that followed, I no longer felt the condemnation of my complacent choices; instead, I felt the longing for Jesus that had been missing. My Spirit so greatly missed the companionship of my Savior. I then cried over the relationship and fellowship I had chosen so carelessly to place on the shelf of "tomorrow".
God has placed in me an incredible capacity to go deep with Him through worship. When I'm lost in worship, my Spirit connects with Him in ways for which I can't seem to find words. It's this initial call to worship that moves me into a greater prayer life and a deeper desire for God's Word; and also changes my heart perspective from me to Him. And yet, it's this door to His throne room that I closed without thought of the repercussions to my soul. God didn't remove the door, I simply kept choosing not to open it.
Instead, I chose the other doors... the ones marked "Tasks", "Chores" and "To Do". I also gladly walked through the doors marked "Fun", "Family" and "Relaxation". Ironically, none of these doors can be labeled as bad choices because all of them have their place of necessity in my life. Unfortunately, what I chose to ignore was the ginormous warning sign that preceded these doors...
WARNING! WALKING THROUGH THESE DOORS WITHOUT FIRST ENTERING THROUGH THE DOOR OF WORSHIP IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR SOUL AND WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF LIFE!
God has shown me today that the choices I've made lately - selfish, self-centered, self-focused and self-reliant choices - have kept me from the very source of life that feeds me and from being the very person He created me to be.
Today, I have been Remade... Again!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
@ 16%
My battery’s at 16%. Yes, that's the truth; probably much more figurative even though it's quite literal.
I need to plug in
The red line shouts my immediate need
What's left won't last long
What's been used can't be restored
Without tapping into the source of power
It's my choice
Keep pushing on with what remains
Knowing the inevitable outcome
Or spend the time plugged in
To get back to 100%
The needs of my computer are a complete mirror to the needs of my spiritual life... yet the process in which one gets recharged vs. the other couldn't be more opposite. The one I tend too without thought because all I have to do is plug in and walk away, go about my day and return to it fully charged without any effort on my part. The other requires me to stop my world - the obligations, the to do lists, the want to's and need to's - and make the time to listen, pray, read, sing and just be still.
I have only so much battery to run on before I drain it completely - before I have nothing left.
Life would be so much "easier" if I could get recharged the same way my computer does... just plug in and go about my day without any effort, without any thought, without any loss of time.
Today I know that, just like my computer, my "spiritual battery" is red-lining. I see the immediate need and I know the inevitable outcome. And yet, despite my knowledge, my head still is urging me to squeeze as much as I can out of that 16% and tackle my list of to do's.
After all, I can plug in when I get to 2%, can't I?
I need to plug in
The red line shouts my immediate need
What's left won't last long
What's been used can't be restored
Without tapping into the source of power
It's my choice
Keep pushing on with what remains
Knowing the inevitable outcome
Or spend the time plugged in
To get back to 100%
The needs of my computer are a complete mirror to the needs of my spiritual life... yet the process in which one gets recharged vs. the other couldn't be more opposite. The one I tend too without thought because all I have to do is plug in and walk away, go about my day and return to it fully charged without any effort on my part. The other requires me to stop my world - the obligations, the to do lists, the want to's and need to's - and make the time to listen, pray, read, sing and just be still.
I have only so much battery to run on before I drain it completely - before I have nothing left.
Life would be so much "easier" if I could get recharged the same way my computer does... just plug in and go about my day without any effort, without any thought, without any loss of time.
Today I know that, just like my computer, my "spiritual battery" is red-lining. I see the immediate need and I know the inevitable outcome. And yet, despite my knowledge, my head still is urging me to squeeze as much as I can out of that 16% and tackle my list of to do's.
After all, I can plug in when I get to 2%, can't I?
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