Wednesday, November 29, 2006
A Little Piece of Heaven
Christmas is in the air – life has shifted, the snow has fallen, and with it, change. It has brought peace, it has brought the presence of God.
I pulled up to Starbucks to get a nice, warm hot chocolate and greeted 4 people I knew in the few minutes I was in there. It felt like a family, it felt like home. It was warming. Jesus’ birthday is celebrated and with it seems to be an extra, special blessing He outpours that you just don’t feel throughout the rest of the year quite like this. I can write on how this should look for each and every person, but for some, the holiday will be a tragedy or a reminder in which it was destined to be, which I am remorseful and sorry for, yet the cause of Christ is far bigger than our pain. Is it not?
This week has been an eye opener of the little. The tiny. Small, small things I’m incredibly thankful for, thankful to tears. Spending time with a loved one(s), enjoying their essence and presence. The very element of who they are, and soaking up the minutes as they pass by. This is the rich, this is the quality, the standard of life which we can live by if only we’d ask. Family, significant others, or friends, it all depends on what this looks like or means to you, and if what means much to me brings pain to you, take yourself to what this holiday means to you or perhaps, ask God what this means to Him. Christmas music, decorated houses, beautifully lit up exteriors, white glistening snow. The warmth of a fire, the touch of a loved one. The smiles, the laughter, the atmosphere of peace. The blessing of the season is overwhelming, and in all our jaded views, twisted mindsets, if we can quiet ourselves for just a moment and hear the whisper of God in the midst. Take a moment out of this month, this season, if just for a second, just sit back and soak in your day, soak in the people for there is no guarantee for tomorrow. Allow God to meet with you and show you what there is, show you what you have. Count your blessings, and you’ll find the little things are the biggest blessings. The daily things. My words don’t do justice, and I could explain in detail the way I feel, but if you’ve felt it for yourself, experienced it for yourself, you’ll be at home with these words.
Father, I am thankful… to the utmost, to the deepest part of myself that I know. For what you’ve done for me, for what you’ve blessed me with. I am blown away by the greatness and the peace of God.
Be with your loved ones, cherish the memories, remember the root and the reason, remember how and why we can have these days to rejoice, through trials and tribulations, through joys and triumphs. That we could dance with the King in glory, together, as one. Perhaps this is a little taste of heaven. Remember these moments and if you don’t have them, ask for them with a humbled heart and receive! Be VERY blessed this Christmas season – live in this day and enjoy it!
Friday, November 24, 2006
Miscellaneous Thoughts
Love is infinite. Yet, how well is it understood? How well do I understand it? How well do you understand it? The ultimate image has been set before us, but the mind doesn’t seem to comprehend, thus why it impacts over, and over again. If we could see a scale or a measure of the love we have, I wonder what that would look like in my life or yours. But since love is infinite, nobody would class anywhere on that scale because nobody’s love is infinite.
Times in life we can feel like we’ve got it all together, like we can see other people and their issues, struggles or problems and we don’t feel like we have any. But in time, flaws are revealed as (I believe) God wants to deal with them. But I see now just how many mistakes we make in one day. Just how ‘short’ we actually fall. How can you ever show anyone God’s love and any amount of depth to that if you haven’t seen it for yourself? If you haven’t needed a savior? That means you’ve got a few thorn bushes to walk through. At least for me, that statement holds truth. How can I see the extent of love if I feel that I’m worthy of it? It’s in those times you’re at your lowest of lows, rock bottom, naked, ashamed and unworthy, weighted and heavy, from issues, either what you’ve done or what you may have had happen to you. Everyone knows what pain feels like. I would fear for you if you hadn’t felt it before.
I’ve heard and read (and experienced) countless stories of someone (myself, included) who’s lost, corrupt and jaded, yet the love of God approaches and wants to take that away all because of love. It’s not until you experience it for yourself, in the shoes or bare feet of the naked soul, ashamed, weighted and burdened, distorted by life’s troubles, hurts and pains. It doesn’t necessarily mean your life has to walk through hell to see redemption but in same ways and some times… you do. Jesus did. Although, He walked through the worst so we don’t have to.
I find, at times, much knowledge in myself walking through certain circumstances but what good is knowledge without action? What good is knowledge over wisdom? I have a renewed understanding, if that’s safe to say, of how I need the strength of God in everything I do. To the extent that when I’m broken down, nothing left to offer or give, because I’m too weighted, too heavy, and God’s strength comes over me to help me ask him for help. I really am powerless. But once the word is applied with faith, it breeds life into the soul, that you never knew existed. Even reading these words can have no life or meaning to you but if you experience it for yourself… it’s life altering. If I learned about you or read about you, it doesn’t mean that I ‘know’ you, it just means I know ‘about’ you.
Think for a moment… that if God loves you as much as you believe He does or as much as He says He does… then… this entire world that He created (in only 7 days, mind you) and even if you look out your window to see what’s outside and let the beauty of nature get hold of you for the moment, you can feel something to it. Something in it. Chew on this…. That God made ALL of that, yet… loves you more. Values you more than the world he created. More than entire universe that he created. Just you. If nobody else existed on this planet but you, you would be the most prized possession – His best. In fact, right now, you ARE His best. His masterpiece. A work of art. That’s special, yet hard to understand. Especially because we’re not worth it. We don’t deserve that status. We don’t carry that worth. Nevertheless, we have it, through Christ, we have it. He made us, He called us worthy through His son, He loved us before He knew us, so therefore, our own opinions of each other and ourselves just don’t matter.
Labels: Misc Thoughts
Monday, November 06, 2006
Writings...
Wind changes direction
the current of a sea alters its course
darkness awaits for light
the imprisoned envision the day of release
even a stubborn mans thoughts can change
support is not independent
words on the tip of a tongue
the human mind is a deep abyss
simple yet complex
beautiful yet mysterious
a rainbow marks a promise
desire is fire
and fire devours
illumination
Fragile
Hate the thought
Hate the feeling
Hate the sin
Hate the act
Intensity
Destruction; Havoc
Lies breed unfaithfulness
Trust is lost; broken; shattered
It is irreplaceable
What is vulnerable and beautiful
Now mistreated and abused
To betray is to bring death upon
Distraught
The heart is fragile
Ripped to shreds
Tiny pieces
Handle with Care
Aspiration
It is the deepest connection
A masterpiece of art
A beautiful sunset sky
A mirrored image of love, itself
An expression
A celebration
Sea of mystery
Oceans unexplored
Profound beauty
Astonishing
Intimate journey
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