Hey friends!! It is Thursday afternoon and I am enjoying my post workout yogurt…as I read a bit of Owen’s Communion With God. Oh so encouraging. How wonderful it is to relax and enjoy this spiritual consolation God has given me as I think and ponder on the great love and grace of Christ!! In a few minutes, I will shower and start dinner up(turkey burgers, green beans and a baked potato – what can be better!?), but for now, going to read…just a few more minutes…
Author: James Hogan
Closer Creeps the Night
Beth sighed as she sat in weary anticipation on the front stoop. Hearing a car approaching, she looked up warily, only to see a little black ’88 Volvo approaching. Not her ride. Actually, she had no idea who the driver was, and she knew most people in the neighborhood(naturally, as she’d lived in that same neighborhood for most of her 19 years). After the Volvo drove past, she put her head down again and watched the late autumn leaves tumble down the sidewalk in front of her. The leaves seemed to be dancing with gleeful abandon as they darted by, rejoicing in the winter-tinged air. Beth shivered. She didn’t share the sentiment. Pulling her orange coat closer around herself, she sighed once again. Where was Rich at? He had promised to pick her up at the crack of dawn, but as the early morning light spilled over the sleepy neighborhood sprawled out in front of her, Beth started to worry. She tended to do that a lot, particularly when things didn’t go according to plan. And in her life, things had a tendency to not go according to plan. Unfortunately. Beth rubbed her arms again. She was cold and irritated and still not quite awake. A squeal of tires skidding around the nearest corner shook Beth out of her brown study. In a flash, she hopped to her feet, grabbed her small knapsack and started walking towards the street. Rich’s lime green monstrosity jumped up next to her and she tugged on the door handle violently. Time to go save the world.
Meditating
There is a peace and quiet relaxation that comes with trusting God in all things. Too often we rush through life frantically scrabbling for control of our own destinies and fearing for our own future, but we need not do this! Just as Abraham was able to believe God in the promises God had made to Him, so should we. Seek the heavenly Father in all things, be continuously meditating on the glories of Christ and be reliant on the power given us through the Spirit and so live as a child of God. For such we are. Trust in the Lord and seek His face – long for Him above all else, and all will be well. For truly, we have a hope that is above all this world has to offer. Raise your eyes to the heavens and recall this higher hope we have. Let your mind feast upon the thought of living with God forever. Let your soul be blessed by the grace poured out to us by the Spirit through the ministry of the Word given to us. Ne’er be so distracted by this world that you forget the love of God. We are children of God. We are loved.
Forever Tilts the Sky
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to
you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If
we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the
darkness, we lie and do not not practice the truth; but if we walk in
the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with
one another,and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all
sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves
and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make
Him a liar and His word is not in us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you
may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the
propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for
those of the whole world. -1 John 1:5-2:2
Such beautiful words, are they not? I could verily quote the whole book of 1 John, such encouraging and comforting words it does contain, but I shall not this morning. Read it for yourselves and be delighted! Have a most beautiful day, dear friends, and be thankful to God for all His most wondrous works. This is the day our Lord God has made – let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Sun Streaked
Morning, dear friends!! I’m listening to my favorite Rachmaninoff concertos No. 2 & 3 as I start work this morning…with the ubiquitous peppermint mocha in hand. The rain came pouring down this morning in startling fashion, but the clouds seem to finally be fleeing the area as the day truly begins to dawn. I’m confident of a good day ahead, for this is indeed the day the Lord has made. Have a wonderful love-soaked day, my friends. As for me, it is time to begin work! (And to enjoy listening to some gorgeous music as I do so…)
Penstroke
A morning where a
darkness reigns throughout the land
and yet there is a wind that blows,
a return of sweetness and decency
mayhaps.
A morning where a
bowl of oatmeal upon worn table sits
and brown sugar swirls in dreamy paths,
a return to first love and hopes fairest
maybe.
A morning where a
moonlit herald sings in quiet wonder
and I hear a call to that far country,
a return to truest tales of yore
perhaps.
Postscript
All the consolations of the Holy Ghost consist in his acquainting us with, and communicating unto us, the love of the Father and the grace of the Son; nor is there any thing in the one or the other but he makes it a matter of consolation to us: so that, indeed, we have our communion with the Father in his love, and the Son in his grace, by the operation of the Holy Ghost.
John Owen, Communion With God
Communion
What a lovely lovely day. And shall I waste it adding words to the ever growing clouds of data spinning through this world? May it not be so! So briefly….
A day of rest, a day of joy. Finally home with my Bethel church family, loving each other and loving God, lifting our voices in worship sweet and listening to the Word expounded. And lunch with friends(chicken curry is always a quality meal, more so when eaten over good chat and sweet communion with my dear friends). Back at my flat and poring over the Word for community group(Colossians 3:15-17…)…And then vacuuming and a quick workout and then out into glorious brilliant afternoon sunshine reading The Silver Chair by the side of the pool…And back inside and now potato is in the oven and I will soon enjoy it hot and freshly buttered along with some plump turkey burgers and green beans but now I sit on this couch and read a bit of Owen’s Communion With God and while I could say that there is nothing more to be said, suffice it to be said that my heart is full this day. Afternoon sweetly passing by, eyes brighten, lips part, heart sigh. A touch of honey on the bread, one last morsel achingly read, truly nothing more to be said.
Tears of Grace
Hello friends!! I write this from Starbucks this happy Saturday afternoon and while I shall not write long, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to put a few words to page. Today has been a somewhat productive day so far(got my car’s oil changed, some errands, etc!) and it will continue once I get back home – need to do some cleaning of my apartment! Fun times eh? Now though, just been reading a bit in preparation for Tuesday night’s study(“Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord.” How often do I fail at that. How much do I need to be reminded!) and also sending a few emails out. Also a very nice benefit to having internet access here…downloaded a bunch of Dominic’s sermons from SermonAudio and I shall later on burn these to CDs for commute listening. I am very pleased with my many new sermons and the much encouragement and conviction I’m sure they will provide. Again from Colossians – may the Word of Christ richly dwell within us.
Now, I’m off, mostly because I want to get home and start my chores. Also need to start dinner at some point – tonight’s a chicken parm night…just been craving that this morning, so suppose I shall make it(complete with tomato salad *of course*). I have far more I could write about, but for now, just grateful for a day of rest that my God has granted me. May I spend it pondering the goodness and glories of my God and meditating on the beauties and wonders of knowing Christ. I do not want to waste this day or this life thinking about that which does not matter. Peace and love, my friends – hope you have a beautiful day and are as encouraged as I am!
A Prime Year
I am overwhelmed by the goodness of the Lord.
I shall not write long now, as the evening light fades as this day comes to a sweet closing, but I cannot help but write a scant few words. This day I turn twenty-nine, not a momentous day in and of itself, but it is indeed a good time to sit and ponder and recall the glorious wonders of my God and the many bounties He has granted me. And so this day has been a calm one, a normal day of work and a quiet evening now. But all day today, as I received numerous messages of love and encouragement from my friends, I felt myself a bit taken aback by the far too kind words from my friends and family dear. I am most unworthy and I feel that it is only the grace of my God and Father that I am who I am this day. Oh my Father keep me humble and full of love as I walk before You!
And now I am going to have a beautiful and most perfect birthday dinner of lasagna and tomato salad and possibly some chocolate cake!!! And once again, I offer all thanksgiving to my God and Father who has given me much these past twenty-nine years. He has given me abundantly more than all I could ask or imagine. He has forgiven me much. My God has forgiven me everything. And in that great beauty and profound love i rejoice!
Peace, my friends. Peace and love. Always.
Something Weird 