My Heart's Drought

As much as I'd like to say I love poetry I honestly don't have a lot of time to read it and I don't really have much exposure to it to know whether or not I love it. But, I happened to randomly read a sonnet by Dante Gabriel Rossetti entitled "Willowood" and a line from it caught my heart. While I'm fairly certain Rossetti was not writing his sonnet to or about God - HE is exactly where my thoughts went as I read this line in particular. It reads:

"He swept the spring that watered my heart's drouth (translated drought)."

I think those words are beautiful and it reminded me that even in difficult times - or in times when life is great but my spirit is dry - HE stirs the spring that water's my heart!

That all connected in my mind to some lyrics I love - verse 3 of the old hymn "Rock of Ages" - it says:

Nothing in my hands I bring
Simply to Thy cross I cling
Naked come to Thee for dress
Helpless, look to Thee for grace
To Thy fountain, Lord, I fly
Wash me Savior or I die

Sometimes I forget to FLY there!
Proverbs 14:27 "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death."

Lord, keep me mindful of my desperate heart and your incredible grace!

Correction!

So, as I continue reading the book of 2 Chronicles I realized my sad mistake in what I wrote yesterday and I felt the need to correct it - just in case anyone has wandered onto this blog?? Asa was the king of JUDAH and in fact it was the king of Israel that he was seeking protection from!
I've got to pay closer attention to the details - those are some pretty big details to mix up!

Today I was reading some chapters in the book of 2 Chronicle about king Asa. Compared to many he seemed to really be trying to do all that would please God. Things were going great. Then one day he decided to bribe the king of Aram to support him against an enemy so that Israel would be safe from that enemy. Because of this choice God spoke to him through a "seer" and said:
"Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand... when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war."

Asa's response:

"Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people."

I started thinking about the times that I choose to rely on other people, my own strength, etc. instead of God's wisdom and power. Is my heart FULLY committed or is my heart IN when it's convenient? Do I really walk through life's circumstances, big or seemingly insignificant, waiting on God's heart and walking his path in every situation? Sadly I'm pretty sure I tend to do my own thing until something happens to draw my attention back to Him.

Lord Jesus, help me take you in and project you out in every circumstance of my days - like our bodies breathe air in and out without us stopping to think through the physical steps of the process - let my spirit breathe YOU in for my own good and out for YOUR GLORY.

My heart will choose

As I work my way through the book of Luke I'm so grateful for how fresh God's Word is. No matter how many times I read a passage some new challenge or new encouragement jumps out at me. Today it was in Luke 10:17-20
"The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

I was reminded of how often my prayer time consists of only prayer for circumstances or situations or material stuff - while I may not often be asking demons to submit to me in the name of Jesus - I can easily base how much REJOICING I do on how those prayers are answered. If my circumstances don't change for the better or a situation seems to get worse am I still so satisfied in WHO GOD IS that I will rejoice anyway – live a life of rejoicing purely because my name is written in heaven?

I want my heart to choose that kind of living every day.

You give and take away. My heart will choose to say "Lord, Blessed be Your name!" –Matt Redman

Never too cold to plow

3 times in 3 days the Lord drew my attention to Luke 9:62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." First, in a sermon given by Vic King at church on Saturday night. Second, in the same sermon at church on Sunday morning. Finally in Bible reading designated in my thru the Bible a year deal for Monday morning. Each time I read it I had very different reactions to it. I continue to be amazed at God's GIGANTIC-NESS! He can use one verse to speak 3 different things to me in 3 days and offer how many other applications/inspirations from that same verse to billions of other Jesus Followers all over the planet!!!
Here's what Luke 9:62 had me chewing on:
1. When Vic referred to this verse he said something like - if we're trying to keep one hand on the plow and always looking back we will miss our purpose in the NOW. We'll feel like we're sitting on the fence - half in and half out of where life is taking us NOW.
2. The second time I heard the same sermon Vic said basically the same things but the Lord prompted my heart to thinks about some very specific circumstances in my past that I have found it hard to let go of over the years. He gave me a picture of how I sabotage my own steps today by holding onto grudges or disappointments from my past.
3. I read this verse in my own quiet time on Monday morning - kind of amazing but NOT coincidental! The Lord knew I needed to see it again. That day I visited my mom who - whether it's been officially diagnosed or not - has days that look a lot like those of a stroke patient. After a couple of good visits with her that gave me hope for her improvement Monday's visit was a bit of a shocker to me. She was very lethargic and confused - the way she had been weeks ago when things were at their worst. Our brief moments of conversation were made up of her saying things that made no sense and my trying to "play along". I left her that day with an achy heart and a lot of tears as I made the 2 hour drive home. Memories of good times with mom and with my family back home kept running through my head and even though they were sweet memories they fed the tears, the ache in my heart and the lump in my throat. While I don't believe Jesus is saying - don't celebrate the sweet memories of your childhood, the message of Luke 9:62 kept coming to mind. I think I was supposed to learn that even sweet memories, if they feed a heavy heart, may need to be tucked away for a time so that I can keep my hand on the plow and keep moving forward in whatever life I'm supposed live TODAY!
It's a fine line for me - one that I'm not very good at walking. The line between remembering the good things; kissing good-bye to the junk and not letting Satan wreak havoc with any of it!
Jesus, Help!

American Idols

I was reading Psalm 135 yesterday. Verses 15-18 say:

“The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them and so will all who trust in them.”

Visions of statues, golden calves and such filled my head and even as I imagine those literal idols from the days of King David my mind is quickly led to the idols that so easily steal my own heart right here in the year 2008. Whether it’s wanting others to think well of me (fear of man) or wanting STUFF – if I want it so much that it’s a distraction from the things of God it is TRULY and idol.

“…Those who make them (idols) will be like them (BLIND, DEAF and MUTE) and so will ALL those who trust in them.” (v.18).

Jesus, help me to not just identify the idols in my heart but give me the courage and the strength to battle against them. I don’t want to have blind eyes or deaf ears to your Word, your Truth, your heart!

Vs. 13 of the same Psalm “Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your fame, O LORD, through all generations.”

– You are steadfast and I am GRATEFUL!

My very first post ever!

After thinking about it for a few months I've decided to take the plunge and start a blog. Not that I plan to go around giving out the address or have great expectations for people to read it.
For a couple of reasons I had set aside journaling (something I had really loved) for quite some time and blogging seemed like a great 21st century way to get back to it.
My hope is that this will be a place to post the things that God is doing, speaking, revealing in my life - the things HE causes to overflow from my heart.
Paul writes in Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
I pray this spot will be a place where His hope BRIMS out of my heart - whatever life places I may be learning to trust him in - He is my hope!