The Party

Hi again. I am glad you are reading this. Thank you. Today I decided to tell you another story of one of those pictures, like a movie short, that you see in your mind, that God used to tell me a truth.

I found myself, standing in a very elegant, very large room. There are very many people in that room, but we are not crowded in tightly. Everyone is well dressed. Woman in various versions of black cocktail dresses, and men in coats and ties and some in tuxes. We are being served vintage champagne in crystal glasses and served expensive little portions of food. People are in small groups "chatting", groups of 3-5 or so. By chatting, I mean, it's like being at an event where you don't really know people and you are having some kind of small talk. Okay, the scene is set. Put yourself there in your tux and tie, or that black cocktail dress, with shoes, not made for walking in.
You are in a group, chatting about something and you start to realize, this is empty and unsatisfying. You are not enjoying the conversation. It begins to feel, emptier and shallower. You look across the room and see a bench, like one you'd see in a park. On that bench, someone is seated, and suddenly, you realize, it's God. As you begin to walk towards Him, you realize that you are shrinking down, that dress doesn't fit anymore and you are wearing the clothes of a little kid, and in fact you are a little kid too. As you get to the bench, you find yourself, closer to the height of God, sitting on the bench. (God the Father) No one appears to notice Him at all, and frankly neither did you before.
Now, as you get to Him, you hop up on the bench next to Him, and begin to have a real conversation. Leaning up to Him, you sense His affection for you and you begin to have affection for Him. You feel comfortable with Him, at home, with Him and in yourself too.
Sitting there, with Him, you notice an interesting phenomena, and that is, that people here and there begin to see Him, and they too shrink down to the size of a kid. They also approach Him and climb up on the bench. No one in the room sees, or pays attention to any of this. They go about the motions of enjoying the party.
I ask Him. "Father, why can't they see you?" and He answers me, "Unless you become like a little child, you can't see the Kingdom of God."

Blue Journal, thoughts on Jonah.

"...Jonah is a comfort to me, for he couldn't get off track.

And even though he didn't want to,

You changed his mind

Through unsubtle influence:)

So someone, such a knucklehead,

So bound to do the opposite,

Still goes and does for You

And couldn't seem to stay off track.

I pray, the lie be broken,

That tells us we're off track,

We've lost the way,

And we just can't get it back.

That is just a crock of crap.

Jonah proves - God's faithfulness,

In a hard, foolish, stubborn character.

He'll never make it easy,

To walk in disobedience.

There's a place prepared you see,

In the ocean of disobedience,

A whale's belly, rent free:)

Where ever he coughs up, you "be",

Deep within this helpless home

His ear can hear you see,

And when He hears,

Your true heart prayers,

This is your victory..."

more from the "Blue Journal"

Pondering on leadership, in it's simplest form.

"...Lead us with love,

Examine our path with intent,

Is it too much for our young?

Is it too far of a height?

Will the danger we can't see,

And the danger WE can take,

Break the hearts and backs,

Of the lambs - we won't forsake?

When at the end,

Will we find,

Personal success to be,

The idol that killed,

The ones we loved best?

Let our lives,

Gently lead,

The lambs,

With whom,

We are blessed,

To proceed...."

"...He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in His arm. He will carry them in His bosom and will gently lead those that have their young..." (Isa. 40:11)

"... A Prayer, of Warfare...

The lie of lack,

I break your back,

The Word of the Lord,

A blow of His Sword,

Crushes you head,

Dropping you dead.

You are now my morsel of bread.

No more giant do I see,

But a vast land that stretches afar,

Beauty and Grace

My territory..."

One more thought to ponder, a truth. There is absolutely no randomness in God. It is NOT one of His traits. ''...As absolutely nothing is random with You Lord, then significance, meaning, can be drawn from everything- if we have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that hungers to understand..."

Blue Journal

Just recently, I picked up a journal I had been writing in during the spring of 2005. It's funny how the wisdom of God just got all over those pages and it's talking to me now. It is a mystery, how God talks to us. I love that if you have ears to hear and eyes to see and a heart that is hungry, there is just so much treasure. God, always, always, give me eyes that see and ears that hear and a heart, that is ripe for understanding revealed:)
I may from time to time, put some exerpts in my blog from this journal. I'll just always call it, "Blue Journal".

"...Grace Streamed......
It's streams are to the
unqualified
No ones' high is a high enough
high
It is to the low place
Grace runs to go.
To the flawed
faithless
faultfilled
flakey
few
Who are
undeceived
beside themselves
ill equipt
falling out of the nest
it swoops down
under a death spiral helpless
And catches and carries
In spite of ourselves
For we are God's heart's desire
Our brokenness
crushed Him
Our need
drove Him
Our sin
called for His Blood
His Grace
broke our fall..."

thoughts on mercy

Hello to any reader, and thanks also, for your interest in reading my words. I decided to write a portion of something from a journal posting of my own, from Feb 20/10. I was reading the part in Ephesians, where wives and husbands and fathers and masters and slaves are being given instruction. (just to set up the background of my thoughts, from Eph. 5:21-6:9)

from a "letter" addressed to God (Dearest Father)
.....Forced myself to read parts in Ephesians which literally feel like they saw on my heart. I notice Paul addresses the subordinate one first, the wife, the child, the slave. Counsel to them, independant of their treatment, for good or evil and then he addresses the husband, the father, the master of the slave with the expected ways of love.
But, apparently the wife, child and slave have no guarantee or power to force Your ways on those they must submit to, honour and obey. The only advice is to do things as unto You, and honestly, that is the only way. It is far easier to submit to someone, who like You, loves them with their whole heart. One is tested by submission, the other, by "authority over".
You have the ultimate authority and Jesus, You displayed the ultimate submission and honouring as well and suffered abuse in the authority system of the world.
Women understood You because You were living a life identified with theirs and Your love melted the walls.
The scripture mentions many times, You are for the widow and the orphan, it doesn't say You are for the one in authority as much as the fear of the Lord, calling them to account. But You take up the cause of the weak, You hear the abuse, the neglect, the suffering is in Your ears and moves You.
To the merciful
He shows mercy
He shows Himself as Mercy
Mercy? is an interesting quality. It has such a depth of revelation in it's upwelling, often against previous thoughts or comments (as in one will change their mind,and chose to be merciful). Mercy will break through.
Mercy is such a holy thing
Bless God, who is so full of this beautiful grace.
Mercy can veto judgement. Judgement doesn't veto mercy. Therefore, Mercy has power over judgement, Mercy becomes the ultimate judgement.
My attitude should be the same as Jesus. "...Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God, (wife does not consider equality with husband) something to be grasped but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant..."
There is so much to taking the low place.
Do everything (even the shoveling snow, cleaning litter box, etc...) without complaining, or arguing, so I can (and am)...become blameless and pure children of God without fault, in a crooked and depraved generation, in which we shine like stars in the universe, as we hold out the word of life.
My low position offers me the opportunity to serve, whether perceived or not, to humble myself not as someone of less value, but in identification with My Lord.
Oh Father, some day I may be exalted by You and situated in that place You have for me, but I will wait for Your hand and word and voice to do this. In the meatime I am hidden in Jesus and in the disguise of a lowly "wife" and I choose to Not be afraid not to react when it is unfair and unseen and unrespected.
For I am my Lord's and He is mine. His banner of love sharply snaps in the winds of His own Spirit, flying over me, broadcasting throughout eternity. I revell in His love, Revell I tell you!!!!
There are times, when submission to foolishness, as in Abigail to Nabal, is a wrong, dangerous course. She chose wisdom, and mercy for her household and saved all their lives. Leaving god to deal with her husband. Jesus didn't submit to the religious authorities, all times either, He kept doing what His Father did, sometimes, in their face. This life we have, is meant to be lived, seeing You Father, and doing what we see You doing. In the case of Ananias and Sapphira, she wasn't saved by the "submission" clause. Her agreement with her husband in the lying to God, together, was the death of her along with him.
Mercy, is the high veto power of heaven, given to the merciful. Frankly, when it comes to justice and judgement in my own life, I LOVE HIS MERCY!!

Your Love is mine and it is forever! Hallelujah!...."