"The battles God calls us to, the woundings and cripplings of soul and body we all receive, cannot simply be ascribed to our sin and foolishness, or even to the sin and foolishness of others. When Jesus and the disciples were on the road one day, they came upon a man who had been blind since birth. "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents?" they asked him. "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." And with that, Jesus spat on the ground, made some mud to place on the man's eyes, and healed him (John 9: 1-7).
Many of us who are reading these words have not yet received God's healing. The display of God's works through our wounds, losses, and sufferings is yet to be revealed. And so, we groan and we wonder."
Brent Curtis-The Sacred Romance
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
A prayer for marriage
Repentance to bring blessing...
"Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: 'Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount warhorses. We will never again say "Our gods" to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion." (Father, I pray that the hearts of the married will return to you. That you would forgive us our sins towards you and to each other. That you would look upon our fatherlessness and administer compassion).
I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. (Father, love us freely. Unshroud us in our pain, shame, self-pity, and self-hatred. Bring us life that will blossom and shoot up! Grow our roots that we will be centered and grounded deep in you).
People will dwell again in his shade; they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like the vine-Israel's fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.
Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a flourishing juniper; your fruitfulness comes from me." (God, that we may cast away our idols, and cling to only you. That through your cross we may taste our fruit, and experience the sweetness and joy of it!)
Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. (God, grant us depth of understanding and insight into your word, that it may guard our hearts, our marriages and our lives. In Jesus name! Cover us!!!)
Hosea 14
"Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: 'Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount warhorses. We will never again say "Our gods" to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion." (Father, I pray that the hearts of the married will return to you. That you would forgive us our sins towards you and to each other. That you would look upon our fatherlessness and administer compassion).
I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. (Father, love us freely. Unshroud us in our pain, shame, self-pity, and self-hatred. Bring us life that will blossom and shoot up! Grow our roots that we will be centered and grounded deep in you).
People will dwell again in his shade; they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like the vine-Israel's fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.
Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a flourishing juniper; your fruitfulness comes from me." (God, that we may cast away our idols, and cling to only you. That through your cross we may taste our fruit, and experience the sweetness and joy of it!)
Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. (God, grant us depth of understanding and insight into your word, that it may guard our hearts, our marriages and our lives. In Jesus name! Cover us!!!)
Hosea 14
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
A Fuller Life
" It is the branch that bears the fruit,
that feels the knife
To prune it for a larger growth,
A fuller life.
Though every budding twig be lopped,
And every grace
Of swaying tendril, springing lead,
be lost a space,
O thou whose life of joy seems reft,
Of beauty shorn;
Whose aspirations like in dust,
All bruised and torn,
Rejoice, tho' each desire, each dream,
Each hope of thine
Shall fall and fade, it is the hand
Of Love Divine
That holds the knife, that cuts and breaks
with tenderest touch,
that thou, whose life has borne some fruit
May'st now bear much."--Annie Johnson Flint
that feels the knife
To prune it for a larger growth,
A fuller life.
Though every budding twig be lopped,
And every grace
Of swaying tendril, springing lead,
be lost a space,
O thou whose life of joy seems reft,
Of beauty shorn;
Whose aspirations like in dust,
All bruised and torn,
Rejoice, tho' each desire, each dream,
Each hope of thine
Shall fall and fade, it is the hand
Of Love Divine
That holds the knife, that cuts and breaks
with tenderest touch,
that thou, whose life has borne some fruit
May'st now bear much."--Annie Johnson Flint
Monday, June 14, 2010
Life is for learning Agape Love!
Agape love never fails!
Though there be wealth, it shall rust and decay.
Though there be fame, it shall sink into oblivion.
Though there be political power and supremacy,
it shall burst like a bubble.
Though there be military might, it shall crumble.
Though there be tongues of eloquence, they shall be stilled.
Though there be beauty of face and form, it shall fade.
But love is forever.
Where hoary time shall be no more,
When earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When the Ancient of Days is set upon His Judgment Seat,
When angel harps are stilled and heaven's silence
fills the universe,
Love will still be young.
When the last plane has made its flight,
The last satellite circled the globe,
The last rocket has been launched;
When the debris of the melting cosmos
has been swept afar
by the fiery tempest of God's wrath;
When the new heaven and earth leap from
the matrix of the ages-
Love will still be in its infancy.
It will never grow old, never fade, never decay.
It is life's superlative goal.
It is divine.
Therefore, make love your aim! -Anonymous
(Don't Waste Your Sorrows, Paul Billheimer)
Though there be wealth, it shall rust and decay.
Though there be fame, it shall sink into oblivion.
Though there be political power and supremacy,
it shall burst like a bubble.
Though there be military might, it shall crumble.
Though there be tongues of eloquence, they shall be stilled.
Though there be beauty of face and form, it shall fade.
But love is forever.
Where hoary time shall be no more,
When earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When the Ancient of Days is set upon His Judgment Seat,
When angel harps are stilled and heaven's silence
fills the universe,
Love will still be young.
When the last plane has made its flight,
The last satellite circled the globe,
The last rocket has been launched;
When the debris of the melting cosmos
has been swept afar
by the fiery tempest of God's wrath;
When the new heaven and earth leap from
the matrix of the ages-
Love will still be in its infancy.
It will never grow old, never fade, never decay.
It is life's superlative goal.
It is divine.
Therefore, make love your aim! -Anonymous
(Don't Waste Your Sorrows, Paul Billheimer)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Today I walked
Today I walked and what did I see?
Monuments of war,
remnants of countries,
broken cities,
reminders of children
and American tragedies.
Chapels of grace and freedom,
purple magnificent flowers,
overcast shadows, and
people of all faces.
I'm noticing. I'm reflecting. I'm praying. I'm leading. I'm certain that you are here and in the midst of all of these little ones. These cloaked and tattered fences, I climb and stand amazed by your tearing down of defenses by a simple act of love. Street love, just showing up and having a conversation.
Monuments of war,
remnants of countries,
broken cities,
reminders of children
and American tragedies.
Chapels of grace and freedom,
purple magnificent flowers,
overcast shadows, and
people of all faces.
I'm noticing. I'm reflecting. I'm praying. I'm leading. I'm certain that you are here and in the midst of all of these little ones. These cloaked and tattered fences, I climb and stand amazed by your tearing down of defenses by a simple act of love. Street love, just showing up and having a conversation.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Contemplation & Community
"Thus, contemplation is not simply about God and me. It is also about God and the community of faith of which I am a part. It follows, then, that community is not simply about serving, it is also about prayer. Community is not only about connection, it is also about withdrawal. It is not only about doing, but also about interceding.
Healthy community is not only about externalization but also about internalization. It is as much about the inner life as it is about relationships and seeking to serve the wider society."
(The Seeking Heart, Charles R. Ringma)
Healthy community is not only about externalization but also about internalization. It is as much about the inner life as it is about relationships and seeking to serve the wider society."
(The Seeking Heart, Charles R. Ringma)
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Broken Violin
"In that day I will restore David's fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be." Amos 9:10-12
"The principle, value, and use of brokenness even in this present order of things is illustrated by J.R. Miller in one of his books. He tells of a world-famous violinist who hired the services of the most renowned violin maker of his day. At t he time appointed, the violinist returned to take delivery of the instrument he had authorized. Taking it in his hands, he skillfully drew the bow across the strings. Great disappointment swept over his face. The quality of tone did not satisfy his artistic ear. Raising the violin over his head, he smashed it to pieces on the table, paid the agreed price, and left.
After a period of time the artist again visited the violin maker. Picking up a violin that was lying on the table, once again he drew the bow across the strings. This time he was charmed by the ravishing beauty of the tone. With astonishment he learned that this was the same violin he had broken to bits. The violin maker had painstakingly gathered up the pieces of the shattered instrument and, skillfully assembling them, had made again the broken violin. Now the beauty and brilliance of its tone met the exacting demand of the artist's ear." (Don't Waste your Sorrows, Paul E. Billheimer).
The violin may not look the same, but the music it plays is all the sweeter. Thus, is the gift of brokenness.
"The principle, value, and use of brokenness even in this present order of things is illustrated by J.R. Miller in one of his books. He tells of a world-famous violinist who hired the services of the most renowned violin maker of his day. At t he time appointed, the violinist returned to take delivery of the instrument he had authorized. Taking it in his hands, he skillfully drew the bow across the strings. Great disappointment swept over his face. The quality of tone did not satisfy his artistic ear. Raising the violin over his head, he smashed it to pieces on the table, paid the agreed price, and left.
After a period of time the artist again visited the violin maker. Picking up a violin that was lying on the table, once again he drew the bow across the strings. This time he was charmed by the ravishing beauty of the tone. With astonishment he learned that this was the same violin he had broken to bits. The violin maker had painstakingly gathered up the pieces of the shattered instrument and, skillfully assembling them, had made again the broken violin. Now the beauty and brilliance of its tone met the exacting demand of the artist's ear." (Don't Waste your Sorrows, Paul E. Billheimer).
The violin may not look the same, but the music it plays is all the sweeter. Thus, is the gift of brokenness.
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