Come to Me just as you are. Let me enfold you in My compassionate embrace. I know the depth and breadth of your weariness. I see you from the inside out, as well as from the outside in. Nothing about you escapes My attention--or my tender concern. I offer you rest, My child, but in order to receive it you must stop for a time and simply wait with me. When you are physically tired, your mind easily succumbs to anxious thoughts. Then, although you body needs rest, the anxiety drives you harder than ever. This is hurtful and counterproductive.
Discipline yourself to stop whatever you are doing, and take time to fix your thoughts on Me. I provide rest not only for your mind and body but also for your soul. However, your body and soul cannot rest until your mind settles down. Take quiet, slow breaths while you focus your attention on Me. It can be helpful to say a simple prayer such as: "Jesus, fill me with Your Peace." Since My Peace surpasses all understanding, your mind will eventually relax in My Presence. You can unburden yourself by making your requests known to Me. This transfers your burdens to My strong shoulders. Remember to bring Me your requests with thanksgiving, for I delight in responding to thankful prayers. Moreover, your grateful attitude will bless you immeasurably--opening wide your heart to receive more and more of Me.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Matthew 11:28,29
"Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest who we confess."
Hebrews 3:1
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6,7
Jesus Lives, pg 266, 267 by Sarah Young
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
"Joy is a flame that glimmers only in the
palm of the open and humble hand. In an open and humble palm, released and
surrendered to receive, light dances, flickers happy. The moment the hand is
clenched tight, fingers all pointing toward self and rights and demands, joy is
snuffed out.....The demanding of my own will is the singular force that
smothers out joy--nothing else.
I had thought joy's flame needed
protecting....All these years, these angers, these hardenings, this desire to
control, I had thought I had to snap the hand closed to shield joy's fragile
flame from the blasts. In a storm of struggles, I had tried to control the
elements, clasp the fist tight so as to protect self and happiness. But palms
curled into protective fists fill with darkness.....
My own wild desire to protect my joy at all costs is
the exact force that kills my joy.
Flames need oxygen to light.
Flames need a bit of wind.
........there it is, the secret of joy's flame:
Humbly let go. Let go of trying
to do, let go of trying to control...let go of my own way, let go of my own
fears. Let God blow His wind, His trials, oxygen for Joy's fire. Leave the hand
open and be. Be at peace. Bend the knee and be small and let God give what God
chooses to give because He only gives love....."
One Thousand Gifts, A.Voskamp
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Heart Stuff
God's invitations ultimately are matters of the heart. They come through our passions, those desires set deep within us. What is it you yearn to see happen--how do you long for the world to be a better place? What makes you so angry you nearly see red? What brings you to tears?
You will find that as God restores your heart and sets you free, you will recover long-lost passions, long-forgotten dreams. You'll find yourself drawn to some vison for making the world a better place. Those emerging desires are invitations--not to rush out and attempt them immediately. That also is naive. They are invitations to bring your heart to your Lover and ask him to clarify, to deepen, to speak to you about how and when and with whom. We love Frederick Buechner's description when he writes, "The place that God calls us is that place where the world's deep hunger and our deep desire meet."
Captivating, Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul by John & Stasi Eldredge
You will find that as God restores your heart and sets you free, you will recover long-lost passions, long-forgotten dreams. You'll find yourself drawn to some vison for making the world a better place. Those emerging desires are invitations--not to rush out and attempt them immediately. That also is naive. They are invitations to bring your heart to your Lover and ask him to clarify, to deepen, to speak to you about how and when and with whom. We love Frederick Buechner's description when he writes, "The place that God calls us is that place where the world's deep hunger and our deep desire meet."
Captivating, Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul by John & Stasi Eldredge
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
April 6:
"Bring me the sacrifice of thansgiving. Take nothing for granted, not even the rising of th sun. Before Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, thankfulness was as natural as breathing. Satan's temptation involved pointing Eve to the one thing that was forbidden her. The garden was filled with luscious, desirable fruits, but Eve focused on the one fruit she couldn't have rather than being thankful for the many good things freely available. This negative focus darkened her mind, and she succumbed to temptation.
When you focus on what you don't have or on situations that displease you, your mind also becomes darkened. You take for granted life, salvation, sunshine, flowers, and countless other gifts from Me. You look for what is wrong and refuse to enjoy life until that is "fixed."
When you approach Me with thanksigiving, the Light of My Presence pours into you, transforming you through and through. Walk in the Light with Me by practicing the discipline of thanksgiving."
Psalm 116:17; Genesis 3:2-6; I John 1:7
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, pg. 101
May 11:
"Thank Me for your problems. As soon as your mind gets snagged on a difficulty, bring it to Me with thanksgiving. Then ask Me to show you My way to handle the situation. The very act of thanking Me releases your mind from its negative focus. As you turn your attention to Me, the problem fades in significance and loses its power to trip you up. Together we can deal with the situation, either facing it head-on or putting it aside for later consideration.
Most of the situations that entangle your mind are not today's concerns; you have borrowed them from tomorrow. In this case, I lift the problem out of today and deposit it in the future, where it is veiled from your eyes. In its place I give you My Peace, which flows freely from My Presence."
Phil. 4:6; John 14:27
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, pg 138
May 17:
"As you sit quietly in My Presence, remember that I am a God of abundance. I will never run out of resources; My capacity to bless you in unlimited. You live ina world of supply and deman, where necessary things are often scarce. Even if you personally have enough, you see poverty in the world around you. It is impossible for you to comprehend the lavishness of My provisions: the fullness of My glorious riches.
Through spending time in My Presence, you gain glimpses of My overflowing vastness. These glimpses are tiny foretastes of what you will experience eternally in heaven. Even now you have access to as much of Me as you have faith to receive. Rejoice in My abundance; walk by faith, not by sight."
Phil. 4:19; 2Cor. 5:7
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, pg 144
Look up the verses and read them--I like reading them from the Clear Word Version as well as King James--Clear word is using present language and KJV is what I used as a child and memorized from. Comparing versions will bring deeper meaning out of the texts for me sometimes too.
"Bring me the sacrifice of thansgiving. Take nothing for granted, not even the rising of th sun. Before Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, thankfulness was as natural as breathing. Satan's temptation involved pointing Eve to the one thing that was forbidden her. The garden was filled with luscious, desirable fruits, but Eve focused on the one fruit she couldn't have rather than being thankful for the many good things freely available. This negative focus darkened her mind, and she succumbed to temptation.
When you focus on what you don't have or on situations that displease you, your mind also becomes darkened. You take for granted life, salvation, sunshine, flowers, and countless other gifts from Me. You look for what is wrong and refuse to enjoy life until that is "fixed."
When you approach Me with thanksigiving, the Light of My Presence pours into you, transforming you through and through. Walk in the Light with Me by practicing the discipline of thanksgiving."
Psalm 116:17; Genesis 3:2-6; I John 1:7
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, pg. 101
May 11:
"Thank Me for your problems. As soon as your mind gets snagged on a difficulty, bring it to Me with thanksgiving. Then ask Me to show you My way to handle the situation. The very act of thanking Me releases your mind from its negative focus. As you turn your attention to Me, the problem fades in significance and loses its power to trip you up. Together we can deal with the situation, either facing it head-on or putting it aside for later consideration.
Most of the situations that entangle your mind are not today's concerns; you have borrowed them from tomorrow. In this case, I lift the problem out of today and deposit it in the future, where it is veiled from your eyes. In its place I give you My Peace, which flows freely from My Presence."
Phil. 4:6; John 14:27
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, pg 138
May 17:
"As you sit quietly in My Presence, remember that I am a God of abundance. I will never run out of resources; My capacity to bless you in unlimited. You live ina world of supply and deman, where necessary things are often scarce. Even if you personally have enough, you see poverty in the world around you. It is impossible for you to comprehend the lavishness of My provisions: the fullness of My glorious riches.
Through spending time in My Presence, you gain glimpses of My overflowing vastness. These glimpses are tiny foretastes of what you will experience eternally in heaven. Even now you have access to as much of Me as you have faith to receive. Rejoice in My abundance; walk by faith, not by sight."
Phil. 4:19; 2Cor. 5:7
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, pg 144
Look up the verses and read them--I like reading them from the Clear Word Version as well as King James--Clear word is using present language and KJV is what I used as a child and memorized from. Comparing versions will bring deeper meaning out of the texts for me sometimes too.
Favorite verses
I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. Phil 4:13
But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19
If you abide in Me, an My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:4
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6, 7
You have shown me the pathway to life. In Your Presence is fullness of joy, and at your right hand are pleasures forever! Psalm 16:11 Clear Word
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes and the mountains slide into the sea, though oceans roar and their waves foam, or the mountains sway in the bottom of the sea..... Psalm 46:1-3 Clear Word
...Be still and know that I am God. My Name will be exalted among nations, and I will assume my place as King" The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our REFUGE." Psalm 46:10, 11
Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are hid in Christ by faith. For the Holy Spirit has given me a new life in Christ and has freed me from the controlling power of my sinful nature which always stands ready to put me back on the road to death.... Romans 8:1,2 Clear Word
Obeying our sinful selves brings death, but obeying the things of the Spirit brings life and peace." Rom. 8:6
So don't be afraid. I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will hold you up with the right hand of my righteousness... Isaiah 41:10
But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19
If you abide in Me, an My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:4
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6, 7
You have shown me the pathway to life. In Your Presence is fullness of joy, and at your right hand are pleasures forever! Psalm 16:11 Clear Word
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes and the mountains slide into the sea, though oceans roar and their waves foam, or the mountains sway in the bottom of the sea..... Psalm 46:1-3 Clear Word
...Be still and know that I am God. My Name will be exalted among nations, and I will assume my place as King" The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our REFUGE." Psalm 46:10, 11
Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are hid in Christ by faith. For the Holy Spirit has given me a new life in Christ and has freed me from the controlling power of my sinful nature which always stands ready to put me back on the road to death.... Romans 8:1,2 Clear Word
Obeying our sinful selves brings death, but obeying the things of the Spirit brings life and peace." Rom. 8:6
So don't be afraid. I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will hold you up with the right hand of my righteousness... Isaiah 41:10
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
From Finding True Love by Daphne Rose Kingma
Surrender is a beautiful movement in which you gracefully, willingly, languidly fall, only to find midway that you've been gathered in to some unimaginable embrace. Surrender is letting go, whether or not you believe the embrace will occur. It's trust to the hundredth power--not sticking to your idea of the outcome, but letting go in the faith that even the absence of an outcome will be the perfect solution.
Surrender is diaphanous and fluid. It's the giving up of rigidity of every kind; rigidities of the mind that design outcomes to occur in very specific ways; rigidities of the heart that refuse the heart to be soft and open; rigidities of the body that refuse to receive the touch that could heal, the passion that could transform; rigidities of the soul that congeal and congest the spirit, causing it to imagine it has a life apart from the body and mind.
Surrender is meltdown of every rigidity we've ever been committed to, the conscious and unconscious dismantling of how we thought things should be to make way for the way things will, in fact, occur. It's a kind of being surprised by joy, of happily swimming in to the greater consciousness that's always operating on our own behalf. Just as a child, learning to swim, discovers, amazed that the water does hold him up, so surrender buoys us up, supports us for the fulfillment of our destinies.
Surrender requires purity of intention. In the absolute freedom it grants in response to our letting go, it requires an absolute commitment of holding on to nothing. Whatever you thought you had--the idea, the expectation, the plan, the hope of how things should be--you must let go of it fully. Surrender is stepping away from the certainty of your categories into the no-man's land of all possibilities.
And it is in surrendering, in letting go into the void--into the mysterious, unnamed, mystical, formless future, into the arms that are invisible --that we become finally ready to receive it all. Surrender is the giving of your all to the All; the waiting with an absolute absence of expectation for the totally perfect thing to occur.
--Daphne Rose Kingma
Surrender is a beautiful movement in which you gracefully, willingly, languidly fall, only to find midway that you've been gathered in to some unimaginable embrace. Surrender is letting go, whether or not you believe the embrace will occur. It's trust to the hundredth power--not sticking to your idea of the outcome, but letting go in the faith that even the absence of an outcome will be the perfect solution.
Surrender is diaphanous and fluid. It's the giving up of rigidity of every kind; rigidities of the mind that design outcomes to occur in very specific ways; rigidities of the heart that refuse the heart to be soft and open; rigidities of the body that refuse to receive the touch that could heal, the passion that could transform; rigidities of the soul that congeal and congest the spirit, causing it to imagine it has a life apart from the body and mind.
Surrender is meltdown of every rigidity we've ever been committed to, the conscious and unconscious dismantling of how we thought things should be to make way for the way things will, in fact, occur. It's a kind of being surprised by joy, of happily swimming in to the greater consciousness that's always operating on our own behalf. Just as a child, learning to swim, discovers, amazed that the water does hold him up, so surrender buoys us up, supports us for the fulfillment of our destinies.
Surrender requires purity of intention. In the absolute freedom it grants in response to our letting go, it requires an absolute commitment of holding on to nothing. Whatever you thought you had--the idea, the expectation, the plan, the hope of how things should be--you must let go of it fully. Surrender is stepping away from the certainty of your categories into the no-man's land of all possibilities.
And it is in surrendering, in letting go into the void--into the mysterious, unnamed, mystical, formless future, into the arms that are invisible --that we become finally ready to receive it all. Surrender is the giving of your all to the All; the waiting with an absolute absence of expectation for the totally perfect thing to occur.
--Daphne Rose Kingma
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
