Hide me from my jackals,
mockers, ragers all
Fore and hindsight plateaus high
your dear one not to fall
Quiet the cacophony of calumny
Usher in dreams of peace
From treasured deep words of power
Your voice my sweet release
-mh
Nov, '13
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Why I Hate Prayer. A Modern Psalm.
I like playing on my computers, listening to music, driving – I never find a problem with doing any of these things, regardless of what is going on around me. And eat, I really like to eat. I like to do things that are taboo. I truly dislike manual labor, traffic jams. And I hate to pray because I will hear from or see God.
Things we hate, we avoid them like the plague. If we must do them, we will put them off, find ways to lessen the impact, and minimize our exposure.
This list is oversimplistic because I only bought the view of one nature to bear – my natural man. Being born again, I have a second nature, the spirit man; I am in Christ because of what Christ has done for me, and in that, my spirit man is very much alive.
There is an Epic, Age Old War going on in here.
My spirit man loves to pray, loves to hear from God – in all of His myriad fashions and ways of speaking to me. Whether I’m hearing from Him, reading along with Him in His Word, gazing at the powerful wonders of nature – the orderly changing of seasons, the sounds of birds praising Him, the majestic unstoppable power of the storm – these things speak to my heart of GOD, allowing me to experience Him in 5.1 surround sound. If I just turn my heart heavenward, my soul begins to fill up with the understanding that He Is Here, right Here, with me.
I guess that’s what makes sin so regrettable, no - so evil. My petty, tyrant-like wants and lusts obscure the view of my God, and they use me to break our fellowship. And the morning comes, and the whispers of heaven begin to descend upon me, and I realize what I’ve done. A night without Him is too long.
Part 2: A Plea
Mercies come fresh, daily, but what about my nights? I loathe my nights, I hate them. Come Lord, oh, come Holy Spirit. A night without you is too long.
Oh God, help me to cherish our days and our nights together – those nights of turmoil, of noisome waves, of billows rolling over my soul like dark storm clouds shielding an army of angst and blackest passions. Be thou my Christ, even then… especially then. I need you, oh, how I need you.
Help me, Holy Spirit, to surrender those voices of my heart to you that stumble out of their bed with the rising of evening’s shadows. Banish the phantoms of twilight with the power of your presence. Teach me to stay within the halls of peace, inside the gates of praise, when the long shadows call. Teach my feet not to stray from your presence.
For who will protect me if I should wander from the fold? Who will keep me if I should quietly slip into the shadows? Who will help me?
Teach me to desire your presence more than the beating of my heart, the food I eat, the breath I breathe. Only there will I know peace.
Things we hate, we avoid them like the plague. If we must do them, we will put them off, find ways to lessen the impact, and minimize our exposure.
This list is oversimplistic because I only bought the view of one nature to bear – my natural man. Being born again, I have a second nature, the spirit man; I am in Christ because of what Christ has done for me, and in that, my spirit man is very much alive.
There is an Epic, Age Old War going on in here.
My spirit man loves to pray, loves to hear from God – in all of His myriad fashions and ways of speaking to me. Whether I’m hearing from Him, reading along with Him in His Word, gazing at the powerful wonders of nature – the orderly changing of seasons, the sounds of birds praising Him, the majestic unstoppable power of the storm – these things speak to my heart of GOD, allowing me to experience Him in 5.1 surround sound. If I just turn my heart heavenward, my soul begins to fill up with the understanding that He Is Here, right Here, with me.
I guess that’s what makes sin so regrettable, no - so evil. My petty, tyrant-like wants and lusts obscure the view of my God, and they use me to break our fellowship. And the morning comes, and the whispers of heaven begin to descend upon me, and I realize what I’ve done. A night without Him is too long.
Part 2: A Plea
Mercies come fresh, daily, but what about my nights? I loathe my nights, I hate them. Come Lord, oh, come Holy Spirit. A night without you is too long.
Oh God, help me to cherish our days and our nights together – those nights of turmoil, of noisome waves, of billows rolling over my soul like dark storm clouds shielding an army of angst and blackest passions. Be thou my Christ, even then… especially then. I need you, oh, how I need you.
Help me, Holy Spirit, to surrender those voices of my heart to you that stumble out of their bed with the rising of evening’s shadows. Banish the phantoms of twilight with the power of your presence. Teach me to stay within the halls of peace, inside the gates of praise, when the long shadows call. Teach my feet not to stray from your presence.
For who will protect me if I should wander from the fold? Who will keep me if I should quietly slip into the shadows? Who will help me?
Teach me to desire your presence more than the beating of my heart, the food I eat, the breath I breathe. Only there will I know peace.
Monday, June 15, 2015
A Curious Love
Are we quietly, lovingly, curious about why our neighbors are acting strangely/outside of the established norms? No one goes to the water wells at noon, except outcasts, vagrants, ne'er do wells... The obvious question isn't always the right approach, nor will it yield the correct results.
'Jesus acknowledged the Samaritan woman's short-comings and ministered to her and her community without condemning her. "The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true." John 4:18' (-Vern N.)
This is an important section of scripture, one we as Christians must master in order to reach the world with impact. The approach is seen earlier in the story (vss. 4-8) when He arrives at Jacob's well near noon. A woman approaches the well during the hottest time of day. Perhaps Jesus, with loving curiosity, asked within Himself why she was here at this time...
Breaking with protocol (Jewish man speaking to Samaritan woman), Jesus stated a fact revealed by the Holy Spirit without a condescending or judgmental attitude, and in doing so, made way for the truth.
As Christians, God will allow us in our various conditions to come across an opportunity to speak for Him. We may even have to break protocol/social convention, but if we keep ourselves out of the way, and open ourselves to a state of Spirit-led loving curiosity, expectantly asking within ourselves questions only God can answer, He will share with us fantastic things for His glory.
When we share the truth which God reveals with His love and wisdom, people will be set free and seek the Source. 'The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty..." '(Joh 4:15 NET.)
Thanks to Vern Nicholson who stirred up this line of thought by providing the quote above.
'Jesus acknowledged the Samaritan woman's short-comings and ministered to her and her community without condemning her. "The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true." John 4:18' (-Vern N.)
This is an important section of scripture, one we as Christians must master in order to reach the world with impact. The approach is seen earlier in the story (vss. 4-8) when He arrives at Jacob's well near noon. A woman approaches the well during the hottest time of day. Perhaps Jesus, with loving curiosity, asked within Himself why she was here at this time...
Breaking with protocol (Jewish man speaking to Samaritan woman), Jesus stated a fact revealed by the Holy Spirit without a condescending or judgmental attitude, and in doing so, made way for the truth.
As Christians, God will allow us in our various conditions to come across an opportunity to speak for Him. We may even have to break protocol/social convention, but if we keep ourselves out of the way, and open ourselves to a state of Spirit-led loving curiosity, expectantly asking within ourselves questions only God can answer, He will share with us fantastic things for His glory.
When we share the truth which God reveals with His love and wisdom, people will be set free and seek the Source. 'The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty..." '(Joh 4:15 NET.)
Thanks to Vern Nicholson who stirred up this line of thought by providing the quote above.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
A Willing Heart Listens Carefully
What is my purpose, my call in life?
God speaks to us. Dreams. Visions. Nature. A sermon. A conversation. A willing heart listens carefully. A hungry heart hears, closely, even the gentlest of voices... If we're passionate, pursuant, and protective of these little things, it settles within us and becomes a clearly understood message of hope and purpose.
We not only have a purpose , but a special purpose that He created us to fulfill.
...the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance." ...The LORD took [Abram] outside and said, "Gaze into the sky and count the stars — if you are able to count them!" Then he said to him, "So will your descendants be." -Gen 15:1,5 NET.
My eyes were opened to the point above while watching Joyce Meyer's "The Anchor of Hope": "...The Lord took him outside..."
Outside can be to a conference, a rarely frequented place, the immersion of worship, or even a dream. On these occasions that I allow God to take me Outside, He shows me an incredible glimpse. A reminder. And I remember that I serve the God of the Universe, and there's nothing too hard for Him. I can trust Him with the dreams He's given me to fulfill.
We not only have a purpose , but a special purpose that He created us to fulfill.
...the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance." ...The LORD took [Abram] outside and said, "Gaze into the sky and count the stars — if you are able to count them!" Then he said to him, "So will your descendants be." -Gen 15:1,5 NET.
Despite the universe spanning wonder which God created for us to gaze at and delve into as a reminder of his purposefully creative power, we become distracted from remembering and pursuing. So He takes us away from the familiar surroundings and the constant distractions. He takes us Outside.
God takes us Outside to remind us of what He's placed inside. And the world will see what is inside as we do our part in fulfilling our purpose. You are the bridge from dream to reality, from vision to life.
'For I know what I have planned for you,' says the LORD. 'I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.' -Jer 29:11 NET.
Updated May 12, 2015.
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