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turn or return for
here is life,
he is life,
not returned to life
for life from life's
source can never die,
in life's light
death cannot win,
darkness cannot
overcome,
sickness and sin
loose all power
to hold and bind,
the tide is turned,
and time
must loose its rule
and reign
for eternity has come,
heaven kisses earth
in healing love,
and all things
are possible
as creations recreation
is begun...
amidst earthquakes
and angels,
fear, fright,
and confusion,
oils with carefully selected
ointments and herbs
all thrown aside,
feet running,
questions churning,
hearts pounding,
tears blinding...
...
came one word
spoken softly,
he called my name...
....
my name,
and I fell to my knees...
...
risen, he was risen,
as he'd promised...
....
risen from death,
from death to life,
I knelt on holy ground,
and he had called my name...
+
hot tears,
salted with fear
and shame
coursed down his cheeks
burning his skin,
he had run to hide,
betrayal had
escaped his lips
and stabbed his
broken heart,
words failed,
excuses empty now
haunted his fitful sleep,
still
punctuated
by imaginations
worst
creations,
nails and whips,
thorns and deathly silence
filled his mind,
love was gone,
and he longed
and yearned for His
return...
Lord of compassion
and mercy, weaver of dreams,
releaser of grace
you play in the
unforced rhythms
of light and life,
take my brokeness
and make it a thing of beauty,
weave your story into my story,
you life into my life,
fill me and free me,
set my feet to dancing,
my soul to singing,
my heart to wonder
at the depth of your love,
may my voice be lifted
with your praise,
transform me in the very core
of my being,
that I might know above all things
that I am yours,
teach me to long for your ways,
your justice, mercy, compassion
healing, wholeness,
your Holy creativity loosed,
Lord of compassion
and mercy, weaver of dreams,
releaser of grace,
you have written me into your story,
my life
is yours,
lead me to your fullness I pray....
draw me to my knees
in awe and wonder,
then hold me tightly there
in your embrace
'til all else fades,
all desires recede,
save the desire for you,
more of you,
for there my healing flows,
turn my head,
capture my heart,
console and consume me,
infuse me with your Spirit,
then pour me out
until your fragrance fills the air
impregnating every pore
and crevice with a desire for more,
calling,
drawing,
yearning,
irresistible,
draw me to my knees
in awe and wonder
'til I am
hidden
safe in you...
I am hungry for more of God, and that hunger is a growing hunger, a hunger that is driving me to my knees. after I preached today I announced a hymn to follow, I got part way through the first verse when I knew I had simply to respond to God for myself. I turned and knelt at the communion rail and let the Spirit minister to me, I said nothing, I received a blessing that I cannot begin to explain. I am not leaping about with joy, I do not feel overwhelmed by peace but I know that I entered into prayer in a deep, deep way and that it has released something in me, something I want more of. I think that, that something is God, so I am letting him work, trying to be attentive to him within myself, and not striving to make something happen. To be honest all of this has come at a time that surprises me.
I am hungry, and this morning I responded to that hunger, to the prompting of the Spirit to respond, it took a moment, I thought twice, congregations are not used to seeing their Ministers turn away from them and kneel, but I had no other choice, if I had chosen differently I would have missed out.
So why am I blogging this? Well because I am challenged to share it, because I believe that God is calling his people to something deeper, something powerful and releasing, something wonderful if only we could lay aside our inhibitions and dare to respond. And it is a challenge to be vulnerable in that way, I did hesitate as I said, but I remembered the words of a wise missionary friend; "put God first always, He will do the rest..." Is it risky to be vulnerable with God before others, well yes, but surely that is/ should be where we all are. He WILL do the rest...
30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are
never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (Matthew 6)
20-21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. (Ephesians 3)
to choose love,
beyond hurt
and pain,
beyond guilt
or recrimination,
beyond vengeance,
beyond self defense,
here is healing,
it does not negate hurt
but it allows,
and looses loves true
forgiving power,
giving it
free reign
to work a miracle...
+
to choose love,
neither soft,
nor simple,
is to take
the harder road,
the road strewn with blood,
and thorns,
and nails,
pain-filled,
piercing,
penetrating,
provoking,
yet here there is healing
so I choose love,
the harder road...
I have entered the depths, and
you are here,
showing me your light,
O Lord
hear my prayer,
when the darkness
of despair
surrounds me,
the silence of the grave
threatens me,
show me your light,
sing me your song,
when I stumble and fall
take my hand,
lift me from this pit,
nurse me and nurture me,
comfort and console me,
bind my wounds
and mend my heart,
keep me safe
'til I am
strong again,
even then
do not leave me,
do not take your Spirit from me,
make my life shine
with glory
for you
+
What have you seen
that draws praise
so easily from
your lips today?
what have you heard?
Has he touched your
heart too?
Have you known
and do you know the wonders
of his love?
Is it enough to keep you close
even though he leads you to his cross?
Is there another
you could go to,
one you could turn to
whose peace would match
the peace that he gives?
Will you watch with him
this week,
will you enter his story afresh,
and walk with him along the way,
beyond the cheers and palms
to Gethsemane’s depths, with
blood filled sweat and tears,
and prayers where groans replace words
for the anguish
is too deep?
Will you come to the hill,
where surrendering to nails
and thorns,
beaten and bloodied he gives
his all for you?,
His invitation
is given;
walk with me,
and I will lead you
through death to life again….
it is a cycle
that bears repeating.
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