Author Archives: Denise

Five Minute Friday – Write

10 Replies

 

7

I want to write.  I want my voice to mean something – something more than the words in my head; something more than the words in my heart. 

I want to write.  I want words to fall like tears to the page – sweet, salty – full of emotion.

I want to write.  I want to give voice to that which has none.

I want to write.  I want to put words to the beauty that I see; the beauty that I live – even when it is hard to recognize – to find value.  Words do that don’t they?  Give value to the hidden.

I want to write.  It is more than a want…it is a need.  Because when my words fall short of the page – my heart remains hidden.  

Words uncover me.

 

Five Minute Friday
I hope that it is not wrong joining this party a day late…I just couldn’t stay away!

Faith Walking

Leave a reply

evergreen path

Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of Your universe…Each day enrapture me with Your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share
in the wonder of it all.
Abraham Joshua Heschel

I want to be a faith-walker. I want to be one who does not muddle a life journey with the need to know. I want to be one who steps out in faith into the great unknown desiring only to share in the wonder and glory of the God who created it all.

  • Like Noah, who built an ark when it wasn’t raining. Like Abraham, who went even though he didn’t know where he was going.
  • Like David, who as a child killed the giant warrior with a stone and a sling while the armies watched.
  • Like Esther, who approached the king not knowing if he would receive her or kill her.
  • Like Isaiah, who saw the Lord seated on His throne; felt his unworthiness and with touch of God’s glory eagerly offered to be sent by the Lord as a prophet.
  • Like the disciples, who left their nets and their lives to follow the One who called to them.
  • Like Stephen, who spoke boldly for the Lord and was stoned for it – in his dying moment he prayed for those who threw the stones.
  • Like Saul,who became Paul after a meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus. His life was never the same.

A faith walker doesn’t ask why. With faith, there is that unknown factor. If you can see, you can touch it and you know why it is there – do you really need faith?

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

I am not a faith walker or at least not one with great consistency.  My “why’s” are often like the “why’s” of a toddler, incessant. Is the need to know really important?If knowing the “why’s” doesn’t change the circumstance then the knowing isn’t important.  Faith, however, is essential. Often, the situation remains unchanged but it is faith that causes a transformation. Not in the circumstance but in the heart.

My “why’s” should be my “why not’s” in Christ.

Why not believe in the God who created my inmost being and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Why not believe in the God who has created and ordained the days before even one came into being. Why not believe in the God who gave of His very own save me.  Why not trust my yesterday, today and tomorrow to the God who planned for me, created me, saved me, knows me and sustains me.

Faith goes up the stairs that love has made and looks out the window which hope has opened.

Charles H. Spurgeon
(This is a repost from my earlier blog with a few minor edits – there are always room for edits.)

Linger Long…

1 Reply

IMG_3466

Linger long, my friends, in the present moment.  Don’t miss out on the blessings of a hug, a kiss or even a simple conversation.   This life is too short – our breath too fleeting – to miss the grace and beauty of our now.  Don’t worry about tomorrow’s plans.  They only distract you from the gift of today.

Tomorrow is not here nor is it promised. 

Inhale today…yes, even when it is hard to breathe…like yesterday when the heaviness was so thick and palpable.  Death and pain wielded their striking blows…2 killed in a motorcycle accident; 13 dead at the Navy Yard; 1 helicopter landing in the parking lot for yet another accident.  No answers to why but truth be told – the whys really don’t matter.  It doesn’t change what has become the “new” now. 

This – our “new” present – may have begun with tears but while we still breathe this earthly air  we can’t miss the grace and truth that remains in our agony. 

 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Deuteronomy 31:8

When anger for answers seeks to steal your breath – fight all the harder to inhale the Truth that He was here even before you were and He is here with you now.

When loneliness creeps in to steal your joy – praise all the louder that He will never leave you or forsake

When fear tries to paralyze you – move ahead in the strength only He can give. 

Father God, move the heavens for those who are hurting.  Shine your grace, your love and your comfort on the hearts of those who have lost so much – move back the darkness of the enemy that seeks cover this world in its grip.  Oh God, our hearts grieve with those who will never have another moment to hold that one who went to work and never came home.  Rise up people in their lives who will speak your Truth – bring your comfort into this situation.  Overwhelm them with your love.  May they find the strength to praise you in the midst of their pain.  May they hunger for your presence and seek you with their whole being.  Thank you Lord… that even when we cannot feel you or see you – Your Presence remains…faithful forever.  In Jesus name, I pray.  Amen.

 

This Present Moment

1 Reply

IMG_3165

As I was reading this morning, this quote jumped off the page:

“All we need to know is how to recognize His will in this present moment.” (Jean-Pierre de Caussade).

What echoed in my heart and soul was how much of “this present moment” we miss (I miss).

Our now is so easily lost by our need to fill space and heart with the wanting and the wasted. We hunger for things to come and miss what is right in front of us. We worry about how things appear to others we forget to live the truth as it really is.

Distraction is a fine tool of our enemy. For when our focus is removed from what is at hand, we miss the opportunity to hold the present grace that resides within our reach. Instead, we struggle to snatch at the empty air trying to grab things that are not meant for now and in truth, may never be ours to hold.

Today my prayer is…

May what God ordains for this present moment be the only thing I want or hold.

The Morning Fog

2 Replies

IMG02

This morning the fog falls heavy and deep.  It masks the beauty just behind its veil.  Still, in its haze I hear a beckon to come – to enter in and seek what is hidden beyond my sight.

Some have wondered where I have been.  This place so quiet and empty for so long.  I am grateful that you have not forgotten me in my silence. I have been caught in my own fog of a major life change.  Stuck in a season of unknowing.  Having to learn new roles has overwhelmed me to distraction.

Yet, as the morning fog beckons so does this little space of mine.

I pray that my words will be uncovered.  They have veiled too long in the haze of distraction.  So I enter in to take hold of what has been hiding just outside the grasp of my heart.

This new season needed a new face.  I hope you like its bright, new appearance.  It is still a work in progress – yet in this life, most everything is, right?!