Category Archives: God

Hurricane Isaac and the Shopping Cart Shuffle…

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Hurricane Watch notifications awaken us this morning. Residents of the Gulf Coast….Be prepared, Isaac has his eye on you.

image via AccuWeather.com

 

 Two to three days away people go into automatic hurricane pilot mode. Response team trailers and electric company bucket trucks from neighboring states beginning to arrive, parked in hotel lots.

image via davegerry.wordpress.com

Walmart  filled with those looking to beat the crowds.  Water, sandwich stuff, bread, charcoal, drinks, paper products, matches, batteries, tarps, oh yes a new rake –check, check check. Beer for the hubby? That will have to wait until after 1pm – the blue laws !

 In the busy-ness of the shopping cart shuffle thoughts turn to Jesus rebuking the storm…turning the anxiousness of the apostles into peace. As I so easily pick up supplies, prayers are lifted up for our brothers and sisters in Haiti and Cuba who have already borne the brunt of Isaac.

image via en.wikipedia.org

Prayers are lifted up for all those whose hearts are still broken from the devestation of Katrina…lives forever changed… the impact of these emotions a deja-vu as Isaac aims for the Gulf Coast, expected to strike on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Grocery store intercession…the power of prayer in the midst of the shuffle.

Here where Southern hospitality reigns neighbors and friends are checking on neighbors and friends in a “what can I do to help you prepare?” kind of way. But we are NOT putting out the welcome mat for you Isaac! Our windows will be shuttered and we will all be inside..

image via blog.nolo.com

Worshippers gathering in Churches this Sunday all over the Gulf Coast will be lifting up fervent prayers…interceding for those already affected…believing in miracles….and thanking God for His presence with us.

Please join us in prayer.

Abundant blessings to you this Sunday, From the Heart of J

To..Be…Continued…

Bus Stop Living?…

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image via rotepix.com

Waiting at the bus stop?…

Ipod tuned up high to the “when I do…then I’ll be…”  “if only I was….then I could…”etc, etc, etc?

Tinted sunglasses obscuring the vision of the “here and now”?

Will grown soft in the sitting and the waiting?

Bus Stop Living.

Friend, your daily ride just passed you by…the bus of the present blessings that make up the adventure of today.

image via iamlikeatree.blogspot.com

It’s not too late to catch it…

Celebrate the present moment.  Savor its gifts hidden within. Live this day’s treasures in gratitude to the giver of all good gifts!

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Ps 118:24

Through the Lens…

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image via fromtheheartofj

I used to think the dark was very dark…until I learned that in the dark was light…sometimes beginning only like a shadow – other times as a little spark far off in the distance.  Yes, there is light in the dark and I think more often than not we are walking in that little glimmer of light in the dark…more often than walking in the light, void of the dark.  I used to think I walked in clarity….with “sometimes episodes” of blurry, but came to understand that mostly I walk in blurry, but in the clarity within the blurry.  Life is a paradox.  We live in mystery.  We live in faith.

“At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face.  At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.” 1 Co 13:12

The Servant Song…

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The Servant Song

image via huffingtonpost.com

Will you let me be your servant? Let me be as Christ to you;

Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.

image via footage.shutterstock.com

 We are pilgrims on a journey.  We are trav’lers on the road.

We are here to help each other.  Walk the mile and bear the load.

image via guardian.co.uk

 I will hold the Christlight for you in the night-time of your fear;

I will hold my hand out to you.  Speak the peace you long to hear.

image via spanishdict.com

 I will weep when you are weeping; When you laugh I’ll laugh with you.

I will share your joy and sorrow til we’ve seen this journey through.

image via ellelyzette.blogspot.com

 When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony,

Born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony.

(text and tune by Richard Gilliard 1977)

Was deeply touched as we sang this song “in harmony” today at Church. May it bless you as well.

“so that we may exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.” Eph 1:12

Slipping and Sliding…

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image via larneson.blogspot.com

Slipping and sliding through life…

The rush of the path,

Cushioned by the flow of water…

Until all dries up…

Painful the burn of the journey…when all comes to a standstill.

Oh dehydrated soul

Whose busy-ness of self has forgotten the Source.

Thirst for the living water…

that immerses, that saturates, that floods.

Float back into the current of grace.

Again…Slipping and Sliding through life.

“A clean heart create for me, God;  renew in me a steadfast spirit.  Do not drive me from your presence, nor take from me your Holy Spirit.  Restore my joy in your salvation; sustain in me a willing spirit.” Ps 51: 12-14

Allow Yourself to Be Loved…

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After a month sabbatical there is an important truth that I have learned….

image via glowimages.fr

Allowing yourself to be LOVED

By HE who is LOVE….

Draws others to HIM.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.  No one has ever seen God.  Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. ” 1 John 4:11-12

Contagious…

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“They might not need me; but they might.

I’ll let my head be just in sight.

A smile as small as mine might be precisely their necessity.” (Emily Dickinson)

A smile takes such little effort…but given away can become a gift of utmost value.

May your weekend be filled with smiles given and received….they really are contagious you know!

God’s abundant blessings on you and yours this weekend,

The Heart of J