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Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see!
I dare you…..
LIVE THE GOSPEL ALOUD!
Dear Readers, Ive been under the weather. I hope to get back to regular blogging soon. God’s abundant blessings of peace and joy to you all.
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The Epiphany.
The star that sheds just enough light so that we can take one more step and then we must look to the star again.
So like our lives that we, too, live in exile and fear, but also in HOPE.
So emblematic of the strangeness of Christianity; its inconcongruities and contradictions.
Never what we think its going to be, never what we think we want it to be.
Always a fresh twist, a new pain, a new joy.
Always a God whose ways are not our ways.
Always, just when we think we’ve found a foothold,,,
The order to flee to Egypt.
“Heather King”
May your 2012 be filled with daily, wonderful. and glorious epiphanies of God’s extravagant love for you.
HAPPY EPIPHANY
By Another Way…
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Another sign the Wise Men saw and followed was advice given through a dream.
To Go Another Way…
Perhaps the Wise Men after finding Him who their heart desired would have wanted to stay and continue to offer praise and homage, but they had responsibility to get back to.
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How easy it would have been to go back the path they had forged in the coming…
But we can never go back to the familiar, the old way, after meeting Christ.
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Our lives become the Other Way..
always new…exploring new territory…unkown to us whilst living in and of the world.
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My Lord, may we be given the grace to see the signs and follow the direction you ask us to take, always docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in whatever way they may come. Heal us of any fear in pressing forward on the “other way” which is the new way, deeper in communion with You. Amen
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The Sign of a Star…
Led Wise Men to search for a King.
To Leave behind their ways of the world…their parts of the world…
Onwards on their search.
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Not the pretty picture of a pristine desert with camels carrying gifts and kings all in a neat tidy row.
The truth of the journey?
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Arduous..an exertion of will…across countryside of no roads or modern conveniences…extended travels far from the familiar…hopes mixed with doubts…
Where will this journey take us?
We are all “Wise Men” enroute in this life to find the True King, the True Ruler of our Hearts so that we may offer Him praise and homage with our lives.
For to offer true worship to Him who is our Creator, is sewn deeply within the fabric of who we are.
These Wise Men saw a sign that splashed light on their journey from the world to Christ.
What signs are in our lives?
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Are we following the signs that lead us to be people of praise and thanksgiving?
“Wise Men and Women” may we be given the grace to see the signs He leaves us daily and the courage and the perseverance to follow them home to Him.
“Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country a broad valley. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all mankind shall see it together.” Is 40:4-5
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“Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold , I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord”…And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.” Luke 2: 8-20
The Shepherds keeping night watch over their flock…
image via ifcamedia.org
Shepherds, in the time of the birth of Christ, were the borderline bandits of society. They were mistrusted. They were social outcasts. Instead of being in town to protect their wives, children, and families, they lived in the hillside tending their sheep. They were even considered unclean for they had daily contact with carcasses of animals and so were not able to go to the temple for worship.
And yet they were the first to hear the “Good News” of the birth of the Messiah.
And this was announced by an angel who was accompanied by a multitude of angels…
image via signsofangels.net
God himself entered into the “ordinary” of the life of the Shepherds and left it “extraordinary”!
God did not shun those who society had shunned. These simple souls didn’t debate what had happened. They left their livelihood in “haste”.
And when they saw the Christ child they believed and returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.
The Shepherds were the first Believers.
The Shepherds were the first Messengers.
What do the Shepherds teach us? God does come into our daily, everyday, routine lives. Even in those places that we think are messy or broken or that the world sees as failure. He transforms us and all of our “ordinary” into the “extraordinary” with the power of His grace. He gives us a choice to respond. Are we able to leave those things that we always thought were important to begin the journey in discovering Christ? It is these simple souls that are ready to believe the Good News. It is these simple souls responding from the heart whose eyes are opened to believe. And with this belief comes a most important mission…to praise and glorify God through our words and actions bringing this Good News to all who cross our path.
May we like the Shepherds be open to receive His “extraordinary” into our “ordinary”. May we have the courage to “leave in haste” those obstacles that stand in the way. And may our lives be songs of constant thanksgiving as we exist for the praise of God’s glory.
Thank you http://caddoveil.wordpress.com for nominating me for the Kreativ Blogger Award. If you haven’t visited Caddoveil’s blog please do so…she has a true gift of painting words and making them dance. Thank you caddoveil. I thoroughly enjoy your gifted writings.
So….now I must pass share ten things you may not know about me and pass this award on…
1. I like pelicans. They are a bit funny looking…almost like they received parts from several different birds. They also look a bit clumsy, but if you have ever seen a pelican glide on the wind they are incredibly graceful. It’s a lot like all of us. We are a bit clumsy but with God’s grace we can soar.
2. I really wish the whole world would slow down a bit and stop and smell the roses. Why do we have to be in such a hurry?
3. I enjoy painting…splashing vibrant colors on a canvas makes me smile inside and out.
4. If I’m wearing pink lipstick I am refusing to allow the chronic pain I live in get the best of me.
5. Shoes are terribly overrated…even though they are cute. Being barefoot is walking like a child.
6. Many make fun of my southern drawl…but maybe it’s everyone else who talks a bit differently!
7. I could sit and listen to people’s stories all day long…hidden in them it’s not so hard to see the hand of God.
8. A chiming clock makes a house a home.
9. Praise and worship can make a cloudy day sunny.
10. I strive to do all for the praise of God’s glory…it is for His glory I say thank you for this award.
Please check out the blogs below…I think you will enjoy them.
http://opencanvasjg.wordpress.com
http://revelationsinwriting.wordpress.com
http://apronhead.wordpress.com
Thank you very much to http://poeticjourney251.wordpress.com and http://thewomanatthewell.wordpress.com for nominating me for the Candle Lighter Award. Please take a moment and visit both of these blogs. And congratulations to you both for receiving this honor. This award was created by Kate Kresse and you can read more about it at http://believeanyway.wordpress.com/the-candle-lighter-award/
This award (according to a reader of Kate’s site) belongs to those who believe, who always survive the day and those who never stop dreaming, for those who cannot quit, and for those who keep trying and if you have that you are entitled to this award.
For the praise and glory of His name, forever and ever, amen, I sincerely express thanksgiving to Kate, to poeticjourney, for the womanatthewell, and for all those who through their blogs keep their candles burning so others may come and find light in a world that in so many ways is in darkness.
I would like to pass on the Candle Lighter Award to
http://lightonmypath.wordpress.com
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“God has created me to do Him some definite service: He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission – I may never know it in this life, but I will be told it in the next. “
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“I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it –if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore I shall trust Him, Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me — still He knows what He is about. ” Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
“Lord you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My travels and my rest you mark; with all my ways you are familiar. Even before a word is on my tongue, Lord, you know it all. Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me. Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach.” Ps 139:1-6
May you walk in your mission this day….grounded in the love of God.
My readers…you are in my prayers, fromtheheartof j
fromtheheartofj
Ever since the eating of the forbidden fruit..
we’ve been tempted to understand…to know.
Striving to be “Know it alls”.
Do we really need to know all the answers?
Faith tells us to embrace the mystery.
It’s ok to wrap ourselves around the why’s, what’s, when’s, and how comes.
Hugging the question carries us into the mystery.
Thinking we have all the answers stops us in our path.
Let the why’s, what’s, how comes lead the way…
Answers will come when we arrive home…and we will have eternity to understand!
Really…it’s ok to hug the question mark today…and still be at peace.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.” Is 55:8-9
Desire for God is written on our hearts…
is written on all hearts.
How often this desire becomes buried in the coldness of self and sin.
FAITH is our RESPONSE to God’s revealing Himself to us.
What is a Faith that refuses to speak?
What is a Faith that refuses to see?
What is a Faith that refuses to hear?
A Faith not responding, is a Faith buried.
Faith is the conversation of our lives with God Almighty.
Others depend on the light our faith emits..
just as the light of others helps to illumine our paths.
This day throw off the bushel basket from your light of faith.
Unbury your heart and the desire within to respond.
Let your light, immersed in Him who is the Light of the world shine forth radiantly through you!
Faith is a response.
“Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom” Ps 145
What’s in your suitcase?
Regrets about the past, Anxiety about the future, To- do lists for the present?
Fear, Anger, Unforgiveness, Sadness, Apathy, Disappointments?
Cast away dreams, Broken promises, I can’ts and No’s?
The burdens in our suitcases tempt us to look for shortcuts.
Or to avoid big hills, rocky ground, and people.
Hands occupied, no longer able to lift heavenward in thanksgiving.
Eyes cast downward, backs aching from the strain.
If traveling to a foreign land, wouldn’t you enlist a guide?
There would be no fear in the capable hands of the one who knows the way.
The Heavenly Father is guiding us on this journey of the heart.
Walk toward the dawn. Home is ahead.
Check your luggage. You don’t need it. It will only weigh you down.
Leave it at the foot of the cross.
Your Father will provide.
Trust in Him. Do not fear.
“He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic” Luke 9:3
through Him with Him in Him... 