Hopeful Pursuit…

image via fromtheheartofj

image via fromtheheartofj

“It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus.  Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession.  Just one thing:  forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead.  I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling in Christ Jesus. ” Phil 3:12-14

Intertwined in the Grandiose Plan…

O ancient of waters brought forth by the Maker from the chaos of the dark…

Soothing waves pour over the anxious soul drawing one into its rocking motion…

image fromtheheartofj

image fromtheheartofj

 

Sitting before the water and pondering its beginning….

One feels so small….

image via fromtheheartofj

image via fromtheheartofj

 

But too…

So intertwined in the grandiose plan of God…

That all creation give Praise to Him our Creator!

Taking it to the Streets and Beyond…

image via fromtheheartofj

image via fromtheheartofj

“It is the Paraclete Spirit, the Comforter, who grants us the courage to take to the streets of the world bringing the Gospel! The Holy Spirit makes us to look to the horizon and drives us to the very outskirts of existence in order to proclaim life in Jesus Christ.  Let us ask ourselves:  do we tend to stay closed in on ourselves, on our group, or do we let the Holy Spirit open us to mission?” (Pope Francis)

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love!

Blessed Pentecost to all of you,

Fromtheheartofj

Gift to Me….

image via photo.byu.edu

image via photo.byu.edu

Through wordly eyes we see fragmented bits and pieces of a person…

But to “heart-know” as God sees…

We see instead a blend of all that was…all that is…and all that could be…

the broken…the open…the healed…

in a whirl of beauty that strikes one’s own heart with the words of Jesus….

“Father, they are your gift to me.” (John 17:24)

 

Not Either…or…Neither…nor…But Both… And!

Work and Prayer…

image via paulakathyln.com

image via paulakathyln.com

We don’t have an either…or… Faith.

image via lindamciver.wordpress.com

image via lindamciver.wordpress.com

 

We don’t have a neither…nor… Faith.

image via savingmidlifecrisis.blogspot.com

image via savingmidlifecrisis.blogspot.com

We have a both…and… Faith!

Work and Prayer.

May everything we do begin with God’s inspiration.  May everything we do continue on with His guidance. And may everything we do come to completion all for the glory of God.

“Pray without ceasing” 1 Th 5:17

Be Bummer Sheep!…

image via dailyrecordnews.com

image via dailyrecordnews.com

A “bummer lamb” is rejected by her mother, so tries to “bum” milk from other ewes, who too reject her. The bummer lamb may have been rejected for being different, the runt, or the third of a triplet.  The mother ewe will kick the lamb away. The lamb will die without milk

But…

The Good Shepherd is on the look out for bummer sheep (Lk 15:4). He will take a bummer lamb from the flock and hand feeds the lamb sometimes 5 times a day (Is 40:11).  The Good Shepherd talks to the lamb and once a day holds the lamb to his chest so she can hear the Good Shepherd’s heartbeat (John 10:14).  Eventually the bummer lamb can be introduced back to the flock (John 10:9) and yet the bummer lamb will always be the first to come running when the Good Shepherd calls because she recognizes His voice (John 10:27).

image via fromtheheartofj

image via fromtheheartofj

Aren’t we all bummer sheep? In need of His reassuring presence with us? Knowing we are connected Heart-to-heart? Hearing His voice as His grace feeds us? It is the bummer sheep who know the Good Shepherd most intimately…and who follow Him most obediently.We are bummer sheep when we recognize our brokenness…our littlenss…our need for Him.

“As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep.  I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cludy and dark.” Ez 34:12

A Real Bummer Lamb!

http://youtu.be/5MtzNkd2Zl4

Mercy…

divine-mercy

Mercy the eyes searching down into the valley for any sign of return…

Mercy the eyes of love awaiting.

Mercy the ears attuned to the cry of souls drowning in their stench…

Mercy the ears of love listening.

Mercy the lips inhaling/exhaling the names of the lost ones…

Mercy the lips of love calling.

Mercy the feet trudging through the ditch to rescue the bondaged …

Mercy the feet of love running.

Mercy the arms of strength magnificent lifting in resurrection the lifeless souls…

Mercy the arms of love lifting.

Mercy the embrace of extravagant love wrapping the broken in wholeness and healing…

Mercy the embrace of love encircling.

Mercy the love that invites us home.