Tag Archives: christianity

Mirror of Reflection….

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If Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder…

If eyes are the window of the soul…

Beauty seen is a reflection of our Beauty within.

We have all known ah ha moments when Beauty catches our breath.

A pause as it sinks within.

Then we too must BELIEVE in the beauty within.

Extravagant, unique.

No two of us the same.

Yes, BELIEVE in this Beauty within.

The stamp of the Creator, His Divine image.

Heart within heart.

Let the scales fall from clouded eys. Vision restored.

livesofreflection.blogspot.com

Life IS beautiful. Your life IS beautiful. All life IS beautiful.

You are a reflection of Beauty.

“Before I formed you in the womb I  knew you, before you were born I dedicated you….” Jer 1:3

Are you Thirsty?..

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Beauty exalts our mind.  Beauty feeds our soul.

Our thirst for Beauty can never be satisfied…

For we were created with a restlessness within that searches for Beauty.

Beauty is the Creator’s invitation.

To seek Him;  To find Him.

And in the finding the holes in our hearts are filled.

We find rest from the striving.

True thankfulness, praise and worship stream forth from the heart that rests in Beauty.

St. Augustine, a philosopher and a theologian, writes this of the journey of his heart:

“Late have I loved you, O Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you!

You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there I searched for you.

In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created.

You were with me, but I was not with you.

Created things kept me from you;  yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all.

You called, you shouted, and you broke through  my deafness.

You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness.

You breathed your fragrance on me;

I drew in breath and now I pant for you.

I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more.

You touched me, and I burned for your peace.

“Jesus stood up and exclaimed, “Let anyone who thirst come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as scripture says:  ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him.’ ”  John 7:37-38

Thieves and Pickpockets…

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Thieves of the Mind….Pickpockets of the Heart….

(Beauty Revisited….)

Thieves of the mind attempt to rob the truth of Beauty written within. Whispering deceits of doubt, division, discouragement, despair. Emotions get twisted around the lies. Beliefs, not of God, swell and bring infection to the heart.

“I am alone”, “I am worthless”, “No one cares”, “No one loves me”

Pickpocket steals peace from the heart. Leaves it in broken bits.

Yet…….

A Whisper…softer but more powerful than the noisy din is heard.

“I AM WITH YOU”

Saturating the wound the whisper dispels the lies, the deceits.

“I AM WITH YOU”

 Jesus speaks from the cross.

The Blood of the Lamb streams forth.

Victory.

Christ allows His heart to be broken, in order to heal ours.

Let not the lies become your truth. The battle has been won.

You are chosen. You are loved. You are beautiful.

“Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My Love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the Lord, who has mercy on  you.” IS 54:10

Believe in the Beauty….

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“The stars, the desert – what gives them their beauty is something that is invisible…”

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;  what is essential is invisible to the eye.”  Antoine de Saint Exupery

What is beauty? To see beauty, to know beauty is to drink in the Divine.  Who I am is beauty created by the One who is pure beauty, pure love.  I am not only a divine reflection of this beauty, of this love….it knits my being together.  Anything that assaults this truth is a lie that can never take away the Divine dignity within.  “God looked at everything He had made, and He found it very good.” (Gen 1: 31) Let go of the thieves of mind and heart that pickpocket the truth of who you are.

 

Believe in the beauty God sees in you and allow your heart to see the beauty of your brothers and sisters about you.

“See I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” Is 43:19

Be Who You Are…

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Wildflowers spring up in the most unexpected places.

In neglected places of forgotten tracks, popping forth from untrodden leaves, growing vividly beside abandoned structures. Often a mystery how they came to be. Flourishing without assistance. They shout their beauty in places unnoticed.

Picked from their spot…how quickly they wither and die. As if made to occupy places desolate. Making a difference just where they grow. Bringing a smile to the childlike heart. Causing a pause to the hurried traveler.

How often we pass by the wildflowers in our lives. Robbed by busy-ness, eyes glazed over.

Heavenly Father, may we aspire to shout the beauty and color of who we are…

Just by being who we are, in the fields You have placed us.

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

Hope is a little girl…

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With the box kicked open,

It’s time to unpack.

Slowly, sometimes painfully, discarding the old

to bring forth the new.

The gift in the growing?

“What surprises me, says God, is hope.  And I can’t get over it.  This little hope who seems like nothing at all. This little girl hope Immortal.  … Faith is a loyal Wife. Charity is a Mother.  An ardent mother, noble-hearted.  Or an older sister who is like a mother.”

“HOPE is a little girl, nothing at all.”

image by chicks57 via Flickr

“This little hope moves forward in between her two older sisters and one scarcely notices her.  On the path to salvation, on the earthly path, on the rocky path of salvation, on the interminable road, on the road in between her two older sisters the little hope pushes on….The one on the right and and one on the left.   And they hardly ever see the one in the middle.  The little one, the one who’s still going to school.  And who walks.”

“It’s she, the little one, who carries them all.  Because Faith sees only what is.  But she, she sees what will be.  Charity loves only what is.  But she, she loves what will be.  …Hope sees what will be.  In time and for eternity. ..The little hope pushes on.  And in between her two older sisters she seems to let herself be carried.  Like a child who lacks energy to walk. and is dragged along the road in spite of herself.  But in reality it is she who moves the other two.  And who carries them, and who  moves the whole world. “

“The Portal of the Mystery of Hope”, Charles Peguy

Do the victory dance of HOPE! Can you see that you are something beautiful?

H. (hold)   O. (on to a)   P. (perspective)    E. (eternal)

linked with Walk With Him Wednesday

KICK the box open…

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What’s in the box?

Comfortable faith.  Careful confidence.  Shy hope.  Dry prayers.  Restrained charity.  Dusty dreams. Cut out image of God neatly packed in bottom of box.

KICK THE BOX OPEN!!!

Let God be God.  Live bigger than the box.

Daring faith. Bold confidence.  Extroverted hope.  Passionate prayers.  Free flowing charity. Colorful dreams. Image of God bigger than the box saturating every moment of your day.

Live bigger than the box.

RECEIVE His love and be transformed.

BELIEVE in His love and be set free.

KICK the box open. Live bigger than the box.

“I have the strength for everything through Him who empowers me. ” Phil 4:13

Hands holding hands…

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Why is it so hard to give thanks in times of trial?

Hands heavy, arms weak.

Laden with pain, discouragement, doubt, and lack of faith.

Tired in the trial.

But……..

 Moses on the mountain. Weary from the fight.

One friend on one side, one friend on the other.

Supporting his hands, steady till sunset.

Victory in the battle.

Hands holding hands, prayer united.

Hands holding hands, hearts as one.

Hands holding hands, burden is shared.

Hands holding hands, thanksgiving resounds.

THANKSGIVING precedes the miracle. Take a hand today and give thanks.

“Through Him (then) let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise.” Heb 13;15

Let my YES wear combat boots…..

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Combat Boots

YES…three letters that can so quickly spring forth from our mouths. But what happens between the saying and the doing? Between the head and the heart? All kinds of distractions…and busy-ness…and second thoughts….and forgetfulness…and etc, etc etc. I want my YES to MOVE….yes MOVE, I want my YES  to wear combat boots, stomping through all the mush of my brokenness that shows forth through the dragging of feet. I’m not interested in going through life with stiletto heels that get stuck in the mud and slow down the pace. Today I say boldly, “Let me lace up the combat boots. May the YESes of my heart march forward!” Am I ready to truly walk this walk of RECEIVE, BELIEVE, ADORE?