Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010

I am thankful to be learning the ways of the Spirit of Christ


Facing life standing on the Revelation of Jesus Christ,
All in all He is enough.
Imagining the wonders of God,
Thanksgiving and supplication in all requests of Him,
Hope is a continual state.

Facing inward to the In-Dwelling Holy Spirit,
Always at rest in the power of heaven's love
Intent on becoming the fullness of His purpose for me,
Trusting in all tribulations that His goodness is supreme,
Hindrances of the soul's burden cast on Him -- I embrace spirit

Facing upward into the grace of the Father,
Altogether the Family of God holds onto one another,
Independence of will to choose His righteous leading,
Turning away fears in confidence that He holds my family and me,
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Paul Instructs

Live in peace with one another. We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Read in context here.


Thursday, November 11, 2010

a reflection on a recent evening

in deeply colored curls

lie her age

unsuccessfully

curling smoke from cured tobacco has fogged her lungs for forty plus

and drawn a permanent pink curl about

her eyes crying age

lovely, heavy topaz and diamond wrap her neck

an insist

on adoration of her wealth

dainty hands, too, carry a burden of beautiful stones

glinting lavishly even in the softened light of three mindless globes above dinner

she sips the poor wine we serve without complaint

the sister in her, the earthly blood we share

living itself out in gracious acceptance of table fare common to her refined taste

a prong of conversation turns to our two brothers she and I complete

as all that’s left from growing up in family

in brevity that protects ourselves, we abandon another listing of being jailed and distant

I comment...we all make choices that limit the depths of life

it is an invite into the depths of God

she balks on these words

and the spit of fire I have always known in her erupts defiantly

a flash across the leftover olive and onions

she decries her independence

gained by her strength

her grasp of responsibility

squandered by those now ceased from loving

she takes a sip of wine and settles back to more casual stances

she does not grasp

what I wanted her heart to hear

from my love of her

from sight within heart

no pique in her interest, her intellect, her grasping hole

the subject changes behind those dulling aged eyes

her point exposed

finished

nothing else to say or ponder beyond the limits in which she rests

but can you rest, my sister, in your self-made

world as your only god

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The Last Two Weeks

Congratulations to my daughter and new son-in-law on their marriage, November 6, 2010.

A whirlwind of activity fairly describes the last two weeks preparing for that one day, yet my wife and I experienced a continual joy in the to-do list.

May they know together an ever-deepening love governed by the wisdom which flows from the Holy Spirit as they build a life together.

Thought for Today:

If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.