headlight

//Tuesday, July 31, 2012 5:42 PM

Loss

And here we find our great affinity with water, for like reflections on water our thoughts will suffer no changing shock, no permanent displacement. They mock us with their seeming slightness.

Memory is a sense of loss, and loss pulls us after it.

//Saturday, July 21, 2012 11:57 PM

Woven in the depths

During the Island Creamery conversations I discovered this wonderful truth:

We are made in his image.

Alright, that didn't impress you did it? But allow me to explain.

What that means is that every single one of us (and I do mean every single individual on this earth) has something beautiful within us. And you, yes you, you are beautiful. Because the God that created you is beautiful. And that person you so dislike? And that guy that swears like there's no tomorrow? And that horrible sinner you wonder why is he even in church? They are beautiful too. Yes, you got me right.

I believe that God has put a little facet of himself in every person he creates. And so in some way or another, we reflect a little aspect of our Creator. All our personalities are specks of who he is. And if you thought a single person was interesting, or deep, or quirky, or (insert whatever description here that makes a person unique) wait till you meet this God that made ALL of them.

This brings two after-thoughts (or more if you would like):

1. Maybe that's why God delights in the unity of his people. Because when we come together, all those specks in each of us meet and explodes into a stunning kaleidoscope of breathtaking beauty.

2. We gotta learn to find that beauty in others. I refer to people simply because I think it's hardest to find beauty in human beings, because sometimes it tends to be covered under so much muck and grime that all we see is 'bad', 'ugly', 'unholy', 'gone case'. But his beauty is reflected in every single thing he has created - that includes every human being, along with the stars, the seas, the mountains, and yes, everything.

So... go find it! Seek it relentlessly, and in so doing, find yourself seeking the God of beauty, and knowing and delighting in him more and more.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14

//Wednesday, July 11, 2012 4:52 PM

He will purge out all the darkness, and replace it with his light. And this light, it's gonna spill out of me. Not darkness, no, but light. How easy it is to be consumed by darkness! But I will choose to hold on to the truth. This is a choice that I will learn to make, every single day. And every time the darkness threatens to overwhelm me, I will not give in. I will not.
I will learn to breathe, and learn to walk. And maybe one day, I'll find myself soaring with eagles, and running with horses :)

But till that day, I will walk with you, one step at a time. And you will make all things beautiful in your own time. Until the day that I see you face to face, and behold you in all your beauty. Jesus.

Tear my eyes away from the waves. They will drown me. But set my eyes upon you, because with you I will walk on the water. When I start to live by faith and not by sight.

//Saturday, July 07, 2012 12:00 PM

Redemption

My fears have worn me out,

My fears have worn me, worn me.

But I've got my hands on redemption's side,

Whose scars are bigger than the doubts of mine.

I'll fit all of these monstrosities inside,

And I'll come alive, come alive.

Redemption- Switchfoot

// 11:57 AM

Grace

Grace is Samson, a man favored by God who slaughtered an army of 1000 men with a donkey’s jawbone and still (anointed as he was) gave into temptation and slept with that Siren, Delilah, who shaved his head and stole his strength. At the end of his life, disobedient to God, eyes gouged out, bald, and chained up in a dungeon, he called on God to be used one last time. And God answered.

Grace is Moses when he parts the Red Sea, leads his people out of Egypt, speaks directly to God, and personally delivers the Ten Commandments when in the first chapter of Exodus, he kills a man with his bare hands and buries him in the desert. And when he calls on God, God still answers.

Grace is the apostle Paul, previously known as Saul prior to preaching the gospel, a Biblical contracted killer hunting down and eliminating Christians for a living.

Grace is the woman at the well, and the prostitute who hid spies in her home,

Grace is me here and now, writing this, married and breathing after all the hearts I’ve bruised, the lies I’ve told, the brothers I’ve betrayed, the churches I’ve bashed, and the addictions I’ve let control me.

Grace is the Son of Man being nailed to a tree crying out, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.”

Grace is the thief on the cross who in the last moments of his life shouts to the Christ crucified along side him, “Don’t forget me.”

Grace is Christ’s reply to him: “On this day you will be with me in paradise.”

Max Dubinsky

There is grace that sets me free, and love that came for me. It was poured out. Poured out. This is a perfect love, and perfect love drives away all fear. I don't want to be afraid. I don't want to be lost in my thoughts. I want to be lost in God. I want to be strong with all his strength.

What is grace to me?

This hurts, God. But there is beauty in the broken. I believe.
I will choose to have faith.

Your grace touches me. I know that your grace is sufficient for me, and it is made perfect in my weakness. It will be.

Here I am Lord, and I am drowning.