Wednesday, October 31, 2007

how moment

how did it happen
that an academic gown
is the official garb of ministers
and
that one of the main criteria
for admission to the pulpit
is a
university degree

stone moments


why is it
so many hands
within the body of Christ
hold a stone

or are reaching
for a stone

for some
the stone
has been held for so long
the hand has formed around it
roots
wombing a stone

why
and what is the finger of God
writing about this
on the tablets of our stony hearts

Sunday, October 28, 2007

wondering moment

although absolutely ecstatic about the 4000
who gathered last night
to pray and worship
the One True God
it has left me wondering
why double that number
are expected today
to listen to a counterfeit
when will we wake up
and when we do

will it be too late

Saturday, October 27, 2007

nugget moments

while attending a teaching seminar
over the last few days
there have been some gems
some pearls
dropped at our feet

in the quiet of the land
there are watchers
those who wait

the Eternal One had a new beginning
at the time of incarnation

Jesus comes
not pointing a finger
but with nail pierced hands

too often
we hide
behind the stuff of our lives

we are baptized in the tears of obscurity

an encounter with God in obscurity
changes the way you walk
leaving one with a limp

the wilderness is our place of transition -
when all that is familiar is behind you
and all that is before you is unknown

Jesus makes an entrance in the storms of our life

listen for the voice of humility

in the time of choice
we often go after our own cravings .............

Friday, October 26, 2007

holding moment



John Gebhardt in Iraq

This little girl's entire family was executed.
The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also
and shot her in the head...
but they failed to kill her.
She was cared for in John's hospital and is healing up,
but continues to cry and moan.
The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down,
so John has spent the last four nights holding her
while they both slept in that chair.
The girl is coming along with her healing.

We cannot control the Wind but we can adjust our sails.

ministry moments

the stuff of ministry is
sometimes hard
sometimes lonely
sometimes earth shattering
sometimes filled with wondering
and
sometimes absolutely glorious

as was yesterday

a room filled to overflowing with shepherds
standing shoulder to shoulder
heads lifted
eyes focused beyond the hills
on the Creator of the hills
worshiping together
one heart
one voice
one God

and then
kneeling at one another's feet
sometimes weeping
sometimes laughing
sometimes silent
sometimes loud

blessing
honoring
and giving thanks
for one another

moments like this
hugely soften the hard times

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

title moments


there is a huge sadness in me
when seeing
those who would seek position
seek being noticed
seek a title


the hole inside their heart
must be so big
their loneliness
so huge
when never discovering
their true identity

the effort it must take
to continually climb
and never rest
in contentment

I was struck
the other day
by the colors of the opposite shore

the blending
the distinction

one brilliant red tree
standing alone
is amazing

but when standing
shoulder to shoulder
with the greens
yellows
browns
and all that is inbetween
perfection is seen

within the body of Christ
there is so much striving
to stand out
to shove aside the other colors

a huge scrabbling of stones
eventually causing the whole house to tumble

mercy moment

there is this deep yearning
to be so fully aware
of God's great mercy
that life itself becomes a ministry
where there is hardly any difference
between doing and being

Sunday, October 21, 2007

overflowing moments

this is one of those weeks
when every bed in the house is full
three blow up beds full
a body on each couch

the table groans under the weight of the food
chairs snuggled tight together so no one is ever left out

laughter floating everywhere

quiet,
and at times not so quiet,
singing

I am missing the piano
but grateful for the fingers
that strum the guitars

constant gurgling of the coffee pot
and whistling of the kettle

it seems someone is cooking something all the time

there is so much love in every room
every corner

so many hugs
even tears have a deep sweet fragrance

all the little noises
in the quiet of the night

life is very beautiful
and so much more so when lived in midst of people
who love each other

I am deeply blessed by these moments

Thursday, October 18, 2007

asking moment

are you willing
to step outside of your day
away from your disappointments
your fears
your dashed hopes

are you willing
to come up here
and see things with Me

are you willing
to step away from all that is easy
all that is familiar
all that brings comfort

are you willing
to step aside from who man has said you are
from your giftings
from where you have been

are you willing
to come higher
and see what I see

are you willing
to lay down all that has been given you
to exit places you have entered
to be hidden in new places

are you willing
to climb to the top
and step out with nothing underneath
but My arms

are you willing
to have all your props removed
and only My promises to hold you up

are you willing
to step out from under the robes of deferred hope
that have become so familiar
and easy to wear

are you willing
to soar
to run and not grow weary

are you willing
to dream My dreams
to sing My songs
to let go of everything
but My hand

are you willing
for me to untie
the laces of your boots
that have become so heavy

are you willing
to remove the clothes of man
and wear the robe I have for you

are you willing
to open your hand
and release it all

are you willing
to die
in order to live

are you willing
to not even consider the cost
as you let go

one by one

as your hands open

as you climb the ladder of praise
with your feet on the rungs of worship
step by step
speaking My Name

are you willing
to discover

I AM ENOUGH

Monday, October 15, 2007

choice moment

we have nothing to offer God
except our choice to be with Him
and that is a choice
that no one but Him
is likely to put any value on

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Enoch moments

thinking of Enoch

walking with God

was it
difficult
painful
easy
to get into step with God

and then
to keep pace with Him

that means too that Enoch
must have been easily willing to rest
when God rested

we seem to have lost the art of resting
of even seeking rest

how wide is the stride of God
how fast is the pace of God

how wonderful it must have been
to simply hear the laughter of God
and join in

did they rub shoulders as they walked

did they help one another up steep hills
or to cross a creek

did they ever lack for words

was there immediate understanding of each other
or the need for questions

I have gone on prayer walks
with some who are much much taller, wider, higher, stronger than I am
which, for me, necessitated a half run half walk pace

is this how Enoch kept up with God

I so desire to absolutely learn the rhythm of God
and move/live/rest easily in it
for the remainder of my walking days

Friday, October 12, 2007

hand moment

God asks
what is that in your hand
surely he knows
so why does he ask
could it be to simply draw our attention
to the very thing within our reach
granting an opportunity to lay it at his feet
our ability
our treasured possession
all at his disposal

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

silent moments

wow
I had absolutely no idea so many people
take the time
to read my stumbling words .....
I am sorry I have been silent for a bit
thanks for your calls and mail .......
your care and interest
have helped to reweave the tattered fabric
I am
or rather will be
whole
just traveling a road
of unravelling
one thing I have learned
when you ask God to expose everything
that needs to be exposed
you should also ask Him
for preparation
to deal with all that will be seen

Monday, October 01, 2007

awake moment

our world overflows
our narrow measurements
and begins revealing the dimensions
of our God

we may ignore but we can nowhere evade
the presence of God

the world is crowded with Him

the real labor is to remember to attend

in fact
to come awake

still more
to remain awake

C.S. Lewis