"God has always believed in us to fulfill His created purpose. His love bears for us whatever we cannot bear. His love believes in us when we have lost the ability to believe in ourselves. His love hopes for us when we have lost hope. His love endures everything we do."
~ John Paul Jackson ~
'Needless Casualties of War'
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Coventry Cathedral - Beattitude #4
Coventry Cathedral - Beattitude #4
You're blessed when you're content with just who you are ~ no more ~ no less. That's the moment when you find yourselves proud of everything that can't be bought.
I am starting to not only understand this statement, but also to live it. I am who I am because that's the way God created me. He knew that parts of me that are really good would cause me to stumble if I didn't keep them in check, and parts of me that I saw as weak or insignificant, are really my greatest strengths and the most beautiful. It is only by embracing all the aspects of who I am that I can become whole. I do believe that I have begun to do that!
You're blessed when you're content with just who you are ~ no more ~ no less. That's the moment when you find yourselves proud of everything that can't be bought.
I am starting to not only understand this statement, but also to live it. I am who I am because that's the way God created me. He knew that parts of me that are really good would cause me to stumble if I didn't keep them in check, and parts of me that I saw as weak or insignificant, are really my greatest strengths and the most beautiful. It is only by embracing all the aspects of who I am that I can become whole. I do believe that I have begun to do that!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Coventry Cathedral - Beattitude #3
For all those waiting for my next Beattitde from Coventry Cathedral, here you go:
You're blessed when you care. At the point of being 'care-full' ~ you will find yourselves cared for
It's funny, being a 'pastor' doesn't disappear just because you've chosen a different path for a time. It wasn't until, I wasn't in the position anymore, that I truly understood how much my heart cared and cares for every single person that I looked after with God's permission.
When I was in England, the last 17 days were spent in hospital. I had hurt my back dreadfully, and was on the Orthepaedic Ward in the hospital. For the most part, I was in a private room, but toward the end I was admitted to a ward room. (6 beds, 3 on each side). One night the elderly lady across from me, was crying and I went over and held her hand and stroked her hair until she had calmed herself. I talked with her off and on for the few days she had left in the hospital, and at the end gave her a small gift to let her know that I had enjoyed her company. On the morning she left, she came over to my bed to give me a hug. She told me that she didn't have a little gift for me, but that she still wanted to give me something to remember her by - She explained that she had 2 sons (ages 61 and 63) and an estranged daughter...and all male grandchildren. This lady then said that if she had ever been blessed with a grand-daughter that she would have hoped that she might have been a little like me, and that she would have given that grand-daughter what she now wanted to give me. At that moment she slipped a gold ring off her finger. It has 4 sapphires and 3 diamonds and she put it on my finger. I protested and she insisted. I'm glad because every time I look at my finger, I am reminded of a life that I've touched and have the capacity to do so. I realized that I didn't need a title or a special anointing to be caring and compassionate, I just had to keep being me...and that was and is truly enough.
.
You're blessed when you care. At the point of being 'care-full' ~ you will find yourselves cared for
It's funny, being a 'pastor' doesn't disappear just because you've chosen a different path for a time. It wasn't until, I wasn't in the position anymore, that I truly understood how much my heart cared and cares for every single person that I looked after with God's permission.
When I was in England, the last 17 days were spent in hospital. I had hurt my back dreadfully, and was on the Orthepaedic Ward in the hospital. For the most part, I was in a private room, but toward the end I was admitted to a ward room. (6 beds, 3 on each side). One night the elderly lady across from me, was crying and I went over and held her hand and stroked her hair until she had calmed herself. I talked with her off and on for the few days she had left in the hospital, and at the end gave her a small gift to let her know that I had enjoyed her company. On the morning she left, she came over to my bed to give me a hug. She told me that she didn't have a little gift for me, but that she still wanted to give me something to remember her by - She explained that she had 2 sons (ages 61 and 63) and an estranged daughter...and all male grandchildren. This lady then said that if she had ever been blessed with a grand-daughter that she would have hoped that she might have been a little like me, and that she would have given that grand-daughter what she now wanted to give me. At that moment she slipped a gold ring off her finger. It has 4 sapphires and 3 diamonds and she put it on my finger. I protested and she insisted. I'm glad because every time I look at my finger, I am reminded of a life that I've touched and have the capacity to do so. I realized that I didn't need a title or a special anointing to be caring and compassionate, I just had to keep being me...and that was and is truly enough.
.
Coventry Cathedral - Beattitude #2 (random order)
You're Blessed when you get your inside world ~ your mind and heart ~ put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
Coventry Cathedral and the Beattitudes #1
When I was in the UK, a friend of mine, Liz, took me to Coventry to see the cathedrals...yep...cathedrals plural. During WW II the original cathedral was bombed by the Germans and only a shell is left. Still there is a sense of peace within the ruins. Holy Trinity Church which was right next dooor to the original cathedral took over as being the cathedral until a new one could be built.
Cathedrals are always so quiet, and there are things to see at every twist and turn. When I got to the altar, I knelt and began to pray. Tears began to run down my face, as while in the UK, I had some very difficult areas of my life that felt as though they were falling apart, and some decisions that would rock my world and that of others. I felt a gentle presence of the Holy Spirit, and for a while it soothed the broken pieces of my life.
The third cathedral is much newer and modern. It actually doesn't feel like a cathedral at all, but it still had that pervading sense of peace....stillness...like you could wait on God forever. This third cathedral had a display on the Beattitudes which was really well done, and taken trom the NLT version of the Bible for the most part. I couldn't help writing it out, even though i knew it was sitting in my own Bible back at the cottage. They touched my heart. and again, I began to cry. Because of the sense and stillness, I want to share one a day with you this week. I hope that they will help you to take a moment in your busy world, and feel the stillness of the presence of God.
These are not in any particular order ~
~ You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the ONE most dear to you. ~
I truly pray that they will touch your lfe while reading through them.
Cathedrals are always so quiet, and there are things to see at every twist and turn. When I got to the altar, I knelt and began to pray. Tears began to run down my face, as while in the UK, I had some very difficult areas of my life that felt as though they were falling apart, and some decisions that would rock my world and that of others. I felt a gentle presence of the Holy Spirit, and for a while it soothed the broken pieces of my life.
The third cathedral is much newer and modern. It actually doesn't feel like a cathedral at all, but it still had that pervading sense of peace....stillness...like you could wait on God forever. This third cathedral had a display on the Beattitudes which was really well done, and taken trom the NLT version of the Bible for the most part. I couldn't help writing it out, even though i knew it was sitting in my own Bible back at the cottage. They touched my heart. and again, I began to cry. Because of the sense and stillness, I want to share one a day with you this week. I hope that they will help you to take a moment in your busy world, and feel the stillness of the presence of God.
These are not in any particular order ~
~ You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the ONE most dear to you. ~
I truly pray that they will touch your lfe while reading through them.
Unmasking a Jezebel Spirit
I'm currently re-reading "Unmasking a Jezebel Spirit" by John Paul Jackson and thought I'd give it a wee plug.
Great book! I think all of us can see ourselves in certain aspects of this book. It certainly challenges ones to diligence to pray over their own actions, motives, and blind spots. I have felt the Lord nudging my heart a couple of times...thank you Jesus for dying for me and slowly bringing me into the liberty you have always had for me.
Great book! I think all of us can see ourselves in certain aspects of this book. It certainly challenges ones to diligence to pray over their own actions, motives, and blind spots. I have felt the Lord nudging my heart a couple of times...thank you Jesus for dying for me and slowly bringing me into the liberty you have always had for me.
Breastplate Prayers
This last Sunday we visited a lovely, small home church in our community. The couple that run it are the parents of a guy I went to school with, who was here for our 20th High School Reunion with his wonderful and soon to be expanding family, and they invited us to fellowship with them for last week. At the end of our discussion, we prayed the following.
A Celtic Breastplate Prayer
I bind myself today
The power of God to hold and lead
His eye to watch, His might to stay
His ear to hearken to my need
The wisdom of my God to teach
His hand to guide
His shield to ward
The word of God to give me speech
His Heavenly Host to be my guard.
~ St. Patrick ~ 4th Century AD
David Ruis combines a number of "Breatplate Prayers" set to music (mainly percussion)on one of his cd's. They are powerful.
"The early Celtic church had many 'breastplate prayers', or 'lorica', which declared the surrounding and encompassing of God. Such prayers were not to make God come - He is already here - but to open our eyes to the reality. In breastplate prayers, the person who prays seeks to become aware of what is already a reality."
(c) 2001-2009, Eternal Interactive, LLC, All Rights Reserved
A Celtic Breastplate Prayer
I bind myself today
The power of God to hold and lead
His eye to watch, His might to stay
His ear to hearken to my need
The wisdom of my God to teach
His hand to guide
His shield to ward
The word of God to give me speech
His Heavenly Host to be my guard.
~ St. Patrick ~ 4th Century AD
David Ruis combines a number of "Breatplate Prayers" set to music (mainly percussion)on one of his cd's. They are powerful.
"The early Celtic church had many 'breastplate prayers', or 'lorica', which declared the surrounding and encompassing of God. Such prayers were not to make God come - He is already here - but to open our eyes to the reality. In breastplate prayers, the person who prays seeks to become aware of what is already a reality."
(c) 2001-2009, Eternal Interactive, LLC, All Rights Reserved
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)