Friday, January 18, 2013
Reflections of Love
Have you ever stood on the banks of a creek, river, stream, or lake? Just standing there glancing at the beauty of the water and taking in the peace that comes with such beauty. As you stand there, you begin to notice all that is reflected on the surface of the water. Sunlight shimmering gold, rocks/cliffs muted and soft, trees come alive in the movement on the water. So many reflections - all unseen by the crowds but noticed and treasured by the one standing there.
So is love.
Love is whispered each minute of each day. Love is not the shout that screams for attention. Love is not grand gestures amongst a crowd. Love cannot be bought. Love cannot be forced.
Love is the humble, the meek. Love is a choice lived daily marked by self sacrifice and a heart broken before God.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
2013 Speak to me...... or not
January 8th 2013..... the "new year" is officially under way.
Each year as the final days of December approaches, a myriad of thoughts, vows, and actions can be found within each and every person. For some, it is a time to review the previous year and set goals for the year ahead. For others, it is more of a sigh that they survived the happenings of the year and are hopeful that the next will be a kinder, gentler year. Still others find themselves vowing to do more, be better, achieve the dream.
It is often rather amusing to watch attendance at the local gym... during the Thanksgiving / Christmas days and weeks there is almost no one in attendance. Openings are plenteous and machines sit quietly waiting oh so patiently. Then lo and behold.... January 1st arrives. The same gym, same staff, same machines are now fraught with activity - it is shoulder to shoulder and the activity level is at an all time high.
In walks January 8th.... Once more the opportunities are plenteous and the machines sit quietly. Vows of a "new" year already start to wan. Why is that???
And then it becomes all so clear. One simple sentence....
***** Finding the One that has been there all along ******
What we seek is nothing that has not been sought before. What our heart cries out for echoes the cries of a multitude across generations of peoples. Our deepest longings can be heard in the whispers contained in the hearts of Adam and Eve as they left the Garden.
Alpha / Omega ... the beginning and the end. The answer to all our questions, the direction we seek, the love we desire.... our all in all.
Myself being no different than any of you, have found my thoughts wandering over the last days as to what should, would, or could become of 2013. Thoughts of a home of our own, renewed health, family proximity and more circled my mind stealing the minutes of the day away. I found myself once again being held captive to the bondage of looking at the "what ifs". What if I pray more? What if I study more? What if I eat healthy? What if I exercise? What if, what if, what if....
No more - no more I say! A reactionary life based on what if's is a life that is not being lived. Circumstances, events, and happenings will change bringing along the tide that will carry you to places unseen and often, unwanted.
Finding the One that has been there all along - then grabbing on and not letting go for so much as a second. In so doing we are now freed from the tides of what if's and circumstances. We are freed to redeem each minute before us and fill that one minute with His love; then the next minute, the one after that, and the one that comes after that. Here you are at days end with a compliment of minutes behind you over flowing with love and as you lay your head down to rest, your eyelids flutter shut, the Holy Spirit whispers across your soul "Well done thou good and faithful servant". Peace, Joy, Fulfillment, Contentment, all are now yours.
Never looking behind as those minutes are gone, not looking ahead as those minutes cannot yet be redeemed; but rather grasping the hand of El Shaddai and together living this minute, this time, this NOW.
I have decided to alter my practice of making "new year resolutions" and to lay aside goals however worthy they may be. May I instead be found on my knees, in the presence of my Savior, bending my heart and my will so that He may live fully through me each minute that I am afforded.
Finding the One that has been there all along......
Each year as the final days of December approaches, a myriad of thoughts, vows, and actions can be found within each and every person. For some, it is a time to review the previous year and set goals for the year ahead. For others, it is more of a sigh that they survived the happenings of the year and are hopeful that the next will be a kinder, gentler year. Still others find themselves vowing to do more, be better, achieve the dream.
It is often rather amusing to watch attendance at the local gym... during the Thanksgiving / Christmas days and weeks there is almost no one in attendance. Openings are plenteous and machines sit quietly waiting oh so patiently. Then lo and behold.... January 1st arrives. The same gym, same staff, same machines are now fraught with activity - it is shoulder to shoulder and the activity level is at an all time high.
In walks January 8th.... Once more the opportunities are plenteous and the machines sit quietly. Vows of a "new" year already start to wan. Why is that???
And then it becomes all so clear. One simple sentence....
***** Finding the One that has been there all along ******
What we seek is nothing that has not been sought before. What our heart cries out for echoes the cries of a multitude across generations of peoples. Our deepest longings can be heard in the whispers contained in the hearts of Adam and Eve as they left the Garden.
Alpha / Omega ... the beginning and the end. The answer to all our questions, the direction we seek, the love we desire.... our all in all.
Myself being no different than any of you, have found my thoughts wandering over the last days as to what should, would, or could become of 2013. Thoughts of a home of our own, renewed health, family proximity and more circled my mind stealing the minutes of the day away. I found myself once again being held captive to the bondage of looking at the "what ifs". What if I pray more? What if I study more? What if I eat healthy? What if I exercise? What if, what if, what if....
No more - no more I say! A reactionary life based on what if's is a life that is not being lived. Circumstances, events, and happenings will change bringing along the tide that will carry you to places unseen and often, unwanted.
Finding the One that has been there all along - then grabbing on and not letting go for so much as a second. In so doing we are now freed from the tides of what if's and circumstances. We are freed to redeem each minute before us and fill that one minute with His love; then the next minute, the one after that, and the one that comes after that. Here you are at days end with a compliment of minutes behind you over flowing with love and as you lay your head down to rest, your eyelids flutter shut, the Holy Spirit whispers across your soul "Well done thou good and faithful servant". Peace, Joy, Fulfillment, Contentment, all are now yours.
Never looking behind as those minutes are gone, not looking ahead as those minutes cannot yet be redeemed; but rather grasping the hand of El Shaddai and together living this minute, this time, this NOW.
I have decided to alter my practice of making "new year resolutions" and to lay aside goals however worthy they may be. May I instead be found on my knees, in the presence of my Savior, bending my heart and my will so that He may live fully through me each minute that I am afforded.
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