One should rather die than be betrayed. It is considered the willful slaughter of hope. James dietz]]>One should rather die than be betrayed. It is considered the willful slaughter of hope. James dietz]]>
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on the plane from Ed Lamance. Darlene's youth minister growing up. He really stretched my brain about spiritual warfare. Such a mysterious blessing that we met and were able to spend 3 hours from Nashville to Birmingham to Dallas. I feel like he really gave me some hope, encouragement and ideas for dealing with very difficult issues we all face in life. It couldn't have come at a better time. I could write more about it but it would fall short of what happened in our conversation and his teaching. He drew diagrams on the vomit bag. (a metaphor in itself:-) One take away was the warfare that a Pastor sees and how important it is to pray and call it our when the pastor is confronted with it. I feel compelled now to pray differently and with much more passion for the people in my church and for me personally as I try to do the hard work of leadership.]]>
]]>The fuel of Desperation leads us to the end of ourselves and into the presence of God.
Are you desperate yet?
It moves all the petty chips of our life into his hands
The fuel of desperation is a realization that we can never be good enough, never strong enough, to live a life of independence from God.
Are you desperate yet?
I fuel of desperation helps us realize that we are powerless against our own sin and that our only hope is in God. In God alone.
Are you desperate yet?
The fuel of desperation compels us to open up our closets, or treasures, our secret wounds, our addictions because pride is no longer an option for us.
The fuel of desperation is coming to the cold realization that god is real, that He is holy and that he is the only for you.
The fuel of desperation is smelling the pig slop on your ankles and realizing that there is a father who is just belong the western horizon of your soul.
The fuel of desperation involves a face down submission, spread eagle submission to God’s presence.
Are you Desperate?
]]>"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket of coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless-it will change. it will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, inpenetrable, irredeemable... The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers of love...is Hell."
CS Lewis
]]>Obama's was pretty easy to find but I had a really hard time finding mccain's. Any help would be appreciated.
]]>earthbound clay
molded
wondering
Why are His hands changing me?
Poking, prodding, pounding (it feels like punishment sometimes)
moisture pouring out of me.
His hands working,
with purpose
What is He creating in me?
What does he see?
Is there a purpose in the pain?
stretching, sensing, swirling, struggling
I'm smaller than I was it seems
then taller beyond my clay of dreams
the wheel- constantly spinning
I'm dizzy with change
I feel like I'm going no where at light speed!
the wheel slows as his eyes scan my shell
and he sees it.
i was hoping that he'd over look it
halfway hoping he would cast me aside and move on to a more fitting lump of clay.
He pauses-
divine rejection is what i feel. rejection that he sees who i really am-
broken, tainted, impure, unfinished
a catastrophic mess
deeply wounded-
punished by personal demons and false aspirations
he picks me up again and throws me back on the wheel.
This is not the way it's supposed to be.
The Artists hand rough and scarred
still working- it hurts because i'm still me
can I ever be what he wants me to be?
He's smiling as he works through catastrophe.
i'm spinning again- Oh God what do you see?
the heat of the oven- birthplace of sanctity.
above and beyond all treachery
that separated my soul from thee
burning, glazing, waiting straining
I stand before the master of clay
I see Him in full not in part.
The Master artist king
regaled in glory
I didn't know it then but I know it now.
He saw me in that mound of clay
He recognizes me.
And- He SMILES. He smiles at me.
and now I see Him
My creator
who walked me through the fire of earth
And now i see him
the redeemer of broken things
the shepherd of lost sheep
the all-things-new Messiah
Worthy is the lamb that was slain
Worthy is the King if Castaways
The Potter
The masterpiece maker.
And we will see Him as He is.
And we will crown him.
King
Victor
Creator
Jesus
In awestruck wonder we will stand
His masterpiece of grace.
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