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rainy day woman

6/30/2015

These days, hopelessness has been very busy trying to establish her studio in my mind that pumps out its music of despair and resignation. Attempting to drown out truth. Then I have to pull out the Stones (of Gilgal).

  And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.”
Joshua 4:21-24

Memorials of God's sovereignty and faithfulness need to be established in my heart and mind, by the discipline of remembrance. When I see no way out or hope for change in my selfish heart, I've had to put on the practice of pressing play on the songs He has already made for me.

When covered in shame - Songs of deliverance and songs of forgiveness
When helpless - Songs of reformation and songs of healing
  When the pain becomes unbearable - Songs of love and songs of friendship

They all rise together to form a song of hope in the one who has already given all these things and more. My deliverer from the "domain of darkness"(see Col.1:13)

And I can move one more day in obedience through the morass, remembering that eternal hope.

P.S.
Sometimes, my thoughts can best be summed up in actual songs from actual talented people. Yes, I'm sure Mary Katherine Gallagher and I are related.
~ inspirational tunage this week ~
Through My Door and
Father John
by Starflyer59
Clean (My God Has Rescued Me) and
In Ruin
by the Violet Burning

live together, die alone

6/18/2015

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Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. matthew 7:3-5

This passage has stopped me too many times to count, much to my shame. Feeling overwhelmed by my own sin and lack of wisdom, I've just clammed up. But it does not tell us to leave the speck in our brother's eye. Or the plank in our eye. This is not a defeatist mantra! God is sufficient to help us do both. Lay it all down.

Do you see your sister or brother struggling? Maybe saw that quick flash of worry or sorrow or bitterness before the mask of perfection was readjusted? Or naggings of discomfort? Afraid to say something? To ask? It's none of my business. Will she be offended? Will he retreat from our friendship? What if it's nothing? What if it's something? I'm not adequate to help, anyway?
Will it make things awkward?
Guess what? She might be offended. He may retreat. The mood in the room may shift drastically. You ARE inadequate. It may get incredibly awkward.
Okay.
Don't just shrug it off if you've got a burden for someone else. God, our creator, sovereign, sustainer, counselor, healer, and redeemer is not inadequate. Place your fear directly in his hands. Hand it over and ask Him to go ahead of you. Watch where he leads. Expect Him to lead.

Let your problem-solving instinct rest for a bit while you come along side and offer a safe ear to hear, an arm to hug, an hand to pray, lips to speak grace. That's first. You don't even need to know the details. Just make it known that they are seen and loved and prayed over. And then do these very things. Be on guard against gossip and unwise counsel, but don't let fear(pride) stop you.

We are the body. An interactive, crazy-messy family. Our relationship with God is woven in with our relationships with each other. Walking together, admonishing, worshipping our Father and diving into his truth and goodness together. And you are needed. Love graciously, speak truth, and grow together as we help each other focus on the cross.

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hands and feet

6/16/2015

the hands and feet of Christ are life
saving
preserving
giving
changing

hands to hold tight and feet to walk along side
hands to pick up off the floor and feet to blaze the trail before
hands to brush off the dust of shame and feet led by God to navigate the way out
hands to grasp each other in prayer and feet to steady while God is making us stronger

hands to wipe tears
hands to serve
hands to soothe and heal

God has made us to live together. To need each other. Especially those of us who don't want to need anyone. It is one of the greatest markers of our father's love for us. His love, when demonstrated through his church, is overwhelming and life saving and unmistakable as anything else. It makes sorrow bearable, repentance possible, and growth inevitable. Let us be soaked in God's word and grace to be ready to catch one another. Give your fear to God to admit your need to lean on your brothers and sisters in Christ. Be the hands and feet.

And hold tight to those hands when they are offered to you. They are a gift from your Father.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Writing Through The Fog

rainy day woman

live together, die alone

hands and feet

shirley decker

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