Hearing God through nature

We went camping this past weekend with friends. It was wonderful weather, good food and great fellowship. Our campsite was in the woods of northern New Hampshire and had no phone signal. When I asked the women at the desk if there was somewhere I could go on site to get a signal she told me I would have to drive six miles off the campsite. LOL! So we were really in the middle of nowhere. No signal but a nice pool. The pirate ship on the edge of the pool had slides of all sizes and this entertained all the kids for hours.

Sometimes God speaks to me through nature and this weekend was one of those times. Every where we went there was a sweet smell of lilacs. Every road and pathway had lilac bushes in full bloom. God has used these simple bushes to speak to me in the past. Also there was one yellow butterfly that seemed to like me a whole lot. At least twice a day I would find it flying past me or over me. God has often used this symbolism to speak to me on many different levels.

All this to say, on my arrival home these words came to me. I hope they are a blessing to some as I play with words and images the has Lord placed before me.

picture by walksinthewoods

Violet lilacs
Golden butterflies
Fragrances of gratitude
Transformation flies
Thankfulness smells
Sweet as spring
Hope can lift us
Like those wings
No longer crawling
On a wall
But soaring high
Above it all
No longer smelling
Excrement
But breathing in
Heaven’s scent
An atmosphere of
Metamorphosis
Faith is why
We believe all this!
Cocoons bound
Holding in night
Breakthroughs come
Releasing light
Change that sends
Worms to flight
Transformation!
Prodigals lost
Now are found!
Sons feeding pigs
Now wear crowns!
Sweeter fragrance
We cannot breathe in
Than a life transformed
Surrendered to him.

cjb

A full boil

My Grandmother Voisey always liked a hot cup of tea. She insisted that the kettle not only come to a full boil but she would let it boil for 3 minutes before she would steep her tea.
It always amazed me, at restaurants, when she would be given her tea and she could tell on the first sip if the water had come to a FULL boil. Often she would politely send it back. On many occasions, I have waited for a kettle to come to full boil. Hovering, watching, wondering and sometimes taking it off too soon because of an impulse that says, "it's hot enough!" I'm usually in a hurry when this happens. I have also been bright enough to leave a kettle on the fire too long. I have ruined at least two kettles this way. Usually, when this happens I have become too busy with other things and forget I even put the kettle on the fire. The water has evaporated and the kettle is left with a scar.
There is an art to making a good cup of tea. An art that for the most part is completely lost here in the States. Maybe it is my grandmother's influence but I can tell the difference between a cup of tea that has been brewed "properly" and a cup that has been brewed with water that has not been given time to come to a full boil.
I wish I had this same discernment when it came to spiritual things. I am praying for it, asking God to give me this kind of discernment! To know the difference between divine pressure to move or speak and my human impulses. I do not want to take any kettle off the fire before it has reached a full boil. I do not want to serve up a lukewarm cup of anything! I also do not want to miss the moment and scar the kettle.

How does one know for sure the difference between human impulse and divine pressure?

A need to know

I’m struggling with questions. Why do I have so few questions? It makes me wonder am I just simple. It isn’t that I don’t care. I read the debates and I know I have an opinion. I also am keenly aware when I don’t have answers for some of the questions and sadly I’m alright with this.
I feel like I am on a “need to know” basis with God. When I need to know….then he fills me in. The rest of the time I just try and live out what I already know. I don’t think it is wrong to question. I actually think it can spur on great discussions and sharpen our beliefs. I admire those who can ask the cutting edge questions. I just realize- I don’t have that in me. I’m not cutting edge material. (At least not on the internet.) I like the debates and discussions but I think one thing that holds me back is not having the conversations face to face. I am uneasy when I can not see the whole language of a person (words and body language) being spoken before me. The other reason is my fear of just not being smart enough or well read enough to participate. Sad, I know…but this is true and holds me back.

I also am overwhelmed with the amount of need in our world for God to intervene in and through us in tangible ways…

Human trafficking
The blasphemy site (which I just learned about from Rob Reardon’s site)
The links on the blasphemy site- They make me cringe!
The apathy and self centeredness of society
The list goes on and on.
I am very aware of these things and yet sit here with absolutely no idea of how to even begin to turn the tide. My game plan….seems weak at best. I’m trying to live out Christ where I am. This isn’t a self- righteous statement…I actually feel like living out Christ where I am doesn’t address any of these needs…at least not in a tide changing way. But it is all I can do at the moment so it is what I do. Again…I guess it is a need to know kind of thing. When the Lord want me to do something more….He will tell me and give me creative ways to participate. Until then, I just do what I already know to do.

In my life recently, God has poured out upon me a real sense of how he has blessed me. To tell you the truth he has gone out of his way to romance me. I am undeserving to say the least and yet I know it is my responsibility to receive this from him wholeheartedly. This isn’t as easy as it should be. This I question! Go figure!?
I have also been made aware recently of areas where I may have failed him and as Moses….. I have been given permission to look at the “promise land” from a distance but not be there. My heart breaks over this one and I’m not even sure where I went wrong. Now for this situation, I have many questions for the Lord but they are just between us.
Any questions??

Blessed-beyond reason

God’s capacity to express his love to me far out weighs my capacity to contain it.

Blessed-beyond reason
Loved-in every season
Sacrifices-fall too short
As does -my admiration.
Every time I give to God
I’m blessed-again!
Blessed- beyond reason.

cjb

Old friend - New site

If you are interested in:

missions

great photography

The Republic of Georgia

or just reading yet another Blog!

This is the site for you.

Our friend Tony who we first met in St. Petersburg in 1994 and then later in The Republic of Georgia has a blog. I know many of you will love what he has to say and his pictures are out of this world.
Drop by and see what he is doing for God and say a prayer for his ministry while you visit his site.
Blessings to you Tony!

A cross in the sky

My youngest yelled out in the car, "LOOK! A cross in the sky!"
She showed me her discovery with excitement. The day was bright and beautiful.
She is too young to know that the pattern was made by planes flying in and out of Newark Airport.
Enjoying her excitement, I just agreed.
"And it's right over my sister's school."
"Yes, it is."
"You know Mommy, when it is sunny like today, Jesus is in the sky but when it is dark, he is in our hearts."
"Emma, he is always close by us isn't he?"
" Yup."
"You know what Emma? Maybe the sun on our skin is God giving us hugs and kisses? What do you think?"
Her little girl giggle told me she agreed.

Singing in the Rain

Get thee behind me satan!
My efforts are not in vain.
My God loves me!
So, WATCH CLOSE! 'cause
I'll be singin' in the rain.

Moon over Manhattan

Moon over Manhattan
Round, bright, full
I can’t stop staring at it
It takes my attention from the city lights
Overshadowing the man made with its purity
Capturing my eye, stealing my breath
Against the dark turquoise sky
Clear of clouds and too bright for stars
I feel everything in me gravitating towards it
As strong as the forces of attraction
It tugs the waters of the earth and my heart
Pulling me, distracting me and I understand
Why some howl when the moon is full
The romance of it all is intoxicating!

cjb