Just Another Deep Footprint In The Snow

Anonymous

Anonymous
Such is
a way of life--
Such am I.

I am no one
Yet I live
here and now.
I may have
a name
from which society
beckons me
or a number
which captors
thrust upon me
but none justify
that I am
alive.

I am
just another
deep footprint in the snow.

I am
the bottom,
the epitome of'
all loathing
and disgust.
Even love
in this world
is a
luxury
I can't afford.

I am just
a shell,
a shell
that takes up space.
A shell
that is the untouchable
of our
civilization.

I know
there is
hope,
always
there's hope.
But hope
this time
can't get by
these walls.
Pandora's Box
has opened,
but none
shall
close it.

It will
remain
open to the
world
though
at the bottom of
her ark
lies hope.

Dimly lit,
as it might
be
extinquished
with a slight
breeze.

Sure people
can
lock it
away,
or shut
it out
of their hearts,
but it will always be there,
just waiting.
by Andrew


Same

If I could go back home
And sleep
In my own bed,
It would not be the
Same.

If I could play
With my family and friends,
It would not be the
Same.

If I could fall into
My mother's arms of joy,
It would not be the
Same,
No, it would be
Even more joyful.

by Terrance
This is a continuation of the incredible writings my 7th grade students did after studying the Holocaust.

multitude monday-rsvp

respondez s'il vous plait--this is a little hint for the thing I am most thankful for this week




for front porch plants to water

for my morning cup of coffee--oh, I said that before?

well, then for the old Texaco insulated coffee cups that keep it piping hot! I've been using this cup for probably 20 years--maybe longer. Does anyone remember when they first came out?

Oh, you are a Phillips fan? Well, I can't leave them out. This one doesn't go as far back as the one above but I love it just as much. Don't you just love the old Route 66 signs?

My church--I know I said that before but I have to say it again. Our service yesterday was beyond incredible. No one wanted to leave.

for beautiful Korean art--this was attached to the homework of one of my son's students

for candlelight dinner with friends this week

for light that filters through trees,

I know I said that last week, didn't I? But it is so, so beautiful!

And it is a different picture!

for light that shines through crystals,

for first responders (and we didn't even have to say please)

especially the policemen and paramedics who took care of my granddaughter when she was in a bad car wreck this past Saturday night.

When I first saw her, it was pretty sad. She was strapped to a stretcher in a neck brace. After x-rays, it was determined that she didn't have any serious injuries--just lots of neck and back pain from pulled muscles. Thank you Lord and thank you to all first responders everywhere. You are my heroes. I mean that.

Blessings #31-40

posted in community with

Weekend Worship

come into the Holy of Holies, enter by the Blood of the Lamb

Come into the Holy Of Holies

Enter by the Blood of the Lamb.

Just for a moment while you are here,

If you can, forget the cares of the world,

Ask God's Holy Spirit

to filll you with His love and His presence.

Bask in His love, the warm balm of His comfort,

For He cares for you deeply

and seeks, even yearns, for a deep intimate

relationship with you.

Father God, bless each one that worships here today.

May this be a peaceful place, full of grace and gentleness,

an oasis from the cares of the world.

We have heard the joyful sound:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land,
Climb the steeps and cross the waves;
Onward!--'tis our Lord's command;
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Waft it on the rolling tide,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
Tell to sinners far and wide,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
Sing, ye islands of the sea,
Echo back, ye ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves.

Sing above the battle's strife,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
By His death and endless life,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
Sing it softly thru the gloom,
When the heart for mercy craves,
Sing in triumph o'er the tomb,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves.

Give the winds a mighty voice,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
Let the nations now rejoice.
Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
Shout salvation full and free,
Highest hills and deepest caves,
This our song of victory,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves.

My Prayer
Lord, I take this opportunity to praise you
Even though I feel very dry within myself--
A desert that is cracked and barren, where plants
that once thrived have now become parched and shriveled--
that is how my soul feels--
Do I know beyond a shadow of any doubt that someday
that same barren, cracked, parched land will
flow with rivers of milk and honey? Yes, I know that--
My faith knows that from years of experience,
but my heart cries out to be released from all its sin,
its ugliness, its resentments and hatreds, bitterness, and jealousy--
My heart cries out to praise from a pure heart once again,
To praise my God from a heart of pure devotion,
from total and complete commitment to Him,
My heart longs to be a heart of flesh and
not a heart of stone--
A heart that has been circumcised to all the vile
and filthy things of the world we live in--
A heart where no area examined will expose anything
except cleanliness, no impure thoughts,
only righteousness, justice, and mercy.


God's Response

The Lord Himself will come to those
who are experiencing the desert of grief.
He Himself will shower the parched land.
He will rain on every inch until it is soaked--
Until the runoff of the Holy Spirit's balm
fills every nook, crack, and crevice
of your heart and soul.
Then you shall minister to others
who are experiencing this same grief. You will teach
them to rejoice, to clap their hands, to give way to
the rhythm in their feet--You will teach them to
praise God at all times--to cherish His promises,
to seek out the "hidden manna" of
Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior.
And then I Myself will come to you and wrap
you in fine linens--linens of purest white--
linens of righteousness, justice, and peace.
And when I look at you, I will see Jesus,
for He has taken all sin, all shame, all degradation
upon himself.
He has exchanged garments with you and
now you are clothed as in LIGHT--when others
look upon you, they will see Jesus and His brilliance.
They will see His love waiting to save them
from the same sin and destruction from which

He saved you.

God's blessings and benedictions to you,
"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." Jude 24-25

Y a aquel que es poderoso para guardaros sin caída, y presentaros sin mancha delante de su gloria con gran alegría, 25 al único y sabio Dios, nuestro Salvador, sea gloria y majestad, imperio y potencia, ahora y por todos los siglos. Amén.

family journal

the 3m company

student praying allowed--even encouraged

I visited the school where four of my grandchildren attend and was delighted to see this poster hanging in one of the classrooms. I loved the individual requests that had been placed on it in the form of little yellow sticky notes.
The little yellow sticky note--where would we be without it?--thank goodness for the 3M company and the guy who invented them.

3M--Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing--

But 3M to me is Master, Maker, Minister--the 3 in 1--I know where I would be without Him.

the sights of the season--football season that is--

Kendall at "Meet the Eagles" night.



First 3-way scrimmage



My favorite number



My favorite grandson




My only grandson



Kendall is to the far left playing safety.

just traveling along, singing a song, side by side

Many years ago, I was sitting in church between my husband and my six year old son. I was holding hands with both. It struck me at that moment in time how the image of our hands represented the Christian walk. On one side, my husband's bigger, stronger hand encapsulated my weaker, smaller hand but on the other side my stronger, bigger hand embraced the weaker, smaller hand of my son.

So it is in the Christian walk I think.

There is always someone who has blazed the trail before us,

studied the Bible longer, knows more scripture, is wiser, more mature than we--those

"someones" who are there to lift us up, to quote that "just needed" verse to us. But likewise, there is always someone who is weaker or newer in the faith than we, someone who needs our stronger, steadier, more mature hand, someone who needs to hear an encouraging,

uplifting word from us.

So never be discouraged where you are in this walk with Christ.

There is always someone to minister to and someone from whom we can gain valuable knowledge. In this walk with Him, dare to stretch out your arm to take the hand of someone in need of help from you, and sometimes even more daring or intimidating is to reach

toward the hand that is stronger.

Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you

out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

Deut. 5:15

Photography by my granddaughter, Kailey, on mission trip to Africa.

Hey Kailey, can I please have permission to post this picture? Love, Mimi

posted in community with the sojourners at

The Camp is Cold

The Camp is Cold

It's cold in this camp.
There is no heat.
The gruel is cold.
The bread is cold and black.
My life is cold.
Too cold to live.

by Marc


The Holocaust

Weak and pale, we live each day,
No hope left in our eyes;
God cannot hear the psalms we pray,
Drowned out by anguished cries.

We live in filth and constant fear,
Of illogical reprise;
Each dawn brings cold death more near,
The sunlight in disguise.

What have I done to earn this strife,
My crime . . . to be a Jew;
I'm subject to their sordid life,
The madness of a few.

So many gone and more to die,
The future seems so bleak;
Amid the suffering throng I lie,
An end to this we seek.

Yet when the sands have all but run,
When all have lost their will;
Our hearts will rise in unison,
We are stronger still.

by Madison

This is a continuation of the writings my 7th grade students did after we studied The Holocaust.
Marc helped us to see the starkness of these death camps. Madison gave us new hope for the future amidst a hopeless backdrop.

multitude monday-thoughts to ponder

for grandchildren swinging

for thoughts to ponder

for blue jean jackets

for freckles

for naturally curly hair

for the sunlight filtering through distant trees

for hands that grasp

for cool, crisp autumn-like days

for cameras that capture priceless, once-in-a-lifetime moments

for scripture that says,"And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you?"

photo-my granddaughter Kennedy

scripture passage from Matthew 6, The Living Bible

blessings #21-30

posted in community with

mud pies

i can't believe i ate the whole thing!

Did you ever make a mud pie when you were little? Looking back I wonder what was so intriging about them. True, we got to play in water; true, we got to play in some dirt; true, they did look amazingly like my grandmother's pies except mine were little individual pies. Sadly we couldn't partake of their delectable goodness.

Speaking of my grandmother's pies brings to mind this little incident that has been told on my Aunt Frances. I think she was about 7 or 8 years old when this happened.

It seems that my grandmother had just baked two of her out of this world, creamy, flaky-crusted, heavenly (I hope you are getting the picture here) chocolate pies and set them in the window sill to cool AFTER reminding everybody to stay out of them and not touch them until suppertime. (Well, that's what it was called back then.)

My aunt, being overcome with the temptation of it all, proceeded to consume a piece of one of the pies. Knowing that she would get in big trouble if her mom noticed that a piece was gone from one of them, she continued in her folly and ate the whole pie, thinking all the while that my grandmother might not notice--if the whole pie wasn't there and a tell-tale piece missing.

Remember reading this verse? Prov 17:12
Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

When my grandmother discovered that missing pie, whooeee, I bet she was every bit as ferocious as that bear mentioned above and I bet my aunt wished she had never given in to such folly.

Well, that is a humorous little story looking back but the verse is good for today. Every time I read that verse, it really makes me stop and take inventory of my life and my priorities and what I am "going after" today. If I am "bent" on something that is "folly," the people I come in contact with today might as well be in a remote section of Yellowstone meeting up with that she-bear. Lord, help them. And help me and save me from myself.

Oh, by the way, I was reading this morning where Jesus made mud pies.

11 He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see." John 9:11

I've heard it said that His mud pies were simply divine.

special delivery

the guy who came to deliver the grill--middle aged with old hands

retroactive

I received a thank you note a couple of days ago. My niece who is my namesake, Lindsay Dianne, got married June 6th. She was writing to thank us for the dinner plates we bought her as a wedding gift two and a half months ago. Now, I have never been a stickler on thank you notes--I guess because I was always horrible at writing them in a timely manner. And after all, she had already thanked us in person so what does a hand-written note add to that? But....

But I thought--good little southern girls have them in the mail before the attendees get home from the showers--and it really is a good thing, a gracious thing, the thing to do--but I am just not made that way. And yes, discipline is one of the areas of my life that I struggle with daily.

I did have to smile a little though when on the back of the thank you note envelope was the message "Retroactive 6-6-09." Even if I was an ole aunt saturated with southern etiquette through and through, I think I would have smiled also.

And I thought "how clever of her."

And I thought--retroactive--I know what retroactive means. I've read about it many times in the Bible. Isn't that what it means when it says, "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." His love goes all the way back, doesn't it? No matter what we've done or how bad we have sinned.

And I thought--how loving of Him! Because He Is Love!

So think about forgiving yourself today for past failures and sins. He has--his forgiveness is retroactive.

the place

the place

a secret spot

not yet destroyed by city concrete.

She loves to go there,

especially

in the Fall.

Just one step inside

the trees

and you can understand

beauty

and what it's really all about.

When she's there

she lets her emotions

take over

and she dances.

There's no need for music.

The wind, the water,

and the rustling of the leaves

create their own symphony.

Rays of sun

break through the chill

and become her

spotlights.

Earthy browns and greens,

vibrant reds and oranges

of the changing leaves

are her background.

All of this is her stage,

This place,

in the middle of a concrete world,

where she can

express

the joy in

the beauty around her.

This beautiful poem was written by Audrey, one of my 7th grade students several years ago.

Photo-Japanese maple in my back yard shot last week.

dances with wolves

question of the century

some get rained out

sneak preview

A few months ago I received a very humbling honor. I was asked to be one of the artists to participate in the Arkansas Heart Ball. Compared to some, I am relatively a newbie to this world of being an "artist." And I have to admit, it has been very hard to call myself an artist.

I had to make the decision of whether to do that one day about 3 years ago when a painting of mine was chosen to hang in an exhibit sponsored by Mid-southern Watercolorists. At that point in time my 9 year old granddaughter questioned me, "Mimi, are you an artist?" I remember having to make a split-section decision at that moment. And I said, "Yes, Sweetheart, your Mimi is an artist."

I was astounded that those words had actually come out of my mouth and I almost felt guilty--UNTIL I started thinking about our Creator and the FACT that we are created in His Image. I think He has placed inside all of us the ability to create and the need to create. It takes many forms--the surgeon, the teacher, the architect, the cosmetologist, the quilter, the engineer, the baker, the homemaker, the blogger (ahem), the scrapbooker--I could go on and on--

So, here is a sneak preview of the canvas I painted to be auctioned to help raise money for heart research here in the state of Arkansas. It is rather large, 3' by 4', so this is just a small section of it.

I'll show you the whole canvas on September 15. The unveiling for the public is the 14th.

My inspiration for this piece:

When I started thinking about trying to paint a picture that would reflect the heart and what it does, my mind went way past just the pumping of blood. My thoughts went to a recent interview I heard with the pilot of the airliner that went down over the Hudson River a few months ago. He said, "After I walked the aisle of the plane and saw that everyone had gotten off safely, I felt the weight of the world lift from my heart." He didn't say "lift from my chest," he said, "lift from my heart." I thought that was interesting--a "cut to the chase, straight shooting, matter of fact talking" pilot had referred to "his heart."

I had been thinking about what all the heart does besides pump blood and I came up with seven words that symbolize the most important things (to me) that our hearts do. I chose seven because that is the number in scripture that symbolizes perfection. The words are love, laugh, remember, wonder, embrace, play, and believe.

Some of the vertical and horizontal lines of calligraphy are very precise but the large letters are painted very expressively--once again symbolizing the purposes of the heart but also trying to capture the emotions and rhythms of the heart.

No other organ of the body embodies these personal characteristics such as the heart. That God could and did create it to be a physical and emotional entity is once again proof of His ingenuity, creativeness, power and love.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

Light fades angels appear

Recently, company from Chicago remarked about the plaque hanging in her condominium bedroom. It read:

Light fades, stars appear,
Evening angels gather near.

In Revelation 21:23 we read:
23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light , and the Lamb is its lamp.
NIV

In scripture we read that Jesus is the Lamb of God. It is hard for our minds to fathom this concept of no sun or moon, yet, we know that only Christ brings true light into our lives. And we know that God created the stars and calls each one by name.

Psalms 147:4 He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name.NIV Another concept hard to grasp--especially if you’ve ever gazed at the black velvet sky plastered with multitudes of stars .

Are we (made in His likeness) not much more important to Him than the stars?

We also know that God sends angels to protect us.

Psalms 91:9-16

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling —
even the LORD, who is my refuge —
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
NIV

We are special to God. He loves us more than our finite minds can comprehend. Be encouraged today. Know that you are loved and that God wants to be the light of your life.

Passion of the Christ

As I thought back on The Passion of the Christ, two things kept coming to my mind—Mary, the mother of Jesus watching her son in the process of dying, and Jesus carrying the heavy cross until finally he fell under the weight. I was struck by the thought that the weight of the cross on His back did not begin to compare to the weight of our sin upon His heart.

In the movie, As I watched Mary watch Jesus, my heart was wrenched. Not only was she his earthly mother, but He was her Savior also.

There is no way that I can identify with the sufferings of my Jesus. Although thankful from the literal depths of my heart, it is still incomprehensible to me.

I can, however, identify somewhat, if in a very small measure to how Mary must have suffered watching her son and her Savior. In this analogy, I intend in no way to bring glory to Mary but to share her example with you.

In the movie as Mary is watching Jesus’ sufferings, she flashes back to a time when he was small and fell down and hurt himself. Of course, as most mothers would she runs to him to take Him in her arms and comfort Him. I thought back to a day many, many years ago when I dropped my oldest son off for his first day of kindergarten. The year was 1971. It was the height of the VietNam war. I came home, cried a million tears, sat down and wrote in his baby book about how I might as well be sending him off to Viet Nam to fight that war.

If he fell and hurt himself at kindergarten that first day, for the first time in his life, I would not be there to kiss his hurt and make it better. I would not be there to comfort him.

I thought my heart would break.

As I watched Mary’s reaction in The Passion of the Christ, I was struck with her anguished yet simple response of watching her son suffer so. She never took her eyes off of Jesus. Her attention was never turned to his persecutors or his problems, she never turned to the right nor to the left but kept her gaze steady and straight ahead on Him.

What a lesson we could all learn from that. I admit I am tempted and give in many times to look at the things Satan hurls at my children and take my eyes off of the cross of Jesus. I was reminded yesterday to keep my eyes focused on Him—not to look at circumstances, not to veer to the right nor to the left but to keep my gaze focused on Him.

When I focus on Him, I:

Worship not worry

Love not hate

Forgive, and do not let bitterness take root,

Am Peaceful, not contentious

I am more interested in my brother than I am myself

I walk in His righteousness and do not depend upon my own,

Love to give more than receive

I am content, not anxious

I am grateful, not greedy,

I am heavenly minded, rather than no earthly good

I am assured, not doubtful

I am not darkness, but rather reflect the greatest and only light that has ever come to this world, that of the Lord Jesus Christ, Our Savior. May our attention be drawn to the cross today, to the sufferings of our Lord—As an old song by Dottie Rambo goes

I will glory in the cross,
Lest his suffering all be in vain
“I will weep no more for the cross that He bore,
But I will glory in the cross

And of course we know we can glory in the cross because that is not the end of the story.

Today we celebrate not only the cross and Jesus’ sufferings but the resurrection that gives all of us hope for a future in heaven with Him.

around the next corner

AROUND THE NEXT CORNER


In the new testament Paul says and I would like for us to focus on these verses today:

Philippians 3:7-14

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

A number of years ago I used to run 3 miles a day. With stress fractures, a touch of arthritis, bursitis, knee problems, getting older and such those days are probably gone forever.


This morning as I was thinking about the verse in Philippians, y mind went back to a poem that came to me as I was running one day way back when—

As I remember the day, it was very windy and as long as I was running south, west or east was not that strong but the instant I turned the corner to run in a northerly direction that noreaster took me by surprise and I barely had the strength to run against it and in fact thought I would have to give up and walk—Almost as soon as this thought came to me of giving up, I looked up and saw a big curve in the path and a big cedar tree which blocked my view of what was up ahead and this is what came to me at that moment:

If I knew around the next corner
Your blessed face I would see
How fast I could run against the wind
To catch a glimpse of Thee.

If I knew across the next ocean
Waves of love would soon enfold me
How strong I could swim against the tide
To be held so close to Thee.

If I knew across the next mountain,
Your faithfulness awaited me,
How sure my feet on slippery slopes
To be kept for eternity,

If I knew across the line
They called finish,
A crown of righteousness would be presented to me
How I would press on and not give up,
To place it at the feet of Thee.

Needless to say, after the Holy Spirit brought these thoughts to my mind, I ran a little faster and a little swifter.

As I thought back over this poem today, I realized that what I was really doing was longing for the appearance of Jesus. I longed for his face, I longed for his arms of love, I longed for his faithfulness and for His Words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

In 2Timothy 4:8 we read these words:

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Prayer for today
Father, today would you reveal yourself to us through your son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one. I do what I see the Father doing.” We know that your son healed blind eyes so they could see, gave restoration to crippled limbs so they could serve, gave forgiveness to sinful hearts so they could have life everlasting.

Today we pray for healing for our bodies, Lord, but most of all we pray for healing for our sin sick hearts and attitudes—hearts that rebel at times to our given situations. We offer our attitudes, hearts, and minds to You. Renew us, give us Your heart, Your attitude, and Your mind. Minister to each one of us in a most intimate and unique way—minister to our specific needs Dear Father.

We know that you are the Giver of every good and perfect gift and so today we ask for wisdom and we ask for faith. We act upon our faith to tell You that we believe your son, Jesus Christ is the only way to You and we ask to know You more intimately. We ask for eternal life and we know that in the book of John you said:

“ Now this is eternal life : that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Father, we turn from our ways of faithlessness asking You to forgive us and make us whole. We long for You to show up in our lives, to appear around the next corner, to make yourself known to us in a most real way. Give us eyes to see you because our faith tells us that You really are here with us. We pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

ash wednesday

Today's NIV Scripture Verses on GOSHEN-- The last sentence in the prayer for today really spoke to my heart--"Please receive my actions, words, and thoughts today as an offering of praise to you." That really made me stop and think.

It reminded me of a day a few years ago when I was teaching at a Catholic school. Of course, we had mass for the students once a week and I was expected to go. Not being a member of the Catholic church myself, I could not partake of communion. However, when Easter arrived, I was encouraged to go forward to receive the sign of the cross in ashes on my forehead. Most of my Catholic teacher friends had received this cross every Ash Wednesday for most of their lives and did not think much about it.

For me, however, it was a very emotional time. I cried off and on all day. It was such a privilege for me to wear this symbol of our salvation. I actually was advertising that I was a follower of Jesus Christ. I might as well have had a billboard attached to my head. I couldn't personally rub it off for I felt that would almost be like denying my relationship with the Creator of the universe. So, everywhere I went that afternoon after school, I watched every word I spoke and every action I took.

When I read this prayer today. I once again thought how important it is that our words, actions and thoughts reflect Jesus' holiness.

"Lord, I want all of my actions to be a blessing to you today and worthy to be lifted up as an offering of praise to you."

my heart is heavy

My heart is heavy, Lord, with the weight of this burden—
It seems I’ve been carrying it for so long.

I give it to you and then it seems I want to pick it up again and carry it by myself.

When will I learn, Lord, that you really meant what you said,
“Cast all your care upon me for I care for you.”

When will I learn, Lord, that your shoulders are wide and strong?

another look at psalm 23

ANOTHER LOOK AT PSALM 23

When my Ladies' Bible Study leader asked us to read Psalm 23 five times a day for the next week, I was somewhat disappointed. Not because I don't enjoy studying the Bible, for that was one of my main goals for the summer after nine months of classroom teaching, but because I had memorized that scripture as a child of four and through the years had heard many sermons preached from that text.

After the first morning of study and the first revelation from the Holy Spirit, I became more and more excited about what it might have to say that I personally had never discerned.
Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
I decided to start with the first line and the word SHEPHERD. I looked up passages in the Bible and was amazed to see (with spiritual eyes for the first time) that right before Moses saw the buring bush, angels, and heard the voice of God telling him to take off his sandals because he was on Holy Ground, he was tending his sheep and led them to the far side of the desert.

Why did Moses lead his flock to the far side of the desert? Had God, in the past, tried to lead me to HOLY GROUND only to be sidetracked by my mumbling and complaining and disobedience? For you see, God will lead us but he will not make us go. Just as the sheep who gets lost and costs the Shepherd valuable time and trouble, how many times had God tried to lead me to the far side of the desert? How many times had God tried to show me his Glory only to be thwarted by my insistence to lead and not to follow?

Once we have seen his Glory, it is natural and easy to obey for awhile as I saw in the next few verses of the chapter where my soul was refreshed, restored, and healed.

Ps 23:2-3
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
(NIV)
After the Glory and the refreshing, God tenderly tries to teach us how to walk uprightly in his own paths of righteousness. We know that we have been made right with God because of Jesus' righteousness. We have received this through faith.

However, the Bible says in James that faith without deeds is dead.

James 2:20-26
20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
(NIV)

It is interesting to note that it was Abraham's belief in what God said that was exchanged for righteousness. Do my actions prove that I believe what God says? It is not enough for me to believe in God.

James 2:19
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder.
(NIV)

Suddenly a new light seemed to be dawning for me about righteousness. I was getting excited about doing what was "right" and even more excited about exercising my "belief" in what God says. After completing a study on "righteousness," I learned that many things were promised to those who walk uprightly before God. And the Good Shepherd would actually LEAD me down these paths of righteousness? How wonderful! How glorious! I did not have to search for them on my own. But I did need to follow where He was guiding.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
After the Glory, the refreshing and the peaceful walks down paths of righteousness, suddenly I am brought to a time of great testing. I walk "through the valley of the shadow of death." But, there I learn an even greater peace. In the first three verses of Psalm 23 we see a peace among peaceful circumstances. In verse four we learn about the "peace that passes all understanding," because it is the peace we experience in the midst of death staring us, our friends, or loved ones in the face. This is the peace the world does not understand. Do I really BELIEVE that God can and will give this peace to me? Right here and now, I have the opportunity to exercise my faith and belief in God.
(Somewhere in the writing of this piece, it became a prayer--a heart cry to God. Knowing this was grammatically incorrect, I started to change it, but decided to keep it as was first written.)
And now God, after all this, you have prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies? God, I could really get puffed up about this, but it seems to me that you are trying to teach me something. Will I feast and dine with only my friends or will I invite those who have treated me the worst to partake of this heavenly food knowing that they will mistreat me again? Jesus washed the feet of Judas Iscariot KNOWING that he was going to betray him. Is that a lesson for me, God? Yes, God, with great thankfulness, humbleness, and sincerity I will ask my enemies to dine with me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
And now, Lord, you are anointing my head with oil.
1Sam 16:13
13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.
(NIV)

Lord, is this what you are teaching me through Psalm 23? You have shown me your Glory, refreshed and restored my soul, guided me in paths of righteousness, walked with me through the valley of the shadow of death, fed my hungry spirit, and anointed me with oil.

Could Isaiah 61 be what you are trying to teach me? This passage says:

CHAPTER 61
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (NIV)

6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.


I understand now, Lord, that if I live Psalm 23, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life--not only will goodness and mercy be bestowed upon me by you, Heavenly Father, but because you live in me goodness and mercy will be bestowed upon others by me wherever I go and whatever I do for as long as I am blessed to live this life.

And considering this, how could I ever want anything else than to dwell in your presence from this day forward through eternity?!

Ps 84:10
10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
(NIV)

Hope for the grieving

My Prayer
Lord, I take this opportunity to praise you
Even though I feel very dry within myself--
A desert that is cracked and barren, where plants
that once thrived have now become parched and shriveled--
that is how my soul feels--
Do I know beyond a shadow of any doubt that someday
that same barren, cracked, parched land will
flow with rivers of milk and honey? Yes, I know that--
My faith knows that from years of experience,
but my heart cries out to be released from all its sin,
its ugliness, its resentments and hatreds, bitterness, and jealousy--
My heart cries out to praise from a pure heart once again,
To praise my God from a heart of pure devotion,
from total and complete commitment to Him,
My heart longs to be a heart of flesh and
not a heart of stone--
A heart that has been circumcised to all the file
and filthy things of the world we live in--
A heart where no area examined will expose anything
except cleanliness, no impure thoughts,
only righteousness, justice, and mercy.


God's Response

The Lord Himself will come to those
who are experiencing the desert of grief.
He Himself will shower the parched land.
He will rain on every inch until it is soaked--
Until the runoff of the Holy Spirit's balm
fills every nook, crack, and crevice
of your heart and soul.
Then you shall minister to others
who are experiencing this same grief. You will teach
them to rejoice, to clap their hands, to give way to
the rhythm in their feet--You will teach them to
praise God at all times--to cherish His promises,
to seek out the "hidden manna" of
Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior.
And then I Myself will come to you and wrap
you in fine linens--linens of purest white--
linens of righteousness, justice, and peace.
And when I look at you, I will see Jesus,
for He has taken all sin, all shame, all degradation
upon himself.
He has exchanged garments with you and
now you are clothed as in LIGHT--when others
look upon you, they will see Jesus and His brilliance.
They will see His love waiting to save them
from the same sin and destruction from which

He saved you.

Lord You Are

Lord, to me you are the perfect flower, flawless beauty perfect little wildflower
You are the strength of a massive waterfall--
You are a vast canopy of sparkling stars,
An ocean whose waves never cease,
A mountain of refuge,
a river of delight flowing ever so gently
Carving out depths of wisdom in your children,
A rainbow whose beauty covers the whole Earth.

Oh, God, when I consider the works of your hands,
I am in total awe of you, but more than that, Father, when
I consider that you want a relationship with me,
that you delight in me conversing with you,
I cannot comprehend.

Father, grant today that I would stop and smell the flowers,
That I would look up and depend on your strength--not mine,
That I would seek out your rivers of wisdom,
And that I would reflect all the facets of your love
to those around me.


Dianne McDaniel Hogue, 1998

the craving place revisited

pilgrimage-journey to a sacred place--this old sofa is not a sacred place-the sacred place is the point where my spirit and God's Spirit intersect-

nevertheless, this old sofa beckons me each morning because it has a history with me and God--

the table always hosts a cup of steaming coffee, the sunlight filters through the dining room window, (when I taught school there was no sunlight filtering through--the alarm was set much earlier) the worn family Bible, the antique clock that quit working years ago, and the old buffet link my thoughts to those who came before, those who prayed many prayers for me and my family--old and comfortable--

The flag right outside my living room window reminds me of the many heroes who gave their life's blood so that I can sit here freely and read my Bible and commune with Him every morning--

this pilgrimage of prayer and walking with him--

what a joy!

what a responsibility!





Today's theme is "going on" into this pilgrimage of prayer. I am reprinting a post from a few months ago (before I knew about Walk With Him Wednesday) entitled THE CRAVING PLACE. It best describes how I came to this place of seeking God.



I know that what works best for one is not what another needs and I look forward to reading how you have determined to go on into this pilgrimage.



In David Wilkerson's book GOD'S PLAN IN THE COMING DEPRESSION he spoke of "his craving place."

You may click on this page to make it bigger and easier to read.

Some years ago, a craving such as David describes started growing in my heart. I set the alarm a little earlier so that I could have this time of communion with the Lord every day. I know that we can meet with God anywhere, but it does seem for me that if I have a habitual place where I pour out my soul to Him that it fosters my desire and yearning to meet with Him regularly.

My craving place for many years when I lived in Oklahoma was the right end of my living room sofa. Where I live now, it is the left end of my living room sofa.

(I am fairly faithful to this routine because it is my lifeline--a total joy and something I normally look forward to with great anticipation-- but yes, I have times when it is harder than usual--if company comes it only takes missing a couple of days and then I have to work hard for a few days to get back in the habit again.)

My time consists of this:

I read (meditatively and prayerfully) 5 chapters from Psalms.



On the first day of the month I read Psalm 1, Psalm 31, 61, 91, and 121. On the 2nd day of the month I read Ps. 2, 32, 62, 92, and 122. I add 30 to the number each time. By the end of the month I have read all the way through the book of Psalms.



For many years I also read 1 chapter from Proverbs--the day of the month coordinated with the chapter I read. I have given that up recently so that I will have more time to read other books of the Bible.



I like to read something in red--Jesus' words--and I like to read something from the epistles.

Prayers are interspered within this time alone with God. I cannot separate reading God's Word and praying. To me prayer is a two way street--I listen to God for a while and then I pour out my heart to Him.



This has become my lifeline. Whenever I lose my craving to do this, my fruit seems to dry up right on the vine and I find myself trying to handle situations in my own power. And that is not a pretty picture.



UPDATE: Just a few days ago, I started reading the Bible through. I have never read the Bible through before. I am on Genesis 10 and am doing a 3-year plan. Also, I read where it is a good idea to read each epistle through about 20 times before proceeding to the next so I am on my second reading of Philippians.



I know that it is my heart that God wants and if I spend this time in God's Word and He doesn't have my heart, then it is all in vain. So my prayer is that I would let God speak to me daily through His Word and the fruit of His Spirit would be evident in my life.

dianne





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credits--GOD'S PLAN IN THE COMING DEPRESSION BY DAVID WILKERSON-no copyrights were listed so I used this freely.