Monday, September 5, 2016

Glory of God Fully Reflected


God created us

He placed in each of us 

a unique aspect 

of His glory


No one else

has this 

particularity 

that we possess



God loves each of us 

uniquely



He wants to see 

our uniqueness 

reflected 

back 

to 

Him



He sent His own Son to come 

to reclaim 

this uniqueness

in 

each of us


His Son had to die 

on the cross 

for us

In order to 

reclaim 

this uniqueness

in 

each of us



He is 

proud of 

our 

uniqueness


For He has made 

us 

each 

unique



It is this 

uniqueness 

that He said

You are fearfully 

and wonderfully

Hand-crafted 

by Me



Our sins 

got in the way 

of reflecting 

God’s glory 

back to Him 


When each of us 

exchange His Son’s 

death on the cross 

for the debt 

of our sins


God’s unique glory 

in us 

is now 

re-possessed 

by 

Himself



All of us 

redeemed



Each 

with our 

God-uniqueness



Combined together



Reflect corporately 

back 

to God



The fullness of 

His 

glory



God is well-pleased



He now sees 

the fullness 

of Himself

reflected 

back 

to 

Him



He says to us


I have made you 

wonderfully 

and fearfully


And that 

I know 

full well



May you also

see and know 

My fullness

through 

and in 

My creation

as a whole


With each 

of 

your 

uniqueness 

being integral 

aspect 

of 

Myself



For when

all of My 

redeemed 

returns to Me


Together

as one


My glory 

is reflected 

back 

to Me 

in its 

fullness



Just the way 

I have 

intended



And that 

makes Me 

pleased

Very

very well 

pleased



Pressing Toward the Prize

(In response to Philippians 3:12-14)


Pressing toward the prize 

is what Paul exhorts us to


Pressing on 

to take hold 

of that for which 

Christ 

took hold 

of me


That for which Jesus 

already took hold of


We press on 

to take hold of 

as well


The prize


The prize which God  

 has called us 

heavenward


In Christ Jesus


The prize


The prize is our focus

As is our aim


We run as athletes do

Without hindrance

Without distraction


We beat our bodies 

into submission


For that one goal


To run the race well

In order to win


The prize



The prize set before us



The prize

is

To know Christ


And to know Him 

fully


Not partially

Not mostly

But to fully 

know 

Him


Even as 

we are being 

fully 

known
God Uses Pain


God uses the pains of our past

He allows hurt 

betrayal

violation 

and rejection


His presence 

was with us 

through it all


His “intervention” 

in our times of pain

was His 

companionship



Just as He 

surrendered His power 

to come down 

from the cross


He surrendered 

His power 

to prevent the wrong 

being done to us


Alongside us

He felt the pain

the hurt

the betrayal

the violation 

and the rejection



The sins of those who have done us wrong 

along with our sinful coping 

have nailed Him to the cross



On the cross


He became powerless 

so He could become 

our punishment

and theirs



His love for us 

rendered Him 

helpless


as He was hopelessly 

in love with us


It was His love 

and not the nails

that kept Him 

on the cross



During our times of pain

He once again feels 

the resignation

the dread

powerlessness 

and

helplessness



For He is 

the Great High Priest 

Who has experienced 

all of our emotions



God uses 

the pains of our past



We can now identify 

with His pain 

as He felt 

His 

and our 

pain

on the cross



A Cleansed Heart

A cleansed heart 

Is a clean vessel


Can enter into God’s holy presence

Has “earned” Holy God’s ear

Has clear eyes to see God

Can hear God’s whisper


Sees ourself with God’s eye sight

Can hear what God the Father, Jesus the Savior, and Holy Spirit the Comforter, 

are saying to One Another


Can join in on the Triune God’s conversation



A cleansed heart is bought by the blood of Christ

Monday, August 29, 2016

Length of Days Not Promised Us


Life

Our very breath

We take it for granted

We know we all will pass away one day

But we act like that day will never come

At least, not anytime soon



We waste it on the mundane

Not treasuring that this very moment

Will never come again



We get caught up in the day to day life

Not treasuring our days

Nor our loved ones

Nor our friendships



The limited

finite

time

we have



If we did take our limited time seriously

How would we live it



Would we spend it in fellowship with God

With our loved ones

Actively make our eternity count

In the here and now



Would we be motivated to act as God’s hands and feet

His eyes

His ears

His heart

His mouthpiece



To usher in God’s Kingdom here on earth



 That His Will be done

Here on earth

As it is in heaven

In our lives

As well as in the lives of others around us



Would we consider it a privilege

To have our breath

Today

This moment

Right now



Or would we act in denial

That one day

Any day

Could be our last day

Here on earth




Monday, August 22, 2016

God’s Abundant Goodness
(Response to Psalm 103)


God loves to bless

He blesses us with

Spiritual blessings to the gills

E-ve-ry spiritual blessing!


God takes joy when He sees us, His children

Just the way we are - because He made us

When we live for Him - because that is His desire for us

When we take full advantage of His goodness and blessings

Because He has made all provisions for us


Everything has been prepared for us by our loving Heavenly Father

Our every spiritual need

Our every emotional and mental need

Our physical need – for He takes care of every sparrow in the field


He is our All-Sufficient God

Who loves to bless His own children

Children created after His very own image

Who are like Him

Each possessing a unique glory of the Creator


He has made and created everything for us

He can’t wait for us to partake of all of His abundant provisions

He brims with joy and satisfaction 

When He sees His children enjoying His provisions


Come!

Come to My abundant warehouse of blessings!

Come, partake!

Come, enjoy!

Come and lavish in My goodness and love!