What stood out today:
1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.
8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.
9 I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man—the Holy One among you.
My response: As Luther cried out; “I want a God of Love, One who is merciful.” The whole world cries out. If only they knew the truth. If only your church believed the truth. If only I believed more completely. “Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief.” Lord God. Father, Son, Holy Spirit thank you for loving me with a white hot Holy Love that is all consuming. Help me to be completely open to You, completely vulnerable. If I can be that deeply trusting; You will be Glorified, and pleased. And, I will be transformed as you desire. Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus! Bring it on…
Showing posts with label Surrender to Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Surrender to Love. Show all posts
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Isaiah 49
What stood out today:
15 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.
My response: Lord God, how tender are these words. Such intimacy; of course a nursing mother could not forget. You invite us to ponder. What does it mean that I am engraved on the palms of your hands? I could understand a name engraved. Jesus, are the holes in your hands the engraving marks? Such wonderful words, God give me the grace to believe. To a small extent I believe, help my unbelief.
15 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.
My response: Lord God, how tender are these words. Such intimacy; of course a nursing mother could not forget. You invite us to ponder. What does it mean that I am engraved on the palms of your hands? I could understand a name engraved. Jesus, are the holes in your hands the engraving marks? Such wonderful words, God give me the grace to believe. To a small extent I believe, help my unbelief.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Isaiah 43
What stood out today:
1 But now, this is what the LORD says — he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you.
My response: Father, what a wonderful chapter, what wonderful words. Would You grant me the grace to believe? Jesus, I do trust You are. You lead me through deep waters, swift rivers, raging fires; the only thing that will be destroyed is the dross of unbelief. You will bring what is precious to You through all that. Indeed Lord God, your plans are too wonderful for me. I hear you that I am loved and precious by God Most High…
1 But now, this is what the LORD says — he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you.
My response: Father, what a wonderful chapter, what wonderful words. Would You grant me the grace to believe? Jesus, I do trust You are. You lead me through deep waters, swift rivers, raging fires; the only thing that will be destroyed is the dross of unbelief. You will bring what is precious to You through all that. Indeed Lord God, your plans are too wonderful for me. I hear you that I am loved and precious by God Most High…
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Psalm 131
What stood out today:
1 My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.
My response: Abba Father, my heart is proud and my eyes are haughty. I am more concerned with my honor than Yours. Too often my soul is racing. Too rarely do I sit quiet before you. Even as I sit morning after morning for an hour and even an hour and a half, even two; it does not seem like enough.
“Rick, just sit and receive my Love…” And so we sat for more than a half hour.
1 My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.
My response: Abba Father, my heart is proud and my eyes are haughty. I am more concerned with my honor than Yours. Too often my soul is racing. Too rarely do I sit quiet before you. Even as I sit morning after morning for an hour and even an hour and a half, even two; it does not seem like enough.
“Rick, just sit and receive my Love…” And so we sat for more than a half hour.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Psalm 91
What stood out today:
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
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.
My response: Father, I feel like I should be doing better with the trials. I don’t feel like I am resting in you, your shadow. I am not sleeping soundly. I do wake up with fear in the middle of the night. Jesus you know all about everything - you were tempted in every way that I am. Will you show me how to walk this season of strain with poise and grace? Will you show me how to float in the river of the Spirit, how to surrender to His direction and flow? Holy Spirit, lead me into the Jesus zone. Help me dwell in the shelter of the Most High. Would you set my heart free to love and receive love with reckless abandon? May I be open and completely vulnerable to you Jesus, may I learn how to be that deeply trusting. May I be transformed “to the fullness of Christ?” Ephesians 4:13 O God… I want You!!!
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
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.
My response: Father, I feel like I should be doing better with the trials. I don’t feel like I am resting in you, your shadow. I am not sleeping soundly. I do wake up with fear in the middle of the night. Jesus you know all about everything - you were tempted in every way that I am. Will you show me how to walk this season of strain with poise and grace? Will you show me how to float in the river of the Spirit, how to surrender to His direction and flow? Holy Spirit, lead me into the Jesus zone. Help me dwell in the shelter of the Most High. Would you set my heart free to love and receive love with reckless abandon? May I be open and completely vulnerable to you Jesus, may I learn how to be that deeply trusting. May I be transformed “to the fullness of Christ?” Ephesians 4:13 O God… I want You!!!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Psalm 23
What stood out today:
3 He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
My response: Jesus, the two “for” clauses caught my attention: “for your Name’s sake” and “for you are with me.” What do you want me to see? Its all about You. Its all about you and me!! Your name, your glory matters most. Me being transformed, “mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:13 Abba Father, I want these things too… I want to “know” in the Biblical sense the fullness of your matchless, precious love. Yes Jesus, You are my Lord, You are my shepherd.
3 He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
My response: Jesus, the two “for” clauses caught my attention: “for your Name’s sake” and “for you are with me.” What do you want me to see? Its all about You. Its all about you and me!! Your name, your glory matters most. Me being transformed, “mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:13 Abba Father, I want these things too… I want to “know” in the Biblical sense the fullness of your matchless, precious love. Yes Jesus, You are my Lord, You are my shepherd.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Surrender to Love and House
What stood out today:
From the book "Surrender to Love: Discovering the Heart of Christian Spirituality" by David G. Benner
Pg 76 The naked self “Love is transformational only when it is received in vulnerability."
Pg 78 “The crux of the problem is that I cannot feel the love of God because I do not dare to accept it unconditionally.”
From The TV show House #120 Love Hurts 41:40
"Its not about the pain. Its about being open and completely vulnerable to another person. If you can learn to be that deeply trusting… it changes you.”
My response: God, how strange to have this book and TV show converge on love that trusts. In “House” a dominatrix says these words that are so true when set in a context with you. Trust, vulnerability, openness, submission, are all components of authentic love. Holy Spirit, thank you for moving me to spend time with Jesus in a contemplative state, in a way “snuggling” with Him.
From the book "Surrender to Love: Discovering the Heart of Christian Spirituality" by David G. Benner
Pg 76 The naked self “Love is transformational only when it is received in vulnerability."
Pg 78 “The crux of the problem is that I cannot feel the love of God because I do not dare to accept it unconditionally.”
From The TV show House #120 Love Hurts 41:40
"Its not about the pain. Its about being open and completely vulnerable to another person. If you can learn to be that deeply trusting… it changes you.”
My response: God, how strange to have this book and TV show converge on love that trusts. In “House” a dominatrix says these words that are so true when set in a context with you. Trust, vulnerability, openness, submission, are all components of authentic love. Holy Spirit, thank you for moving me to spend time with Jesus in a contemplative state, in a way “snuggling” with Him.
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