There is No Risk

LOVE breathed life into Adam and LOVE breathed its last on the Cross.  A breath so powerful that LOVE tore the temple veil, eclipsed the sun and the earth quaked.  A powerful breath that even in the grip of death, came the explosion of Life.   

LOVE left the Cross and breathed new Life upon His fallen mankind in the resurrected power of  Jesus Christ.  A new dimension of abundant Life in God's oxygen, became available for us to breathe and intake for restoration, intimacy and well being.  It feels good to inhale a deep breath of God!  And what a wonderful beginning in the dawn of each new day in our lives.
 

Mt. Vernon Daybreak

I wrote, 'There us no Risk' in honor of ABBA, our heavenly Father,  revealed to us through Jesus.  As it was in the beginning, LOVE desires no less than to gather His own unto Himself.  And to breathe the breath of abundant Life within you and me, becoming one in essence, throughout our earthly journey and eternal destiny. 

There is no Risk

There is no risk to stand before You.... vulnerable,

     for You take my open heart with no reproof.

There is no risk to stand before You.... just as I am,

     for You take my being in total acceptance.

There is no risk to stand before You.... shackled,

for You take my chains and set me free.

There is no risk to stand before You.... in transgression,

for You take my sins and wash me with forgiveness and peace.

There is no sin to stand before You..."in ego rights",

for You take my selfishness and give me selflessness.

There is no risk to stand before you... broken,

for you take the pieces and give me healing restoration.
 There is no risk to stand before you... in personal guilt,
for You dissolve it with Your judgement of mercy and grace.

 There is no risk to stand before You... in spiritual blindness,

for You take my darkness and give me light to see.

There is no risk to stand before you.... in depression,

for You take my cave of despair and inspire me to hope.
  There is no risk to stand before You.... in adoration and praise,

for You take and we mesh in sweet communion.

There is no risk to stand before You.... as Your own,

for You take my life and anoint it with your Presence.

There is no risk in allowing You to take..

for I am being made whole.

The above clip is produced by IntelliBibledotcom and presented on YouTube by Randy Reed.  It is an original video of  Margaret Becker's "Just Come In" with on-screen lyrics.  Be blessed by the message and the music.
You can also view at this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20vZlkFdnwI

May your Easter Sunday be special and that your "everyday" be an experience in the freedom of the abundant breath of God.   See you next Monday at the Turn-Up Patch.....

The Omni of God

I have mentioned friendship in several of my prior posts as to what it is (in my viewpoint) and those who we include in our lives as true friends.  The following is a condensed narrative which I have written in honor of our Ultimate Friend, Who is the heartbeat of relationship.   

The shadow of the Cross  stretches back throughout all the centuries from this present age and reaches into the abyss of space and time when creation began in the Omni of God.   

 He is Omni-sicent – all or total knowing

He is Omni-present – present everywhere all the time

He is Omni-potent – all powerful
He is Omni-benevolence - all love

The essence of these four Omnis of God, issued a force of love so sacrificial, it altered heaven, earth and hell in its wake.  This sacrifice, already in motion in the Triune Thought of God, came into fruition a mere 2000 years ago beginning in Bethlehem and ending in Jerusalem.  He knew that His beloved creation, mankind, would choose to experience not only good but evil out of disobedience in free will.  This led to the resulting fall in separation from God's embrace and required a redemptive plan of rescue for the fallen nature of man and woman.   That rescue plan meant the relinquishing of His Son to the human race, to be ever identified as human as well as Divine.  The Word, that expression of God, was made flesh in the form of Jesus, and dwelt among us.   So powerful was this sacrificial Word, that the brokenness which Christ experienced upon the Cross, shattered the chains that came with the consequence of darkness to God's beloved mankind.  

So great a love! So great a price! So great a salvation!... to bring mankind back into the embrace of the Father of Lights in reconciled relationship.   I don't pretend to understand fully.  I am not a theologian and many theologians themselves are mystified when they come to the end of intellectual knowledge explaining the nature of God.  But, what I do understand is His Hand of grace, mercy and forgiveness, which is always open to receive and never closed to reject.
  

We celebrate Palm Sunday... the remembrance of the triumphal entrance of  Jesus into Jerusalem.  People were shouting Hosanna, "Save Now",  waving palm leaves and scattering them on the ground before the donkey that He was riding.   The palm leaves were waved as freedom flags, representing victory,  liberation and Kingship. In the years to follow, it also became a symbol of martyrdom.   

Many of these people greeted Jesus not as the spiritual Messiah but as a potential political leader who would overthrow the Romans. Some of these same people were shouting "Crucify Him" not many days later. 

He who was glorious, yet for my sake

Put away glory to die upon the cross

The above video "Entry into Jerusalem" is presented by Richard Seel.   The lovely song "See the King riding on a donkey" is set to pictures of the entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday from the BBC version of the Passion.

 You can also view at this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVxeDPN81xA

I publish this post a day earlier than usual in reflection of Palm Sunday.  Please return to the Turn-Up Patch next week for celebration of  Easter Sunday.

 

Wimpy, a Friend, a Star!

Animals are special creations of God which come in all sorts of sizes, species and breeds  - some furry with purrs, others hairy with woofs, some come with feathers, some with manes and built to "saddle up".  These are just a few of some of the four legged critters that people bring into their lives to form a unique bond of friendship.  Many of us prefer one kind over another or have several varied friends roaming the house or pasture.  There will be future posts highlighting different animals but today's post is focusing on the loyal dog.

I'd like to introduce you to Wimpy,  a Border Collie dog who became a member of our family.   Wimpy was a working cow dog.  He loved to do "his job" in herding livestock.... he was alert to commands which would tell him to head or heel cattle.  Briefly, this term means:  head  is to get in front of the animals and use what is called strong eye  to stare them down. These headers or fetching dogs keep livestock in a group. They consistently go to the front or head of the animals to turn or stop the animal's movement. To heel  means to keep pushing the animals forward. Typically, they stay behind the herd.  Wimpy could do both - he was a natural to head or to heel livestock.  He would take off down a hill to move cattle along or stay in front of a herd that would stop them in their tracks to avoid scatter.  He was able to bring back cattle from places that were not safe for horse and rider to go.    

Wimpy also loved his family.  As you can tell from the enlarged photo below, his eyes tell you that.  He was a faithful friend, eager to show his unconditional love and receive all the love he could get from hands that would pet him in reward and caring.  He was a shy and timid pup when he came to us and that's why he was tagged with the name "Wimpy".  As he grew into an adult dog, he proved himself to be anything but wimpy and was aggressive in his job as a stock dog as he learned to understand what was expected of him and trust his human friend for direction.  I wish I could say that Wimpy was still with us but he began to fade in his older age.  A day came when we knew that his will to live was leaving him and it wouldn't be long for that final earthly farewell.  It is always hard to lose a valuable friend, whether they have four legs or two.  In God's infinite mercy and grace, WHO IS the embodiment of Unconditional Love, it is consoling to think that our critter companions in life will be waiting for us on the other side when it's time for our journey to end.

Wimpy and "You're Wonderful"

If you look closely at Wimpy's picture, it gives you a true moment as to how a dog can feel about their human owner and friend.  A dog will endear themselves to their family and remain faithful and true.  They have an uncanny way of sensing your mood; they are patient in waiting for some show of affection or attention; they follow you with their eyes that just say "You're Wonderful!".  They want to be where you are... to sit or walk by your side;  they listen to your voice as you converse with them and their eyes blink and ears cock in agreement to whatever you say.  They have no judgement or conditions attached to love.  They forgive quickly, hold no grudges and respond with a wagging tail in acceptance.  They love to fetch and catch, run beside a 4-wheeler and ride in a pick-up truck or a car.  They are gentle enough to snuggle with a child and fierce enough to defend his own human friend in case of threat.  They get excited over a bone to chew and give you slobbery kisses in gratitude. What a wonderful idea God had in creating dogs to console, cheer, soothe, solace and also give us a lesson or two to improve our "people behavior".  They are far more adept at showing evidence of unconditional love than our own human counterparts in life.  The following quote shares this same thought......

Author, John Grogan, out of his book:  Marley and Me
“A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.” 

This is a great little video which has wonderful thoughts regarding friendship with a dog in relation to God.  It is entitled "GoD And DoG" and is written, recorded and animated by Wendy J. Francisco. You can also view the video at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY

You can check out more of Wendy's talent at her great website at   www.wendyfrancisco.com

Now for all you cat lovers,  I will do a future post on cats (for which I have fond affection), but meanwhile here is another quote to think on....
“Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods.”  -  Christopher Hitchens
 

Stop and Smell the Roses

Last week's post was to do with climbing our personal mountains and not letting discouragement, as a grain of sand, get in our way.  Today, I'd like to present something very simple that is one of the helps available to us in countering  discouragement which in its definition, means to dishearten and dismay and to deter us off the path of our journey.   If we would learn to "stop and smell the roses",  this practice would aid us as a relief or remedy to the shadow of discouragement and days cluttered with activity.

A rose is a beautiful flower in its creation... it comes in different colors... red, yellow, white, pink to name a few.  Each color seems to have it's own personality written into the rose.  The petals are soft to touch, delicate and yet strong enough to open in an exquisite design of layers that has the stamp of  Divine on it.  The aroma of a rose can be captivating, if one stays long enough to enjoy such a fragrance.  The below photo is one I took of my cat, Turnup, who decided to sit awhile by this Valentine rose.  She was attentive in new discovery in her little cat world and lingered long enough for me to take a few photos.
 
The saying "stop and smell the roses" symbolically represents life's savory times existing around us in moments.  Children's laughter, the smell of fresh rain, listening to a favorite melody, geese flying overhead, a loved one's voice, the taste of a favorite food or drink;  there are so many illustrations in moments just waiting for discovery.  This kind of discovery requires a conscious stopping in our busy minds and open our senses to sight, sound, smell;  to really feel and listen to our surroundings.  We become so rushed along our own hurried paths, we often miss wonderful moments of blessings instead of awakening to them.  The voice of God is always within and without and if we would stop... really stop... we could hear Him through life's messages in moments.  

All of us have schedules to keep, deadlines to make, the work place and home life demanding attention.  The allotment of time seems insufficient to handle all the "doings" of daily needs, which rolls into another day of busyness.  In our personal journey with mountains to climb, it is good to be refreshed by the moments that you notice and take time out to appreciate.  It is a way to energize your walk and enjoy the bits of heaven right here on earth in discovered moments as you continue on to realize your dream.   A great and true quote by Rose Kennedy... "Life isn't a matter of milestones but of moments".

The following video promotes this thought which is created by Redfearn Reflections.  The beautiful photos are by Warren Refearn with music by singer/songwriter Mac Davis.  This song, "Stop and Smell the Roses" was popular in the early '70's but is timeless in its message for today and tomorrow.
You also can view at this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHgfnO6Pkrg 

You got to Stop and Smell the roses
You've got to count your many blessings everyday
You're gonna find your way to heaven is a rough and rocky road
If you don't Stop and Smell the roses along the way

See you next Monday at the "Turn-Up Patch".  Meanwhile, have a special week and enjoy a moment or two or three and find yourself and the smile of God in the process.

Mountains, a Grain of Sand & Helen Keller

I've always loved the majesty of mountains.  There is something ethereal about them, ruggedly defined in the play of light and dark upon their shaped and jagged cliffs.  I experience a spiritual peace with them, as my gaze travels up the mountainside to the top of the summit, reaching into the heavens.  I feel very small before them and very humbled at their strength and formidable presence, which stirs awe and respect in visual silence.  They stand in solidarity, a testament to God's handiwork, perpetual from their creation and preserved in ancient formation.   

Commanding attention to their massive structure in physical nature;  mountains are also symbolic in the spiritual and soul realm, commanding attention in our upward journey.   Mountains can represent overcoming obstacles -  making progress -  a mental rising or improvement -  a nearness to God, to name a few of life's encounters.

Canyon Mountain near Canyon City, Oregon

We all have our personal mountains to climb.  I like this saying by Robert W. Service...  "It isn't the mountain that wears you out; it's the grain of sand in your shoe."   Climbing a mountain can become more difficult if we are troubled by an irritant such as a grain of sand.  A grain of sand is very tiny but it can become huge to the point of disabling the one who is climbing the mountain.   The grain of sand could represent anything that would challenge your will to continue your upward journey.  It comes mostly in the form of discouragement that would distract you, block your endurance and obscure your goal.  Discouragement is a response shaped from negative issues of life.  It may start out small, but the more you feed it, the bigger it becomes to hinder your progress to whatever the mountain represents to you.

Helen Keller (1880 - 1968) comes to mind as a person who never quit climbing her personal mountain to live to her potential, despite the fact that she was blind and deaf.  Most of you are familiar about this woman of courage, who despite her tremendous handicap, went on to become a leading 20th Century humanitarian.  She was an American author, political activist and lecturer and was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.  Helen had an exceptional friend and teacher in her life, Anne Sullivan, who was instrumental in breaking through Helen's isolated world with no sight and no sound.  Through Anne's patience and experimentation in communication, she was able to connect Helen to the world which existed around her.    Helen certainly met up with discouragement in her life but she banished that grain of sand in order to move forward in accomplishment and personal destiny.  Her indomitable spirit left a legacy of "true grit" and enduring values.

I discovered this video, which contains some quotes, photos and movie clips in memory of Helen Keller.  It was lovingly put together a number of years ago by Mr. George Kleine and is entitled "The Most Wonderful Woman in the World".  It is presented by IamHelenKeller  and is a fitting tribute to this exceptional woman.
You can also view at this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxEtbVaGHhE

 

The following prayer was written by Helen Keller.  A deeply spiritual woman, she could sense God in all His creation which she could feel through touch and smell and innately within her heart.  She says in her prayer, "I laugh and shout for life is good"...  she beat discouragement at all odds, climbed to the peak of her mountain and blazed a trail of hope for others to follow.

                                                     

 In The Garden of the Lord

The word of God came unto me, sitting alone among the multitudes;

And my blind eyes were touched with light.  And there was laid upon my lips a flame of fire.

I laugh and shout for life is good, Though my feet are set in silent ways.

In merry mood I leave the crowd, To walk in my garden.

Ever as I walk, I gather fruits and flowers in my hands.

And with joyful heart I bless the sun that kindles all the place with radiant life.

I run with playful winds that blow after the scent of rose and jessamine in eddying whirls.

At last I come where tall lilies grow; Where the lilies pray, I kneel upon the ground;

I have strayed into the holy temple of the Lord.

We'll meet again at "The Turn-Up Patch" next Monday..... may your week be full of the good things in life.  If you have met up with discouragement, take the grain of sand out of your shoe and continue the climb......