39

April 7, and the temperature is 39F.  61F in the house.  I wanted to stay in the comforter all day.

I think I will.  I will stay in The Comforter.

One real comfort.  One real source of comfort.  One place to find satisfaction...and He DOES NOT MIND.

You don't tug on Superman's cape, but Our Father does not mind at all.  In fact he encourages it.  One of his favorite stories is about a woman who tugged on his cape and was instantly healed from a chronic debilitating disease.  

He had the psalmist write that there is one human desire that has a place above all others.  The ONE THING of Psalm 24:7.  One thing have I desired...You.  To stare in awe.  To weep at your beauty.  To be speechless in the face of your grace.  Dumbfounded...at the most fundamental level, unable and unwilling to say a thing because all expression is expressed in You.

I will stay in You today, Father.  Comfort and heal me.  Be glorified in us today.  Manifest your Kingdom in and through your bride today.  Rest your presence in great weight on the places where we call upon your Name today.  Shekinah Chabod.

Thank You

Thanks, Daddy.  You make all things right.

You have been waiting for me to learn and practice new prayer.  I have now, and I will.
I have seen you answer the cries of my last couple of days.  I am very securely grateful, and alive to celebrate how you love me.  Thank you for asking me to change.  I want to be polished and clean so I can reflect your light.

Father, please continue to shower my life with mercy and grace, wisdom and strength, and rest in the very center of every storm.  I you can teach me how to rest in you in the middle of a storm, I can know how to do that in the future and, in repose, model that rest.

Help me, Father.  Bind my enemies and send them fleeing before You and your Majesty.  Bring them to Awe.

Rob Bell has a new gig

I heard yesterday the at Rob Bell was doing something different. Searched a little and did not see much reaction. Maybe folks have moved on.

Love Wins or its advent was such a big thing. I know I was more interested in reading and forming my own opinion because of all the hubbub. And I think much of that was meant to safeguard us.

I just went back to the book. Can't say for sure what I got last time, but this time I just got bored. Those thoughts had already been provoked. And pondered. and prayed.

I think they thought there was something special enough about Rob that what he said would have a greater impact that the utterances of another man. I suspect that there is nothing that special about any of us. Maybe we have more influence for a season, like a light bulb that one day will burn out or break.

How does the influence of a man, even an inspired man, even a God-inspired man, compare with the splendor God has displayed all around? Isn't it his loving kindness that does the trick? Okay, it may sometimes be his lovingkindness as demonstrated by his Church.

How will they believe?, the scripture asks. When they hear that there is an answer, and what the answer is. But don't they have to have the question first? Don't they first have to have a glimpse of something that makes the wonder about the Matrix? What if they had the question, asked the question, got the wrong answer, drank that KoolAid, settled on a path and persevered?

Need help. Look for help. Ask for help. Receive help. Be grateful for help. Say so.

So I guess what I am asking, Father, is if a man can distract a man from God? Without the mans cooperation?

To me you are too wonderful for that. And I am so grateful for that.

Father. What a thing to say. Perfect Father. Abundant rest has always been available in Your embrace. I accept. I freely receive what You have freely given.

Thank You that you are showing me by your Spirit how to identify and avoid the meaningless trappings. That you illuminate the path home, the path that leads directly into your embrace.

I need you, Daddy. I need you to rock me, and tell me the truth. I have been believing lies about you and me, both. Forgive me.

And thank you for Hartsville Community Fellowship. Restore each one's awe tonight.

Rest

What a treat to have a day of rest. Not about work to do, but to say no to anxiety. To say no to poverty. To say no to fear. To say no to picking up old baggage. To say no to striving for heaven. To say no to lovelessness. To say no to shame.

Thank you Father for wanting me. And thank you for wanting everyone else home enough to send your only begotten son to show us. Have mercy on the hard of heart. Bring us back to the moment of awe. To the moment we knew there was more.

In the meantime, enjoy the ride

Since I really don't know anything about surfing on a board, and though I did a fair bit of east coast kayak surfing, I probably have a very simple perspective on the thing. But of course that never keeps me or anyone else from opining.

Sit on the beach and criticize.
Go out in the surf and scream and beat on the waves.
Paddle out, watch, turnaround, paddle, ride, wipe out, survive, learn, paddle out, repeat.

One choice produces fun. One choice inspires. One choice produces awe moments over and over and over and over...

Someone said that 50 percent of success is showing up. Maybe.
100% of success is going back out and standing up again.

Daddy, You make it so good to be in Your family. Thank you. It is so good to be home. Hold me, please.

Beauty

Everyone has a chance at awe and wonder. Everyone has an opportunity to look at beauty, and know that the inexplicable is on display. Not that the phenomenon can not be explained. But that the beauty can not be explained. The heart catches at the sight, sound or scent, and is held in awe of the beauty. This marks the beginning of the quest for God.

Now to have found the way home to God, the splendor never stops. With, and beyond sensation, the embrace, the rhythm, the immensity, the warmth, the enveloping, the motion, the grace of the embrace, the peace that passes understanding. The beauty of walking in the garden with Him.

Thank You, Father for the beauty of knowing, beyond feeling.