mountains

sometimes God moves them
with an earthquake
and a volcano's blast.

sometimes by erosion.

poured out

are you ready to be poured out as an offering?

i thought,
"i already have been
poured out.

"there is
nothing
left."

and then i realized
that it happens
again,
and again,
and again. . .

like the oil
from the widow's pot,
giving until all the other vessels,
large and numerous,
are full.

look

look around
and see the the wonder--
mountains and minnows
and aspen and wild rose.

look up
and see magnificence--
sunrise and sunset;
sun, moon,
and infinite galaxies.

look within
and see the miracle--
growth and perseverance,
sacrifices of praise
and hope
and impossible love.

look
and see
the fingerprints of God.

You Will Be Hated… (Are you?)

sometimes our persecution comes from within “the church”.

from the wolves in sheep’s clothing.

from the judas iscariot.

from the legalists.

just like jesus and paul.

one fears for the persecutors.

eternity is near.

(thanks for the food for thought, brother.)

truth

lying is so hurtful. . .
being lied to or lied about. . .
or caught in a lie and needing to repent.

our hearts are so deceitful and desperately wicked
that we often don't even see our own lies.

the strangest thing is
that God sees all our filthy little deceptions,
and he loves us anyway--
but he doesn't leave us in them.

he himself--the way, truth, and life--became sin (including lies)for us
so that we might become the righteousness of God (including truth)through him.

that is a humbling and glorious truth.

he is

he's my LORD.

the Lord's' commands
are wisdom
and understanding.

he is near,
and hears
when we call.

his appearance,
unknown to man.

he is
a consuming fire
and jealous.

he is
accessible
to those
who are looking
for him.

he listens
to the repentant.

he is
compassionate
and unfailing.

he communicates.

he delivers.

he is
knowable.

he loves
and chooses
people.

he is
powerful.

he is
the only God
over heaven
and earth.

he is
jealous
and just.

he is
a God
of power
and salvation.

he is
glorious
and great.

he speaks
with us.

he is
the only living God.

he desires
our well-being.

he is one.

he is
so lovable
that we can love him
with all our hearts
and all our souls
and all our strength.

he is
worthy of reverence;
he is honorable.

he is
looking out
for our good
and our survival.

"i am his,
and
he is mine."

purity

one was pure,
saving
everything
for marriage.

the other was
not-so-pure.

then
we realized:
the only purity
that matters
is the purity
Christ purchased for us
with his blood
and works into us
through
his
matchless,
limitless
grace.

all of our own
worked-up,
uptight,
self-satisfied,
arrogant
purity
is as filthy rags.

"come now,"
he invites,
"let us reason together:
though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be
as white
as snow.
though they be red as crimson,
they shall be
as wool."

now,
wash me,
and i will be
whiter
than
snow.