In Your Heart

Late Sunday afternoon, my roommate and I decided to go to the local Baptist church’s block party. We ran into neighbors and friends there, ate and chit chatted with people.

A few little girls we know decided that they wanted to go on the inflatable moon bounce things, whatever they’re called. So, my roommate having left to go be responsible, I stayed in line with these girls, waiting for their turn.

While we were waiting in line to take off shoes and bounce, I heard some boys in front of us yelling.

“Disgrace in your heart! Disgrace in your heart!”

They yelled this as they punched each other repeatedly in the chest. Waiting for parental units to intervene, I thought, “Where did they hear such a thing?”

The little girls I was with were oblivious to the boys. But my head was spinning and my heart felt sad.

What are little boys yelling about disgrace for?

Disgrace.

Shame.

We all carry it.

And, yeah, it’s in our hearts.

And we get slammed in the chest with it.

“DISGRACE IN YOUR HEART!”

But I’m a child of the King. Do I yet live in all my disgrace, shame, dishonor and the resulting condemnation?

So often my enemy comes with ready fist to give me another humiliating punch. And I feel wave after wave of ensuing disappointment, sadness and disgrace.

But, “…whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.” (I John 3:20-21, emphasis mine)

Grace, grace, GRACE IN YOUR HEART!!!

This is the refrain of the King. This is what he sings over us, when the enemy comes to give us another bloody blow.

Every time I’m knocked back into my corner, I hear the song, “Grace, grace, grace in your heart, pouring from my hands and feet and side, pouring over you, grace, grace, grace in your heart.”

These boys are participating in the lie that we so oft believe. I do it, too. Let myself be bruised again, or kick a brother or sister and say, “Shame on you,” instead of correcting in love.

When will these boys and I learn the new song, “Grace, grace, grace in your heart”?

Freedom

To wake up and not crave a drink

To be outside the iron bars

Freedom to the addict

Freedom to the prisoner

Ask anyone what it means to be free

And he’ll tell you from his perspective

Blind would see

Lame would walk

Mute would talk

I would sing

Without shame

Leftover Light

Look at the sky
It’s not stars
Just the light they left behind centuries ago
Only one that isn’t leftover
Unfaded
The original light
The Eternal

Fireworks?...

Leaves

See the wind

As it dances

With the trees

The leaves

Gently sway

As the branches bend

The wind shakes

Leading the trees

With its song

We are blessed

To watch the dance as

The leaves remind us

Of God

Why do they remind us?

Because He made them

Genesis 2:7

Dust—

It covers

Like a soft white sheet

That smothers and chokes,

But it dances

In the air

Floating

Light catches

And here in the eye

It becomes

Beauty.

This is love on us

Just Keep Swimming...

The sky is overcast and the scent of coming rain is in the air. The lake smells like an old friend. When I was a kid and we'd vacation at the beaches in Delaware we stayed at a trailer park that sat on a lake or a bay, I don't remember which anymore. But there is a distinct smell I attach with that place and I smell it down here at this lake.
Yesterday I saw a snake swimming here. It was beautiful. I love how creation keeps moving in spite of chaos, war and injustice. All creation groans, but it doesn't stop. It moves forward with expectancy. I tend to be bogged down, sinking in my groaning. I get stuck in it.
And then I see this snake slithering through the grass and splashing into the water and swimming away and I'm captivated by his movement, the detail of his skin, his elegance under the water.
I think that's how we're supposed to be. Longing for the fullness of the kingdom and swimming...dancing in the knowledge that His kingdom is here and that His kingdom is coming.
Even the ducks are gliding along to His glory. May we, to, worship as our hearts cry out, "Marantha! Come, Lord Jesus!"

O God,
Whenever I listen to the voice of anything You have made--
The rustling of the trees
The trickling of water
The cries of birds
The flickering of shadow
The roar of the wind
The song of the thunder
I hear it saying:
God is One!
Nothing can be compared with God!
~Rabi'a


Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity."

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.

~Psalm 96:10-13