tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88896049018126870922024-02-19T00:27:19.938-05:00are we there yetcome to Me...
walk with Me...
learn the unforced rhythms
of graceKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-8442438522464623202013-02-24T11:10:00.000-05:002013-02-24T11:10:16.228-05:00are we...<br />
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;">are
we willing to step into the mystery</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><span style="color: purple;">
<br />
<span class="usercontent">to not have our security rest in answers</span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">or understanding</span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">to consider there is more to God than we know</span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">to live with a God without boundaries</span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">are we willing…</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span>
</span><br />
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-12915187716414768452013-01-27T12:41:00.004-05:002013-01-27T12:41:57.486-05:00relax...<br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">have you noticed that some folks have a difficult time just relaxing into Him? they say something like... </span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">oh i know He loves me... </span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">i know all about grace... </span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">i know we don't have to do anything to earn His blessing...</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and then go about holding themselves as if they are walking on thin ice with Him <br /> <br /> so sad the energy they spend on tying themselves into knots</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">when all He is after is</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">that we relax</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and learn to live</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">in the unforced rhythms </span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">of </span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Grace </span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Himself</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"></span><br />
<span class="userContent"> </span><br />
<br /><br /> Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-10706129173974305192013-01-27T11:54:00.001-05:002013-01-27T11:54:40.967-05:00the law...<br />
<span class="userContent"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">think of all the opportunities Jesus had to shun folks…<br /> <br /> the 10 lepers – who were obviously leprous because of sin…<br /> <br /> the woman at the well who had been married many times and was now living with her boyfriend…</span></span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the tax collector who took some for himself…<br /> <br /> the woman taken in adultery [always wondered where was the man]…<br /> <br /> the unclean woman with the issue of blood…<br /> <br /> all the rowdies who were wine-bibbers…<br /> <br /> to name a few…<br /> <br /> all folks who were breaking ‘the law’…<br /> <br /> He touched them…<br /> <br /> loved on them…<br /> <br /> wept and laughed and ate with them…<br /> <br /> He healed them and encouraged them…<br /> </span><br /> <span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the only ones He castigated – and yet did not truly shun?...<br /> <br /> the law keepers…</span> </span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> </span></div>
</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-2114514144177718942013-01-26T17:05:00.002-05:002013-01-26T17:05:58.216-05:00watching...<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">have you
ever watched a hunting dog in the field with his master?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Every sense
alert…</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">eyes keen
to any movement…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">ears up and
tuning in to sound as yet unheard by the hunter…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">nose flared
testing the air…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">body ready
to run…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">waiting for
the discovery…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">the
movement…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">the sound…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">the smell…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">watchful…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">ready…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">kelly <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">be watchful</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;">
<span class="usercontent">the Grace of God appears suddenly</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">it comes without warning</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">to an open heart</span><br />
<span class="usercontent">~rumi</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-29325260953445309042013-01-21T11:04:00.000-05:002013-01-21T14:55:24.902-05:00in the night...<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">singing in the
night…</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">because the dark
can’t hold us…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">singing…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">not out of fear…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">singing…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">out of liberty…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">of the spirit…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">of the soul…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">in the midst of
the night…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">in the midst of
the pain…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">in the midst of
the tree boughs which do not support us…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">singing…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">because of
grace…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">free…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">not bound…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">singing…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;">in the night…</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: purple;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">kelly</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">"Be like a bird who, pausing in her
flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet
sings, knowing she hath wings. </span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="usercontent">~ Victor Hugo ~</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-74886577623708836872013-01-16T14:45:00.001-05:002013-01-16T14:45:28.015-05:00it is...<br />
<span class="usercontent"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span class="usercontent"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;">this falls under the heading of 'never hurts to
reiterate what we know'...</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><span style="color: purple;">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;"><span class="usercontent">it is a kindness to give space for a hurting one to
feel and express that hurt...</span><br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;"><span class="usercontent">it is a kindness to give a hug...</span><br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;"><span class="usercontent">it is a kindness to share some of the load...</span><br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;"><span class="usercontent">it is a kindness to speak a gentle word of
encouragement...</span><br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;"><span class="textexposedshow">it is a kindness to not say, 'get your act
together' to one who has stumbled...</span><br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;"><span class="textexposedshow">it is a kindness </span><br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="color: purple; font-size: small;">to be kind...</span></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-64008174944508150162013-01-16T14:40:00.004-05:002013-01-16T14:42:07.362-05:00yes...<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;">He said 'Yes' to Father...<br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;">... and we were in Him<br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;">... reckon it so</span>
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-20457266381127282612013-01-16T14:37:00.001-05:002013-01-16T14:38:56.686-05:00hope...<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;">you
may feel like a cut down tree…<br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;">you may feel as though your roots have grown old in the ground<br />
<br />
… even that your stump has died<br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;">yet…<br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;">yet…<br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;">at the slightest whiff of water<br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: purple;">… new buds of life will appear<br />
<br />
… new shoots will be put forth </span>
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-86189246322213202872012-12-23T12:03:00.000-05:002012-12-23T12:03:03.672-05:00seeing...<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">just some
thoughts this morning<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
<span class="usercontent">we will 'see' what we expect to see... we will see
darkness - sin - faults - dark things in the spiritual realm - hate -
failings... whatever</span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">or - we will see light - forgiveness - restitution -
Holy Spirit - love - redemption - lifting ups</span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">we will see what we expect to see - personally, i
prefer to focus on Him and see and experience all that He is and is doing</span><br />
<br />
</span><span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">♥</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-33637634185405666722012-12-22T12:36:00.000-05:002012-12-22T12:36:01.946-05:00breath...<span class="userContent"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_50d5ee03b8bec4a02497335">
'today... if you will... hear His voice'<br /> this morning, thoughts about the breath of God have been stirring in my inner parts<br /> .<br /> we are children of The Breath <br /> The Ruwach<br /><span class="text_exposed_show">. <br /> He breathes on us - He breathes in us <br /> He has breathed into our nostrils His very life <br /> His breath in us to quicken us<br /> .<br /> be still - and know<br /> .<br /> be still - and hear<br /> .<br /> The Ruwach<br /> .<br /> <br /> “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.”<br /> <br /> ♥</span></div>
</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-16317988135144648192012-12-17T12:05:00.000-05:002012-12-17T12:05:55.755-05:00the good news is...
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span class="usercontent">God loves us - uncaused, unconditional, unending love -
</span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">God is not angry with us - </span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">God does not keep a record of when we mess up - </span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">God is neither emotionally detached from us nor
disturbed with us</span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">God is kind and caring – gentle and tender</span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">God is joy without measure</span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">God is love</span><br />
<br />
<span class="usercontent">without end</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-39282957073404642012012-01-27T09:55:00.000-05:002012-01-27T09:55:23.826-05:00this which is...<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">
</span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I need the
mystery<br />
The whisper that comes in the quiet places<br />
Of sunrises and dreams<br />
Of roses and mourning<br />
<br />
I need the mystery<br />
That says there is something<br />
More alive than life<br />
Something stronger than death<br />
Something greater than myself<br />
And Nothing more profound than love<br />
<br />
Don’t take this mystery<br />
And rob it with regulations<br />
Taking that which is truly holy<br />
Binding it with cords that you can understand<br />
Breaking the sacred down <br />
Into so much less <br />
Than what it truly is<br />
Just so you can swallow it<br />
<br />
Please don’t try to tell me that <br />
Broken dreams and broken hearts<br />
Are just a result of broken rules<br />
<br />
To me that is not God<br />
All that is -is man dressing up <br />
<br />
If God resides in<br />
Quotes and lines and letters<br />
If God resides in<br />
Religion and denomination and structures<br />
If God resides in <br />
Dogma and dictates and decrees<br />
Then who, may I ask<br />
Resides in the heavens?<br />
<br />
No, you may not have this mystery<br />
You may not put an accent on this voice<br />
You do not get to determine <br />
Where it comes from or where it goes<br />
<br />
So drop to your knees in the beauty of it<br />
While love crushes you with the weight of eternity<br />
Light blinds you until you see <br />
What you never thought possible<br />
Until you are reborn every day into the mystery<br />
<br />
-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1156012161"><span style="color: purple;">Amy Folk</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-47357366265281207882011-11-01T15:17:00.003-04:002011-11-01T15:34:24.638-04:00living life...<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the following is from my good friend, Chris Kimmell - enjoy...<br />
<br />
I spent this afternoon wandering a bookstore. It wasn’t a small bookstore; it was one of those monster bookstore malls with multiple levels, and a media department. It is easy to spend several hours walking such a place. Going from one section to the other; spying a title that catches my eye, and reading the jackets. While wandering, I often watch people and try to imagine what is on their mind.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I stopped in the “pets” section as I am lover of those furry domesticated animals that many people decide to cohabitate with. I happened to be standing in front of the dog books when an elderly gentleman walked up and stood beside me. He appeared to be in his mid to late seventies, with a slight pudgy build. He grabbed a book on dog breeds so I asked him what kind of dog he had or did he want to get one. The man turned toward me and I watched the smile envelope his face as the joy filled up inside him. He began to explain to me how he had three dogs and one had just showed up several months ago. He wasn’t sure what type of dog it was but he was proud of his dogs. He told me stories of his dogs and how he was slowly taming the apparently feral dog that had showed up on his three acres of woods. The smile never left his face while he talked to me. I say as he talked to me because I never said another thing for quite some time until he asked me about my dogs. I responded that I had a bloodhound and he was off again speaking of his encounter with a bloodhound many years before. I was experiencing great joy watching this man’s joy grow. He had someone to talk to who was listening to him. He had been lonely and for nearly an hour he had someone who was listening to him that cared.</span><span style="color: purple;"><br />
</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We parted ways and I ventured into the “children’s” section and looked at picture books. I noticed another elderly person, this time a woman. She was sitting at a small children’s table with her knees tucked up under her chin. A little girl ran up to her and gave the woman a book. The woman opened the book and read a few pages to the girl and then the girl took the book and ran away just as quickly as she came. I loved the sharing of smiles and laughter they shared with each other. I went on browsing when I heard more footsteps running to the woman. This time a boy and he handed her a book and again the same exchange of reading and laughter ensued. The boy left and a few minutes later a third, and then a fourth child all greeted her with a book, a few pages read, and then giggles and laughter. I asked the woman “Are those your grandchildren?” “Oh, goodness no.” she replied. “My two grandkids are over there in the “teen” section.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What amazing ministry I experienced in just living life. I did not need to inform these people of Jesus. They already knew Him. I could see that in their eyes and in the love they expressed. Jesus used me to show the man that someone really did care about him. That someone was actually willing to carve out a portion of their day, just for him to tell whatever dog story he cared to tell. Jesus showed him that even a total stranger is not always a “total stranger”.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jesus then ministered to me through another. Jesus let me see that He was there in the woman who would share love and laughter with kids she never knew. Jesus allowed me to share in their joy as they shared with each other.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Often sharing Jesus means His name doesn’t even have to be uttered. We sometimes forget that we can share Jesus in a smile or just word to the cashier that is trying to recognize every customer as they enter and leave. Every time, sharing Jesus is in just living life.</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-28629355732235729252011-10-02T10:45:00.001-04:002011-10-02T10:47:07.671-04:00with us...<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">just want to share where my heart is this morning...</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He is not afraid of our darkness - He does not ever stand across the street and yell at us to turn on the light, take a bath and clean up and then He will come visit us</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He has willingly crossed the street. He has willingly joined us in our darkest places - in our deepest hurts - in the midst of our rejections - right there - right here - with us - in us </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">right there - right here - He is Himself - light, life, love, grace, peace - with us - in us</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">David wrote - and maybe sang - about Father restoring his soul. that's what He does. He restores. He gathers together all our parts and makes us whole</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">that is what He does</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">that is Who He is</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOGxLvUxD7_u7i_2lJD3FczWw0hFEPaR88q9pZrv0mNzsIFlrxVCjlYT8DKnjszckEUe-zZ9hVn9U29rYNURmqatEvjOJ9Dt4xuS_xYRME4P9CKghI1ydC0iBy-9xUCOkKQtf4EY-dO8/s1600/beachsunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOGxLvUxD7_u7i_2lJD3FczWw0hFEPaR88q9pZrv0mNzsIFlrxVCjlYT8DKnjszckEUe-zZ9hVn9U29rYNURmqatEvjOJ9Dt4xuS_xYRME4P9CKghI1ydC0iBy-9xUCOkKQtf4EY-dO8/s1600/beachsunrise.jpg" /></a></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-40781723511859341642011-08-10T13:27:00.001-04:002011-08-10T13:29:36.480-04:00greater...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvO3aR8ApG4QD6i6Mud-Vj-PAqedjMXq1ZHhtc5K0GB3XsumP6GsVeJ9iVRlSYj6Ra8FF_-C1467twgAjATxKEHlVb19rJvTgDOA7HJo9ir0sF9Zo7EwMTgwQnVxupRrKHEcr91T3WMI/s1600/DawnStorm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvO3aR8ApG4QD6i6Mud-Vj-PAqedjMXq1ZHhtc5K0GB3XsumP6GsVeJ9iVRlSYj6Ra8FF_-C1467twgAjATxKEHlVb19rJvTgDOA7HJo9ir0sF9Zo7EwMTgwQnVxupRrKHEcr91T3WMI/s200/DawnStorm.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">greater is He Who is in you...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">greater... than the storms hurled at you</div><br />
greater... than the fear that grips you in the gut<br />
<br />
greater... than the loss of relationships<br />
<br />
greater... than your painful childhood<br />
<br />
greater... than the mountains blocking your way<br />
<br />
greater... than the little irritations of the day<br />
<br />
greater... than the person who tears you down<br />
<br />
greater... than the darkness<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">greater... than the wilderness</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">greater... than confusion</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">greater... than the silence</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>greater... than the prison<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">greater... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">... is He <br />
<br />
... Who is in you</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-46156551245598765142011-07-27T15:58:00.000-04:002011-07-27T15:58:27.068-04:00just a small thing...<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">quite insignificant in size… lacking any beauty. nonetheless, it was fighting with all its might to be free.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">as i was getting my coffee this morning, my eye was drawn by a fluttering in among the wood pile just a few feet from my window. the movement would stop for a second or two and begin again. i was pretty sure it was a moth ensnared in a spider web - but it could have been a bit of leaf.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">if it was a moth - it was of no import. but i felt a twinge.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">did some other things. back to the window. still fluttering. still fighting. must be a moth. more twinge.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">yet other things needed my attention. i argued against the twinge - ‘it’s just a moth - not even a pretty one - not like a butterfly or dragonfly. just… a… moth.’</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">finally went back to the window to see if it was still there - sure enough it was - still fighting. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">no more arguing with the twinge. went outside. got a twig and broke the web from the wood. got the moth - also got the spider. moth was trying to get free - spider was trying to wrap it more in it’s web - I was determined to set the moth free. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">guess who won that battle? got the spider separated from the moth - then was able to get the little creature out of the web. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">it sat on my fingers for a moment - then flew away. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">it was created to fly - it was being hindered unto death. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">i think that’s why the not-letting-go twinge. in the scheme of things, i’m just a small thing… lacking any real beauty… insignificant as the world judges. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">but… He is teaching me to fly - and i must do so - no matter the struggle. </span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-43616647970156601702011-07-20T17:15:00.003-04:002011-07-27T15:51:14.808-04:00choice...<span style="color: purple;">choose... decide... make up your mind... resolve and settle it once and for all</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">we have been given a wonderful tool - a 'decider'. we can use it for all sorts of situations and circumstances in our lives. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">will we have another piece of chocolate... will we sell our belongings and go to the other side of the world to help AIDs orphans. and all sorts of inbetweens.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">the other day, after reading a comment from a friend, i got to thinking about a passage in the Old Testament - actually, two passages - and only a snippet from each. they both speak of choice. they speak of life... and who we will serve.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;">then, a third passage followed hard on the heels of the first two - this one in the New Testament. about not living as others have dictated.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">"... I have set before you life and death... choose life that you may live" - there is a quality of living we are given the opportunity to choose.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;">"... choose who you will serve..." - there is servitude involved in our choice.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;">"... do not be conformed..." - that tells me i can make a choice as to whether i will shape myself to someone else's demands. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;">we can choose - i choose life. we can choose to not be in servitude to that which binds, and stifles, and controls - i choose life. we can choose not to be conformed to their patterns - i choose life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;">we can choose, decide, make up our minds to be bent and pushed and shaped into someone's mold. if we do, in my seeing and experience, we have chosen death. we have chosen to serve that person/thing/institution, etc, in the fashion of their choosing. and that results in death to whom we are meant to be.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;">even if we have chosen that which brings death and servitude and conforming - we can choose again - for life. and in the very choosing, we will begin to be set free - transformed - renewed. in our minds - in our walks - in our lives. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;">and we will find that good, acceptable, perfect desire for us. we will find and know His desire for us - we will find, and walk in - that person He desires us to be.</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-10844936955458050142011-05-05T09:46:00.000-04:002011-05-05T09:46:05.211-04:00here... now...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“ Sometimes the urgency of our hunger blinds us to the fact that we are already at the feast. To accept this can change everything: we are always home, never exiled. Although our minds constantly insist on seeing walls of separation, in reality most of the walls are mere veils. In every moment, everywhere, we are not even inches away from the divine presence.” </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">John O'Donohue</span></span></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-70962565976378530282011-04-23T22:15:00.001-04:002011-04-23T22:17:01.087-04:00only a pittance<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">he was just a tiny thing. lying very still. blank eyes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">'... not worth much more than a penny at most... '</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">it was raining... cold... miserable out. i watched it for a bit from the window. he had flown into the window from the birdfeeder and had landed on the ground.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">it was just a sparrow. there are millions of them. not too smart sometimes. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">'... and yet, not one falls to the ground without your Father... '</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">my heart would not let me just leave it there, so i went out in the rain, gently scooped him up and cupped him in my hands and ducked into the open garage.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">do you ever just 'know'... sometimes... that you are being made particularly aware of Father's heart? that His heart really does take notice of... and that, in some incredible way, He is even 'with'... something so insignificant as a little sparrow.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">i held the little thing in my warm hands and thanked Father that He knew the little one had fallen... that He was with the little one. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">i prayed and stroked the softer-than-soft feathers for a minute or two. then he moved, blinked, moved again - then flew out of my hand and off to a tree.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">'... are you not worth more than many tiny birds... and yet Father knows... and is with you... '</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-38222606367939589042011-04-06T12:04:00.000-04:002011-04-06T12:04:42.911-04:00breathing...<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jesus said... 'My father goes on working, and so do I'. (John 5)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">"The relationship between Jesus and the Father is so intimate it is like breathing. God offers this same intimacy to you and me, breathing love into us, and with this breath inspiring us to breathe love into others. 'It is good for you that I'm going,' Jesus said, 'because if I go, I can send you my Spirit, my breath'."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">~ Henri Nouwen</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-45317540316320237452011-04-05T22:31:00.001-04:002011-04-06T11:59:00.091-04:00a time...<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">there comes a time, in one's life...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">maybe...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">when the light begins to break through...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">when reality begins to dawn...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">that He resides with you...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">that He dwells within you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">there is no need to 'ask' Him to draw nigh...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">He is nigh.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">He can get no closer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">no closer than your breath...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">no closer than your heartbeat.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">He is with you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">He is in you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">it is in you... that He lives, and breathes, and has His being.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">it is in Him... that you live, and breathe, and have your being.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">there comes a time, in one's life...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">maybe...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">when one knows... </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">that He sees...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">that He knows...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">that He is here.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">right here. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">in the very midst.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">always. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">without fail.</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-52753671887208563352011-03-30T17:40:00.001-04:002011-03-30T17:46:34.075-04:00heretic...<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">... a hateful sounding word, isn't it?</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">it's being thrown around a lot these days. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">here's what the dictionary has to say about it:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. a professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. Roman Catholic Church - a baptized Roman Catholic who willfully and persistently rejects any article of faith.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. anyone who does not conform to an established attitude, doctrine, or principle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">etymologically speaking, it means to be able to choose.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Galileo was condemned as a heretic for supporting Copernicus’s thesis that the earth revolves around the sun and not vice-versa.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">do you believe the earth revolves around the sun? if so, you would have been in the same boat in which Galileo found himself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Paul was described to the Roman governor Felix as the leader of the heresy (aireseos) of the Nazarenes (Acts 24:5). what about you? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">all of Protestantism was declared heretical by the Roman Church. possibly still is, behind closed doors. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">believing and practicing the priesthood of all believers was declared heretical. anyone who 'preached' or 'taught' who was not a part of the hierarchy was a heretic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">John Wycliffe - because his translation didn’t suit the hierarchy; William Tyndale - tried for heresy, strangled and burnt at the stake in 1536; Jan Hus, Joan of Arc, Thomas Cranmer and many folk under the rule of Bloody Mary.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Billy Graham, Beth Moore, Moody Bible Institute, Max Lucado, Michael W Smith, Baylor University, Chuck Swindoll, NavPress, Intervarsity, Christianity Today, Mother Teresa, Bono, Quakers, Charles Stanley, Chuck Colson, C S Lewis, Franklin Graham, J I Packer, James Dobson, Joel Osteen, John Piper, Martin Luther King, Jr.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">just a few who have had the appellation thrown their way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">oh, and anyone who uses any other Bible but the KJV.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">there are lots of other words being thrown around - universalism, trinitarianism, ultimate reconciliation, hell, heaven, slippery slope - to name a few.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">but - what i am hearing more than the words is that which is behind some of the words. it’s not pretty. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">it sounds a lot like hate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">i don't know about any of you, but this really grieves my heart. aren't we - those of us who name His name in some form or other - supposed to find love in our hearts for others who also name His name?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">why can’t we trust Him? - trust in His character? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">if we trust Him with ourselves, can’t we trust Him with others? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">do we trust Him with ourselves - to keep us from harm and deception? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">can we not do the same for others?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">confession - i don’t know everything there is to know about God. surprise! i have no clue ‘how’ He has and will work all things together for His purpose. i do know, to some degree, what the Bible has to say about salvation and reconciliation. i am aware that a strong case can be made for ultimate reconciliation - a strong case can be made against ultimate reconciliation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">why don’t we slow down, take a breath and a step or two back, consider Him and choose the better way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">why don’t we leave the out-working up to Him? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He can be trusted.</span> </span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-87806034317507313882011-03-30T17:30:00.001-04:002011-03-30T17:32:39.125-04:00off the map...<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">[originally posted March 9, 2011]</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">The way of trust is a movement into obscurity, into the undefined, not into some predetermined, clear plan. The next step discloses itself out of a discernment of God acting in the desert of the present moment. Naked trust is the life of one who leaves what is nailed down and secure by walking into the unknown without any rational explanation to justify the decision or guarantee the future.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">~ Brennan Manning</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-34485003829079524132011-03-30T17:27:00.000-04:002011-03-30T17:27:13.412-04:00the presence of grace...<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">[originally posted March 9, 2011]</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">It's true. We really do only pass this way but once. My hope is that we all come to understand that the passing through is packed full of moments that are full of the kind of happenings that can mysteriously awaken us. And it's the presence of grace and our yielding to that grace that breaks up the hard packed ground and allows the life inside to break through and grow.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">~ Kent Burgess</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889604901812687092.post-43228482266944963012011-03-30T17:18:00.000-04:002011-03-30T17:18:03.948-04:00He is...<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">[originally posted February 22, 2011]</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">Christianity is not a formula, but the Person of Jesus Himself. Never think that Christianity is a matter of adjusting behavior, but rather, of letting Christ live through us in His strength and power.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">~ Malcom Smith</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818128273925904351noreply@blogger.com2