Conversations, Reflections & Meditations


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Sign Guestbook \| View Guestbook Comments? Questions? [email protected]	Prayer topics Celebration Beautiful Music Video Games Katrina Gentle Flame Rest in You Celebration Date: August 22, 2005 Is silliness okay sometimes? Lord, sometimes I long for fun and celebration. To just let loose and enjoy good companionship, fun in a plain, old-fashioned way. Lord, "Laughter is a good medicine," and when our lives don't have room for it, we become unbalanced. I love that concept of celebration as a discipline! I think people see that as a "scary" part of deeper Christian living. They have an idea that in deeper Christian living everything has to be serious, long-faced, and intense. But You have made us emotional, physically active, demonstrative people. Worship then should include aspects of an exciting, fun, loving, physical experience, should it not? Companionship with You and with Your people is to be full of joy! No longer, "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die," but "Eat, celebrate and be joyful, because today and forever we live with Jesus!" Our eating and drinking should no longer be of the man-devised junk food and drug-laden drinks and other artificial "happiness-inducers," but eating and drinking of the wonderful, healthy foods and liquids which You created to strengthen and invigorate our bodies, and to "make glad the hearts of men." Alongside, of course, the bread and wine of Your body, Your manna which strengthens and invigorates our spirits - and the wonders of Your Word, which is manna to our minds, bringing us into knowledge and wisdom of You. Solitude and silence are wonderful things, Lord! I do need this time, early in the morning, alone with You. Thank You for providing it! Lord, I hear my neighbors up and about. Oh dear God, please help me reach my neighbours for You. In Jesus' name. Light a fire in me, Lord, to get me out witnessing boldly to the world, dear God - starting with my children and their friends, and with my next-door neighbours! (I was just going to add, "Thy will be done," but of course it is Your will. So, "Thy will be done!" It is action time, Lord, based on the solid foundation of Your clearly revealed will for me as Your child. Thank You. Amen.) Return to the top Beautiful Music Date: August 22, 2005 Lord, I have long desired to make "heavenly" music come forth from my instruments, my guitar, piano, clarinet. But, Lord, now I realize that making music to worship You, through a musical instrument, is less important to You than Your desire to make "heavenly music" through me, Your instrument. Use me, Lord. Make beautiful music through me in every aspect of my life, with Your master's touch! Thank You, Lord! ... Norma, My child, listen: It is My will to make beautiful music for My glory out of the ashes of your life's efforts. It is My will to make You one with Me through the blood of My Son whom I gave for you. I am using you, already, My child. I am drawing my bow across the strings of your life. I am turning an old, tattered, broken instrument into a thing of beauty and great utility and blessing, all the for the sake of My Son who gave His life for you. Welcome to the great symphony, My Child! ... Thank You, Lord. Return to the top Video Games Date: Sept 4, 2005 Lord, I've been thinking a lot about all the time people spend playing video games. I don't understand: what's the motivation? What's the "reward"? What kind of useful long-term (even eternal) outcomes, consequences, purposes are being fulfilled? Does it build any character? Does it make a person wiser? Is it health-building to any aspect of one's being: physical, intellectual, spiritual, will? And ultimately, does it please or glorify You in any way? Does it have any redeeming qualities at all? Doesn't it take time away from God? Of course, this also makes me realize that I do lots of things that probably aren't any more helpful: a few solitaire games (several times a week, sometimes 2 or 3 a day); reading "fluff" stuff like my kids' fashion magazines or even the headlines on the ridiculous magazines in the store line up; or watching TV or movies. Now there's another thing that concerns me. When people are around me doing those kinds of things, it is really hard not to get "sucked into" it, especially when those people are family and want me to spend time with them - doing things that I am really not comfortable with. What to do? On the one hand, I feel like it is not only a waste of time, but draws me away from You as I have less time with You, and at the same time I am taking in worldly thoughts and ideas, not to mention getting fodder for nightmares, from watching those shows. Lord, I want to talk to them about You, but they are generally not open to it. I feel like I should spend time with them, because how else does one build relationships? But Lord, when a person is a Christian, why wouldn't they want to talk about You? Is it something about me that puts my family off? Am I too pushy? Or am I too much of a hypocrite, my words and actions not lining up with my words? Or am I a "threat"? Or what? Lord, I need You to keep on changing me, please. Lord, it used to be that I really, really did not want to die. I didn't "get" what the deal was with people who said they long to see You face to face. But I did figure it had to be real, for at least some of them, by observing their lives, and by watching their faces when they were thinking about You. I used to wonder about people who went bravely, even eagerly, into terrible torture and martyrdom for You, people who never backed down, no matter what. Yesterday we watched the movie "Braveheart," and I could comprehend how he could go that far for an idea; but Lord, that idea of freedom, that whole movie, has to be in some degree a reflection of Mel Gibson's relationship with You, doesn't it? I just realized that. I am so slow. Thank You for showing me!.... So if I could accept how an "idea" could drive people, why did it take me so long to understand how knowing You could do the same - and more! I suppose I was so wrapped up in knowing "about" You, that I was really blinded to knowing You. So I see that intellect can be a trap of the enemy, although rightfully used, it is a really important part of being created in Your image. Wow, I have just been longing for focused time with You. Thank You! Thank You for this day. Thank You for this time You are spending with me, listening to me, talking with me, teaching me, being patient with my busy mind and lips and at the same time my slow understanding. Thank You for loving me, encouraging me, correcting me, guiding me, showing me Yourself, Your truth: You! Return to the top Katrina Date: Sept 7, 2005 Lord, I've been thinking how blessed I am. I could be one of those hundreds of thousands of people in the New Orleans area; sitting on rows of cots in sports arenas with everything lost: homes, possessions, jobs, even friends and family. Oh Lord, what is wrong with me? I have been following the news of the hurricane, but only this moment did it occur to me that I haven't been praying for them. Forgive me, Lord, for my selfishness. I'm sitting here feeling sorry about our little financial crunch! Oh Lord, be with those people hit by Katrina. Be with the children who don't have any school to go to, the workers who don't have jobs anymore, the people who don't have any clothes to change into, the people sick and dying and starving to death, the shop owners whose shops have been looted and destroyed, the people whose homes are totally destroyed. What a year, Lord! The tsunami in the Indian Ocean less than a year ago, 5 terrible plane crashes in the past month worldwide, the war in Iraq which just goes on and on, the dreams of democracy seemingly crashing down, continuing wars and rumors of wars, threats of avian flu pandemics. Dear God, I don't know if it is really worse than in the past, or if there are just more people and better news reporting methods. A few years ago, people would get all excited about each new disaster or problem, or even technological developments or ethical questions like abortions and such. I guess maybe some people still do get worked up about it, but it seems like people are just getting "disaster fatigue," getting to the point of trying to just carry on - though there has been a pretty amazing outreach to the victims of the tsunamis and hurricanes. Lord, You know what it is all about, where it is all going, how it all fits into Your eternal plan. We know, too, in a general way. We know it's about sin, about disobedience to You and "independence" and pride and arrogance and separation from You. We know, too, that Jesus has already won, that victory is assured, that because of Jesus' death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection, we are already able to live in victory. We already have a choice to be in relationship with You, to live the Christ life, even as we are still existing in a world of great sin and pain and degradation. Thank You, oh Thank You, Lord. Blessed be Your Name! Thank You, dear Holy Spirit, for still speaking to me when I seem to always be doing things, thinking things, saying things that are so "quenching" to Your fire in my soul. Oh, dear God, please forgive my self-centeredness. Forgive my self-pity about this past summer, about not being able to come and go as I please, about not being able to do what "I" planned; about having to follow the wishes of others rather than my own. Because in the end I got to have so much time with You. Thank You. Return to the top Gentle Flame Date: September 7, 2005 "[The small flame] curled gently around the [hard] iron and embraced it, and never left it till it melted under his irresistible influence." (Springs in the Valley, Sept 7). That's what You are doing to me, isn't it, Lord? Gently, continually embracing my cold, hard heart with the gentle flame of Your love, and melting me and reforming me into a "vessel fit for the Master's use" Thank You! And You want me to love others in the same way, don't You? "Mold me and make me, after Your will, While I am waiting, yielded and still." Return to the top Rest in You Date: Sept 9, 2005 Lord, please help me to just rest in You. I am already wishing for some new "dreams" to replace the ones I have just given to You! But I fear that is only because I have allowed my dreams to become my most cherished friends, and now I kind of fear the empty, lonely spot they've left since I gave them to You. But there is an infinitely better friend to fill that space! You! Fill it, Lord, and help me to give the time and energy and motivation I have given to my dreams in the past, to You now. Oh my, You are just showing me so many amazing things. Thank You, Lord, for making me sit still, empty my mind of "me" and of the world around me, calm down, and just be in Your presence. No rush. No panic. Just You. Thank You, Lord. Return to the top
Main Page \| My Articles for The Life Connection \| Prayers and Meditations \| Poetry Haida Gwaii Reflections \| Education & Home-School \| Family


	Main Page \| My Articles for The Life Connection \| Prayers and Meditations \| Poetry Haida Gwaii Reflections \| Education & Home-School \| Family
Sign Guestbook \| View Guestbook Comments? Questions? [email protected]	Prayer topics Celebration Beautiful Music Video Games Katrina Gentle Flame Rest in You Celebration Date: August 22, 2005 Is silliness okay sometimes? Lord, sometimes I long for fun and celebration. To just let loose and enjoy good companionship, fun in a plain, old-fashioned way. Lord, "Laughter is a good medicine," and when our lives don't have room for it, we become unbalanced. I love that concept of celebration as a discipline! I think people see that as a "scary" part of deeper Christian living. They have an idea that in deeper Christian living everything has to be serious, long-faced, and intense. But You have made us emotional, physically active, demonstrative people. Worship then should include aspects of an exciting, fun, loving, physical experience, should it not? Companionship with You and with Your people is to be full of joy! No longer, "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die," but "Eat, celebrate and be joyful, because today and forever we live with Jesus!" Our eating and drinking should no longer be of the man-devised junk food and drug-laden drinks and other artificial "happiness-inducers," but eating and drinking of the wonderful, healthy foods and liquids which You created to strengthen and invigorate our bodies, and to "make glad the hearts of men." Alongside, of course, the bread and wine of Your body, Your manna which strengthens and invigorates our spirits - and the wonders of Your Word, which is manna to our minds, bringing us into knowledge and wisdom of You. Solitude and silence are wonderful things, Lord! I do need this time, early in the morning, alone with You. Thank You for providing it! Lord, I hear my neighbors up and about. Oh dear God, please help me reach my neighbours for You. In Jesus' name. Light a fire in me, Lord, to get me out witnessing boldly to the world, dear God - starting with my children and their friends, and with my next-door neighbours! (I was just going to add, "Thy will be done," but of course it is Your will. So, "Thy will be done!" It is action time, Lord, based on the solid foundation of Your clearly revealed will for me as Your child. Thank You. Amen.) Return to the top Beautiful Music Date: August 22, 2005 Lord, I have long desired to make "heavenly" music come forth from my instruments, my guitar, piano, clarinet. But, Lord, now I realize that making music to worship You, through a musical instrument, is less important to You than Your desire to make "heavenly music" through me, Your instrument. Use me, Lord. Make beautiful music through me in every aspect of my life, with Your master's touch! Thank You, Lord! ... Norma, My child, listen: It is My will to make beautiful music for My glory out of the ashes of your life's efforts. It is My will to make You one with Me through the blood of My Son whom I gave for you. I am using you, already, My child. I am drawing my bow across the strings of your life. I am turning an old, tattered, broken instrument into a thing of beauty and great utility and blessing, all the for the sake of My Son who gave His life for you. Welcome to the great symphony, My Child! ... Thank You, Lord. Return to the top Video Games Date: Sept 4, 2005 Lord, I've been thinking a lot about all the time people spend playing video games. I don't understand: what's the motivation? What's the "reward"? What kind of useful long-term (even eternal) outcomes, consequences, purposes are being fulfilled? Does it build any character? Does it make a person wiser? Is it health-building to any aspect of one's being: physical, intellectual, spiritual, will? And ultimately, does it please or glorify You in any way? Does it have any redeeming qualities at all? Doesn't it take time away from God? Of course, this also makes me realize that I do lots of things that probably aren't any more helpful: a few solitaire games (several times a week, sometimes 2 or 3 a day); reading "fluff" stuff like my kids' fashion magazines or even the headlines on the ridiculous magazines in the store line up; or watching TV or movies. Now there's another thing that concerns me. When people are around me doing those kinds of things, it is really hard not to get "sucked into" it, especially when those people are family and want me to spend time with them - doing things that I am really not comfortable with. What to do? On the one hand, I feel like it is not only a waste of time, but draws me away from You as I have less time with You, and at the same time I am taking in worldly thoughts and ideas, not to mention getting fodder for nightmares, from watching those shows. Lord, I want to talk to them about You, but they are generally not open to it. I feel like I should spend time with them, because how else does one build relationships? But Lord, when a person is a Christian, why wouldn't they want to talk about You? Is it something about me that puts my family off? Am I too pushy? Or am I too much of a hypocrite, my words and actions not lining up with my words? Or am I a "threat"? Or what? Lord, I need You to keep on changing me, please. Lord, it used to be that I really, really did not want to die. I didn't "get" what the deal was with people who said they long to see You face to face. But I did figure it had to be real, for at least some of them, by observing their lives, and by watching their faces when they were thinking about You. I used to wonder about people who went bravely, even eagerly, into terrible torture and martyrdom for You, people who never backed down, no matter what. Yesterday we watched the movie "Braveheart," and I could comprehend how he could go that far for an idea; but Lord, that idea of freedom, that whole movie, has to be in some degree a reflection of Mel Gibson's relationship with You, doesn't it? I just realized that. I am so slow. Thank You for showing me!.... So if I could accept how an "idea" could drive people, why did it take me so long to understand how knowing You could do the same - and more! I suppose I was so wrapped up in knowing "about" You, that I was really blinded to knowing You. So I see that intellect can be a trap of the enemy, although rightfully used, it is a really important part of being created in Your image. Wow, I have just been longing for focused time with You. Thank You! Thank You for this day. Thank You for this time You are spending with me, listening to me, talking with me, teaching me, being patient with my busy mind and lips and at the same time my slow understanding. Thank You for loving me, encouraging me, correcting me, guiding me, showing me Yourself, Your truth: You! Return to the top Katrina Date: Sept 7, 2005 Lord, I've been thinking how blessed I am. I could be one of those hundreds of thousands of people in the New Orleans area; sitting on rows of cots in sports arenas with everything lost: homes, possessions, jobs, even friends and family. Oh Lord, what is wrong with me? I have been following the news of the hurricane, but only this moment did it occur to me that I haven't been praying for them. Forgive me, Lord, for my selfishness. I'm sitting here feeling sorry about our little financial crunch! Oh Lord, be with those people hit by Katrina. Be with the children who don't have any school to go to, the workers who don't have jobs anymore, the people who don't have any clothes to change into, the people sick and dying and starving to death, the shop owners whose shops have been looted and destroyed, the people whose homes are totally destroyed. What a year, Lord! The tsunami in the Indian Ocean less than a year ago, 5 terrible plane crashes in the past month worldwide, the war in Iraq which just goes on and on, the dreams of democracy seemingly crashing down, continuing wars and rumors of wars, threats of avian flu pandemics. Dear God, I don't know if it is really worse than in the past, or if there are just more people and better news reporting methods. A few years ago, people would get all excited about each new disaster or problem, or even technological developments or ethical questions like abortions and such. I guess maybe some people still do get worked up about it, but it seems like people are just getting "disaster fatigue," getting to the point of trying to just carry on - though there has been a pretty amazing outreach to the victims of the tsunamis and hurricanes. Lord, You know what it is all about, where it is all going, how it all fits into Your eternal plan. We know, too, in a general way. We know it's about sin, about disobedience to You and "independence" and pride and arrogance and separation from You. We know, too, that Jesus has already won, that victory is assured, that because of Jesus' death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection, we are already able to live in victory. We already have a choice to be in relationship with You, to live the Christ life, even as we are still existing in a world of great sin and pain and degradation. Thank You, oh Thank You, Lord. Blessed be Your Name! Thank You, dear Holy Spirit, for still speaking to me when I seem to always be doing things, thinking things, saying things that are so "quenching" to Your fire in my soul. Oh, dear God, please forgive my self-centeredness. Forgive my self-pity about this past summer, about not being able to come and go as I please, about not being able to do what "I" planned; about having to follow the wishes of others rather than my own. Because in the end I got to have so much time with You. Thank You. Return to the top Gentle Flame Date: September 7, 2005 "[The small flame] curled gently around the [hard] iron and embraced it, and never left it till it melted under his irresistible influence." (Springs in the Valley, Sept 7). That's what You are doing to me, isn't it, Lord? Gently, continually embracing my cold, hard heart with the gentle flame of Your love, and melting me and reforming me into a "vessel fit for the Master's use" Thank You! And You want me to love others in the same way, don't You? "Mold me and make me, after Your will, While I am waiting, yielded and still." Return to the top Rest in You Date: Sept 9, 2005 Lord, please help me to just rest in You. I am already wishing for some new "dreams" to replace the ones I have just given to You! But I fear that is only because I have allowed my dreams to become my most cherished friends, and now I kind of fear the empty, lonely spot they've left since I gave them to You. But there is an infinitely better friend to fill that space! You! Fill it, Lord, and help me to give the time and energy and motivation I have given to my dreams in the past, to You now. Oh my, You are just showing me so many amazing things. Thank You, Lord, for making me sit still, empty my mind of "me" and of the world around me, calm down, and just be in Your presence. No rush. No panic. Just You. Thank You, Lord. Return to the top
Main Page \| My Articles for The Life Connection \| Prayers and Meditations \| Poetry Haida Gwaii Reflections \| Education & Home-School \| Family