Contemplating Life

  I had the privilege of many hours of a face-to-face with someone precious to me this week. She lives many states away so we don’t get this often enough. She brought up a thought in our conversation that I can’t stop pondering. She asked, “Why do people not acknowledge and even completely ignore the Holy Spirit? There is almost no talk of His position or power, and He is not invited into the church life of many places.” I have been pondering this thought since she raised the question, and I think it is a very valid question. This morning I was reading in Mark 8 where Jesus is explaining to His disciples what is about to take place. Peter doesn’t like what he is hearing (@the Messiah will die) so he pulls Jesus aside and reprimands Him. The disciples didn’t want to believe their Messiah would die, so they chose to ignore what that very Messiah was trying to tell them. Then Jesus turns and faces all of His disciples and reprimands THEM. Jesus says, “Get away from me Satan! You are se

  I woke up this morning and lay in the dark thanking Jesus for Who He is and His kindness and compassion toward me. I sometimes question “why?” (Not His compassion and kindness – I never question that, because that is Who He is.) My question is why did I never see it all as clearly as I do now? Why is the Word of God jumping off the pages and into my heart in ways I never comprehended or embraced before? Why have I been so blessed to know and live in what is unfolding within me? I guess I don’t need to know why – I just need to be completely thankful for what is! My conversation with the Lord and my reading in the Word this morning has had me considering the concept of rejection some more. Jesus really was rejected…..a lot. This morning, I have been more focused on how much He was rejected by His own family. Jesus’ family never had the eyes to see Who He was. I am not sure what they expected, but I don’t think He was it. While Jesus was being Jesus, His family even, at some points,

  Most days I wake up before the sun And with a hot cup of coffee I retire to my home office My safe place. It is where the Holy Spirit and I Meet to talk and discuss the Word That lies open on my table. The stars outside my window Twinkle in the dark night sky; The moon shouts “Look at me! See the glory I reflect!” The house is quiet Except for the creaks and groans The quiet sighs of age. I love these moments! The Word speaks Challenging Rebuking Encouraging. The Holy Spirit speaks Teaching Refining Calming. I sit boldly at the Throne of Grace Talking Listening Hoping Repenting Surrendering. With all that I am I love being here In the Presence of my God! It is the only place Where the chaos of this world Where the questions The pain And the loss Are brought into a focus That I cannot achieve on my own. It is where life And love And hope And forever Make sense in a way That I cannot fathom by myself. It is where I sit with Jesus And am e