Step by Step in the Power of His Love

It has become a feeling less foreboding and more comforting: the power of Christ's love.

It was foreboding because I began to recognize a pattern: He would affirm His love for me, spiritually, on days when I ended up making a big mistake. Once I saw a pattern, I began to fear the revelation of that power because it meant I'd make a mistake.

Lately, I've come to realize that I am going to make mistakes, and feel more grateful for His love. Because of His love, I can go on when I fail. Only because of His love can I go on in the ways He directs, because otherwise I would feel ruined. His love is what keeps me going on, and its power works through my selfish heart to love others. It can overpower my peevishness, my fatigue and my disinterest to create compassion where there was none.

Oh God, You are My God
And I will ever praise You!
I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step you'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days.

Amen!

Unsteady

I am sure of some things
But I'm often wondering
The doubt can try me, but
In such times I cry, "Thank you, Savior."

For when I am uncertain
You relieve my burden
And give me grace that carries me back in

When I am unsteady
You are my rescue
I know you are faithful to what you begin

When my heart's unready
Spirit, you lift me
To the solid ground again.

Overheard Conversation

I hear your muted echoes
And I wish I understood
For all the things I think of
And all I wish I could
Lead to the conclusion
That I can understand
Imperfectly, an artist's heart
Through the artists' hands.

I think about your worldview
While images of your times
Flash like summer lightning
On the landscape of my mind.
Wandering like tumbleweeds
Impressions come and go -
The paintings in this gallery
People I want to know.

Pause

Six days shall you work, and on the seventh you shall rest.

Noon approaches this Saturday morning and the coffee is still warm. I have decided that on this day I am going to do no work at all - at least no housework or no job-work. There are some serious chores that need to be done around the house, and I could certainly find ways to spend time perfecting my craft, but as much as I care about those things, I know I need to be still right now and let the peace and joy of God cascade about me. As I lay in bed this morning thinking about how I could possibly spend a day not working at all, a bible verse occurred to me with a meaning I'd never considered before. Do not conform to the standard of the world, but renew your mind. That's one objective of this rest day - and there I go - being task-oriented even while at rest - but surely rest has its purposes. Even in a Psalm of praise there are selah's - moments when the music lingers and the worshippers wait. Moments that linger over coffee bring out the sweetness and sweep of life in a way that transcends the moment itself. I pause to be renewed in this wonder and awe.