Conversations

Note: I had a conversation with God Wednesday morning and while I won't post all of it here, I found that looking back through and picking out parts of it that are less specific is actually more helpful.  Some of it I think my friends might be happy to hear - at least the parts about the spiritual fascination.  I'm fighting off some sort of illness I think which has made me very tired, but I feel like I still should put something down here.  Actually, I'm beginning to wonder if my attempts to progress in several areas and the good fellowship with God and church family is WHY I'm feeling so weird...that unseen world fights back hard sometimes.  
I was honored to be at a prayer meeting that same night that God and I spoke and there were some very beautiful people there and lovely things that were said.  It was pretty cool.  I have been trying to be more vocal (as in, with my audible voice), but I'm not sure how well I'm succeeding.  Anyway, I'll put down a few thoughts beginning with the selected parts of my 'conversation'.  To me, writing can be a form of prayer and certainly was in this case.




Me: "Through the most recent chapter of my journey...You've been there."
"I should come to You always for intimate discourse."
"You are sovereign, patient, gracious, merciful, and really do have only the best for me in mind.  Please help me to remember that in days and years to come."

God:  "I think that what you were thinking about (earlier) was good and right.  You are not fascinated so much with the darkness of the supernatural as the supernatural world itself.  So in those times where the darkness seems more attractive to focus on, it should be a conscious decision on your part to turn your attention back to the 'light'.  Its not always a temptation...but be vigilant, alert, mindful of your thoughts and attentions...."

"I have a purpose for everything, even when you don't listen to me.... Neither you or anyone else has the power to derail my plan whatever the mistakes.  You give yourself too much power sometimes."

There was a quote that was given at the prayer meeting (several actually, but this was I found very special) that really touched me.  It's from Richard Foster.  "If we genuinely love people, we desire for them far more than it is within our power to give, and that will cause us to pray.  The inner sense of compassion is one of the clearest indications from the Lord that this is a prayer project for you."

Hrum Hrooom... TypeBeard Typeth...Buruum 0.o

I was planning on blogging tonight on a God conversation I had this morning as well as some thoughts and reflections from the prayer meeting tonight.  However in the past hour I have discovered that I am in far too wacky of a mood and doubt that I would have the fortitude between the maniacal giggling (always a tell-tale sign of exhaustion) to sit down long enough to do so.  So before I get to the stage where I begin wondering if I have somewhere injured relationships or done something wrong or otherwise be sad-silly I believe I shall retire and wake to write another day.  Goodnight! 0.o  :D   0.o!  *blink, yawn*

Writer's Group Writing Prompt

Author's Note:  So, tonight I went to my first ever West Shore Writer's Group at my church.  I'd been meaning to do that for years, and finally made it tonight.  Honestly, I had SUCH a good time!  I'm so glad that I went!  One of the things we did was a writing prompt with a 5 minute window to write.  I am blogging now what I wrote during that prompt.   Now just to give you a point of reference, before I went into the group, I was nearly in tears because I was stressing over financial issues (namely the inadequate heating at home during a bitter cold few days).  But despite that, during the writing prompt, this short 'poem' I'll call it regarding 'Courage' came out.  I am considering it a blessing because despite everything else, God's positivism came out and it was not my doing at all.  God simply speaks for Himself.  Those are always the best.  And to my surprise and delight, (even though it wasn't really me) the group loved it and had rave reviews for it. :) I say that not to brag, but to express my joy in the warm, fuzzy feeling that the affirmation gave me.  Yes, even for me, the occasional 'warm fuzzies' are a GOOD and needed thing. ;)

The actual prompt was: Demonstrate or personify either Cowardice or Courage.

Courage

Looking yourself in the face and saying, "I accept you, but let's grow."

Looking at grief and saying, "Yes.  It hurts.  But I will learn rather than grow bitter."

Looking at an enemy and saying, "You don't have to like me.  You can even abuse me.  But I will love you in return."

Looking at what you fear the most and walking up to shake its hand.

Looking at your child and saying, "Follow me.  Learn from me." 

(any parent will understand how terrify *that* can be)

Looking at a past that has defined you

Nodding and saying, "Its been nice knowing you."

Looking at past accomplishments and realizing you learned more from your defeats

Looking at the sunset and anticipating dawn

Looking at the cross and remembering resurrection

Looking at death and focusing on the rest of your life

Even if you have only moments remaining

Riding Out The Storm (Reflections on Noah)

Author's Note: Once again, this is still a rough draft and work-in-progress

Sometimes we're asked to go through the flood.  Trouble or sorrow pours from the sky.  I think sometimes its natural for us to wonder if our troubles are a punishment for our actions, even if there is no obvious wrong-doing we can pin-point.  Job asked God to reveal any sin that he had committed to deserve his sufferings even though his end conclusion was that he had not sinned.  (He asked 'why',  what the reason was for his suffering.)  But Noah wasn't being punished.  His struggle in going through the flood was actually an indication of God's approval of him.   He did follow God, He did serve Him faithfully in a world full of perversion and sin.  Noah's reward for faithful service was a safe haven through the storm (which he had to work to build I might add).  He wasn't spared the flood by any means, and a very heavy responsibility was laid of him (the preservation of all human and animal life).  But Noah, unlike the rest of the world around him, survived.  Noah, despite every rain-drop and pitch of the sea, was the one man used to continue God's plan.
Unlike Noah, we are rarely given a set date when the rains would stop, nor always a warning before-hand, though maybe there are signs that we do not see or recognize.

Riding out the storm, being kept afloat.

Noah kept sending out hope for life.  Over and over again he sent out the bird, until FINALLY... a living branch came back.

I would like to believe that in my current flood God is promising me too that He will never put my world through this kind of (financial) devastation, but the truth is, I probably will not know that in so clear a way. --  Even after the flood had passed, I'm sure it wasn't easy trying to rebuild the world.  In fact, in Noah's case, there is clear evidence that it wasn't.  Even after the rainbow of promise.  But, life did go on, the world was rebuilt, and Noah's descendants marked a new beginning not only for his family but for God's restoration plan.