You Are So Beautiful, Lord

You are so beautiful, Lord!

We rest here in Your love that’s so true

We worship You from deep in our heart

And sing our love back to You

You are so full of light

Dazzling and magnificent in every way

You are purer than snowfall

You are brighter than sunshine

You are the most wonderful One of all!

You are all kindness and love

Tender and gentle in every way

You are soft like a blanket

You are warm like the fireside

You are the most lovable One of all!

You are so full of life

Vibrant and lovely in every way

You are sweeter than honey

You are fresher than fountains

You are the most splendid One of all!

“The one thing I seek above all else: I want to live with him every moment…beholding the marvelous beauty of Yahweh, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace."

Psalm 27:4 (TPT)

You're Wonderful

I just want to say You’re wonderful

I just want to praise Your name

You are such a Giver 

You are such a Wonder

I just want to soak in Your love.

I just want to say You’re beautiful

I just want to lift You up

You are such a Savior

You are such a Beauty

I just want to celebrate Your love.

I just want to say You’re marvelous

I just want to worship and adore

You are such a Victor

You are such a Marvel

I just want to bask in Your love.

I just want to say You’re glorious

I just want to sing of all You’ve done

You are such a Father

You are such a Glory

I just want to live in Your love!

“Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live.”

Psalm 63:3-4 (NIV)

Strength and Joy Are Natural to Us

 Strength and Joy

God gives us joy like a child full of wonder, strength like a child full of life.

“Honor and majesty surround Him; strength and joy fill His dwelling.”

1 Chronicles 16:27 (NLT)

Strength and joy fills God’s dwelling, and we are that dwelling place of God. His own strength and joy are filling us at all times. 

This is what is truly most natural to us as God’s children, to be joyful and full of God’s happiness, to be uplifted and full of God’s strength. This is our normal way of being. 

Joy is our natural state, and it’s God’s joy in us.

Strength is our natural state, and it’s God’s strength in us.

A Prayer: Dear Father, I see You want me to live like a child, full of wonder, able to be carefree, full of life and vigor. I want to enjoy all the beauties of life and all the joys found in Your presence in me. I really do feel like a child again with You.

Face to Face Union All the Time

“Our soul is oned [united] to Him, unchangeable Goodness.”

Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love

“I am always aware of the Lord’s presence; He is near, and nothing can shake me. And so I am thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure.”

Psalm 16:8-9 (GNT)

You cause me to be still and just remember we are one.

And in the stillness there is presence. It’s You - here inside of me.

I’m face to face with You in all Your love and splendor.

Fellowship doesn’t have to have any words.

Sometimes it just means sitting quietly together.

Sometimes it’s simply a “knowing” that You are smiling at me.

Your complete acceptance means the world to me.

I feel lighter, stronger, clearer, like I’m coming back to the center.

I’m happy to be here with You, happy we are always together.

A Prayer: I know You are always here with me. I look at You and You fill me with joy.

Dear to God

Do we really know how dear we are to Him?

“My dear, dear son, my child in whom I take pleasure! Every time I mention his name, my heart bursts with longing for him! Everything in me cries out for him. Softly and tenderly I wait for him.” GOD’s Decree."

Jeremiah 31:20 (MSG)

He is the One who watches over us while we sleep. 

He is the One who cries with us when we are sad and celebrates with us when we are happy. 

He is the hand on our shoulder when we feel alone. 

He is the One who sends us flowers on our daily walks and rainbows after the spring rain just to make us smile. 

He is the One who loves to hear all our thoughts and laughs at all our jokes. 

He is the One who can't stop thinking about us, whose heart flips at the mention of our name, who loves being with us. 

He is the best Father, the best Friend, the best Companion one could ever have. 

Do we really know how dear we are to Him?

A Thought: God adores me.

Every Tear

Thank You, Jesus, that You lived on this earth and You know what it is like to face the challenges of this life.

Sometimes it can feel so difficult for me to make it through each day, and I know You understand.

I often get overwhelmed with all my troubles and sorrows.

But I know I am not alone. I know You are here.

Thank You for walking through it all with me.

Thank You for saturating me with all Your comfort and calm.

Thank You for wrapping me in Your arms of peace and love right now.

For everyone who is hurting right now, would You hold them tightly and let them feel Your love and comfort. Let them know they are not alone. Let them know they are being carried.

Thank You for holding us all, for without You, Jesus, we couldn’t make it through this life.

Thank You for every person that gives us love and support right now. They are such a gift.

And thank You for the promise that all our tears and pains will end!

“You have seen me tossing and turning through the night. You have collected all my tears and preserved them in Your bottle! You have recorded every one in Your book.”

Psalm 56:8 (TLB)

Sometimes...

Lord, sometimes I feel so empty.

But You keep on filling up those empty places.

Sometimes everything seems so dark.

But You keep on being the light in the midst of the darkness.

Sometimes I can't feel anything, can't sense Your presence.

But You keep on being present.

Sometimes I succumb to anxiety and fear.

But You keep carrying me.

Sometimes I don't see any victory but only struggle.

But You keep on being strong.

Sometimes I wonder if I even believe, my faith seems so small.

But You keep on being real and true.

Sometimes I life seems senseless and devoid of meaning.

But You keep on making it all mean something somehow.

Sometimes I lose hope.

But You keep on bringing a new day.

Sometimes I feel I can't make it anymore.

But You keep on pulling me through.

This, to me, is Grace.

You are the Grace in my life.

You are the reason I am still here, the reason I have survived the rough times, the reason I still believe, the reason I still have hope.

You keep on giving meaning to my life.

And the meaning is Love, the meaning is You.

My life isn't perfect, but You are. 

You are just the One I need.

Where would I be without You, my beloved Friend?

God has said, “I will never fail you."

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)

The Difference Between Do and Done

Do vs. Done

We are already at the goal. We are not trying to get there. The work to get us there has already been done, completed in full by Christ!

“Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’”

John 19:30 (NIV)

I have worked and struggled so hard to be a "good Christian." I always thought I wasn't good enough, that God was always disappointed in me, that His main message to me was "try harder." These thoughts weren’t true! God then showed me the difference between law (or works/effort) and grace (free gifts). One big difference is "do" vs. "done."

It's the difference between "I'm trying to kill off my old self," and realizing it's already dead.

It's the difference between "I am trying to get forgiveness and redeem myself," and realizing I have already been forgiven and redeemed.

It's the difference between "I'm trying to be holy," and realizing I have already been sanctified (made holy) and perfected forever.

It's the difference between "I'm trying to get closer to God," and realizing this human life has already been joined as one to God.

It's the difference between "I am trying to get to heaven," and realizing Christ already brought me there.

The things I was trying so hard to do under law or self-effort were actually already done for me! When were they done? Well, about 2,000 years ago. It's called the finished work of Christ because it really is finished. Yes, believing it allows me to experience it fully and personally in my present life, but the fact is, it was already done long ago by my wonderful Lord. It's the difference between "do" and "done."

A Thought: I can rest because all the work of my salvation has already been done by Christ.

Amazing Love of God - a Quote by George MacDonald

"Not the lovingest heart that ever beat can even reflect the length and breadth and depth and height of that love of God which shows itself in His Son. The whole history is a divine agony to give divine life to creatures. The outcome of that agony will be radiant life, whereof joy unspeakable is the flower. Every child will look in the eyes of the Father, and the eyes of the Father will receive the child with an infinite embrace."

George MacDonald

Unspoken Sermons: Second Series

A Day in June

This is an excerpt from my favorite poem, about a glorious day in June, freely given for all to enjoy, just like God gives Himself to us freely:

“And what is so rare as a day in June? 

Then, if ever, come perfect days...

“Now is the high-tide of the year,

And whatever of life hath ebbed away

Comes flooding back with a ripply cheer,

Into every bare inlet and creek and bay;

Now the heart is so full that a drop overfills it,

We are happy now because God wills it....

"Joy comes, grief goes, we know not how;

Everything is happy now,

Everything is upward striving;

'Tis as easy now for the heart to be true

As for grass to be green or skies to be blue,

'Tis for the natural way of living….”

James Russell Lowell 

(Excerpted from “What Is So Rare as a Day in June,” from The Vision of Sir Launfal, by J.R. Lowell, Houghton, Mifflin and Co., 1896).

I love the imagery in the poem, and it is special to me because I first came to know God on a perfect June day, and the sky really did seem bluer and the grass greener, and it really was so easy to be happy. It was like the light of heaven was shining in me and it made everything on earth more beautiful to me. I didn’t even know what to call the wonderful, light feeling I had, but I found out it was the Holy Spirit filling me. James Russell Lowell’s poem brings me back to that same sense of joy and lightness, and I am reminded that the Holy Spirit is always within, the joy of eternity within, like a bit of perfect June day even in the most challenging times. Here is my own poem to God, in thanks for the gift of His life, realized on that perfect day in June:

You are so lovely!

Your gift is so free!

You come to me

Like a perfect June day

Like the sea filling up

Every inlet and bay.

You are my high tide

You fill up my life!

And every empty, lonely

And barren place

Is full of Your presence, 

Your joy and Your grace.

You’re free like the fresh air

Like the dew on the grass

You make my world brighter 

By just being in it

The grass greener, sky bluer

Life is bursting each minute.

With You all is joyful

And sorrow is gone

Life in Your Spirit 

Is so easy and light

I love this new life with You 

So sweet, fresh and bright!

“His Spirit already confirms within us the present evidence of eternity.”

2 Corinthians 5:5 (MIRROR)

A Poem: Seek Yourself in Me

There are many voices around us that tell us who we are, but why not go straight to the Source, the One who made us and holds us in His heart, and let Him tell us who we are? We look at Him and find ourselves reflected there. How can that be? We are in His image, we are His reflection. We see Him and see ourselves there in Him, lovely and beloved. And where do we see Him? Right here inside of us is where we find Him waiting, waiting to be discovered. All the love in the universe is right here inside us, loving us always. We are ever entwined with the beautiful Christ, for we are in His heart and He is in ours.

Teresa of Avila wrote a poem in the 1500’s called “Soul, Seek Yourself in Me,” and it brings out in a beautiful way these themes of us in Christ and Christ in us. Below is my adaptation the English translation of this beautiful love poem from His heart to ours:

“It was tender love, dear soul,

That drew you on My heart.

No other artist could

With any skill

Make such a work of art!

My love itself brought you to life

And fairest one, so near divine,

If you ever wonder

Who you are

Just see yourself in Me, so fine.

For when you see your image there

Reflecting Me in beauty rare

You will find joy

You will find life

To know yourself so blessed and fair.

Now if you do not know

Just how to find Me, soul so true,

Do not look far 

Or wander long

Just find Me here inside of you!

You see I have my home in you

My favorite place I love the best,

And when your thoughts

Roam far away

I woo them back to Me to rest.

There is no need to look for Me

Outside of your own heart

Speak my name,

For I am here,

Beloved, we will never part.”

Teresa of Avila (adapted)

“You are privileged to be in union with Christ.”

1 Corinthians 3:23 (MSG)

(My adaptation of  “Soul, Thou Must Seek Thyself in Me” by Teresa of Avila, based on the English version of the poem in Minor Works of St. Teresa, translated from the Spanish by the Benedictines of Stanbrook, revised by Benedict Zimmerman. Published by Thomas Baker, London, in 1913. This work is in the public domain.)

The Spirit Leads Us

As we go through each day of our lives, He is working and bringing His life out in us and in our circumstances.  That is such a wonderful thing! He is at work, we don't have to worry about making things happen. I was reading about that recently and it brought rest.  I think God opened my eyes to that more. I learned that as believers it's not that we have to put the Holy Spirit in control - He IS in control. He IS leading. He IS working all out for good. He IS resurrection life, the glory and very essence of God, and that unstoppable Life, WILL and IS transforming us and our circumstances for good. He IS bringing out what is already true in the spirit realm out into the visible realm.  His Life is shining through in our messy lives, even in the midst of our turmoil, problems, pain and even failure.  The River of Living Water IS flowing, the Life IS coming out!  It won't be completely seen till the redemption of our bodies, but He is there working.  And that brings me rest. Just to know He's at work.

As many as are led by the Spirit, these are the sons of God.  Doesn't that mean that as God's children, the Spirit IS leading us?  That's just a fact of our new existence.  And He ALWAYS leads us in triumph and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ!  We don't have to worry about making that happen by works, understanding, right focus, or even faith.  It IS happening, now and now and now and now.  The Life just IS.  The Life just LIVES.  His Life, His Spirit is at work sustaining, holding, keeping, moving, motivating and expressing Himself in, to, through and as us at all times!  It's not up to me in any way at all to get that to happen.  We don't have to "activate" Him; He is activating us!  Grace means God does it all!  It's up to Him!  And if it's up to Him, it's done. 

Who Was the Lost Son?

I was thinking about the stories Jesus told in Luke 15 about the lost things...and how it had always bothered me that the lady searched for the coin and the shepherd for the sheep, but that the father had not gone off searching for the prodigal son...then I had a 'news flash' and it dawned on me that maybe the true 'lost son' in the parable wasn't the rebel who went off and partied and later came home but that the true 'lost son' was the older brother who held back and wouldn't come into the party! And then I realized that the father DID go out and search for him! He DID come to look for him, He didn't just leave him outside to sulk..

It meant so much to me because I have had legalistic tendencies in the past and sometimes can still act that way..and I have sometimes felt Jesus was always just mad at people who have been like me..and I have felt ashamed and left out of the celebration, just like the older brother out sulking, but probably secretly wishing he could be lavished with attention and given a party, too...And I realized that Jesus loved the Pharisees! He was, through all his stories, so often pleading with them to come into the party! That the party was for them, too! I love that the father in the story didn't criticize, get angry, or punish the older brother for his terrible attitude. He understood he had been living under a false idea of his place in the family, thinking it had to be earned, not knowing that he could have a celebration any time, not knowing how loved he really was already without him doing a thing..

I felt so loved and happy thinking these thoughts with Papa, knowing that He really does love those of us who have tended toward being Pharisee types! I am ashamed of how I was once legalistic and prideful. But God isn't ashamed of me, He came out to me and invited me, even me, into the party.. Thank You, Papa, that you love the rebellious younger brothers and you love the self-righteous older brothers too!

You don't leave any of us in our pain and confusion, no, You come and minister GRACE and acceptance and unconditional love to us all! No matter what we do, think, or get confused about, You always come for us and woo us back into resting in Your arms!

Excerpt From an Ancient Christian Letter

I really liked this passage from an early letter by a Christian writing to explain our faith to a friend. This letter is thought to be from the middle of the second century and is a wonderful explanation of who God is and what Christ did for us. I love the beautiful description of God's character in this passage:

"God, the Lord and Fashioner of all things, who made all things, and assigned them their several positions, proved Himself not merely a friend of mankind, but also long-suffering [in His dealings with them.] Yea, He was always of such a character, and still is, and will ever be, kind and good, and free from wrath, and true, and the only one who is [absolutely] good; and He formed in His mind a great and unspeakable conception, which He communicated to His Son alone.     As long, then, as He held and preserved His own wise counsel in concealment, He appeared to neglect us, and to have no care over us. But after He revealed and laid open, through His beloved Son, the things which had been prepared from the beginning, He conferred every blessing all at once upon us, so that we should both share in His benefits, and see and be active [in His service]."    

Letter from Mathetes to Diognetus, [Ch. 8]

Eyes on Christ

"As no darkness can be seen by anyone surrounded by light, so no trivialities can capture the attention of anyone who has his eyes on Christ."

St Gregory of Nyssa

The Law of Liberty

I love the law of liberty! Trying to live under the old law literally killed me in so many ways! I burned myself out trying to keep all the rules and never felt good enough, never felt I’d ever arrived at the destination of being acceptable to God. Instead I spent my time examining myself (and others!) for flaws and living such a defeated life. Finally I gave up. I decided the Christian life was ‘too hard’ and I checked out mentally. I didn’t try anymore. I felt at my lowest. I felt I’d failed to be the Christian I was ‘supposed’ to be. And it was at that point that God began speaking to me about grace! I found out that all I was wanting to be, He had already made me – perfect, acceptable, complete, holy, righteous! I found out that I was under grace (unconditional free acceptance and love from God), not law (you must do things in order to earn acceptance). Now with learning about my original identity in Christ, I feel like God is expanding my mind even more to see just how free I am to be myself. It was like I never realized ‘myself’ was so good already! So complete and whole and loving and trusting! And that I have been that way since before time began, wow! So now I am under the law of liberty, oh what joy! This law simply says, “See yourself in the face of Christ, and be yourself!”

I love the law of liberty, and what a difference it has made to be under it! There is no more obligation or pressure to perform with this law. There is no requirement to be kept or else punishment will come. There is no pointing out of flaws. There is no ‘must’ or ‘should.’ There is no ‘work’ to be done to get the blessing. There is no high standard that I must struggle in my own power to reach. There is nothing I HAVE to do!! The most beautiful activity imaginable is the main focus: just looking into the face of the Beloved, Jesus, and seeing my own face there, that I too am the Beloved! Seeing that love and affection He has for me and realizing I am perfectly celebrated and adored and pleasing, just as He is!

This wonderful law of liberty brings me to complete REST in His arms! I find I can simply be myself, for ‘myself’ is pretty wonderful, just like Him! And it is so easy to be yourself, isn’t it? There is no strain in that.

And the wonder of it is that as I am simply being myself, HE is expressing His very life and love through me to this world! And the more that happens, the more He shines forth in love to others, till one day the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, shining out from within us! For we are His glory, wow!

When I shared this post in the class I was taking, another student wrote this comment:  "While reading your post, I see you at about 6 years old in a precious swirly dress, dancing around outside in your yard on a beautiful spring day, without a care in the world!!! You are so free and so happy to be alive and so overflowing with love that every person that passes by, you take by the hand and begin dancing with them, until, soon you have a yard full of people of all ages and races dancing for joy with each other."

How wonderful just exploring the riches of His Presence, His kingdom, His love, His perfection, His freedom -  ALREADY within us!  Not trying to ‘get somewhere’ or ‘get more knowledge’ but a journey of discovery where we explore the depths of what is already within us, isn’t that so? Wow! I feel it is like exploring Aslan’s Country in the Narnia books, isn’t it, the further inward we go the bigger the “heavenly country’ inside us, as big as all eternity, for we are exploring God Himself in all His love, joy, peace, and freedom – inside us, wow!   And this exploration, this inward journey of discovery, is joyful and exuberant and full of inner ease..not stress..it is pure REST!  It is recreation!  It makes our holy vocation - knowing Him - a holy vacation!  Completely invigorating and yet also restful and relaxing!  And the experience of His presence is so wonderful, free and delightful that He just draws the whole world into the dance, the joy, the exuberance, the rest, the glory of His presence and love and life!

What a wonderful law to be under, the law of liberty!  It is the law that takes off the pressure, that has no expectations, that brings no penalties, that causes no shame..instead it frees, validates, encourages, uplifts, invigorates, and brings rest to our souls and joy to our hearts!  His presence, His love, His favor is LIFE, buoying us up and carrying us along without our effort, without our help!  Hallelujah!