Take it slow .... and love.

It seems that there is a resounding echo from many voices to slow down this season. Take your time. Do not get overstressed. I wonder what source these warnings come from? I would like to think that they are from The King ... "Slow down My Children. Remember who you are and who I have made you. Remember that this time of year, is to remind you of My Promise of Love! Be at Peace. Have My Joy. Do not be swept up into a chaotic frenzy for fleshly fulfillment. Love one another, as I love you."

Love .... it is that simple.

I was reminded of a love letter, written many years ago. It was written on paper, not emailed. It was written with a pencil, not palm pilot tool. It was written from the heart in a moment of dire need to relate to a lover that was not close by.

Remember the ones you love. I hope you enjoy the letter and this season.

"Good morning on July 7th -

Even when I am in bed my thoughts rush to you, my eternally beloved, now and then joyfully, then again sadly, waiting to know whether fate will hear our prayer.

To face life I must live altogether with you or never see you. Yes, I am resolved to be a wanderer abroad until I can fly to your arms and say that I have found my true home with you and enfolded in your arms can let my soul be wafted to the realm on blessed spirits. Aalas, unfortunately it must be so. You will become composed, the more so as you know that I am faithful to you; no other woman can ever possess my heart. Never - never. Oh God, why must one be separated from her who is so dear?

Yet my life in Vienna at present is a miserable life. Your love has made me both the happiest and the unhappiest of mortals. At my age, I now need stability and regularity in my life. Can this coexist with our relationship? Angel, I have just heard that the post goes every day andtherefore I must close, so that you may receive the letter immediately. Be calm; for only be calmly considering our lives can we achieve our purpose to live together. Be calm. Love me. Today. Yesterday. What tearful longing for you. For you. You. My life. My all. All good wishes to you. Oh, do continue to love me. Never misjudge your lover's most faithful heart.

Ever yours.

Ever mine.

Ever ours.

L

- Beethoven

He is Risen ... He is Risen indeed!

“Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb … (it was empty).” Matt 28:1 NLT

When there is a death, there is a resurrection. Someone shared that today. A most beautiful promise from Papa, indeed. Think about what He is saying …

The same person as the above shared a story to illustrate her point.

She was called to her Mother’s death bed in a nursing home. She left after staying for a time. On her way out, a woman stopped her. The woman, very sick as well, commented on how much the Mother would be missed. The response was, “Thank you. I know she is with Jesus now, in a better place.” The conversation continued.

“Jesus??”
“Yes, Jesus. Do you know Him?”
“No.”
“Would you like to?”
“Yes. Very much.”

So, the woman accepted Jesus into her heart right there and then. Our Author ran down to the (Nurses) office filled with joy. On the way down, she heard the LORD speak to her clearly, “When there is a death, there is always a resurrection!”

This true experience stuck with me and had me thinking …

“Then He turned to the host. "The next time you put on a dinner, don't just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You'll be—and experience—a blessing. They won't be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned!—at the resurrection of God's people." Luke 14:12 The Message

I found the above scripture to mean more to me, seeing it in the context of the story. That every opportunity to bless others, can be Papa bringing life, in a response to death, through us. The ageless victory of life over death, can be seen in our every day lives. While we’re waiting to receive our blessing from Papa, at the ‘great’ resurrection … let’s see how many ‘miny’ illustrations of Jesus’ resurrection we can bless others with day to day!

Happy Easter!

Story by Bridget Elwood
Painting by Lydia van Knijff

Fallacious Programming

I was reading Wayne Jacobson’s ‘Lifestream’ blog and found his latest entry to hold the quote below:

We are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found amoung us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations, and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. -A.W. TOZER-

I totally love this quote. It is the mission statement of what I feel Papa is doing in my life right now. My follow blogger Paul wrote recently, “We do not have our governments kicking in the doors of our churches. Our lives are not at risk preaching the gospel. Yet we are the most fearful group of Christians in the world.” I believe that a portion of the fear we live in as Christians, is the fear of Papa being in control. “If we stop the programs, where will we find ourselves?” Even farther still, “If we stop the functions, how will He be able to do anything?”

It is not hard to find yourself throw into the mix of things that are not from Papa. It's easy to stay in the 'comfortable', soft, sleepy business of programs. The things we find ourselves conjuring up to bring in the masses and rev up the church. Then when you pull yourself from it ... or should I say, when He pulls us from it, we find ourselves facing another challenge. The challenge of, "What do I do now?"

Trust. Trust and believe. Believe that He is our source. That He is in control. That He is the key to everything. That He is what will move us. That He is The One who opens doors no man can open and closes doors no man can shut.

We believe that we are okay. We are okay because we are in His hands.

And we will find that Papa has many ideas for moving His church. That He has many ways of the lost seeing Him and believing that He is their King! We will begin to see that when everything we do has the heart beat of Heaven, He can move mountains!

I believe that we will do many things, when we let Him be in the driver’s seat.