2010 and fairy tales

When i was growing up I wasn't very interested in reading. I wasn't interested in it at all until my "adult years"..whatever that means. After seeing the motion picture "The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe"..and being a big fan of C.S. Lewis..i decided it would be nice to read all the Chronicles of Narnia. Although intended for a young reader...they have much to offer us "grown ups"..whatever that means. The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe was the second book in the chronicles (although written first). I enjoyed The Magicians Nephew which is the first book...it gave me great insight to the books to follow. But there is something magical about the Lion the which and the wardrobe. When i first opened it i read the dedication that C.S. Lewis wrote to his Goddaughter and it brought me to tears...he wrote:

My Dear Lucy,
I wrote this story for you, but when i began it I had not realized that girls grow faster than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a work you say, but i shall still be your affectionate Godfather,
C.S. Lewis

It wasn't so much what he wrote that tugged my heart...but more of the truth in one sentence. "But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again...". I found much truth in this sentence last night at midnight..28 yrs old bundled up in bed next to my husband..content with my reading light on and my Narnia book in hand.

New Year...New decade..More life! Happy 2010!

Old enough for fairy tales,
JM

Times

Two of my favorite verses are..
Romans 8:38-39 "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord".

Ephesians 3: 18-19 "And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God".

They are my favorite for so many reasons..i love them so much we used them in our wedding. And they are not your typical wedding verses. I have been listening to this song by Tenth Avenue North called "Times" and the words are so simple..but they remind me of everything these verses mean. It's so beautiful to me that God is so detailed. He gave us so many examples. He didn't just say.."you should know how deep My love is". He didn't say "nothing at all can separate us from Him" the end. He doesn't give us a chance to say our "maybe this can" or "what if". He made Himself quite clear...and I'm happy He did.

Check it out....

Times...
I know I need You I need to love You I love to see You, but it's been so long. I long to feel You I feel this need for You. And I need to hear You, is that so wrong?

Now You pull me near You. When we're close, I fear You. Still I'm afraid to tell You, all that I've done. Are You done forgiving? Oh can You look past my pretending? Lord, I'm so tired of defending, what I've become..What have I become?

I hear You say, "My love is over. It's underneath.It's inside. It's in between. The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel. The times that you question, 'Is this for real?' The times you're broken.The times that you mend. The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend.

Well, My love is over, it's underneath. It's inside, it's in between.

These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks. The times that you feel like you're falling from grace. The times you're hurting. The times that you heal. The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal. The times of confusion, in chaos and pain. I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame. I'm there through your heartache. I'm there in the storm. My love I will keep you, by My power alone.

I don't care where you fall, where you have been. I'll never forsake you, My love never ends.
It never ends."

Here is a link to here a little preview of the song...or you can download it for a buck!
http://www.tenthavenuenorth.com/buy

My need for You

You are my only Escape. Escape from me...from this world. I bury my face in You...Your grasp contains me. Hold me tight..Your embrace calms my fears..You ease my worries. I cry out to You my God..a faint do not be afraid is what i hear. But the sounds of this earth are draining..they have built a barrier. I have my eye on You..Your Presence walks the earth. But my fears run. They are faster than the wind. We meet there at the vast ocean of my giant..he is nothing to you but defeated. My eyes are deceived..I must see through Yours instead. Your Word is Truth...lies are my weakness. Your Word is Life. Fill my mind..take the lies..Flood all the emptiness with You. Forgive me for my worry and faithlessness...for being consumed with doubt and fear..I know it is not of You or from You. You continue to reach for me. Time and time again You remind me. I choose your narrow path of Truth and Life..i choose Your Way. I love and thank you...my Holy Escape..my Eternal Friend..Forgiving Father.

Upon the earth who's Your equal

During worship practice last night we sang some powerful songs. Through the lyrics I was reminded of how BIG God is. There is no one like Him. Not one person on earth can be as Big as Him...no matter how hard we try. It's always a thought in my mind...but sometimes I make Him small. And He is anything but small. So...i am praying this week that everyone who hears the worship songs on Sunday and reads the words on the screen will be reminded of how BIG God is. Always...He is always BIG...and UNCHANGING. Consistent. Faithful. REAL. HOLY. Approachable. Trust worthy. He is I AM. What a GREAT BIG God we have and how Mighty is the Power of the Cross. I pray that those words would pierce the hearts of many and help them to fall facedown is His presence and in the Light of His Love. I pray that they would feel Your presence as close as the air we breathe. As close as our own skin. Thank you for your Holy presence...and what do we know of Holy but You.

Here are a few of the lyrics that touch me...no matter how many times i hear and sing them..

(parts of Facedown by Matt Redman)
Welcomed in to the courts of the King
I've been ushered in to Your presence
Lord I stand on Your merciful ground
Yet with every step tread with revernce
And I'll fall face-down...as Your Glory shines around
Who is there in the heavens like You
and upon the earthe who's Your equal
You are dar above You're the highest of heights
We are bowing down to exalt You

(parts of Mighty Is the Power of the Cross by Chris Tomlin)
What can fill the emptimess
What can mend our brokenness
What restores our Faith in God
What reveals the Father's love
What can lead the wayward home
What can melt a heart of stone
What can free the guilty ones
Mighty Awesome Wonderful is the Holy Cross
Where the Lamb laid down His life to lift us from the fall

Thank you for saving me.

So many Psalms..so many translations!!!

"Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—now and always."
Psalm 131 NLT

"I am not conceited, LORD, and I don't waste my time on impossible schemes. But I have learned to feel safe and satisfied, just like a young child on its mother's lap. "
Psalm 131 CEV

"God, I'm not trying to rule the roost, I don't want to be king of the mountain. I haven't meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. I've kept my feet on the ground, I've cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother's arms, my soul is a baby content. Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always!"
Psalm 131 Message

God help me not criticize...my heart is not proud but humbled by Your mercy and grace. Your presence keeps me grounded. I do not want haughty eyes...break my heart for what breaks Yours. Desire and passion for You is built in me..You are part of each heart beat. Your teachings are new everyday...like a child I am content...my heart is humbled and quiet before You.

Very clear

"Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding. "When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself."

"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Father..my Perfect Example..help me to give and pray as you have taught. Not to seek the praise of men. Thank you for your peace..I wont keep it to myself. My desire is to react like you in ALL I do.

Blogless...

I have not blogged in days...

Its not that i don't have anything to say, I do. Its not like i don't have joy to speak of, I do. I have just been blogless.

Here are a few thoughts and prayers of my heart this week...

Lord...anything my heart is lacking flood every chamber with all You are. Let my words speak life. Let my judgements be few. Fuel me with Your authenticity and correct me all my days. Thank You for loving me when the world does not and thank You for teaching me to love unconditionally.

To God be the Glory
JM