The steady crash of the waves on the shore
Determined to unsteady my stance
Come and come and come some more
Pounding mercilessly, knocking, knocking, knocking
Mocking me as I work to stay secure
Wearying
Smiling I race and play
In those same waves crashing in at me
Basking in the sun's ray
Taking in the beauty of the sea
Savoring the reminder of His constant force
Refreshing
About Me
- Leigha
- I am a bit of a loon, searching for more depth in life and seeking more color in living.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Freedom in the Balance
As with all, there is a right 'balance' with freedom. When the balance is right, we live in freedom. When that balance is off, we live in chains (whether we're aware or not).
What balance am I referring to?
I guess it's a fairly complex yet simple thing this balance is. Complex in the sense of not BLACK and WHITE and always the same, but of living in a way that is right in the moment and led by the indwelling power of Him who only knows the right balance in every situation.
Simple in the sense of having ears to hear and the character to follow that indwelling power (not full of self-proclaimed wisdom and knowledge, understanding and sound doctrine so that you can figure out the right thing to do, but simply be able to listen/hear and do).
If we live in this way, freedom reigns. Even if all hell has broke loose in the midst, this freedom will reign.
I wonder if we get certain notions in our minds of what things look like and when they do not unfold like we've envisioned them, then we dismiss them as invalid. Perhaps this is the case with our ideas of what freedom looks like. I have come to the conclusion that freedom is something that can look like many different things, but if it comes at the direction of an unfailing, always perfectly balanced Father, it is truly freedom.
If we get our hearts set on a particular idea, I wonder at our ability to be able to hear His voice. Why would we even be listening? If we already knew? This black and white type of living - having some justifiable understanding of 'righteousness' is scary indeed. Where is the need for an indwelling Holy Spirit that guides and directs us in the moment?
I'm not trying to be so fru fru here to suggest living without conviction, but think about it.
Does God inspire you the same way every time you come face to face with similar situations?
No.
Sometimes when a child disobeys you discipline him/her through some form of punishment (stand in the corner, time out, extra chores...) and sometimes for the same type of disobedience you feel led to pick him/her up in your lap and sit down and love on him/her and share an illustration revealing the wrong that he/she had done....
We need to listen to His voice, without the pre-assumed notions of the black and white of right and wrong - so that we can hear and listen and be free to do the right thing in the right moment, cuz, let's face it, we're all a bit DENSE when it comes to doing what's right.
Perhaps we need to consider coming down off our high horses of self-righteousness, thinking we've got some type of sound doctrine of living right when what we need to do is humble ourselves to be seeking Him in our moment by moment decisions and actions - being led by Him and not by our own failable judgements.
Again, this isn't a live in the wind fru fru 'whatever' lifestyle that I'm talking about, but one where there is a swelling up of the indwelling Spirit to guide us to live a balanced FREEDOM.
What balance am I referring to?
I guess it's a fairly complex yet simple thing this balance is. Complex in the sense of not BLACK and WHITE and always the same, but of living in a way that is right in the moment and led by the indwelling power of Him who only knows the right balance in every situation.
Simple in the sense of having ears to hear and the character to follow that indwelling power (not full of self-proclaimed wisdom and knowledge, understanding and sound doctrine so that you can figure out the right thing to do, but simply be able to listen/hear and do).
If we live in this way, freedom reigns. Even if all hell has broke loose in the midst, this freedom will reign.
I wonder if we get certain notions in our minds of what things look like and when they do not unfold like we've envisioned them, then we dismiss them as invalid. Perhaps this is the case with our ideas of what freedom looks like. I have come to the conclusion that freedom is something that can look like many different things, but if it comes at the direction of an unfailing, always perfectly balanced Father, it is truly freedom.
If we get our hearts set on a particular idea, I wonder at our ability to be able to hear His voice. Why would we even be listening? If we already knew? This black and white type of living - having some justifiable understanding of 'righteousness' is scary indeed. Where is the need for an indwelling Holy Spirit that guides and directs us in the moment?
I'm not trying to be so fru fru here to suggest living without conviction, but think about it.
Does God inspire you the same way every time you come face to face with similar situations?
No.
Sometimes when a child disobeys you discipline him/her through some form of punishment (stand in the corner, time out, extra chores...) and sometimes for the same type of disobedience you feel led to pick him/her up in your lap and sit down and love on him/her and share an illustration revealing the wrong that he/she had done....
We need to listen to His voice, without the pre-assumed notions of the black and white of right and wrong - so that we can hear and listen and be free to do the right thing in the right moment, cuz, let's face it, we're all a bit DENSE when it comes to doing what's right.
Perhaps we need to consider coming down off our high horses of self-righteousness, thinking we've got some type of sound doctrine of living right when what we need to do is humble ourselves to be seeking Him in our moment by moment decisions and actions - being led by Him and not by our own failable judgements.
Again, this isn't a live in the wind fru fru 'whatever' lifestyle that I'm talking about, but one where there is a swelling up of the indwelling Spirit to guide us to live a balanced FREEDOM.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Remember the Silver Surfer?
Ok, this is a random post and it's ok, cuz it's random post day here at my house!
I have been finding myself a little 'heavy laden' with the cares of life. You know those really good friends that you might have that love you enough to slap you in the face if you need it???
Well, I have been slapped.
And rightly so.
By the Friend of sinners. We think of Him so often as gentle, but I can tell you that He'll slap you when you need it.
Why am I bogged down with life when He has promised to take my burdens?
I'm just refusing to give them over. Waaa...waaaa. waahhhh cuz I guess I like to cry and feel sorry for myself.
Ok, so I have the picture of the Silver Surfer from the movie 'The Fantastic Four'. If you haven't seen it, well, it's not great, but this picture is worth the watch....
The Silver Surfer is riding around using this incredible POWER. When someone starts analyzing where this power is coming from they realize that it's from the surfboard. So, the dude is impotent without being connected to the surfboard. When he is securely placed upon the surfboard, WAHLAH - POWER.
I have this memory of seeing him stoop down and grab hold of a 'power ball' that has come from the board.
Of course, if he is removed from the board, he is just a weak nothing.
I live a parallel type of existence with Jesus. He is my source of POWER and if I would simply stay connected and use the power that He has available to me, I would find that I could journey this life without so much boo hooing on my part.
Thanks for the slap, Jesus.
I hope that it's a lot longer before I need another one - cuz You and I both know that You have to keep whacking me now and again when I start stepping off that board.
I have been finding myself a little 'heavy laden' with the cares of life. You know those really good friends that you might have that love you enough to slap you in the face if you need it???
Well, I have been slapped.
And rightly so.
By the Friend of sinners. We think of Him so often as gentle, but I can tell you that He'll slap you when you need it.
Why am I bogged down with life when He has promised to take my burdens?
I'm just refusing to give them over. Waaa...waaaa. waahhhh cuz I guess I like to cry and feel sorry for myself.
Ok, so I have the picture of the Silver Surfer from the movie 'The Fantastic Four'. If you haven't seen it, well, it's not great, but this picture is worth the watch....
The Silver Surfer is riding around using this incredible POWER. When someone starts analyzing where this power is coming from they realize that it's from the surfboard. So, the dude is impotent without being connected to the surfboard. When he is securely placed upon the surfboard, WAHLAH - POWER.
I have this memory of seeing him stoop down and grab hold of a 'power ball' that has come from the board.
Of course, if he is removed from the board, he is just a weak nothing.
I live a parallel type of existence with Jesus. He is my source of POWER and if I would simply stay connected and use the power that He has available to me, I would find that I could journey this life without so much boo hooing on my part.
Thanks for the slap, Jesus.
I hope that it's a lot longer before I need another one - cuz You and I both know that You have to keep whacking me now and again when I start stepping off that board.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Death
My four year old was playing under the table. I heard him talking and wondered what he was doing. So I asked, "hey, who are you talking to?" "Death" he replied.
Should a mother panic at this point???
"Who?"
"My friend, Death" he maintained as innocent as can be.
He continued with his 'imaginary' friend 'Death' for several years. I can't think of any reason for him to be preoccupied with death. There had not been any deaths in our family that would have given him a abnormal obsession with death. There has never been a concerning element to this 'friendship' that he had with his imaginary friend. Although I cannot recall any of my other children having imaginary friends like this, the way that he spoke and interacted with his friend 'Death' gave me no reason for concern.
I wondered at this. I thought about how weirdly beautiful it was. He found joy in this relationship. I questioned whether there was something that I could learn from it.
I guess it can be challenging to consider death and freedom together. Most people fear death. Our survival instincts are amazingly powerful! Death is not something that we pursue or even look forward to. I am not equating death with freedom in that aspect. But could there be freedom in death, or in the absence of the fear of death, or both?
Do you think that fearing death could produce bondage?
Sure.
Do you think that receiving death when it comes without fear would be freeing?
Sure.
Do you think that living in a way where we have no barriers of fear directing our decisions and actions speaks of living in freedom?
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me."
Psalm 23:4
Could I, like Esther, walk down that 'shadow' because it was right regardless of the risk to my life?
Being free to make the right choices because we are not bound by the fear of death, is FREEDOM.
Could I, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego choose death over compromise?
Isn't this real freedom - when you're free to do what you believe is right no matter the consequences?
Should a mother panic at this point???
"Who?"
"My friend, Death" he maintained as innocent as can be.
He continued with his 'imaginary' friend 'Death' for several years. I can't think of any reason for him to be preoccupied with death. There had not been any deaths in our family that would have given him a abnormal obsession with death. There has never been a concerning element to this 'friendship' that he had with his imaginary friend. Although I cannot recall any of my other children having imaginary friends like this, the way that he spoke and interacted with his friend 'Death' gave me no reason for concern.
I wondered at this. I thought about how weirdly beautiful it was. He found joy in this relationship. I questioned whether there was something that I could learn from it.
I guess it can be challenging to consider death and freedom together. Most people fear death. Our survival instincts are amazingly powerful! Death is not something that we pursue or even look forward to. I am not equating death with freedom in that aspect. But could there be freedom in death, or in the absence of the fear of death, or both?
Do you think that fearing death could produce bondage?
Sure.
Do you think that receiving death when it comes without fear would be freeing?
Sure.
Do you think that living in a way where we have no barriers of fear directing our decisions and actions speaks of living in freedom?
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me."
Psalm 23:4
Could I, like Esther, walk down that 'shadow' because it was right regardless of the risk to my life?
Being free to make the right choices because we are not bound by the fear of death, is FREEDOM.
Could I, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego choose death over compromise?
Isn't this real freedom - when you're free to do what you believe is right no matter the consequences?
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