for freedom

I'm here to say - I don't know.
The road before me is veiled to my eyes, but not His.
No longer will I hand you the acceptable answer.
His ways are higher, they are greater, they are beyond understanding.
I refuse to affix blocks in a pattern that conform to comfort.
I'm here to admit I've tried.
My attempts are akin to describing a panoramic view,
the words to justify a scene are like a child's attempt to draw a sunset.
Really any personal effort to capture His essence is like a crayon-drawn sinking sun.

Beyond the chapter He's authored as of late,
the stories He scripted up to these moments -
seem sweetly unattainable, yet they abide in the ink of every line.
His goodness and care laces the black liquid.
He wrote to tell me before this began that He would take care.
Before He called out for me to jump,
arms of ever-comfort were wrapped around.
In action was shown the depth of His love, as on the day the curtain tore.

The eternal love writing He continues to read to me.
Each vowel, consonant, letter an invitation to once again step to the ledge.
And the accompanying embrace always the love-action that shouts -
"For freedom, I came. So I may offer it to you. Now, let's jump."

step Two

We speak of being called to step out on the water.
That first step....
          it's frightening, exhilarating, freeing, scary, crazy, and joyful.

We often stop the story there,
at Step One.

It's funny, now I find myself at Step TWO.
People don't talk as much about this step.

We speak so often of the beginning - the call. And consequently, the end - the conclusion.
What about the in-between?
The in-between. That's where we live.
The in-between is step Two, step three, step four, step five....

I'm reminded of Abraham. [Genesis 22]  Abba calling him to sacrifice Isaac.

Abraham's step Two was rising the morning after the Call.
Step Three was waking Isaac.
Step Four chopping the wood - every fall of the ax, every grunt, every wipe of sleeve against brow -
leaning in to Abba.

Every step is a choice of dependence.

It's here I find myself.
Step one - the Call.
Step Two - the Unknown.

Dependence is being shaped. A heart for adventure being fostered.
This Guide of mine, Abba, He sure knows how to make His children enter in to Life.
I'm learning that's the invitation every day.

"I invite you in to a life ABUNDANT." [John 10:10]

a day off

a break in time from the usual

eyes for makarios that envelope these 24 hours

discovery time with Jesus

classrooms that look like this

sprinkles of flowers in front yards

barefoot baking & yummy smelling houses

grateful that He walks through everyday by my side & uses the world around me to overwhelm my heart with reminders of His grace and mercy.

                                           Give to me the gospel of the fields and woods,

                                           The sermons written in the book of books;

                                           The sweet communion of the things on earth

                                           Fresh with the warm baptism of the sun;

                                           Give me the offertory of bud and bloom,

                                           The perfect caroling of happy birds;

                                           Give me the creed of one of God's fair days

                                           Wrought in the beauty of its loveliness;

                                           And then the benediction of the starts,

                                           His eloquent ministers of the night.



                                                                                                                    -Ravenscroft

[grateful thoughts]

A glance back over the shoulder at the moments & adventures shared

in order to gaze upwards & thank the Giver of all

car rides & cuddles with pups named Pancake

mornings spent walking in parks & dreaming of days to come

days started with colorado coffee in french presses

work that makes me feel like I'm in exactly the right place

kitchen giggles & yummy dinners

 all with the most lovely best a gal could ask for

night rides with acoustic tunes simply "because"

to adopt words that sum it up better than I can say:

"Here's to gratitude and how it turns everything into enough."

{ http://www.todaysletters.com/ }

the day I decided not to go back

The question begged:
What would you do if you had no fear of the future?

The answer startled.
Abrupt and simple:
To not return.

It's simplicity, refreshing. It's boldness, ravishing.
There it stood, the answer.
Left aside for time,
so thoughts could simmer and swirl.

Rising again in a modest moment.
This answer ushered freedom.
Speaking softly of Hope and unabashed Trust.

Now shared with Joy complete,
no telling of what days forward will bud in to.
The Guide grasps my hand by His side.
His Presence enough as we sojourn in to coming time.

to the Artist

Thank You for the dreamers,
the everyday future writers.

Thank You for the workers,
the craftsman of unordinary days.

Thank You for the ponderers,
the thinkers that don't settle.

Thank You that You are their Center,
the ebb and flow of your love the motivation.

Thank You for the creators,
the shapers of mosaic life.

Thank You for the singers,
the voices of our condition.

Thank You for the welders,
the molders of intention.

Thank You that You are their Reason,
the cascading crash of Your grace in to our brokenness the story.