Ireland Thoughts 2011 Current Thoughts 2013

My Reflections from Clonmacnoise​​​11-06-30

 

Through the window of the ages

Past the thick walls of time

Stands a symbol of death

Nay! Bright resurrection

Hope of all men.

The rough stones laid

In geometrically fine patterns

Of worship, of honor, of praise

Roofless now

that heaven may freely break through

to us of long ages later

Arches , capstones, edges of time

Torn by the worship of long ago

Until our hearts are lifted up

To worship the same lovely truth

 

You came for us

You come to us still

To have us for Your own

Encircling with Spirit

Invading with Holy

Illumine our techno age

With truth of heaven

Power of Holy

Spirit of Life.

 

Remind us once again,

Your church is not a building

but Your people.

 

Radical acceptance requires Total Surrender to the Holy Spirit.

Remember the Blog about Birth Order?

Bob is the oldest of 5 children. I snapped this photo a couple years ago of Bob, his sister Karen who is 1 year younger than him, and his sister Jackie who is like 15 years younger than him. They have 2 brothers younger than all of them!

 

 

 

 

I always thought it should be entitled, "Now what?"

 

This was taken at the wedding rehearsal for Karen's son Anthony. It was held outdoors at the home of a family who owns a winery. Most of the family does not have a faith in Christ. I just now noticed the statue of Mary in the niche of the house wall! Watch over and protect all of us I pray.

 

Radical acceptance requires Total Surrender to the Holy Spirit.

Valuable Gold Chain or Snakes?

Is it valuable or just like snakes in the grass?

This article appeared in the Chicago Tribune, written by Ryan Parciero. I heard teh story on ABC World News. I was reminded by the idea of treasure....

"A family finds gold by the Florida shore, and it’s one discovery, complete with a hidden Spanish gold chain and coins, that the Schmitt’s — a treasure hunting family who search for submerged booty as a business — will never forget. Over $300K worth of sunken Spanish gold was found by the seafaring family members while diving not far from Florida’s Treasure Coast, the Monitor reports this Wednesday, Sept. 4.
It seems the family that finds gold together, stays together. Rick Schmitt began his own treasure hunting company in the deep blue sea back in 1999, called Booty Salvage. While he soon had his family involved in his diving searches for hidden treasure, resurfacing with several gold coins and a long gold chain worth an estimated $300K has brought the Schmitt’s into the national headlights.
The family’s passion for lost booty, gold, and one another helped bring the “pirating” unit, for while the money may be great, it’s the love they have for the sport of treasure hunting in the Florida waters and doing it together that makes the experience that much better.
“My dad wanted to share that experience with us kids,” said daughter Hillary, 20, who has been diving since she was 5 years old, told CBS. The 20-year-old added that now, seeing s speck of sunken gold isn’t a rare occurrence, though it is almost never as valuable as what the Schmitt’s reeled in this week. “We love doing it. It’s a family effort. … Not only are we doing something that’s really fun, we get to do it as a family. It’s a pretty awesome experience.”
Although an exact value for the submerged-now-surfaced treasure hasn't been given, early guesses from appraisers value the small gold hoard as well over $300K.
"Through it all, the greatest treasure is time with the family," finished Lisa Schmitt, Rick Schmitt's wife.
What do you think about the family finds gold story? Does it make you want to rent out some scuba-diving equipment and see if you can find any coins, chains, or lost Spanish treasure for yourself?"
Is gold the best treasure? I agreed with the wife that being a family and searching together will have more value to them in the long run than the riches. Too often we hear of families destroyed by wining the Powerball or inheriting vast sums of money.
Lord keep us all.

Radical acceptance requires Total Surrender to the Holy Spirit.

And more on John 1 Grace and Glory

You'll remember the post where Matt Redman sang "You will not share Your glory with another."

Came across this while looking up the Pitch Your Tent info.

 

”The Living Word came near enough to view. Thus John wrote that people observed His glory. The term refers to the very strong honor of God as revealed in Jesus. Jesus is the unique, “one-of-a-kind” Son of the Heavenly Father. This unique Son is full of grace and truth. Though John does not use the word grace beyond 1:17, its meaning is demonstrated in the ministry of Jesus throughout the Gospel. The term truth is based on the Hebrew concept of faithfulness."

http://hearttoheartbiblelessons.wordpress.com/2013/08/31/god-revealed/

J.B.Phillips translates vs. 16 "Indeed, everyone of us has shared in His riches - there is a grace in our lives because of His grace."

In the elementary classroom where I used to volunteer there was a treausre chest. If the children earned enough stickers during the week, on Friday they were allowed to pick something out of the treasure chest to keep. If The Lord let you choose from His treasure chest, what would be dearest to your heart today? How about five years ago? Would there still be a special place for the one you chose five years ago?

 

 

 

 

 

Radical acceptance requires Total Surrender to the Holy Spirit.

Pitches His Tent

If I was asked to pitch a tent it would probably be this one: prone to falling down, no ground cloth so you are sure to be soaked at night, etc.

 

There are many references in the Bible to tents. One of my favorites is in John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

Here are notes from an on-line sermon:

Verse 14 – John here introduces the concept of the Word, last mentioned in 1:1. The Divine Word took on flesh, used here with no reference to a sinful nature but rather in the simple sense of Jesus’ becoming a human being. The eternal Word, who was with God and who was God, became a Person and came to live among us. The idea of dwelling with, or taking up residence with, renders a Greek term that literally means “to pitch a tent.” The impact of John’s statement in common language might be something like this: “the Word became a living, breathing Person, and He moved in next door to us." http://hearttoheartbiblelessons.wordpress.com/2013/08/31/god-revealed/

 

When God pitches a tent today I am fairly certain His would be more like this one: sleek, water proof, not prone to falling down, etc.

 

Vine's Expository Dictionary says of "to dwell": The Septuagint version of the Old Testament uses a great number of Greek words to translate yasah and sakan. But one word, katoikein,is used by far more often than any other. This word also expresses in the New Testament the "dwelling" of the Holy Spirit in the church: "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith" (EPH 3:17). The Greek word skenein ("to live in a tent") shares in this also, being a more direct translation of sakan. John 1:14 says of Jesus, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."

Clear the ground of sticks and rocks. Make room for God to abide and dwell with you.

 

Radical acceptance requires Total Surrender to the Holy Spirit.

Old Watering Hole

For ages people have used what water they could collect. Think about getting your water from these spots!

New Mexico

 

or Ireland

 

In the outermost parts of Ireland they have concrete slabs, built on a slant to collect any rainwater that falls for the farm animals. Sadly, I do not have a photo of that, just the memory.

 

Makes me thankful for the old Kennedy fountain in the park.

 

 

 

Radical acceptance requires Total Surrender to the Holy Spirit.

Matt Redman - The Heart Of Worship

After Healing Touch on September 10 this song rolled through my soul all the way home. I could not wait to get home and play the CD. I have posted the lyrics here because not all versions have the last refrains. Enjoy the video below!

When the music fades

All is stripped away

And I simply come

Longin' just to bring

Something that's of worth

That will bless your heart

I'll bring You more than a song

For a song in itself

Is not what You have required

You search much deeper within

Through the ways things appear

You're looking into my heart

I'm comin' back to the heart of worship

And it's all about You

It's all about You, Jesus

I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it

When it's all about You

It's all about You, Jesus

The King of endless worth

No one could express

How much You deserve

Lord, Though I'm weak and poor

All I have is Yours

Every single breath

I'll bring You more than a song

For a song in itself

Is not what You have required

You search much deeper within

Through the way things appear

You're looking into my heart ...

I'm comin' back to the heart of worship ...

Every song we sing

Every breath we breathe, Jesus

Its all about You

It's all about You, Lord

I'm comin' back to the heart of worship ...

Sing to say, it's all about You

Every melody every heart beat

Every breath we breathe

It's all about You

There's no one

It's all about You

It's all about You

It's all about You

Yeah we know that

You will not share Your glory with another

Oh, You shall not share Your glory with another

Jesus, You will not share Your glory with another

Oh, You shall not share Your glory with another

You will not share Your glory with another, Jesus

Oh, You shall not share Your glory with another

There's no other

You will not share Your glory with another

Oh, You shall not share Your glory with another

There's no other

There's no like you in the Heavens and the Earth

Read more: Matt Redman - Heart Of Worship Lyrics | MetroLyrics

He is Lord and King.