Purpose & Presence
For most of my life I lived for purpose. What can I do to help? How can I advance the agenda? What noble cause might I push forward?
As I grow older (and wiser I pray) I find myself pondering if it may well have been presence I was seeking all along. Or maybe I was running away from it. Either way it sure does seem to be at the center of it all.
I used to think I could be purposeful without being present. I was wrong.
Funny thing, though. Turns out I can be present without being purposeful.
Where are you acting out of purpose when it might be presence calling you?
Spiritual Warfare & Battle
Your enemy is not real,
...but he is deceiving you right now.
Your doubts and fears, your hatred and your secrets;
...they all feed into the confusion and deception of this world.
Be bold by the Holy Spirit
...not in your own understanding.
Take up the equipment of divine mystery
...and lie down on the battlefield in prayerful worship.
For not even the king of lies can keep you
from knowing and loving God.
Don't fake it till you make it.
Be it until you see it.
Humility and insecurity
What is the difference between humility and insecurity?
It's quite simple...
Humility is real.
Insecurity is false.
Where are you believing the lie of insecurity?
When can you embrace the truth of humility?
Tension, choice, and freedom
From tension you came
Pressing against the womb of mother
Expanding her body to accommodate our growth
Contractions preceed this world's most sacred release
Your arrival as a newborn child
In tension you choose
Who you are
Integrate your impossibly improbable ancestory
Find your true identity
Navigate relationships of all shapes and sizes
Function within the lanes of society
Manifest your unique community
With tension you find pleasure
Deep in breath calming the vagal nerve
Deep out breath sharing your voice with the world around you
Muscle tension precedes meaningful right action
Energy contained in the form of you
In the form of your joy
Tension of pressure together in connection
Contractions coming through many magnitudes
With tension you work
Pushing purpose into activity
Actively stewarding, organizing
Putting energy toward an purpose
Inner and outer progress toward beauty and truth in outcome
Intentionally in tension
Freedom arrives
Where does your freedom await?
Tension, choice, and freedom
From tension you came
Pressing against the womb of mother
Expanding her body to accommodate our growth
Contractions preceed this world's most sacred release
Your arrival as a newborn child
In tension you choose
Who you are
Integrate your impossibly improbable ancestory
Find your true identity
Navigate relationships of all shapes and sizes
Function within the lanes of society
Manifest your unique community
With tension you find pleasure
Deep in breath calming the vagal nerve
Deep out breath sharing your voice with the world around you
Muscle tension precedes meaningful right action
Energy contained in the form of you
In the form of your joy
Tension of two bodies pressing together in connection
Contractions of many magnitudes as your physical form explodes
With tension you work
Pushing purpose into activity
Actively stewarding, organizing
Putting energy toward an purpose
Inner and outer progress toward beauty and truth in outcome
Intentionally in tension
Freedom arrives
Where does your freedom await?
Tension, choice, and freedom
From tension you came
Pressing against the womb of mother
Expanding her body to accommodate our growth
Contractions preceed this world's most sacred release
Your arrival as a newborn child
In tension you choose
Who you are
Integrate your impossibly improbable ancestory
Find your true identity
Navigate relationships of all shapes and sizes
Function within the lanes of society
Manifest your unique community
With tension you find pleasure
Deep in breath calming the vagal nerve
Deep out breath sharing your voice with the world around you
Muscle tension precedes meaningful right action
Energy contained in the form of you
In the form of your joy
Tension of two bodies pressing together in connection
Contractions of many magnitudes as your physical form explodes
Intentionally in tension
Freedom arrives
Where does your freedom await?
Forgiveness great and small
A few reminders I've felt lately
-Forgive the person not the act
-Forgive them seventy times seven
-Practice empathetic forgiveness
Forgiveness is never easy. And sometimes it is very hard. For most of my life I thought forgiveness came naturally. Some of it does, but perhaps ease correlates with depth. One of the most valuable and challenging lessons of my life has been that the most precious forgiveness can require immense effort.
What might you be called to forgive that is difficult and, perhaps proportionately, transformational?
You are what you “eat”
The wise discern what to
1. Put in their mouth
2. Chew
3. Spit out
4. Swallow
Or any combination thereof.
I'm not talking about food.
Too often I've attempted to take on, chew and swallow everything. Societal fear of the unknown. Irrational concerns of a neighbor. Confused beliefs of a friend. Toxic anger of a family member. Hateful spirit of an acquaintance.
If these are not mine, then why do I keep trying to digest them all?
Lord, help me to be more discerning of what I put into my mind, body, heart, soul, and spirit!
What might you be chewing on today that it's time to spit out?
Can and Will
Sometimes I can but I won't.
Feels exhausting.
Tank is empty.
What's wrong with me.
Depression.
Sometimes I can't but I will.
Feels urgent.
Must keep moving.
Can't stop won't stop.
Anxiety.
Where can you...? When will you...?
What new balance might life be calling you into?