Say it Again....one more time for me.

If this looks familiar,  it's because it was in my last post, but this is what I really need today:

Soul’s Rest

Ah, rest indeed is needed-

a time for quiet repose-

to hear the voice of gladness

speak gently with its prose.

To give the gift of freedom-

as soothing as the dew-

on parched flowers’ kingdom,

a gift from God to you.

So err not soul in sleeping,

just rest in gentle love;

the Light for your life’s keeping

flows freely from above.

                                     AJBB June 1977

I'm reminded again how we need the same thing we share with others again ourselves.  It's like eating.  Just because we had a nice meal yesterday doesn't mean we won't be in need of another meal today.  Life is like that in every area.  Just because we slept last night doesn't mean we don't need to sleep tonight.  I suppose it's a bit more difficult to enter into rest for our soul on a consistent basis, but it is attainable to enter more often than most of us do.  We are just so self reliant it interferes with our ability to "enter in". 

 A scripture in Hebrews tells us to labour to enter into rest.  Sounds like more work to me!  So at times it can be helpful to check out some other translations for a little more clarity.  Here are a couple other ways to say the same thing differently. Some translations use diligent, while some use the term, "make every effort".  What I enjoyed the most, though, was discovering that one of the corresponding meanings of the word labor as defined in Vine's Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words is this:

to hasten to do a thing, to exert oneself, endeavour, give diligence;

What that means to me is, don't delay.  So in keeping with that, I'm going to endeavor to hasten to finish this entry and be diligent about preparing myself a cup of hot tea  while allowing my soul to be at rest as I do it!   Is this a better way to multitask, or what?

Realignment

Oh well, I was going to post another subject altogether, but  while searching for some information, I ran across a post from my original 2013 blog, and the relevancy took me by surprise!  When I saw the word realignment used, which is absolutely a word for the season we're in now, I decided to post it here instead.  

And it shouldn't have surprised me at all, since what He says is always relevant, and He always builds on and expands what He says.  So here goes!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

...and the journey continues

Since I've been writing on the subject of an undivided heart, it's no surprise to me that I've seen--ever so much more--the need for realignment in not just a few areas of my own heart via the voice of the Spirit and the Word.  I wanted to put an exclamation mark at the end of that sentence, but the truth is that what was just "said" is a matter of fact, not a surprise.   It's kind of like taking a bath or eating, just because we had a bath or ate a meal in the past doesn't mean we won't need to do it again--over, and over.   But one good thing about it is that we don't have to eat all day long, and surprisingly, not nearly as much as some of us do at times (myself for certain), nor do we need to stay in the tub or the shower all day long to get the job done!  Note the exclamation mark.   That's something to be excited about.  Really.  But we all know that eating is  not only necessary and beneficial,  it can also be a very pleasant experience-unless it's one of those times when we have to eat something we don't like but we do because it's good for us.   Same with a bath or shower.   Sometimes we might feel just way too tired to go to the effort, but it's so much better if we do, especially if we have something on us that might take extra effort to wash off, say paint or grease, something like that.  Other times a nice long shower or bath is just wonderful, very relaxing and soothing to the body and soul. 

So it is with looking into some of the areas we need to see about ourselves as we choose to go through the transformation/realignment process.  There are varying degrees of both joy and pain as we see ourselves as we really are, but the rewards of  healing, strength and peace gained outweigh all the cost of having gone on yet another journey.  Again, we don't have to go, our Heavenly Father won't force anything on us, but if we're willing He will take us where we need to go in the best way possible and in perfect timing. 

He who created us knows exactly how to unify and "fix" us so we can operate and function in the manner in which each of us was uniquely designed.  We'll always have room for improvement or a little overhaul from time to time, but He's the One who's perfected and provided the way and means for us all.  Just think about it.  If our computers, and just about everything else we own, are in continuous need of up-dates,  how much more are we in need of being up-dated by our heavenly Father and Creator?

In keeping with this theme, I'm including a new selection from Rising--a little collection of poetry I wrote in days gone by--as well as re-posting one.  Each has something to say about the process I've briefly described here.  The first one follows:

                                                                           !

                                                                         P

                                                          Sliding U

                                                It seems to be impossible,

                                                  to do such a wonderful thing!

                                                But when the Lord is healing,

                                                  that’s the natural nature of things.

                                                You start out by sliding--

                                                   going on d

                                                                     o

                                                                        w

                                                                            n.  It’s true!

                                                But when the work is finished,

!

                                                                                                        u

                                                                                                o

                                                   you’ll find a bigger, better  y

                                                                                                                    AJBB   1979 

Now, the re-post:

Soul’s Rest

Ah, rest indeed is needed-

a time for quiet repose-

to hear the voice of gladness

speak gently with its prose.

To give the gift of freedom-

as soothing as the dew-

on parched flowers’ kingdom,

a gift from God to you.

So err not soul in sleeping,

just rest in gentle love;

the Light for your life’s keeping

flows freely from above.

                                                   

                                                                                    AJBB June 1977

And the really, really very Good and Great News is:  We don't have to be in charge of it!!! Did I hear someone say, "Yay God!"?

Now, back to February, 2016, and I would only add this: The "going down" is only meant in the sense of how looking at ourselves realistically can make us feel when we see areas of our heart which have previously been hidden from us. Remember, God always corrects us out of His love for us in order to heal and raise us up just as the word tells us in Hebrews 12:11.

About Revelation

For many years my go to Bibles have been the New King James or the 1987 edition of the New Internal Version, but recently in this new season, I've been using the Amplified a lot.  I wasn't sure how I and it would "get along," but I knew I was suppose to start using it now as my default version.  Even as I mentioned in my last entry about the new frilly look of this blog not being my basic design preference, but  how I really enjoy seeing it,  I'm forming a  new kind of relationship with the Amplified version which  formerly did not agree with my basic style of learning.  However, I've been quite amazed at how much it has expanded my way of thinking, understanding, and depth of receiving revelation from the Word so, I'd like to share one of those times with you now.

Recently, while being directed to read Proverbs 8, several particular verses opened up a greater simplicity of understanding for me.   For the sake of clarity for why it was so significant, I must confess that I've always had an issue with striving.  Though I've made much progress over the years because of grace, it's been an area in which I've struggled at times.  The day He led me to read Proverbs 8, I had a wonderful breakthrough!

These are the verses that made all the difference.  First, here they are written in their entirety: Proverbs 8:8,10,11

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous (upright and in right standing with God); there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them.

10 Receive my instruction in preference to [striving for] silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 For skillful and godly Wisdom is better than rubies or pearls, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. [Job 28:15; Ps. 19:10; 119:127.]

These are the words that stood out to me:

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them. 10 Receive my instruction in preference to striving... 11 For skillful and godly Wisdom is better...

Needless to say this revelation in its simplicity absolutely affected me deeply!  As in verse 8, there is nothing "contrary to the truth"  or the meaning in what is written in the fuller version than in shorter, but the use of the words clarified and deepened what I already knew.  Receiving instruction and following it is far better than striving for it, silver or anything else.  And receiving and taking to heart His wisdom is far better than anything a man can come up with in any equation or effort.  It truly settled me.  Now when tension tries to arise, or has touched me suddenly,  I'm much more capable of returning to the place of receiving His peace, help and instruction than ever before.  It's amazing the difference between mans' default nature of self reliance and learning ever more successfully to rely on Him.  I mean after all, He really is God and He's ever so willing to be our personal God if we let Him.  And funny, He will even help us with that, too!

Addendum:

The fact that revelation from God is progressive and continues to reveal more of its true meaning, gives more clarity to the following verse in John 16:25

I have told you these things in parables (veiled language, allegories, dark sayings); the hour is now coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I shall tell you about the Father in plain words and openly (without reserve).

This is all about revelation.  It's been open season for this kind of revelatory understanding of God's Word since Pentecost, meaning, since Jesus returned to the Father the Holy Spirit was sent to teach us everything  according to John 14:26.  And I believe that's particularly everything we need to know to live our lives as the person He created us to be as His very own children whom He loves.  Yes, revelation has been available all this time, but now because of all that has been revealed to us collectively, and because of the time we're living in now-the fullness of time-revelation is coming at an exponential rate, and we all can partake of it.  Even in technology, governments, everything around us, all is rapidly changing and God will not be behind in anything, but ahead of it all.  Anyone who wants to get in on what He's doing and saying can.  The invitation  to come to Him is still open!

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose, Unless...

Today I'm sharing part of an email I sent to my daughters recently.  I was telling them about how I'd changed the appearance of this website, and, in part, why I used something so *frilly [see picture below] which is not how I normally design or arrange things.  Well, sometimes I do incorporate some girly frills, but not nearly as much as you see here now.  Truthfully, it makes me happy each time I see it!  And the reason for it is was told to my girls in the email which I'm now sharing with you.

...it looks a bit frilly, but many of those flowers in the background are peonies.  They're the ones that God showed me one day while out in the backyard when I took the head off a rose.  I was doing this because it was one of the most beautiful roses I'd seen, and because it had lived it's life fully and was at the point of wilting which I couldn't bear to see.  It was large so when I pulled it off the stem so I could toss it up into the wind allowing it to return to the earth,  I noticed how it looked in my hand and was amazed! All I could see was a handful of one of the most beautiful flowers I'd ever seen!  It was an upside down rose in full bloom!  I remembered I'd seen flowers before that looked just like this one, but I didn't know what they were called.  After some research  I discovered they were peonies and also grew from a bush as roses do.  While I was in the backyard in a state of awe, I thanked God for allowing me to see it and immediately, He said something like this to me,  "I could see the rose from the bottom as well as the top when I created it, so I made them both."  The experience was so wonderful!  I can't see a peony to this day without remembering it.  And He showed me this because.....He's good and He loves me as He loves all His children.  And He loves to show His children who He is and what He's like as we give Him the opportunity!  His creative ways are matchless!  

Times and seasons change, and the freedom to occasionally share on a more intimate level seems to have come with it, and I like that pretty much.  Maybe it's because God wants to share with everyone on a more intimate level.  He's very willing.   It depends on if we're willing or not.  And He probably won't reveal secrets to you in the same way He does to me, because He knows your unique personality and what you enjoy.  Sharing about the rose with me is so part of how I'm put together.  All I can say is how much I thoroughly enjoy knowing this:  A rose is a rose is a rose unless, of coarse,  it's turned up-side-down and becomes a peony!

P.S.
It probably won't do you any good to try to see a peony in just the same way as I saw it.  I actually tried a couple of times and it didn't work!

*Added April 21, 2017

Since you can no longer see the peonies because I changed the blog background, I'm uploading a picture of what the previous background looked like.

Up, Up and Away....

Recently while cleaning out and organizing journals, I found a note  from 1997 which was written, scrawled would be more appropriate, while I traveled from Virginia back to Texas.  I was happily surprised since it's all I have left of anything written from that year.  Writings and journals from that year as well as the years before had not survived moves and reorganizations.  I filed everything away so I could easily look through them and I attached the little 3 page note I had written while on the airplane to the front of the 1998 journal and put them all away.  The little note kept coming to mind, so I got it out again with the thought of perhaps sharing it here.  Once I read it again, it seemed like a good idea to do just that, so here it is just as my thoughts flowed from me without changes or corrections...well, one correction which you will see as you read.

    (flying home from VA)                                                                                  9/24/97

We started off at an altitude of 31,000 ft, now we are about 35,000 because of turbulence.  Earlier, you could see nothing outside the plane because of the thick clouds-barely even the tip of the wing.  Now that we've risen above the clouds, you can see blue skies, sunshine and the clouds beneath.  It all reminded me of the poem Eagles Flight, which I wrote some years ago.  10 years to be exact.  [it was 20 years, to be exact!]  It speaks of going along on eagles flight to see the "workings of God on plains of light."  And now I considered what it takes to go along on eagles flight-those birds who fly higher than any other.  This was not considered when I wrote the poem, I just wanted to go there. 

But as we were cruising  at 31,000 ft., and you  couldn't  see past the wing tip, and the turbulence "turbulated," it was unsettling.  But I reminded myself how God is in control knowing I'm His and He is more powerful than anything, and further, nothing by any means could hurt me (as I felt Him speak to me in my spirit and chose to accept it) I thanked Him for that certainty for myself and all those aboard the plane, and the aircraft itself.  Then, as the plane began shaking again a little more, I felt much calmer.  At this time I noticed that we had begun to climb-and soon were above all that seemed so troublesome.  That's when the poem came to mind, and with it, the simple reminder and deeper understanding of what it takes to get on a higher plain, and the fastest way is to go straight through the turbulence, facing the struggle, which is common to us all, and go forward.  The light will break through when you're on the right path. 

One thing I've discovered which is still absolutely true even after 20 years is this: the best way through turbulence is UP. God, when He's your personal Pilot, will take you there. He's the only One who can.

And just in case you've wondered about the poem, it's from a little collection of inspired poetry I wrote over a period of two years in the late '70's which I aptly titled Rising, and here is the one mentioned:


                                                        Eagle's Flight

Contained in earthen vessels,

these spirits that should soar,

       above the  earth as eagles-

whose flight my heart adores.

      Transparent thoughts do take me

along on eagle's flight,

       to see the mighty workings

of God on plains of light.

      With flesh and bones unable

to reach the mountaintop,

      my spirit reaches onward,

toward heights beyond the top.

     

  For no bounds knows my spirit,

ev’n though now it’s contained,

      in an earthen vessel fitted,

while this journey yet remains.

AJBB 1978

   

A New Day...

....but it's still me.  The new day means a time for change, as you can see!  Looking forward, myself, to see the new direction this new day brings.

It's All About Hearing

You know, it really is all about hearing and I don't mean just physical hearing, but hearing in order to gain understanding and knowledge concerning all things spiritual.  The it I just mentioned covers every area of our lives whether pertaining to things, people, courses of action, problem solving, anything and everything.  We need to know who or what is speaking the things we hear. 

Jesus spoke often about the importance of hearing,  emphasizing what He was about to say sometimes with, "he who has ears, let him hear."   This reminds me of something He spoke to me not too long ago which I found rather humorous and actually laughed out loud when I heard Him say it to me.  I had been asking Him for a breakthrough in a long standing situation for a family member which had been of great concern to us.  After I had laid it all out to Him, made my request and had become quiet, I heard inside, "All is well, all is exceedingly well."  My response was, "Is that You, LORD, or am I just talking  to myself."  His immediate response to me was, "I hope I wasn't just talking to myself."  I laughed so hard.  He does have a sense of humor!  I always smile when I remember that, and at times laugh out loud all over again.  It's not the only thing He's said to me which made me laugh, but this was to me the funniest!  He definitely knows my sense of humor...and He knows yours, too.

This only re-emphasized another statement He made to me sometime before that.  One day I was putting on my spiritual armor while literally thinking about what each piece represents. When I got to the helmet of salvation, I was declaring in faith that I have ears to hear and that's when He interrupted me right on the spot.  What He said to me was quite effective and it was this: "You have ears that hear,  you need ears that listen."   Oh my.  How the depth of the meaning pierced my heart.  I had heard Him speak many times, but this let me know it was time for a greater awareness to hear what He was saying to me.  From that day I've endeavored to have listening ears on purpose and to receive by faith greater acuity by His Spirit to hear and respond more readily to what He is saying.  I don't have to strain to hear as I did in years past, but I do have to quieten my soul and be still in order to listen to Him speak, and not surprisingly, He always does.  Sometimes it's without words, an impression,  a knowing on the inside, or simply a sense of peace that all is well.  

I've said all this to share at this point that our surroundings and circumstances "speak" to us, also-our bills, jobs, cars, the news, the weather, our body, our bank accounts, or even lack of them- they all have a voice and speak to us in any number of ways even as the fig tree spoke to Jesus.  It definitely spoke to Him because He answered it!  Take a look at Mark 11:14:

Jubilee Bible 2000

Then Jesus, answering, said to the fig tree, Never again shall anyone eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.  (my emphasis)

And in the King James Version

 14And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.  (my emphasis)

The Word lets us know He answered a fig tree.  Isn't that amazing?  That  statement has always captivated me.  What do you think the fig tree said to Him?  I think it was something like,  "Ha, ha, ha!  You're hungry, but you won't get anything to eat from me!"  Kind of like something the enemy would say, don't you think?  (And just so you know, if a fig tree had leaves it should also have something on it you could eat as well.  For more information see paragraph 4 and 5  Here.)

So, if a fig tree spoke to Jesus, you know our surroundings and circumstances speak to us! Especially when we're in need of something, and you can be assured that what they're saying is always going to try to enforce the negative.  Since Jesus answered the fig tree, maybe we should start answering the  negatives coming from the things concerning our lives and well being.  We at least need to become aware of what we hear because often we've become so indoctrinated to hearing all the things that are wrong, we allow them without opposition and that's what the enemy of our soul desires.  The more unopposed his influence, the greater the damage that can be done to us over time.  

Jesus knew how to answer the enemy of His soul and He knows how to deal with the enemy of ours.  This brings me back to what He said to me that made me laugh so hard.  He really is glad when He's not just talking to himself when He so much desires for us to hear what He says to us personally to help us overcome our problems.  There is no greater help in time of need than He is.  As usual, I must add, it's our choice to receive Him and His help.  He won't force His way or thoughts on us, but He's always willing to bring us up increasingly on His level of seeing, understanding, and yes, answering.  But we really do need to ask Him for listening ears and practice hearing what He has to say to us personally.   As He told me, (if we've received Him) we already have ears that hear, now we need to practice listening to what He has to say.  It will always be for our good. 

I'll say it again, it really is all about hearing....and that's all I've got to say about that....at least for now.