receiving | life: acoustic & amplified

Archive for the category “receiving”

My strength did not come from lifting weights. My strength came from lifting myself up when I was knocked down.
– Bob Moore

982b88fe874e0844edba82e2729557b8

If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there’s shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going. – Harriet Tubman

I woke with words from The Lord’s Prayer in my head. Over and over it came, in the form of a song, “Lead me not into temptation, deliver me from evil”. It is my prayer today…all day. I am writing it, thinking about it, studying why it is in my head. It is an exciting prayer for me and one which, I believe, is grounded in my years of making mistakes, walking through brokenness and learning to have faith in this mystery, the LOVE which is so much more than I will ever understand in this life.

As I was thinking about these words this morning, I remember my prayer, many years ago now, for God to give me a REAL faith. If I was going to embrace this whole thing, I wanted to experience it. I wanted to know for sure it was for me and about me. I began to ask, seek and knock on purpose, but it was always one of those things that was somewhat conditional – IF it didn’t bring me what I wanted – if I didn’t really know for sure, even a nibble of doubt, I would say, ‘There is no God.” and walk away for something better. Easy, right?

For 22 years I lived in that ‘testing’ period where God became so much more, where Christ became my partner in life and where the Spirit of God moved and poured grace over me, slowly moving me from where I was into a place where I could no longer stand on the sidelines. I went through some devastating years. HARD stuff, and through it all God was there. Over the years of struggle God became real, intimate, more than I could ever hope, dream or understand. So, in October of 2011, when God came to me and asked me to commit or walk away, there was only one way I could respond. Only one thing I could do. I could only fall on my humble face say,’ YES, Lord, I know You. I am Yours. Not my will, Yours be done.”

I no longer need to ask for my faith to be real. It is real. A guy asked me one time if I project I was writing was “faith-based” to which I replied, “everything about my living is faith-based”. There is no division in my life any more. Commitment means ALL in. 100%. If there is even a hang nail that is not committed, then there is no commitment. It took me many years to learn this, I hope others are not such slow learners. haha

Soooo, here I stand, all in, singing a new song, “lead me not into temptation, deliver me from evil. ooooo-o oooooo-o” and I say thank you, because I have received the promise that what I seek I will find, and I move through the day knowing grace is my path, because everything is grace.

and I read the words of those who encourage me to get back up when I fall, and the words of heroes like Harriet Tubman, “Keep Going. If you want freedom – keep going. Don’t ever stop!” and the daily words of Ann Voskamp, which always move me and break me open:

She wasn’t afraid of swimming in the deep end, way out of her comfort zone.

When you can’t touch bottom, you touch the depths of God.
– Ann Voskamp
http://www.aholyexperience.com/

Posted in action, Adventure, attitude, awareness, Becoming Yourself, beloved, Choice, courage, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Freedom, Glory, Gospel, grace, Gratitude, Life, receiving, soul and spirit, strength

11 Sep 2013

writing a poem

I fit words together,
hoping they mean something.
Wanting them to make sense.
Allowing them emotion.
Willing to give them freely.
Creating a monument,
for a moment in time,
to share with the world.
These words become something tangible.
A thing,
a gift,
a piece of art.
A part of me,
stays with them.
Little pieces of me,
like shapes in a puzzle,
becoming
a picture,
a flower,
a song.
Small particles of my soul,
like a rose bud,
opening in my hand,
mesmerizes with it’s
beauty,
touch,
fragrance.
I write words on a page,
and feel love
spreading outward,
as the flowering happens,
as this thought blooms.
As words become thoughts about…
As the pieces become beautiful…
As the poem is born,
of water,
blood,
star dust
and becomes…
a small piece of me,
left behind on pages,
for others to find,
sharing a small moment,
never to be lost,
because it has been
recorded,
acknowledged,
emptied.
Gratitude makes room for new
miracles,
learning,
beauty,
as they find their new home
ready,
emptied,
expectant.
Waiting for more
truth,
goodness,
love,
to flow and enter in.
There is always more,
and more than enough.
The heart that gives gathers,
but never tries to hold anything hostage.
Love,
giving,
pretty much everything,
about life,
only works when we allow it,
all of it,
every sacred cow,
every spec of mud,
to be free.

AL 9/10/13

Posted in action, Adventure, attitude, awareness, courage, create, find art at pinterest, Freedom, giving, Gratitude, Letting Go, Life, Love, Miracles, mystery, Poetry, receiving, soul and spirit, Stars and Moonlight, words, Writing | Leave a comment

05 Sep 2013

completeing the gift cycle…how to change the world

Yesterday my post was how to find your life. The quote I used was, “You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” I believe it is true, yet all day as I looked at that quote, I realized it was just one side of this thing called a gift. Giving feels great! We all want to be in a position to give. It has been proven through research, that even watching someone give makes us feel good. Yet, many of us don’t think about the other part of the cycle of giving is receiving a gift from someone who you can never repay. The part of receiving is for losers, homeless people who should be grateful if we give them our change, people down-on-their-luck (which we never intend to be), etc. Receiving has become a dirty word. We all claim we want to help heal others, yet, being needy is not part of the equation for most of us. We don’t need anything, or anyone. WE are better than that. We are the givers, don’t ya know. How then will we receive God’s grace?

This past year has been a learning experience for me in both these valuable lessons in the ‘gift-cycle”.

I found a really important quote about giving, a few years ago, which has allowed me to complete this very important circle.

By giving we heal ourselves. By receiving we heal others. – Unknown

Both parts of this are extremely important and, if we are going to change the world, must be understood. This is not about mistreating, manipulating, holding something over someone’s head, or taking advantage of others. This is a lesson in the value of the human soul and equality. Every soul, every person, every creature, every piece of creation is a part of God and in so being, has the same value. We are all beloved, and we must treat each other and help each other from that place of recognition. This is why Christ told his disciples to go out ‘without any money or clothes’ – you can tell a whole lot about a person by the way they give, and by the way they receive.

Most of us are good at giving in some respects, we are not as good at receiving, especially as proud Americans. We want to be the givers, we want to be what we think is the most important part of giving – feeling good, and healing, ourselves. We are proud of ourselves that we give so much charity to others. What about humility? Not really a part of our country, or our citizens any more. What we fail to think of is the other person and the value for them in feeling good, and for their healing, as well. We are especially reluctant in receiving what cannot be repaid. Mostly we don’t want feel vulnerable and we don’t want to be in debt to anyone, I understand this, probably more than most, and what I have come to believe is, so many people have used gifts in the wrong way, it has skewed the truth. All of that is because of insecurity. People manipulate and misuse power because they don’t realize their own intrinsic value. We must see ourselves as we truly are – loved beyond measure, in our imperfect state chosen, created by the creator for good works. and then we must share this same gift to each person we meet. We are all needy, so we must also receive this same gift from everyone we meet. This full gift-cycle will change the world. Grace is everything and everything is grace!

Lovely, lovely to give and to receive. I am healed by these truths. I am healed by giving to you and also by allowing your healing. How cool is that!

Posted in attitude, awareness, beauty, Becoming Yourself, Beliefs, Faith, find art at pinterest, giving, grace, Gratitude, healing, Love, receiving | Leave a comment

05 Aug 2013

joy dare

She whispers it, “God does loves us, doesn’t He, Mama?”

And I nod and this is always the question and maybe this is all our faith really is — Faith is this unwavering trust in the heart of God in the hurt of here. Unwavering trust all the time though I don’t understand all the time.

God is always good and we are always loved.

Loved enough to be shaped into goodness of Christ Himself.
– Ann Voskamp
A Holy Experience
http://www.aholyexperience.com

Follow this link to find out more about Ann Voskamp and take the Joy Dare! Free monthly printables available. http://www.aholyexperience.com/joy-dares/

Posted in action, Adventure, attitude, awareness, Change, commitment, Faith, Gratitude, Habits, Life, Love, Miracles, receiving, Reflection, soul and spirit, thankfulness, Thoughts | Leave a comment

10 Jul 2013

on our way

You are on your way from Jerusalem to Jericho,
going out from the heart of your religion into your daily life.
Along the way you are assaulted.
Whatever your religion has given you is taken.
You are stripped of a good way to present yourself.
You are robbed of your worthiness, whatever is to your credit.

The priest who would receive your sacrifice is not interested.
The Levite who would assure your righteousness does not.
You have no power, no treasure, nothing to offer,
nothing with which to prove or defend yourself.
You are utterly dependent, and deeply alone.
There is no reason to love you.
And your enemy draws near and bends over you.
Your fear, what you reject and despise, looms.

And heals you.
The one you distance makes you a neighbor.
The one you judge shows you mercy.
The one you refuse to love loves you.

We are loved without reason.
We are saved, not successful.
Only the one dependent on mercy can show us mercy.
Only the vulnerable can teach us trust.
We need the poor, to learn to receive.
We need the guilty, to learn to be forgiven.
We need the alien, to see ourselves, and all souls.

Without them, how destitute we are
on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho,
poor and naked, lost in the land of grace,
love draining out of us, ravenously sucking on our egos,
shivering in the rags of our self-sufficiency.

I don’t know about trusting the Lord
what the mother in the projects knows.
I don’t understand forgiveness like the prisoner.
I need to learn humility from the prostitute.
I will truly get mercy only side by side
with those who have no other hope.

The Samaritan I fear and despise
is my teacher, my master,
my savior,
my Christ.

________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
http://www.unfoldinglight.net

Posted in Adventure, Alone, attitude, awareness, Becoming Yourself, beloved, courage, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Growth, healing, inspiration, Life, Lonely, Love, Miracles, People, perceptions, receiving, Relationships, soul and spirit, strength, success, Trust, truth, Vulnerability | Leave a comment

05 May 2013

don’t worry. there’s plenty.

God is a god of abundance, not a god of scarcity. Jesus reveals to us God’s abundance when he offers so much bread to the people that there are twelve large baskets with leftover scraps (see John 6:5-15), and when he makes his disciples catch so many fish that their boat nearly sinks (Luke 5:1-7). God doesn’t give us just enough. God gives us more than enough: more bread and fish than we can eat, more love than we dared to ask for.

God is a generous giver, but we can only see and enjoy God’s generosity when we love God with all of our hearts, minds, and strength. As long as we say, “I will love you, God, but first show me your generosity,” we will remain distant from God and unable to experience what God truly wants to give us, which is life and life in abundance.
– Henri Nouwen
http://www.henrinouwen.org

Posted in attitude, awareness, Blessing, Choice, Faith, find art at pinterest, giving, grace, Gratitude, Letting Go, Life, Love, receiving, Relationships, Thoughts | Leave a comment

03 Apr 2013

the only real question

The question is not
How am I to love God?
But,
How am I to let myself be loved by God?
– Henri Nouwen

Posted in awareness, Becoming Yourself, beloved, find art at pinterest, Life, Love, Quotes, receiving, soul and spirit, thankfulness | Leave a comment

03 Jan 2013

Epiphany

The light,
and always that gentle,

the King
of love,
no weapons, laws or armies,
a tender child
who makes you tender,

what would it take for you
to empty out the treasure
of yourself
and give everything away,

what would it be like,
every moment,
even the dangerous ones,
to kneel like that?
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
http://www.unfoldinglight.net

Posted in awareness, beloved, Blessing, Faith, find art at pinterest, giving, Gratitude, Letting Go, Life, light, Love, Patience, Prayer, receiving, soul and spirit, Vulnerability | Leave a comment

13 Dec 2012

where the dark things are

Most of our Advent traditions formed centuries ago among Christian and pre-Christian Celtic and Germanic peoples, as they approached the winter solstice. So there’s a lot about darkness, stillness and silence. Farmers removed idle wagon wheels to make wreaths with candles, reflecting on the fallow season of waiting and hope. All this darkness and cold might sound a little off to you who live in Australia, where summer’s about to begin, or South Africa or Brazil, or for that matter even Texas. While we’re singing about the “bleak midwinter” the folks in Corpus Christi and Adelaide go to the beach.

We call this a season of silence and stillness―notice how may carols have silence in them―but we’re rushing around, busier than ever, and making more noise than usual ringing bells and singing in public, if you can believe it! We’re playing music and stringing up extra lights as if to banish the very darkness and silence we adore.

The darkness and quiet of December in the north country is a symbol, but not the whole of it. After all, there isn’t that much bleak, dark midwinter in Bethlehem―and actually Jesus probably wasn’t born in the winter anyway. “The dawn that breaks upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death” has nothing to do with latitude. The darkness of Advent is the darkness within, and the darkness of a fearful, competitive world. The silence is the deep silence at the center of our souls. That’s where Advent happens, and the birth of Christ unfolds.

Where is the darkness in your life? Where are the places in your life where you can’t see, where the known disappears into the unknown? Where is that place in your awareness where you can be without “seeing,” without knowing or understanding, and be at peace?

Where is the silence in you? You won’t find it “out there.” Go within. Sit with it. Sit with it a lot, and let it speak to you in the language of angels, the language of God, which is silence.

Your wagon wheels may not be idle, but there is a place of quiet in your soul. Where are the empty places in your life? We might feel uncomfortable about emptiness, but an empty place is one where the Christ child can come when there is “no room in the inn” elsewhere. Perhaps even the painfully empty places―the places of loss, bereavement, poverty or fruitlessness―maybe these are places where even now angels are gathering.

Don’t expect the world to offer you darkness, silence and stillness. Go to where they are, and wait there. God will meet you there.

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
http://www.unfoldinglight.net

Posted in Adventure, Alone, awareness, beauty, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, beloved, Change, Choice, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, inspiration, Letting Go, Life, Lonely, Losing, Patience, Peace, quiet, receiving, Reflection, soul and spirit, Stars and Moonlight, strength, success, Trust | Leave a comment

15 Nov 2012

as much as you want

All the greatest things you have done,
with those of all the masters,
are little purple berries
on the end of bare branches
that songbirds come and eat
and then migrate far,
strong and beautiful.

•

All the mistakes you ever made
fall like leaves and rot
in God’s good dark earth
until, after time and regret
and a winter of letting go,
it all becomes rich, black soil.

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
http://www.unfoldinglight.net

Nov 12
This is a time of abundance in your life. Your cup runneth over with blessings. After plodding uphill for several weeks, you are now traipsing through lush meadows drenched in warm sunshine. I want you to enjoy to the full this time of ease and refreshment. I delight in providing it for you.
Sometimes my children hesitate to receive My good gifts with open hands. Feelings of false guilt creep in, telling them they don’t deserve to be so richly blessed. This is nonsense – thinking, because no one deserves anything from Me. My kingdom is not about earning and deserving; it’s about believing and receiving.
When a child of Mine balks at accepting My gifts, I am deeply grieved. When you receive My abundant blessings with a grateful heart, I rejoice. My pleasure in giving and your pleasure in receiving flow together in joyous harmony.
Psalm 23:5; John 3:16; Luke 11:9-10; Romans 8:32
Jesus Calling: enjoying peace in His presence
Sarah Young