wild melody

how we do battle. because sometimes the best thing for the soul is skipping church to have one on one Jesus time at the ocean. sometimes my eyes need to see the expanse. my heart needs a physical vastness to truly believe how big. deep. wide. God's love. grace. mercy is. grateful i live in a state with a coastline. grateful for the sea. grateful for the best friend, the comrade in arms being home for a season from across the pond. grateful for the maturity & wisdom & deepening of her spirit that God has done. grateful He offers the same for me. grateful that all is  b e i n g  set to right. maybe not completely set to rights here. but there is constant motion in that direction. there is not a day God forgets about His promise of Kingdom Come.

sunrise over the Atlantic last friday. was glorious . i was the only one on the entire shoreline as far as i could see at first. before the sun broke through the waves. just me, God, and birds. mmmm. needed it so much. the ocean was cold and clear. on it's best behavior. probably would be good if i learned to not store everything so tightly locked inside me. then maybe it wouldn't take so long to get my heart re-oriented...false. pretty sure i'll always need solitude. no matter how wandering or obedient my heart is. i need Jesus in intense concentration. every few weeks. even when life is amazing. especially when life is amazing! i fail tests of prosperity much blindlier then i do tests of difficulty.

Shout for joy in the Lord , O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him... For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness . He loves righteousness and justice ; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord . By the word of the Lord the heavens were made , and by the breath of his mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him ! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm... The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations... The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not deli...

A few days ago, I saw a glimpse into my heart. I was shocked. My words revealed a part of me that did NOT say "whatever my God ordains is right." I was praying for a certain circumstance. As I prayed Romans 8.28 I couldn't believe what words came out: "God, may this be for our sooner good." Oh how easily sin hides! I'm ashamed to admit I'd think that. While I was praying, no less! The words themselves are not sinful, but what they reveal about my heart. I know my sin shouldn't surprise me. Too often it does. It hides itself well, and I'm too willing to let it stay hidden. God is not. Nor is He shocked. He knows what I'm capable of--even more than I do. Yet He willingly forgives. He sent His Son to take my just punishment. Fully knowing every sin I'd ever commit...What relieving freedom! Freedom that lessens the gravity of sin? By no means! Nor does it hinder sorrow over my sin. It provides a freedom to receive grace. Mine is a salvation b...

((photocredit:beks)) "But now thus says the LORD, he who created you , O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you ; I have called you by name , you are mine . When you pass through the waters , I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you ; I am the LORD your God... Because you are precious in my eyes... and I love you... 'You are my witnesses,' declares the LORD, 'and my servant whom I have chosen , that you may know and believe me... I declared and saved and proclaimed... I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.' " (the most glorious promise of all, the one that makes all others possible:) "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." *please keep the james family in your prayers as mrs james battles cancer. please continue to pray for ian murphy and the haughery family.*