Spring - a reflection on today

To stand near.
Remain close
Keep watch.
Steadily reminded of the great beauty.
Draw another breath.
Listen again to the sounds.
Dream a dream, being in awe of its content & wonder.
To grasp what cannot be fully taken in.

Worship.
Connectedness to the Father.
Remembrance of Christ.
Daily trust.
Belonging.
Always in the fight.
Total surrender.
Discipline.
Depth that wells up from only within

He who is alive in me is greater still.

Today...a reminder of His love. His endurance. For me.

Maundy Thursday.

Blessings.
-ao

Just some thoughts, tweets, etc. this a.m.

If, in route to becoming all that is & was wrong, that which is our brokenness & is seasoned with Darkness, Jesus drank from the Cup of Suffering, why should we presume that, as followers of the Lord, we might not experience anything of the sort! Perhaps, on our own journey, if we lived in expectaion of the same...as true Image Bearers of God...there would be no surprises of this same experience. Yes He became payment once & for all...yes, we are promised to look like, walk like, talk like the One...is to be treated as was the One. The gift..His gift (to us) is so much greater than this. #LJD30

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple."
-Psalms 19:7 (NIV84)

Lord, allow me to look for you this say. Allow me to live in a way in which I might be listening for your guidance, your direction, your Word...the Voice of the Spirit residing within me. Today is a good day. No matter its course, it is good because you are Good. Give me eyes to see.

Here's to turning my heart and focus inward and Godward. Inward toward my soul, my true self. Godward toward the statutes and lifestyle of a follower of Jesus..to live as God directs me.

The glory belongs to God. Thankfully, so do I.

Blessings,
-ao

Scripture reference from this a.m.'s post

In case you couldn't see the verse quoted this morning, here it is in entirety:

"I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
-John 16:33 (MSG)

Prayer - from this day's rhythm

Here's a little bit from today's readings. It's something special to me that I could be camping out in scripture and reading in "themes" of spiritual practices, rhythms, etc. and somehow what goes on around my everyday world....that is what I see or am dealing with just might have exactly to do with where I 'happen' to be in my time with the Lord.

Today is no different. You'll see. Here it goes...

My Lenten Journey; Day 26

"In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”   -John 16:33 MSG


"But here, the Great Overcomer of a sin-filled and sin-sick planet, leads us THROUGH the pain, not around it, into great joy!" - My Children; Buddy Odom

"Prayer is simply keeping company with God."  -Clement of Alexandria

"Prayer tomorrow starts today, or there is no prayer tomorrow."  -Edward J. Farrell

"We do not create prayer, but merely prepare the ground and clear away obstacles. Prayer is always a gift, a grace, the flame which ignites the wood; the Holy Spirit gives prayer."    -True Prayer; Kenneth Leech

"If we try to contemplate God without having turned the face of our inner self entirely in His direction, we will end up inevitably by contemplating ourselves."   -Thoughts in Solitude; Thomas Merton

"The only way to pray is to pray; and the way to pray well is to pray much."
"We must pray not first of all because it feels good or helps, but because God loves us and wants our attention."     -The Road to Daybreak; Henri Nouwen


.....and lastly here is another for this day,

"Painting cannot be taught," said Picasso once, "it can only be found." I think in many ways that is true of prayer as well."   -Living Prayer; Robert Benson


Today, I sit and watch....and listen..an attempt to simply be in the presence of the Lord. To interact with God and His love for me - communion with my creator. Or really - a gain in what is a deep connection and promise to me, to my hopes, my soul, my longings that I was created for....conversation with Jesus Christ....an avenue Heavenward. I'm in. I belong. I am grateful - undeserving and absolutely thankful.

Maybe I can live my life with that gratitude in mind, today.

Blessings,

-ao

The North Spoon - thoughts from Andy O.: Is it a feeling...

The North Spoon - thoughts from Andy O.: Is it a feeling...: (This is a re-post of an old post from June 2009 – it’s good for me to read…again.  Maybe the same is true for you?)

Lenten Journey Day 14 - scripture readings

"Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end."
-John 13:1 (ESV)

His hour had come...His hour was known. He knew His time had come. His hour. Love. To the End.

"He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”
-Matthew 26:18 (ESV)

"And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him."
-Mark 14:35 (ESV)

"And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him."
-Mark 14:35 (ESV)

"And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."
-Mark 14:41 (ESV)


"Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here." -John 7:6 (ESV)

"You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.”
-John 7:8 (ESV)


"So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come."
-John 7:30 (ESV)

"And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified."
-John 12:23 (ESV)

The hour. His hour. Jesus glorified...for the Father's glory..for freedom to be achieved...for me...for you...good grief it was for access to God. His love is truly incomprehensible yet absolutely wonderful. I am undeserving. Somehow, I am grateful indeed.

-This was the scripture in my time this a.m. from Buddy Odom's book, My Children.

Blessings,
-ao

Inward turmoil, a prayer toward Spring LJD9

"I embrace a friend one day & judge him the next, I kiss the scriptures only to disregard the truths I know, & I stand to be noticed in my goodness by stepping on the faces of my brothers.

Apart from this One who was ultimately murdered on a cross, I have zero. You have zero.

My Lord, I know what is wrong. I am lost. Desolate. Broke. Empty. My wisdom is foolishness. My best is dark. Have mercy on me. Aid me to bow low this holy season to my own desires. Continue to awaken me to Your delight - forward to Jerusalem. Amen."

-My Children; Buddy Odom


This was from Day 9.

Today is the 2nd Sabbath in this Lenten Journey.

Blessings,
-ao

Quiet Time Tweets

From my time with Jesus this a.m. Here are some things that stuck with me or welled up within me God's peace be with you. Here it goes:

"My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart;He is mine forever."
-Psalms 73:26 (NLT)

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
-1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV) #thxbetoGod

"Do not give your heart to that which does not satisfy your heart." -Abba Poeman

In closing,

Help me...to see with eyes from the heart..to hear with ears that listen from within..to look with a mind that is renewed. Take my heart & mold it. Teach me. #Belonging #thxBetoGod

Blessings,
-ao

A simple word...out of this morning

If our hearts, being placed inside our chests w/the breath & love of God, perhaps a safe bet - the breath & love of God are deep within us all.

"But as for me, it is good to be near God.I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;I will tell of all your deeds."
-Psalms 73:28 (NIV84)

"Life is a journey of the heart that requires the mind - not the other way around." -John Eldredge

"The heart has its reasons which reason knows not of..." -Blaise Paschal

...we dont need to, long to, have to...go at it alone. We weren't intended to do so. #designed #madeforcommunity



Just a few thoughts, quotes...from my time in the Word, with Jesus this a.m.

Blessings,
-ao