A Dusted Grey Cross

In the turning and stepping 

away from my pastor, 

tears were springing to my eyes. 

A dusted grey cross 

marked my bowed forehead 

and a soul deep humility 

marked my heart. 

Return to the Lord, your God,  

for He is gracious and merciful. 

Joel 2: 13

The Spirit within pulsed, swelled, 

and joy erupted in warmth 

across my face. 

A candle lit sanctuary, 

hushed in the sacred of forgiving, 

veiled the emotion of communion 

between God’s spirit 

and this grateful heart.

Then God made you alive with Christ. 

He forgave all our sins. 

He canceled the record 

that contained the charges 

against us. 

He took it and destroyed it 

by nailing it to Christ's cross. 

 Colossians 2:13-14

Gaining composure 

through the measured, steady pace 

back to the rows of pews, 

I sensed the streaming pilgrimage 

of so many all around me. 

Moving in turn, to receive the same mark

 scrawled across a bowed head. 

Were tears welling up, 

and hearts swelling up, 

all along these aisles? 

Once seated, did hands like mine, 

reach for Bibles to scour for favorite 

Psalms of remorse and praising? 

Were ashes giving way to beauty?

This post was already written when the Inbox revealed Emily’s exquisite post. Visit her at Imperfect Prose. She has much to share about the work of ashes.  

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Women in these communities gather in cozy corners of the internet to offer thoughts and encouragement for faith filled days. Join us.

A Collection of Love

I went searching for this photo where the winter rains spilled over the last blooms of the rose hedge. Dripping wet shades of love, still valiant despite the advancing season. Rosy petals to illustrate our Lord's love. Then a further search for heart swelling, love spreading, holy words ... lead to more holy words, ... and more still.

A Collection of Love

We love him, because he first loved us. 1John 4:19

This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:12

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

1 Corinthians 13:4

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us. Ephesians 5:2

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6

 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 

1 Peter 4:8

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.1 John 4:18

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

You are precious in my eyes, you are honored, and I love you. Isaiah 43:4

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37 ESV

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9

Keep the commandment ...of the Lord: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 22:5

God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. 

Thessalonians 3:5

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39
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hosted by Sandra, Ann, Kent,Kent Janis, and Deidra.

Precious in God's Sight

God’s expansive love is chronicled across hundreds of pages of the sacred testaments. To search the scriptures for expressions of that love astounds and humbles the reader. One must bow before account after account of God’s unceasing passion for His people. 

Similarly, in the course of our own life their is merit in taking pause, considering the journey traveled thus far. To search the years. To record in the margins for memory’s emphasis the showering of God’s love on our own living, in all its varied appearances, whether whispered or announced, whether dimly noticed or tangibly extended. With this intent, to search what has been lived, is to uncover and trace the complex tapestry that is His artful weaving of love and divine works on our behalf. 

Unfold the cloth of your life. Search the fabric closely, thread by thread, through seasons, across decades. Where were the colors heightened or subdued due to the Creator’s keen eye? Where was torn cloth mended by His eternal love? Where was the pattern altered by the Master weaver’s plan? Where were the threads strengthened by God’s grace? 

Rejoice! Allow this evidence of God's loving intercession to strengthen you and deepen your faith.

Faithfulness Reaches the Skies

Storms had raged beyond the streaming windows. 

A blanket of grey veiled earth, spreading heavy across rooftops and hillsides. 

Muting color. Muffling sound for days. Each gazing

search from the windows found more rain darkened scenes. 

Until the hour that the blanket began to unravel, becoming loosely pieced cloud patches. 

Still densely grey yet visibly drifting, breaking apart, revealing glimpses of azure blue above. 

Ultimately, on the eastern horizon light rays boldly burst amid the drifting grey.

Similarly, in the darkest of life I search the storm for the Lord , 

knowing that His faithfulness remains and His power will break 

through the darkness.

“Your faithfulness, O Lord, reaches to the skies.” 

Psalm 36:5

Search your storms for God’s faithfulness. 

The more diligent your gaze, the more likely the darkness will unravel.

Lisa

Every Perfect Gift

Drifted trails lace across the high desert terrain. Packed crystals underfoot join the hush of rushing winds in this natural sanctuary. Looming mountain majesty rises to the east. Heavenly majesty rising higher still. 

While at my feet frozen shells of seed and stem bare spires of sculpted intricacies. Spires transformed through the ordained participation in the eco-bound living of earth rooted life. Living to completion through the Creator’s bounty. Life transformed, unexpected in its earliest germinal form, now boldly complete and visible to all the world. Transformed to perfection through the living and the grace filled hand.

May you linger a bit, 
gaze long at glinting crystals, 
breath crisp air deeply, 
and count God's gifts in winter's display of perfection.
Lisa

My meditation and thoughts were influenced by :
~James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
~James 1:4 Let perseverance finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 
~Telios (Greek) - Perfect, “that which has achieved of reached its goal, objective, purpose” and therefore, “full grown” and “fully developed”. Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible. 

               

Sing Out

The splendor of winter color in burnt orange berries and graying brown bark is striking against crisp blue skies. I marvel at the Creator's multi-purposed plan to offer His people a cold weather visual feast as well as one of real sustenance. May your weekend provide opportunities that reveal the feast that is His creation.

  

Momentary Pause

Photographically, here's what I love about these shots 

[aside from the fact that the boys are my adored grand-twins]. 

I deliberately sat among their evolving play, interacting less and less, to be less obtrusive in the ebb and flow of their choices and imagination. The outcome of which is that in each photo I sense that I caught the boys thinking... musing... over something other than me or the camera. I relish their expressions and the notion that they were absorbed in their own thoughts and activities of imaginary play when the shutter clicked. Each youngster's pose suggests only the momentary pause in their play as they passed in front of the camera's frame.

The light, that also pleased me no end! Catching each toddler when the light is on their face is an ongoing challenge. The soft, still baby-like roundness of their faces was portrayed nicely in each photo. The other two light sources within each shot also pleased me. They illuminated the boys' environment, hinting at the character of their home, serving as a suggestion of their family life. Additionally the light created three stages or layers within the photos. The softly lit foreground which highlights the boys in their blue striped shirts. The darkened center of the room. Then the spotlighted sections in the background. All of which, for me, gives an interesting depth to the composition. 

Granted there is much to improve and more to learn about photographing these little guys. Yet occasionally, even at this novice stage, I'm lucky to capture the essence of the moment. That, offers much joy.

I'm s t r e t c h ing myself to link up with more expert photo buffs over at the Sweet Shot.