The Light and Hope

In these crazy times it helps to remember this: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 ESV

I read this scripture this morning as I was praying for this world and lamenting over all of the pain in it. I had been thinking, “Wow, if I see the little that I do and feel it this much, how must God feel?” He sees all the sin committed in the whole world! He sees all the pain it causes and hears all those who cry out because of it. But then the thought came, he also sees all of the good done in the world. He sees the ones who love others in word and deed. He sees the  husband and wife who adopt the orphan. He sees the man who makes it his life’s mission to rescue victims of human trafficking. He sees the person who smiles at everyone they meet just to bring a little joy to another’s day. Yes, he sees the evil and he will judge it. But, he also sees the good and will reward it. 

So, as these chaotic times tempt us to despair he sends us a reminder to not give up in doing good. He reminds us that he sees all and will restore everything to order in time. Lets’s continue to seek the good of the cities and communities we live in, continue to pray, and continue to be people of peace.

Yours in hope,

Angela

Poetry Corner

Image (Truth You Don't Want)

Do I want to see what’s really inside?

The evil which lurks

The bitter vine left unchecked

How quickly my blood runs cold when I don’t get what I want

How fierce my stare when I am angered

How heated the furnace of my wrath

Adding to the red mass boiling to the surface of Mount Self Righteous

Do I want to see the spoiled brat who didn’t get her way?

The unstable mental patient blubbering in the corner

The little girl abandoned, abused, and cowering in fear

The manipulating seductress plying her wares

All prisoners of their own devices

I look, I see, I face, I come to tears, I come to terms, I heal.

Do you want to see what’s really inside?

Or only an image

Of beautiful materials

How quick to share even the little I have 

How patient in the face of wrong

How loving and always willing to help

Hoping to ease the burden of others and truly have relationship 

Do you want to see the strong Godly woman?

The one who stands on the Rock and is full of faith

The young at heart who joyfully lives in awe and wonder

The bold speaker who is free to love rightly

All seeking to bring healing to others

Will you look, see, face, come to tears, and come to terms so that I may heal?

Truth sets us both free.

A.B.

Life

Struggling forward with crippled throws,

this is how my life toward Jesus goes.

Through push and pull, flop, and flail

I onward tread with much travail

Though weak I’m strong 

As He helps me along

Not power nor might will prove the day

But by his Spirit is the way.

A.B.

Jesus?

We are still so unlike Jesus. The majority of people in his day thought he came to conquer those in power and take his kingdom by force. They thought they would be vindicated and secure in their earthly kingdom. Isn’t that still what we want, vindication and security? But he didn’t come for this. 

Instead of condemning others to the sword or judgement, he suffered and died for us all. His mission was to bring heaven to earth, to begin to set everything aright again. He spent his whole life teaching humanity how to love God and their neighbor so this could be accomplished.

Jesus gave up his kingly rights. He did not defend himself when accused of wrong doing. He came to bring peace to people’s hearts.

We are slow learners much of the time. We clamor for our rights to be fulfilled. We take offense when we are accused of wrong doing. With these weapons we unwittingly assist the Enemy by fueling the fire of disunity in people’s hearts.

I am ashamed at how little we, his disciples, look like him. We are to be the lights in the world to dispel darkness. We are not called to hide, but to shine brightly for His glory. We are to be the salt for seasoning and preservation. We, his children, are to point others to him and to work diligently toward reconciliation.

Lord, I repent for hiding my light from this world and adding to the darkness. Cleanse my heart so that I will love as you love and bring healing to this hurting generation. Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Yours in hope,

Angela

The Elder Brother and Grace

There is grace for the elder brother too if he repents. I’m being reminded of this because I so often live like the elder brother in the story of the prodigal son. Not because I’m angry or self righteous toward the child that has strayed and is coming home, I learned that lesson a long time ago. I was the younger brother too and I remember it well. But my default mode is still religion. I still fall into times of earning and controlling. So, when an area I’ve been striving to clean up in my life isn’t improving the way I want I get irritated. I get angry at myself for my weakness and angry at others who I feel may be hindering me (or at least not helping me) get to my goals. It is amazing how sneakily the enemy gets us to point the finger at one another and ourselves.

Our Pastor said that the devil does enough accusing of us before God, let’s not add our voices to his. At the time I was nodding in full whole hearted agreement. Yet, how soon until I was committing this very sin. Thankfully the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to it. He showed me another unclean area of my heart and offered to cleanse it. I responded, “Yes.” I am so grateful that he brings conviction in clarity, not confusion. He helped me write out all my anger and frustration in order to get to the bottom of it. He cuts past the goo to the bottom of the wound so it can be healed properly. And then, he’s so awesome, he brings glory to himself out of it.

So, here I am once again, on my face in the dirt. It’s almost funny how often I fall. But he picks me up, dusts me off, and sets me on my feet again. Like a kid learning to ride a bike, here I go again. A little more humble and grateful for the mercy and grace he has for the elder brother and the prodigal.

Your friend in hope,

Angela

Home

I remember I don’t belong here. I am an alien in this place. Sometimes I get comfortable and forget, but then it comes back. The realization that there is more, that I am more, that this is not my home. I am royalty and not the pauper I seem to be. I am a child of The King. Stranger in a strange land what I experience and what is in my heart doesn’t fit. It’s like all that I see, hear, and feel isn’t even real. It’s all a dim washed out version of something else. A shadow of a world so beautiful light emanates from everything. Glorious grandeur that even our most opulent artists can’t imagine. When will I get to see this home, to rest in its marvelous embrace? I get glimpses of it now and again through a vanishing sun or a friend’s smiling eyes and I want to meld right into them. My heart is at once filled with intense joy and fierce longing. In this I am reminded there is a reason I am here and a reason I can’t forget where I belong.

Remember comments are always welcome. I love to chat.

With hope,

Angela

Steps of Faith 

As I lay in bed praying for people (that’s what I do when I can’t sleep) the Lord caused me to tarry a little longer on a particular couple. I began to smile in the dark as I prayed for them because of the marvelous works I’ve seen in their lives. They have been through some amazingly hard times and some gloriously good times. It has been a pleasure to witness them blossom and their photography business grow as they take steps of faith to do what they love. They bring such beauty and joy to so many people’s lives through their artistry. You really should check them out at wearetheportos.com. I guarantee you will come away wanting to know them too!

This reminded me of a step of faith God has prompted me to take. I wondered, what beauty am I withholding from the world by not doing what I’m called to do? Of course I don’t know what it all will look like or where it will lead in the end. However, I do know that like my wonderful friends, and many others before them, I must take that first step... So, as I continue to jot down bits and pieces of the first book I have been given to write, I will be sharing with you here as well. This will be my proving ground or should I say improving ground? I am no expert writer, yet.

My hope is to share this journey, myself, and my thoughts with you along the way. My heart has a burden for women and all that our lives entail. Therefore, you will be sure to see my thoughts on that often. I also love art and poetry so these will make appearances as well.

Now I would like to leave you with a little something to think about. 

What treasure are you holding back from the world? 

Find it, pull it out of the dark recess where you have hidden it, and bring it out into the light. Like me you might have a sneezing fit from the dust that has gathered on your gift and there might be a cacophony of squeaks and grinding sounds as the parts of your gifting begin to move again. Don’t stop there! Dust that baby off, blow your nose, get out the oil, and polish it up. Let us see what you’ve got! You never know, you just might inspire someone else to do the same. And bit by bit, together, we will help make the world a better place.

I would love to hear from you so please feel free to leave a note. And don’t be shy to name that gift in the comments because it helps to “say it” out loud. I will pray over each and every one.

With hope,

Angela