Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Releasing Pulse Word: Kingdom

Seek first.
First.
Everything else follows.
It’s a key to unlock
the truth.
The truth for freedom
For fullness
For everything else that follows.
But inevitably the order gets skewed
And importance is laid on things carnal
Passing away
To dust.
Journey...
What is unseen will last
Forever.
Things ruled by the ultimate Maker
Story teller
Author
Perfecter
What is seen will pass away
Forever.
That’s a long time
Yet the mantra of a dying world agrees
greater is the deteriorating
The scarred and marred
Trust and faith put in the Kingdom of eternity
The Kingdom of above and beyond
The Kingdom of more than you could think or dream
Hope for or ask for.
The rewards offered are greater
Lasting
So I say it again
Seek first.

His ways
His thoughts
They are higher
Because He is higher
His Kingdom is higher
His plans are higher
His purposes are higher
Because He is higher
The last will be first
The first will be last
It’s all backward
Upside down
scrambled
And over-easy
But it’s subjective
From the perspective of a dying world
That is backward
Upside down
scrambled
And over-easy
Oozing and stenching
Of the arrogant evil one

So often I feel the kingdom of darkness creep in
to my mind
sit heavy on my chest.
Weighing me down.
Although it's difficult and heavy there is a lightness that I'm called to…
invited into if I choose to accept the invitation.  
If I choose to remember
I can feel secure in my place and position as a child in His Kingdom
provided with all the goodness and power
All that I would ever need
lavished with extravagance
blessing upon blessing
to overflowing.  
The carnal kingdom tells me I am in want
But that’s the voice of brokenness
In His Kingdom I can see clearly
I have more than enough
my cup runneth over.

I see with Kingdom eyes
speak out words with Kingdom truth
And things begin to happen in this carnal world.
My eyes begin to see truth
His truth
and you know what they say about truth?  
It can set you free!
Free from the lies and heaviness
free from the pity party
free from the accuser's accusing
And once you're set free
Chains break
The floodgates open
With Kingdom Life and outpouring
It’s been waiting for you all along.
And that's the truth

In His Kingdom
Riches are for everyone
a bank account waiting to be activated
Withdrawls made
But accounts can remain untouched
For a lifetime
because eyes could only see the darkness
of the carnal.
Don't let the lier rob you blind!

Living in this carnal kingdom
I become distracted with possessions
Things that burn up and pass away
with the rotting of this world.
When I place too much emphasis  
my heart begins to rot
along with them
Darkness creeps in.

Don’t get me wrong
part of His providing
His giving
can involve things of this world
Ultimately His dominion is over both
His Kingdom
this carnal one
And yes,
he wants me to enjoy what he provides
What he lavishes
But…
once the gift becomes more important the giver,
the rotting begins.
If losing the gift is unfathomable
I am better to have not received it
at all.
Believe this
sometimes gifts are taken away
to  make room…
for better gifts,
a new season of gifts,
Believe it
To live in His Kingdom ways.

His Kingdom
It’s not OF this world
But it INVADES this world
This world
exists
In linear time
His presence
His Kingdom
exists
In linear time
So to become real
In this world
The present
Is where we are
In linear time
So dwelling in His presence
His Kingdom
Are only found here
In the present
Not the future
Not the past
In the here and now
For me
For you
But in it’s fullness
Following in His make up
His existence of eternity
This Kingdom also exists beyond
Beyond the linear
Beyond our limitations of time and space

I am limited
I am human
My thoughts
My ways
All limited
The depth of my understanding
Cannot fathom
the depths
the Height
the Width
Of His Kingdom
Of His existence

Faith
Even as small as a mustard seed
Now that’s small!
But even that
Can open me up
To mind blowing
Life changing
World shifting
Season morphing
Soul lifting
Chain breaking
For today
And into eternity

Seek First!

(see picture at: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/98938523048156234/)

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Releasing Pulse Word: Fruitfulness

He wants you to bear fruit
He’s partnering with you
In that
For that
But for any living thing to bear fruit
There is a growing
A stretching
A tilling
A pruning
A fertilizing
That must take place
It’s the law of nature
It’s the way he designed it
A raspberry in hand
Growing pains
Feeling unearthed or chiseled out
Clipped back
And marinating in something unappealing
Is part of the journey
The process
And it takes time
And in our linear perspective
Time can seem to drag on
Put in eternal time
The time it takes
is only perfection
Because He is the gardener
Of your heart
Your spirit
Of your life

Running
Escaping from the process
Might feel safe
For a fleeting moment
But
It will stunt you
If we bear no fruit
Accepting it
As God’s will
As the way it should be
As your plight in life
Is your choking thistle
Weeds
Stealing your soil
Nutrients
Lying
Telling you a false tale
That it’s much easier this way
In this slothful slumber
Of easy street
And barren branches
For a barren life

He has more
For you
It’s been there
Forever
Waiting
For you
Fruitfulness is your destiny
Is the gift
For a more fuller
Richer
Sweeter

Fruit filled life

(see picture at https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/98938523047866297/)

Friday, November 10, 2017

Releasing the Pulse Words: Seasons

Holy Spirit has been bringing words to me lately...the same words, over and over. In songs, on paper, through people...randomly showing up again and again. He's trying to teach me through these words so I'm digging deep. I wanted to give them a name and a voice so they don't just sit and gather dust.  I call these words "Pulse Words" because they contain life and movement and in turn give me life in what they teach. So over the next little while I'll be releasing my "Pulse Words", what they're teaching me and what I believe they are saying.



d'art photographie.

SEASONS

Seasons.
Not just a marking on a calendar
A change of the weather
A holiday to mark the occasion
But a temperature change
In my world
In my heart
Whether I am bearing the fruit of Summer
or the desolate barrenness of Winter
Each season speaks to me
no matter what
It's a teacher
attempting to reveal
Is the student attentive?
Ready to learn?
Ready to grow?

The truth about seasons:
they change
they move
they differ
they are unique
sometimes with a similar vein
sometimes not
All beautiful in their own way
Some harder
Some more lovely
But just the same...

Seasons change
But the orchestrator
the conductor
does not.
The captain is in control
He is solid
stable
secure
steadfast
He is the anchor
inviting me to cling.
Seasons can rock my world
rock my boat
rock me into a wild whirring seasickness
if I focus on the unstable rolling
and each crashing wave.
I will be sucked down by the current
the weighty undertow has no mercy.
I have focused on the carnal world around me
wondered "why me?"
"Why now?"
But why not?

Are not these seasons to grow me
to build me
Are not these seasons to direct me
to teach me
I have come to see
and to truly believe
they are not to punish.
With eyes open to the unseen
to the Kingdom which rules more than this carnal world
The One who authors my days
my life
my purpose
He also authors these seasons
to refine my story
to bring colour
vibrancy
to life.
to MY life.

Am I grateful for the gifts of seasons?
or do I fight
fists clenched
rejecting the gift.
Because gifts can only be received with an open outstretched hand.
Wisdom even children know
Really.

But know this:
seasons come and go
change
morph.
We are never refined in slothful comfort.
Only in the bearing down of labour
do we bring forth new life.
I long for new life
in my life.
Newness
purpose
excitement for the here and now.
No matter the season
I focus on the author
He knows
He holds the key.
He's commanding the clouds and the sun.
Summer is coming!

(picture found at: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/98938523047832425/)