COFFEE ON THE DOCK

I have a WELCOME case of DIVINE DISSATISFACTION. God induced turbulence is ultimately terminal, blessed riddance. His goodness is what stirs discontentment with our current condition. He will not leave us in the squalor of yesterday’s spiritual hunger. Lord, thank you for provoking me to go deeper. May it ever be so.

Two words came to mind while in prayer: ”give space.” The Presence of God can occupy any space, but may not be recognizable in the junk pile of an overstuffed life. I once entered a simple greenhouse surrounded by Moscow’s late winter’s ice and snow. Inside were beautiful green herbs and vegetables; life in the midst of frozen tundra. Prepared and yielded space produced life. Lord, You own me. I yield space to You…now.

I heard the title of a country song: “Barefoot & Crazy.” I Thought of Moses; how a divine encounter knocked him right out of his sandals and sent him back to those he had escaped. That’s exactly what I want. Divine encounters, shedding of human things, bold, crazy obedience…YES. Lord Almighty, Great “I AM,” I ask for holy encounters that evoke radical surrender, barefoot & crazy.

We have a tree that hummingbirds visit regularly. I rarely see them come or go. I look, no bird, look again, there is one hovering. They come and go quickly. God’s blessings are the same; whether I see it coming or not, the next blessing may be as close as my next thought, prayer, act of kindness or obedience. Lord, I’m amazed by You. Your ways are divine.

Selfishness is incredibly powerful. It can turn liberty into indulgence, freedom into irresponsibility. There can be no outward freedom without internal freedom. Mostly what binds me, what strips away my capacity to practice genuine liberty is my own wandering heart. Master, help me to love You first and always. Deliver me from self-generated anarchy. You alone are Lord.

Life often seems like a rugby scrum. While I know full well that God is always present and that all His ways are loving and faithful, still I strive. Each time I feel like complaining, I must remember that there is a much more powerful option...to glorify God in my distress. Lord, grant to me the willing obedience of Christ among the olive trees..."not my will"

Our grass is so green. A mix of rain and sunshine, air above and worms underneath, has produced richness of color. It is growing so well. How do I look to God today? To others? Do they see life bursting forth in me? Lord, fill me with Your life-giving Presence, by whatever means it may come. Help me to welcome both rain & sunshine. May authentic growth be evident to all.