Christmas Cheer

So here we are again. Another year, another great celebration at hand. I wish everyone on earth was celebrating HIS birth, but even more then that, I can hardly wait til they can celebrate that HE is still and always has been alive. So that's the here and now. But we were askeds to write on the before and past. So here's a pleasant memory from my childhood Christmas of a million years ago, or so it seems. I can remember I was so excited, almost like now, I still get excited about Christmas, and family, and trees, and presents and all the trimmings. Did I leave out something? Geesh I guess I did. I left out the main attraction. Jesus! He is now the main attaction, but HE wasn't always this important in my life. I do however remember Jesus was always under the tree in HIS Christmas manger. He was placed under the tree each and every year that I can remember. The Christmas cresh it was my mom's prized possession. I remember her excitement at her purchase of this prize, from Consumers Distributing.  It, Consumers, was a store long gone, like many things that have come and gone, including my mom and dad. How she loved her manger scene. And how we were not to touch it. Now back to the big Day. I was mostly excited at first because I got to go home, to be with my mom, dad and lil sister, which by the way was a real treat to me, seeing I lived full time with my grandparents. Not that there was anything wrong with that, but my dream was to be with my parents. Sooooo. Christmas eve, to my parents house I went. I was so happy. The lil read headed girl whom I didn't know very well joined me in our 48hr Christmas journey. First of all we were primed for the occasion. Both her and I were set up by my mom with a new do. A hair do that is. Go figure, maybe that's where it all started for me, as far as occupation goes. I am still trying to make it better for others in the hair department. Well, I got the pink sponge rollers wound tightly around my already curly locks, till it felt like my roots were being pulled out.  Gee whiz what was she thinking, wasn't I curly enough? But Sharon got the worst of it, she got the pin curl treatment. Her hair was cork screwed and held in place by two sharp pointy objects that made a cross, I think they were called bobby pins at the time, and yes when I grew up that indeed is what they were and are called. Now, we both were more then made ready for our night of torture.. Ha, ha, ha. You try sleeping in those things, more like sleeping with harpoons, and shrapnel digging in your brains all night. So needless to say, we neither of us slept very well at all. We tossed and turned all night, just hoping that it would soon be over, and we would find freedom in the morning from the devices set in our hair the night before. We didn't even care if our hair after it was combed out looked as if we had been sitting in an electric chair for the evening. Boy oh boy, we were a sight. Sort of like Ralphy in the bad bunny get up, from the flick "A Christmas Story". We too were a sight to behold, minus the ears and tail. After surviving most of the night horrors, around 4-5am, sis and me would grab our pillows and lay them on the slippery hardwood floors, we would slither down the hallway as quietly as we could. We tried so hard not to laugh out loud, and not to band into anything. But wouldn't you know it, my mom had supersonic ears. I can still hear her now. GET BACK to bed! It's too early! And scramble back we would, just as fast as we could, just in case. We weren't sure what might happen, but no taking any chances of being made to stay in bed longer then we would have to, if we didn't obey. Curiosity always got the better of us, and we would make several attempts at that long narrow hallway before our parents would arise do to our relentless attempts to get at that tree with all it's gifts. Finally it all paid off. The restless night, the sore scalps, the excitement and anticipation. It had arrived. We were allowed up, and to walk down the hall without pillows, in our slippers, and venture out on the long trek to the breakfast table ahead of us. Things always seem to go so slow when your a kid, remember that? Breakfast took forever, an eternity seemed to pass before we could open the presents. Finally, we got to. Finally all the waiting was over. And tear in we did. I think it was more fun just unwrapping things, the gifts were passed over for the pleasure of the unwrapping.  It was fun. As soon as it was all over, we would attack the phone, and call my grandparents to come as soon as they could, with their sleigh of goodies. The newness of things was overwhelming, the dinner smelled great, and we were oh so tired..That was a presents memory from my childhood. The rest of the day wasn't as pleasant, because the best presence wasn't present. Now that I know that there is a real meaning in it all, I have chosen the true present, the love of the Son who subjected Himself to come to a manger, to be found under many a Christmas tree, and to be nailed to a tree, after all was said and done, all so that we could discover the best present is in HIM. He still sits under a tree every now and then mind you. You can find Him under the apple tree. He will even feed you cakes and raisins, if you want, and if you go there, to the quiet places without the ribbons and bows,  it is like Christmas every time, but it is without the headaches and tiredness. There you will find presence, HE still comes under a tree, with beauty, excitement, and a flurry of emotion. It's fun, better then I remember, better then my best memories. Every time I open up the presence I find more of Him. He's the Gift. Hooray! I get to enjoy HIM. We get the best present of all, and I really like to receive, cuz this is the only way to be able in the long run to give. Merry Christmas! and to all a good nite.

Drinking of the Marriage Wine

Who is HE?

Who is this God who speaks about how HE wants to fulfil HIS plans? Who is HE? Who is this, whom we direct our questions at, as if He needs to answer what is going on in our little minds? Who is this, who desires us to ask Him, so that, He might speak with us and reveal His heart? Do I want to know? Do I really want to know? How many rungs up the ladder must I go? Or to what depths must I descend? The heart says yes, even when it is too tired for such adventures. He says of Himself, I am a Holy God, and you must be holy as I am Holy. You must be a people without mixture. You must worship in spirit and in truth, the truth of who HE is, not what we think Him to be, or perceive Him to be, because of our neediness. We try so hard, we tug, push and pull, we put Him into the tiniest of boxes, into the storage tanks of our thinking. We try to get Him to meet us in the time frames we allow for meetings, or in the midst of our business, and we think He will oblige us. Well on occasion He does, but mostly we fool ourselves, and then we try and fool others into thinking that time is not really important, it is quality not quantity, well there is no quality without any quantity, really, try having a relationship with your significant others and see if that cuts it. The reality is, God is not looking for moments of religion, He is looking for us to join Him in relationship. I know I must be preachin to a choir out there, I know we all know these things I talk of, but by speaking about them out loud, perhaps it will shake things up just a bit, so that we will really think about them.
What is God really saying about Himself? I gotta know.
I asked myself this week, what is it that I am doing that shows my faith, and what is it I believe in? What am I willing to die for? I asked how on earth is it that I find myself pondering again what's it all about? Well someone once said, and this is a quote: It was a Jewish MAN who came to earth and gave His life to save mankind. It struck me as kinda unusual that I had not considered the consequences of God's choice, to send His Son back at such a political time as this, in which there is more hatred towards His race then ever. Even this is a revelation. The God of the Universe has chosen to have a race. He who will be all things, to all people, will do this as a Jewish God-Man. Well it was a Jewish Man who saved me, even before I understood I needed saving. It was a Jewish Man who made the sacrifice. It is a Jewish Man sitting right now on the throne of David. It is a Jewish Man who will return to rule the earth and everyone who is on it. Amazing isn't it. This 33yr old Jewish Man is coming from heaven to rule and reign, in a real city, in a real country, on this planet forever. What are we doing to prepare for this startling reality. God is speaking people! He is revealing His plans. Are we ready? As the deep darkness begins to cover the earth, He has given us a strategy to apply to our ways of seeing things. The strategy is to KNOW HIM. He wants us to examine who He says HE is. He has told us, He is speaking, He is showing, He is not quiet, His voice is thundering, if we will have ears to hear, and eyes to see. What are we gonna do when this Jewish God-Man who has been in eternity, sitting with His Father, comes here to the planet. What is it going to look like. Well it's going to  look like the book of Revelation in 3D, and it will be in technicolor. Oh yes and I forgot, HE said, we would be the ones who would call to Him, to return. We will be priests, a kingdom of priests to be exact. Praying priests, imagine that. It seems a far way off, and almost dream like or surreal to me. It is hard for me to think of myself standing side by side, all of us priests praying, and ushering in the King of Kings. What a strategy, Lord it seems so impossible, as I look at how things have been going in my life at the present time. But I can trust that God can do in me the impossible, if I will obey. Obedience and holiness, the shoes for the road less travelled. Put them on, it's time to move, to walk, to run. It is time to believe what He says is coming in the days ahead. It is time to believe what He says about Himself. He is Holy, and wishes to be regarded as Holy. He is calling us to be readied and waiting. It's time to say YES to the dress. Put on the wedding garments. Believe that the 33yr old Ancient of Days is coming back to earth, because of the plans His Father made for Him and us, before the beginning of time. The story is real. The Jewish Bridegroom is real. Father and Son are Holy and totally other than what we have ever dreamed or imagined. Let's be ready for the grandest banquet of all. The grandest meeting we will ever have. Let's be prepared to have the eyes of a fiery passionate God and King look into ours, and find us totally yielded

Don't awaken love before it's time

Jesus, can I just run into Your open arms once again today, and rest safe and secure in Your hug. Here I am,  the one You love, and want to spent time with. So many words inside my mind, and already all of them used up by someone else. It's a good thing words never get emptied of their meanings, nor thought provoking intentions. No doubt, You do not care. Whether word or deed, thought or feeling, none of these escape your heart as You pull in to meet us. I am so grateful Jesus. I am just so overwhelmed that You would love us so, even before we have managed to love You in return. What a lovely gift you hold out to each of us, each day. You never change, You never waiver, or forget to answer when we call. My voice is still sweet to Your ear, and so, I will tell You of my love for You. I won't delay this time, nor will I keep my thoughts to myself. Today is another opportunity, for love. I awoke with breath in my lungs, new and fresh, not yesterdays life, but newness in my spirit, and life within my bones. Will you wrap Your arms around me right now, even as I write. You are here, and nothing is between us as I slip right into Your Spirit. Here I will be, just You and me, sittin here in the light.  It is true Jesus, You are in me, and I am in You. I am transformed, it is amazing. Everything looks so different. Each time I put you on, the wonder begins to woo me once again. Wow, what a moment, what peace, and joy. Who'da thought just sneakin away for one little hug could bring so much life on the inside? It's like opening a door, once it is open a crack the light floods in, and the whole room is saturated with it's presence. Each time I open my heart to You, I hold my breath, I wait, and..... You...incredible You,  faithful One, You come in, You always show up, I need only open it a crack, and amazingly enough there You are, like a flood, filling me. This is where I wish to live, in Your house, all the days of my life, to see You here, to behold Your beauty, and to ask of You. I want to ask you every question that ever was. I want to know all that you are thinking. I want to know what You are feeling. What do You want today? What is going on in Your mind Lord? I want to know You. Well, this is the day I guess, that I would be asking.  This is it. The time is now, there are no guarantees for tomorrow, or for more time in the future.  I take it now, while it is still today. You are so awesome and I will not be deprived of a single moment more of Your presence. Not if I can help it. Soooo bye bye for now, to anyone who may be reading this, I gotta go. I have an appointment with the Son of God, to abide and be His, while I have breath within me and a day before me, I will go to the mountains of Myrrh and live. I will go and find that shade tree, and sit down quietly, and I will allow Him to feed me cakes and raisins, till love awakens afresh in my heart, and I find myself satisfied with in His love.

SILENCE SPEAKs louder then words

There is a silence, can you hear it, that is resting upon the earth like a heavy blanket that muffles the voice of God's ordinary children. I use ordinary not really as a truth, but as a loose medifore for those who don't seem to stick out as extraordinary. All of God's children are extraordinary. How can we not be? We are His handiwork. Right? Now, there seems to be so few that will venture out from beneath this cover that secures oneself in place.  We see it, we feel it, and we hear it, but for some unknown reason we can not seem to throw off the cocoon we have found ourselves wrapped up in. Do we wish to reveal what has been hiding under the cover of this silence? This blanket overshadows the best, the wisest, and even the smartest of us. I  think this blanket has a name. I call it, the status quo, don't rock the boat, or this is how it has always been done, this is how we do it here, you should do it this way, you should not do this or that, you are not called, you have missed the call, no one will listen anyway, who do you think you are, but this is what it is really, it is silence and fear in disguise. I too am caught up in this tangle of should and shouldn't at different times, and in different ways, and silence settles in to mask the unknown fears. Inside and under the blankets I wonder to myself, if I were to sing a dirge would the people mourn, or if I were to sing a wedding song will the people dance? Can you also relate? How many have plenty gas for their engines and yet so little oil to keep them from ceasing up? What does this have to do with blankets. It is time to make a loud noise on the earth, until the covers fall off! It is time to sing and dance, and wail and mourn. The Bridegroom is approaching. Pull back the covers and shout! The day of the Lord draws near! Get oil! Collect it now, before being forced to search it out at His arrival, when the doors will be shut, and all those outside will be banging on the door for entrance, but it will be too late. Here we are, the  signs of the times are playing out in panoramic view, like a song in perfect tune for the ear to hear, if we will have ears to hear. Look around. What do you hear? Everywhere I turn I hear the wake up call sounding. Voices of the brave ones sing out! There is no escaping, no hiding place, nowhere to run from the voice of the Lord. It just keeps coming. The sound is relentless, over and over again. Awake, awake! Oh sleeper arise. There is coming a sign and a wonder to the earth, and this sign and wonder is the God Man, with eyes like a flame of fire. Awake! The dark places keep getting darker, the light is really needed. We are in need of the light. Oh no! We, are the light bearer's, carriers of the much needed light. We contain the light. The light inside of us has a sound, it has movement, and it has life.  There is a silent scream beneath the covers fiercely fighting to escape. Release the sound! Lift the head! Open the gates! Light the lamps! God, send Your words forth from the lips of your ordinary children, from those who thought they had no sound. As a beam of light tears a hole in the blanket of silence, I grab hold of threads that cause an unravelling of lies. God likes us. God likes us NOW, not in a few years when we have dealt with our issues. No, now, now, now, we are His Righteousness NOW! How is it we are not hearing this truth? Is it that we have not ears to hear with, or is it not being spoken out. What kinda teachings are we listening to under these covers. Who has been preaching to us. Jesus, break the silence that seems to scream louder then Your Words, and let us hear the light and truth. I want to hear through the deafening sounds of silence. I want to hear of Your returning, I want to hear about who we truly are. I long for our words to be louder then the silence that so threatens to swallow us up, along with the world round about us.  Sadly enough many have bought into the lie that we are ordinary, powerless, voiceless. This is so untrue, such a lie. Well it is time to believe the truth, kick off the covers and let the light out!  It is our day to shine, to speak, to scream into the dark, "I am rising up, as a bride, without spot or wrinkle, because I AM THE JOY that has been set before HIM" and on that day, the day of His gladness, He will be crowned by His mother, the church, [that's us] with us. We are His crown, and glory. He will wear us. We are His inheritance. We are prepared and ready, clothed in His Righteousness, a beauty to behold, the jewel on His brow. We will speak the truth, and sound the alarm. We are throwing off the covers, the grave clothes of silence".  I hear the children of God declare "let there be LIGHT!" and the Lord saw that it was good, and the children of God were revealed, the groaning of the earth will cease. How did  the blanket get removed? When we banish all fear, with the confidence of His love over us. When we cash in on the Lord's benefits, by walking in His grace, abandoning the beggar mentality and embracing a bridal understanding. When by the Word we allow ourselves to be transformed by the renewing of the MIND, we will find our emotions will follow suit, and pretty soon so will our mouths with WORDS of life that will resound louder then any cry of silence that once was. To sum it all up I would pray, "Lord make us exceedingly zealous for Your honor, for the day of Your indignation is upon us. Give us encounter with Your Spirit so that we will have oil for our lamps. Make us ready and confident in Your love and leadership. Ready to believe truth always, and ready to speak Your light into the dark places, in love and without fear, and in power. Help us break the sound barrier, with the cry of Your heart. Lord I am ready, I wish to come out from under the covers, amen" The church must stop its silence, and call to Him, "God separate me from everything that hinders the fire in me!", and HE will hear it, and pull back the blanket just to hear what all that noise is about.

Smak Dab in the Right Place

It was Friday nite and with a group of 7, no pun intended, well maybe so, we all went smak dabbin. That's a cool pottery place in town. Actually, it is a cool lil shop close to where I live. I pass by it all the time wondering what on earth they are up to in there. It has always piqued my curiosity, although not strongly enough to venture in on my own to investigate the goings on there. I have always liked clay. I like making things with my hands. I work well with my hands, but they are not always treated to such tactile delights as moulding or sculpting, mostly I am a hair moulder sculptor, but it's not quite the same. I made a dish once in primary school. I can remember being so proud of it. Some how this lil shop evoked fond memories of that small red and white dish that I had made so long ago, along with all the feelings attached to it. So perhaps I was on a quest to recapture a past pleasant moment of time in which I could relive a childhood playtime. I was surprised to find that it was not my pretty little red and white pot memories that were stirred. Instead I found myself being fascinated by the original story of how God created us. I could see my Father sitting at the potters wheel, throwing on the clay, the wheel whirling around and around. HE was up to something, something really creative. Something mind boggling and never before attempted. He we moulding man. Moulding me. Gen.2:7 And the Lord God formed a man's body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. Inside me I could feel the turning, the spinning, as I watched the pottery wheel go round and round, and on the outside the pressing down the pulling up, the pressure of His hands upon my life, stretching me, shaping me, moulding me, forming me, sometimes painfully hard, sometimes gently and softly.  I felt at home here in this place, maybe because it felt so familiar, and then I began to realise why I liked this clay thing, it gave to me a way to be like my Dad. I was doing as He did. His creativity was coming forth because I was like Him. I am my Father's daughter. It felt so good to claim my right to move as HE moves. His pleasure had become my pleasure. I had forgotten what I had been made of and how. I too am an earthenware vessel skillfully and wonderfully made to hold the Spirit of God. I am God made, Spirit filled, and now able to be skillful and creative myself. Wow wee. My Dad, HE is a potter. HE is the Master Potter, and I am one of His potts. I like this. I like His work. We were made for His good pleasure. No wonder the attraction. I am not sure what everyone else experienced that night, but it was a night filled with delight, with laughter, and a sense of accomplishment and joy. I think we all left with a deeper connection to who we were meant to be, and what we were capable of if we hadn't already gotten that one figured out. It was a good experience and I am sure many sparks flew round about in all our minds and will be for quite some time yet to come. For me I didn't really care about the how to's as much as the let me at it. I was hesitant at first, too many ideas, but when I settled it in my mind that here was this awesome opportunity to make an idea come to life then I was sold on it. I felt just like a kid in a candy store. I had  hands, some earth, some water, all the right fixins, smak dab in the middle of a new adventure. I plan on putting a candle in my masterpiece so that I can watch the light shine out of it. I can hardly wait to see. I wonder if maybe our DAD had some of the same kind of intentions when HE made us.

Inquiring minds want to know?

Today I asked the Lord what can I share with my friends. What is it You want to say to them? This is what I heard. You may take it as your own if you wish. After all, we are all here for such a time as this, seeking, longing, and desiring HIS heart beat.

    " Oh My beautiful bride. Look at Me! How could I ever love you more then I love you right now? This moment in time is always before Me. I hold it as a jewel in My hand, and I will hold it for all of eternity. It is above value to Me. You do not yet know time as I know time to be. I step in and out, back and forth in time, in moments, weeks, years, and in multiples of times. Each moment of your life I hold in My heart, and I cherish the movements of your heart towards Me. How is it that you think I did what I did? I accomplished the cross through time, second by second, moment by moment. I was able to bear it all because My mind was set on having you. I set My face as flint to obey the Father that we may be one. This was His dream. You see, His heart has always been set to have a family and to throw the grandest wedding ever. His love for you is as deep as it is for Me. His love is enough. I am enough. I have done all that needs to be done. I will finish the work I started in you. You will win the race. I am faithful and I am determined to have My way with you. My love for you is deeper than any sea, it runs as deep as death itself, even as deep, high and wide as the cross. My passion for you is unrelenting. I burn with jealousy for you. My heart is as an unquenchable fire that pounds within My chest as I wait thinking of you. It is hard to wait to have you My dove. What is it that is in you heart? What have you set your mind upon? I want to see! Open up to Me My fair one! I will give you the grace to give all to Me, even when you think this is impossible. I will strengthen your resolve. I will make you wholehearted. You will overcome. Nothing will stand in the way of our love. Nothing has the power to come between us. Trust Me, you are Mine. I will bring you up leaning on Me. You will come up bearing banners like an army wearing victory as a crown upon your head, shining as the sun. You were made for this. I will not be disappointed. I am full of joy over you! I am overflowing with pleasure, now My tongue has become the pen of a ready writer. You are My pleasure. You have always been the joy set before Me. This is why I came. This is why I laid everything aside. I did it for love! I did it for you! I did it because I knew you would love Me back. I am overwhelmed by you, turn your eyes away from Me, My sister, My bride. My desire is to spend eternity with you. This is what I think about. I am thinking about you. "

Just wanting to share the blessings around

                                                                                                                   

You just gotta hear this cd, and if you love it like I do, order it. It is awesome, so annointed. Enjoy!  So try it out, you won't be disappointed.  Follow the link, it's all there. http://ryani.bandcamp.com/

It's all in a Name

Tonight while driving on my way to visit a friend, minding my business, eyes on the road, a question popped into my head out of the blue. It was, "God, do You like to be called God?" There was no answer, just silence. That word "God" seems more a title then a name to me, at least that is what I had come to lean towards. Then the obvious next question that came to me was, well, "what do You wish to be called?" My mind shot off into the abyss of endless names. The Lord, He has so many names, wonderful names, names that swallow the hearer up in His great attributes, and every name worthy. Then out of nowhere, once again, a question, "do you like to be called Daddy", and immediately I heard "YES", a resounding soul rattling "YES!", "this is what My Son called ME!" My heart began to melt within my chest. Who is this God?  God who wishes to be called by such an intimate name of endearment? What a chord those words struck deep inside my heart." DADDY, DADDY", so wonderful, so safe, so true. The word and name Daddy evoked such pleasure, and in amongst the sounds of the words, I think I saw my Daddy smiling at me, and enjoying how much I was loving the feel of His name. My mouth filled with such a sweet taste from that name that I had to say it over and over and over for some time, it was like honey to me. Wow it was good. I lost track of time, I arrived at my destination long before I realised. Time flys when you are having fun. So...... There you go folks, it's just another name I guess. No, not really, it could be, but it's not.  "DADDY",  it is pleasing, and good, full of His good pleasure. He is waiting for our call to Him, waiting for us to see, that as Jesus did, we also can do. That's speakin truth, with Daddy loving every minute of it. I really think that this evening on my small journey that my Daddy poured His name out to me as a drink of cool water on a warm summers night, and it was refreshing.  And after declaring this truth to myself the rest of the evening fell so easily into place. It was so good to know that I can so please the One I love, and that He never grows tired of hearing me call out His name. Try it out. I can guarantee that the Daddy name is a winner for sure.

This is where I get my mind right!

International House of Prayer  Thought I'd share a little place that is worth visiting often. It's a prayer room. Sort of like the one that is on the inside of us. You know the room we wish we visited more often then what we do. It helps me set my mind back on things above, to think on the things that are pure and lovely once again. Hope it lifts and encourages all who go there. It is my yellow brick road......to the other side. See ya there!

Totally Frustrated

bathroom is this a way

So here I am. I have been going round in circles for awhile now trying to figure out how on earth to arrive at this box to write in it. My heart was all reved up and ready to go this morning, it has been deflated as surely as a tire that has run over that proverbial spike waiting for it's customer.  [I sure hope this box has spell check!] I find all this time spent sorting through to find where it is to write and add on things a bit daunting. Hmmm. Gee whiz can I add a picture somewhere? OK, I will go search out some composure and return in a better mood. I lost what it was I wanted to say anyway. God please stir me back up, remind me about what we were talking about this morning in the shower. Shower..... Yes that must be where I left my thoughts and excitement. Maybe that's the next title to look for "shower conversations".  I will go back to the shower and make sure my conversation with the Lord has not gone down the drain. I will see if I can retrieve it before it melts and give it a quick blow dry and post it. Ya never know. Ta ta.... Hope HE doesn't return before I do.

Getting all fired up!

New stretching going on. This will be fun. Now all I have to do is find what I really want to talk about. Give me a moment, I'm sure it will come. Perhaps in a day or two, a little longer than a moment. Let the words inside take shape and begin to form, before they spill out. This may be a little harder then I thought.