tiny scraps…

I read this small book many years ago and was so taken with this unknown author’s wisdom and instruction on contemplative prayer.

If you are not familiar with this book, it was written in the 14th century by an anonymous author to a cloister of monks.  It has become a favorite of readers for centuries.  It has been translated countless times to reach different time periods’ modern languages.   The book is written in brief chapters and offers a way to enter  a life of prayer and cultivating a life with God.  There is a “cloud of unknowing” that lies between God and man and is pierced by contemplation.

This morning I wanted to share a passage that I just love:

Many think contemplative prayer takes a long time to achieve.

On the contrary, results may be instantaneous.

Only an atom of time, as we perceive it, may pass.

In this fraction of a second, something profoundly significant happens.

YOU ONLY NEED A TINY SCRAP OF TIME TO MOVE TOWARD GOD. (emphasis mine.)

This brief moment produces the stirring that embodies the greatest work of your soul.

How many desires can fill an hour?

You may have as many desires as there are indivisible fractions of time in an hour.

 

If you were as sinless as Adam was before the fall, you would be in total control of each instant.

You would respond to every divine impulse.

Everything about you would reach towards God all the time, because God created us in his image.

In the Incarnation, Christ emptied himself, becoming one of us, accommodating himself to our limitations.

Only God satisfies our spiritual hunger.

Nothing else suffices.

After God graciously transforms our soul, we begin perceiving what is ordinarily beyond our comprehension.

Angels don’t have the mental capacity, nor do we, to grasp the total reality of God, but what cannot be ours by intelligence can be ours as we embrace love.

 Don’t you love that any movement towards God, no matter how small, is met head on  by God?! 

 I love that even a tiny scrap is enough to encounter His Presence…oh and how glorious when I can linger…

Years ago, I made a small scrapbook for each of my daughters.  I started with Carlen’s and then did Courtney’s book. As I have revisited those books, I can clearly see that page one of Carlen’s book is  more simple than the last page of Courtney’s book…the same scraps that I didn’t  know what to do with in the beginning, over time, with practice and perhaps with a more discerning eye, slowly created a different result.  Both books are equally precious and there is no judgment in those first baby steps…even for the perfectionist in me.

I think sometimes I can approach prayer like this, thinking that it is all about an end result that should look a certain way. 

What if I had looked at the first page of Carlen’s book and deemed it unacceptable and given up? 

What if I viewed prayer like my boxes of old photos that are pushed aside until the right time to create the visual of my life?

I think God wants me to present  Him daily the photos of my life…the blurry, out focus ones…the ones where I wish the zoom lens had not been used, the ones that are too dark to make out what is really happening.  As I show Him my days…the joys and the sorrows, the great and not so great photo-ops…He will take those scraps and assemble a scrapbook that is precious…because it is my life…my life with Him written all over it and through it.

Do you have any scraps to take to the Father today?

I sure do!

On your mark…

Get set…

Go!

 

hope…marvelous hope…

Do you ever feel like you are treading water in this journey with the Lord?

I know that there are times where I wonder if there is any measurable difference in me because I am His?

I read this scripture and as I broke it down…it filled me with such awe and gratitude to our God but it also gave me hope…may you be filled to the measure with the hope that we have in Christ…which is immeasurable.

“And all of us,

This verse is for me…it’s for you…it is for ALL of us…no one is excluded or disqualified…
                                 

as with unveiled face,

Because of Christ we can approach Him in our humanity…the barrier has been removed…
                                                        

 [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God]

Notice the word continued…we are to continually behold in the Word of God.
                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                      
as in a mirror

The Word reflects the author…God…if we want to see God…be in the Word…

 the glory of the Lord,

The splendor of the Lord is on display for us to see…

 are constantly being transfigured into His very own image-

There is no pause button for this change from our old image to an image that begins to resemble Him.
                                                                                                                                            
in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another;

This change is not only constant but it is gathering momentum and getting bigger…and bringing us  closer to our Maker.

[for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

Unless we think we are somehow responsible for this transformation…it all comes from the Lord…and it could only occur through the indwelling Holy Spirit guiding us, teaching us, breathing fresh air into our lives…blowing away our old fruitless ways.

II Corinthians 3: 18 (AMP)

I am sure that my little notes couldn’t possibly add more to this wonderful passage of scripture…but I pray that it gave you just as much hope as it poured into me when I read it this week.

I am so thankful that we serve a God that doesn’t remain distant from us.  We have a God that came close and wants us to do the same.  He wants to dwell with us and inhabit our lives.  It is quite mind boggling that He would be so selfless to enable us to be transfigured into His own image… 

This scripture filled me with such hope because it made me see that in my life with God…I am constantly being changed…a change that is in increasing measure, moving from one degree to another.  It helps me put into perspective those areas where I still struggle… perhaps I don’t see that the struggle has lessened and to a small degree, I am beginning to look a lot more like my Savior.

It also reminds me of the importance of staying in His Word…without a steady intake, I won’t see the Lord…and I won’t see areas in my life that need to be banished.

Stay encouraged my friends and bask in the graciousness of God…may our reflections begin to look more and more and like Him.

 

Helen

 

Quotes to ponder…

 

 

I love quotes…be on the look out on Fridays for quotes to  ponder…

Here are two that I stumbled upon this week…one from a well known and loved man…and one that I have not been able to find authorship…if you know…let me know!

 

 ”The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.”
                                                                                                                    Oswald Chambers

 

Be yourself.

Everyone else is taken.

When you die, God will not ask,

                                                                             
“Why were you not Moses?

 

He will ask,

 

“Why were you not you?”

 

 

 

I think that is plenty to ponder on this Friday…Have a great weekend just being yourself!

 

stuff…

 “Don’t fret or worry.

 Instead of worrying, pray.

Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.

 Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.

 It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

Philippians 4: 7 (The Message)

 

The last couple of weeks have seemed full of stuff…that is the best way that I can categorize. 

There has been much that has filled my head and heart.

Stuff that has happened around the world…stuff that is in my own neighborhood…stuff in my life and in those close to me.

A couple of days ago, I just felt the crushing weight of it all and I must admit that I felt overwhelmed…in fact it made me downright weary.

 I read this passage this morning and although I am more familiar with the NIV’s rendering that “the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts  and minds in Christ Jesus”…the Message gave me a new visual.

I have let worry displace Christ.  It made me think of Christ on the Throne as my King…my Savior…my Redeemer…my Prince of Peace…firmly in His seat where He belongs. 

Somehow when my life gets cluttered with stuff…that stuff knocks Jesus off His Throne…His rightful place in my life.  Actually He is not just a place in my life…He is my whole life…not just a part.

The peace that surpasses all understanding…is just that…it makes no worldly sense how one can feel peace in the midst of being swamped by stuff…but He gives it freely…liberally. 

I already feel more peace today as I  recognized that His seat was occupied.  I did a bit of cleaning…by turning those worries into prayers and His Throne is ready to be claimed.

What is His Throne seat looking like to you today?

  He’s waiting to take a seat…not with a stern face or crossed arms…but with love and outstretched arms…ready to bear the load and every burden…won’t you take Him up on the offer?

  I know that I am all the better for it.

 

Drum roll please…

Thanks for leaving your comments this past week…I loved reading what you have been reading…I now have an even longer list of books to read!

The winner of the Jesus Calling devotional is:

“ci”

Congratulations…I know all your information and will send it out on Tuesday after the holiday!

Thanks for reading A Work of Heart…you bless me!

Helen

Sarah…

Today I read a verse that I don’t believe I have noticed very often.  I think that I have stumbled over the verses that sit above  it…I will let you look them up so that you can see if you have done the same.

“as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and  do not fear anything that is frightening.”

I Peter 3: 6 (ESV)

I thought about Sarah today.

I thought about her laughing when she overheard that she would soon be with child at her advanced age.

I thought about how when God spoke to Abraham all those promises that He would pour over his life…that those promises included Sarah.

I thought about how Sarah left all that was familiar to walk in step with those promises.

I thought about Abraham telling Sarah to pretend that she was his sister more than one time.

I thought about Sarah giving birth…for the first time…

I thought about Sarah holding her son with arthritic hands.

I thought of her trying to get up off the ground after playing with Isaac.

I thought of her waving goodbye to Abraham and Isaac as they journeyed the road the Lord had set before them.

I thought about how different her life looked from the vantage point of age.

I thought about how the path of obedience is long…at times narrow…often times scary.

I thought about how Sarah did not fear anything that was frightening.

Today I thought what a privilege to be called one of her children…

Giveaway reminder…

I am loving reading the comments about what you all are reading…I would love to read some more!

Please don’t forget to enter my giveaway for the Jesus Calling devotional…details on the post below.

I will be picking a winner on Saturday on or about noon (PST). 

Thanks!

Helen

Jesus Calling Giveaway…

   For some time now, I have started the waking up process with this devotional.

I am not much of a morning person…and so it takes me a little bit to unfold the eyes and stir my mind before I can really dive into the Word.

Some mornings I don’t have a lot of time before I have to get out the door but most mornings I can easily read these great gems from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

Each day is written as if Jesus were speaking to you with corresponding scriptures…here is today’s:

Everytime you affirm your trust in Me, you put a coin into My treasury.  Thus you build up equity in preparation for days of trouble.  I keep safely in My heart all trust invested in Me, with interest compounded continously.  The more you trust Me, the more I enable you to do so.

Practice trusting Me during quiet days, when nothing much seems to be happening.  Then when storms come, your trust  balance will be sufficient to see you through.  Store up yourself treasure in heaven, through placing your trust in Me.  This practice will keep you in My Peace.

“When I was afraid,
I put my trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust, I shall not  be afraid.
What can flesh do to me?”

Psalm 56: 3-4

“but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6: 20-21

I have really enjoyed this chunky little book this past year and I would love to give a copy away.  There are so many giveaways across the blog world…blogs that have huge readership…but for wee blogs such as this one…the odds are very good that you could win…is that enough incentive?  I hope so…

The rules for entry are:

• Tell me where your Bible reading is taking you currently…what/where are you reading?
• What book(s) are you reading?
• Tell me one of your favorite books you read last year?

Here’s mine:

• I am reading I Peter and will start reading Jeremiah for a Sunday school class Carl and I attend.
• I am reading the last book in a trilogy called The Hawk and the Dove by Penelope Wilcock…as the back of the books say “They belonged to another century, yet their struggles are our own…”  Wonderful stories about monks…I just love reading them.
• I’m more inclined towards non-fiction but I have been trying to read more fiction…I am not sure why it is such a struggle…perhaps I need to lighten up a bit…I would definitely say The Hawk and the Dove because I read the first one during December and this past summer I thoroughly enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows…I love books written in letters…I passed this book around a lot and everyone that returned it just had such a smile on their faces and would sigh…great endorsement if you are one of the few that didn’t read it this summer.

I can’t wait to read your comments…I will pick a random comment on Saturday January 16th at or around noon (PST).

Happy reading!

Helen

did you know…?

 

Did you know that this blog can come straight to your inbox when a new post is published?

It’s simple…just fill in your email address on the right hand sidebar and click away!

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Helen

put it away…

I have been hanging out  in I Peter…just taking my time.

This morning I began chapter two and made it just one verse.

It was not a verse that was easy to focus on…in fact, I am a bit embarrassed to say that usually I would read quickly over it and get to something else that was sweeter…maybe nicer…

If I wasn’t choosing to discipline myself to slow down…I would have missed this verse and assumed that it didn’t relate to me.  Had I not slowed down, I wouldn’t have remembered that in the previous chapter it talked about God telling me to be holy like He is holy.  God didn’t say those words as a suggestion…He said it because it is to be my aim…a pursuit worth taking time to see where I fall short…and addressing places that catch me unaware.

 ^“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.”

I am going to tell you a secret…one that was whispered to me today…actually much later in the day…

Just because you don’t say something out loud doesn’t me that it doesn’t qualify as malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy or slander.

Ouch!

I wonder if this is why Peter uses the word “all” three times…perhaps he is informing us that  there isn’t just one way that each needs to be eradicated.  Don’t you like how I have included you with me…how I hate to be alone…

When I roll my eyes when someone’s name is mentioned and sigh…could that be slanderous?  I am sure that gives an impression of my view towards that person to those who see my display.

Do I smile and say nice things about someone yet if my mind could be seen like a cartoon word cloud…would the words and the thoughts match?  If not, this is hypocrisy.

Do I leave out details…is that deceitful?

Do I look longingly at my neighbor’s new lawn and feel discontent by my dandelion field?  Yes, you could say that I am envious.  (Okay, you must know that  one goes way back since these days,  everyone’s lawn looks pretty soggy right now.)

Peter says to put it away!

The Amplified version says to be done with it!

Does it make sense why I would prefer to skip over these types of verses? 

I think God wants me to spend time in verses just like this one…not for the purpose of feeling lost in shame but for the simple reason, if I don’t know…I can’t and won’t change.

Change is challenging…and it takes time.  I am sure that I will catch myself falling into old ways often in the days to come.  I will still  ask God to guard my mind and my heart as well as my tongue so that I can be aware of these sneaky attitudes and emotions.

Thank you,  Lord that You don’t only want some of me…you want all of me to walk in holiness.  Thank you for showing me practices and attitudes that do not bring you joy and help me to put them away and be done with them.  Amen.