Rock Writers’ Guild

i know what you’re thinking….
“shes been gone awhile….she finally got on here and posted…where she been?…oh, so now she decides to post!” hehe.
ive been here. there. everywhere.
oh the places i go.
actually lately god has been testing me. my faith. me. my faith. and well, me. and ive come to conclude that i do break down. but my faith still stands. and he is still my god. and still in control.

this is something i wrote. its my heart. and its my favorite way to write….its like a stream. it flows. i write. so heres a little peek into my heart today…

worship- worthiness. respect. reverance paid to a divine being. (our God). the expression of such revereance. extravagant respect of admiration.

love- strong affection. warm attachment. a beloved person. unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for others. to cherish. to feel a passion, devotion, or tenderness for.
~love is also a choice…

WARNING: not really sure if this makes sense. my mind races and i write. just bare with me…

worship and love go hand in hand. when you love your maker you worship. you worship because you love him. its not because of anything hes done. its simply because of who he is. and its because you love him. you are devoted to him. you are attached. loyal. you cherish him. and you have a passion for him.

when love abounds worship is inevitable. when i worship its my heart bursting with unquenchable love. im giving all i have. i dont hold back. and i cant hold back. because of who he is i cannot hold it inside. i am utterly in love with him. thats right in love. every part of him i cherish. his character is amazing.

see he is more than my creator, my savior to me. he is my breath. my rock. my friend. my stability. my heartbeat. my vision. my sight. my ears. my map. my almanac. my pageturner. my author. my illustrator. my counselor. my teacher. my health. my comforter. my hand holder. my guide. my king. my daddy. my music. my sunny day. my rainy day. my caretaker. my nurturer. my provider. my liberator. my rescuer. my family. my answer. my all in all. my lover. my romancer. my romance. my hallmark card. my light in the dark. my song. my voice. my eyes. my strength. my knight in shining armor. my passion. my everything. my soul.

hes my soul. hes a part of me. he is me. i am him. the more i am like him the less i am myself and me…i am nothing. i am worthless. empty. hurt. confused. worried. without him i am NOTHING. he makes me beautiful. he makes me worthy. he fulfills me and fills me. he heals me. he gives me a clear mind. he soothes me. he fills me with love. a passion. a devotion. to him and his people. im called to love. live love. speak love. show love. send love. see love. be love.

he is love. he is in me.
i am love. because i am his.

dear lord…
i am worthless and nothing without you. i am an utter mess up without you. so lord, take all of me and empty me. spill me out. get rid of lisa and pour in you. i want you. i want to reflect you. i want to be clothed in humility and grace and love. take out mediocricy and the fear of being intimate with you. may you explode uncontrollably in me. rise up in me god. push me down so you may rise up! i want people to know you! make me a warrior….unashamed. unshakable. unquestionable…for you.
i seek your face.
i am seeking you.
i will seek you.
im after your heart.
im devoted to you.
i cherish you.
i love you.

As I look out my living room window, I am amazed at the beautiful sight of soft sky blues and delicate pinks as the rising sun reflects on a few scattered clouds.  It is early and a new day is dawning.  The morning seems to softly whisper of His glory and majesty.  Yet as I look around at the wonder of the world He created, I ponder just how great He is.   

We have a tree in our back yard between the house and the security lamp.  As each season passes, I watch the changes taking place.  In the cold of winter, the branches rattle as the winds blow.  There is no visible sign of life, as stark empty branches shudder in the wind. Then in the spring, a wondrous sight takes place.  Little tiny buds of new leaves begin stretching out toward the warmth of the spring sun.  Drawn out of their hiding place, they reach out ready and willing to do their part to bring new growth to their home.  It does not matter to them that they are there but for a short season, they have an important work to accomplish during their short stay.

As the season progresses from spring to summer, they slowly obscure the light from view.  The leaves share their spot for each little sprig that prayerfully will give way to a bumper crop of pecans.  Then, just as rapidly, the process reverses.  Leaves changes from a beautiful green to various shades of yellow, orange and brown.  As the chill of fall approaches winter, the winds swirl the fallen leaves on the ground. Shortly, the branches will again rattle as the winter winds blow upon them.  Life is revealed in its fullest cycle. 

The same takes place in our life.  There are seasons of dormancy, where it seems we sit on a shelf doing nothing.  At times the Lord, in His perfect love and wisdom, will bring us to a place of quietness and rest.  Often we mistakenly think we have missed Him or committed some grievous sin.  We strive to produce something, anything, when it is truly the Lord desiring us to sit and rest. 

Although nothing appears to be happening to my pecan tree, in reality I cannot see beyond the bark.  Its roots are providing the nourishment necessary for the next growth spurt.  In the same manner, our roots are embedded deep in the Lord.  As He ministers to us during our ‘dormant’ times, He makes provision for our growth spurt.  There might be a branch that needs pruning; a hurtful process, yet this ensures greater fruitfulness in the coming season.

Winter seasons are uncomfortable to many.  We long for the first sign of spring and new growth.  However, it is during those cold times that our reliance is totally in the Lord.  Grounded in His love, we must allow our roots to go even deeper.  All we need is found in Him.  Lasting fulfillment comes from resting in the Lord, waiting for His perfect timing.  Today, if you are in a time of dormancy, learn to rest in the Lord.  Know that He  knows the seasons of your life and your spring is just around the corner.

Song of Solomon 4:16  Awake, O north wind, And come, O south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its pleasant fruits.

Joyce Sykes

© 2006

 This is just a practice to see if I can figure out how to post with paragraphs and indentions. Something I wrote for my journaling purposes.  

   Well Diggers

       Edith Reason and her daughter recently decided to start a group called Well Diggers. For those of you young folks who may never have sipped from a dipper out of a deep cool well; the idea of well digging probably seems a bit odd. Today a well can be dug out with heavy equipment in a day or so. Or you can hook up to the city water with the right amount of fees if you live in the city limits. Miss Edith likes doing things the old fashioned way, so those of us who attended her Well digging meeting found ourselves with picks and shovels in hand, and rocks flying up out of the deep hole we dug ourselves. Now lest you find that you cannot conceive of a bunch of grown women digging deeply into the dirt with picks and shovels, let me assure you these women are not your ordinary run of the mill women.

       These women come from hearty stock, and have had their share of burden bearing.  We began our venture digging the well by sharing exactly how we came to be at the Rock of Wilmington. One by one we shared how the rocks and snares of life had so entangled us, that we had become thirsty, beyond our ability to care what anyone said or thought, and most of the stories shared the common stream of someone told me about the Rock, or we were just so desperate to hear from the Lord, and to walk in understanding and wisdom. When we came to the Rock we felt the arms of Holy Spirit wrap us up, and say welcome home. Then we found real flesh and blood people, who also echoed, you are welcome here. Oh how the water flowed, how strong the teaching, and training in the word of God. We came to the Rock and found streams of living water flowing from the Source.  We were all welcome here, and encouraged to drink freely from the wells springing forth.

       So here we are, some 18 years later, finding ourselves digging wells. Wells of refreshing, and worship. Wells that allow us to be free, to lavish praises and worship in the Throne Room. Windmills being erected to pump up the water from the depths, blown by the power of Holy Spirit, causing a fresh wave of refreshing, drenching power from on high to flow through us as we pour ourselves out in His Presence.

       Well digging by yourself can take quiet a bit of time, but Mss Edith is wise in her well digging instructions, and we find ourselves freely throwing out buckets of dirt, rock and branches. Flinging them into the air, digging deeper with renewed strength and determination.Many of these well diggers are the rememberers. They remember when the digging was dusty, and discouraging. Now with their feet planted firmly on the true Rock of their Salvation, these new wells they are digging are not powered by their own strength, but rather by the power that springs up within their very being, urging them on, dig deeper, dig faster, I have so much to give you. Living water that never runs dry. Seek me while I may be found. Come to Me, and thirst no more.I’m still a newbie here at the Rock, and these old timers seem so wise and strong. Yet when I hear their stories I hear my own, and it is then I realize, we are all well diggers. All of us are thirsty! Only He can quench our thirsty souls.

Isaiah 55 1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
       come to the waters;
       and you who have no money,
       come, buy and eat!
       Come, buy wine and milk
       without money and without cost.

Esther 4:14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Have you ever thought about this question in regards to your own life?  Esther was born at a specific time and place to fulfill a task at that time in history.  However, in reality, this is true of each of us today.  While we may never be in a situation as Esther, there is no doubt the Lord has a purpose for each of us.

Throughout Scriptures, we see men and women used by the Lord.  He desires people who love Him enough to follow His ways and instructions.  Noah labored for over 100 years building the ark in a time that had never seen rain.  Imagine the taunts and accusations of insanity he endured, yet he obeyed every single step from the Lord.  This act of obedience saved eight people from drowning.  Jochebed’s unwillingness to follow Pharaoh’s command saved the live of not only her son Moses but also put into motion the Lord’s deliverance plan for His people.

Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute destined for destruction, gave two spies insight for safe passage back to their people.  This one simple act saved her and her people while everyone else died in Jericho’s destruction.  Jael killed Sisera, an enemy of Israel.  This woman was simply a homemaker, and yet the Lord utilized her strength of character to free His people from this rival king.  Abigail, operating in wisdom and insight, carried supplies to David, sparing her household from death while preventing David from shedding innocent blood. 

Ananias in Acts 9, had the assignment of praying for Saul of Tarsus.  Although he initially questioned his instructions, he willingly obeyed the Lord and laid hands on the persecutor of the saints.  Tabitha, also known as Dorcas, was a simple woman yet her acts of kindness touched many surrounding her.  Her gifting was simply the talent to make garments for the people in her life. 

All through time, the Lord has made use of those who willingly obey Him.  Some had great and mighty tasks, while others were just everyday ordinary people.  He desires to do the same in each of us today.  It might be through a phone call or an encouraging word in a card.  Maybe some will need to buy food or clothing for someone in desperate need. A visit and a prayer for someone sick or depressed may release the healing balm needed in their life to restore them to health. One sermon that seems to be a bomb may bring freedom to one soul.  The words of a song touch a heart full of despair. 

Each one of us, as His children, has the ability to touch those around us for good.  That one touch or act of obedience may affect them for eternity’s sake.  The question each of us must ask our self is this.  Are we willing?  Do we desire to be a vessel used for the glory of the Lord?  Can we lay aside our plans to seek Him and His divine plan and desires for our life and the lives of those He desires to whom He send us? 

It is time for God’s people to rise up to the occasions in their life and say as Isaiah did so long ago.  “Here I am Lord, send me!”  The real question is, “Are you willing?”