Skeleton bones stand at the sound
Of eternity on
The lips of the found
Grave stones roll
to the rhythm of the sound of you
(taken from the song Skeleton Bones by John Mark McMillan)
This song has got a lot of play in my head over the last month or so. I love the symbolism in this song. I believe that it captures the very yearning we have in us to find Him. When the writer talks about our bones standing at the sound of eternity on the lips of the found, I can feel the innermost groaning or yearning for Him to be with us. When the grave stones roll to the rhythm of the sound of you makes me get excited about the awakening when He returns. WOW! This is the Creator of everything that is and everything that will be, calling His created to Him.
The lips of the found? That's those who have put their faith in Him. John 3:16 is a starting point for the found. It is the gospel in one verse. Whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life!
But have you considered fully the verse that follows? John 3:17? For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. That verse gives another glimpse into the wondrous love that He has for his created. If we were to be judged without Him, we would deserve hell. But Jesus came to save us. He didn't come to judge, He came to save, to rescue, to bring a stirring to skeleton bones that stand at the sound of eternity on, the lips of the found. With this we can take joy and say,
We want you close, we adore you, we stand surrounded by the cloud of Your glory,
As brightness blinds our eyes and our ears are filled with Your joy!
Adoring acknowledgement of what You have given us,
what You have saved us from,
So when your bones start jumping at the sound of eternity on the lips of the found, and the voice within your chest tells the heart inside your head to give Him praise, think of John 3:17 and crank it up!
Be encouraged today, for the grave stones will roll at the sound...
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
I like definitions, do you?
Thankful:
"a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive."
When I saw this definition of thankful, it reaffirmed why the title for this blog was chosen. Thankful for me is on many levels. I have received many benefits in my life. I was born to wonderful unconditionally loving parents from the greatest generation. They taught me love, hard work, positive outlooks, determination and ambition. They taught me family. They taught me how to dream and where to look for them. I was surrounded by brothers and sister who made sure I knew about life, had a basketball, bicycle, books and appreciation for what life brings and the beauty that is in everyday living. I am thankful to have found a wife who taught me how to be honest with myself and love another person without reservations. She has taught me trust, determination and how pure a heart can be. Man, am I thankful for her. I am constantly amazed that she said yes to my marriage proposal. (OK, I did twist her arm and have her in a headlock :)) I have two wonderful children. I often tell them, they are much more wonderful people they are than I was when I was their age. They both have beautiful, giving hearts that show the true joy of what God meant when He made us. Their optimism is contagious as well as their surety of the goodness of people. I am thankful for them as they teach me everyday.
The above definition has a pretty cool before and after statement of what one has received and what one will receive. You see, by grace I am saved through faith. It is a gift from God, not anything that I have done or can do. Its a gift, a benefit! That means everything to me. What I have received and what I will receive. In this life, I have received eternal life. A relationship with Him. After this time is over, I will spend eternity with Him. That's the benefit to be received. This is the ultimate benefit. How wonderful and loving He is to give us this benefit. One songwriter put it this way, "if grace is an ocean, then we're all sinking". Wow! So much love and gifts that we would literally drown if it were a physical manifestation of His love! WOW!
Thankful: a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive. I encourage you to speak this today to those around you. Encourage someone today and let them know how thankful you are for them.
What are you thankful for today?
"a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive."
When I saw this definition of thankful, it reaffirmed why the title for this blog was chosen. Thankful for me is on many levels. I have received many benefits in my life. I was born to wonderful unconditionally loving parents from the greatest generation. They taught me love, hard work, positive outlooks, determination and ambition. They taught me family. They taught me how to dream and where to look for them. I was surrounded by brothers and sister who made sure I knew about life, had a basketball, bicycle, books and appreciation for what life brings and the beauty that is in everyday living. I am thankful to have found a wife who taught me how to be honest with myself and love another person without reservations. She has taught me trust, determination and how pure a heart can be. Man, am I thankful for her. I am constantly amazed that she said yes to my marriage proposal. (OK, I did twist her arm and have her in a headlock :)) I have two wonderful children. I often tell them, they are much more wonderful people they are than I was when I was their age. They both have beautiful, giving hearts that show the true joy of what God meant when He made us. Their optimism is contagious as well as their surety of the goodness of people. I am thankful for them as they teach me everyday.
The above definition has a pretty cool before and after statement of what one has received and what one will receive. You see, by grace I am saved through faith. It is a gift from God, not anything that I have done or can do. Its a gift, a benefit! That means everything to me. What I have received and what I will receive. In this life, I have received eternal life. A relationship with Him. After this time is over, I will spend eternity with Him. That's the benefit to be received. This is the ultimate benefit. How wonderful and loving He is to give us this benefit. One songwriter put it this way, "if grace is an ocean, then we're all sinking". Wow! So much love and gifts that we would literally drown if it were a physical manifestation of His love! WOW!
Thankful: a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive. I encourage you to speak this today to those around you. Encourage someone today and let them know how thankful you are for them.
What are you thankful for today?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Hands on the Tablecloth
Her hands are wrinkled now, as they lay on the tablecloth folded in anticipation. She gazes out the window through a ever deepening haze of cataracts. Its Sunday, surely they will call today. Her thoughts though, are of her kids, her husband, her home and her family. In her thoughts, her kids are laughing, playing, going to school, getting married, having babies, young and vibrant they talk to her asking for her help or advice. They ask her to take them to their ballgame, their work. They ask her, What's for supper? That's what's in her thoughts as she looks out the window waiting on them to call. But, Its in her thoughts she has value, happiness. Its where she is needed.
In another part of town, a new one arrives in the world. Born to parents she will never see, she is thrust into a world that is cold and hard. She never is held or cuddled. She does not know the feel of a parent's touch. She cries, not out of fear but of hunger. Hunger for a touch, a word, a glimpse of hope.
Even similar is the person who has insulated themselves because of the lack of connection. They may be struggling with hurt, with self-esteem, with scenes of childhood trauma that will not leave their mind. They struggle with communication and long for someone to make the first step. They isolate themselves to make the hurt go away. But the need for connection is the same. Does someone or will someone care?
Jesus stood on the hill outside Jerusalem with His arms stretched out in a voice saying to the people, Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem...how often would I have gathered you together like a hen gathering her chicks, but you would not! I have to think He was so sad when He looked out upon the city. He saw the people that He came to deliver, refuse His delivery, turn their back on Him and eventually kill Him. Oh how sad that picture is. He said for us to love one another as He loved us. He said for in as much as you have done to the least of these, you have done it unto Me.
So what is stopping us from reaching out to lady at the table, the baby in the crib, the isolated one or to one of His at the shelter. They all are someone that is needing your touch, your connection? Sometimes, for me, its fear. I used to be afraid I would have to run the gauntlet of questions I put to myself why I wasn't doing this more than once in a while. I'm no longer afraid. We have push forward with intentional gratitude knowing that I will fail sometimes, but I will get up and keep trying. Knowing that He is with me, helping me.
Someone is waiting on your touch, voice, prayer, or visit. Take hold of what He has done for you and accept your worthiness in His salvation. Maybe its Him that is at the table waiting, in crib crying? Because, in as much as we have done it to the least of these...
Encouragement for you today,
Danl
In another part of town, a new one arrives in the world. Born to parents she will never see, she is thrust into a world that is cold and hard. She never is held or cuddled. She does not know the feel of a parent's touch. She cries, not out of fear but of hunger. Hunger for a touch, a word, a glimpse of hope.
Even similar is the person who has insulated themselves because of the lack of connection. They may be struggling with hurt, with self-esteem, with scenes of childhood trauma that will not leave their mind. They struggle with communication and long for someone to make the first step. They isolate themselves to make the hurt go away. But the need for connection is the same. Does someone or will someone care?
Jesus stood on the hill outside Jerusalem with His arms stretched out in a voice saying to the people, Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem...how often would I have gathered you together like a hen gathering her chicks, but you would not! I have to think He was so sad when He looked out upon the city. He saw the people that He came to deliver, refuse His delivery, turn their back on Him and eventually kill Him. Oh how sad that picture is. He said for us to love one another as He loved us. He said for in as much as you have done to the least of these, you have done it unto Me.
So what is stopping us from reaching out to lady at the table, the baby in the crib, the isolated one or to one of His at the shelter. They all are someone that is needing your touch, your connection? Sometimes, for me, its fear. I used to be afraid I would have to run the gauntlet of questions I put to myself why I wasn't doing this more than once in a while. I'm no longer afraid. We have push forward with intentional gratitude knowing that I will fail sometimes, but I will get up and keep trying. Knowing that He is with me, helping me.
Someone is waiting on your touch, voice, prayer, or visit. Take hold of what He has done for you and accept your worthiness in His salvation. Maybe its Him that is at the table waiting, in crib crying? Because, in as much as we have done it to the least of these...
Encouragement for you today,
Danl
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