Living Fragrance

What would Jesus do?

My daughter Grace, age twelve, has had this on her wall for some time, written in her own words from her revelation of God. I'm inspired in the Jesus way each time I read it through!

What would Jesus do if he were here?

• Wouldn't judge people or think of titles for them according to blemishes or weaknesses that they may have.
• Would speak in a thoughtful, gentle manner which "turns away wrath," and use words that lift up the person to whom you are speaking
• Would accept correction without arguing, whether they know the whole story or not; then quietly explain it later if it is important.
• Would talk to God regularly about everything, and give thanks in all circumstances.
• Would try to help others understand more about God.
• Would have a close relationship with God and talk to him in time of need.

"God is love. Perfect timing."* ~Naomi, age 4

 

So often I am amazed at how lovingly the Lord communicates to me through my children. My daughter gave me this picture the other day, and it spoke volumes of grace and comfort to me.

 

*I should say, these are the words she was aiming for in the bottom right corner of her picture. :)

Light in the rain

This morning the rain rolled in on the heels of disappointment and questioning: Will all really ever be well? I'm grateful to have read Ann's post last night... I too search for patches of light in the midst of shadows. (Don't we all?) Oh, the wonder of a God who is always with us, whose presence makes all the difference and gives us radiant light at all times.

“…there is nothing you can want, there is nothing you can ask for,

there is nothing you can need in time or in eternity,

there is nothing living, nothing dying,

there is nothing in this world, nothing in the next world,

there is nothing now, nothing at the resurrection-morning,

nothing in heaven

which is not contained in this text —

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

~Charles Spurgeon

 

Haiku!

"Writing haiku offers the chance to honor, hold, and fully experience a fleeting moment that takes you out of yourself, a moment that hints at the deeper unity that lies beneath the surface of things. " ~ Margaret D. McGee

The other day when I was at the library I happened upon this book: Haiku -- The Sacret Art: A Spiritual Practice in Three Lines by Margaret D. McGee. I'm so glad. In the past couple of years I've had a growing desire to express myself through poetry, but it's been a little daunting trying to figure out where to begin. Haiku is so simple. I'm just a couple chapters into the book, but it has felt easy to dive on in and try my hand at it (though I recognize my efforts are humble starts)...

*********************************

two noises twined in white:

humming fan and rumbling train

drown loud thoughts

*********************************

red digits glaring

beep beep beep beep prodding

time to rise

*********************************

small flip-flops stepping

on pigtail shadows in sun:

close to ecstasy

**********************************

dove's coo soothes

from wire above our garden...

lilac breeze

**********************************

midnight rain --

the mirror on my pine chest

reflects shadows

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I appreciate that the book's author seems to have a worshipful perspective - upcoming chapters are about crafting haiku from the springboard of Scripture meditation, so I am really looking forward to getting into that.

Have you ever attempted writing haiku? It's fun! I highly recommend the practice and this book.

I still hope to share more about my journey with One Thousand Gifts. It tickles me how these two books are fitting together in helping me learn to see God's hand in the simple moments of life.

 

Finding a song

A couple of years ago my parents gave me a gift that I have greatly treasured ever since. It's my very own Lutheran Hymnal.

To be honest,  a decade or so ago I would have gladly traded in a hymnal for a few worship CDs full of new songs. You see, I was raised in a traditional church, but had grown to appreciate more free forms of worship, due in large part to my parents' involvement in the charismatic movement of the 70's and 80's. Once out of college, I was quick to join a church that valued the free flow of the Spirit, and all things new. But I cannot tell you what a comfort it has been at times when my faith has stretched thin to be able to open the pages of this book and find anchor-points of truth: songs and prayers that are imprinted in my memory from childhood, expressions of faith that have been on the lips of my parents and grandparents and so many ancestors that have gone on before in the Lord.

I am so glad to live in a time when there is such an influx of new songs in the Church. I recently commented to a friend that just as God's beauty and reality is seen in creation, I see testimony of his existance in the songs that come forth from the hearts of his people. It feels almost miraculous to hear a new worship song.

My dad is a wise man; his words of inscription mean so much to me. Sometimes we need to borrow from the songs of brothers and sisters in the Body - both past and present - to discover the songs that are written on our own hearts. 

Mama Monday

Today I'm totally honored and humbled to be featured on blogger Andrea Birch's Mama Monday, here.

Trees

I think that I shall never see

A poem as lovely as a tree.

 

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

 

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

 

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

 

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

 

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

 

~ Joyce Kilmer

                                          ***

Come  on trees, unfurl your green... we are eagerly awaiting your

rebirth  here!

                                         

 

 

Afternoon beauties

This book has been such a gift, opening my eyes to greater gifts. I hope to share more about it soon!

Too much sugar

Yesterday on our drive into school, my nine-year-old son, David, and I had a conversation that really blessed me - a conversation worth sharing, I think:

D: Mom, I've had a lot of compliments lately.

Me: Oh really?

D: Yeah. The art teacher complimented me on my attention to detail, my music teacher says I play all my notes perfectly, and Mrs. Spain (his home room teacher) says she is very impressed by my knowledge of the Bible.

Me: That's great, David.

D: (said in his most sober, thoughtful voice) I'm not sure I really like getting so many compliments. I think it's like sugar. A little is good, but the more you get, the more you want. And with compliments, it feels like it leads to pride. I want to be humble.

We talked about how we can turn every compliment we get right into praise and thanks to God, and in that way our hearts stay clean and humble. By the end of the conversation he was smiling and nodding, so I think we're good.

Goodness, I am so blessed to be this young man's mama.

A lamentation and a truth

Please stop stepping on the pieces of me, fragmenting brokenness.

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"When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full face. The 'worst' is never the worst.

"Why? Because the Master won't ever walk out and fail to return. If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense. He takes no pleasure in making life hard, in throwing roadblocks in the way." ~Lamentations 3:24-33, The Message

My Singing Bird

I love this sweet song. It reminds me of how the Lord delights over us with singing, of how we amazingly have the ability to warm His great heart with our love and desire. And Sinead - she is pretty special too.

 

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight over you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. ~Zephaniah 3:17

Hello... again

Hello! It has been a while, hasn't it? Is anybody out there? 

This blog has been full of starts and stops from its beginning, and I guess I'm okay with that. Seasons change, and with them the requirements of home and family, the allowances of personal time, and the emotional energy to share one's heart. These things seem to ebb and flow in life... I'm learning that's alright, natural, and even good.

I have a bit more freedom on several fronts these days, and I've had a growing desire to fill my blog's walls with words and pictures again. It was so good to come here and create in the past - it helped me feel alive.

But sometimes it was hard too, for I've been guilty of caring too much about what people think. The fear of man is always a trap, and at times I found myself caught and bleeding.

It meant so much to me to come across Ann Voskamp's A Blogger's Prayer the other day, just as I was thinking on these things. I printed it out, taped it to the wall beside our computer, and gingerly came here to test out my blogging "legs." What I want to remember, what I need to remember, is that this is all for my King. My husband likes to remind me that whatever I create is art for God's fridge, nothing more and nothing less.

So, I consecrate this space to Jesus anew. We shall see how this goes! I warmly and gratefully welcome you if you'd like to journey with me here. I am so aware that I need others input in my life. If you read, would you drop me a comment so I know you're around?

In Christ, Miriam

 

Three In One Poem (of the God who sets things right)

There you are

Father

shining

with love

arms outstretched

in desire

bidding 

darkness go.

***

You are here

Jesus

knowing us well

Brother

making all

well

by your

blood.

***

Here you are

Spirit

taking us in

not leaving

one spot

untouched

or cavern

hollow.

Poem for a new day (snowy morn)

 

in this beginning

you separate light from dark; radiant

stretch an expanse above

lay solid ground to bring forth fruit

flameburst, reflection, twinkles guide

teeming life flows and flies

 

in this beginning

you [make me] whiter than the snow

 

hush... a blanket falls heavy, sweet

Ugly-beautiful

Inspired by Ann's ugly-beautifuls... more reasons to give thanks!

 

ugly: a project I'd wished to have completed by now .... beautiful: a reason to sit down and create in snatches of freetime yet today - so enjoyable!

 

ugly: a gray, rainy day .... beautiful: feels comforting, like God's tears

 

ugly: a broken, temporarily fixed chair .... beautiful: such fun for sweet kitty

 

ugly: a morning marred by strife ... beautiful: art soothing

ugly: urban jungle  ... beautiful: dancing ladies in the midst of it all

 

ugly: gray foxes in a red dining room (??) ... beautiful: somehow so pleasing to the eye (work on display at Denver Art Museum)

 

camera-shy ... beautiful: surrounded by God's breathtaking majesty