Posts
Beaching the boat, unloading gear and anchoring the boat took a little time but finally the crew was headed for the river.
Bear highways are paths through the grass flats where bears traveled and rolled around. It's the first sign of bear presence and it heightens ones sense that your not the big boy in this town.
Eyes are scanning and noise making can be heard from the guests, desiring the bears, to know they were coming.
Reaching the mouth of the river the fish are there and the gang is super hyped to catch fish. But the prime spots lie further up stream.
Finding it easier to walk up the side of the stream several of the guys split up to do so.
It wasn't long beware we hear yeoooow. The guests traveling up the shallow water were spooked royally by a school of pink salmon running up the river at the same time. Being that it was low tide and the water just a few inches deep the upcoming salmon made their own wave as they traveled up the stream.
The guest all sudden heard this water rushing toward them and thought for sure it was a brown bear charging , it scared the bejiggers out them.
Further up stream the stream deepened, brush is taller and the evidence of bear is every where, one has this instinctive radar going on to keep an eye on the back trail.
After hearing Ken's bear stories the guests think that there are boogie bears behind every bush.Which is good. Respect for Brown bears can keep you alive.
A brown bear can run 40 miles per hour, faster than a horse.
Finally the fishing gear is busted out and we start pulling in fish like crazy.
Up around another bend a large tree has overturned leaving a dandy hole where you can see sockeye, trout, pink salmon, dog salmon stacked like cord wood.
The trick is to get your lure to the fish you desire without catching the others on the way.
Ken is hanging way out over the stream unsnagging hooks and netting fish. The guys are in 7th heaven fishing.
Finally we tire of all the fish and head for the boat .But now the way is longer the tide has come in and the group must circle inland to get back.
Along the way AnneBeth finds some nangoon berries and picks a few.The rest of the guys are hunters returning with their fine catch.
The boat is pulled in we load up and for home.
All that bear sign yet no bear, Ken , AnneBeth and I scan the beaches in hopes of spotting one. We were just about to Phonograph creek we I spotted a most unusual thing.
A medium size brown bear was swimming across the inlet. I had seen deer swim across the inlet but never a bear.
Mr. Brown bear was pretty defenseless swimming so we came up right along side. He was snorting mad, it was hard enough to swim across but then to be bugged by these guys in the boat can make a grown bear spit.
Finally we watched him wander into the woods glad to be shut of us.But we did get some good photos.
At phonograph creek at the mouth of the stream is an outcropping of rock we tide the boat up to as the guys went spin casting for trout.
I got out and went for a little walk not far but out of site of the boat. I came around one big rock and right in front of me was a big brown bear he was 15 feet away standing on his hind legs. My heart froze, when I put my Witt's back in my body I slowly back ed away and we all got out of Dodge. Whispering bear right behind me , hurry!!!!!! to the guests makes fishing for trout or even breathing less important. We were out of there.
Back in the boat away from Mr. Brownie we all found our selves again. The guys were saying what a day what an adventure. AnneBeth rolled her Norwegian eyes and thought Adventure is just another name for danger.
Latter I had a chance to be by myself, I thanked GOD for letting me escape. Death then and since then has brushed close.
It changes how you see life, it enhances how you value life and causes one to love more deeply.
A verse from the bible did go through my mind "satan travels back and forth seeing whom he may devour". Be alert, even in the most beautiful tranquil settings we can be had unless we stay with the one who has already won every battle. Jesus prayed in the Lord's prayer "Father deliver us from evil."
Sudden appearances of the enemy is typical . But we serve, respect and fear the authority that is greater than our enemy.
Respecting and fearing GOD is the beginning to being smart.
Yes he is loving but he is also GOD.
Lord I gladly humble myself to you, granted I don't always humble myself to you but you are always worthy of all respect and honor. And there will come a day when every knee will bow before you and acknowledge you as GOD. I'd just like to get a head start on that day and say papa you are worthy I am your kid
ted.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
What a day/ Live in the hunt
As often the case the morning fog was lifting as our boat headed to the end of the inlet. As we pasted third island three seals dove from the rock they had been sleeping on while a raft of 4 otters seemed to be enjoying their breakfast, saying "don't you just love crab on the half shell?"
It is dead flat calm and instinctively we follow the shore line looking for Herring or needle fish which are the breakfast food of champion King salmon.
My favorite description of Alaska is, you just don't know what's going happened next!
On board my dear friend Ken Wolff , AnneBeth and 3 other guests are anticipating the morning. Sweeping in closer to Phonograph flats we point out an old log cabin and 2 deer that among the reddish purple fire weed allows only their heads to show.
Each new gift of wildlife both Ken and I thank GOD for, Our desire is to show our guests the Alaska that captures our heart.
The back drop of steep mountains dropping straight down both sides of our inlet frames the adventure in a GOD like majesty.
Their snowy tops reflecting colors and this morning in the stillness of the water you can see the mirrored reflection.
Nearing Steel Head creek we swing in close in hopes of seeing a bear. Nothing but an big raven on an old tree trunk snag bristling his feathers.
What we do see is schools of humpies in the shallow water waiting for high tide when they will go up to spawn. Among them large Dolly Varden trout which love to dine on salmon eggs. In fact there was a time when the state of Alaska would pay you for killing these trout and eagles as well.
Our guests so excited over the fish just about jump out of their britches .
Where this little stream has provided a lot of fun in the past, both Ken and I knew that the real excitement lies further down the inlet.
With every outcropping point the search continues to spot a brown bear.
It's on the Alaska check list that all visitors subconsciously have. This list consists of huge fish, lots of fish, brown bear, whale, breaching whale and then the list drops down to smaller animals.
As guides, the pressure is to fulfill their Alaska list, the sooner we do it the quicker the pressure is off us.
But no bears are spotted this morning.
At last we enter the very end of the inlet ,the flat land of grass stretches out wide before us.
The guests are straining their eyes to catch a look see for a bear.
They reminded me of a car I saw going down the highway,that had a dog head sticking out of every window. But with the anticipation of a 10 year old boy 10 minutes before opening fishing season. This could be the day! There is danger, adventure, trophy fish and all the unknown. The epitome of boyhood and manhood dreams was just ahead.
Ken loves to hunt and fish, of all the men I ever known, he was born to be the mountain man. He has internal instincts that makes it exciting just to be with him.
But I told him once you will experience a hunt you will never recover from.
Nothing will compare, you will have to be so attentive to your actions so as not to spoil the hunt.
Your eyes will have to always be aware, your heart, you will have hold in order to succeed, and the pay off of trophy will be daily as much as you want with the most incredible sportsman's banquet at the end of your life.
All the passion and love for hunting will be satisfied and you never have to stop.
Hard for a born to be mountain man to believe.
Well truth is GOD is the ultimate experience. Not just preacher talk, what part of the day wasn't created by GOD?
Shared with him to watch his movement is incredibly a hunter high. Being attentive, being silent so as to read the situation. Including all the senses.
I enjoy the hunters eye for GOD. That is when out of the corner of your eyes you notice him do something or He points out a small something that normally I would past by. He is so clever.
He shares the hunt he is the hunt and you get to live in the hunt.
I came to you that you might have life full , in me.
It is dead flat calm and instinctively we follow the shore line looking for Herring or needle fish which are the breakfast food of champion King salmon.
My favorite description of Alaska is, you just don't know what's going happened next!
On board my dear friend Ken Wolff , AnneBeth and 3 other guests are anticipating the morning. Sweeping in closer to Phonograph flats we point out an old log cabin and 2 deer that among the reddish purple fire weed allows only their heads to show.
Each new gift of wildlife both Ken and I thank GOD for, Our desire is to show our guests the Alaska that captures our heart.
The back drop of steep mountains dropping straight down both sides of our inlet frames the adventure in a GOD like majesty.
Their snowy tops reflecting colors and this morning in the stillness of the water you can see the mirrored reflection.
Nearing Steel Head creek we swing in close in hopes of seeing a bear. Nothing but an big raven on an old tree trunk snag bristling his feathers.
What we do see is schools of humpies in the shallow water waiting for high tide when they will go up to spawn. Among them large Dolly Varden trout which love to dine on salmon eggs. In fact there was a time when the state of Alaska would pay you for killing these trout and eagles as well.
Our guests so excited over the fish just about jump out of their britches .
Where this little stream has provided a lot of fun in the past, both Ken and I knew that the real excitement lies further down the inlet.
With every outcropping point the search continues to spot a brown bear.
It's on the Alaska check list that all visitors subconsciously have. This list consists of huge fish, lots of fish, brown bear, whale, breaching whale and then the list drops down to smaller animals.
As guides, the pressure is to fulfill their Alaska list, the sooner we do it the quicker the pressure is off us.
But no bears are spotted this morning.
At last we enter the very end of the inlet ,the flat land of grass stretches out wide before us.
The guests are straining their eyes to catch a look see for a bear.
They reminded me of a car I saw going down the highway,that had a dog head sticking out of every window. But with the anticipation of a 10 year old boy 10 minutes before opening fishing season. This could be the day! There is danger, adventure, trophy fish and all the unknown. The epitome of boyhood and manhood dreams was just ahead.
Ken loves to hunt and fish, of all the men I ever known, he was born to be the mountain man. He has internal instincts that makes it exciting just to be with him.
But I told him once you will experience a hunt you will never recover from.
Nothing will compare, you will have to be so attentive to your actions so as not to spoil the hunt.
Your eyes will have to always be aware, your heart, you will have hold in order to succeed, and the pay off of trophy will be daily as much as you want with the most incredible sportsman's banquet at the end of your life.
All the passion and love for hunting will be satisfied and you never have to stop.
Hard for a born to be mountain man to believe.
Well truth is GOD is the ultimate experience. Not just preacher talk, what part of the day wasn't created by GOD?
Shared with him to watch his movement is incredibly a hunter high. Being attentive, being silent so as to read the situation. Including all the senses.
I enjoy the hunters eye for GOD. That is when out of the corner of your eyes you notice him do something or He points out a small something that normally I would past by. He is so clever.
He shares the hunt he is the hunt and you get to live in the hunt.
I came to you that you might have life full , in me.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
New Truth
It stirred within him.
All through the days normal activities he sensed the New Truth moving inside him with a subtle bright excitement.
The New Truth was doing a new work inside him regardless of his mind.
It was as if New Truth had been waiting its whole life for this moment, and now finally was able to bring its life.
Inside his spirit he sensed that New Truth had it's own happiness in cleaning the house. It's light scuffled out corners of dusty cobweb darkness with child like delight.
Driving into town to do another errand of the day he could tell ,that New Truth was still at it, opening the brightness of future not yet lived enjoying being love thrilled in fact to be here to do what he was doing
Pulling out of a parking lot heading for the gas station he couldn't get his head around it yet still it continued. Latter at home it was still taking place, falling asleep on the couch it still took place, regardless of anything it is still taking place.
New truth we know your name and who you are.
You are just amazing all the ways you live within me.
"and Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the light."
I had to die on the cross so that my spirit, who I am can come and reside within you until we are together face to face in heaven forever.
My brothers and I can chain saw carve animals out of chunks of wood. Other people have come up amazed of what we can do with a chunk of fire wood.
To us it's a no brainer, we can size up a chunk of wood and know quickly what it can and cannot do. Likewise Christ's spirit within us, it's a no brainer for GOD to be with in us, he enjoys it, and we stand amazed.
All through the days normal activities he sensed the New Truth moving inside him with a subtle bright excitement.
The New Truth was doing a new work inside him regardless of his mind.
It was as if New Truth had been waiting its whole life for this moment, and now finally was able to bring its life.
Inside his spirit he sensed that New Truth had it's own happiness in cleaning the house. It's light scuffled out corners of dusty cobweb darkness with child like delight.
Driving into town to do another errand of the day he could tell ,that New Truth was still at it, opening the brightness of future not yet lived enjoying being love thrilled in fact to be here to do what he was doing
Pulling out of a parking lot heading for the gas station he couldn't get his head around it yet still it continued. Latter at home it was still taking place, falling asleep on the couch it still took place, regardless of anything it is still taking place.
New truth we know your name and who you are.
You are just amazing all the ways you live within me.
"and Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the light."
I had to die on the cross so that my spirit, who I am can come and reside within you until we are together face to face in heaven forever.
My brothers and I can chain saw carve animals out of chunks of wood. Other people have come up amazed of what we can do with a chunk of fire wood.
To us it's a no brainer, we can size up a chunk of wood and know quickly what it can and cannot do. Likewise Christ's spirit within us, it's a no brainer for GOD to be with in us, he enjoys it, and we stand amazed.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The sword is pulled
Seeing things as truth and living things as truth is often difficult even when they have been in front of your nose all your life.
Fisherman in the fog have a saying "trust the compass over what you think." The same goes for pilots.
For we who have accepted Christ.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins. It now allows GOD to see us perfect and being perfect he can now have a relationship with us , Before the sin kept us apart from GOD because GOD and SIN Can't mix.
That's it, straight and clear.
On the cross he not only forgave our sins he forgot our sins and put them away as far as the east is from the west.
Which means if I sin and I said GOD do you remember the sin I did. He would say, what sin?
Here is the head scrunchie for the day.
How come we are always living with the junk luggage of our past sins?
If we are a new creature in Christ and the old things are gone, why are we always picking them up and proclaiming look what a wretched cruddy person I am?
If Jesus said it is finished why are we holding on to the sin and beating ourselves up with it?
Paul had a crappy past he was a christian killer, and he said" This one thing I do, I forget what lies behind and go forward in Christ Jesus."
Now certainly if there are things in your past you need to fix ,God's spirit will let you know and you need to do them.
My wife is often telling me that I am not as cruddy a person as I think I am. And satan has got me convinced and it is crippling.
So here I am, getting it out on the table to look at.
Basic kindergarten logic:
1.When I accepted Christ as my savior from that moment, GOD seeing me through his sons blood I now am perfect and my sin part of my past is gone.
He forgot it all. Not only my past but all the sin I would do in the future.
2.From that moment he saw me beautiful , perfect. I can still see me but he cannot see my sin.
My opinion of me does not phase one bit how GOD sees me.
3. The nature of GOD is to love me. That is where he is at.
Lord you want me, to let you love me.
4.GOD your bottom line is, you want me, to see how you see me.
You want me to see that to you I am blameless, being blameless I go to a Father who does not have any reason but to love and delight in me.
You said because I am blameless I can come boldly to you any time and you will never reject me. You will never condemn me for my many screw ups in life.
Lord it was there all the time, right in front of my nose.
I am new in seeing and living with my blameless life through Christ.
I see I am the one that pushes the sin and junk in between us.
Lord I can see how your love can set me free from myself, if I just run to you open hearted without me holding my sin, into your arms.
I hear you calling me,
"come here you little rascal, let me love you, I will open the floodgates of who I am because you are perfect and please me."
"Talk to me ,tell me your concerns every part of who you are, always has my attention". "Twirl around let me see how my son's coat of righteousness looks on you. I love it, I thoroughly love you."
Lord with you right now I am totally accepted.
Inside my head I know it, but it feels like my heart is on a journey to fully experience it, but the future has never looked better.
Thank you for the brightness and the excitement of who you are.
your Ted!
The mystic story of peasant King Arthur when he pulls the sword out of the stone could only take place because he was the son of the King.
Here I am, son of the King of Kings and all I've done is played around the stone. No more, the sword is pulled, wobbly perhaps but pulled.
Fisherman in the fog have a saying "trust the compass over what you think." The same goes for pilots.
For we who have accepted Christ.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins. It now allows GOD to see us perfect and being perfect he can now have a relationship with us , Before the sin kept us apart from GOD because GOD and SIN Can't mix.
That's it, straight and clear.
On the cross he not only forgave our sins he forgot our sins and put them away as far as the east is from the west.
Which means if I sin and I said GOD do you remember the sin I did. He would say, what sin?
Here is the head scrunchie for the day.
How come we are always living with the junk luggage of our past sins?
If we are a new creature in Christ and the old things are gone, why are we always picking them up and proclaiming look what a wretched cruddy person I am?
If Jesus said it is finished why are we holding on to the sin and beating ourselves up with it?
Paul had a crappy past he was a christian killer, and he said" This one thing I do, I forget what lies behind and go forward in Christ Jesus."
Now certainly if there are things in your past you need to fix ,God's spirit will let you know and you need to do them.
My wife is often telling me that I am not as cruddy a person as I think I am. And satan has got me convinced and it is crippling.
So here I am, getting it out on the table to look at.
Basic kindergarten logic:
1.When I accepted Christ as my savior from that moment, GOD seeing me through his sons blood I now am perfect and my sin part of my past is gone.
He forgot it all. Not only my past but all the sin I would do in the future.
2.From that moment he saw me beautiful , perfect. I can still see me but he cannot see my sin.
My opinion of me does not phase one bit how GOD sees me.
3. The nature of GOD is to love me. That is where he is at.
Lord you want me, to let you love me.
4.GOD your bottom line is, you want me, to see how you see me.
You want me to see that to you I am blameless, being blameless I go to a Father who does not have any reason but to love and delight in me.
You said because I am blameless I can come boldly to you any time and you will never reject me. You will never condemn me for my many screw ups in life.
Lord it was there all the time, right in front of my nose.
I am new in seeing and living with my blameless life through Christ.
I see I am the one that pushes the sin and junk in between us.
Lord I can see how your love can set me free from myself, if I just run to you open hearted without me holding my sin, into your arms.
I hear you calling me,
"come here you little rascal, let me love you, I will open the floodgates of who I am because you are perfect and please me."
"Talk to me ,tell me your concerns every part of who you are, always has my attention". "Twirl around let me see how my son's coat of righteousness looks on you. I love it, I thoroughly love you."
Lord with you right now I am totally accepted.
Inside my head I know it, but it feels like my heart is on a journey to fully experience it, but the future has never looked better.
Thank you for the brightness and the excitement of who you are.
your Ted!
The mystic story of peasant King Arthur when he pulls the sword out of the stone could only take place because he was the son of the King.
Here I am, son of the King of Kings and all I've done is played around the stone. No more, the sword is pulled, wobbly perhaps but pulled.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Beholding the GOD of my Skies
My Grandfather was a farmer in the Yakima area of Eastern Washington. There came a time when physically he and Grandma couldn't take care of the place and they came and lived with my mother in Western Washington in the woods.
Grandpa felt he was in prison by all the trees.
He was used to open fields and to be able see for miles in every direction.
"There is space for life in the open fields. But here you can't see nothing, how do you stand it?"
Growing up on Bainbridge Island in the woods I didn't know much about skies.
When I moved to Mexico for two years the skies and desert was the back drop of life.
Cloud formations were fascinating, sleeping outside on an army cot with my glasses on so I could just marvel at the stars are memories I will always cherish. Latter in Alaska it was the ocean, where I would fish 4 or 5 days a week in the summer, the skies played a huge role.
Here one is always reading the skies for they fortell what is heading your way. One trip I had a commercial pilot for guest. It was so interesting to have him read the skies and tell me what he could see.
In Alaska where we spend the summer, because of the constant rain we often see shafts of light that cut through the clouds. I have a childhood memory of such an event and thought most certainly that on this shaft of light Jesus was returning to earth.
Mountain top skies seem different. Up on top of an Alaskan mountain in the middle of summer it snowed on me. The weather seems to do it's own thing on a mountain top.
In Colorado on a Mountain top in my pup tent, the rain and lightning filled the sky and thunder so loud you could feel the ground shake. It was like I was right smack in the middle of battle field.
Jeeper Creepers I remember considering staying in the Sanican than my pup tent for it might be safer there.
Then of course there is the sunsets. One of my envies is of the commercial fishermen who get to watch the incredible orange, red, mauve sunsets spread across the ocean skies.
Many of them have photo collections of such displays.
Pelican sits in an inlet of water so we see only a slice, and often we comment, "can you imagine the sunset those fishermen are having tonight".
The skies to me is GOD having it his way. The great creator is ever creating.
In the book of Nahum there is a verse that says The Lord has his way in the whirl wind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
The skies are the constant reminder he is ever present, actively involved in every thing that is going on down here.
Over and over in the Bible GOD has said lift your eyes.
The skies for me, give the GOD perspective that yes, he is bigger than a bread box and that GOD who raises the sun, flips the star switch on at night, can make 100 mph winds and wisps of fog that shroud in clumps of trees on mountain sides is the same GOD that is inside me.
It is the "greater is he that is inside me, than he that is in the world" perspective.
The open skies, the mountain top perspective plays an important role in reflecting GOD to us.
Men, when they have great burdens will go for a walk, stand on a high point, look in the distance. Or at least in their mind look beyond themselves to he who is greater, our Heavenly father.
When excruciating trials hit, or sorrow of such intensity crushes our soul, inner anguish just takes all life from you. Lift your eyes, behold the one that has known and felt every tear you've ever shed. Every fear that has grieved you.
Look to the skies behold he is alive, he has not forgotten you.
Every molecule of who you are is ever before him. he is the one who restores life from sorrow.
In Mexico the rainfall is so little that it is truly a world of levels of dust.
Once the rain comes it floods the streets and all the dust and dirt is washed a way and it feels like the whole countryside has taken a bath.
In Pelican Alaska the boardwalk is washed clean, In Poulsbo Washington the pavement is washed clean.
Lord create in me a clean heart that lifts my eyes up to you. May I live beholding all you are!
Grandpa felt he was in prison by all the trees.
He was used to open fields and to be able see for miles in every direction.
"There is space for life in the open fields. But here you can't see nothing, how do you stand it?"
Growing up on Bainbridge Island in the woods I didn't know much about skies.
When I moved to Mexico for two years the skies and desert was the back drop of life.
Cloud formations were fascinating, sleeping outside on an army cot with my glasses on so I could just marvel at the stars are memories I will always cherish. Latter in Alaska it was the ocean, where I would fish 4 or 5 days a week in the summer, the skies played a huge role.
Here one is always reading the skies for they fortell what is heading your way. One trip I had a commercial pilot for guest. It was so interesting to have him read the skies and tell me what he could see.
In Alaska where we spend the summer, because of the constant rain we often see shafts of light that cut through the clouds. I have a childhood memory of such an event and thought most certainly that on this shaft of light Jesus was returning to earth.
Mountain top skies seem different. Up on top of an Alaskan mountain in the middle of summer it snowed on me. The weather seems to do it's own thing on a mountain top.
In Colorado on a Mountain top in my pup tent, the rain and lightning filled the sky and thunder so loud you could feel the ground shake. It was like I was right smack in the middle of battle field.
Jeeper Creepers I remember considering staying in the Sanican than my pup tent for it might be safer there.
Then of course there is the sunsets. One of my envies is of the commercial fishermen who get to watch the incredible orange, red, mauve sunsets spread across the ocean skies.
Many of them have photo collections of such displays.
Pelican sits in an inlet of water so we see only a slice, and often we comment, "can you imagine the sunset those fishermen are having tonight".
The skies to me is GOD having it his way. The great creator is ever creating.
In the book of Nahum there is a verse that says The Lord has his way in the whirl wind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
The skies are the constant reminder he is ever present, actively involved in every thing that is going on down here.
Over and over in the Bible GOD has said lift your eyes.
The skies for me, give the GOD perspective that yes, he is bigger than a bread box and that GOD who raises the sun, flips the star switch on at night, can make 100 mph winds and wisps of fog that shroud in clumps of trees on mountain sides is the same GOD that is inside me.
It is the "greater is he that is inside me, than he that is in the world" perspective.
The open skies, the mountain top perspective plays an important role in reflecting GOD to us.
Men, when they have great burdens will go for a walk, stand on a high point, look in the distance. Or at least in their mind look beyond themselves to he who is greater, our Heavenly father.
When excruciating trials hit, or sorrow of such intensity crushes our soul, inner anguish just takes all life from you. Lift your eyes, behold the one that has known and felt every tear you've ever shed. Every fear that has grieved you.
Look to the skies behold he is alive, he has not forgotten you.
Every molecule of who you are is ever before him. he is the one who restores life from sorrow.
In Mexico the rainfall is so little that it is truly a world of levels of dust.
Once the rain comes it floods the streets and all the dust and dirt is washed a way and it feels like the whole countryside has taken a bath.
In Pelican Alaska the boardwalk is washed clean, In Poulsbo Washington the pavement is washed clean.
Lord create in me a clean heart that lifts my eyes up to you. May I live beholding all you are!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Peace IN Christ
God's peace wasn't much of a personal issue when I was a kid. I loved to play army and it was all about conquering the enemy being all powerful and surviving great odds.
Now that I'm an oldster peace sounds a lot more enticing and fits the desire of my present profile more accurately.
Maybe the years since my youth that were a combination of stress and happiness has left me desiring peace.
Even the music I prefer, is music that brings my mind to rest and gentleness. Than "come on baby light my fire".
Jesus did not say follow me and I will make your life all peaceful and prosperous. What he did say is that you will find peace in me. And that peace will be so incredible you will be able to handle what life throws at you.
If you do life in me you will see what, I the comforter can do for you.
I was looking back over the times of peace in my life that I see are clearly from GOD.
First there are those times connected to life decisions I recount the time I had a peace not to worry about getting a teaching job. And it came about. Peace about selling our house in Indianola and it came about. Peace about buying and running my little coffee business and it came about, The pattern I see is first there is the peace and then he comes in and makes it come about.
Now let me assure you that all of my life is not just peace and he does it. There are decisions and situations that he allows us to go through which is the second peace.
Peace number two, Daily peace, this is the peace that I am with you every step of the way. This is the peace when in real time I ask him to be right smack in the middle of the situation.
My peace is that I know he is real and here.
Peace number 3 Emotional Peace, this is the peace that reassures me that I am loved, I am known, who I am and valued is not based on what I have done but what I have inherited through Christ to be GOD's kid.
"peace that I leave you is not peace as this world knows peace...."
God knows so well, He knew that if we just knew of him we would think we had it all.
He said I want your heart give me your heart and I. will take care of the head.
To live in his peace you have to live in GOD. Open heart ushers in his peace, Close heart you are left with just yourself which just doesn't last long and is based on if your circumstances are happy.
Open heart allows you to be fed continually from God's love. His peace to you is that he is never surprised, you don't see him fretting about anything he's got the whole world, universe in his hand and doesn't break a sweat.
"My peace I give to you , let not your hearts be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Jesus said all my words I have spoken to you, I have said so you can have peace in me.
Peace is the character of GOD, it is like love the more you pull on it, the more it just unfolds . take the verse in Phil 4:7 The peace of GOD,which passes all understanding , shall guard your heart and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
I don't know about you but there have been a ton of times my thoughts have driven me nuts. And GOD's peace I did not reach out for.
There have been times when I was going nuts called out to him hoping to get instant help and no help came and the worry just kept going around and around. What I learned is that:
1. snapping fingers and expecting GOD to jump just aint gonna happen.
2. Analyze your thoughts if it's from GOD he will prompt you to do something if you do it the prompting cease. If it is from satan he will condemn you and be in your head the broken record that drives you nuts. One is constructive the other is destructive.
3. I happen to get thoughts from GOD in the middle of the night and when I do there is no peace, if I get up and write them down I can go right back to sleep. But if they're from satan and can't get it out of my head. I think of the worst person I know and pray for their salvation.
I imagine how wonderful it would be if they were saved.
Now I have never heard of doing this from the bible but sure can't hurt and GOD gets my brain instead satan.
Others have said they read the bible others listen to christian music.
4. Your mind will be in peace if you keep it on Christ who is peace.
Now that I'm an oldster peace sounds a lot more enticing and fits the desire of my present profile more accurately.
Maybe the years since my youth that were a combination of stress and happiness has left me desiring peace.
Even the music I prefer, is music that brings my mind to rest and gentleness. Than "come on baby light my fire".
Jesus did not say follow me and I will make your life all peaceful and prosperous. What he did say is that you will find peace in me. And that peace will be so incredible you will be able to handle what life throws at you.
If you do life in me you will see what, I the comforter can do for you.
I was looking back over the times of peace in my life that I see are clearly from GOD.
First there are those times connected to life decisions I recount the time I had a peace not to worry about getting a teaching job. And it came about. Peace about selling our house in Indianola and it came about. Peace about buying and running my little coffee business and it came about, The pattern I see is first there is the peace and then he comes in and makes it come about.
Now let me assure you that all of my life is not just peace and he does it. There are decisions and situations that he allows us to go through which is the second peace.
Peace number two, Daily peace, this is the peace that I am with you every step of the way. This is the peace when in real time I ask him to be right smack in the middle of the situation.
My peace is that I know he is real and here.
Peace number 3 Emotional Peace, this is the peace that reassures me that I am loved, I am known, who I am and valued is not based on what I have done but what I have inherited through Christ to be GOD's kid.
"peace that I leave you is not peace as this world knows peace...."
God knows so well, He knew that if we just knew of him we would think we had it all.
He said I want your heart give me your heart and I. will take care of the head.
To live in his peace you have to live in GOD. Open heart ushers in his peace, Close heart you are left with just yourself which just doesn't last long and is based on if your circumstances are happy.
Open heart allows you to be fed continually from God's love. His peace to you is that he is never surprised, you don't see him fretting about anything he's got the whole world, universe in his hand and doesn't break a sweat.
"My peace I give to you , let not your hearts be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Jesus said all my words I have spoken to you, I have said so you can have peace in me.
Peace is the character of GOD, it is like love the more you pull on it, the more it just unfolds . take the verse in Phil 4:7 The peace of GOD,which passes all understanding , shall guard your heart and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
I don't know about you but there have been a ton of times my thoughts have driven me nuts. And GOD's peace I did not reach out for.
There have been times when I was going nuts called out to him hoping to get instant help and no help came and the worry just kept going around and around. What I learned is that:
1. snapping fingers and expecting GOD to jump just aint gonna happen.
2. Analyze your thoughts if it's from GOD he will prompt you to do something if you do it the prompting cease. If it is from satan he will condemn you and be in your head the broken record that drives you nuts. One is constructive the other is destructive.
3. I happen to get thoughts from GOD in the middle of the night and when I do there is no peace, if I get up and write them down I can go right back to sleep. But if they're from satan and can't get it out of my head. I think of the worst person I know and pray for their salvation.
I imagine how wonderful it would be if they were saved.
Now I have never heard of doing this from the bible but sure can't hurt and GOD gets my brain instead satan.
Others have said they read the bible others listen to christian music.
4. Your mind will be in peace if you keep it on Christ who is peace.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
White from grey Life from death
Spring is coo coo, two days ago it was 74 and today it is hailing.
The sound of the hail came hitting the house and grew in intensity, then plink it was gone.
The sound reminds me of the rain that splats loud on the huge skunk cabbage and Devils club leaves in Alaska. I like the sound of it, if you listen into it you can hear high and low notes and since there is a gazillion drops it becomes a symphony of music.
There is all types of rain for example there is dancing rain. As a child I remember dancing in a spring rain squall, the sudden onset backed by bright sunshine made me feel like dancing in it's glee.
There is dark rain where one desires nothing more than to hunker by the fireside.
I have memories of feeling grateful for protection when the rain beats on a metal roof or as a boyscout at the ocean, inside my little pup tent I was safe.
Ive seen it rain so hard in Alaska that raindrops bounce a foot in the air after they hit the tin roof and I have seen the fresh water cover the salt water in the inlet.
As a kid I remember feeling like a man on a stormy day, wind and rain beating against me as I went to get firewood.
Out on the water, fishing ,the rain and wind hit with such force I swear you can hear the rain splatting on my bald head.
And then there is grey drizzle, the worst kind, day after day the same grey.
It reminds of that verse "you are neither hot nor cold." the old luke warm that drives you nuts.
The different rains and their sounds is an allegory of life so many different movements . What I like is the one that changes everything, that is when the rain changes into snow. Millions of snow flakes land in silence covering all the scars and dead colors of winter.How can snow so white come from grey clouds?
All the previous sharp contours are rounded in humps of white snow.
Every limb, fence railing, automobile is laiden deeper and deeper with each passing hour. Then the sun breaks out and the sparkling white becomes a magnificent splendor.
I love the silence of the snow, the sounds of cars are dampened. The forest is suspended in this blanket of snow. The only muffled sound is the scrunching your feet are making.
It is a time when I like to go out and be alone, for it seems the snow has stopped time and man cannot manipulate it.
It is a time to live in the Christ who has covered everything with his life. And everything is everything.
A time to forget the scars buried under the snow and behold the new blanket of Christ that covers it. white, pure, unique each flake different.
New eyes Father, new eyes, to see life through your eyes.
I have seen darkness, Ive seen relentless grey and I have seen my Heavenly Father turn that world to white splendor by who he is.
White and bright always trumps darkness and gloom.
I stand alone on a high point. Before my GOD baring all I am, what little I am, and accept all that he is, how huge that he is,, and I walk home a different man.
More of him less of me.
The sound of the hail came hitting the house and grew in intensity, then plink it was gone.
The sound reminds me of the rain that splats loud on the huge skunk cabbage and Devils club leaves in Alaska. I like the sound of it, if you listen into it you can hear high and low notes and since there is a gazillion drops it becomes a symphony of music.
There is all types of rain for example there is dancing rain. As a child I remember dancing in a spring rain squall, the sudden onset backed by bright sunshine made me feel like dancing in it's glee.
There is dark rain where one desires nothing more than to hunker by the fireside.
I have memories of feeling grateful for protection when the rain beats on a metal roof or as a boyscout at the ocean, inside my little pup tent I was safe.
Ive seen it rain so hard in Alaska that raindrops bounce a foot in the air after they hit the tin roof and I have seen the fresh water cover the salt water in the inlet.
As a kid I remember feeling like a man on a stormy day, wind and rain beating against me as I went to get firewood.
Out on the water, fishing ,the rain and wind hit with such force I swear you can hear the rain splatting on my bald head.
And then there is grey drizzle, the worst kind, day after day the same grey.
It reminds of that verse "you are neither hot nor cold." the old luke warm that drives you nuts.
The different rains and their sounds is an allegory of life so many different movements . What I like is the one that changes everything, that is when the rain changes into snow. Millions of snow flakes land in silence covering all the scars and dead colors of winter.How can snow so white come from grey clouds?
All the previous sharp contours are rounded in humps of white snow.
Every limb, fence railing, automobile is laiden deeper and deeper with each passing hour. Then the sun breaks out and the sparkling white becomes a magnificent splendor.
I love the silence of the snow, the sounds of cars are dampened. The forest is suspended in this blanket of snow. The only muffled sound is the scrunching your feet are making.
It is a time when I like to go out and be alone, for it seems the snow has stopped time and man cannot manipulate it.
It is a time to live in the Christ who has covered everything with his life. And everything is everything.
A time to forget the scars buried under the snow and behold the new blanket of Christ that covers it. white, pure, unique each flake different.
New eyes Father, new eyes, to see life through your eyes.
I have seen darkness, Ive seen relentless grey and I have seen my Heavenly Father turn that world to white splendor by who he is.
White and bright always trumps darkness and gloom.
I stand alone on a high point. Before my GOD baring all I am, what little I am, and accept all that he is, how huge that he is,, and I walk home a different man.
More of him less of me.
Show me your face
This blog is my self therapy as one can easy see today.
Nobody likes to receive bad news, it is amazing how fast our heart can go kerplunk to the bottom. Yesterday the doctor informed me that the surgery done on my back wasn't done completely so I now need to have another one.
What went through my mind was "you got to be kidding" Let's see the last time I didn't have a day without pain was 8 months ago, during that time I've had
blood clots in my legs and lungs, severe nerve damage in my leg, a blood collection the size of a brick in my back, acid reflux attacks, a weird heart problem not to mention the joy of the operation. And joy joy joy I get to do it all again so maybe it might work. Kerplunk that's all I can say.
ted show me your face,lift your countenance up to me, let me hear your voice.
these words from the Song of Solomon speak to me.
Pain isn't easy, the enemy loves to come in like a flood when were down.
But GOD is always there for every minute of our life. His strength is there if we live in him and take from his out stretched hand.
ted have I ever left you? I will never leave you.
Look up, show me your face.
Nobody likes to receive bad news, it is amazing how fast our heart can go kerplunk to the bottom. Yesterday the doctor informed me that the surgery done on my back wasn't done completely so I now need to have another one.
What went through my mind was "you got to be kidding" Let's see the last time I didn't have a day without pain was 8 months ago, during that time I've had
blood clots in my legs and lungs, severe nerve damage in my leg, a blood collection the size of a brick in my back, acid reflux attacks, a weird heart problem not to mention the joy of the operation. And joy joy joy I get to do it all again so maybe it might work. Kerplunk that's all I can say.
ted show me your face,lift your countenance up to me, let me hear your voice.
these words from the Song of Solomon speak to me.
Pain isn't easy, the enemy loves to come in like a flood when were down.
But GOD is always there for every minute of our life. His strength is there if we live in him and take from his out stretched hand.
ted have I ever left you? I will never leave you.
Look up, show me your face.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
All my desire is before thee Psalm 38:9
I have tried often to explain why to be with GOD doesn't require words. There are many different types of prayers. But there is a wordless prayer that follows through the day and the psalm 38:9 explains it in part, GOD has my desire for him, my desire keeps the door of communication open. So who he is can minister to me.
It is a following love, just like my love for my wife. All day long I carry her love for me and I love her even though we are miles apart. But with GOD it is slightly different because we are not miles apart and he is GOD, he is love.
You can have as much of GOD as you desire.
I have a beautiful mother I have never questioned her love for me although in my youth I tested her greatly. I know in my heart she will always love me.
In the same way GOD loves me and he has said I will never leave you nor forsake you.
I like having absolutes in this world that questions everything and everything goes.
Know in your heart that GOD understands where you are at, he looks at your heart, your desire for him, and that is where it counts.
(Side note ) when one is so sick they don't have the energy to pray words, tell them they don't have too. GOD sees their desire. When pain is taking all your thought energy, rest that GOD knows your heart for him and that his spirit is in you, every step of the way.
Where can you go that GOD isn't present?
It is a following love, just like my love for my wife. All day long I carry her love for me and I love her even though we are miles apart. But with GOD it is slightly different because we are not miles apart and he is GOD, he is love.
You can have as much of GOD as you desire.
I have a beautiful mother I have never questioned her love for me although in my youth I tested her greatly. I know in my heart she will always love me.
In the same way GOD loves me and he has said I will never leave you nor forsake you.
I like having absolutes in this world that questions everything and everything goes.
Know in your heart that GOD understands where you are at, he looks at your heart, your desire for him, and that is where it counts.
(Side note ) when one is so sick they don't have the energy to pray words, tell them they don't have too. GOD sees their desire. When pain is taking all your thought energy, rest that GOD knows your heart for him and that his spirit is in you, every step of the way.
Where can you go that GOD isn't present?
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
To be Loved and to Love
Love is so attractive, who doesn't enjoy being cherished and valued.
The other night I was so deeply moved by my dear wife who sat on the floor by my chair rubbing my back for 2 hours as I was in intense pain.
Last night we watched a Hallmark movie about a woman who saved 2500 Jewish children from being killed during World War II. It was her love for those children and their parents that compelled her to risk her life and be tortured.
My wife's love for me compels me to love her more and more.
The same is true with GOD, his love every day compels me to love him more and more.
His spirit can quicken me to see how he feels and cares.
But this sensing of GOD comes by getting rid of the self love and unloved that ted can SO easily live in.
Spending time with he who is love, enjoying his company seeing that the banner over me is his love.
"Beloved let us love..." Do all that you do with GOD in love.
This summer my wife is going to Alaska for a month without me. Last night I told her don't be surprised when you get there and there is a letter on the kitchen table from me that says If you are reading this it is because I've gone home to be with Christ. Every year when I close up the house I would leave a letter"just in case". For I am the one that normally would open the house each summer and she would come up a week or two latter. In this letter After I tell her mushy junk how much I love her, I tell her to go on and love . I don't want my dearest friend to be unloved after I've gone.
Is there unloved in us today? Lord search me and see if there is. I don't want to waste life by unloving people.
I think of Jesus's prayer for his disciples and us before he left to be crucified, full of love, full of direction to love.
Heavenly Father pour your love through me to others.
Lord show me, my self love that robs me of giving love.
"We know and believe the love GOD has showed us. GOD is love; and he that dwells in love, dwells in GOD, for GOD is love."1John4:16
Held in his love.
The other night I was so deeply moved by my dear wife who sat on the floor by my chair rubbing my back for 2 hours as I was in intense pain.
Last night we watched a Hallmark movie about a woman who saved 2500 Jewish children from being killed during World War II. It was her love for those children and their parents that compelled her to risk her life and be tortured.
My wife's love for me compels me to love her more and more.
The same is true with GOD, his love every day compels me to love him more and more.
His spirit can quicken me to see how he feels and cares.
But this sensing of GOD comes by getting rid of the self love and unloved that ted can SO easily live in.
Spending time with he who is love, enjoying his company seeing that the banner over me is his love.
"Beloved let us love..." Do all that you do with GOD in love.
This summer my wife is going to Alaska for a month without me. Last night I told her don't be surprised when you get there and there is a letter on the kitchen table from me that says If you are reading this it is because I've gone home to be with Christ. Every year when I close up the house I would leave a letter"just in case". For I am the one that normally would open the house each summer and she would come up a week or two latter. In this letter After I tell her mushy junk how much I love her, I tell her to go on and love . I don't want my dearest friend to be unloved after I've gone.
Is there unloved in us today? Lord search me and see if there is. I don't want to waste life by unloving people.
I think of Jesus's prayer for his disciples and us before he left to be crucified, full of love, full of direction to love.
Heavenly Father pour your love through me to others.
Lord show me, my self love that robs me of giving love.
"We know and believe the love GOD has showed us. GOD is love; and he that dwells in love, dwells in GOD, for GOD is love."1John4:16
Held in his love.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Who HE is, is new every morning
Where I sit I can watch the new morning light open the curtain to a new day.
The bright sparkling light of morning is new light, full of promise and life, it speaks volumes of God's love to us .
Fresh every morning new and alive GOD announces his invitation to be with him this day.
That GOD is, who GOD is , despite how I feel physically is good, for right now I have a bad gut ache and a couple nights ago I had acid reflux which is extremely painful and has many of of the symptoms of heart attack but isn't one.
Regardless if I am in pain or depressed my GOD's love and who he is, is there.
My personal history of the love we two have shared, the trials and joys are there when all I feel is pain.
The promises that he has personally made known to me are there even if the morning sun is a dull grey light.
In the small town of Pelican Alaska a waterfall flows night and day. When the rains falls in torrents the water of that fall gushes with a powerful force, the noise is loud as it smashes it way down the mountain to finally end up in the sea.The silt colors the water and it's power is awesome to just enjoy. Regardless of what life brings that waterfall continues so it is with GOD.
GOD may change in how we see him but he does not change in character.
We are human we go through trials and there are times when we cry out GOD where are you? Why have you left me?
I think of the Children of Israel in slavery in Egypt or the Jews in the death camps of Germany.
All the questions of why bad things happen to good people. Why does GOD allow that if he is a GOD of Love? If that's your GOD you can have him, but that's not for me.
GOD is so good at being GOD.
We might not always find out his reasons why, this side of heaven but he is that ever flowing waterfall he is the sun that rises every morning.
As we turn to him, his perpetual person flows over us. It flows over the universe.
He flows and his will is done in power and ways we can't understand.
His covering over us is peace when everything is stupid, love when we are sick of our own self, encouragement, comfort.
For the most part the rock that make up the mountains of this area have sharp edges. But in the falls those rocks have been worn smooth by the trials of silt, gravel and relentless water pressure making those rocks beautiful.
GOD too by the trials we endure has allowed us to be a part of who he is, to join in with parts of him. The trial is hard, seems to never end, but when it does the sharp edges of ted are worn down a little more so you can see his GOD in the smoothness.
Behold our GOD of ever present, when the people that are rubbing you the wrong way with their mean selfish gravel.
Behold our GOD is ever flowing and gravel bars never stop him.
How much of GOD do we rush past?
There is a brilliant sunlight that Pelican gets that I don't see anywhere else. I don't know if it is because of all the rain. But it is truly crystal clear.
To be near the falls in that light, the water is alive with life, the pools of water are mystically enchanting and one can bask in the marvel of GOD.
The bright sparkling light of morning is new light, full of promise and life, it speaks volumes of God's love to us .
Fresh every morning new and alive GOD announces his invitation to be with him this day.
That GOD is, who GOD is , despite how I feel physically is good, for right now I have a bad gut ache and a couple nights ago I had acid reflux which is extremely painful and has many of of the symptoms of heart attack but isn't one.
Regardless if I am in pain or depressed my GOD's love and who he is, is there.
My personal history of the love we two have shared, the trials and joys are there when all I feel is pain.
The promises that he has personally made known to me are there even if the morning sun is a dull grey light.
In the small town of Pelican Alaska a waterfall flows night and day. When the rains falls in torrents the water of that fall gushes with a powerful force, the noise is loud as it smashes it way down the mountain to finally end up in the sea.The silt colors the water and it's power is awesome to just enjoy. Regardless of what life brings that waterfall continues so it is with GOD.
GOD may change in how we see him but he does not change in character.
We are human we go through trials and there are times when we cry out GOD where are you? Why have you left me?
I think of the Children of Israel in slavery in Egypt or the Jews in the death camps of Germany.
All the questions of why bad things happen to good people. Why does GOD allow that if he is a GOD of Love? If that's your GOD you can have him, but that's not for me.
GOD is so good at being GOD.
We might not always find out his reasons why, this side of heaven but he is that ever flowing waterfall he is the sun that rises every morning.
As we turn to him, his perpetual person flows over us. It flows over the universe.
He flows and his will is done in power and ways we can't understand.
His covering over us is peace when everything is stupid, love when we are sick of our own self, encouragement, comfort.
For the most part the rock that make up the mountains of this area have sharp edges. But in the falls those rocks have been worn smooth by the trials of silt, gravel and relentless water pressure making those rocks beautiful.
GOD too by the trials we endure has allowed us to be a part of who he is, to join in with parts of him. The trial is hard, seems to never end, but when it does the sharp edges of ted are worn down a little more so you can see his GOD in the smoothness.
Behold our GOD of ever present, when the people that are rubbing you the wrong way with their mean selfish gravel.
Behold our GOD is ever flowing and gravel bars never stop him.
How much of GOD do we rush past?
There is a brilliant sunlight that Pelican gets that I don't see anywhere else. I don't know if it is because of all the rain. But it is truly crystal clear.
To be near the falls in that light, the water is alive with life, the pools of water are mystically enchanting and one can bask in the marvel of GOD.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Speak to his spirit within you
For those who have accepted Christ his spirit came into us.
All my life growing up I was surrounded with this truth, for example accept Jesus into your heart. But for some reason I just imagined him in outer space heaven,which wasn't all that bad he was still loving and cared for me.
Yet when I saw that he came to dwell within me and I recognized him in me, it made a difference, he was closer and involved in every where I went and all I did.
He hadn't changed, it was my new perspective that enlarged my relationship.
The co-relationship of doing life in real time together was heightened.
I delighted my self more in His companionship.
I sought out more time to be alone with him. I desired his friendship and love for me. I consulted him more on what I was doing. I saw that we did life together.
I found him to be peace and sense amidst all the clamor and noise of the world. My trust grew as I allowed him to have my life, and that he knew more than I did, what was best.
He has moved to the center of my life and realizing his spirit inside my chest inside my heart has been a precious discovery.
"The chief aim of man is to glorify GOD, by enjoying him."
I have a spirit and GOD has a spirit and when I move my spirit, my love, my heart into his spirit which is love and all that he is, there is the best relationship.
I am known and cherished and have the perfect Father that loves me.
Moving my spirit into him and coexisting with him in real time is what the bible means we should pray at all times. It doesn't require talking it requires only desire to be with GOD.
This sharing, one person described as quieting your mind so GOD can be a part of your life.
One day I was driving across a bridge to Bainbridge Island where I grew up. when GOD impressed on me that I wasn't obeying all the commandments. You know the 10 commandments, to which I thought, yeah that doesn't surprise me which one I asked?
To love me with all your mind. Ted from the moment you get up you run your own head. You self stimulate your mind nonstop, the radio in the car, your own problems , problems of others, striving always striving to fix things in your own strength and wanting me to bless it .
You are your own worst enemy, you never give yourself a break, no wonder your always frustrated.
Ted I give you permission right now not to have to think.
That's crazy I driving my car I thought. But for the first time I got to travel down the road with GOD and not think , he wasn't speaking I was just enjoying him.
I have since called it being an air head for Jesus.
Here is what I learned,
you can't hear the Lord if your mind is speaking.
You can't get a break from yourself unless you break off your mind from yourself.
Life is not all about you, you are not your own you are GODs child he is the father you need to be obedient and not perform his job on yourself. You do a lousy job.
Shared silence with GOD allows me to see him, to see what sees and feel what he feels.
Shared silence allows me to see what the glory of GOD is all about.
It brings to vivid life the verse," be still and know that I AM GOD."
And where can I go that GOD isn't there? All of life and creation every particle is held together by HIM.
The joy of the christian life is living with GOD.
The joy of the christian life is enjoying his spirit inside us.
Even when the christian is going through severe trials and GOD's presence seems to have disappeared they will still say, " at least I'm not alone. "Lord you have been faithful in loving me even when I wasn't faithful to you, you have never left me."
You can tell the Christians who seldom enjoy his presence there is little life of who he is in them.
My GOD is the GOD of brightness and life and light.
"For GOD who said 'Let light shine out of darkness' made his light shine out of our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of GOD in the face of Christ."
Love the Lord with all your mind.Don't spend the day without him!
For those who have accepted Christ his spirit came into us.
All my life growing up I was surrounded with this truth, for example accept Jesus into your heart. But for some reason I just imagined him in outer space heaven,which wasn't all that bad he was still loving and cared for me.
Yet when I saw that he came to dwell within me and I recognized him in me, it made a difference, he was closer and involved in every where I went and all I did.
He hadn't changed, it was my new perspective that enlarged my relationship.
The co-relationship of doing life in real time together was heightened.
I delighted my self more in His companionship.
I sought out more time to be alone with him. I desired his friendship and love for me. I consulted him more on what I was doing. I saw that we did life together.
I found him to be peace and sense amidst all the clamor and noise of the world. My trust grew as I allowed him to have my life, and that he knew more than I did, what was best.
He has moved to the center of my life and realizing his spirit inside my chest inside my heart has been a precious discovery.
"The chief aim of man is to glorify GOD, by enjoying him."
I have a spirit and GOD has a spirit and when I move my spirit, my love, my heart into his spirit which is love and all that he is, there is the best relationship.
I am known and cherished and have the perfect Father that loves me.
Moving my spirit into him and coexisting with him in real time is what the bible means we should pray at all times. It doesn't require talking it requires only desire to be with GOD.
This sharing, one person described as quieting your mind so GOD can be a part of your life.
One day I was driving across a bridge to Bainbridge Island where I grew up. when GOD impressed on me that I wasn't obeying all the commandments. You know the 10 commandments, to which I thought, yeah that doesn't surprise me which one I asked?
To love me with all your mind. Ted from the moment you get up you run your own head. You self stimulate your mind nonstop, the radio in the car, your own problems , problems of others, striving always striving to fix things in your own strength and wanting me to bless it .
You are your own worst enemy, you never give yourself a break, no wonder your always frustrated.
Ted I give you permission right now not to have to think.
That's crazy I driving my car I thought. But for the first time I got to travel down the road with GOD and not think , he wasn't speaking I was just enjoying him.
I have since called it being an air head for Jesus.
Here is what I learned,
you can't hear the Lord if your mind is speaking.
You can't get a break from yourself unless you break off your mind from yourself.
Life is not all about you, you are not your own you are GODs child he is the father you need to be obedient and not perform his job on yourself. You do a lousy job.
Shared silence with GOD allows me to see him, to see what sees and feel what he feels.
Shared silence allows me to see what the glory of GOD is all about.
It brings to vivid life the verse," be still and know that I AM GOD."
And where can I go that GOD isn't there? All of life and creation every particle is held together by HIM.
The joy of the christian life is living with GOD.
The joy of the christian life is enjoying his spirit inside us.
Even when the christian is going through severe trials and GOD's presence seems to have disappeared they will still say, " at least I'm not alone. "Lord you have been faithful in loving me even when I wasn't faithful to you, you have never left me."
You can tell the Christians who seldom enjoy his presence there is little life of who he is in them.
My GOD is the GOD of brightness and life and light.
"For GOD who said 'Let light shine out of darkness' made his light shine out of our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of GOD in the face of Christ."
Love the Lord with all your mind.Don't spend the day without him!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Voice of this morning
Morning comes as your voice is heard,
spring birds begin to sing
.
.All nature awaits the morning sun,
to glorify the king.
Man awakes to buzzing clock,
he sleepily stumbles from bed.
Mindless of the faithful love,
that keeps his family fed.
His Morning light turns
mountains pink.
Unfolding flowers
his delight.
Fields of wheat shake off the dew
ridding of the night.
Toaster pops,
car backs out, bumper to bumper again.
Mindless of what was done
for this day to begin.
Lord forgive our thoughtless ways,
As through the day we stumble.
You pick us up over and over
from our selfmade rubble.
Hurry up, you're running late,
again we've lost the way.
That you oh Father are deserving
our attention this beautiful day.
..................................................................................................................................
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Gray Person Make Over Edition
"Well if that's a christian you can have it."
Christians walk around shrouded in various shades of gray and light. For several reasons Christians are not that impressive:
1. A christian may be gray spirited if they are going through a very difficult
trial. Hard is hard, and when you,re down , your countenance is gray. If you
want to see the light in this person. Ask him/her what are you hanging onto
that is helping you right now? You should hear a relationship comment
connected to GOD that has life for the person.
2. A christian may be gray spirited if they continue to carry bitterness es or if
they just want to be boss. Their drive to be their own boss over what they will
think and do, cuts them off from GOD being able to be first place.
My way trumps your way, I do christian things therefore I am a christian.
I don't smoke or chew or go with the girls that do.
When we see Christians like this, they are still believers in Christ. What you
are looking at, is what areas of their life have they let GOD have and what
areas they haven't.
There are road blocks that need to be torn down in their life to let the light of
Christ shine through.
They like everyone has luggage that makes them look ugly. So what's the
answer?
Get clean! Start the process of being set free,
I have a younger brother that I teased when he was young and to get back at
me he picked up a rock and threw it at me. Not wanting to get hit by the rock
I closed the sliding glass door and let it take blow which of course broke the
window. I remember Dad coming home finding out and being so angry he
just stomped out the house. And there was my little brother on his heels
asking Dad to spank him. Why ? because he wanted to get being in trouble
over with and he hated to see Dad hurt,because of what he did.
Our Heavenly Father gave us his way to come to him and ask for forgiveness
for the crud and old luggage of bitterness we have held onto. to be set free from
the gray and breathe in the light and life that he is.
Every Day keep your life clean by confessing your sins desiring to please our
Father in Heaven. Then follow, be obedient to what he impresses you to do.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we will have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin."
Christians walk around shrouded in various shades of gray and light. For several reasons Christians are not that impressive:
1. A christian may be gray spirited if they are going through a very difficult
trial. Hard is hard, and when you,re down , your countenance is gray. If you
want to see the light in this person. Ask him/her what are you hanging onto
that is helping you right now? You should hear a relationship comment
connected to GOD that has life for the person.
2. A christian may be gray spirited if they continue to carry bitterness es or if
they just want to be boss. Their drive to be their own boss over what they will
think and do, cuts them off from GOD being able to be first place.
My way trumps your way, I do christian things therefore I am a christian.
I don't smoke or chew or go with the girls that do.
When we see Christians like this, they are still believers in Christ. What you
are looking at, is what areas of their life have they let GOD have and what
areas they haven't.
There are road blocks that need to be torn down in their life to let the light of
Christ shine through.
They like everyone has luggage that makes them look ugly. So what's the
answer?
Get clean! Start the process of being set free,
I have a younger brother that I teased when he was young and to get back at
me he picked up a rock and threw it at me. Not wanting to get hit by the rock
I closed the sliding glass door and let it take blow which of course broke the
window. I remember Dad coming home finding out and being so angry he
just stomped out the house. And there was my little brother on his heels
asking Dad to spank him. Why ? because he wanted to get being in trouble
over with and he hated to see Dad hurt,because of what he did.
Our Heavenly Father gave us his way to come to him and ask for forgiveness
for the crud and old luggage of bitterness we have held onto. to be set free from
the gray and breathe in the light and life that he is.
Every Day keep your life clean by confessing your sins desiring to please our
Father in Heaven. Then follow, be obedient to what he impresses you to do.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we will have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin."
Saturday, April 11, 2009
BEING SICK
Painting the thoughts of this moment
in colors that do not rhyme.
I have to wait again, clearly this isn't my time.
Not able to go anywhere,
as the world just rushes by,
all this because, of my painful spine.
I sit in my no where,
as the sky clears and becomes blue,
thinking of days of yesteryear,
and my dear ones that are gone now too.
But this moment cheat not
it's value has meaning ,true.
All because my Jesus
I sit right here with you.
The wind blows the trees for me
waving limbs that tell a song,
that there is reason in this moment,
that is in his hands alone.
Paul had his time in prison,
Job had his rotton time too,
and the children of Israel prayed that GOD,
quickly would come through.
But each has his journey
and this is mine today,
GOD you'd get the glory
in this no where type of way.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Words fail
In the enchantment of GOD I touch and ask
and hear shhhhh.
Some gifts I give you come in my spirit
in silence
private to you
Holy
set out only for you
If I make no two people the same
you should not find it strange
that I love individualistic.
In the stillness my spirit
ministers to you
I let you be a part of me
my place where glory moves and fills
and words fail.
.............................................................................................................
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The day they got belted for pride
4/9/09
In the book of Jeremiah there is an account where GOD told the prophet to buy a linen belt and put it around his waist. wear it but don't wash it. Then after a bit he told Jeremiah to go hide it in a crevice and did so. Next he was told to dig it out of the crevice but it was ruined and completely useless. GOD went on to say because you have left me and with your pride and stubborn heart you thought you knew better what to do and started worshipping idols you will be like this belt. Completely useless!
I have chosen you to be my people for my renown and praise and honor. But you have not listened.
Every once in a while my wife will ask if I heard her. I reply I always hear you I just don't always obey you..(just for your info,such curt replies no matter how witty and marvelous the orator are not received well at all.)
Take a look at the ingredients in this stew of trouble GOD's chosen people had gotten themselves into:
pride
refuse to listen
stubborn heart
worship false gods
the end result they became useless and GOD first in his mercy warned them that he was going to turn their hearts back to HIM even if he had to spank them.
Did you ever stop to think that in order to sin in any way that you do the 4 things above?
Pride= teddy knows best,I can do it no matter what you say.Who are you
to tell me I can't.
Refuse to listen= I know it's wrong, I'm still gonna do it.
Stubborn Heart=so what if it hurts you, I don't care.
Worship false gods= I get more of a rush of this than I do you GOD so
leave me alone. If I can only get.......then I will be complete.
Not all pride is bad for example when your children make good decisions or any thing that honors GOD and righteousness.
Pride, my way or the highway.Pride is when we take on a self made, I don't need GOD or nobody, don't tell me what to do ,I am my own man. In a very real sense you're saying I am my own god.
One day I was driving up New Berry Hill Road repenting for not following GOD like I should of when this thought came to me. Ted you can't go 10 minutes without putting yourself first. I was blown away just looking at the past 10 minutes in fact I saw most all of my day was tending to ted and what ted wanted. I suppose that is why Jesus said love your neighbor as you love yourself, he knew that we certainly care for ourselves.
After a good long look at myself where I felt like a crudola self centered booger butt. The Good Shepherd said it's not what you do as much as whether you do it in me , with me. Ted do you have a heart that stays with me no matter if you're brushing your teeth or praying with your wife?
Is there a place where I am included?
I too, even though I'm just ted was made to honor and praise GOD by the everyday living with him.
Just like the chosen people Israel I want GOD's blessings.
What parent will bless and encourage a child that is willfully going the wrong way. Only a parent who doesn't care.
I want more of GOD and less of ted. The experience of his pleasure for me is my cherished portion.
GOD is still saying if you draw close to me I will draw close to you.
In the book of Jeremiah there is an account where GOD told the prophet to buy a linen belt and put it around his waist. wear it but don't wash it. Then after a bit he told Jeremiah to go hide it in a crevice and did so. Next he was told to dig it out of the crevice but it was ruined and completely useless. GOD went on to say because you have left me and with your pride and stubborn heart you thought you knew better what to do and started worshipping idols you will be like this belt. Completely useless!
I have chosen you to be my people for my renown and praise and honor. But you have not listened.
Every once in a while my wife will ask if I heard her. I reply I always hear you I just don't always obey you..(just for your info,such curt replies no matter how witty and marvelous the orator are not received well at all.)
Take a look at the ingredients in this stew of trouble GOD's chosen people had gotten themselves into:
pride
refuse to listen
stubborn heart
worship false gods
the end result they became useless and GOD first in his mercy warned them that he was going to turn their hearts back to HIM even if he had to spank them.
Did you ever stop to think that in order to sin in any way that you do the 4 things above?
Pride= teddy knows best,I can do it no matter what you say.Who are you
to tell me I can't.
Refuse to listen= I know it's wrong, I'm still gonna do it.
Stubborn Heart=so what if it hurts you, I don't care.
Worship false gods= I get more of a rush of this than I do you GOD so
leave me alone. If I can only get.......then I will be complete.
Not all pride is bad for example when your children make good decisions or any thing that honors GOD and righteousness.
Pride, my way or the highway.Pride is when we take on a self made, I don't need GOD or nobody, don't tell me what to do ,I am my own man. In a very real sense you're saying I am my own god.
One day I was driving up New Berry Hill Road repenting for not following GOD like I should of when this thought came to me. Ted you can't go 10 minutes without putting yourself first. I was blown away just looking at the past 10 minutes in fact I saw most all of my day was tending to ted and what ted wanted. I suppose that is why Jesus said love your neighbor as you love yourself, he knew that we certainly care for ourselves.
After a good long look at myself where I felt like a crudola self centered booger butt. The Good Shepherd said it's not what you do as much as whether you do it in me , with me. Ted do you have a heart that stays with me no matter if you're brushing your teeth or praying with your wife?
Is there a place where I am included?
I too, even though I'm just ted was made to honor and praise GOD by the everyday living with him.
Just like the chosen people Israel I want GOD's blessings.
What parent will bless and encourage a child that is willfully going the wrong way. Only a parent who doesn't care.
I want more of GOD and less of ted. The experience of his pleasure for me is my cherished portion.
GOD is still saying if you draw close to me I will draw close to you.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
4/8/09
GOD is my portion
A dear friend of mine shared with me scripture from the prophet Jerimiah , in middle of Jerimiah stating how he was laid so low and how long it had been since GOD helped him at all, He said “regardless you GOD are my portion.”
My portion of GOD is how much he is involved in my life.
How did he get there? I see 3 ways I imagine there are many more but three come quickly to mind.
First he just gives of himself and he gives himself in everday exisistance, he is always giving himself.He gives gifts of himself and click the light bulb comes on and you see a side of him that was there all along but for his reasons he chose now to reveal it to you.
Second,trials, hardships the hard breaks and heart breaks of life ,as I am slammed by hardships he is impressed into me parts of who is. I am changed to see him in a different light,
I went through the hard times with him and in new ways I can trust him more
.I continue to see that he is far more and Iam far less.
Read Jerimaiah he was body slammed beyond hard.He wasn't saying “Well at least I have you GOD “when he said “you GOD are my portion” He could see that regardless of his current condition His portion of GOD was bigger . Who he was in GOD did not deminish because everything around him was failure and disater.
The world’s way is to get as much as you can for self.
GOD’s way is, go for it get as much of me as you can
He said it another way, you can love as much as you want.
T o be loved in the gazzillion ways that he loves us
I am not my own I have been bought by Christ. He paid for me with his blood when died so I could have this closness to GOD.
My portion is all GOD has for me. My realization of my portion comes in these 3 ways.
My Portion today is much much different then when I was younger.The most costly , damaging trials have consistently produced the greatest portion of who GOD is to me, Yet all people are not bull headed and beligerant as I am and have become deep in the portion of GOD by an open and obedient heart.
Monday, April 6, 2009
4/6/09
Palm Sunday
Last week snow this week spring with a high of 72
Seasons come just when you think they will never change,
So also the seasons in our life.
Cold dark winter seasons lasted for what seemed like many years
Then one day spring returns with blessings so wonderful
I had forgotton what thrill they could be.
Yesterday at church looking at the young people who were
Just little kids a minute ago
Made me feel very fidler on the roofish.
Sunrise, sunset etc.
Eternity is change without end
The Good Book says that when we get upstairs it will be
Glory unto glory
Absent of dead winters
I remember a photograph of one of the nazi concentration camps
The photo was black and white, no people
Just a lone flower in color.
There will be a day that will take forever to be.
And every tear will be wipe away and joy and light and love and laughter and, and, and,,, will be the feast of our hearts
That day will have the backdrop of the days of this world so we can rejoice ever more for what our Christ has done for us.
Every day will be triumphal entry of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Dreams at night
I dream a lot , in color and they are quite involving. I have met people that I never knew , had dreams where I’m with my Dad who has been with the Lord for number of years.
The bible talks about visions and dreams. And GOD used dreams from time to time, but I was always confused about them. Sometimes the dreams were deeply entangled with my present life and so I wanted to find out about this dream stuff.
I asked wise men but didn’t really get much of an answer.
Then I read a response from a missionary who was struggling over this very thing. GOD said to her not worry over those things that are not. That his strength and grace are for those things that are, not for that which may never be.
What a truth it was for me . Our Heavenly Father is not a GOD of confusion . But of peace and order.
Wasn’t it Ben Franklin that said “Oh the fears we have had that have never come to be.”
And all through the bible hasn’t it been GOD who said be not afraid for it is I who goes before you.
Satan is the author of fear and confusion if your dreams are either of the two. Turn to GOD by prayer or reading his word or singing a Christian song of love to GOD and that bugger butt satan will flee.
Yet GOD may choose to use a dream, but if he does it will never contradict what he has said in the bible and with it will comes his spirit of being right not confusing or fearful. Check it out with GOD spirited counselors .
We are his children and we know his voice.
The last few days after we busted MOM out of the hospital with heart problems , AnneBeth and I took mom to Grants pass Oregon it was a beautiful trip with green hilly meadows and new lambs following their mothers.
Here and there were bright yellow daffodils and yellow forsythia .
We visited my niece who has 3 beautiful children and I was moved by the parallel peace I saw in the lambs and the small children who just follow their noses and do whatever fits their fancy for the moment.
They lived fearless as they openly accepted and trusted their parents.
GOD too is saying to us older more ornery sheep, be as little children come unto me and find peace and rest for every part of who you are. Drink deep at my pools that truly satisfy.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Boardwalker
4/4/09
Boardwalker
Walking down the same boardwalk all my life each plank seems to know it’s me.
Tide in and out, in and out . It copies my footsteps.
People, faces, the same I’m held captive by the inane
Boardwalker is my fame
This is my perception of a kid in the boardwalk fishing town of Pelican who didn’t fit in.
The big who am I question? Where do I belong in this whacky world? What am I destined to do or be? I can see value in me even if others cannot. I am more than what I’m not doing with my life. Is there a place where I fit? Are there people who see me as I see myself?
To most they would say this person has low self esteem, they need to just hoist their breeches and get into the program. But what is interesting is that these same thoughts and feelings happen to those people as well.
Were we created with a built in desire to be known, valued, and useful?
Yes
We were made in GODS image and he is these things, he is all knowing and to be valued above all else he is creative and the creator of all that is.
And love, isn’t it a curious creation of GOD for in it are all these things.
“GOD is love” “ make love your aim” “ do all things in love” “ love one another”
In High School, when I was lonely oh how I desired to be loved. I ached to be thought as special.
Oh I knew that GOD loved me , my parents loved me, but what I wanted was the choice of my heart desire that pretty girl in choir class only she would and could fill this empty heart of mine.
GOD being the gentleman that he is never barked” what am I chopped liver?”
And so in the years to come I searched to be me in my own strength which just led to more dust in the wind. But along the way with each trial and hurt I started to see this Heavenly Father that was there all along, and the more time I spent with him. The more he showed me who I was.
My trials allowed me to get more of him. To see that I am known, I am valued in fact for GOD to not value me he would have to not value himself.
Now I see how I am in him and he is in me.
Who am I?
my value is not who I AM BUT WHO I AM ASSOCIATED,COUPLED,LINKED, RELATED TO , GOD
My life is not my own I have been bought with a price. Oh how sweet to be not my own.
It’s a no brainer that I’d rather be AnneBeths husband than just ted. Who she is, is far greater than what I am. How much so being GOD’s kid.
GOD said if you draw near to me I will draw near to you.
You are always as close to GOD as you desire to be.
Stand tall in courage for who you are, a child of GOD make the demons tremble for there is no one like our Jehovah
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Those that wait upon the LORD shall raise up with wings of eagles
From my porch in a Alaska I can watch the eagles soar in the sky , I also watch them sit for long periods of time in a tall gnarled tree whose top is broken off and a couple of sturdy bare limbs provide their perch. From there they can view threats, food, and rest. On grey gloomy rainy days they wait , They know the tide will go out and it will be time to eat. That when the sun comes out it will bring the updrafts and once again they will soar on the thermal currents with ease . but for now it’s time to rest to wait, to renew their strength for the right time. Timing for a large eagle is everything, you make a mistake and it is tough to recover.
I have watched eagles chase each other in the early morning in the harbor misjudge their timing and end up splat in the brink. Eagles don’t swim too well and to get their body out of the water takes an incredible amount of strength. I have also watched them catch a fish that was too big and bring them down.
Waiting upon GOD is the knowing that isn’t all up to us. He hasn’t forgotten us even though in our dark trials it may sure feel like it. Waiting to get well is sure a good example of not being able to control our life. Mind over matter just doesn’t cut it when you have the flu and you have a fever. Or my mother who is in the hospital with heart problems the very week she has been waiting for , for months to visit a friend in Oregon.
Our own strength, us calling the shots, if we are going to do it our way how will we see GOD’s way done.
Waiting upon GOD doesn’t mean we do nothing it means have we sensed GOD’s direction in what you’re doing? Do you have a peace about the decision. Does it line up and make sense to who he is.
Waiting upon the LORD is using his spirit the power of who he is inside you, instead of who you are. This seems to be most often a mixture of his spirit and my own, more than likely because my lack sensitivity to who he is. But when you feel the power of the GOD of the universe wind beneath your wings and he lifts and moves it is exciting.
So we need to stretch out our wings in faith step off the perch and say where you lead me I will follow. I open my heart to you, I love you, I praise you for being my all in all.
Waiting, stillness, abandoning yourself to the one who is far more than you could ever imagine is the most exciting adventure there is.
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