Oh how I miss you not
enemy of my soul
father of all lies
destroyer of innocence
And oh how you try to pull me away
from light
from Truth
from love
from liberty
But I will not have any of you anymore
My eyes have been opened
Your chains have been severed
His blood has been spilled
and poured over me
He’s yanked me from your grip
I am forever free
Who’s laughing now?
He who puts the stars in the sky…
…joins me for my morning coffee
…is by my side as I prepare lunch for my family
…goes for a run with me at the end of the day, finishing it with a brief 20 minute moment of reflection, while listening to what I have to say
…lies with me at night and watches me as I drift off to sleep.
Then He does it all again the next day.
The monotony of it all doesn’t bother Him a bit
And I couldn’t be more content.
Are you content? And if not, why? What causes you contentment?
Something to think about. Let me know.
Ok, it’s another FFTF (Food for Thought Friday) – Food for the body and the spirit. I loooooovvve the Christmas season, so this post is very befitting. For the spirit I will be sharing a bit about how the Christmas song, “Breath of Heaven” has impacted me. And for the body, “Healthy Superfood Prestigio (Chocolate Coconut) tarts. Hope you enjoy.
I have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary with a babe inside
And I wonder what I’ve done
Holy Father, You have come
And chosen me now to carry Your Son
I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now, be with me now.
Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy
Breath of Heaven
Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of Your plan
Help me be strong, help me be, help me
Amy Grant
Listen to a version by Eden’s Bridge here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLXvGNUOtZM
Sometimes when I listen to this song I start to cry. I think it’s because of the simplicity of it and the way that Mary addresses God, “Breath of Heaven”. She was just a young girl when a unexepected visitor showed up and shared a message with her that essentially changed the entire course of her life. She was engaged to be married to a simple carpenter, and she herself, was just a simple girl – that loved God.
As she silently prays to her maker, she’s extremely vulnerable and expresses to Him just how scared she is. She knows that the world is a cold place and she is feeling all alone. And rightly so. Imagine being in her place. A virgin, engaged to be married, in a society where it is absolutely unacceptable and punishable to have had sexual relations before marriage. And now she is carrying the son of God.
She pours her soul out to the only one that could possibly understand what she is going through. God, hold me together (I’m losing it). God, be forever near me (I feel so lost). God, lighten my darkness (the stone cold reality of this world is blinding me (I can’t see you). God, pour over me your holiness (for you are the only one that can ease my anguished heart and replace the lack of tranquility with overwhelming peace).
I think it’s amazing how she addresses God as, “Breath of Heaven”. The word breath signifies life. Every bodily function depends on breathing as breathing is the most fundamental of all the body’s systems. It’s at the very core of life. When one stops breathing, one dies.
She also recognizes that she’s weak. She doesn’t see herself as one that is wise enough to be carrying such a serious responsibility. But the beautiful thing is that, even though she’s full of doubts and even though she considers herself as unwise, it didn’t matter to God. What mattered was that she was willing to offer all that she is. What mattered was that she had a heart of humility and recognized she needed His strength, and not her own.
What do you think of this song? What are your thoughts concerning it? Leave a comment and let me know.
Ok, who else out there loves a good dessert or tasty little treat, but hates the refined sugar? Being that it’s the Christmas season and all, I thought I’d create this little goody for my kids (ok, for me too, I confess). Try it out and let me know what you think.
Yes, this is my little girl enjoying what’s left over of the filling
Healthy Prestigio (chocolate & coconut) tarts
Crust:
Place all ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend until incorporated. Fill mini cupcake tins with paper liners. Press 1 heaping teaspoon of the mixture into each to form a crust.
Filling:
Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until fully incorporated. Spoon around 2 good teaspoons of the mixture into the cups. You can garnish with some shredded coconut and then place in the freezer until ready to enjoy.
We are like windows
Stained with colors of the rainbow
Set in a darkened room
Till the bridegroom comes to shining through
Then the colors fall around our feet
Over those we meet
Covering all the grey that we see
Rainbow colors of assorted hues
Come exchange your blues
For His love that you see shining through me
My colors grow so dim
When I start to fall away from Him
But up comes the strongest wind
That He sends to blow me back into his arms again
And then the colors fall around my feet
Over those I meet
Changing all the grey that I see
Rainbow colors of the Risen Son
Reflect the One
The One who came to set us all free
We are like windows
Stained with colors of the rainbow
No longer set in a darkened room
‘Cause the bridegroom wants to shine from you
(You can listen to this song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb6ShUYq-1k)
I love Keith Green’s music. Yes, it’s a bit outdated and all, but the message continues to stand strong. His songs and life have had a great impact on my life and have spoken profoundly into my heart.
I am a Christian. A follower of Jesus. But I haven’t always been one. And this song soooooo tells it how it is for me. God has made me colourful. He’s made everyone colourful. But until we yield to his plans and purposes for us, we remain set in a darkened room. Stuck. Unable to shine. Unable to glow. Unable to make any sort of a difference that is truly relevant and eternal.
I am so happy to say that I am now showing my colors. I am shining and bringing life to wherever I am and to wherever I go. We live in such a grey world, full of pain, suffering, violence, selfishness, etc. We need splashes of color so that we handle it.
I have discovered why I am here on earth. Why I exist? Where I am going when I die? What the meaning of it all is. And I am sooooo thankful to the Son – to the Way, Truth and Life for staining me with the colors of the rainbow and freeing me from my shackles that kept me from allowing His colors to shine through me and from me.
Are you letting your colors shine? Are they falling around your feet and changing all the grey that you see? Please leave a comment and let me know how you let your colors shine. Or, if you’re stuck in a darkened room and would like to know more about how to get out and let your colors shine, let me know.
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