Yesterday I blogged about Awareness. Today I want to talk about the second thing God has been speaking to me about which is Attentiveness. It is one thing to be aware of God in our daily lives. It is yet another to be attentive to him. Moses once saw a burning bush that grabbed his … Continue reading Attentiveness
One thing God has been speaking to me about lately is awareness. In many ways, we don't need more of God's presence. What we need is a greater awareness of his presence. He is everywhere at once. There is no where we can go from his presence. Jesus is "Immanuel" = God with us. We … Continue reading Awareness
At first, I saw God as my observer, my Judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, deciding whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. But later, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride; It was like a tandem bike and God was in the back, helping me pedal. I don't know when … Continue reading Cycling with God
Musing replaced by amusement Preoccupation over meditation Noise for quiet Activity for depth Elders replaced by celebrities Glitz over substanceActing for beingGossip for wisdom Better replaced by biggerTrendy over timelessSpeed for well-beingQuick fix for deep change Time for a great reversal Selfishness replaced by love Joy over sorrow Grace for guiltPeace for the storm Lies replaced by truthJustice over abuseHope for … Continue reading The Great Exchange
God in human formImmanuelGod with us Jesus callsFollow meWill we go? Spirit callsGentle whisperWill we hear? Father waitsWe play with toysWill we turn? An invitationFrom heaven’s throne roomCome and seeTrinity Other invitationsDistant preoccupationsDistract and clutter CompetitionFor my heartTug of war Who wouldn’t go?What greater call?What better company? Just a quick visitOr a lengthy stayOr maybe … Continue reading An Invitation
Life is becoming faster and more complex. Pressures and challenges are increasing, easily sapping our joy and peace. Personal wellbeing is vital as it provides us with the energy to carry out our God-given purpose in life. Over the holiday season we have been sharing a series of messages entitled Body Soul Spirit – a … Continue reading BODY SOUL SPIRIT – Balanced Living
A new day … Loved Listening Looking Loving Laughing Living [Mark Conner - January 24th 2014]
Predicting is as much of an art as it is a science. And if any prognosticator is honest, he or she will tell you that they don’t always get it right. I know. I certainly don’t always get it right. But I don’t pull my predictions out of thin air. To the contrary, each of … Continue reading 7 Predictions for American Churches in 2014 (by Thom Rainer)
Struggle … caterpillar … earth bound Darkness … cocoon … transformation New birth … butterfly … flight New life … colour … beauty … Sudden death - one life for another All too soon. Is there more? [Mark Conner - January 23rd, 2014. Written after … Continue reading The Cycle of Life
Driving Talking Eating Walking Thinking Listening Loving Go Slow [Written for fellow A.D.D., busy, task-addicted, adrenaline junkies like myself]
Day started well ... a walk, silence, conversation, coffee. Serenity invaded by noise. Walking away now … … Slow down An invitation … to silence … Just to BE. Sit down … stay awhile No rush … no hurry Still Peace. Joy. Loved. Content. Enough. Look … listen … No agenda. Together, that's all. One. Timelessness … present … this … Continue reading Silence and Solitude
Prophets are poetsWordsmiths and craftsmenMusicians who muse Prophets are seersArtists and artisans Visionaries who venture Ears always openListening to hearWaiting for words Attentive to sound Eyes always open Looking to seeWatching for picturesObservant to images Bushes still burn God waits to seeMost pass on byFew stop to look God's heart, God's mind Pathos and ethos then logos Words with power To change … Continue reading Prophets
Cars replace donkeysThe pub over the synagogueImage over characterLooks trump who you areCrowded yet lonelyAdvanced yet stuntedWelcome to our world Yet people are still the sameHungry and thirstyFor meaning and friendshipGod is still the same tooSpeaking through burning bushesWhen people take time to look Busy, busy, always in a hurryFaster than ever before Distraction, obsession, boredom Attention … Continue reading A Very Different World
Rhythm more than rhymeFeelings over formWords over whatever No thunderNo lightningJust a whisper Listen then writeRead then listenInspired circle Express the heartTease the mindStir the spirit Articulate lifeWords have powerShape your world Never the sameSee the changeTransformation [Mark Conner - January 23rd, 2014] Next Poem - A Very Different World
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips (Psalm 63:3-5). After reading … Continue reading Remember Being Loved
