Beyond the Blue
by Josh Garrells

Stand on the shores of a site unseen
The substance of this dwells in me
Cause my natural eyes only go skin deep
But the eye’s of my heart anchor the sea
Plumbing the depths to the place in between
The tangible world and the land of a dream
Because everything here ain’t quite it seems
There’s more beneath the appearance of things
A beggar could be king within the shadows,
Of a wing

And wisdom will honor everyone who will learn
To listen, to love, and to pray and discern
And to do the right thing even when it burns
And to live in the light through each treacherous turn
A man is weak, but the spirit yearns
To keep to the course from the bow to the stearn
And throw overboard every selfish concern
That tries to work for what can’t be earned
Sometimes the only way to return is to go,
Where the winds will take you

And to let go, of all, you cannot hold onto
For the hope, beyond,the blue

Yellow and gold as the new day dawns
Like a virgin unveiled who waited so long
To dance and rejoice and sing her song
And rest in the arms of a love so strong
No one comes unless they’re drawn
By the voice of desire that leads em’ along
To the redemption of what went wrong
By the blood that covered the innocent one
No more separation
Between us.

So lift your voice just one more time
If there’s any hope may it be a sign
That everything was made to shine
Despite what you can see
So take this bread and drink this wine
And hide your spirit in the vine
Where all things will work by a good design
For those who will believe

And let go, of all, we cannot hold onto
For the hope, beyond, the blue

Said I let go, of all, I could not hold onto
For the hope, I have, in you

The LORD formed me from the beginning,
before he created anything else.
I was appointed in ages past,
at the very first, before the earth began.
I was born before the oceans were created,
before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
Before the mountains were formed,
before the hills, I was born—
before he had made the earth and fields
and the first handfuls of soil.
Proverbs 8: 22-26

I read this passage this morning and thought,  Lord, there really is something older than dirt...wisdom!   

Godly wisdom endures.  Godly wisdom never leads us astray.  Godly wisdom is the one thing we can depend on and trust in.  After all, it’s older than dirt!  It has stood the test of time.

Those who trust in themselves are fools,
but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
Proverbs 28:26

Linking up today with the Gypsy Mama for Five Minute Friday where we write for five minutes not worrying if everything is just right.  If you would like to join in the fun CLICK HERE.

Today’s topic is TRUST.

Wisdom’s Dinner Party

Date: Today

Where: Wisdom’s House

“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?
Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!
I’ve prepared a wonderful spread—fresh-baked bread,
roast lamb, carefully selected wines.
Leave your impoverished confusion and live!
Walk up the street to a life with meaning.” Proverbs 9: 4-6 Message

RSVP

I will be attending ______________________

I will not be attending ____________________

On my journey through the Bible this year, I recently read Exodus 26. This chapter in Exodus is the scene when the Lord gives Moses instructions on how the tabernacle is to be built. As I was reading, I was reminded again how detail oriented God is. God had a specific plan and he desired Moses to listen and to follow those instructions.

I know there are people who have a difficult time believing God really cares about the seemingly, insignificant day-to-day pieces of their lives. However, when I read verses like the ones found in Exodus, I have no doubt that God cares about every single little detail of my life…of your life.

A portion of Psalm 139 popped into my mind as I was reading through these instructions the Lord was giving to Moses. “You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Wow, Lord, I bet you did!

Can you imagine if Moses or even Noah were around today and they overheard us questioning whether God cares about the details of our lives? Can you imagine their responses to us?

Noah: Excuse me, but did I ever share with you the time God asked me to build a big boat? He is most certainly in the details!

Moses: Yeah, and what about the time God had me build the ark and the tabernacle? God is a stickler for details!

This also reminded me of all the little steps of faith we are invited to take every day in our lives. Do you think God cares about those little acts of daily obedience?

God noticed the lady who reached out and touched a corner of his robe…believing she could be healed. (Luke 8:43)

God noticed the prostitute who took a few moments to kneel down and wash His Son’s feet. (Luke 7:44)

God noticed the man who climbed a tree one day just to get a better view of that man Jesus. (Luke 19)

God noticed the poor lady who showed up at the temple and placed two small coins in the offering. (Luke 21)

If God is anywhere, He’s in the details. Never doubt that.

Linking with
Jen from Finding Heaven
Tracy for Winsome Wednesday

I do my writing on a small laptop. Sometimes while tapping away on my tiny device, I feel like I resemble the female version of Mr. Incredible disproportionately hunched over his office desk. Several months ago, my husband bought me a large 64 inch, 36 inch, 20 inch monitor to hook up to my laptop. Okay, so I am not sure of the exact size. I do know it’s a much bigger monitor than I am used to using.  I have tried, unsuccessfully, to establish a meaningful relationship with my new monitor. Recently, I had to have the “it’s not you it’s me” conversation with it.

I prefer to write hidden away in a corner somewhere. Even when I take my laptop out to a coffee shop, I try to find a seat where the least amount of eyes can see me and my monitor.  For the last couple of years, I’ve been given the task of writing on the mission team blog while down in the Dominican Republic. The computer we used at the mission  guest house is in the large central gathering room and every night I was forced to write blog posts about our adventures with a room full of people present. The horror!  Periodically, one of my team members would wander over and sit down next to me as I was typing. I would freeze up like a deer in headlights. And, as gently as I could, I would say…”um…could you please…um…go away”.

When I write, I like to be alone. With the big monitor my husband so lovingly bought me, I feel as if the whole world can see what I am writing. I don’t like that. I know this stems from being an insecure writer who is petrified of her words being seen before she decides to press the post button.

I’m curious now.  Do you struggle with being okay with others prematurely seeing what you are creating?

I can’t be the only quirky, insecure, creative, can I?

Linking up with Jeff Goins who is discussing creative space on his blog today.  Please take a moment to read his great thoughts on the subject  The Most Important Part of the Creative Life.

I woke up with the song “Always” by Kristian Stanfill on my heart. I haven’t heard this song in a while. And like so often, I wasn’t able to place the song at first. I had to Google the words that kept replaying over and over in my head… “Oh, my God, He will not delay. My refuge and strength.”

Maybe you need this reminder today. I hope the truths found in this song bring you encouragement today.

Now it’s your turn. What song is stuck on replay in your heart? I would love for you to share a link in the comments section.

It’s Friday and time for another link up with The Gypsy Mama for Five Minute Friday. “It’s a time when we write not worrying if everything is just right.” You can join in the fun HERE.

TOPIC: REAL

One of my favorite quotes is “I fell in love with broken people.” I wrote about where I heard this quote and why I love it here.

My favorite kind of people to do life with, to hang out with, are people who really know, and courageously admit they are imperfect, flawed, and incapable of getting through this life on their own. There is beauty found in that place. There is strength beyond ourselves. There is hope.

I used to live in fear of being real. Now I don’t. The real has brought more freedom, more joy, and more peace than I ever thought possible.

You keep fake if you want.

I choose real.

“The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little.  And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed. (Exodus 16:17-18)

These verses reminded of how unique and special we are to our Creator.  He doesn’t simply divvy out equal amounts to each of us.  He addresses our needs on a case by case basis.  He knows that some days we come to Him hungrier than other days.  Some days our spiritual stomachs deeply ache for His nourishment.

What do you need?

Ask Him

And then trust that what He supplies is more than enough for today.

And when tomorrow comes

Ask Him again

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

Exodus 14:14 stood out to me this morning. I first read the NIV translation. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

I then decided to look it up in a few other translations.

The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest. ~AMP

The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. ~KJV

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” ~ESV

The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”~NLT

God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!” ~ The Message

I noticed that although each translation was slightly different, there was one common denominator.  We have someone fighting for us.  Today,  I found this very encouraging.  So often we make the mistake of thinking we have to do something, or be something, or say something.  And then the Lord speaks truth into our hearts. 

Stop.  I’m gonna fight for you. Just let me do what I do best. 

When the waters of life threaten to overtake you.  Remember who is in your corner.

My son has recently started playing basketball on a team.  His coach is very good at allowing all the kids sufficient playing time regardless of their skill level. At my son’s last game, I observed Sean sitting on the bench at one point during the game when the coach was allowing another child a chance to play in the game.

Sean sat on one side of the coach while another little boy sat on the other side of the coach.  The scene made me smile.  These two little boys and the coach were the only three sitting on the long bleacher bench but they could not have been sitting any closer together.  Neither boy seemed to grasp the concept of personal space.  But the coach didn’t seem to mind at all.

This, of course, made me think of our Heavenly Coach.  I wonder how different our lives would be if we made the conscious choice to stay this close to Him as we journeyed through our day.  I have a hunch God wouldn’t be the least bit offended.  I have a feeling He would even wrap an arm around us and gently pull us in closer.

Are you choosing to sit next to the Coach today?

He has the game plan.

He has the best strategy.

Don’t miss it.

Because you’ve always stood up for me,
I’m free to run and play.
I hold on to you for dear life,
and you hold me steady as a post.
(Psalm 63: 7-8 MSG)