"Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult
Of our life's wild, restless sea,
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, 'Christian, follow Me.'"
--from the hymn by Cecil Alexander, 1852
When you find yourself in an unexpected season, how do you react? I have found myself taking up both hardness and surrender, with a heart that has revealed my own tendencies to waffle back and forth.
But God has no intentions of letting my waffling change His Plans. He is forever working to bring about GOOD.
When this week's prompt showed up at Ronovan Hester's site, Ronovan Writes,
for his #Haiku #Poetry challenge,
with the words "Shell & Coast,"
I was set to find pretty lakeside images
with dreamy vacation thoughts.
Oh, but how can I not listen to my heart when it is being stirred
with the truth of where I am actually walking?
When this week's prompt showed up at Ronovan Hester's site, Ronovan Writes,
for his #Haiku #Poetry challenge,
with the words "Shell & Coast,"
I was set to find pretty lakeside images
with dreamy vacation thoughts.
Oh, but how can I not listen to my heart when it is being stirred
with the truth of where I am actually walking?
A New Heart
Break this hard heart shell
When I want only to coast
Thru life, Lord, move me.
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekial 36:26
In these days where my physical condition of waffling between pain and rest
mirrors the way of my heart,
I hear a VOICE beckoning to me,
calling me.
Come, follow Me,
and I will remove your stony heart
and give you a tender heart of flesh
with a single minded will
to pursue the way of love.
Whatever the place where we find ourselves,
be it planned or unplanned,
there is a way to choose
LOVE
within the day,
within the moment.
There is always
SOMEWAY
that our lives can speak of Love.
There is always
SOMEONE
to be blessed by a tender heart
and a tender word.
I am thankful for these online communities that prompt my heart in ways both surprising and convicting. Take a risk and give it a try for yourself! You may just find an inner poet lurking within your heart as well.
In these days where my physical condition of waffling between pain and rest
mirrors the way of my heart,
I hear a VOICE beckoning to me,
calling me.
Come, follow Me,
and I will remove your stony heart
and give you a tender heart of flesh
with a single minded will
to pursue the way of love.
Whatever the place where we find ourselves,
be it planned or unplanned,
there is a way to choose
LOVE
within the day,
within the moment.
There is always
SOMEWAY
that our lives can speak of Love.
There is always
SOMEONE
to be blessed by a tender heart
and a tender word.
I am thankful for these online communities that prompt my heart in ways both surprising and convicting. Take a risk and give it a try for yourself! You may just find an inner poet lurking within your heart as well.
Great sites to link with this week:
Love this post and your beautiful haiku! Many blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by Beth! I am glad you were blessed here today. May you be blessed also!
DeleteHi Bettie,
ReplyDeleteSo good to see your words here and I always love it when you stop by my place! I've been thinking about you this summer and praying for you so hoping that along with fresh strength physically, you'll also experience a stirring in your soul. I love what you write about always finding a way to choose love and show it to someone in our path! God multiplies what little we have to give, doesn't he? :) xoxo
Dear Valerie,
DeleteI always love it when you stop by my place also, my friend! How kind of you to be thinking and praying for me this summer. I appreciate those prayers for a stirring in my soul so much. Perhaps these very stirrings today, to find ways to plant love, were helped along by your prayers! Many blessings, love, and hugs to you! xoxo
Enjoyed your haiku and the rest of the post. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI am so blessed that you found joy here, my friend. Thank you for kind words! Blessings to you!
DeleteOh, my friend! I have felt such a stirring in my own spirit tonight, too. It seems that I pray and pray and can find no relief. Trusting God to decipher my rambling prayers and the precious Holy Spirit to present them to the throne of God. I so want to be what He wants me to be in this season, and yes, it is somewhat unexpected, and I want to do as you said and show love through it. God help me. Sending love and hugs to you and much gratitude for your beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteDear Cheryl,
DeleteOh I know what you mean when those prayers seem to ramble and fall around us. But yes, you are so right that the Holy Spirit lifts them to God on our behalf, and then He helps to bring us to the surrender that we so long to live in. You are in my prayers today, dear friend! May He shower you with His precious Love! Many Blessings and Hugs to you!
One thing we often forget when we are going through difficult times, or when we feel rather down, more than usual, is the God is only a prayer away. We need not say much. Just one word or two; or even say the name Jesus. And His peace will gently give us rest.
ReplyDeletePeace be with you. Praying for you.
God bless.
Thank you so much for your beautiful prayers for peace, brother! Yes, the name of JESUS brings us so close to the Father's heart. Thank you for the encouragement today!
DeleteThank you for your beautiful words! Love is the answer! May we always seek it first.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Mary, how I pray that my heart will look to the ways of Love, HIS Love, first of all! Blessings to you!
DeleteI understand that place, between hardness and surrender. I am thankful God never gives up on me. Love your words here.
ReplyDeleteDear Barbie,
DeleteOh yes, what GRACE that He doesn't give up on us. I am so blessed that He keeps pursuing us with His Love! --Blessings to you!
Lovely words throughout your post. Thank you for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful that you found encouragement here today, Patricia! Thank you for kind words!
DeleteBettie, I've been in pain and I've watched those suffer in pain; I'm not sure which is worse. Much love to you today.
ReplyDeleteDear Susan, I so appreciate all your encouragement and prayers! I can feel those prayers bringing relief! Much Love to you also! xoxo
DeleteLoved the analogy of waffling beteeen pain and rest with our fickle hearts. Awesome post.
ReplyDeleteDear Mandy,
DeleteYes, I like that word "fickle" because I do know that my heart can tend towards that all too easily! I'm so grateful that Jesus knows what to do when my heart starts down that waffle-path, and gently pulls me back to HIS heart! Blessings to you!