Secret Wisdom

The Word of God sits open upon my lap. I stare at the lines with eyes that are glazed over. Slowly I read each sentence, trying to soak in what the apostle is saying. These words are difficult to understand. My brain does not process them easily. I open laptop and look up several commentaries.

Father, why is this so hard? I love your book of love letters. The words of mercy and truth, righteousness and peace that are contained within the pages of this ancient book. I am seeking to find the truth. Yet here I read of divisions, sexual immorality, lawsuits, idol feasts, warnings to your people –corrective words directed to your church. There are instructions here, given to the Corinthian body of believers. They sound like words that need to be heeded in today.

Hidden within, I find words of comfort and encouragement in the midst of sinful human struggles.

“…you do not lack any spiritual gift…He will keep you strong to the end…preach Christ crucified…the power and wisdom of God…” snippets of Scripture 1 Corinthians 1:7,8,23,24

Father, reveal through your Spirit, the deep things of your word. Father, your secret wisdom that was hidden, but has now been revealed – the power of the cross of Christ. Spirit of God help me understand the truth of what you have freely given. (from 1 Corinthians 2:10, 7,12)

I will continue to sit with the Word of God open upon my lap and laptop handy. Until the truth soaks deep into the crevices of my heart. Until the meanings are clear and I am changed by Christ’s power at work in me.

Scripture Only Sunday

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits –

who forgives all your sins and

heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit and

crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires

with good things so that

your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103: 1-5

Thanksgiving Poetry

autumn settles in

thankful nature bares its praise

golden amber glow

--Nancy Kourmoulis

Thankful Thursday: Thanksgiving Blessings

“We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing…Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine; so from the beginning the fight we were winning; thou, Lord, wast at our side, all glory be thine!”  ederlandtsch Gedencklanck; trans. by Theodore Baker

As the day to give thanks is here this song has been playing through my mind.  Families and friends gather to enjoy food and fellowship.  Turkey and football will be plenteous.  Yet will the praise and glory to God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son be just as free flowing?   

The past year I have spent Thursday’s counting the blessings of God in my life.  It is my desire for gratitude to be an integral part of my life.  The continued counting of the thousands of gifts my Heavenly Father gives daily.  Gifts bestowed upon one ordinary, common life. 

Today I am most grateful for the Love of the Father and His Son Jesus…

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”  John 15:9-11

 

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13

Daily may I sit at the precious Lord’s feet and may his most lavish sacrifice always be the most important gift that I call to remembrance. 

May you remain in His love.  May you celebrate with your families, be joyful at your feast.  May the Lord your God bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, so that your joy will be complete.  (Deuteronomy 16:14a;15) 

Scripture Only Sunday

 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.  Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.  The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. 

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you….

        And a highway will be there; it will be called the               Way of Holiness.

Isaiah 35:1-4; 8

Give me time to dream…

Give me time to dream, oh Lord
Time now for reflections
Time to rid my frazzled mind
of a thousand and one expectations.

Give me just a moment
to observe this changing time
~to shut out noise and disturbances
~To sweep them from my mind

Let me notice little things
you give unselfishly
~the falling leaves, the pure white snow
~all the gifts you give to me.

Let me look forward to tomorrow
without worry or regret
~forget the past and accept the present
~don't let me give up yet

Slow me down, Lord, slow me down
~so I can see your face
~to pause and let the blessed calm
~my negative thoughts replace.

Let me take the time to live and love
instead of racing out of control
Slow me down, Lord, slow me down
and still my restless soul

I found this poem here.  As children are growing, time is marching forward.  As God is stretching me, time is moving forward.  I need to see his face, notice things before they pass out of view. When so much is out of my control, I need to give up my expectations, my negative thoughts, my fears and worry.  I need to pause in the storm and let his calm repose my soul. 

Today I am pausing to dream.  Dream about what God has in mind for today and even tomorrow.  That God would even take notice of my dreams, which are actually prayers.  For God,  I am dreaming about a wide front porch which overlooks a rolling pasture.  A place for children to spread out and investigate and have adventures.   It will take work for this dream to become a reality.  It has been a dream for a LONG time.  I am willing to work with God for this reality. 

What are you dreaming of today?

Thankful Thursday

                                                                              (Thankful list #316-320.) 

Father – as we are catching our breath this week from the work of last week, the work that is out of the ordinary – moving loved ones home - thank you for times of joy amid the hours of toil. 

Worthy, O Master! Yes, our God!
   Take the glory! the honor! the power!
   You created it all;
   It was created because you wanted it.

Revelation 4:11

 

Please join in the Gratitude Community as we give glory and honor to the Jesus, who created everything.

Empty yet Full

My mind is empty.  I have few words.  Our family has recently purchased a tiny farm with an old house on the property.  Darling daughter and dear son-in-love have moved home from two states away.  They will be living in the house on the farm since it is in no way large enough for the rest of us.  This past week we have been cleaning and painting and moving them.  I am tired.  It is a good tired – weariness after a job well done.  Yet my mind has gone into daily survival mode through all the work.  

There is still a lot of work to be done.  But as Scarlett would say, “I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow.”   Today I rest and look back at what we have accomplished this week.

Father – thanks for many hands to make the work light. 

Scripture Only Sunday

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God….

but we preach Christ crucified…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s strength and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:18;23-25

Thankful Thursday

The beauty challenge continues as I find it all around.    This quote captured my attention…

“In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet.”  ~Albert Schweitzer

Then I thought of a little ditty I used to sing to my children…

311.  “I see the moon and the moon sees me, God bless the moon and God bless me.”  ~Author Unknown I am grateful for the moon, its shimmering beauty.

Father – as I gaze on the moon which you hung in the heavens I am grateful for the flowers that bloom daily around me.  Thank you for opportunities to find joy often.

312. Spending the day in the sunshine with Gold-hearted mom and sensitive son.

 

313. Crafters and artists using the talents and gifts you have given.

 

314. Sensitive son, he makes me smile, he has a gentle heart.

315.  Daughters together

 

“For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise…” 

1 Chronicles 16:25a

Fall Glory

More of the beauty found this week from this seeker…

Fall Glory

Colors of red, orange, and gold,
Oh, what glory to behold.
Dripping from branches to lay at my feet,
Their crunching sound is such a treat.
Limbs reaching skyward becoming bare,
Declaring God’s glory is everywhere.

--Nancy Kourmoulis(2008)

Beauty Seekers

Beauty and challenge  from Ann @ A Holy Experience:

“Every morning I wake, a seeker.
Lord God, You know how broken I am, how muddy this place.

So here's the perfect place for redemptive beauty. Let me thrill in the hunt.
This week: Beauty Challenge 1 :: Beauty Challenge 2 :: Beauty Challenge 3
I'll be back Monday, Lord willing, with found beauty from this week, grace-finds for our little line of vases ... maybe you'll share yours with community on Monday too?”

Seeking has been a large part of the year for me, because finding has been the name the Lord has given me for 2009.  For only in the seeking can one find.

“Finding God is solely a work of God. Those who seek Him will find Him because He will give them a heart to recognize Him as Lord.” Marvin Williams

Do I look around, take the time and find all the “redemptive beauty” God has given?   Sagging skin, lines and wrinkles that are beginning to show in those aging places.  Sore muscles and aching joints, the curse of this time of life or the joy that comes from working out, moving?  These evidences of the glory of growing older.  Do I view beauty as the outer vessel or the soul within?

In the struggling days that come with raising children, do I find the “redemptive beauty”?  In the midst of lost socks and loads of laundry, sibling rivalry, schooling challenges, do I see the beauty of helping hands?  Do I see the loveliness of the character that is blooming in each heart?

Losing loved ones, moving multitudes of times, financial strains, emotional and physical battles, these things that consist of life in the world.  Do they so become my focus that they choke out God’s gracious “redemptive beauty” of having ones to love, the diversity of living in many places, the triumph of overcoming the daily battles. 

Here is the beginning of the beauty found in the past week…

Scripture from encouraging friend just when I really needed it!

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23 –24

Fun son taking a trip to help darling daughter and dear son-in-love pack to move. 

Father – thank you for more!  More of your presence, your glory in everything!

Scripture Only Sunday

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   

Philippians 1:3-6

 

Thankful Thursday

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” 1 Chronicles 16:8

306. A man and his machines…

307. New ventures…our future homestead…

308. Just love the way Precious husband and dear son-in-love are standing! Even the sunglass riding on their heads.

309. Leaves falling…newly married couple underneath…(not totally new – currently at the 1 1/2 year mark)

310. We now have cows…part of our new adventures…

Father – I am grateful for all you have done. Thank you for asking me to expect more, for you are an amazing God.

Consider joining Ann at the Gratitude Community as we lift thanks to God for his multitude of gifts.

Poetry: A Gift

A Gift

A Gift
Here, just for me
Packaged in such a glorious way
To bring peace
On this dreary, cold day

Created with thoughts
Of me in mind
To bring great joy
A surprise divine

Sitting before me
This package glares
I gaze with longing
As everyone stares

Unworthy I am to
Receive such a prize
The tears well up
And fall from my eyes

A Gift
Here, just for me
Packaged in such a glorious way
To bring peace
As I trust straightaway

Unwrapping the gift
Placed in my hands
It’s apparent, we share it
Across many lands

For the gift I’ve received
Is prepared for all
Who listen to the Lord
Answering his call

Mess that I am
So full of sin
God bends down in grace
Placing hand under chin

A Gift
Here, just for me
Packaged in such a glorious way
To bring peace
Not yesterday but for today

With eyes raised to His
He sees past the pain
Our gazes hold tight
His love breaks the chain

Jesus sacrifice on Calvary
Makes everything clear
God’s grace is extended
He believes I am dear

Not just for me
This gift reaches farther
Extended to you from
Heart of the Father

A Gift
Here, just for you
Packaged in such a glorious way
To bring peace
Here now, today and everyday

--Nancy Kourmoulis(10/26/09)

Fearful Expectations

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;

In the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait in expectation.”  Psalm 5:3

Expectations are  dreams.  God has shown me lately that I get up, I come to Him with my requests, and I wait well.  Yet I have no expectation about the outcome of  my requests. 

You see, I have had dreams.  Prayers I have prayed in faith.  Yet many of them are still just that – prayers.  My past experience with prayer expectations leaves me desiring more, yet afraid.  I struggle to expect.

I have just finished Beth Moore’s Bible study “Stepping Up”. 

She has a graphic that looks something like this…

Where I look ---What I hear ---What I feel ---What I expect

Under which I wrote:

              God ---             Truth ---           Hope ---             Nothing

Sad, but true.  I look to God and hear him speak the truth and I have hope in that truth.  Yet I expect nothing – at least not here and now.  For eternity – definitely – for today, I expect nothing. I have become so accustomed to the ordinary – things common to man – that I have lost my expectations from the Lord.  Shouldn’t I expect God to do things on my behalf when I pray?

Then this weekend, God helped me really get honest and I had to write…

Where I look ---What I hear ---What I feel ---What I expect

              God ---               Truth ---                Fear ---              Nothing

So today, as I rose up and came before His throne, I heard Him say, Look UP (Psalm 123:1)

           Receive MERCY

              Draw NEAR

                   Bow DOWN             (Psalm 5:7)

                         LISTEN

So this Lord’s day (11/1/09) as I step into His house and worship starts, I hear Him say…

“Jesus! The name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
‘Tis life, and health, and peace.”

                 (John Wesley, O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing)

and…

“Your perfect love is casting out fear…for my God is with me”

                   (Matt Redman, “You Never Let Go)

and still He speaks…

“Your mercy flows like a river wide,
And healing comes from Your hand.”

                    (Hillsong United, There is None Like You)

For some reason the picture of  a snake charmer comes into my mind.  Jesus charms my fear out into the open.  Jesus’ gentle hand brings healing.  My fear of unmet expectations is cast out.   

Father – Taking deeper steps into your tabernacle – into the holy place.  I accept your body, broken and afflicted, the bread of your presence.  I receive your blood, shed to cover, protect, free me from sin, fear.   God, “may I look to you, which will cause me to more effectively listen, which in turn will alter my feelings, manifesting in a change in my expectation.”  May “everything else be downsized into its proper place as I look to you alone.” (Beth Moore, Stepping Up) 

Father – I find my graph changed again…and I am thankful…

Where I look ---What I hear ---What I feel ---What I expect

God ---              Shepherd’s Voice ---            Restored ---          More

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”  Ephesians 5:20-21

Spinning

Being real and honest this week. For the past week I have been spinning. Falling down into a dark hole where I have been before. Laura’s statement, enclosed in a movie review, hit it right on the nose for me, “memories I thought left far behind, scabbed over now.” These scabbed over, painful areas, have been ripped wide open again this past week.

I have sat here stunned actually. With the question spinning in my head, why is this happening again? The circumstances vary, but the outcome of feelings is always the same for me. Hurt, rejection, loneliness. What is really regretful, rarely is it an intended situation. Yet these feelings have become sin for me. My enemy knows my weak spots so well, he uses similar conditions to lay me low. I take the bait and wallow in this pit too long.

Unlike Paul, I have not been caught up into heaven and had great revelations. Like Paul, I have been given a thorn in my flesh, this pit that torments me. Given for the same reason, so I will boast only in Christ’s power. So that God’s grace would prove sufficient for me, so Christ’s power would be made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

So now in my weakness, hurt, rejection, loneliness, I turn it over to my Father. Trusting in His grace and power to help me deal and heal. To overcome the enemy by Jesus blood and the word of my testimony. I testify to the fact that God is great and gracious, loving in all His ways. That His presence is with me in the midst of my pit, lifting me out if I will just look up.

Dear Father, thank you for another journey through your tabernacle today. Past the outer court – where the sacrifice for sin was settled and I’ve been washed clean.

Scripture Only Sunday

 

Nancy’s Photo 2009