In the space between
My need –
My prayer
And His provision
There is an opportunity
For communion
With the Man of Sorrows
The Son of Man
Who had nowhere to call home
On this earth
I can enter the Sacred Garden
And stay awake for a while
With Him
While He bears my pain
And works unseen
His answer to my need
I will be changed
Deeply marked
With the fellowship of
His suffering
© 2013 Julie Clark
Choices lie before me
Which path will I choose?
Will I choose a path of faith, hope and love?
Will I take the time to listen?
Will I discern the gravity pulling me?
Will I feel the ancient forces of good and evil?
Will I choose the good?
Will I ask for wisdom in the choosing?
That is my hope
That is my prayer
I’m still learning
I’m still growing
© 2013 Julie Clark
They’ve been waiting
Anticipating
This moment
Ready to move
High alert
Waiting
Anticipating
The feeble prayer
Forms in the heart
Barely makes it
To the lips
If at all
A mere
Seed of faith
Commotion
In the cosmos
“She asked!
We are moving in!”
The cogs begin to turn
Heaven moves earth
Surely help is on the way
© 2013 Julie Clark
Remain in Me
Keep in step
Keep in touch
Take my hand
Don’t lag behind or rush ahead
No lolly-gagging or reckless driving
Stick with Me
Close to Me
Stay connected
Abide in me
Walk with me
Every day
Every hour
Every minute
Breathe me in
Like your breath
Breathe me out
To another
Don’t slough me off
Disregard me
Close your ears
When you get tempted
Or enticed
Don’t veer off to the left
Or the right
Take a detour
Or a short cut
Don’t get caught in an eddy
Don’t get stuck or left behind
Double your efforts
To rest in me
Fill your thoughts
With thoughts of me
Love me
I love you
Let my love flow in you
And out of you
Come back for more
There’s always more
You in me and I in you
And this is what it means
To live a life
Of prayer
© 2013 Julie Clark
It started with a morning prayer: “Teach me Your Ways.” Unexpectedly on the way to church an elderly woman crossed the road. The temperatures were below freezing. We turned around and gave her a lift to the grocery store a quarter of a mile away. She needed some essentials that her group home didn’t offer. I felt uneasy leaving here even though she assured us she wasn’t far from home. So we left for church where we had other duties, and frankly we love joining in worship with our small, informal, fun community. This was the Sunday many in our area struggled over the Seahawks game at 10:00 or church. Some went to church and some stayed home to watch the game. For us this wasn’t a huge issue, although we do like to watch football sometimes, but we had made a commitment to go, so off we went thinking that was our personal test. No, the real test was were we going to care for an elderly woman out in the sub freezing weather. Of all people, I who am trying so hard to not be a religious person, but a loving person missed it. Well, to be fair I got half of it, but how much better would it have been to wait for her to do her shopping and take her home. I am grateful my prayer was answered even though it was painful to see where I still need to grow. So I will keep praying to learn and practice the ways of Jesus and hope I do better next time. A sweet ending to the story for us was that after we left the church building we wandered down the Ave. with our son looking for a place to eat and perhaps catch the last few minutes of the game. Sure enough we heard hooting and hollering from a pub. We walked in, found a spot and were able to catch the last minutes of a very exciting game, albeit disappointing for Seahawks fans. That’s what I love about walking with Jesus: it’s grace upon grace, no condemnation, just a steep learning curve to be like Him.
Only three things have been making me nervous here in Pune: the traffic, the dogs, and my son’s pressure cooker. My son has told me that the dogs, all though mangy, are fine.
“It’s live and let live here mom, don’t bother them and they won’t bother you.”
“Ok son, but what about this one that keeps jumping on me that is supposed to be guarding your apartment?”
“Oh, he’s just friendly, give him a knee and he will stop.”
I guess he got the message with my knee once so he has stopped jumping on me. So the dog nerves are subsiding. The traffic? I find it best on my nerves to close my eyes from the back seat and think of flowing rivers. Of course praying mostly under my breath helps too: “mumble, mumble, mumble, GOD HAVE MERCY! Mumble, mumble, mumble, LORD HELP US ALL! Mumble, mumble, mumble.” I think those nerves are subsiding as well, except I had a relapse last night when he was trying to use his CELL PHONE while zigging and zagging. Admittedly, I haven’t seen any accidents just a lot of weaving, stopping and starting. Also a whole lot of horn honking. Perhaps what looks like near misses to me are just the normal ebbs and flows of traffic around here?
There are reasons I have never owned a pressure cooker. I think my mom had a run in with one and never would have one in the house. I know it is great for getting tough meat nice and tender, and cooking rice or beans really quick. It’s just that little bit of letting off steam that really gets me unexpectedly. My son calls those whistles. It would be nice if it would actually whistle a gentle tune, not that sudden high-pitched, nerve wrecking screech. My usual response after the initial jolt is to head for the kitchen door and wait for the “whistle” to subside. I am getting more used to it now since I made a nice dhal all on my own the other day.
My darling grandson is gaining weight and getting settled into his baby routines. His Mama is healing well. We just heard our visas for Kazakhstan are on their way. We may even make our original flight on Sunday.
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