Hearts Around the Table

    YOU never failed me yet... i fail YOU day by day.... minute by minute. Worship is a participation activity and, i need to sub out. The words cut my throat in route to my lips. Drowning in hypocrisy a float by grace. Ducking behind corners running from YOU while carrying YOU with me. Then, stings my heart, my SAVIOR calls to me. I keep picking up chains placing my arms in the sleeve. Like stay woke messages i have spent so much time in bondage it was my safe place. I am protected from joy and peace. Liberty dare not show her face. Out of chaos i emerge with the appearance of glee. Dawn break but, my morning joy is choked out by the pollution mincing the joy of my salvation. Remembering the days of our walks like mirages in this desert land.
    
 If you are sitting on the lap of the LORD, wallowing in HIS perfect will these words very likely could have inspired visions of people you identify as being in a backslidden state. If you are sitting in a backslidden state those words just remix the echo of the self loathing single set on repeat in our heads. Given the current time of year relational convictions demand or, require those same faces attached to hearts to be at your dinner table. Neither of us have a heaven or hell to cast a soul in. All of us take on a certain degree of disappointment based on the roles the people who make up these relationships play in our lives. 

     Doubly more powerful as Christians we literally demonstrate Christ in the lives of others. Literally our actions both positive or negative. What are we pouring into the hearts around the table? Are we dispensing grace, love, patience as our loved ones make choices that are connected to the destined path Christ has them on leading to HIM? Are we condemning, judging, being so short minded that we forget our own journey to salvation? There is a delicate balance between grace and tolerance of certain behaviors. However,if we follow the leading of this HOLY Spirit we claim to learn from; the navigation is easier to endure. After all, when Christ dined among those whom leadership did not approve; his eating companions did not feel ostracized by HIM. 

     Their behaviors did not bother HIM because HE knew soon they would choose to follow HIM completely. The guest not only chose but, enjoyed their time with Christ because there was a relief in HIS presence. Relief from the guilt of the poor choices. Relief from the lessons learned through the examples of poor parenting. Relief from the temptations that lure with promises of joy; then turn to pain of regret. Does the Spirit that lives with you and in provide that type of relief? How did you handle the hearts this week? As the year closes and, we spend time with family and friends....Does your invitation to feast serve a platter of Comforter alleviating pressures? Are the hearts around your table handled with care?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tent Revival

Step right up! Step right up! Here for one night only see the juggling woman act. The conductor projects in the crowded room. Here she goes........ balancing the career, ambition, and business on three plates. The awe flows through the crowd. Now, behold her lift one leg and, push the button of peaceful balance. Wait for it.... A discreet servant slides in a ball for her to stand on with her remaining leg that she lands on gently coming down from a quick hop. Laugh out loud at myself this is what I see when I close my eyes to the circus surrounding me. I leap from center stage, and discard my props. I find the nearest secluded rug and I push in. The ringmaster is silenced to my tears that soothe my drumming heart. The lion at the end of the whip has nothing on the roar that escapes from me. The ground around me begins to sway. I hear a song from my spirit. The boisterous gale of a melody cracks the whip on this pompous tent action attempting to overtake me. To my th
Read more

Extra, Extra, Read About Life

     Heads or tails? Life and death are two sides of the same coin. Why does it seem like death is being celebrated in the media? All these images force me to watch depictions of my heart beating outside of my chest. Every day we are informed of the death toll increase. At the time these strokes grace my keys the Texas number of confirmed Covid cases is 432,000 and 6,991 deaths. Not as much emphasis is placed on the recoveries. We see countless pictures of hospitals and doctors with makeshift personal protective equipment but, few smiling faces of the 260,542 people who held on to life long enough to share the love of those they believe are worth fighting death to see again.             This barrage of death got me to thinking about how humans place value on life. How does one measure life? What is a life worth? Covid is not the introduction of death but, it forces everyone to have a conversation with themselves about the impact of death. All the death in the media is not l
Read more

One Dimensional

     Looking at the various forms of life lost celebrated on display around town, shivering from the brisk air drop; I am reminded of the time of year. However, the aisles and aisles of candy remind me of children. Children who are tiny humans; not incomplete people. A conversation with a couple of parents about children having the liberty to express themselves emotionally forced me to analyze my thoughts on the emotional freedom we allow children to exert. This conversation lingered with me after I walked away because as an adult; majority of the emotional healing that has taken place in my life was delayed because of my emotional blockage from childhood. Being human enough to have the full brunt of painful situations knock you down, but not having a healthy space to process those experiences is a serious disservice to children. Our children go through the ups and downs that we go through on our roads across triumph, distress, failure, or sudden surprise.        One step f
Read more