Tender Shoots

.   photos and text (c) 2013 by Marilee Miller
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TENDER SHOOTS

Oh Dear Lord God,

Reach forth with your lovingkindness, as if with arms holding tenderly your children here on this earth.  We  are all so much in need of you!  May we reach outward, and upward, toward you, who are our life, our guide, the shaper of our personalities, character, and nature.  May all of us (the ones who call you by name and believe that they know you, and the ones, also, who say they don’t need Other Help beyond themselves and human hands) grow as tender shoots flourishing in your Sonshine.  Have mercy on us.  Help us all to be fashioned into the persons you desire us to be, “conformed to Christ.” 

“And because of what Christ did, all… who heard the good news about how to be saved, and trusted Christ, were marked as belonging to Christ by the Holy Spirit, who long ago had been promised to all of us Christians.  His presence within us is God’s guarantee that he really will give us all that he promised, and the Spirit’s seal upon us means that God has already purchased us and that he guarantees to bring us to himself.”  [Eph. 1:14 TLB]

How we rejoice in your tender promises shooting out to each of us who will come to you to find rest, hope, and healing .  Thank you!  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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This post is shared with Laura Boggess

Behold the Beauty

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Sunset Bay State Park, Southern Oregon Coast

BEHOLD THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; 

that I may dwell 

in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

to behold the beauty of the LORD, 

and to enquire in his temple."

(Ps. 27:4)

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Were I never to make any other achievement in my life, oh, may I ever 

"behold the beauty of the Lord" 

and be glad for seeking His kingdom!

  ~

This post is shared with "Seedlings in Stone" and "Playdates with God"

 

Ephesians 3:16

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A nondescript photo of a gray sky evolves into a series of colorful backgrounds when tweaked in a graphics program.  And, oh, this Scripture verse is a sumptuous feast!
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“May He grant out of the rich treasury of his glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Ghost [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality."
                                                     (Eph 3:16  the Amplified Bible)

--oooo--

This verse – it takes my breath away.  I can say I accept it as true.  But my mind staggers to grasp the depths of the idea.  What does it mean,  that God himself indwells my inner being, my personality! 

Ah, how do I surrender to Him in such a way that my heart KNOWS unwaveringly that His mighty, Holy Spirit power is strengthening and reinforcing me?  Reinforcing me -- even amidst my struggles and hard days?  Oh, my.  That’s exactly what I need.  My heart doesn’t know how to “FEEL” that!  I can only cry out to him for mercy.  How I plead for more, more of Jesus Christ.

And while I’m waiting for the knowledge of his infusion to mold sweet patterns within me, I can make artworks as a fitting worship unto him.  Just as I can use a graphics program to express my imagination by bringing out bright colors, he’s going to turn the gray skies of my inner life into bright banners testifying of his unfailing love and provision.

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This post is shared with "Seedlings in Stone" and
"Playdates with God"







Do you plead for more, more of Jesus Christ?  What expressions or activities do you employ to worship him, and keep yourself reminded of his glory?  "[Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality.]"  Does this add to your understanding of God in your life?