Ancient Paths
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
I love the way these two verses speak to each other. God is so creative!
Click on the photo for a full size view.
Labels: photos, portfolio, prophetic art
posted by Fragrant Burning @ 8:34 PM,
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Me and My House
Thursday, December 28, 2006
posted by Fragrant Burning @ 1:21 PM,
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Coming Storm
Monday, July 3, 2006
Labels: end time, photos, portfolio, prophetic art
posted by Fragrant Burning @ 2:04 PM,
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Symphony of praise
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Tonight we briefly talked about how we enter into God's chamber. We light on praise and thanksgiving. That God inhabits our praise. So we desire to praise - to give thanks. How shall we do this? Tonight we did it this way. 3 pieces of blank paper - become a collective praise offering. Written and drawn - words of praise. Shared. Responded and added to. Line upon line- it creates a symphony of praise. What fun we had - in silence and yet loud. I have been blessed with 2 amazing women to walk this journey out. Thank you Lord.
Labels: about me, portfolio, teaching
posted by Fragrant Burning @ 12:07 PM,
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Terms of Agreement
Monday, May 1, 2006
Jesus,
I want you.
But I see now
that I can't have you on my own terms.
On what terms can you become fully mine?
I ask this of Jesus.
Satan asks this of me.
posted by Fragrant Burning @ 12:14 PM,
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My King
Thursday, April 27, 2006
There are times in your life when you look around and realize that what you believe has been foundationaly changed - forever. I have been going through one of those times. I joked a couple of months ago with some friends that I had a new Bible. Not a new physical Bible, but it seemed that everything I read, I was reading with new eyes, new understanding, a fresh perspective, new insight and revelation. It has been amazing and wonderful. The same verses that I have been reading for years have new depth and life to them. As I have pondered through this new reality, I have realized that my new perception extends beyond scripture - but to my understanding of God and is place and interaction in my life. Though it would probably be clearly obvious for most - it to me a few months fully realize and acknowledge that it is not God that has changed - but me. Here are my thoughts, in verse.
My Old King
was small
one dimensional
familiar
predictable
void of surprise
safe
cozy
boring
lifeless
detached
without power to impact my world
He loved me
but from afar
was uninvolved
in my day to day affairs
I was left to wander
through the mysteries of life
without direction
struggling to make sense of the sensless
striving to win His favor
trying to hide my wretchedness
afriad He might see
me
the me I knew intimately
and despised
My New King
is vast beyond measure
wild
mysterious
wonderfully creative
His reach, infinite
even to the very details of my life
He is mighty, powerful
and yet with gentleness He breaks and refashions
my character to the likeness of His son
He is exciting, fearful and not "safe"
and yet in Him I find true security
He is trustworthy
my passions, my desires, my hopes
they are treasured by Him
and find fullfillment in Him
my secrets, my sin, my shame
are safe with him
forgiven
removed
He gives me sight to see
me
the me I'm becoming
and love
He loves me with abadon
He intimately guides and moves me
as He works to fullfill a grand plan
and purpose for my life
He can speak laughter into tragedy
joy into suffering
move past governments
beyond poverty
through injustice
to release those who are bound.
He can reach into the pain
and give peace
the valley of the shadow of death
and bring life
My old King, my new King
the same King
It is I
who has changed
Praise You
Most Glorious
There is none like You!
posted by Fragrant Burning @ 9:44 AM,
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Praise Offering
Saturday, April 22, 2006
The last couple of days I have been at a retreat to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the outpouring at Azuza Street. I have been fellowshipping with a wonderful group of people, some who I have gotten to know and deeply love and respect. But these couple of days havn't been without their struggles - as this group is mainly Pentecostal and the difference in the style of worship and even the expectation of what real praise looks like has made me inquire of God.
A shout
a dance in the aisle
Jumping
spinning
running, falling, rolling
Is this the kind of praise you desire from me?
Have I failed to offer the fullness of what I can give
Does my praise offering
made in the quietness of soul
convey to you the same adoration
A life bowed before you
A tear of repentance or of joy
A loving gaze seeking your face
Heart uplifted in gratitude of who you are
A hand raised in adoration
acknowledging your greatness and glory
A quiet song directed by your Spirit
or does my silence mock you
Am I a coward
fearful of man
Disobedient
sinful in omission
unwilling to offer the praise you deserve
One thing is sure - I cannot discern my own heart
Reveal myself to me
teach me Lord
Move my heart to conviction
or let me stand in solitude of soul
confident that my offering of praise
fills your cup to overflowing
posted by Fragrant Burning @ 8:25 AM,
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Heavens Window
Friday, April 21, 2006
Birds singing filter to my ears
A song that is willingly embraced
Enjoyed
A window opened to hear more clearly
Could it be that my prayers
Rise as a song to God
Enjoyed
Heavens window opened to me
Labels: poetry, portfolio, prophetic art
posted by Fragrant Burning @ 12:28 PM,
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Creating a Habitation
Thursday, April 20, 2006
My heart is filled with desire
Passions and longing for greatness in God
Seeking what I cannot imagine, yet somehow know could be
A habitation for the almighty
right here in my life
This desire necessitates the furnace
requires the heat of His consuming fire
Purity revealed - absolute and undefiled
Even precious things become dross
silver - beautiful, precious, treasured
taints the purity of the gold I seek
Refined
pure gold
easily molded on the anvil
into God's easy chair
A place to dwell
my life, His living room
Holiness serves as the welcome mat
Welcome home
Labels: portfolio, prophetic art
posted by Fragrant Burning @ 8:16 AM,
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Amazing Techni-color Journey
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Sometimes I feel like I'm Shrek, and the crazy conversations that go on in my head are like that donkey that followed Shrek around. I'm on this journey to awaken the sleeping princess ( the bride of Christ) & bring her to the king, and there are hills to traverse & dragons to slay & dungeons to move through & towers to climb... And there's me - moving through this amazing techni-color journey while scratching my rear, belching the words to "I wish I were an Oscar Meyer weiner', occasionally cleaning my ears & my nose with my finger, wearing the same shirt for too many days in a row, and sometimes needing a serious attitude adjustment when either the donkey or the princess goes into a diatribe of whines & complaints over the nature of this journey. Add to all that the reality that a part of me really is an Ogerrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!. As I put on Christ for & in this trek, I become a Christian Oger, but an Oger nonetheless. I don't kill & eat towns-people any longer. Now I serve & protect them. But I still pick my nose... while slaying their dragons & keeping watch over the village. Turns out even Ogers have a unique purpose in the plan of God.
Labels: about me, poetry, portfolio
posted by Fragrant Burning @ 12:30 PM,
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More Fully Myself
This morning I am in Birmingham - and in the confusion of knowing or not knowing if B-Ham was central or eastern time zone - I am up an hour earlier than planned. Oh - well it makes way for the time to put some thoughts down about my desire for the life I seek to lead.
practicing extreme obedience
fierce faithfulness
swift in care for others
responsive, rushing readiness
to move at a moments notice
when even a hint or a whisper of God's will
reaches my listening heart
no part of God revealed going unnoticed
ever repentant
throwing down the erected altars of the old me
with all its fading glory
broken though made whole
at war and yet peaceful
ruling while being ruled
rising while bowing down
extreme freedom in the midst of slavery
resting though laboring
longing for something more and yet strangely content
being me not at all
yet more fully myself than ever before
joyful dichotomy of a life hidden an yet revealed in Christ.
Labels: about me, portfolio, prophetic art
posted by Fragrant Burning @ 11:27 AM,
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