Book Excerpt # 27 "Heartbeats"

18. Heartbeats 

You, yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. (2 Corinthians 3: 2) 

I have lettered family mementos that span nearly two hundred years. Among these treasures is correspondence between my parents during WW II. Though apart, they were together awaiting my birth. 

Heartbeats of chronicled genealogy add up to my feeling grateful for the gift of life. But first, I was in the heart of God before creation. He awaited his timing to start my heart’s beat and delivery to my earthly home. 

I came with his personalized blueprint of recorded days including his hopes as to how I would embrace his will to contribute to his world. 

I continue to desire moving intertwined with the plans He has knit for me— the joys that uplift my heart and the challenges that try it. 

He is the wellspring of my heart. 

He is near as I live my life. 

Paul wanted the Corinthians to recognize that when they entered into a relationship with Christ, his Spirit came to dwell within them. Christ’s love could then be expressed outwardly. This is true for each of us.

. . . .

As the beat of life goes on within me and around me, I want to be intentional to choose and seize with my mind, heart, and spirit any opportunity to express love.

Lynn L. Severance. “Seeking the Light of God's Comforter When Challenges Dim Our View”. 8. Heartbeats. Redemption Press. 

Book Excerpt #26 Abundance

31.  Abundance

Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, 

and righteousness looks down from heaven. 

(Psalm 85: 11) 

I read this verse and I see eternity and time meeting. I see the seasons of our earth and the need for them. I see God smiling upon me and my returning my best to him. I see what is ideal, even though our earth, and all that is happening upon it, and my life circumstances, may be far from the ideal. 

I am reminded that, although created from dust, I am also infused with the breath of God. Besides my creation in God’s image is my acceptance of his Son’s redemptive death on the cross and his triumphal  resurrection. All these gifts culminate with the indwelling of his promised Holy Spirit. 

Abundantly full of God! 

Could there be more abundance than this? 

When I read Psalm 85: 10, these reflections emerge: 

“Love and faithfulness meet together;

righteousness and peace kiss each other.” 

How do I recognize the abundance that is within me? Challenges that arise can cloud  my view. 

How do I spring up with faithfulness and flourish right where God asks me to live each day? 

Such actions seem beyond my capabilities. 

The answer lies in my asking a different question. Am I to depend on my feelings or am I to depend on what I know is true? God created me in his image with delicate care. Daily He woos me to reach for him. It is not a reach high into the heavens, but a reach deep within where his Spirit dwells. 

That is where his abundance rests. 

That is where I get filled. 

We meet. We hold fast to each other as a day progresses. The faithfulness I need is continuing to trust God while receiving the directions He gives. He asks that I keep my focus on him, doing the best I can. We will walk through seasons, some difficult and others less so, but always together.

Prayer

  Lord, as one made from earth and blessed with the abundance of all you are and give, I yield my life to you. As the earth bears its harvest in season, help me to bear the harvest of my days as they remain ordained by you. Amen.

Lynn L. Severance. “Seeking the Light of God's Comforter When Challenges Dim Our View “.31. Abundance. Redemption Press.