Wonder
Sometimes we forget to be what Jesus told us to be like. Children.
He didn’t mean to be childish, no, but I believe He meant that we need to be more un-self-conscious. To be always learning. To see the world and take in our life experiences the way they do–open, discovering, trusting, innocent and pure-hearted.
When we grow up, we become quite self-oriented, self-promoting, self-centered. We close ourselves off to possibilities and the wonders of God that surround us.
I’d like to share a couple creative ways God has deeply touched heart. Artists are truly the builders of God’s kingdom. They help bring Heaven to earth. They are witnesses of God’s grace and truth, of His love and presence. Their gifts come from God’s heart and mind.
Reinhart Buhr – Go to his website, or to YouTube and discover the wonder of his inspired music. I felt deep stirring inside me. Transcendent.
Click here to try sampling his music.
The Chosen – a TV series that will make you think and enjoy the person of Jesus and how authentically relevant and human He was. Creative, inspired, imaginative! The episodes can be watched on a free app on your TV or any media device.
https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen
https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen
I was an extra for Season 3, which is still being filmed! So wonderful to see God shine through creative art. He loves us so much and wants us to know Him in reality!
One last thing. I know this is a long post – but I’d like to share a story from one of my books. This is from The Art of Loving God – an excerpt about how joy and wonder in us is serious business to Him. Excerpt of Ch 6 – Wonder – Sy in the Rain
Love,
Margaret
Read MoreWords from Heaven for These Times
Never before has this Scripture meant more to me: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV).
About twenty years ago God gave me the title for a book and I was given prophetic words by others that I’d write a book for the Last Days. Well, here we are. This is, I believe, that certain book. Coincidentally, it just happens to be ready to be published at this time. I feel this is Heaven’s gift. I am His word-artist, just doing my thing, for such a time as this. “Do not be afraid, I am with you,” says the Lord.
GOD IS ON THE THRONE. HE IS IN OUR HEARTS. HE IS EVERYWHERE. HE LOVES YOU PARTICULARLY. WE’RE IN A CRISIS IN THE STORY RIGHT NOW. ALL STORIES HAVE THEM. EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY — HE’S WITH US!
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=margaret+montreuil&ref=nb_sb_noss
Read MoreThe King’s Anointing
I often reflect on the story of when Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, anointed Jesus with her costly spikenard.
Did she realize her act of love was the King of King’s prophetic anointing that day?
Jesus knew.
He said simply, “She did what she could.”
Powerful words.
Words I would like to hear Him say.
Here’s a bit of a poem I wrote in memory of what Mary did.
Do What You Can
Mary’s love in that hour, symbolically shown,
Was much more than she could have known.
Anoint the Anointed—What a heavenly thought!
He was everything she had ever sought.
She began at the top of His head
And, pouring all, bent down at His feet.
Do it, dear Mary, please do it
Pour it all out on Him
Lavish your best, spare not a drop
Your love is the fragrance that gladdens His heart.
It’s love for love, so do what you can
Give the King the love He is due
And, Mary, you can fill the world with the scent of it too
Read More
Deep, Sweet Thoughts of Jesus
Not often enough do we turn our hearts to heaven for the sheer joy of seeing Jesus. We fill our days with trivial pursuits, do we not?
Drink from the fountain, the Life-giving fountain, and fill your thirsty soul with the wine of heaven.
That just bubbled up.
And here’s a practical approach.
Imagine the gospel scene of the wedding in Cana and how Jesus turned gallons and gallons of water into wine. Think deeply about what happened by imagining being there. This is a dynamic, creative way to pray, to turn and see Jesus. Notice everything about Him. Be there.
Our imaginations were made for God above all else. We should invite Him in more often.
Another way to experience being with Jesus is to be more aware of His company. We can converse with Him inwardly all day long.
Or, look closely at a flower and consider the miracle and beauty of it and that God made it. The wonder of creation is just a taste, a hint of the stunning, unimaginable wonders to come. This earth and life is a stage on which the Divine Drama is unfolding. Keeping this perspective helps us live through the horrors of evil as well as the boredom, stress, disappointments, and daily grind we all must endure.
A. W. Tozer wrote: “If you will narrow your interests, God will enlarge your heart. ‘Jesus only’ seems to the unconverted man to be a motto of death, but a great company of happy men and women can testify that it became to them a way into a world infinitely wider and richer than anything they had ever known before. To know Him in growing intimacy is to increase in appreciation of all things good and beautiful. The mansions of the heart will become larger when their doors are thrown open to Christ and closed against the world and sin. Try it.” -A.W. Tozer, The Size of the Soul.
Read MoreBe Still
Our world is so noisy. Even what we see is noisy. We are looking at flashing lights, images and words on signs, constant ads and messages come at us at every turn. When we turn things off we’ll find quiet within. We’ll hear God and feel His love.
Open to God, we need to reflect, dream, and think with Him. Silence soothes our minds and souls.
Why are we so addicted to our cell phones? We set notices so we don’t miss anything on our feeds. We’re lost if we are away from the internet, live streaming, email, social media, etc. We’re constantly occupied with something to do, to see, to hear. We can’t be still for long because we’ve formed the habit of preoccupation.
In one of John Eldredge’s newsletters from Ransomed Heart Ministries, he said, “It is as though we are looking, always looking, for something . . . someone. What is it we are craving all the time? Why do we put ourselves out there for attention?”
Some of us are not that hooked up in the ways I’ve described, but what about other distractions? Bingeing on television episodes?—(which I finally stopped doing.)
God is our constant companion. Shekinah is in our hearts. The Lord of glory is being ignored.
The first thing God did after Adam and Eve sinned and hid themselves from Him was to search for them while calling out, “Where are you?”
In the book Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, Richard Foster says God continues looking for us.
Today the heart of God is an open wound of love. He aches over our distance and preoccupation. He mourns that we do not draw near to Him. He grieves that we have forgotten Him. He weeps over our obsessions with muchness and manyness. He longs for our presence.
I urge you to stop whatever you are doing for a minute, breathe deeply, and be still in God’s presence and receive His affectionate love.
The featured photograph here is by Sharon Brisken. She has such an artist’s eye for beauty. Check out her work at Burning Hearts for God’s – Featured Artist’s page.
Read MoreBeauty Cheers the Heart
Proverbs 17:22 says “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
White scenes of winter soothe me because I grew up in Minnesota and enjoyed a wonderful childhood full of love, play, and no worries. These days, I grieve for children who do not have the benefit of a fearless childhood.
I wept watching the news of the school shooting in Florida. So, so tragic! More loss of innocent lives, so full of promise. And when ordinary people become heroes and pay the ultimate price . . . we feel sympathy for their families and friends. We see the funerals on the news. I pray for those who mourn everyone lost and injured. And what about the survivors? They’ll never be the same . . but for God’s grace and help.
Below is a photograph of a scene in Kuhmo, Finland. It lifted me into God’s arms because its beauty cheered my heart. I hope it does the same for you. Scroll down . . . This is a real place.
Even though the horrors of evil abound, the beauty, majesty, and reality of God is greater. One day all will be restored and there will be no more evil. Jesus promised. We will live in a restored, new world where Beauty and Goodness is all we will know.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” Proverbs 21:4.
