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 Joy of the Lord
Has life been hard enough to sap your energy, ambition, and sense of well-being? Worse, sometimes the sense of the Lord’s presence seems to dwindle. It’s times like this we need to REMEMBER God’s favor and goodness and speak truth to our own hearts.
Overwhelmed by trying circumstances, like King David, I recently cried out: Awake, O, my soul! Look into the eyes of your Savior. He is the joy of my heart and life. God is my joy and truth. He gives me hinds’ feet on high places.
Jehovah Jireh is my Provider. El Shaddai sustains, nourishes and protects me. El Roi is the God who sees me and all that involves me. In Him I put my trust, faith, hope, and affection. I worship Him! I adore Jesus, my Beloved. He rescues and redeems me, lifts me up. He is HESED (all merciful, abundantly kind, and good).
Three scriptures pre-printed at the bottom of my prayer journal pages today were wonderfully apt:
1. “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps. 91:1).
2. “I will NEVER FAIL YOU. I will never abandon you” (Heb. 13:5).
3. “The joy of the Lord is your strength!” Neh. 8:10.
Amen!
The next FIRE journal is in the making. https://burningheartforgod.com – a free online publication for keeping the fire going in your heart.
You can be sure I will include an article about this in the upcoming theme “Present to God’s Presence” because, really, habitual, unceasing prayer is to stay focused and in communion with the Lover of our soul, no matter what happens in life.
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.
The God of Great and Small
In a pottery and glass gift shop in the mountains of North Carolina, I came across a tiny piece of glass art and bought it. When I first saw it, I wondered how the artist managed to make something so tiny, about 1/4″ in size, yet with unique, distinctive parts. Its smallness is what made it special to me. I named her “Suzie the flea” because of the joy she gave me. I also saw she had a destiny to fulfill in God’s kingdom of love. Since then, she’s flown by airmail many thousands of miles across the country to bear witness to God’s creative love and favor. The recipients have sent her back to me after she’s lifted their hearts. Suzie represents to me persons who are “little” in God’s kingdom yet each one holds a dear place in His heart. Their smallness is endearing to Him. These are the hidden ones who stay in the background; they are not in the spotlight of God’s kingdom. He’s jealous to keep them there for His own reasons. I take great comfort in that. No more striving to be someone I am not. I am confident in this alone: God favors me and has destined to use me with messages of His love. I am small, like Suzie. Yet I am dear and can be greatly used in His kingdom. As can you.
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