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 MoreHeartsickness
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 NIV
How is it that our days can be so filled with joy and happiness, zest for life, and other days feel like all is desperately wrong and an emotional state of sorrow pervades everything?
I had a talk with my heart today. Instead of longing for an impossible situation to be miraculously fixed, I told myself to desire God’s presence instead. Not His help. I’ll let you know how the tree of life’s fruit tastes soon . . . already I’m feeling hopeful.
Read MoreDeep, 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 MoreTHE FIRE OF ATTRACTION
The saints have seen the burning heart of God.
Their own love has leaped out in flaming response,
and they have loved the Lord their God with all their heart and soul and strength and mind—and their neighbor as themselves.
W. E. Sangster
Not until Jesus unveiled the burning heart of the Creator at Calvary could anyone imagine God’s kind of love. Solomon’s inspired love song penned the essence of it and spoke from God’s heart: “. . . for love is as strong as death, passion as cruel as Sh’ol; its flashes are flashes of fire, [as fierce as the] flame of Yah. No amount of water can quench love, torrents cannot drown it” (Song of Songs 8:6 & 7 CJB).
We hunger for a love we see reenacted over and over in love stories. The lover we’re drawn to in these stories is selfless and kind. He’s unwilling to be apart from his beloved. He’s attractive, so attractive, and expressive of his love, but never smothering. He knows no sacrifice too great in pursuit of the one he loves, to the point of heroism. Unlike all others, he wants only the highest good for the one he loves.
God created us to experience His love and know Him—that is our highest good. “You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11 NRSV).
What is the psalmist specifically talking about? David was a man after God’s heart. Do you think he meant that his pleasures were found in, and from, knowing God’s heart? Were the favors of God’s right hand spiritual favors? They are far better than earthly ones. David loved being with God!
When God is drawing us close, all it takes is a single spark to set our hearts on fire.
Here is a link to the third issue of FIRE – a journal for those who long for more of God. Please feel free to pass this on and be sure to subscribe to http://burningheartsforgod.com for future quarterly issues.
PLAN A SPIRITUAL RETREAT DAY FOR YOUR SMALL GROUP OR CHURCH!
Rekindle your heart and plan a special day with God. Check HERE and on the Burning Hearts for God website for ideas and themes.
Contact me directly for personal spiritual retreat day material: [email protected]
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The 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.
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