The Disciplined Order of Christ » Sharing Corner

ABUNDENT LIVING

bibrob — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:19:30 +0000

By Fred Van Tatenhove, Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Retired

Asbury Theological Seminary

John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life and live it more abundantly.”

Have you embraced “life more abundantly?” In recent weeks I have been thinking about my journey with God, reflecting on how through Christ, my life has been blessed. I suspect it is part of entering into the mid period of my 70’s.

Abundant life! That is what the Lord wants for us. We receive it through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life. It is God’s grace given to us as we believe in Jesus and seek to live out his presence in us with others. The context of this “living out” is the world God created, right where we live, to live one day at a time. God has provided this “abundant life” through Christ. It’s the good news we see revealed in the Bible.

We turn to him, repent of our sin, embrace his forgiving grace, and learn to do his will.

One way God helps us experience this abundant life is through the community called the Church. The Church where we worship is not the limit of our world. We don’t just go to Church – we are the Church. Our goal is not merely to bring people to Church, but to bring people to Christ and bring Christ to them. This is what the Church does if it is healthy and alive.

We worship God and grow in his grace. We give generously out of what he is giving us. We serve creatively with our gifts and skills. We connect relationally with others in the name of Jesus.

God gives us what we need to share his abundant life that we have in him. He gives that through his word, through his abiding presence, through authentic relationships with other fellow believes, and through our personal encounter with the gospel. And God is always with us!

God doesn’t only empower us to endure in our life journey, he also will influence our journey. That influence is felt in his power working in us. It is what the Apostle Paul identified as the “fruit of the Spirit,” it is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Jesus came so that we can experience life abundantly. I take John 10:10 as a promise for all who believe in Him. That describes abundant life for me!

bibrob — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:34:59 +0000

a list poem in honor of Aunt Mamie
by Linda Riggins 2010

DAUGHTERS

mama
prayed
best
friends
forever
sisters
innocence
protected
God
child
holy
woman
women
heart
dancing
voices
speak
rich
lives
eternal
joy
life

bibrob — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:07:04 +0000

Atlantic Ocean

Sybil Austin Skakle

Beneath cloud-free skies, I’ve often seen you

Your surface as calm as ocean can be

Watched in awe your fury as thunderous

Waves sent spray skyward

I have tasted your brine upon my tender lips

Buoyant in your arms under the hot sun

Have watched the sea gulls soar above me

Seen sun rise from horizon’s rosy edge

And moon cast silver upon your dark face

Listened to your lullaby, as I slumbered

Shared with you joy, betrayal and sorrow

Sought your comfort and counsel in trials

Known your moods in summer, spring, winter, fall

Your azure expanse reaches beyond view

Your depths are like mysteries of Heaven

Atlantic Ocean, heard at my birth,

My remains at death will lie near your voice.

This poem first appeared in A Celebration of Poets,

Published by the International Library of Poetry, 1998

Righter Publishing Company, Inc., PO Box 105, Timberlake, North Carolina 27583

ABIDING

dochrorg — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:48:25 +0000

Abiding

Free in your love, Lord,
Is my place to be.
Lord, change everything
Unlovely you see.

Mold me in beauty
Secure in your will
Quieten my spirit
And keep my heart still.

Guard me from error.
Deliver from fear.
Please, may I find you
Revealed everywhere.

-Sybil Austin Skakle

July 23, 1982

MARCH ICE STORM by Sybil Austin Skakle

dochrorg — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:12:50 +0000

Giant Ice-shrouded trees
shiver and shudder
as sun struggles against
the somber gray sky
Elongated cubes fall
from their branches
bouncing and dancing
littering the grass
with shiny glass shards-
translucent jewels -
soon melted to purchase
new clothes for spring

Spring Stage Observed

dochrorg — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:01:17 +0000

Breezes of fairy wings flutter ash, willow oak

and bamboo leaves,

Chase final days of March off stage.

A large willow branch, fallen by a storm,

dominates left garden area

Daffodils, as full of tears as I, hang

heavy heads along the garden walk.

Hyacinth and crocus have faded and

Candytuft is on stage.

A robin, contemplates bird affairs –

Planning a nest and worm stalking.

Far right, deep-pink blooms of the red bud

peek through a dogwood tree curtain.

Tree shadows appear and disappear, like

dancers cued by the sun, which is

Intent on dispelling storm-clouds and warming

and drying the damp earth.

Watching this drama, after last night’s

violent storm, I know

My tears will dry, my hope return and joy

will fill my spirit once again.

Beauty, like spring flowers will replenish

My life’s stage once more

I pray for gentle rains and for safety –

when other storms arrive.

~ Sybil Austin Skakle

Who Am I?

dochrorg — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:17:35 +0000

dochrorg — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:22:51 +0000

Contemplating a Leaf

Sybil Austin Skakle

Green and slender

Graceful and small

What good are you

Plucked from a bush?

My instructions are

To be present with God

As I observe you.

Thicker than a rose leaf

Not shiny, not dull

Longer than the rose leaf

You’ve a subtle aroma

for some purpose

leaf and I are alike

Before I am harvested

I hope to add beauty

and provide oxygen

for the lives of others

“Yes, I love you Lord!”

Where are the sheep

dochrorg — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:01:42 +0000

Hebrews 12:18-24 (RSV)
     For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers entreat that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel.

ARRIVAL

I found myself upon a mountain, quaking -
was it I, was it the earth beneath my tired feet?

I heard a roaring – was it lions? Yes, it must be.
Long had lions prowled my heart’s den,
breathing accusations through every pacing day.

Nearly blind was I in muffling shadow of the Law,
the ceaseless overcast condition of my soul.

A fire, too – I had known the scorch of wilderness,
the wildfire of temptation, the searing welts of sin,
and shrank from such a burning as I knew would
have to come
     if God were just.

A trumpet, tuning up, shrill with holiness, announced
   my arrival at the Mount of Judgment.

I raised my eyes…Oh Jesus, can it be? Zion?
   the Everest of mercy?

The quaking – now I see: even throne rooms shake
   when saintly feet get dancing to a trumpet jubilee!

The roaring? Angel party-goers shouting holy thank-yous
   to our Host.

The fire – a hearth to warm my coming,

The shadow? The shade of your right hand, oh Precious Christ,
   whose blood has bought
   and brought me home……
I turned to see a Lion

   and behold, the Lamb.

Copyright: Betsey Mulloy
1992

dochrorg — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:59:11 +0000

All New

Can a leopard change his spots? Can a briar begin to bloom?
Could my ferocious heart ever give forth sweet perfume?
“Never!” says the world, “Never!” says my mind.
But nothing is impossible with You…

You are Jesus, the Bright and Morning Star,
And in everything You are
More than All-Sufficient,
Jesus, the Way, the Truth, the Life,
The end of all my strife,
Sovereign Lord.

Can the lame man leap for joy? Or the blind escape his night?
Can a crippled heart like mine, come dancing into light?
“Never!” says the world, “Never!” says my mind.
But nothing is impossible with You…

You are Jesus, the Sacrificial Lamb
And for everything I am
You have paid the ransom
Jesus, You can make all things new
So I give myself to You
Sovereign Lord.
Copyright: Betsey Mulloy
1992

The Disciplined Order of Christ » Sharing Corner

ABUNDENT LIVING

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ABIDING

MARCH ICE STORM by Sybil Austin Skakle

Spring Stage Observed

Who Am I?