Glimpses into Ecstasy

To glimpse in the vastness of the universe is to
feel at home where you are
The center is where God is which means God is everywhere

The wind of God's grace takes us into the liberating sea of Silence
Navigating the ancient way tunes us into the music of God's cadence

No more trying endless doors when one discovers Christ is the door
Can we listen to the one who breaks the silence and speaks to our very core?

Contemplation begins with prayer and ends in solitude
Awareness opens up to awakening that leads to nourishing soul food

Removing the distractions and entanglements of the mind
Finding rest and peace by God's presence one finds

God's great expanse all around me I simply breathe
Illumination everywhere and from beneath

Beautiful light circles and fills my soul
Everything one as Christ is the only goal

No more strangers and no more inner conflicts
Beautiful peace and complete surrender now perfect

Where's Your Focus?

We Focus on many things and therefore become distracted from the one important thing

If we could see a counter number of how many times a day we say something negative or positive, we might be shocked at how we have strong tendency towards the negative.  Are we speaking words of life and faith into others or are we speaking words of death and curses on those around us?  So what is your focus?  Our focus can determine how fruitful we are as followers of Jesus today.

We pray about many things and many people but wonder why we don't see more answer to our prayers.  We read large sections and many verses of scripture but wonder why God's Word does not seem to deeply effect us?  We have lost our direction because we have lost our focus.  When it comes to focus, how about a change of focus.  Instead of focusing on many thoughts and many things, how about focus on one thought, one image, or one phrase or verse of scripture.

Can we learn to slow down to a higher rhythm of life?  When we do this, we suddenly start seeing and experiencing connections and intersections between heaven and earth that we have never seen or experienced before.  When we lost ourselves to Christ and him crucified, it is then we come to the crossroads of life where our life becomes shaped by the cross of Christ.

So sit down, be still, meditate, listen, contemplate on the oneness of God, the oneness of our humanity, the oneness of all creation as God's peace and grace penetrates the depths of your soul.  Feel the presence of God, the energy of the Holy Spirit breaking forth new light and power for your life.  Smell purity, taste goodness, hear gentleness, and see the Bridegrooms everlasting love for you.
Psalms 113:6 says, "I humble myself to behold the things of heaven and earth."

Today, I tremble in your presence O' God.  I tremble in your presence.  I tremble!

Is the Universe One?

Is nature but a mirror of the Creator?
Does the divine face fill the landscape?
Is every second of life a gift?
Can science be a revelation of God's hidden face?

Is the secret of life that everything is connected?
Can the messiness of life lead to a divine destination?
What if the whole universe is a cosmic divine fire?
Can I hear the whispers of the universe and finally rest in God's presence?

In Your Presence (Prayer)

Lord,
I want to live permanently in your presence everyday. 
Teach me to be fully present to your Spirit and to those around me. 
Teach me to be fully present to my wife.  To pray with her when she
goes to work and to give her my full attention when she arrives home. 
Teach me to love my children without reserve so that I can be fully
attentive and present to them.  Help me to model Christ to each one of them.
Teach me to be present to the world around me.  To enjoy nature and all
its beauty and precious designs. 
Teach me to enjoy people to the fullest as loving you is to love them. 
Empower me by your Spirit to be fully present to myself, where I abandon
my will completely to your will and enjoy the gifts of work and play,
study and prayer, solitude and ministry, rest and renewal in your presence.
Amen.

The Holy Other

God's radiant light fills more than the colors of the rainbow.  God's holy presence whispers to our inner ear and enlivens our heart with God's goodness and grace.  God knows everything about us.  He knows our shortcomings, our wounds, our dreams and our failures.  God knows it all yet His holy presence shines in love towards each of us.

God touches my ears with celestial music and awakens my heart with celebration.  Miracles are all around for those who have eyes of faith to see.  The Spirit of God radiates everywhere and my path is illumined with peace to walk free of fear.  God is taking me to places unknown to me but since God is with me, his calmness encircles me.

God takes my arrogance and transforms it into humility.  God takes my defiance and turns it into reverence.  My black and white life is now Technicolor by the Spirit of the Living God.  Divine wisdom guides my path and God establishes truth, beauty and goodness before me.  The only way to know inner joy is to discover your true self in Christ.

God is removing the veil that separates and partitions creation from ourselves.    God is moving the ground under my faith as He lifts my soul to heaven.  Christ is the center of gravity as I breath and flow in God's waters of divine love.  The whole universe is filled with miracles and with the sacrament of God's holy presence.