GIVE EAR DEAR LORD !

"Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive
 to the prayers offered in this place. 
2 Chronicles 6:40

 

This entry today has evolved over the week and I believe I understand what God was revealing to me several afternoons ago, allow me to share please.

This morning while listening to Pandora Radio, turning the volume up and becoming attentive to the lyrics of Hear My Cry by Fred Hammond, an aha moment was again being birthed.

Hear My Cry

 

[Verse 1:]
Hear my cry Oh Lord
Attend unto my earnest prayers
From the ends of the earth floor
Hear my cry unto thee

When my enemies encamped about me
They stumbled and fell
Within in my heart
I will cry out 
To the Lord for help

Hear my cry

[Chorus:]
Hear my cry Oh Lord
Attend unto my earnest prayers
Rescue me Lord Jesus
And take away my every fear

(Heavenly Father,Heavenly Father, 
I lift my hands to you)

[Verse 2:]
In darkest hours
Of affliction
My faith will not be moved

When the storms rage 
And the winds blow
Beneath your wings 
I will hide
In the shadow
Of the Almighty 
My soul will surely abide

Hear my cry

[Chorus:]
Hear my cry Oh Lord
Attend unto my earnest prayers
Rescue me Lord Jesus
And take away my every fear

Hear my cry Oh Lord
Give ear unto my earnest prayer
Strengthen me 
King Jesus
Holy Spirit draw me near

[Ad Libs]
Rescue me Lord
Uphold me
Vindicate me
Rescue me and strengthen me Lord
Holy,Holy,Holy Spirit 
Don't leave me
Renew me
Remember me 
Reassemble me Lord
My heart is in my hands
And I give it you
Help me Lord [x3]
I cry for our children Lord
I cry for our families Lord
And our nations 
And our cities
And our leaders
On their behalf
We cry unto
Hear my cry
Oh Lord
Down on our knees
Begging you please [x2]
Rescue us
Lord Jesus, take away our every fear
Our Pastors Lord [x2]
We pray for our shepards right now
We're down on our knees
Begging you please [x2]
Lord hear our prayer

 

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/fredhammondradicalforchrist/hearmycry.html

 

 

Mind you that during my lunch walk I felt no way mournful or heavy nor prayerful. I regret the later admission. I believed I was just going about my daily business of having yet another exhilarating lunch walk , glad for the hour reprieve from work, appreciative for the opportunity to stretch and move my limbs. It was very warm outdoors but it felt therapeutic, refreshing and then I distinctly recall a "rush", a feeling  that I was seeing many things more clearly! I attributed the clearing of my blurry computer vision to time, exercise-being outdoors. The curbs, street cracks and sloping sidewalks were taking on a new feel. The walk I normally rush through was more paced and not hurried. 

My daily "safe walking route" with the strollers, moms. business suits, and  shaded trees appeared brand new. These prior ignored details, were brand spanking new discoveries like the worn top of  the trellises with cascading flowers, the beauty found in the uneven leaning scrubs and tree branches, the weather beaten light fixtures swinging over the worn porch entrances, the unnoticed attic windows with the ornate carvings, the scurrying brown birds, a dumpster with the crocked lid, the humming and boisterous motors of passing traffic or the bold tangerine colored lilies snuggling with the overgrown weeds-this all seemed to serve a greater purpose. Surely all of those things hadn't just cropped up!

And then the wellspring of thanksgiving and then admitted shame erupted, I began to reflect that just possibly God intends for me/us to see with new eyes every day. To see with a spirit of expectancy, not trepidation and misgivings. My heart knew better! As of late I have been only focusing for far too long and more recently been paying attention to the obvious, the mundane, the routine assignments. Yes, it must be the morning workday dance, the walks, the strolls? I must stop with the blame switching and realize that beyond all of that, those daily exercises are always missed opportunities to commune and listen to God under His natural canopy. And then there were Fred Hammond's timely lyrics this morning, they were resounding truths echoing a need for me to earnestly pray! I think back to this morning and realize that during this music in my hearing, surely what must have been occurring were the words- quickening in my spirit, careening down and flooding my spirit! Yep, God wanted me to do something new:

 

Hear my cry Oh Lord
Attend unto my earnest prayers
Rescue me Lord Jesus
And take away my every fear

(Heavenly Father, Heavenly Father, 
I lift my hands to you)

So I contend that the culmination of my cathartic experiences were gentle nudging's from God. This was I believe, His creative way of lovingly demonstrating that I am here and you've been too consumed with your many concerns and desires and the remedy, the answer you seek is found in me! Pay attention it's crucial! An awakening is in order for you Linda! 

My friend, hope you to contend that an awakening is in order for you (fill in your name) !

Let's agree that our spirits are in sync and are saying, "Give ear dear Lord!"

So as I delve into the dimensions of what exactly a spiritual awakening means for me, I encourage you to ask God for help and what this also means for you. Go ahead and surrender your will and trust in God, delve into Holy Scripture and rely not on your own understanding but in all your getting, obtain a deeper understanding of who God is in your life, take him along as your "walking" partner. 

Be assured that super natural love will transform ordinary into extraordinary!

The revelation is not so startling for some but for me it really is a spiritual shaking!  I suspect God is eager to shake up your world and vision also! You ask what can that possibly look like? My answer is it's a reality of the unimaginable-the good found in the new things of Him, courage in scaling unforeseen heights/new opportunities and more importantly having revived, reborn hearts of expectancy, new insight(s), exciting joyous ordinary day(s), blowing breezes with extraordinary promises, cloudy skies with a content spirit, awkward moments with full reliance on our loving, faithful Heavenly Father,


Our revival is occurring, God is ever present and I declare He does hear us even in our unaware lives, have a blessed day.

Shared with a Transparent Heart,
Linda Mose Meadows,  Inspirational Author of the devotionals:
The Blessedness of Believing A Devotional Journey of Life’s Lessons and God’s Promises (Tate Publishing)
Destined to Receive, Reflections and Devotionals Celebrating The Love of God (Amazon.com)
http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/
https://blessedauthorlm.wordpress.com/

ALL THINGS OLD ARE NEW AGAIN!

My friend Erica, her daughter is the photographer 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: 

^[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Don’t you just love this expressive artwork? Well I sure do! My friend Erica and her 11 year old daughter (the photographer) have really captured the vintage feel in this upbeat piece of 21st century iphone photography. It’s my idea of Nuevo art photography in black and white. It's perfect for Pinterest board!

I absolutely giggle when I see this photo. Although it’s 2013 we seemed to be instantly transported in time. The polka dots, the cap sleeves, perfectly styled hairdo, not a strand out of place and possibly the eye wear, 1960’s all over.

Erica has done it again and inspired me to explore some bygone days and beautifully triggered some fond childhood memories which causes me to reminisce and say,"Oh yeah I remember when_____________!"

“Oh yeah I remember that time when penny candy was plentiful and a dime’s worth of peach stones or red hot dollars was enough to share with half the kids on our (neighborhood) “fruit belt” block.”

How I recall my Grand Mama Rita pressing (hot combing) and curling my hair and my dreading when comb was placed on the edges! Dixie Peach or Royal Crown hair grease were the reliable products to help straighten our hair. And as if we were seated at the kitchen table sharing a piece of cake, I blurt out, “Oh yeah do you remember our Aunt’s and mother’s being dressed to the “nines” in their couture Butterick and McCall creations? And if they had no pattern on hand, that did not halt their creative juices. Many of them created and designed their own tailored patterns from brown paper bags. They got busy transforming that favorite piece of fabric on their overworked Singer sewing machines. Before long they’d emerge in a fine creation, knowing full well that their outfit was a one of a kind!!

“Oh yeah I remember our eating Jiffy Popcorn (popped on the stove top, being careful not burn it) and watching comedy television shows like: I Love Lucy, Red Skelton, and Flip Wilson which were regular family friendly moments. We’d huddled together, watch television intently,laughing at the many hilarious antics. No it was not high definition but reliable black and white television.”

“Oh yeah I remember that time when home baked birthday cakes, delicious varieties of sugar cookies and creamy ice cream were regular treats.” My Mama baked the buttery cookies and  biscuits, Sarah baked the divine “scratch” three layer cakes and we churned the strawberry ice cream.

“Oh yeah I remember that after my chores were completed, running down the flight of stairs to play outside, staying away from home for hours of fun, always with the expectation of “checking in” and being on the downstairs porch when the street lights came on. And my brothers and I better had stuck with the plan.”

But like, Fred Hammond has written all things new arise!

  

All Things New 

Performed by- Fred Hammond

Album- Speak Those Things:POL Chapter 3

You spoke and made the sunrise, to light up the very first day 
You breathed across the water, and started the very first wave 
It was You 
You introduced Your glory, to every living creature on earth 
And they started singing, the first song to ever be heard 
They sang for You 
You make all things new 
You make all things new 
Then the world was broken, fallen and battered and scarred 
You took the hopeless, the life, wasted, ruined and marred 
And made it new 
You make all things new 
You make all things new 
You redeem and You transform 
You renew and You restore 
You make all things new 
You make all things new 
And forever we will watch and worship You 
You turn winter into spring 
You take every living thing 
And You breathe Your breath of life into it over and over again 
You make the sunrise, day after day after day 
But there's a morning coming, when old things will all pass away 
And everyone will see 
You make all things new 
You make all things new 
Come redeem and come transform 
Come renew and come restore 
You make all things new 
You make all things new 
And forever we will watch and worship You 
Now and forever You are making all things new 
You're making all things new 
Hallelujah...

Album- Speak Those Things:POL Chapter 3

http://www.music-lyrics-gospel.com/gospel_music_lyrics/all_things_new_19071.asp

This eloquent lyricist was not referencing how convenient foods replace home baked goodies, or running for blocks to inform our mothers of our whereabouts and now instead of that exercise attaching the cell phone with tracking systems to keep up with loved ones is the way. And instead of transforming fabric on sewing machines into articles of fine clothing, is now bypassed with a quick trip to the outlet mall for trendy purchases. And the way we now view our favorite shows is not only on televisions with three channels but on all kinds of electronic computerized devices (i.e. iphones, notebooks, and laptops). I am sure you’d agree that there are so many more conveniences for fast paced living that I haven't mentioned. But that’s not the "new", I am confident that the Holy Ghost desires we focus on. Instead our "new" is referencing the sacred-eternal things which have lasting promise!

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (NIV) Isaiah 43:19

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. (NLT) Isaiah 43:19

It’s as though the Holy Ghost has partnered with Erica and her, daughter, used their clever creativity to remind and help us to understand that all things old are new again because the things we treasure dearly have returned. Our focus has returned to a renaissance, a yearning for getting back to basics. What is that you wonder?  I believe it’s an  appreciation for “good living”, a simpler lifestyle reinforcing our need for God, promoting a nourished spirit, embracing our purpose, intentionally living with hope and promise, loving and celebrating our family and friends, incorporating a prayerful/peaceful existence, and acknowledging our reverence for a living triune God that keeps us, heals us and provides for us in an ever turbulent world. It’s a divine drawing inward, that dare not rely on outward-temporal things of this life. It’s a hope reborn reinforced by the word of God and love of Jesus!

Friends, it’s what our ancestor referred to when they spoke about seeing the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!  Getting back to our true selves you wonder? Yes! I contend it’s as fresh and sassy as Erica’s “Nuevo” style and artwork! Why it’s the Nuema, the breathe and spirit of God that is the wind beneath our wings!

²⁸ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

This is the real deal, the truth that we hold dear, the life sustaining word of God! The word-old, new, tried and true!

Shared in Love, Linda Mose Meadows; Blogger, Motivational Speaker and Inspirational Author of: Destined To Receive: Reflections and Devotionals Celebrating The Love of God (Createspace, 2013) and Blessedness of Believing A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises (Tate Publishing, 2007) 

 http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

 http://blessedauthorlm.wordpress.com/

 http://eyesoffaithmagazine.blogspot.com/