You might not want to read this

You might not want to read this.
Sorry it's a bit long.
I have a fever...
fluid in my right ear...
a sinus infection
and an upper repertory infection,

I'm not even complaining about it.
I'm on an anti-biotic now
and I've learned some things about myself.

I take health for granted.
I rarely get sick but this one has been kicking my butt
for about 2.5 weeks now.
It makes me thankful for the health
I'm not currently enjoying
and it makes me thankful for the new body
I'll get one day,
that will not get sick or die.

I'm also grateful for the illness
because it helps me to slow down.
I'm taking pleasure in little things
like soup and how good tea feels when I drink it.
I'm thankful for the miracle
that is Nyquil
because it stopped my coughing for 6 or 7 hours straight.

I'm thankful for the doctor who calmly saw me
after a day (and probably weeks)
filled with sick patience
giving no fear for his own health
to be in a tiny room with us.

I'm thankful that I got to see my friend Emily Baxter
at the doctors office (who I haven't spoken to in months)
what a blessing!

I'm thankful for the friends who hug me anyway
(without regard for the germs) I

'm thankful that my class last night went on
without a major coughing spell in the midst of it
and for clarity of thought enough to go and do it.

God is so good that not even an illness
or a cold winter filled with snow
or any tragedy not things above or things below
or anything else in all of the history of things
or ever
could separate us from His love,
care and provision.
God bless your day!

All Words

All the words that are spoken

and those that we hear,

all the words that form thoughts,

our meditations, our fears.

 

The words that praise our Father,

and bring our fellow man a curse,

all the words we cherish

and those we think on

with remorse.

 

O God help us...

 

The Word spoke

all things into being

the Word took on flesh

and became a human to be seen.

 

He lived out God's love and tenderness

He spoke Words of life

and bid us confess.

 

The words used to tempt us

and the excuses we gave,

the words pronounced the verdict "Crucify!"

sending Christ to the grave.

 

And I'm sure there were Words that woke you

and bid you arise,

the loving Words from the Father

with tears in His eyes.

 

He brought you back

to completely concur the grave

just like He first sent you

our souls to save.

 

Oh the Words

all the words

that cure,

bind,

and set free.
 

Oh the words

all the words

that mean the world to me.
 

Father help us.

Teach us their worth.

Allow us to use them while we

remain on the earth.
 

Use them to praise you

and tell of your story.

To a lost generation

that must learn of your glory.
 

God teach us words power

and value and worth.

That we'll be judged

for every careless word

spoken here on earth.
 

Oh God, help us.
 

c. Kim Damon 2015

Why I cant lower my head in worship.

Why I cant lower my head in worship.

I mean I can,
and I do,
but inevitably, I feel it,
He comes to me and puts His loving hand under my chin
and raises my gaze to Him.

I am flooded with tears and The Sweetness.

This could as easily be titled:

“Why I cry during worship”

He comes to me.

Yes, the God who died for me

comes to me.
He loves me so much
He desires me to feel His love
receive His glory on my face
and be healed
and be warmed
and be set free
and be renewed
and be forgiven
and be loved
and to know His favor.

All this,

when I look into His face.

But I cant see His face

or His glory when I look down.
When I look to the light of His countenance
He owns me
He made me
He calls me
He formed me
He redeemed me
and He doesn’t want me to look down in shame.

When He suffered on the cross

He scorned it's shame.

He wants me to receive the love
(that brought Him there)

the love that kept Him there
the love that captures me,
hopes for me,
intercedes for me.
And at that invitation,

I cry.
 

I'm overcome by that love,
and I melt.
I'm softened,
I'm pliable,
I receive.

The world makes me harder and colder

but God warms me,
and makes me soft.
It's still me
(the me He adores)
but it's me, in His presence,
able to hear,
and able to receive
the love He wants to give.

Rather than the doubt filled,

bitter, selfish, proud
(and all the worst of me)
self
(that lowers my head in shame
and reverence.)
I'm not saying lowering ones head is wrong
I go there
and the man who lowered his head
and couldn’t even look up to God
but said he was unworthy
left God's presence justified by God that day,
(unlike the proud man).

But God doesn’t want us to stay there,
well, He doesn’t want me to stay there,
and I'm not any different than any other,
except maybe I have sinned more
or different than others.
But no sin is new and none is the same
and He said He had no favoritism,

He even promises to give us the same steadfast love
He gave David
(the man after God's own heart)
if we would turn to Him and listen to Him.

So when I feel His hand under my chin
raising my gaze,
I'm broken,
I'm in awe that He doesn’t want me to stay there
(mourning my unworthiness and sin)
That He wants me to feel His love
and His favor.
He wants me to receive all He wants to give me.
And He gives that invitation to us all.

I tried to intercede when I was receiving

and I saw an image of me looking into the source of light
and trying to reach down or out to grab others

and truthfully

I knew that as I'm showered in His light
it's seen and others are drawn
I just need to keep my focus on Him
and they will not see me (apart from Him)
they will see Him.
And be drawn to Him.

All the way around the answer is to keep my focus on Him.
When I’m about my day
when I think of others
it's good to bring them before the Lord
but when I'm worshiping
it's time to receive.
I am His priority.
In that moment, let me be changed
and blessed to be a changer and a blessing.


c. Kim Damon 2015

Did you know?

Did you know, in the Bible it says
God's kindness leads to repentance?
At first thought, it seems like giving a cookie
to a child who has told a lie.
It all seems upside down.

But if you think about it.
Our being right with God
is not as much about us
as it is about God.

We never did deserve his forgiveness.
He gives it out of His kindness
and His loving nature.

That's pretty good news,
for those who believe in God
and for those who have mistaken thoughts
about God and His nature.

God loves you

I asked God what I could write
that would be encouraging.
Say: "God loves you".
I said, that sounds kinda corny
and some might think I'm crazy....
Crazy, not because it's not true,
but because I asked God something like that,
and He answered
and I heard Him
and I obeyed and wrote it down.
Some might think it's too simple,
God would give a deeper message.
But, the Bible mentions love 348 times.
so it must be important to God.
What if all the rules
were just to protect you from hurting yourself
and others?
What if He only said not to do something,
because it leads to bondage and pain
and He loves you and wants you to live in freedom.
He did say the most important rule
was to love God and love people.
That could be because He wanted us to love him back.
and stop hurting others
(because he loves them).
God loves you!
Seems simple,
but it pretty much sums up the Bible.
And Christianity.

For some, the worst thing about Christianity is Christians

I've been meaning to write this for a while, so here goes:
The most offensive thing about Christianity (for those who do not believe in God) is Christians. May I just say "I'm sorry". For everyone of us who (by our own failings) have turned you away from God, I'm sorry. Some times we do stupid things, spontaneously or foolishly and if it's harmful to others, selfish, arrogant or not loving, it's sin (plane and simple).

Sometimes Christians feel everything they do and say, mus...t be right and must be from God, because they follow God or they follow someone who follows God. But the truth is, all we humans, make mistakes. If you read the Bible, and see how Jesus behaved and if you study His behavior, and model your life after it (Christ follower) you will behave in a humble, loving manner. Yes, there are a few times Jesus behaved angry or called someone out who was in sin, but He was most always addressing Church-goers.

I'm not writing this because I'm angry at anyone, I have no ax to grind. And I love the Church (sinners and saints alike). I'm writing because God has given me such peace and joy, I wish to share it with those who have walked away from God, because of the behavior of His followers.

We don't get any points (in heaven) for telling folks about God. We (at our best) tell about God's goodness for the same reason the angels told the shepherds about Christ's birth. The angels came to the shepherds because it was cold outside and very dark and the shepherds were considered low class (in society) because of their dirty job, so the angels wanted to tell them "good news", that unto them a child was born, who is Christ the Lord. They told how He had come to bring them peace and great joy! Those lowly shepherds were invited to come and behold the Child who was born King! The invitation was not brought to the wealthy town folk, it was brought to those who sit outside at night and look at the sky, and ponder "what's it all about and why am I here?"

God bless your celebration of Christ's birth. And may you find great peace and joy!

Light of the World

Light of the World

Darkness covered the Earth,

Darkness that can be felt,

Deep darkness

God said”

“Let there be light”

And a baby took His first breath

In Bethlehem

The brilliant

Luminescence

Was breath-taking

The people walking in darkness

Saw a great light;

On those living in the land

Of the shadow of death

A light had dawned.

And God said:

“It is good.”

Epic news

Brought to humble shepherds

In the night

A great company of heavenly host

Announced:

Glory to God in the highest

And on earth, Peace

To men on whom his favor rests

The unfathomable delight that somehow

God favored men

who sit on the ground

In the darkness

And smell of animals,

Low birth,

Low cast,

Low income,

Yet this is how Christ came.

Born then resting in the hay,

The smell of animals in the air.

Equality with God

He did not grasp,

But born to the lowly,

In their neighborhood,

Visited first by the homeless.  

The first Christmas trappings…

A birth by lantern light

A bright star in the night

The radiance from a Baby’s face

Angels singing

Animals in awe

Humans in awe

God is with us

 

c. Kim Damon 2009