Threads in my hands...

Two threads that have been in my hands lately, look different, but have a similar flavor to me...

1. From: Echo of the Soul by Philip J. Newell

"The arms of the human body represent strength. The left arm is associated with the strength of power and the right arm with the strength of love. The greatest of strengths is love, greater than any power. ("love wins...!" message of the cross... recent Open Door sermons. www.thedoor.org has them to listen to on the internet. Select "two weeks ago" sermon.) To be made in the image of God is to be 'endowed with strength like God's own', as Ecclesiasticus says. Do we know the energy for life that is deep within the mystery of our beings, or have we forgotten the strength that resides within us? The Prophecy of Isaiah says, 'Awake, awake, put on your strength.'

(...)

To be made in the image of God is to say that such strength is at the core of our being. Just as the mystery of our identity is found in the name of God, 'I am who I am', so the strength of our being is derived from the power and love of God. In the Prophecy of Isaiah, God says to Israel, 'I surname you, even though you do not know me.' Similarly, God says, 'I arm you, even though you do not recognise me.' The more aware we become of our deepest identity the more alert we will be to the strength that is within us. We also, of course, will become more aware of the ways in which we have neglected or abused our strength in the relationships of our lives and in the injustices of the world."

2. Sara Groves (co-written by Bronleewe) song from her cd entitled, Add to the Beauty (wonderful cd!!)

Add to the Beauty
We come with beautiful secrets
We come with purposes written on our hearts, written on our souls

We come to every new morning
With possibilties only we can hold, that only we can hold

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are
And add to the beauty, To tell a better story
I want to shine with light
That's burning up inside

It comes in small inspirations
It brings redemption to life and work
To our lives and our work

It comes in loving community
It comes in helping a soul find it's worth
A soul find it's worth

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are
And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside

This is grace, an invitation to be beautiful
This is grace an invitation

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out our best
And I want to add to the beauty
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside.


This all leaves me wondering and noticing... Lord, each moment... where is my strength? What am I doing with it? Where am I spending it? Am I adding to beauty? Am I using my strength to bring beauty to each moment? Or am I still asleep.

Lord, wake me up where I am asleep and sustain me where I am awake... deliver and sustain me.

Amen.