#poetryjoy

transcendence: getting to know God for ourselves #thedailyhaiku 14

/ Joy Lenton / 11 Comments

 

Transcendence is one of the characteristics of God. He transcends time, the universe itself, all human knowledge, experience and ability. God is beyond our comprehension yet He has comprehensively made Himself known in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.

God’s presence is sensed rather than seen, felt deep in our hearts, perceived and accepted by faith, though some receive a tangible sign of Him being with them. God’s transcendence isn’t a barrier to being in relationship with Him.

We can take comfort in God’s faithfulness and His existing forever (eternal), living forever (immortal), all knowing (omniscient), present in all places at all times (omnipresent) and all powerful (omnipotent) nature, because we can totally trust and depend on Him.

What our eyes or minds cannot see or sense paves the way for Holy Mystery, for faith and trust, for awakening an inner knowing beyond the ordinary, even as God makes Himself known to us in the everyday experiences of our lives.

It’s often by receiving unexpected peace in our hearts, especially when we are going through trials and tribulations, that God’s constant nearness to us is made known. He is the Prince of Peace who gives rest to our restless souls, as we pray and spend time in His presence.

Our limitations no longer trouble us so much when we depend more on God’s resources than our own, bringing His unlimited help, grace and support to aid us in our time of need.

transcendence

luminous presence

transcends my limitations

with deep touch of peace

©joylenton

What we can sense and experience  is the life transforming power of God’s love for us when we open ourselves to Him, as described in the video below…

 

aspects: seeing God’s hand at work best in community #thedailyhaiku 17

/ Joy Lenton / 10 Comments

 

As the Body of Christ, we each have aspects of God’s work in us to testify to, an offering to bring to the table, a unique perspective to share, an individual voice which carries more weight than we know.

You or I might discount ourselves as unworthy, insignificant, with nothing much to contribute. But that’s just not true. We need YOU, my friend, and you need us. Because together we are so much stronger than when attempting to walk alone.

Faith walking is a tough journey, requiring grit and determination, persistence and endurance to run the race to the end. When we are weak and wounded, our brothers and sisters come alongside us, lifting us up in prayer, being soul companions and giving practical help where applicable. And we do the same thing for them.

God intended it that way, even if we rarely see true harmony or compassion in action in the world around. Flawed and foolish as we are and usually know ourselves to be, we can still be wisdom, salt and light for one another, revealing aspects of Christ’s loving, servant-heart at work in us.

aspects

in community

each person reflects aspects

of the face of God

©joylenton

splash: your creativity is waiting to be released #thedailyhaiku 13

/ Joy Lenton / 14 Comments

 

Inspiration strikes us in numerous ways. For me, it’s more of a gentle, mellow listening to my life and the things I read than having striking eureka moments. Suddenly, a situation, word, line or sentence will create a response, often drip by drip or with a welcome splash.

Creativity is latent in us all, waiting to be ignited, fired up and ready to go. Though the triggers may vary, the process usually excites, stirs something recognisable in us, makes us feel alive and energised.

That brief spark, immersion or gentle splash are all welcome. All play their part in encouraging us to create, unleash the God-given abilities deep within. On the inside, I’ve always been a scribbler, storyteller and poet. But there were many years when you wouldn’t have known it. My abilities lay dormant.

I doused the flame of creative enjoyment and enthusiasm with my own insecurities. Life’s trials and tribulations (later providing great creative fodder) were like a huge boulder pressing down on me, squashing any faith I had in being able to create.

What changed? I did. On the inside. Or rather, God changed me and transformed my thinking, gave me courage, confidence and strength to share my words publicly. Yes, the negativity still shrieks at me on my worst days. I feel inadequate for the task. But even a small splash of grace can set me back on my feet again. And He will do it for you too, my friend! 🙂

splash of words

there’s a splash of words

ready to be harvested

in my consciousness

©joylenton

humbling: on striving, falling and humbling #thedailyhaiku 12

/ Joy Lenton / 8 Comments

 

Falling from ladders or anything else can be humbling. As a permanently weak, weary and clumsy (ish) person I often trip over things or just lose my balance when walking around a bit. It’s something I’ve got used to but embarrassment can still affect me when it happens in a public place.

I have also fallen for situations and belief systems that have hurt me more than taking a tumble. I’ve fallen for the trappings of our materialist society and its success stories, bought into consumerism’s lies, been unnecessarily humbled by my background and perceived lack of this and that.

And even if I feel like I’ve fallen out of grace time and again, it is not a possibility because God’s grace is wilder and wider than the ocean, deeper than the deepest sea. We can never fall far enough to be out of the reach of our Saviour’s arms. No pit we end up in is too much of a problem for Him.

Nowadays I’m a bit older and wiser and less likely to seek after success. I’m more inclined to pursue peace, long for a quiet life and rest content with having less. The only ladder I want to climb is one going straight to heaven. Beam me up when I’m ready!  😏🌈

humbling

we strive for success

unsteady ladder topples

crestfallen, we rest

©joylenton

Life offers us numerous opportunities to be humbled. It’s how we learn and grow. It’s how gratitude takes root in us and pride gets defeated, or shown the door for a while at least.

How has climbing ladders, experiencing humiliation or being humbled affected your life?

How has your faith shaped your attitude to these things? Feel free to share in the comments below. There’s no judgement here, my friend. 😊

when we want thoughts to flow like water #thedailyhaiku 11

/ Joy Lenton / 14 Comments

 

As a writer and poet I experience days, weeks and even seasons when words falter and fail, the flow stalled somehow. When it stutters to a halt it usually indicates that I need to stop, take a break for as long as necessary and just let things happen naturally in their own good time.

There’s no need to panic when you hit a writing hiatus. Thoughts flow more freely when we yield to the need for rest, stretching our our stiff limbs and getting some fresh air if possible. Straining to write rarely yields a good result.

And when we rest, relax, feed our souls with prayer, quiet times with God, our favourite music and good books, we find they tend to stimulate a flow once more. It might appear in small dribs and drabs but one day a stream will issue forth and we will write with words begging to be put down on the page.

If I desire to write poetry then it helps me to begin again if I read some each day. Gradually, the lines I see in everyday, ordinary things will leap out at me. My soul starts to spot a rhythm and cadence that can set me off in the right direction. Once a few words are formed, it isn’t long before a new poem takes shape with ease. Such days are beautiful grace gifts and blessed indeed!

flow like water

these quiet currents
flow like water over stone
rippling through my mind
©joylenton

our dark universe is a velvet eternity school for love #thedailyhaiku 10

/ Joy Lenton / 23 Comments

 

We watch diamond-bright stars glinting like tiny jewels set with precision and perfection in an inky, indigo velvet sky and it takes our breath away. Darkness of night always makes the light shine brighter than before. Every shaded thing makes brighter colours sing.

And as we gaze into the heavens, or look closer to home and observe tiny pearlescent beads of dew coating flowers and leaves,  and ponder just Whose caring hand is behind every created thing, we become filled with awe, wonder and gratitude towards our Creator-God for spilling His treasure so lavishly on earth.

Each plant and flower, every drop of rain that falls, all the shining stars and lustrous planets in the universe are tokens and expressions of God’s great Love being made manifest for us. There is spiritual intent behind the daily graces we often take for granted.

Earth can seem so dark at times, filled with so much sadness and pain, yet these symbols are significant in revealing God’s steadiness and faithfulness, as He holds them out to us as a holy offering again and again. In the seeing, with eyes renewed by faith, we begin to trace His love spilling forth in large ways and small, just as we are meant to do.

a velvet eternity

our dark universe

a velvet eternity

it’s a school for love

©joylenton

despite the odds faith lasts #thedailyhaiku 9

/ Joy Lenton / 10 Comments

 

Faith is intrinsic to our lives. It’s exercised every day. We cannot even drive a car without trusting our skill and the vehicle we are in, or sit down in a chair without having faith it will support our weight.

Some say they have no faith, yet the art of science is faith-based, leaving room for human fallibility, questioning and supposition before any degree of certainties are reached.

So much of our lives are full of conjecture, questioning and making space for mystery. Christian believers sometimes doubt their faith is strong enough to take the weight of their expectations, hopes and dreams.

But what if we saw faith as a gift of grace? We’re meant to have more faith and trust in God than in our own ability to have faith in our somewhat wobbly faith as such. It’s God’s promises that are secure, His love remains unfailing, His mercy is without end and His word revered as our trustworthy authority, guidebook and training manual.

Despite our own worst fears, our tiny mustard seed-sized faith actually grows in adversity, is stretched during challenges and is made manifest when we are called to account. It is more apparent than we believe and it lasts eternally. So let’s keeping trusting and living into the answers to come.

faith lasts

it’s no fairytale
despite the odds we will find
our faith grows and lasts
©joylenton

we require ripening time #thedailyhaiku 8

/ Joy Lenton / 10 Comments

 

It doesn’t take long in the walk of faith before we realise that lasting change isn’t usually swift to come to us and neither is the sanctification process. Rather, we spend our time alternating between resting and resisting, going solo and surrendering to God.

However, we needn’t become discouraged as we journey on with the Lord, because every pausing place is opportunity to receive God’s grace. Each step of faith we take gets us closer in our experience of intimacy with God. Even the faltering ones whereby we stumble and fall can become ways in which our Father gently guides us deeper into His will for us.

I’m slowly learning the benefits of resting in Jesus our Saviour and eternal Vine, allowing His energy to fuel my days and His strength to sustain me in everything. Though it comes at the cost of laying down our self-sufficiency and pride, we never lose out in yielding to the Lord, albeit little by little.

just like a flower

just like a flower

we require ripening time

growing on the vine

©joylenton

seeking a quiet space in which to breathe #thedailyhaiku 7

/ Joy Lenton / 10 Comments

 

I know that when I take on too much, feel overtired and overwhelmed, nothing else quite helps me to get back on my feet again like setting aside time to be still and quiet before God.

As I lay my burdens at God’s feet, stay in His presence long enough to relax and breathe more freely, I’m in a prime position to rest and receive. A quiet space in our days can become a sacred space in which to ponder and pray.

God pours out His love like a warm holy hug, wraps me in a welcome that never ends and comforts my fretful soul with sweet encouragement and insight enough to see the way ahead.

No longer frazzled and fraught, anxious and upset, I can calmly face what comes next or choose to have a longer rest instead, as I finally recognise I am too drained and depleted to carry on.

It needn’t take long or be complicated to become restored and refreshed on a daily basis. It simply takes a willing turning of our hearts to God and a desire to spend a few moments lingering with Him in quiet contemplation and stillness, enjoying the close companionship relationship He longs to have with all of us.

a quiet space

we learn to embrace

a quiet space in our days

relax, breathe easy

©joylenton

And here’s a little breathing space exercise for you to try. As you listen to the music below, may it relax you and gently usher you into God’s presence, our greatest place of refuge, comfort and rest. May you become strengthened and refreshed for what lies ahead. 

 

why it pays to listen carefully #thedailyhaiku 6

/ Joy Lenton / 9 Comments

 

In any given day we are subject to a whole host of voices and the challenge remains: just who or what are we listening to? What is having the biggest influence on our way of thinking? Whose words are we paying attention to?

It pays to listen with discernment, due care and attention. Because what we listen to and take in ends up feeding our soul for good or ill. Maybe it’s our own sharp stabs of negativity that are shaping us, or is it the vital life and health-giving thoughts that we find in God’s Word?

Life is full of voices but the one we need to listen to most is the Voice of God as spoken in His written word and made manifest in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Our listening choices have eternal consequences for us.

I’ve struggled with my own inner critical voice and negative thoughts for years. It’s a constant battle to ignore them, requiring inner vigilance and prayer, and to replace the flawed and faulty thinking with what God’s word says about me. Perseverance and wisdom is needed to help us discern our own jaundiced thinking and the enemy’s taunts from God’s voice speaking to us.

listen carefully

life’s full of voices

choices have consequences

listen carefully

©joylenton