THE LIGHTSTAND

Colorado '11 : My Love and I :D

2011-07-31T15:16:00.000-07:00

The Love of my Life and my Fiance, Drew Story :D :D :D

2011-06-09T02:41:00.000-07:00

A Psalm of Salvation

2011-06-09T02:24:00.000-07:00

Daddy,

Father-GOD, abundant in Mercy and

Grace,

I fall on my knees before you,

I fall flat on my face

in submission ---

I am PLEADING, Daddy,

Abba, ADONAI,

I am so human,

the lowliest creation.

You have given me the most

BEAUTIFUL GIFT,

and I do not want to ruin it.

Daddy, Father-GOD, abundant in Mercy and

Grace,

on YOU I depend.

YOU are the One who holds me together,

and now I am crying out to you,

‘Forgive me!!’

You’re known for your compassion, Lord.

Your Forgiveness is LEGEND,

GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies!!

I am truly, truly sorry,

my Master,

can you tell??

Of course You can!!

You created me!

You know my inner workings,

You command the oceans,

calm the seas,

You taught the birds where to fly,

You showed Sun where to rise.

God of my Heart,

Lover of my Soul,

I cry out for forgiveness ---

fill me with Your Joy,

and I will be okay.

Wash me anew,

flood me, drown me in Your

Lovingkindness,

and I will run and play like a child.

Daddy, Father-GOD, abundant in Mercy and Grace,

Your Love is SO WONDROUS,

SO RECKLESS,

SO LIBERATING.

I am no longer bound to any Law, any death-condemning Decree,

but am allowed to live in the SPACIOUS FREEDOM that comes with salvation!!

You said, “You’ve always been told, ‘Love your neighbor, hate your enemy,’ but I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you. For what good can come of limiting yourself to loving those who already love you?”

Your ways are so DIVINE,

so HEAVENLY.

I have heard your Word, Father.

I have seen the revelation with my own two eyes, FATHER.

The Enemy --- that Love-Killer,

that prince of deceits,

that liar ---

is threatening to destroy it.

God, PROTECT US.

DELIVER US from that snake,

slithering around,

trying to sweet-talk us down the path of doom.

Just like Jesus, sweet Jesus,

I say “BEAT IT, SATAN!!!”

Lord, all-wise,

keep us from harm,

Lord, all-wise.

With Your help,

nothing in Heaven and Earth

can touch us.

There is a BATTLE going on, Father,

a BATTLE,

but I AM ON THE WINNING SIDE,

because You, GOD,

you’ve already won.

With the death of Jesus,

my Savior,

the GOD-side has already WON!!

PRAISE THE LORD!!

2011-06-09T02:22:00.001-07:00

“What does love look like?” is the question I’ve been pondering

“What does love look like?”

“What does love look like?” is the question I’ve been asking of You

I once believed that love was romance, just a chance

I even thought that love was for the lucky and the beautiful

I once believed that love was a momentary bliss

But love is more than this

All You ever wanted was my attention

All You ever wanted was love from me

All You ever wanted was my affections, to sit here at Your feet

Then tell me

“What does love look like?” is the question I’ve been pondering

“What does love look like?”

Then I sat down, a little frustrated and confused

If all of life comes down to love

Then love has to be more than sentiment

More than selfishness and selfish gain

And then I saw Him there, hanging on a tree, looking at me

I saw Him there, hanging on a tree, looking at me

He was looking at me, looking at Him, staring through me

I could not escape those beautiful eyes

And I began to weep and weep

He had arms wide open, a heart exposed

Arms wide open; He was bleeding, bleeding

Love’s definition, love’s definition was looking at me

Looking at Him, hanging on a tree

I began to weep and weep and weep and weep

This is how I know what love is, this is how I know what love is

And as I sat there weeping, crying

Those beautiful eyes, full of desire and love

He said to me:

“You shall love Me, You shall love Me

You shall love Me, You shall love Me”

With arms wide open, a heart exposed

With arms wide open, bleeding, sometimes bleeding

If anybody’s looking for love in all the wrong places

If you’ve been searching for love, come to Me, come to Me

Take up your cross, deny yourself

Forget your father’s house and run, run with Me

You were made for abandonment, wholeheartedness

You were made for someone greater, someone bigger, so follow Me

And You’ll come alive when you learn to die

Psalm 62

2011-03-23T14:09:00.000-07:00

God, the one and only--

I’ll wait as long as he says.

Everything I need comes from him,

so why not?

He’s solid rock under my feet,

breathing room for my Soul,

an impregnable castle:

I’m set for Life.

How long will you gang up on me?

How long will you run with the bullies?

There’s nothing to you, any of you--

rotten floorboards, worm-eaten rafters,

Anthills plotting to bring down mountains,

far gone in make-believe.

You talk a good line,

but every “blessing” breathes a curse.

God, the one and only--

I’ll wait as long as he says.

Everything I hope for comes from him,

so why not?

He’s solid rock under my feet,

breathing room for my Soul,

an impregnable castle:

I’m set for Life.

My help and glory are in God

--granite-strength and safe-harbour-God--

So trust him absolutely, people;

lay your lives on the line for him.

God is a safe place to be.

2011-01-24T13:32:00.000-08:00

2010-12-14T10:19:00.000-08:00

Effie Álainn™

A name that I love and hope to use someday.
Yup, I trademarked it.
No takey.
"Álainn" means "beautiful" in Irish Gaelic.

Peace. :)
✝

Today's Battle

2010-11-27T19:03:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be brutally honest.

Today I was confronted with lies straight from Satan.

Lies concerning the identity of God and His Word.

And this is what I have to say to that:

There is ONE GOD.

He is Three-in-One, even if we cannot wrap our brains around it.

He is neither male nor female, he is everything wrapped into one splendid Being.

He created us male and female so that we might understand him better:

He is protective, strong, powerful like a man, but He is also tender, caring, nurturing like a woman.

GOD is SELF-SUFFICIENT: He doesn't need ANYTHING, even though we cannot imagine that.

GOD is ALL-POWERFUL: who are we to say what he can or cannot do?!

The Bible says that the Body of Christ, the Church, the Children of God, WE are the BRIDE OF CHRIST, not some "female counterpart", not the "wife of God..."

What I witnessed today was a Jesus/Pharisee sort of situation:

Jesus lived an EXEMPLARY life, a life full of LOVE and HOPE and CARING.

The Pharisees were too blind to see the Truth in front of them; all they cared about was fussing over laws and "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts."

But Jesus turned the world upside down with His Love.

Why can't people just see that Love with a child-like mind instead of manipulating the Word to satisfy their intellectual lusts??

Why can't they just see the BEAUTY of how God created us in His image?

Why can't people just LIVE LIKE JESUS?

I was saddened by what I directly experienced today, but at the same time, through the Grace of God I was made bold. <3

Praise the Lord!!

"Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, 'Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the Age?'

And Jesus answered and said to them: 'Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the Love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations and then the end will come."

~Matthew 24.3-14~

Now, more than ever, true Christ-Followers must come together in fellowship and Love; the end times are approaching, and we MUST keep the Faith. There will be many trials, many attacks, but we have to keep pushing through to the end.

Remember, we serve a God who is GREATER THAN OUR ADVERSITIES. He endured the greatest pain imagineable, did it all out of Selflessness and Love, and came out on the other side as the Victor, the Conqueror of Death itself.

Christ-Followers, my loving challenge to all of you is this:

READ THE WORD. "I have hidden Your Word in my Heart that I might not sin against You."

If there are going to be attacks, trials, Deceivers (which there will be daily), we must KNOW the Word. We must LIVE and BREATHE it, know it INSIDE OUT.

MEDITATE ON THE WORD. "Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven." Think about it. Mull over it; chew on it, grapple with it. The Word is full of mysteries and powerful Beauty. It can be read millions of times in one life and never cease to enlighten. "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." And know that the Word of God is your INFALLIBLE AUTHORITY. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

LIVE THE WORD. "The Word of the God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joins and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the Heart." Just live what you know to be true. Be humble in all things, caring in all things, but spurn the Enemy and all the lies that he creates. When you feel attacked, call out to God! He will save you, He will drive Satan away: "The Lord your God in your midst, The Might One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His Love, He will rejoice over you with singing." People can hear us talk and talk and talk about what we believe until they're blue in the face, but only when we ACT like citizens of a different Kingdom will people notice and begin to wonder why. "Preach the Gospel at all times--if necessary, use words." (St. Francis of Assisi)

<3

2010-11-05T07:31:00.000-07:00

2010-11-05T07:26:00.000-07:00

2010-11-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

2010-11-05T07:13:00.000-07:00

2010-11-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

2010-11-05T07:06:00.000-07:00

2010-10-11T11:40:00.001-07:00

2010-10-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

Love of my Life.

2010-10-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

2010-10-11T09:52:00.002-07:00

2010-10-11T09:52:00.001-07:00

2010-10-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

2010-10-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

2010-10-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

2010-10-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

2010-09-25T09:02:00.000-07:00

The bread which you do not use is the bread of the Hungry.

The garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of the one who is Naked.

The shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is Barefoot.

The money you keep locked away is the money of the Poor.

The acts of charity you do not perform are so much injustices you commit.

-Saint Basil the Great-

Psalm 63

2010-09-19T13:09:00.000-07:00

GOD -- You’re my GOD!

I can’t get enough of You!

I’ve worked up such a hunger and thirst for GOD,

traveling across dry and weary deserts.

So here I am in the Place of Worship,

eyes open,

drinking in Your Strength and Glory.

In Your generous Love I am really living at last!

My lips brim praises like fountains.

I bless You every time I take a breath;

My arms wave like banners of Praise to You.

I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy;

I smack my lips.

It’s time to shout praises!

If I’m sleepless at midnight,

I spend the hours in grateful reflection.

Because You’ve always stood up for me,

I’m free to run and play.

I hold on to You for dear life,

and You hold me steady as a post.

2010-09-06T08:44:00.000-07:00

2010-09-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

The Wonder of Creation

2010-09-06T08:34:00.000-07:00

On a Day When the Wind is Perfect

2010-09-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

On a day when the wind is perfect
the sail just needs to open and the
world is full of Beauty.
Today is such a day.

My eyes are like the sun that makes promises;
the promise of life
that it always
keeps

each morning.

The living Heart gives to us as does that luminous sphere,
both caress the earth with great tenderness.

There is a breeze that can enter the soul.
This Love I know plays a drum.
Arms move around me;
who can contain their self
before my Beauty?

Peace is wonderful,
but ecstatic dance is more fun, and
less narcissistic;
Gregarious He makes our lips.

On a day when the wind is perfect,
the sail just needs to open,
and the Love starts.

Today is such a day.

2010-07-31T00:52:00.001-07:00

Nōn nōbīs, Domine,

sed Nomine Tuo da Glōriam.

Not to us, Lord,

but to Your Name be the Glory.

be unto Your Name

2010-07-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

We are a moment,

You are Forever,

Lord of the ages,

God before Time.

We are a vapor,

You are eternal,

LOVE everlasting,

reigning on high.

Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.

Highest praises, honor and glory

Be unto Your Name.

Hymn to a Good Wife (Proverbs 31.10-31)

2010-07-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

A good woman is hard to find,

and worth far more than diamonds.

Her husband trusts her without reserve,

and never has reason to regret it.

Never spiteful, she treats him generously

all her life long.

She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,

and enjoys knitting and sewing.

She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway

places and brings back exotic surprises.

She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast

for her family and organizing her day.

She looks over a field and buys it,

then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.

First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,

rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.

She senses the worth of her work,

is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.

She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,

diligent in homemaking.

She’s quick to assist anyone in need,

reaches out to help the poor.

She doesn’t worry about her family when

it snows; their winter clothes are all mended

and ready to wear.

She makes her own clothing,

and dresses in colorful linens and silks.

Her husband is greatly respected when he

deliberates with the city fathers.

She designs gowns and sells them,

brings sweaters she knits to the dress shops.

Her clothes are well_made and elegant,

and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.

When she speaks, she has something

worthwhile to say,

And she always says it kindly.

She keeps an eye on everyone in her

household,

and keeps them busy and productive.

Her children respect and bless her;

her husband joins in with words of praise:

“Many women have done wonderful things,

but you’ve outclassed them all!”

Charm can mislead and Beauty soon fades.

The woman to be admired and praised

is the woman who lives in the Fear_of_God.

Give her everything she deserves!

Festoon her life with praises!

2010-07-29T15:01:00.000-07:00

2010-07-29T14:59:00.000-07:00

2010-07-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

2010-07-28T20:09:00.000-07:00

WHO IS Jesus?

Who is HE?

HE IS...

Master,

Creator,

Lord-of-All,

Redeemer,

the Lamb,

Saviour,

the Messiah,

True Beauty,

our first Love,

Father,

Friend,

Brother,

Light,

the Son,

the Sacrifice,

Death-defier,

King of Kings,

the Was,

the Is,

the Coming,

Wonderful,

Resplendent,

Hope-of-the-World,

Emmanuel,

Sustainer,

Fountain of Joy,

Provider,

Grace-giver,

All-wise,

Conqueror,

Holy One,

All-consuming,

Fire-in-my-Heart,

I Am,

Morning Star,

Son-of-God,

son-of-Man,

the Center,

God-before-Time,

my Altar-Rock,

Highest Priest,

God-of-the-Angel-Armies,

Divine,

Three-in-One,

Life,

Healer,

Lover,

the Great Orchestrator,

Magnificent,

Worthy-of-Highest-Praise.

Love is who He is.

Will Tell

2010-07-28T19:38:00.000-07:00

my eyes the smoky sea

2010-07-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

let us dance in the deep,

elegantly,

unhurried, with grace.

we twist,

we twirl,

we slowly erase

every trace of

having lingered here.

swept by our hands,

sweet secrets unfurl.

Your skin the

golden sands,

my eyes the

smoky sea.

our breath the waves,

pound eternally.

our LOVE, a lighthouse.

a lamp to

spurn FEAR.

DEAR,

let us turn away sleep

LET US DANCE IN THE DEEP.

A Psalm to the Lord of Light

2010-07-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

God, protect me from the Naysayers.

Shield me from Harm and Hurt.

They tear at me, trying to pull me down.

That old Serpent, Lucifer, Cursed-Forever,

he and his minions are everywhere,

causing all kinds of Mischief.

Spawning Hate and Grudges,

they run rampant in

Unexpecting-Hearts,

those who fall prey to the Snake.

But You, o Lord, are my Defender.

You guard me from all sides,

I cannot even be touched by

the Malevolent Forces that

roam the Earth.

I love you, Father!

Your Word is all I want;

Your Counsel is all I want.

It gives me joy like nothing else

I’ve ever known.

An inexplicable Joy fills me

when I study your Book,

Your Life-Book,

Your Light-Book.

All Light and Beauty and Goodness are You,

my Dearest Master.

I cannot even describe You sufficiently.

When I think of You, my insides burst

with Happiness;

I want to tell everyone I see about You,

because You are so good, Father.

I want everyone I meet to know You too, Daddy.

For Your Love,

Your Love-in-Perfection,

is more delectable than any food,

more quenching than any drink,

more pleasurable than any kiss,

more perfect than anything conjured on this Earth.

The Naysayers don’t know.

They haven’t tasted and believed that it,

that You,

are Good.

You are Sheer Beauty.

You are True Love.

You are Pure Goodness.

You, in the form of Your Son,

died to set me free from the bondage of my sin.

Jesus Christ.

Jesus...

What a sweet name, Father.

Jesus...

My Heart swells with Love when I even think

on that Name.

Lamb-of-God, The Deliverer, God-with-Us, Wonderful-Counselor, Saviour, Friend, Brother, Lover, Lord, Redeemer.

Your Way is so full of Splendor and Grace;

so full of Color and Light, so Spacious and Divine.

I am here to bring out the God-Colors in the world, Father.

I am here to weave Graciousness and Love,

Patience and Understanding.

I am a Christ-Follower.

I am a Holy-Spirit-House.

I am a Daughter of God.

I would rather scrub floors in Your House,

O God,

than have a place of honor in the dwelling of the wicked.

For all I long for is to sit at Your Feet and ponder You,

To look into Your Eyes and see Eternity,

To crawl into Your Lap and experience Your Wondrous Love,

To be carried in your Heavenly Arms,

To have my breath taken away by Your Love-Expressions

that I see everywhere.

I love to tell my Redemption-Story;

I love to raise my Master’s Name high,

to praise Him night and day.

I love to ponder You night and day, Daddy.

I just sink into a reverie and bask in You.

You gently sing me to sleep;

You whisper my name to awaken me.

I know it’s You, Daddy.

All Tenderness and Care and Warmth are You,

my Loving Creator.

I LOVE YOU, DADDY.

words of great wisdom

2010-07-22T21:59:00.000-07:00

Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it.

Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good.

Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame.

Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant.

Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder.

Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath.

Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down.

Get along with each other; don't be stuck up.

Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone.

If you've got it in you, get along with everybody.

Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do.

"I'll do the judging," says God.

"I'll take care of it."

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink.

Your generosity will surprise him with goodness.

Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

~Romans 12.9-21~

Psalm 150

2010-07-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

Praise God in His holy house of worship,

praise Him under the open skies;

praise Him for His acts of power,

praise Him for His magnificent greatness;

Praise with a blast on the trumpet,

praise by strumming soft strings;

Praise Him with castanets and dance,

praise Him with banjo and flute;

praise Him with cymbals and a big bass drum,

praise Him with fiddles and mandolin.

Let every living, breathing creature praise God!!

Hallelujah!