Oh God, You are the fountain

From which I long to drink my fill.
Immerse me deeply, oh do not restrain!
Spirit to spirit, Your love to instill.

Oh God, You are the spring
Of life’s happiness I thirst after.
Source so deep, joy you bring;
just Your touch sparks laughter.

Oh God, You are the well
Of infinite delight
No earthly words can tell
of the passion you ignite!

Oh God, You’re a precious mine
filled with jewels and gold.
Beyond all worth, You’re divine
The price you paid, untold.

Oh God, You are brilliant light
Your radiance erases all shade & shadow.
Basking in Your love, I find my night
is gone and the sun again finds my window.

~~~~~~~~~~

Marie Nease

Inspired after reading "Desiring God" by John Piper

~ ~ Christ, be Formed in Me ~ ~

Christ, be formed in me
until Your reflection you see.
Purify my heart until
it is perfect and so still.

Christ, be formed in me today,
May Your words be in all I say;
Your touch is what they need to feel
so then they’ll know Your love is real.

Christ, be formed in my seeing
until You fill my being
and my vision becomes clear
then selfish desires disappear.

Christ, be formed in all my ways;
Walking Your path all my days.
Christ be formed in my heart,
in Your image, set apart.

~~~~~

© Copyright 2005 Marie Nease

Breathe ~ ~


With every breath I’m thankful for a God who knows every breath we breathe and when we’re having difficulty even breathing….

I’d never seen inside of an ambulance until recently, which is a good thing! However, I am very thankful for the wonderful EMT’s who took care of me when I called 911 on Tuesday night when my breathing turned to wheezing & my eyes were swelling in the midst of an acute allergic reaction. My blood pressure dropped and apparently I wasn’t doing too well on the way to the ER. With God’s touch, a shot of Adrenaline and a lot of Benadryl, they released me from the ER 5 hours later. It sure felt good when my sister took me home to my own bed. I sensed such peace during the time at the ER as God moved through the nurses, doctors and also sent friends and family to be there with me.

Funny how an experience like this wakes you up! My eyes and my heart are wide open and I am more thankful than ever for life, for breath and for a big, loving God who takes care of us during scary moments! I’m thankful for my family and friends and how much they mean to my life!

As I pulled into a parking place at my apartment, the day before my trip to the ER, a dove landed on a large rock in front of my car and sat, gazing at me. Such a peace filled that sweet moment as the dove was a visible reminder of the Holy Spirit’s constant presence with us.

Most know the dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, because of Matt. 3:16 "And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

John 14: 26-28 But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.
27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]
28 You heard Me tell you, I am going away and I am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me, you would have been glad, because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater and mightier than I am

Amplified Version

The part we play in knowing God
is like a song, composed of notes,
measures, crescendos and rests
that form the melody
of us allowing Him
to grasp us…
To take hold of our hearts
and gently hold us
in a close embrace--
Our ears listening
to the beating of His heart.
slowly but surely
our heart begins to beat
in unison
with His.

We begin
to hear like His ears hear
speak like His voice speaks

see like His eyes see
touch like His hands touch
love like His heart loves and
to die to self like He died for us.

© Copyright 2005 ~ Marie Nease

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

Inspired by Rainier Maria Rilke's words...

~~~~~~~~~

"When I saw others straining toward God,
I did not understand it, for though I may have had
Him less than they did, there was no one blocking
the way between Him and me, and I could reach
His heart easily. It is up to Him, after all, to have us, our part
consists of almost solely in letting Him grasp us."

Peace

settles on my life like a spring snow,
softly covering everything, making it glisten.

Joy

falls into my life like a gentle rain shower,
soaking and refreshing all it touches.

Love

wraps itself around me like a warm hug,
embracing and accepting every part of me.

Jesus is my peace, my joy & my love...