Tag Archives: Master

NEW WINESKINS

22 Dec

“Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.”  Matthew 9:17

—

The old wineskin,

that covers this frame,

has become stiff,

and tough,

and bitter.

—

The New Wine,

that once filled this frame,

has been tasted,

and rejected,

and spit upon the ground,

leaving an empty skin,

tainted with yesterday’s desires,

allowed to go stale.

—

Like an old wineskin,

in the skillful hands,

of the Master,

it is time to have the stiffness,

beaten down,

the bitterness boiled out,

and the callousness,

scrapped away.

—

Cleansed,

supple, resilient,

once again this frame,

will be prepared to carry within,

the New Wine,

daily fresh,

daily blessed.

—

This time, Lord,

let me not sniff at,

let me not swirl around,

let me not fretfully sip,

and let me not spit out,

the New Wine,

placed inside.

—

But, let me savor,

every drop,

no matter the flavor,

or what I wish it might be,

or what I wish it could have been.

—

Let me cherish,

the new wine,

I’ve been prepared,

to carry,

that I’ve been sent,

to pour out.

—

And once again,

when I’ve allowed the wine,

to grow bitter and taint.

—

Renew the wineskin,

that covers this frame,

making it better,

than the first day,

it was sent,

to be a vessel,

destined to hold the best wine,

the wine that is served,

at the throne of the King.

—

Written 4-20-99

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Watching

19 Apr

horses

By Linda J. Humes
4/19/13

“Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” Proverbs 8:34 (KJV)

One of the wonderful blessings of living in Northern Arizona is the wide open land I travel through every day to work. I get to cherish God’s handiwork of fields, hills, clouds, sunrises, sunsets and the animals that roam the area.

At one point along my route there is a herd of about 20 horses. If I pass them by 7:50am they are all in a line against the fence, all facing northeast, toward the highway headed into Holbrook; every head is lifted, ear perked, intent, expectant, waiting. If I pass them closer to 8:00am they are back in the field, in a circle, all heads together down at the ground, eating the hay and oats delivered to them. No fussing, no fighting, no pushing; savoring their meal in peace, knowing each will receive enough. The rest of the day they graze the fields, each going their own different way.

Lord, I want to be like that. I want to wake up every morning and intently, expectantly seek you. I want to wait patiently until I hear you, see you, feel you, without distraction. And when you have met me, I want to eat of Your word, delight in Your presence, find peace in my relationship with You, before I step out into my busy day. I want to.

Why do I allow necessities to get into the way? I get up earlier and necessities swell. I look for quiet, but I find noise. I pray for a simpler time. Lord, I’m tired.

Pull me up Lord, into Your presence, as I do my chores, dress for the day and drive the road to work. Strengthen our relationship with every moment we share. Let me rest in You between every phone call and pen stroke. Let me be ever aware of Your unceasing love, drawing me on through the difficulties of the day. Keep me mindful of those around that I need to share your peace and joy with, even when the pressures of the moment try to push them from my day. I need you and the joy and confidence you put into my life. Help me to share it Lord, with my every word and action.

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