Love my refuge

Christ around me

Christ before me

Christ within me

Christ be my guide

Christ my model

That I may know love

That I may show love

That I may become love

The love that He taught

The love demonstrated in the cross

Many people question love, they question motives; they question for the do not know, they do not understand. Let not our ignorance be our stumbling block; rather, a reason to learn, a reason to awake in silence and simply listen.  God speaks in our midst yet we do not hear for our incessant talking drones on and on until all that we hear is our own thoughts, our own doubts, our own fears. Often it is the fear which keeps us from seeking that which the heart knows...God.  Sure we attend services once a week, we are kind to others but how often do we seek God in our daily lives?  How often do we stop in the middle of the work day and just listen?  I dare say not often, if any, for the work day is just that, time spent working, getting things checked off our to do list that we may have presence of mind to relax in the later hours.  God's presence is not reserved just for Church, He is not only listening at night before we fall asleep.  God is in everything we do, He walks with us throughout out daily chores for He is present in our very soul.  The effort we put forth is proportional the outcome so if we halfheartedly seek God then we will only discover God about half the time we pray for even in our prayer life we are distracted.   Distractions are a component of humanity, unfortunately they quickly become excuses as to why things are not done, namely why we did not actively seek out Christ on a particular day.  Seeking Christ is not as difficult as the mind would have us believe for Christ is easily found within.  Once we accept God's dwelling within our own person, Christ's presence in this role becomes clear.  To do list after to do list, these clutter our desks, our fridge and our minds.  Look back at your last to do list, did it say stop and feel the presence of God?  Did it remind you to seek Christ in daily interactions?  Was it written to stop, but for a moment during the most hectic part of the day and invite Christ to be most present in that moment?  We get so wrapped up in the have to's and the must do's that we forget about the God do's.  In Your presence, Lord, I accept the challenges of this day and call upon you for help.

 "I know that I will not have all of the answers, I may not even understand the question but what I know for certain, Lord, is that Your presence in my life is the loving protection I feel in the depths of my soul.  Today I stop to listen, to feel, to know and yes, to accept Your presence in my life.  Today I make a change, Lord.  I have found no love greater than Your love, no peace equivalent to Your peace for within me You dwell, my heart recognizes Your truth.  I want to live this truth, live this offering of love that others may feel this gift of love; that others may begin their to do list with find God.  Today, God, today, not tomorrow nor the next day but rather today I want to stand in Your presence and know love.  I look around and I see beauty; beauty in a rainbow surfacing but for a moment; beauty in the deep purple hues of the sun setting over the ocean; beauty in the smile of a child.  God, you are all around.  Your presence can easily be acknowledged if we but stop, look and listen with our hearts.  Today, Lord, I listen with my heart and I hear your offering of love.  I accept this offering and ask that You help me to shed the scales which have grown over my eyes, preventing me from seeing your presence among me all day.  

Today

Tomorrow

And always

Your presence in my life 

Is the peace of my soul

Is the love which I have grown dependent upon

Today

Tomorrow

And always

I will stop

That I may feel your presence

Even in the most chaotic of days

For in these chaotic days I need you most

In these chaotic days I often draw inward,

Relying solely on my mind

Forgetting the heart, forgetting Your promise of peace

Your promise of love

Quickly my mind clouds

My heart races

Anxiety overtakes my body

There are not enough hours

Things will not get done

I must work faster

Work harder

So I do

More hours spent

Items mark off the to do list

And still...

Anxiety and now worry

The mind races so

Lost

Overwhelmed by the work load

Another to do list written

Quickly I am swallowed up my daily life

No living for I am only in survival mode

Wait, my promise to You, Lord

I was going to stop

Wait, I can't stop, I have too much to do

Must forge on

Love now weighing upon my chest like that of two tin elephant

I find it difficult to breathe

Each breath labored

Sh allowed as if saving room for something

At my wits end

Life quickly closing in and I cannot keep up

Suddenly I hear

Just stop

Ahh, my promise to just stop

I have nothing to lose

So I will stop

Stop

Listen

The beating of my heart it soothes my mind

My thoughts cleared

My heart

Wow, my heart it speaks

Love, it speaks of love

I am filled with peace

But it is not Sunday

I am not at church, I am at work and lots of people are around

Still, I feel a holiness

A presence of greatness

Lord, is this You?

The heart recognize You

With my mind quiet I can hear your voice

Speak to me Lord, I am finally listening

Love, my dear child, love

You are love

You will be love

For you know love

Remember this love

This world is but a moment, it is but a blink of the eye

Lists only distract you from Me

But if lists are but a must

Schedule time for me

And in this scheduled time be with just me

I will console you

I will be your protection

You hope

In my you will find joy

This joy will bring you peace

All because you accepted my love

Love in each and every moment

I call you to love

That you may know my promise

Love

Today, Lord, is one of those chaotic days

So I must stop

I have learned to stop for now I know your presence 

I know your existence within me

Today is chaotic and today I will stop

I will stop that I may listen to the heart

Christ around me

Christ before me

Christ within me

Christ be my guide

Christ my model

That I may know love

That I may show love

That I may become love

The love that He taught

The love demonstrated in the cross

There is not love more perfect that You love

In this love You wrap my soul

I will seek you each moment 

In this moment I feel your presence

I speak your presence

I know your presence

May I be the vessel to bring this peace, this love to others

That they may not drown in the anxiety of human life

Love can and will conquer all if we but stop and allow love to enter 

Today I stop

Today I become love

The world most beautiful

The world not so frightening

The world but a reflection of your love

Beauteous and wonderful Your love

You are around me

You are before me

You are within me

Love your calling card

Love my refuge