On living with a woman

On living with a woman who's my wife;

this is the deal I signed myself up for.

But now I see there's been a lot of strife

that's come because I am so immature.

I like the freedom of focus and thought

that comes from not much planning (for her sake).

The story of that "Bonny" dog once caught

my focus in Tasmanian estate.

And shows the kind of things that would confuse

such animals that live in groups or packs,

yet have a basic leader who would choose,

then order life together, with its acts.

And this could be the level where I live,

as animal of human species which

would never get much higher, thus not give

where I don't  stand to get back, or get rich.

But if a thing called love is really there,

and if it could be true, what God has said,

that without love, there's nothing anywhere

of any worth or value up ahead;

then lack of love's the biggest sin of all.

This love here means: what serves the highest good.

And God, you're helping me to see appal-

ling strength of love in me - ain't what it could

be, if I were like him who was like you.

He trusted you to be his help in truth.

And didn't  fall apart when things were new,

or old, he let you do what you would do.

---

Oh thank you God for helping me to see

how weak I am without your life in me.

It's true, without this Christ, Jesus I'd be

unable to create and be set free.

---

right and good

 

The kinds of things that make a person right

acceptable, or pleasing in the sight 

of goodness and completion - of the Judge 

of all the Earth (Creator who dain't budge

but gives "reality" its quality

of realness which endures, consistency),

are not to do with "getting on his side" -

for offerings to bribe he can't abide.

The Source of all creative acts, sustains,

and gets turned on by folk who in the mains

will do throughout their whole entire life

what's being done for them by God, quite rife.

And so that means I s'pose they'll keep their word.

They will reflect God's generous absurd

good-giving, being fair - and so much more

they'll think up, and then plan, and do, and score!

---

Prov 21:3 (paraphrased): The kinds of things that make a person acceptable, or pleasing in the sight of the Judge of all the Earth, the Creator, Yahweh-God, are not actually to do with special religious observances. Yahweh-God gets really turned on by Justice and Righteousness, - in actions, like being fair and keeping your word, not just using token words as an alternative!

---

ways forward...

The way of operating of some folk

is climbing up the ladder so that they

can be above the others, have a joke

at their expense - and then the others pay!

And then the others are looked down upon.

It doesn’t seem so bad, because you have

to do that just because you are who's won

the vantage point, and now you are above.

That way of opperating with those ends,

is just too weak and small to take in love,

for love's another Way itself - it tends

to step down more, it woos, and will not shove

the others out the way, to get in first.

When it is first, it lifts the others up.

It's at the front when things are at their worst,

to take the batt-er-ing when things erupt.

The greatest of commands that God gave us,

displayed itself by all the Ten combined,

the one that "married" (without extra fuss)

& stays with number two; and far from blind,

it sees all in 3D (because of that).

It won't be separated from it's mate.

And won't be sterilized, it does the act

of love, from love it has, it won't use faked

pretend love, it would stop, and fix up it's..

its motives if the best ones weren't portrayed.

As Irene said, the greatest of sins sits

where greatest of commands are not obeyed.

---

Prov 21:4 (paraphrased): What naturally flows from the mindset and life choices of wicked people becoming both their potential end and their means of getting there, are rolls of the eyes & looks that appear haughty, because the people's hearts are in fact proud, both of which are the kind of thing that actually make them sinners (not any quick fix rules about how often you go to the meeting place etc).

---

"STORY" - 1

Oh Graeme, I'm glad to tell you this today..

for God used our discussion from before:

He guided us each one, but I must say

he seemed to use the two together more...

Well, more or less the same as with each one,

depending on the day, and TIME and need

(the place we're up to - now that it's begun,

each spot within the story has a "SEED".

This great big STORY of the great big GOD;

We're  living all our lives within his "dream",

as he keeps it within his mind, we've got 

a world to walk about in, REAL, it seems.

But You, it was, who took that "STORY" word, 

and underlined it, made it bright, high-viz!

(Then God did that as well, might seem absurd,

on canvas up above - that one of his!)

In copying our Father, and his WAY:

Creative Love, a man called Jesus, Christ,

(a way that loves to celebrate and stay

around and share a meal and be enticed

to chat some more, and think about what's true,

in order to live out a True Man's life,

but unexpected things he'll gladly do,

well, "likely" is more apt. His way is rife

with unexpected starts and ends and then

the in-betweens have bits like that as well.

Creative love tells stories, at each "when"

unique, and holy, precious, with His smell.

… t.b.c.

Changes afoot

 Thanks for filling us in on some changes, in childcare, for you and your son..

---

Oh God please help this lady. Your wisdom

would be a help negotiating these

changes which occur for her and her son,

to move ahead with daring, not to freeze,

or else to clutch her own hopes to her tight,

and not let go, receiving greater good.

I know your love for her son through her might

not be received as all she hoped it would.

And thank you for her sister who just came

to somewhat share the load and back her up,

expressing more of your love just the same.

Expressing more of your love that erupts.

---

The paths of joy...

Lady, thinking of you today. What are you doing?  I'm  trying to work out how to best use my time this morning and tomorrow... many options... We'll see. 

---

Oh God please give us wisdom, where we are,

my lady up in Queensland, me down here;

that in our lifetimes left we'll light, as stars,

this world a little bit with what brings cheer.

We know it's complicated, and won't do,

to look at surface levels all the time,

but we are learning (all of this from you)

to deal more with the heart, and what's sublime.

---

nimal noise

Once there was a rooster, 

and he went "cock-a-doodle-doo";

and then there was a puppy dog; 

and what did he say to you?

For he said "woof", & barked "bow wow", and he said "rough"ly that 

(I am not sure what he meant now);

I think he saw a cat.

---

Greater Creator...

 

---

Oh great creator of this universe,

who made, and too sustains, it in your mind

as we make up imagin-ings rehearsed

(most often less consistent and refined).

Oh you who love to paint, with colours bright

the skies around the world (two times a day),

the flashy little stars we see at night,

& highlight beauty, mystery in our stay.

Oh you who loves to love and grow your kids,

your appetite for making is intense.

You'd hang all day to help them in their bids,

to do well and succeed in life, so hence …

you love to waste your time with each of us.

Your hopes and plans for matter, matter much,

and can't be thwarted here by any fuss!

- except the matter of your kids and such -

they're in a diff'rent categ'ry to start

(small images of Yahweh, baby gods),

you let them cause you grief, and break your heart,

the biggest heart that loves against all odds.

And love, we learn, ain't mechanistic stuff,

it is a motivation of a kind -

an honouring of baby gods. It's tough,

enduring, for it knows, but isn't "blind".

It's just that it's the base itself; You God,

are love; and lovingkindness is your face.

Your royal-loyal-love, may seem quite odd,

admitting no ulteriors - "in case".

---

'nuther

And, oh my god, when I waste time with you,

I get a sense of what is worth the while,

and where I've  come from, where I'm going to.

And even when I grump, you make me smile.

And so I'm starting loving wasting time,

especially when it's hanging out with you.

Your sense of time is not a lot like mine.

You're getting me to love what you value!

It seems to be because you're  standing firm

on What is incidental? What is key?

I'm gaining now a fresh sense of the term...

the term o' my natural life - of me.

Instead of only seeing all "my life",

as centred round "myself", I think of "we".

And when stuff "hits the fan", now "we got strife",

I'll now accept your help to start to see

things from your point of view. You model well.

By doing that yourself, now I begin

to be enabled patiently to dwell

with folk who are not those who always win.

But as I "take you on", you're taking me

on journeys and adventures, all the kind..

ways that your sense of "sight n sound", "What's free?",

and "What are things to always keep in mind?"

And oh my god, I love you. I am yours.

That's way before you ever were my own.

I now admit, that I am more your curse.

You won me over, by the love you've shown!

---

The plot thickens! The creative gardener takes on both a garden & an "apprentice".

Oh Daddy you love me. So I love you.

And thus my love must be begun, it's true,

dependant, and responsive in its kind;

it's not by definition, false and blind.

And if its truly sourced, alive, and sound,

it may take root within the soil that's found

within the plot that's me, & called "my own",

and I will end up named from what has grown

within that plot, for soon who looks a-gain,

will see not soil, if I accept the rain,

and deeply grateful, let it reach through me

up once again, towards the heavenly.

Your gifts of living water and of seed

have both together turned my lack, and need

to be not naked nor ashamed, a plot

by God with human soil to turn the rot

and dirt of life into a wall'd gard-en,

an Eden with an orchard, trees hard-en

and reach up higher still, and still bear fruits,

while silently invisibly grow roots.

And in-between, in middle earth, a tryst

can happen there for lovers who don't buy/

store fruit from markets, for it grows nearby

and they enjoy togetherness - for life

- is found in beds, of heather in a gard-

en, where apprentice gardeners stand guard

against all anti - eco-system-life, 

to trim it clean with saw, or shears, or knife.

---

Be the plot:

the plot that's "heard" (of the story), the plot that's seen (the humous in the garden), the plot that's done - with the creator (plotting good things to be multiplied in this world, going for long walks together - in and through the garden and the other kinds of plots)!

---

Motorbike accident...

 A friend has had a motorbike accident and has been airlifted to Sydney...

---

Oh Lord, please do your magic life in Russ.

Your kind of life that heals itself each day,

in every living creature, and in us,

and even plans for more life in the Way!

---

His healing blessings

Sorry friend. I forgot to tell you we aren't coming for lunch. Just hit us... both a bit warn out, and heading to bed now.

Go well. God speed, and bless you with enough. 

And more than that, make you a conduit for

conducting all the things that aid his love

his water, chamber orchestra, and more... 

his pow-er that enables life to live, 

his rest that means a thriving peace exists, 

his kind of give-ness that means he'll fore-give, 

his grace that has more goodness than our lists.

After Penguin - Blooms

 

God's long game with us here depends on love.

Which is the undergirding and the aim.

This only way persisting from above

the heart of power with people - and a game.

A deadly earnest game, with carefree fun,

and simple trust that's given wings to fly.

That lets go of the reigns as "Number One", 

and plays the second fiddle, or will try.

A game of keeping "my desires" at bay,

and never letting them get off their leash,

until my coach and trainer has the say,

and cuts the chain - when I've learned how to teach,

and have the cunning and the strength to catch 

them, and have them to heal, to serve the good

of all the fam'ly in the world, to match

the outcome of love's will. What matters should.

You cared about a woman's growing life.

You cared that her own fam'ly grew up too.

You sent a servant in their time of strife

to help ignite that love, that comes from you.

A series of "mistakes" of diff'rent kinds

made open doors in dungeons where they'd rot,

then opened skies to love, and opened minds;

and people walked right through what they could not.

This God whose avatars and servants are

some flames of fire or wind, ravens or doves, ...

is motivated by love's shining star.

And loves to grow us, though he rarely "shoves".

---

Beautiful creative images which helped spawn these thoughts in me:

• The story of  "Penguin Bloom" - from the book, which I read a few years ago, & from the movie (which we saw last night).

• Genesis 1, the spirit of the creator god brooding, hovering (like a mother bird over her nest of eggs) over the waters

• The raven Noah let out of the Ark, & the dove Noah let out of the Ark that came back with a an olive twig/leaf.

• The ravens that fed the prophet Elijah in a desert hideaway in a drought when the king was trying to kill him.

• The spirit that came down from the shizm between heaven and earth which settled and rested on Yeshua "like a dove".

• The wisdom of King Solomon when first inherited from his invisible (at the time) giver - in deciding the case between two prostitutes about a dead baby, that depended on the existence of, and seeking out and bolstering, love within humanity.

• God (sending his angel and) freeing folk from prisons (Joseph, Daniel, the group of apostles (Acts 5:17-42), Peter on his own (Acts 12:1-17)

• That poemish thingo written/quoted by Paul in his letter to a fledgling community of First Century  Jesus followers in the thriving city of Corinth, preficed with something like these words: "..& now i will show you the Most Excellent Way..." (referenced in the bible as First Corinthians chapter 13, or 1Cor.13:1-13)

---

When the ground of being moves under our feet..

---

Oh Daddy I am like a little child -

so ig-nor-ant of all that's going on.

The world I lived in didn't  seem so wild,

more beautiful and wondrous. That seems gone.

The ground is shifting underneath my feet.

The friendships and relationships that were

so simple, and so solid state, complete,

came back from the mechanics - a new world:

apparently a shell of nothingness

that somehow makes this world that we live in,

to simulate reality, and bliss.

If love does not gain entrance, I give in.

It seems a cruel joke - that no one gets.

Except the babes & children who accept

the love that's showered on them (and our pets)

It's just that children can again reflect

it back, and learn to mimick us at first,

but soon some learn to have that attitude

or stance in life that trusts that love won't burst

like bubbles do, and ev'ry living dude,

and worlds that we create within our heads -

our spacial worlds, relationships as well.

The love that still persists when we are dead

can blow another bubble world to dwell

in with the babes and children who would trust

that kindness and that love which gave us life.

Who'll let their parents teach them, as they must

in order to learn love, within the strife.

---

So Saul died for his unfaithfulness; he was unfaithful to the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord,... and did not seek guidance from the Lord . Therefore the Lord slew him, ....

 1 Chronicles 10:13‭-‬14 RSV

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Matthew 18:2‭-‬5 NIVUK

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Galatians 5:4‭-‬6 NIVUK

...If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…

1 Corinthians 13:2‭, ‬6‭-‬7 NIV

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