A Page from A. Page: Beautiful Things

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Beautiful Things

I wrote this prayer several weeks ago, but worship tonight encouraged me to share. I'm working on a book, which is referenced at the end of the prayer:


I sit here sober, somber, coherent, yet unclear.
Lord, clear my head. I feel led to write. Writing is me, yet to write about me would be to write pure. What is pure writing? Is it this meandering dribble across the page?
   Writing my heart is most difficult as my heart is torn. How do I write torn words?
   My p en i s shr edd ed t o pie ces! Th e dif ficu lty in rea din g to rn w ords does n't com pare to wr it ing t hem!
   My ink should pull everything together and take the reader on a ride. Be active! Be active! Awaken! Be Alive!

   My pen breathes heavy, jotting my thoughts in shortness of breath. The heart of the words longs for 26 miles while the brain struggles with 385 yards.
   Is this my ministry, God? To write and dream, inviting others into my head. My head was something I avoided unless aided by whiskey or hooch. Now, in my sober years, I journey through, intimidated by the corners, the nooks, the cobwebs and the dust.

   Lord, why? What? You do such beautiful things with dust--the sunset, movement of water across the world, angels dancing upon a Sunday morning sunbeam through the front window, gardens and forests, Adam and Eve.
   What is in my dust? What lie-giving rain do I carry? What sandals are imbedded in my soul? Am I a sunrise? Am I dancing in your light? Am I simply a mud pie hoping to be a cake?
   Lord, God, be with me, please, as I kick up my dirt, hoping to feel! I grope for you, for the Spirit within to lead my steps. Guide my prayers, guide my thoughts, hold me tight.
   Jesus, I love you no matter what. I want to bring glory to Your name!
   Calm my anxious heart and restless hand. God, please give me rest and time to recover from the strife of the day--of any day that I fail to work on Frank as I should.
   God, I love You, Good night!

Two of my children with the backdrop of God's beautiful work with dust in the sunset on a farm.

1 comment:

DANAJune 26, 2011 at 9:24 PM
Words cannot express how beautiful this prayer is, along with the corresponding pic of God's work. Amazing!
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Spiritual Block

Upon the precipice of being poured out like a drink offering, Paul wrote about the course he had run for Timothy personally and for generations of Christians throughout the history of the church. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 4:7-8: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." NAS

Bring pen and paper to a daily meeting with God this week. Pray in the Spirit and listen patiently for His leading. He may be waiting for you to quiet down and so may seem a while in answering. He may answer with conviction of the heart immediately in prayer. He may drop love notes through others or events throughout the day to let you know He's thinking of you and leading you. He may speak through pain to help you grow, or through joy to raise your spirit. He knows what you need more than you, so be open especially in focused prayer, but also throughout the coming week, praying through these areas. Be open to writing down thoughts, convictions, events as they happen and compile them for a Sunday night recap with the Holy Spirit. Lay your thoughts upon your Bible in prayer and work on a journey check up session with Him. What fights has your heart been in--good and bad? What good fights lay ahead for your heart?

What course have you taken with and without the Spirit? Where has He been leading? Where does He lead you now? Follow His steps.

Where have you been faithful? If you've made it through this post and are looking to engage in the exercise, you have a measure of faith. Don't sell yourself short or long...don't sell yourself anything. Wait on the Spirit to tug at your faith to see areas He would like you to grow and areas bringing joy to His Spirit.

Ask God. He loves giving good things to His children. What glorious requests to ask for His Spirit to be alive and active within your heart, to take your feet with His to others who need Him, to live in the security with His promises, His truth...love, hope and faith.

Soli Deo Gloria

In Christ, Andy

Writer's Block!

November 16, 2012
Writing exercises can often jog the pen when it seems dry.

What's your favorite sport? Tell me about a dramatic game with an active voice. Yardage, velocity, power, precision and backspin are all popular and often necessary subjects in sports. While describing running yards or serve speed or slugging percentage, describe in active voice what you saw--or what you see in your imaginary game. "Defensive tackle Page flopped on a Colts' cut block, and then used the center to spring into the backfield, wrapping the quarterback for a loss of 8 yards."or"Defensive tackle Page got an 8-yard sack."While journalism preaches efficiency and lean writing, I'm saying, 'have fun!' Let the reader have some fun, too. Get into the real details and description of the action. I love sports and reading about them, so feel free to leave something you've written about an exciting game--real or imaginary!

In Christ, Andy