Tag: Journey

Some Recent Musings Bringing Life to Me

On By Mark FrancisIn Encouragement, God Virtues, LongingLeave a comment

Over the past months, these thoughts are working their way into my heart and experiences as key truths for the journey ahead…may they awaken life within your own. I also welcome the chance to discuss further with you — reach out to connect.

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The truth that you are fully loved and that without end, burns within our hearts like a fire. To make this known to you in the most profound and intimate way is one of the passions of the Holy Spirit…and she will never stop. I want every blind spot in me consumed by this fire…

Our capacity to embrace and experience brokenness and pain without the immediate need to resolve it brings the heart of humanity close for union. Do we dare? As Jesus came to climb into the very same for us, He invites us to join Him in others…

Death never had the power over Jesus either before or after He became one of us. Yet, He embraced it to show us resurrection life is greater. What’s more, He embraced it as the final fruit of our violence towards Him and arose to proclaim that our worst is no match for His essence – Love: that abiding presence filled with joy over our lives. We have never been separated, despite what we may think. Instead, He had held on with a smile as true love does. May I become the same…

Resist underestimating the power of offered encouragement. Our personal “courage” tanks in our hearts can never be too full, and in fact becomes the difference between experiencing victory over defeat in the life situation we face. Offer generously and to everyone…the difference will be more than we can imagine…

What we condemn for punishment reflects parts of our hearts still blind and believing redemptive love is not greater. Nothing is beyond Jesus’ desire and power to transform. All He needs is our trust and cooperation…

We, yes each of us, have a truth of who we are as crafted by our Creator. Our life journey is discovering this truth and living from it. Experiencing peace-filled fulfillment and joy comes from living from the truth of who we are. We don’t create this, we find what’s there and live life from there…

Beauty, wonder and mystery impact each other without losing their individual uniqueness. They reflect an expression of agape flowing from the relational reality between the Trinity of which we are included. We can underestimate at times the impact and key each of these realities can have in experiencing the truth of our lives. Few words can capture the absolute presence each brings and how they bridge the eternal with the temporal…

The Call of the New Year

On By Mark FrancisIn Blessing, Encouragement, UncategorizedLeave a comment

What is calling to you in this new year of 2018? A fresh start? Perseverance? Reconnection? Or maybe simply to keep taking steps. I find it fascinating how the switch to a new year, over the course of a 24 hour period, can be so impactful for many. The truth is, January 1 represents simply the next day after December 31. What has shifted that causes the impact we witness around us or even in our own heart? Does time or its shifting actually have tangible power?

While I don’t really have an answer, I do know that events associated with time certainly do. Take Jesus’ entrance. The Bible declares that “in the fullness of time”, Jesus came. In other words, there was an appointment where time had to pass including all the events associated with it before He came. I wonder how much that dynamic operates in the kingdom life we all are seeking to live? What things in our life will come to pass only after a “fullness of time”?

You are not alone in your wondering. This question is resonating in my own heart beyond anything I have experienced to date. Which leads me to stop and explore my present journey and God’s presence in it. What is He calling me to? What of my future has a voice above all voices that seeks to captivate my heart, originating from heaven’s King and Father of my life?

As you ask this same question, I bless you with open channels to God’s heart in order to apprehend what is for you in this hour. In your discovery, may fresh courage and boldness fill you, empowering your steps and giving your life sustaining vitality for your journey into 2018.

Be Extraordinary in the Ordinary

On By Mark FrancisIn Recorded Message1 Comment

The life of Jesus that we receive is meant to not only impact the “events” of our lives, but also that which we might call the “ordinary” times and seasons we mostly live in. In fact, to become extraordinary in these moments is crucial to our journey with Him. Certainly He is the life giver for our mountains and valleys. However, he wants to be the same in the “ordinaries”. As we embrace and walk in this expectation, we will not be prepared for what He has in store not only for us, but also for those around us we give His life to. (Taken from a recent message — To hear it in its entirety, click this link  http://tf-sandy.org/home/component/sermonspeaker/sermon/10252.html