Poetic Inspirations and Practical Applications for Blissful Living

Victory of Surrender

Victory of Surrender

~*~

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I offer You my heart

My mind, my soul

For only You, Lord

Can make me whole

 

Oh, that your Spirit

Would fill me always

Oh, that my lips

Sing forever your praise

 

May my every moment

My every thought and move

Bring You great delight

As You gladly approve


Yes, this is my prayer

Today and tomorrow

I give you my all

And release all my sorrow

 

For to let go of me

And to be filled with You

Is to experience Joy

With Peace and Love True

 

No victory more sweet

Has one ever known

Than to surrender to Christ

And be fully His own

 

Paradoxical that victory

And surrender are one

Yet such is the Truth

Of living one with the Son

 

So a fragrant offering

May my life ever be

A sweet sacrifice

May my days be to Thee

 

And love You more deeply

Each passing day

Experience You more fully

Yes, all this I pray

 

While I was a sinner still

Lord, You poured out Your All

You accepted the Cross

To save us all from the Fall

 

Blood poured from You that day

For humanity and its sin

A sacrifice beyond thought

That New Life would begin

 

So aromatic and sweet

May my life offering be

A humble gift to my Lord

Giving Him all of me

 ~*~

© 2012 Caroline Gavin

How do you experience the victory of surrender?

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Bread of Life

Bread of Life

~*~

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Our Lord, Our God

Is the Living Bread

Giving Life Eternal

As our Lord has said

 

All who can accept

All who do believe

All who embrace Christ

Are those who do receive

 

For the Spirit brings life

The flesh counts for naught

Thus we seek spiritual food

And redemption blood-bought

 

We go humbly to Christ

And hunger never again

We discover eternal treasure

And where it has long been

 

Manna in the desert

Is what our forefathers ate

Sweeter bread than this

Our God does now create

 

For man lives not

On bread alone

But on God’s Word

And flesh which did atone

 

Thus we seek true Bread

In the One who for us died

We eat of His flesh

That in us He will abide

 

And we rejoice in the Gift

The Gift of faith and life

We guard always our hearts

Even in challenge and strife

 

For Christ lives in us

As in Him we do live

We believe in His Sacrifice

And Eternal Life He does give

Rejoice in the Gift

Celebrate Divine Love

Embrace precious Manna

Bestowed from Above

 

And seek always the Bread

Follow always the Way

Cling always to Christ

Eating each Word He did say

 

For it is His Word

That nourishes and feeds

Precious and powerful

Filling all of our needs

 

Yes, praise God Eternal

Praise the Son on High

Through the Eternal Manna

Christ is to us always nigh

~*~

© COPYRIGHT 2011 Caroline Gavin

How do you actively seek and feed upon the Bread of Life?

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The Mind of the Heart

Mind of the Heart

~*~

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Beating faithfully

Pumping fluid of life

The heart continues

Even in pain and strife

 

Yet more than muscle

More than mechanics therein

The heart has a mind

Clinging to either life or sin

 

For a man indeed is

As he thinketh in his heart

It is from the heart-center

Growth of fruit does start

 

Thus we feel heart pain

When bad news we learn

Or feel our hearts lifted

When loved ones return

 

It is Christ’s heart that aches

When sinners reject His love

For His heart pours blessings

From His throne above

 

The life-blood of His heart

Is the life-force of salvation

It purifies and restores

And strengthens in temptation

 

Guard carefully, then, your heart

Let it be of flesh, not stone

Sensitive to God’s Word

Imprinted with Truth alone

 

For the Law of the LORD

Is written upon His child’s heart

That he may live victoriously

And from God never part

 

So we protect our hearts

And lift them to the Most High

We embrace the love of Christ

Never our hearts to go awry

 

And we sing of God’s love

We rejoice in His glory

Christ’s heart bled for us

Salvation is His Story

 

Beating so faithfully then

Let the rhythm of our hearts be one

With the symphony of our King

Yes, music of Eternity has begun

~*~

© COPYRIGHT 2011 Caroline Gavin

How has the mind of the heart changed in your life since meeting Christ?

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Gift from Above: The Spirit of Love

Holy Spirit: The Dove of Love

~*~

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The Dove of the Spirit

Descends and uplifts

Embraces and overflows

While hearts He shifts

 

He fills us with the flame

Of love eternal and pure

Warming hearts with Truth

 Of God’s Word to endure

 

He align us faithfully with

God’s perfect, holy will

We hear His sweet voice

When our minds we still

 

Wisdom and kindness

Charity, faith and love

Overflow in our hearts

As we embrace the Dove

 

Transforming the life

Renewing the mind

A new self we become

When the Spirit we find

 

And this Spirit of God

This flame of eternal love

We find when we accept

The Gift of Heaven above

 

Yes, Christ is the Gift

He is the Truth and the Way

The Spirit embraces us

As we embrace all Christ did say

 

And eternal treasures

Mysteries beautiful and deep

Such are the gifts

The Spirit of God does keep

 

Lavishly bestowing them

Upon God’s children dear

These gifts we experience

When keeping the Spirit near

 

So quench not the Spirit

Nor douse the flame

For Life and Love

Are one and the same

 

Embrace now the Spirit

And enthrone Christ always

Lift your heart to the Father

Sing to all Three praise

 

For we are His children

Marked with love

The deposit of eternity

In the seal of the Dove

 

May we share this Gift

With all those we meet

Witnessing the great love

Of salvation sweet

 

That all may know

The delight of the Dove

That all may know

The depth of God’s Love

~*~
© 2011 Caroline Gavin

How do you embrace the Holy Spirit, the Dove of Love?

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Power of Pain

 Power of Pain

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A power to pain

Our LORD does give

Graciously to help

This life we live

 

In a fallen world

Of suffering great

Glory our pain

Can yet create

 

For God transforms

The cross to the crown

And uplifts the hearts

That are cast down

 

We see then value

In tears we do sow

To reap eternal joy

Beyond all we know

 

Seek pain, no, but

Embrace when it is near

For God doles it lovingly

Yes, this is clear

 

He knows what it is best

For our ultimate good

He knows how to mold

As we never would

 

Comforting it is then

To know that pain

Will yield sweet flowers

After the falling rain

 

So rejoice in all things

Even in trial

Trust in God’s love

Sing and smile

 

Eternal and precious

Treasures do await

Beyond the pearly doors

Of Heaven’s Gate

 

And dishearten not

When pain you find

Brief it is and soon

To be left behind

 

Fix your eyes instead

On the crown in store

Focus on Heaven

Each day more

 

For a power to pain

Our LORD does give

Graciously to help

This life we live

 ~*~

© COPYRIGHT 2011 Caroline Gavin 

How have you experienced the power of pain in your life?

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Priceless and Precious Love

 

 

 

 

Priceless and Precious Love

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Priceless is the Love of God

Finer than silver and gold

His Love stretches long, wide

And eternally from days of old

 

How blessed we are, you and me

To receive this precious Love divine

With thanksgiving may we sing

And with radiant peace may we shine

 

Wealth and health come and go

They make us neither safe nor secure

Yet of God’s unchanging Love

We can remain forever sure

 

What do you feel in this Love?

What story does its song share?

God’s Love whispers of eternity

Of boundless grace beyond compare

 

His Love heals body and spirit

It binds even the broken heart

It comforts, transforms, uplifts

Yes, all from the very start

 

So let’s sing a song of Love

For God is Love True

Let’s sing of Love Eternal

Love lavished upon me and you

 

And let’s tell a story of God

Of His Love precious and sublime

Let’s share a message of Love

Stretching beyond the end of time

 

For priceless is the Love of God

Finer than silver and gold

His Love stretches long, wide

And eternally from days of old

 ~*~

© COPYRIGHT 2011 Caroline Gavin

How do you experience – and share – God’s love?

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Sacred Spice Story: Christianity and Cinnamon

Cinnamon The Sacred Story of a Spice Video by Caroline Gavin of Purposeful Pathway Christian Life Coaching

The Sacred Story of a Spice

God commanded Moses to use cinnamon in the holy anointing oil. But why would this be? What relation does this spice have to the sacred? What can the aroma of cinnamon tell us about our own lives?

Cinnamon The Sacred Story of a Spice Video by Caroline Gavin of Purposeful Pathway Christian Life Coaching

Image courtesy Piyata at www.freedigitalphotos.net

Watch the Cinnamon Story unfold in this three-minute video…

Living Waterfall

Revived by Living Water

 

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The rushing of a waterfall

The trickling of a stream

Power to inspire and soothe

Have both, it does seem

 

Why this connection

Between water and heart?

How can I explain this?

Where can one start?

 

Transparent and pure

Water has power to cleanse

We see also this power

Through a Biblical lens

 

Waters baptize and renew

Washing signifies a new start

No wonder this sweet tie

Between water and the heart

 

The sight of a waterfall

The sound of its rushing flow

Wash over us divine comfort

Peace and inspiration grow

 

The movement of waters

Keeps them pure and clean

Felt, as they flow into the heart

Not simply heard and seen

 

For God seems to speak

In the waters created by His Hand

He says “Drink of my Living Water,

Enter now the Promised Land”

 

For the Living Water of Christ

Quenches always the thirst

It brings to us life eternal

Beginning and end, forever and first

 

This connection then is sacred

Between water and the heart

God is ever intentional

In the creation of His Art

 

So let the waters rush and flow

Let the streams meander and wind

Let us wash our hearts from sin

Renewing the spirit and the mind

 

And we embrace the Living Water

The Gift that Jesus longs to give all

We celebrate the blessing of eternal life

As we stand in awe of His Waterfall

~*~

© 2011 Caroline Gavin

How do celebrate the eternal life found in Christ’s Living Water?

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Follow Feeling?

Should We Follow Feeling?

Do you follow your feelings? What is the relationship between action and feeling? How can understanding the relationship help us in purposeful living?

As we travel purposefully upon our personal pathways, we often encounter areas of necessary growth…and, therefore, necessary change. Change can be difficult, particularly when we heed our feelings more closely than we do God’s Word.

It is natural to act according to feelings, and in doing so we live according to the flesh. We may justify our actions with intellectualization. Yet, when we live according to feelings, we follow an uncertain (and often unpleasant) course indeed. We know that feelings are capricious, ever-changing and often not stemming from Truth. After all, “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

So what is the basis for purposeful decisions? And how do we factor in feelings? A purposeful course follows decisions based on God’s Word – His eternal, unchanging Truth – no matter one’s feelings at the time. We embrace and give thanks for the feelings that God provides, the feelings that make us human. That being said, we do not honor these feelings above His Word. When feelings trigger actions, we discover unnecessary twists and turns and delays in purposeful progress. We remain stuck in old and often unfruitful patterns.

When we place Biblical action before feeling, however, we experience liberation from chains of past and alignment with God’s Will. God then blesses us with changed feelings…but we must first take the obedient action. In doing so, our feelings begin to align with His feelings, our distastes with His distates, our delights with His delights. “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

Is following God’s Word in spite of countering feelings always easy? I can say from experience “no.” Is it worthwhile, transformative and freeing? I can also say from experience “absolutely!” This principle, like many, takes practice. The more often we experience a replacement of one set of feelings with a new set of feelings, the more confidence we have in making decisions in spite of feelings – for we trust that those painful, contrary feelings will not last forever. We know that God will replace them with joy and with peace.

Truly miraculous is the way that God transforms our minds, yet we must obediently act in order for transformation to happen. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

What patterns are holding you back from bearing more fruit? What feelings are keeping you tied to these patterns? I encourage you to trust God fully that the “the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32b) Embrace His Word, embrace His Love, embrace the transformation that He promises. When you act according to His Word, He will not abandon you in old feelings. He will liberate and uplift you…but you must reach your hand to Him and sweetly surrender to His lead.

Today and every day I encourage you to leave the shackles of the world behind…and allow instead God’s Spirit to transform your mind.

~*~

© 2011 Caroline Gavin

In what ways do you allow your feelings to follow your actions?

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Seen and Unseen

Faith in the Unseen

 

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My Lord, My God

Forgive when with faith I do not see

Help me, O LORD,

To appreciate the unseen with clarity

 

For our faith lies not in the seen

But rather in those things beyond sight

It is in those with deep faith

That You give favor and find delight

 

So often I stumble

Because I do not see

I see the world around me, yes

But forget the unseen of eternity

 

Grant, O Lord, that I may see

As you do, seen and unseen, both

For it is to You and to Your Kingdom

That my life I will always devote

 

Guide me, Lord, and show me

The path of life abundant and pure

With only You as my Compass

Can the course of my steps be sure

 

Let the depth of my faith surge

As the deep and beautiful sea

Let never the doubts and worries

Wash over a faithless me

 

For with faith I will live

And with faith I will die

Only to find eternal promises

Granted from the Most High

 

Thank you, O Lord, for your grace

To grant me the faith to live

I pray that you increase my faith

And more to me each day You give

 

For I will please you with faith

And I will serve with hope and love

Knowing You so closely here, Father

And even more so when we meet Above

 ~*~

© 2011 Caroline Gavin

How do you keep your spiritual eyes fixed on the Unseen?

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