I want you to observe the rhythms of life. The words wafted through my mind like a gentle breath of cool fresh air. The words—an invitation—held the promise of deepening intimacy in relationship with He who spoke them into existence…

But what did the words mean? Rhythms of life? Now & then I have felt myself being drawn back to them… I see myself looking at them, testing them out like I’m tasting & smelling them or feeling & listening to them. Rhythm. Life. Come with me to explore them but then keep exploring, one day at a time, hand-in-hand with God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ said, The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, & destroy. But… He went on to say words reflecting the ‘Kingdom of God come here on earth’ reality wrapped up in love, faith, hope & glory (truth & a promise)… I came to give life with joy & abundance. (John 10:10—The Voice). God’s amazing grace & love in action—His love-gift to the world.

Paul wrote in the Bible, You were dead because of your sins & because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us & took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers & authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. (Colossians 2:13-15 NLT)

So then, we are free, in Christ, to observe the rhythms of life by the power of His Spirit to the glory of God the Father. Back to that question I asked earlier. What are the rhythms of life? If it was God who asked me to observe them (& it seems right to share this message with you today) then He holds them in His hand & wants them to be a deeper reality in my life & yours.

Rhythm speaks to me of music… the music of heaven. Rhythm speaks to me of the sound of flowing water in the river… the River of Living Water.  Rhythm speaks to me of the sounds of birds singing in the early morning… glorious songs of praise & worship lifted up to our Daddy God whose mercies are new every morning.

Rhythms of life… flow from a life connected deeply into & embedded securely in the heart of the Father through the Spirit of Jesus Christ… Prayer life—listening, talking, writing. Community life— embracing relationship with God & people. Work life—being lived in partnership with Jesus empowered by His Spirit for the glory of God. Rest life—being still & letting our Lord be God. Taking time to let our bodies rest, relax & be restored & renewed. Letting our kind, powerfully strong & gentleman Father God carry our burdens as we continue on our journey through life.

Only in & through Jesus Christ, the hope of glory, will we discover true life-giving rhythms. Why? Because He is rhythm itself. So when our being is one with His, we will be moving in concert with Him… in harmony with the rhythms of life.

Heather Henson – 16-11-2015

2 Corinthians 4 verse 7 (The Voice): But this beautiful treasure is contained in us—cracked pots made of earth & clay… And the same verse from The Message: (you might hear an echo back to the story of the shell in my vision experience) If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at.  (Emphases in all quotes are mine) 

In the New Living Translation of the Bible, the phrase used for ‘cracked pots’ is ‘fragile clay jars’. Are you feeling a bit fragile or cracked today? Do you fear that you might crumble under the weight of the busyness, the cares, stresses or worries in or around your life? I believe that the words the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write next (verses 8-10 in 2 Corinthians 4) will be of great comfort to you. They seem like a promise to me…

We are cracked & chipped from our afflictions on all sides, but we are not crushed by them. We are bewildered at times, but we do not give in to despair. We are persecuted, but we have not been abandoned. We have been knocked down, but we are not destroyed. We always carry around in our bodies the reality of the brutal death & suffering of Jesus. As a result, His resurrection life rises & reveals its wondrous power in our bodies as well. (The Voice)

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7 NLT) He is powerful, tender-hearted & nothing is impossible for our God who hears you & sees you. Let the Spirit of Jesus Christ hold you & care for you in harmony with the Father’s heart. His loving-kindness never ends. Allow the Holy Spirit to take you into ever deepening intimacy of relationship with Jesus who is one with the Father—our Daddy who is in heaven. And remain in community with your brothers & sisters. God has saved you into relationship… not into a life of isolation. 

And how does God care for us, His children? Each of us could give testimony of how we have felt urged to pray for someone. We will also have equally powerful, life-changing stories of how we seemed to be a part of God’s answer to those same prayers. 

Watch & wait & see what He will do. Let go & let Him be God. Trust Him to be God & be at peace.

God is faithful so… let us have thankful hearts & praise Him from whom all blessings flow. It is He who said “Let there be light in the darkness,” & made this light shine in our hearts so we could know His glory that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6 paraphrased)

Heather Henson — 24th August 2015