Cathy T Burns

Counselor, Teacher, Writer, Spiritual Director

Morning Reflections: Trust the Truth of God’s Love

by Leave a Comment

 

Milky Way behind the Natural Bridge in Yellowstone by NPS/Jacob W. Frank

Milky Way behind the Natural Bridge in Yellowstone by NPS/Jacob W. Frank

He counts the stars
    and calls them all by name.                    Psalms 147:4

He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession   James 1:18

 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  Ephesians 1:4

WE ARE HIS PRIZED POSSESSION! Those words penetrated my soul. It startled me how those words of truth,  seem to rise from the page, imprinting fresh on my heart. I have studied the book of James many times and I seem to be discovering this verse for the first time!

Our creation is vast, from the countless stars to the immense oceans of the earth. Elaborately created for our pleasure. We are at the top, the supreme, the first fruit, the treasured prize. To embrace and embody that truth should strengthen our souls, giving us a solid foundation on which to build our life.

Building our lives on this truth empowers our trust and sustains our hope in our God. When we become discouraged in the difficulties of this world, we can choose to be reminded of our God status.

Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!  Psalm 43:5  (this verse is mentioned 3 times in Psalm 42 and 43. David expressed a common struggle of all mankind, pointing to the remedy of hope.)

Let my soul be at rest again,
    for the Lord has been good to me. Psalm 116:7

God gives us grace to even help us trust him! The following prayer brings to light the truth of God’s mercy and power:

Grant me, O Lord, to trust in you with all my heart; for, as you always resist the proud

Truth - Debbie Hannah Skinner

Truth – Original Watercolor painting by Debbie Hannah Skinner.

who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AMEN (pg 515 Prayers for Summertime, Phyllis Tickle)

Praise be to our Holy God who treasures us enough to give us the grace to live in His light, to live free from fear and strong in faith!

Morning Reflections: Hope in the Hurt of Bad News

by 2 Comments

bad newsSurely the righteous will never be shaken;
    they will be remembered forever.
 They will have no fear of bad news;
    their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. (NIV) Psalm 112:6-7

Our family has a new member, a 10 day old boy named Samuel. Samuel’s presence opens a flood gate of love, flowing from each member of the family. He will receive constant protection, provision and love, not because he has done anything to deserve it but because he was born into this family. He will be receiving constant love, nurturing and strengthening through any situation.

We choose to join God’s divine family when we profess Him to be the Lord of our life. As His  beloved children, we are made righteous, not by anything we have done, but through, his son, our brother Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21) We have His divine favor, receiving constant love, nurturing and strengthening through any situation. If a human family can provide constant love, the divine creator provides more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:19-20)! In this world, unfair, violent and terrible things happen to good people.  As His children we will be loved, nurtured and strengthen through any bad news this world can create for us. Trusting His love, when bad news is a reality, is the only source of hope in this hurting world. God’s love and hope will shine bright through the darkness of this world. His family is for eternity(Ephesians 2:6), His love wins!

Loyal

I could never earn Your heart
I could never reach that far
But You have pulled me close
You’ve never let me go
I’m safe forever in Your arms
Your promises I can not break
And I know You will never change

Your love is, Your love is
Your love is loyal
Your love is, Your love is
Your love is loyal
More faithful than the rising sun
This grace for me I can’t outrun
Your love is, Your love is
Your love is loyal

You are always there for me
You listen every time I speak
You look into my eyes
You see the things I hide
And say that You will never leave
Your promises I can not break
And I know You will never change

Your love is, Your love is
Your love is loyal
Your love is, Your love is
Your love is loyal
More faithful than the rising sun
This grace for me I can’t outrun
Your love is, Your love is
Your love is loyal

When my world shakes
Your love remains unshaken
So constant, so perfect, unwavering
When my world falls
Your love remains unfailing
So constant, so perfect, unwavering
So constant, so perfect, unwavering

Your love is, Your love is
Your love is loyal
Your love is, Your love is
Your love is loyal
Your love is, Your love is
Your love is loyal
More faithful than the rising sun
This grace for me I can’t outrun
Your love is, Your love is
Your love is loyal

Written by Jason Ingram, Jonas Myrin, Paul Mabury • Copyright © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC     SUNG by Lauren Daigle

Truth - Debbie Hannah Skinner

Truth – Original Watercolor painting by Debbie Hannah Skinner.

My heart is full, as I embrace, the presence of your love for me. With this love I am confident in any situation. By Your Spirit, give me the grace to release the anxiety, anger and fear I may have as I live in this broken confusing time. May the light of your love, living in me, touch lives, drawing them to the Truth of Your love.   in Your Son’s name, Jesus, AMEN

Morning Reflections: The Light of God’s Truth, Love and Power

by Leave a Comment

pic hearts light 4For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; The Lord my God illumines my darkness. Psalms 18:28 (AMP)
For with You is the fountain of life [the fountain of life-giving water]; In Your light we see light.     Psalms 36:9 (AMP)

Holy Spirit, Truth divine,
Dawn upon this soul of mine;
Word of God and inward light,
Wake my spirit, clear my sight.

Holy Spirit, Love divine,
Glow within this heart of mine;

Truth - Debbie Hannah Skinner

Truth – Original Watercolor painting by Debbie Hannah Skinner.

Kindle every high desire;
Perish self in your pure fire.

Holy Spirit, Power divine,
Fill and nerve this will of mine;
Grant that I may strongly live,

Bravely bear, and noble strive.

Holy Spirit, Right divine,
King within my conscience reign:
Be my Lord, and I shall be
Firmly bound, forever free.
                           Samuel Longfellow

What a joy that we can live the light! A light of love placed in our souls by our Father. A love we can give – to bring light to the dark and broken of the world.  TO LIVE HOPE(FULL)

Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

Listen to You Put the Light in Me and open your eyes to the presences of God’s light.

Morning Reflections – His light is Your Light

by Leave a Comment

IMG_0478 (1)

 “No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket.[a] Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.34 “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness.35 Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. 36 If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.” Luke 11:33-36 NLT

Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.  2 Corinthians 4:6 The Message

I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth! Psalms 121:1 NLT

Hymn
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;

Truth - Debbie Hannah Skinner

Truth – Original Watercolor painting by Debbie Hannah Skinner.

Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as you are,
And make me love you as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of day,
No angel visitant, no opening of the skies,
But take the dimness of my soul away.

Have you not bid me love you, God and Kind?
All, all your own, heart, strength and mind.
I see your cross;there teach my heart to cling.
O let me seek you, and O let me find!

Teach me to feel that you are always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love you as your angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame:
The kindling of the heaven-descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and your love the flame.
                                                                    George Croly

Scriptures and hymns of old bear out the message of the gift and grace of the presences of God’s light in us. We place our hope in God, He fills our souls with life and light, leading us forward to push back the dark that surrounds us.

Listen to a modern day song that also proclaims the same truth-Pushing Back the Dark~

My Morning Reflections~ Live the Light!

by Leave a Comment

insta lightxmasAs dawn is breaking with the pink of first light, I am reminded of the power of light. The dark cold winter night transforms into a bright new day of promise. The dawning light gives way to warmth and clarity over the darkness.

The gift of God’s light, His presence in our souls, gives us clarity in understanding God’s power and love. His light leads to an inner peace as we feel joined to Him. We are never abandon in the darkness of this world.

In the Christmas season there are lights aglow down neighborhood streets and downtown businesses. Let the lights be reminders that Jesus, “the reason for the season”, brought God’s light to this world. A light given to us to defeat darkness.

Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist, spoke these words as his voice returned:

78 Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit [us]

79 To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace.    Luke 1:78-79 AMP

The darkness is defeated as dawn defeats the night. Christmas, the first coming of Christ, brings us the conquering light of peace.

Christmas is an invasion of the kingdom of striking at the heart of the kingdom of darkness              ~John Eledredge 

Are you (as a child of God) aware, and intentional utilizing the power of the divine light within your soul?

11 Do this because we live in an important time. It is now time for you to wake up from your sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The “night”[a] is almost finished, and the “day”[b] is almost here. So we should stop doing things that belong to darkness and take up the weapons used for fighting in the light.   Romans 13:11-12 (NCV)

Footnotes:

  1. 13:12 “night” This is used as a symbol of the sinful world we live in. This world will soon end.
  2. 13:12 “day” This is used as a symbol of the good time that is coming, when we will be
    Truth - Debbie Hannah Skinner

    Truth – Original Watercolor painting by Debbie Hannah Skinner.

    with God.

As a children of God let us keep focused on the mission and the ministry of living in and being the light. We can live beyond the darkness.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.  John 1:5 (NIV)

Footnotes:

  1. John 1:5 Or understood

Please do not take this gift of light lightly! 

Almighty God give all of us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the daed, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with your and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. AMEN                                                                                                                             from The Divine Hours prayers for autumn and wintertime pg 300

My Morning Reflections

by Leave a Comment

IMG_0017Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. ~John 8:12 (NET)

  The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.~ Hebrews 11:1 (Message)

If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth. ~ IJohn 1:6 (NET)

Visual acuity improves with light. Spiritual acuity is ignited with light of a trusting faith. Seeking a light source is a necessity for vision. In order to see the world through the lens of our loving Father we must seek His light. His light is available to all who trust His love manifested through His perfect Son Who died, sacrificed, to redeem our souls. Can you choose to trust a love that died for you? What is your obstacle to trust…to believe the God you can not see? The biggest struggle for the human race is to believe that the divine creator sees us as His beloved. We must choose to believe and receive the light of  the beloved. The more you believe the more you will see evidence of His love.

Truth - Debbie Hannah Skinner

Truth – Original Watercolor painting by Debbie Hannah Skinner.

Faith is believing what we do not see and the reward for this kind of faith is to see what we believe.                        Saint Augustine 

Father, give me your light to see and understand the reality, the depth, the expansion of your love in my life, so that I may your instrument in bringing Your life healing light of love to world. Through the power of my brother Jesus Christ, AMEN