Choosing #the.glory.of.the.Lord

Renewed Every Day.... musings on II Corinthians

There is a curtain that separates us from #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
Which side we see is a choice.
Which side becomes our present residence is a decision.
Which side affects us is a matter of engagement.

For those of us who believe - renewal of the Spirit.
For those of us who believe - #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
For those of us who believe - love unlimited.
For those of us who believe.

What about those of us who don't believe?
You get to have what you have.
You get to keep what you keep.
You get to save what you save.
You get to hide what you hide.
You get to look at the curtain and wonder what is on the other side.
You get to stay outside and ponder.
You get to peek around the corner and see a glimpse.
For those of us who don't believe.

For those of us who believe
Life is never dull.
A new story of grace comes every week.
A fresh moment of awe is just a step away.
For those of us who believe.

Moment by moment we choose which side of the curtain we will occupy.

The Choosing of Recent Friends
At Prinsipe de Paz they chose #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
At Iglesia de Nazareno they chose #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
At Fe Agrada A Dios they chose #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
At Faith Latino they chose #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
At CAREVI they chose #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
At PrayerMetro they chose #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
In Montana they chose #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
In Arkansas they chose #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
In Oklahoma they chose #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
In Kansas they chose #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
In Arizona they chose #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
In New Mexico they chose #the.glory.of.the.Lord.
In Matamoros, Mexico they chose #the.glory.of.the.Lord.

Choose.

How do I choose? That is the subject of more. Keep checking back.

Why not have a bright moment, You?

There is a brightness in my heart today that brings to my remembrance the encouragements of Isaiah. Isaiah was a high ranking government counselor to six kings. His adaptability under that many administrations is an amazing testimony of itself. The influence of his life and insights gave leadership over six decades. Today, his writings guide millions in encouragement.

Part of Isaiah was an abiding hope in the future and a tenacity to stand under struggle. These two perform a synergy that reaches into our soul and produces positive results in action and thought. In war times he could declare, "Speak comfort to my people." In times of apathy, he could declare a need for righteousness and justice. In times of waste of prosperity, he could declare a commitment to feed the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul. In times of disunion, he could declare a removal of the pointing finger and malicious talk.

For over 2700 years his words have stood tested and true and continue to encourage and support nations.

So why is today bright? Fingers are being pointed. Hunger is too rampant. Injustice comes too frequently. Peace is fragile. Apathy is evident. Afflicted souls gather in the streets. The choice is bright. Hope, tenacity, comfort, compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and mercy are all available.

Let's Pray

Father, I speak a blessing of brightness for my friend, You, this morning. These troubles we face are common to nations and generations. Others have survived and thrived and left encouragement for us to grasp.

Let hope come where vision is dim.

Let peace reign in our minds while bullets fly.

Let comfort encompass our hearts and minds when confusion shows face.

Let kindness guide our actions when rudeness interrupts.

Let forgiveness find a home as we forgive others even as we accept our own forgiveness.

Let mercy rule and allow others to recover their lives.

Bring brightness to our day.

Phil Larson 405-388-8037 508 Tumbleweed Dr. Yukon, Ok 73099
Facebook - PrayerMetro
LinkedIn - Considerwell
Blog: http://prayermetrodevotion.blogspot.com
to unsubscribe reply with unsubscribe in the subject line.

Bring the Rain For Someone Today, You

Royal Living - Bring The Rain

More from the search of Hezekiah's men.

Proverbs 25:14 A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain

New Living Translation

Getting The Message: You, everyday there are lessons from friends that escape our attention. How do we hear beyond the message at hand?

Frustrations: "Some folks just don't get it." Barbara used to say that to me a lot. It made me laugh. She is a precious sister and friend. When I would get frustrated over the lack of response from a coworker or someone in the community, she would look at me, smile, and say, "Some folks just don't get it."  She brings me rain.

Gettin' It: Budget time is always a real pain. Somebody loves budgets. Somebody thinks it is great fun. The process of reducing your plans and expectations for the next year or more into a spreadsheet of numbers is not my favorite task. Yet, it must be done. Serving large corporations means getting all the ducks lined up and communicated so cash flow works and profits are made and money is maximized. Every dollar among the millions needs right accounting and allocation. It is a complicated task of equipment leases, people costs, benefits, supplies, revenue projections, software licensing, and predicting the unknown.

Delivering an effective and flexible budget for millions of dollars that provides for plans and hedges against unseen events is an art, a skill, and a craft. Renee get's it. She delivers a beautiful package matched to plans that is easy to understand and has all the details included for review. Wow. How many years have I labored in budget meetings with cryptic charts and run on spreadsheets and noxious chatter that make sense to no one except the person, who built them? She delivers.  She brings the rain.

Mirrors: It is common to talk to ourselves in languages we understand. It is common to talk to others in languages we understand. It is uncommon to adapt to the language of the other person through listening and reflection. That is the work of multiculturalism. A techno networker can speak to an executive as long as she adapts and translates technobabble into business speak. A financial wizard can transition to managing people through engaging emotions through sensitivity and patience. A second generation suburbanite can adapt to friendly conversation with a third generation urbanite through dropping masks and looking beyond skin to heart and soul. We don't have to be clouds without rain speaking personal babble.  You can bring the rain.

Engaged: In the last week, life has led me into conversations with eight pastors and six different congregations. Faith, Nazarene, Pentecostal, Independent, and Baptist. White, Black, Latino, Multicultural. English y Espanol. In the same week, I've lost count of the legislators with whom I've conversed in Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Montana. Simple conversations focused on the blessings of God. If you just have one subject, you can translate through actions, words, illustrations, stories, and silence. You can bring the rain.

Prayer:

God of Answers, God of Life and Joy, God of Peace and Strength, God of Engagement, You speak to all of us in all of our variety with the same voice of love and acceptance. You offer an open door and a sensitive response to our every need. You always deliver. You always bring the rain.

Bring rain for You today. Bring heavy rain that refreshes. Let us declare among the people, "Our God Reigns and Rains."

Enable us to be Rain Makers bringing the right word and right result in season and out of season. Help us to live Royal.

Phil Larson 405-388-8037 508 Tumbleweed Dr. Yukon, Ok 73099
Facebook - PrayerMetro
LinkedIn - Considerwell
Blog: http://prayermetrodevotion.blogspot.com
to unsubscribe reply with unsubscribe in the subject line.

Stay blessed, You

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep you and guide you in all that you do.

The God of all Comfort bring goodness to your morning, day, and evening.

The God of Glory capture your moments and make them miraculous.

In other words, just have a really incredible day.

Phil Larson 405-388-8037 508 Tumbleweed Dr. Yukon, Ok 73099
Facebook - PrayerMetro
LinkedIn - Considerwell
Blog: http://prayermetrodevotion.blogspot.com
to unsubscribe reply with unsubscribe in the subject line.

Royal Refreshing for You

Royal Living - Refreshment For You

More from the search of Hezekiah's men.

Proverbs 25:13 Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer.They revive the spirit of their employer. New Living Translation

Getting The Message: Everyday there are lessons from friends that escape our attention. How do we hear beyond the message at hand?

One Thing Leads To Another: All around me are co-laborers. Some of the most enjoyable are those that serve with diligence. They have the keen sense to understand the vision of our work and carry it out unattended. They just don't need a lot of instruction to get the job done exactly as needed. Personal discretion guides them.

Taking Back Trust: An article in the Wall Street Journal points to a lack of trust as an impetus behind the "Taking Back" movement. Seems like the '60s all over again to me. Societally, we are questioning our morals, our underpinnings, our business structures, our government, and essentially our selves. Where has trust gone? The mirror holds a ragged face.

Refreshed: Our marketing thrust includes a planning calendar to key clients and friends once a quarter. When we originated the idea, it seemed foreign to my staff. There was a lot of struggle over what it should be and how it should look. Through a few iterations, the piece took great form with a cover letter and some personalization. When it was time for this quarter, the calendar and the letter appeared. I did not have to ask, well no too many times anyway. Yet, this time the task was easy for me. One wrote the letter in my style. It is hard to read it and know I did not write the text. Another crafted the calendar and imbedded personalization that make it seem like you are the only one getting the calendar. A task that was a struggle is now a refreshment.

Impact: Not only was this refreshing to me as the task was made easy, it is a refreshing to our friends. Within a few days of sending the calendars, people across the nation told me how important this simple gift had become. They are putting their most important life events on this calendar. It is kept in the best of places for reference. People are being refreshed across the nation from a team of trustworthy messengers.

Prayer: Strong God of Action, bring light to our day. Somewhere there is a a friend, teacher, boss, leader, pastor, father, or mother that needs the service of a trustworthy messenger. Someone needs to be served. Teach me and teach You to serve in a trustworthy manner. Teach us to be open and caring and trusting. Refresh us with the life of Your Holy Spirit that we might be a refreshing to others.

Phil Larson 405-388-8037 508 Tumbleweed Dr. Yukon, Ok 73099
Facebook - PrayerMetro
LinkedIn - Considerwell
Blog: http://prayermetrodevotion.blogspot.com
to unsubscribe reply with unsubscribe in the subject line.

Royal and Golden Counsel, You.

Royal Living - Listening and Opening

More from the search of Hezekiah's men.

Proverbs 25:12 To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry. New Living Translation

Getting The Message: Everyday there are lessons from friends that escape our attention. How do we hear beyond the message at hand?

One Thing Leads To Another: It is common to learn from our mistakes. The hard part seems to be in learning when we don't learn. Learning from the observations of a friend or a counsel or authority when we take a wrong turn can be painful. But it brings a golden strength for your future.

Undervalued: During a negotiation Jerry brought in an advisory group. Somehow, he was sensitive that he was overlooking something necessary for a good contract. Win/win is important. He felt he was in a win/lose transaction. After an hour of review, one of the advisors simply stated, "Put it on your terms." That was enough. The agreement was leaning too far from a good profit model. In the long term both parties would be upset.

As he worked to shift the negotiation to a more equitable basis after the consultation, it was evident the other party was looking for a win/lose negotiation. Every small point was countered with a lose proposition. After only a few interactions, the other party withdrew. It revealed intent. They were not looking for equity in the arrangement, but conquest and full advantage. The golden correction and counsel of a friend prevented what would have been months of hardship and consternation. Good thing Jerry took the time to consult and allow questioning of his logic.  Don't you think so, You.

Oddity

After working through the cessation of the negotiation, Jerry reviewed some of the criticisms from the imbalanced other side of the negotiation. One of the criticisms was painfully pointed and true. It had been addressed and resolved, but it showed another issue. A partner on whom Jerry was depending was not being forthright and accurate. It caused several problems over the last months. Jerry was overlooking the problems of the long term partnership believing the best of them. They weren't playing their best. They were playing him to enable transactions in their favor.

Even though the criticism came from a slanted source, You, it was truthful. Received, it opened the ability to look at alternatives. In a few short days, alternatives to the errant partner's involvement were proving to bring significant savings in operational costs. Another golden favor was embraced.

Prayer:

Father of all Comfort, You see when we are going directions of pain and problem. Along our path, plant friend and foe to correct us. Give us insight to learn from all sources at all times. Hinder our pride. Open our ears. Allow wisdom to seep deeply into us even when we are locked in our own positions. Let You live royally and rightly in the kingdom of grace.

Phil Larson, 405-388-8037'
508 Tumbleweed Dr.
Yukon, Oklahoma 73099

Father, remember You with love and grace.

I pray for you this morning, You.

In the dark before dawn the stars were bright in the black, clear sky.

I pray any darkness in your life simply allows you to see bright spots brighter.

From the fire in the chiminea I was warmed against the cold.

I pray you are warmed by the love of God and family and friends.

The sun rose and brought day.

i pray your path is light and choices are clear.

Birds woke with singing.

I pray your heart is full of joy.

 

Have a blessed day, You.

God created it just for you.

Phil Larson
405-388-8037
508 Tumbleweed Dr.
Yukon, Ok 73099

to unsubscribe reply with unsubscribe in the subject line.