Showing posts with label father. Show all posts
Showing posts with label father. Show all posts

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Heaven’s Oath

My dear friends, how many are wrestling? With hardship, loss, or disappointment? In these dark days of winter when our frantic feet fumble across earth's crumbling crunchy crust – Let us encourage each other and together remember…
I’ve written this for you. For me. For all of us.



— • —

Heaven’s Oath
© 2018, Jena Rutan, all rights reserved.



In   b r o k e n   earth, 
dormant cold seed waits.
In   d a r k   velvet skies 
gleam celestial lights.
When cries thirsty land,
from  t e m p e s t  wave,
Heaven’s arms draw their rain.


Our Father in heaven brings life from what’s dead.
“Quiet down, O my soul,” Ancient wise kings once said.
Know He still hears – understands each hearts plight.
In winter’s silence dive deep,
Come with me, lift your eyes.


He is Solace for wanderers, a Shield to the weak.
The bright morning Star who guides weary feet.
Rejected ones friend, and despairing heart’s hope.
The branch from love’s root.
True Life we can know.


When each day feels uncertain
When hopelessness calls,
Let faith stir inside.
Let hope not fall.


Memory stones of bright past
recall goodness. His vast
ways aren’t our ways.
His thoughts far beyond.
His redemption, His plan
never fails, never wrong.


Know this my dear friends, He will do it again.
His faithfulness always endures past the end.
When weakness and cold
by fear grips and pulls –
This isn’t the time for regret and defeat,
but a season of strength, a renewal of peace.


His lamp illuminates truth through black days.
When sight becomes blind, trust goodness, see grace.
Let’s not become weary by walking in light
For harvest will come at the end of this night.
So let roots grow down deep.
Be nourished, come eat –
in knowledge of him.
His bread. His wine.
We together can learn
the depth, width, and height.


— • —


Jesus’s love never fails me.
My companion beside,
My peace and my all,
He covers my life
His feathers surround,
His Word is my guide
Protecting and healing,
sharing peace in the night.


— • —

His whisper we hear,
“Take up courage, persevere!”
“Together my children
run this race,
come be near.
Lay your head on My heart,
Know My warm embrace,
I’ve collected each prayer
Heard you face to face.“


When your heart cries out for direction and meaning
When your marriage is fumbling
your children careening
When you don’t have answers
When purpose is lame
He is there. Yes He’s here
Let Him kindle the flame.


As the Northern star shines
Once more we recall
The Father of lights
Authors good for us all
His love endures
He never will change
In His book are recorded
Each one's joy and each pain

And when beaming sun rises,
morning by morning,
How expansive His kindness
So immense His outpouring.
Giving bread to His children,
Softly sending the snow.
In loyal endurance,
Eternal His oath.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Awakened Heart

Stir my heart
Let it be
Awakened Lord
In Liberty

You've set me loose from the fowlers snare
You've made my feet steady in your beat
You reached down pulling me from the ashes
Your arms enveloped me, now You're my Father!

Stir my heart
Let it be
Awakened Lord
In Liberty

I once was lost, now I'm found
Amazing grace set me firmly on the ground
Rejected, abandoned, accused, left in scorn
This orphaned heart no longer alone

You covered me in robes of white
Like the flowers I'm wrapped up in Your light
You're working all things for good
Your Word never boomerangs empty handed
My future has hope because of Your plans
Oh Shepherd lead with your gentle hand

Stir my heart
Let it be
Awakened Lord
In Liberty

Let me follow You with all the days I have breath
Protect and guide; don't let me veer from Your steps
I want to stay in the shadow of Your wing
I want to hear the heartbeat of my King


© Jena Rutan 2015. All rights reserved. 
Scripture references are from the NASB.



Friday, November 20, 2015

Infinity's Thread

This thread of infinity, always present like ribbons of wind
A jet stream that swirls and leaves
I'll surf on the crest as long as I breathe
Please Holy Spirit lead

It's Your gift 
Moving my lungs and pumping each beat
Of my life...
The same one who raised life from death
Opens my nostrils at the start of each new day
You pull back that starry curtain to showcase Your loving embrace

And time never changes to You
Outside of our sunsets and new moons you stand
Always unchanging, forever unwavering, never relenting
In pursuit of my heart

Eternal reminders wrapped up in your fringes
The shadow of those wings is where I find rest
These days beat on by, like the blink of my eye
Rhythm and speed want to overtake me

Yet I look to the blue and remember what's true
The devoted One who is Father and Son
The Spirit I breathe, yes He understands
My Author, Sustainer, Ally, and Father
I bless You Lord heart, life, my strength 

And time never changes to You
Outside of our sunsets and new moons you stand
Always unchanging, forever unwavering, never relenting
In pursuit of my heart

My lips utter honor, my face transfixed
Without You nothing was made
Your hand hovered before time started to crawl
In that moment 
You already knew me
You already loved me
This extravagant love is outside my box

A brilliant rendering Oh Great Architect
Who reached down into time to give life to my simple soul 
This immense love, this intentional care, this greatest desire and love

I'm enamored by You
I'm drawn to Your kindness
I'm falling in love all over again
And time never changes to You
Outside of our sunsets and new moons you stand
Always unchanging, forever unwavering, never relenting
In pursuit of my heart

So is time really there? Is it one layered unfolding picture?
Your devotion and passion have always been there, after me
In the blink of Your eye all of time came and went
Our days are like flowers gleaming under your love

So Lord please honor this simple prayer
Teach me to number my days
Let me present to you a heart of wisdom

And time never changes to You
Outside of our sunsets and new moons you stand
Always unchanging, forever unwavering, never relenting
In pursuit of my heart


© Jena Rutan 2015. All rights reserved. 
Scripture references are from the NASB.



Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Redemption's reminder

Processing today. 

"I am deeply loved, completely forgiven, fully pleasing, totally accepted, and complete in Christ." 
(The Search for Significance, by Robert S. McGee; p.61)

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:12 
 
[Yeshua said,] For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28

His blood was shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

God's promise is that I will not perish but have eternal life.

[Yeshua said,] Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24

God's promise to the person who knows and believes, is eternal life. This person will not come into judgement but has passed out of death and into life.

[Yeshua said,] My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. John 10:27-29

His sheep have eternal life and cannot be snatched out of Yeshua's hands. They will never perish.

All the prophets bear witness that through [Yeshua's] name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins. Acts 10:43

Through [Yeshua] everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. Acts 13:39

Faith liberates us from all things and we cannot achieve that freedom by our own efforts.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

We are justified by the grace of God through Yeshua's redemption.

Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Romans 4:7

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10

We are reconciled to God through the death of His Son. 

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father !" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:15-17

We have been adopted as God's own children.

Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies. Romans 8:33

No one can accuse us because God alone will judge us and find us acceptable through the blood sacrifice of Yeshua.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. He (God) made Him who knew no sin (Yeshua) to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17,19,21

In Messiah, we are each a new creature who has been reconciled to God and made into the righteousness of God.

Nevertheless, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. Galatians 2:16

We are justified through faith in Messiah Yeshua and no person is (or will be) justified by works of the law or good deeds.

Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Galatians 3:6

Abraham was made righteousness because he trusted God and lived in that trust.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7

Through Yeshua's blood we have obtained forgiveness of our many sins.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

We may boast in God's grace by which we are saved through faith which is God's gift. 

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22

If forgiveness could be obtained by my own merit, I would need to shed blood to have forgiveness for my sins.

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. Hebrews 10:18 

[Fix your] eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Yeshua is the one who refines and strengthens our faith to perfection because it brings him joy; this was His entire goal and purpose for enduring the cross.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:3-4

According to Yeshua's great mercy and through His resurrection, we were reborn to a living hope, to obtain a heavenly inheritance which doesn't decay or age; it is being held and prepared for us.

"Because of Christ and His redemption, I am completely forgiven and fully pleasing to God. I am totally accepted by God." (Search for Significance p.100)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach. Colossians 1:21-22

"I have great worth apart from my performance because Christ gave His life for me, and therefore imparted great value to me. I am deeply loved, completely forgiven, fully pleasing, totally accepted, and complete in Christ." (Search for Significance p.61)


"My Father is very patient and kind.
My Father is not envious, never boastful.
My Father is not arrogant.
My Father is never rude, nor is He self-seeking.
My Father is not quick to take offense.
My Father keeps no record of wrongs.
My Father does not gloat over my sins, but is always glad when truth prevails.
My Father knows no limit to His endurance, no end to His trust.
My Father is always hopeful and patient."
(Search for Significance p.82)


© Jena Rutan 2010. All rights reserved. 
Scripture references are from the NASB.