Christmas

The season is approaching. It's a time of excitement, joy, etc. I must keep my focus on what it's about. The music rehearsals can become just a performance, or they can be my time to truly express worship and adoration for the miracle of Christmas. As I long for a way to give everything the heart could desire, again, the process must turn back to why we're celebrating. It is so much fun to see everyone's eyes light up when giving and receiving.

Lord, give an extra measure of Joy this Christmas. ...true Joy!

I love you, Lord.

a mustard seed

Today I had some crater moments. Sometimes hope seems to be so illusive. There have been 2 people who have spoken a WORD to me in the last 6 months telling me the Lord wanted me to know how much He loves me, and that everything will be OK.

I look at waves and wind and don't think survival is possible, but He speaks..."Peace, Be Still", and the waves stop. All is calm.

This past Saturday a total stranger came up to me and spoke passionately of how much the Lord loves me and wants me to know that everything will be OK.

Worry can eat up a soul. I must trust no matter what I perceive.

Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.

Revelation

"These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time comes when I will no more speak to you in proverbs, but I will show you plainly of the Father. At that day you will ask in my name; and I will pray the Father for you; For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God."
John 16:25-27

I'm so glad that I am in the day where Father(Abba Daddy) speaks clearly. I just have to be so still and believing, not bringing my thinking to Him, but receptive to Him. It takes courage to boldly assert His authority in whatever way or area He speaks. There's nothing vague about how He reveals Himself.

Team Tremors

What are the tremors of today? Well, the Houston Dynamos beat the Seattle Sounders by 1 point. Cassia and her father went to see the game. Cassia wasn't too impressed with how they played, pretty sloppy, but she had a good time.

Joanna, Paul and I checked out the area for thrift stores. Buffalo Exchange is a very busy place on Westheimer, lots of people shopping. Interesting customers in the area. The prices aren't as low as Penny Wise, but there's more name brand, not that it mattered to us.

Then we found a tapioca teahouse, Shepherd and Westheimer. It seems like a small place, then it keeps going with more and more rooms. WiFi so lots of students there.

A significant thought for me today is how each generation changes so much, but human needs remain the same. Echoes from the sermon tickled my eardrum. "You can't cut off supply, you must cut off demand". If our world were to rid the market of anything evil, the demand is still screaming. If only... There is a reservoir full, but it involves faith. That faith in small measure is our own, but in a huge quantity is supplied by The Maker of All. We must reach out our hand, He holds and fills it.

Rhema

What is faith? We have faith that someone is telling us the truth. We have faith that professionals are doing their job well. We have faith that restaurants are preparing good food. We have faith in so many areas without even thinking about it. A life without faith is a life of paranoia.

How is it so hard to have faith in what the Bible tells us, but we don't doubt the author of South Beach Diet, or a prescription written by a doctor?

The accountability of so many systems may be lacking, but we continue with faith.

Could the difference lie in the product of biblical faith?

In trusting the Word of God, the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, or wise counsel of a godly person, the response means there is a commitment in a relationship, not just a mistake which could be a health hazard.

We may lose a certain degree of control if we truly believe the Lord.
In the same way that a young girl jumps into her Daddy's arms from the top of the stairs, we fling ourselves into His arms.

So, did we hit the floor? Only a human father would damage a child by being so sadistic.

How does that translate into real life?

Does God speak and then take back His Words? Does He give a gift and take it back when we don't use it wisely? There are fallen leaders who continue to speak truth, show mercy, reflect His love, etc.

What is His Word? "Rhema" Did Job doubt when God spoke?

I lose myself in misgivings thinking I didn't really hear that. There are logical explanations, etc.

Deep down, the message resounds. "You are my beloved"

Thank you, Lord.

Radiance

I'm wrapping myself in His blanket of radiance. It's a place of rest, joy and peace. In Him I have all I need. I know that if I take off His blanket I will be cold and afraid. Snuggled up with Abba Daddy's security blanket, what EVIL dare invade that space.

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statues of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.

Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Ps 19: 7-14

What is a vibration?

Isn't it amazing how the Holy Spirit sounds that note of alarm when something isn't quite right? The more you pursue the subject, the more the alarm is valid. It's similar to when the Lord asks us to do something, and we don't understand why. When we do it we understand, and know it was right. The same applies to a thought that can lead to sin. It could be pride. The alarm bell rings. I'm so thankful that He is so diligent to do that in my life. I'm so thankful for the wisdom that comes from above. For anyone who thinks no mysticism can communicate with a brain, it is amazing how this mystery unfolds. He does guard and protect. We just have to listen to that still small voice and obey. There is so much freedom in the Shepherd's arms.

Joy

Today Joanna and I had a great time together. We got a phone call from the med center saying we had to pay more than we could pay for the echocardiogram. Having the confidence that the other tests were normal we canceled the appointment because we didn't have the money.

We had such a good time together at lunch, then hanging out at the mall, etc.

At home Joanna won the SkipBo game.

We'll reschedule if there is cause for alarm.

For now, the sounds of joy resound in the Triebel home.

echoes

Today Joanna will have an echocardiogram done. Praise the Lord her blood work and EKG came back normal. Pray that that turns out well. What is an echo? a sound that reverberates back to the original point. It's fascinating all the knowledge that can be gained by sound waves. I know of mapping the ocean floor, but not mapping the human heart. Is it possible to map the human heart? What would be the deepest chamber? Where does a heart break? Are there ways to measure when the beat is heavy? How does one comprehend the connection between the heart and the soul? The elusive soul cannot be mapped by human comprehension; it is beyond science. The personality and emotional responses can be studied, but there is Only One Who truly knows. He is the Great Physician. He heals not only the organism called the heart, but the soul.

Waves

I realize that I don't hear clearly sometimes. The obvious is not always truth. Sound waves travel to our ears, are filtered by our brain and synthesized in the files of our past. What we thought we heard may not be reality or truth. Truth stands silently whether we listen or not. It is independent of our perceptions. It is the accurate sound wave hitting the ear. From the ear the interpretation becomes distorted because we are fallen and sinful. So what is the pathway to clear perception? "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." What does that mean?
"Does not He Who made the ear not hear? and He that made the eye not see?"(In the Bible somewhere) When the nerve endings send a signal to the sphere of synapsis in the brain, what device carries it to a true interpretation? It is at this point that a filter built there by the Holy Spirit, The Word and continued traffic directs it to a file called Discernment and produces a symphony perfectly tuned by The Master Conductor.

I've tried to raise my kids in the "fear of the Lord" discerning and hearing His Voice. Then there comes the time of release where they must build those bridges from what is spoken to what is perceived. There was excitement when each one took their first step. This is to be an equally exciting time. Somehow in the confines of a home, even the bumps and scrapes of falls was not so daunting, because I could see the big picture. First steps in the world are not in my field of vision, but it is in His. I must trust that He picks up and nurtures in ways I didn't. He will comfort in ways I'm not capable of doing. As The Shepherd, His heart and thought processes are perfect not tainted by misshapen pasts and distortions. They will hear that still small Voice and know Who He Is. In that place our faculties will fail to comprehend "how wide, how vast, how deep is the love of Christ."

a new perspective

Creative Tremors

I have to learn how to turn these photos.
Cassia designed and carved this from Spanish artwork.

Good Vibrations

Tremors

Here's starting a blog. I've titled this blog Triebel Tremors, because sometimes there are gentle vibrations in our lives and other times there are earthshattering convulsions. We gaze into the Master of the Sea and hear him say, "Peace be still." The waves stop, the boat settles and we are safe in Him.

Gentle vibrations are sometimes musical, and sometimes discordant. It can be the annoyances with my kids at school or my own.

Earthshaking convulsions are those that upset my way of thinking. Maybe like "wake-up calls" those aren't always bad, but they are uncomfortable.

Through it all, Sovereign God isn't sleeping.