surprise lessons from the ark (part 1)

¹⁴ So make yourself an ark of cypress ^[c] wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. ¹⁵ This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. ^{[d] 16} Make a roof for it and finish ^[e] the ark to within 18 inches ^[f] of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. (Genesis 6:14-16 NIV)

I've been reading the story of Noah for the past few days, and I've been surprised with the many insights these chapters offer.

The first surprise: the precise instructions that God gives Noah when he builds the ark. God dictated the kind of wood, and the exact measurement for each ark part that Noah had to build. If you're like me, you would've wondered why the writer bothered to list down those numbers. You might have skimmed over those irrelevant bits of information and instead pondered on the types of animal species that existed during Noah's time.

But wait, maybe there is something to those numbers. Have you ever tried baking a cake intuitively? Did you feel like maybe putting a dash of baking soda would have the same effect on your cake as a teaspoon would? Have you ever taken your cake with the dash-of-baking-soda out of the oven and discovered that your teeth weren't created to chew on hard rocks of flour?

Sometimes, we can't help but put on a dash of baking soda when it comes to our relationship with God. He tells us that we need to watch our words when we speak about others, but we rationalize that we're just venting, we have every right to do so and there are no morsels of malice in our hearts. He tells us to think twice about the beggar tapping on our car window, but we tell ourselves that this is not our responsibility. Where the hell are these kids' parents anyway?, we whisper in our minds as we turn away. Where's that Christian NGO that's supposed to take care of them?

He knocks on our door and whispers gently into our hearts. Sacha, see these people from my perspective. Even if there is hostility in their hearts towards you, with my love, you can forgive. You can also go beyond forgiveness, you can bless them. Sacha, think twice about those street children. That's all I want you to do. I'm not asking you to save the world. Just think twice.

Remember the cypress wood? The measurements of 50 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high? The door and lower, middle and upper decks?

God is whispering into our ears, into our hearts. He's telling us the precise materials we need to live abundant lives. He's giving us specific measurements so his blessings will be able to fit. He's requesting that he be our architect because he already knows how to design our lives and where to place his blessings.

He doesn't want us to chew on hard rocks of flour. Our teeth weren't created for that.

Can you hear God whispering into your heart today? What is your response?

forty days and forty nights

one day i read your story
and met a man named Noah
and learned about how you promised him
forty days and forty nights

forty days and forty nights
of floods
forty days and forty nights
of imprisonment in an ark

and there was nothing he could do.

he must have been afraid
he must have been impatient
he must have wondered
what made him deserve this predicament

forty days and forty nights
of darkness
forty days and forty nights
of riding roller coaster waves

and there was nothing he could do.

yet your promise
he kept in his heart
he knew how much
you loved him

he didn't hesitate
to follow your instructions
he didn't hesitate
to trust in you

for he knew that you would save him.

forty days and forty nights
you whispered that this would someday end
forty days and forty nights
you comforted him in your arms

forty days and forty nights
he one day peeked through the ark's cracks
forty days and forty nights
and saw your gift of rainbow

he knew forty days and forty nights
he knew those days would end
he knew those days would end.

where do you find the love?

how do you do it?
how do you find the compassion?
where do you find the love?
how do you extend a hand
and reach out
to those who spit on your face?
how do you say kind words?
how do you say they don't know what they're doing?
how do you turn the other cheek?

how do you love?
how do you love?

i just want to sit at your feet
rest and lean my head on you
and learn from you

for you tell me it isn't impossible
you tell me to forgive with each blade's slice
you tell me that you did this for me
and i believe you.

you want me to do it for them.

where do you find the love?
where do you find the love?

indecision

I don't know where to go
Not sure where I've been
All I know is I want you to hold my hand.

This indecision
Is painful,
So used to figuring things out.

My heart is beating fast
Last night I got nightmares
Don't like being lost.

Just hold my hand
hold my hand
hold my hand.

You are my comfort
I want to be with you twenty four - seven
Assured that you will never leave me.

With you I can be needy
With you I can be myself
You love me the way I am.

So hold my hand
hold my hand
hold my hand.

This indecision is painful
I can't see beyond today
Afraid to make mistakes
Again.

But I know that I can trust you
I know that you want the best for me
I know your love overflows.

So please hold my hand
hold my hand
hold my hand.

And pull me to you
Pull me in the right direction
Pull me to the road that leads to you
And you alone.

But right now I'm in indecision
My stomach turning round
Not used to not deciding.

Now hold my hand
hold my hand
hold my hand,

Cradle me in your arms
and love me through this indecision,
please let me see your light.

spontaneous utterances

Lend me your ears
For these spontaneous utterances
From the well of my heart
Are what I can give you today

Lend me you ears
And smile and smile and smile
As I whisper these spontaneous utterances
Reverse raining to the skies

I am yours
I am yours
You're all I need
You're all I need
I surrender
I surrender
To you.

Let me remember these
Spontaneous utterances
As I fix my gaze
On your eyes
Your eyes
Today.

I know you are listening
And rejoicing as I call
Your name and whisper these
Spontaneous utterances

To you
To you

For I am yours.

prayers shot in the darkness of daylight

You thought you were walking in daylight
Didn't know you were in the shadows
Because you forgot
What the shadows look like

It's deceiving
Doesn't seem to have any meaning
To find yourself back where you started from

It's frustrating
Nothing seems to have meaning
When you find yourself back where you started from

The shadows
That you runaway from
You try and try
Your shadows following you
Where to go
Where to go
I don't know
All I know is I want to get away from this darkness.

Prayers shot in the darkness of daylight
You think you're in the bright
But you're actually not
How did I deceive myself?

Prayers shot in the darkness of daylight
Refused to be swallowed up into this night
Let me see your light
Let me see your light

Prayers shot in the darkness of daylight
I know you'll take me to the light
Once again
I can't wait
I can't wait
To fade into your daylight.

today is a new day

Yes, I've had many new days.
New chapters.
New lives.

I picture my work room.
Tables, chairs, and yes a great view:
Forest trees surrounding a swamp.

It's decent,
It's limited.

When I look up,
I see your doors.
Just infinite doors opening up.
I walk into a door,
And then there's that other door.
I can't see the treasures yet,
Hazy, nebulous, nothing particularly clear.
I can't see what's inside those rooms.

All I know is that I have a sense of joy.
I know I am where I am supposed to be.

I look down I see my work room.
I look up,
I see possibilities,
Eternity.

Thank you, God, for this new day.
Thank you, for this gift of now,
And forever.

Thank you, God, for this new day.