godly risk?

risk (v): 1. to expose to danger or loss; hazard 2. to act in spite of the possibility of (injury or loss)

I'm contemplating how to take risks. I'm pretty practical. I'm not sure I take risks unless I feel somewhat secure about them--is that still considered a risk? I suppose it is still a risk, but I think it's acted out in faith of my my security in my own feeling/ability/experiences rather than my security in God. Hmm...

This was part of a friend's prayer for me recently which brought me to these thoughts:

"I'm asking that God would let your heart fill up with knowledge of His heart for you and that you would embrace the depth of His grace. I pray He'd move you to risk even more in days to come because your security is in Him and you still have breath. He is faithful."

When I read that, it makes me want to take risks that He moves me toward and not waste the life He has given me here to live on earth for Him. Like people like Corrie ten Boom! I sure don't feel like I'm in a place where I'm living to the fullest for Him. There is so much that works against that--the unseen battle, the battle that I forget is there half the time. When you're not aware a battle's going on, you're more likely to lose because you're not on your guard and you're obviously not fighting. It's one of those things that I have been very aware of, but somewhere got overwhelmed and weighed down and then numb to it and suddenly I'm on cruise control. Just getting by day to day. What got me there? Trying to do it on my own? Doesn't that equal pride? Maybe taking a risk [aka step of faith] will push me off the floor escalator. And somewhere in there some humility needs to be added into the mix.

Then there's the question...what's the risk that needs to be taken? Humble me Lord!

Another spurt of creativity

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The side didn't turn out right, so I just keep that part hidden! If ever 'antiquing' furniture, let the gravity-affected areas dry longer before applying the 2nd paint color! Lesson learned.

Excerpt from 'The Valley of Vision'

The Divine Will

O Lord,
I hang on thee; I see, believe, live, when thy will, not mine, is done;
I can plead nothing in myself in regard of any worthiness and grace, in regard of thy providence and promises, but only thy good pleasure.
If thy mercy make me poor and vile, blessed be thou!
Prayers arising from my needs are preparations for future mercies;
Help me to honour thee by believing before I feel, for great is the sin if I make feeling a cause of faith.
Show me what sins hide thee from me and eclipse thy love;
Help me to humble myself for past evils, to be resolved to walk with more care,
For if I do not walk holily before thee, how can I be assured of my salvation?
It is the meek and humble who are shown thy covenant, know thy will, are pardoned and healed, who by faith depend and rest upon grace, who are sanctified and quickened, who by evidence thy love.
Help me to pray in faith and so find thy will, by leaning hard on thy rich free mercy, by believing thou wilt give what thou hast promised;
Strengthen me to pray with the conviction that whatever I receive is thy gift, so that I may pray until prayer be granted;
Teach me to believe that all degrees of mercy arise from several degrees of prayer, that when faith is begun it is imperfect and must grow, as chapped ground opens wider and wider until rain comes.
So shall I wait thy will, pray for it to be done, and by thy grace become fully obedient.

[Reminds me of Psalm 143, which I read recently and was a blessing to me]