Facing the giants

Few movies strike me as Facing the Giants. From the father son relationship renewed to the news of a baby on the way, I stream tears through the whole movie. Each time, being in a different phase of my life, the real Truth comes shining through and my spirit links more keenly with The Holy Spirit. Tonight, my children were curled up around the television watching as the scene comes up where the coach is on the ground saying, " Don't quit! Don't quit! only 10 more steps!" And here come the tears. My heart crumbles as I see my Friend, my Coach on the ground and in my face encouraging me not to quit. The sweet Teacher is for us, with us, in us. We can not shrink back. We can not lose heart. We can not give in. We can not hide behind. We must go the distance with Him, even with a blind fold on. We must trust the Voice of the One who tells us to run the race marked out for us. We must tell our flesh that our spirit is in the Hand of the Great King and we will not lose heart. For He is with us, for us, in us and on the ground encouraging us each step of the way. The sweet favor that comes in life with the Beloved. Even with a blind fold, there is no other place for me.

The Invitation to come

For Christmas, my mother in law gave me The Word of Promise, which is the Bible on CDs read by various believing actors. I have been listening to the book of Matthew which has been so wonderful to listen to. I have been amazed with one story in particular.... Matthew Chapter 14:25-29 {During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.} The invitation for an invitation strikes me! Peter calls to Him, longing to be with Him. Faith trumps the moment that is mixed with fear and uncertainty and Peter walks over the water to His Master, His Friend, His Teacher. I imagine the joy on both faces as Peter's face is fixed on Jesus. That playful laugh that they share. The water lapping across their feet and yet the impossible is possible. Not because of Peter but because of Jesus. I love Peter's invitation to be invited to come! He asks the join the Creator of the water. I am at that sweet place in my relationship with Him where I am asking to walk on the water. Why not? Scripture says that because Jesus has gone to the Father, I can do greater things than He did. While that statement rocks me to the core, I LOVE it! It's a promise from the King. It's not something I can do without Him. It's the impossible that I can do because of Him and in Him. Thank you, Lord. I am there. Asking to come. I can feel in my spirit that he is saying, " Come, daughter, come". And so I step out. And all the while I am praying that I can keep my gaze fixed on Him, the Author and Perfecter of my faith as we laugh and share in the impossible being possible. Only with you, My King and Teacher! Bid me to come to You.

The Steady Stream

It's a cold morning and it's inevitable that the shower calls even through the house is freezing. Knowing it must be done, the race to the shower begins but you have to jump up and down to keep warm while the water gets hot. As you step in, the hot water is refreshing and you stand in the the steady stream so thankful not to be cold. Minutes pass. Cleaning is accomplished but you begin to see that you have to step out of that warmth. Then, there is that tinge of sadness that you can't stay in the hot spot all day. The beauty of Life in the Beloved is that we can stay in The Hot Steady Stream all the time. There is not a break in His steadfastness. He is consistently consistent. The Lord is hot and refreshing and we are clean only in Him. It's the heart beat of Heaven to bless us with His Steady Stream. Oh, The mercy! Oh, the grace! Oh, the joy in the Beloved. Come, Friend and give me the grace to stay in Your Steady Stream.

the Heaven Ache

There are days when my spirit within my just yearns for Heaven. To hold King Jesus's hand as we walk along the streets of gold, beholding the place of perfection that will never pass away. Today is one of those days for me. Within each day holds a list of "to dos" and "want to dos" and in the midst of it all, I just want to throw off that which is hindering me and burst into song and dance with my Friend. Lots of days, I do just that. The days that I try to live up to my list, the heaven ache grows. As of this moment, my heart needs Him so much. He is my Best Friend, my King, my Lover and I need more of Him today. One of my all time favorite books is Brother Lawrence's, Practicing the Presence of God. In this book, letters were collected where Brother Lawrence wrote encouraging people to be with The Lord all day no matter what task they were in the middle of. Dishes, laundry, baking, reading to children, driving, etc... just all the time, being with Him, talking to Him. Some days, I talk to Him all day and He talks to me. Other days, like today, I was busy and didn't talk to my Best Friend all day. One prayer that I have been praying lately is " to have grace to do______": laundry, make lunches, clean dishes, teach my preschool class, stop "working" and play with my kids, grocery shop, take the trash out, etc. So today, my prayer goes to the Throne of The Ancient of Days and once again, He hears me ask for more grace, more help and for Him to fill me. And once again, His reply is one of great love and kindness as He dispatches all that I could ask or imagine because He is I AM that I AM. Praise You, Lord.

Life in the Beloved

The Good Master calls us as C.S.Lewis writes, "further up and further in". The call to be in Him more each day. The call to walk the narrow road. The call to walk on the water, not wade through it. The call is high and the price He paid was the most expensive price paid. How can I not run the race He marks out for me? How can I not lift my hands in worship? How can I not give Him my all?

I love Him. You see, I was a prodigal. I knew the Father but ran away and made another my god for a season. Then one day, I knew that this was the path of darkness. This road did not lead Home and the fear of the Lord gripped me. I was in the pig pen covered in mud and sin. And so convicted and longing to be back with The True Father where safety abounds, I went to Him with my head ducked down, still covered in mud. Yet, He was running to me and I have been forever changed in my spirit bc of the mercy shown me.

This prodigal turned princess longs to practice the Presence, as Brother Lawernce did. I long in each moment to be with Him. When I fold laundry, do the dishes, bathe my children, kiss my husband, read a book, sew, and cook. To share life with the Beloved. To rest in Him all the time for all time. And so I practice practicing the Presence. I don't have it down yet but for each moment that we walk together, I am renewed. His Presence is my most Favorite.