Awaken the Wait

We live to satisfy the senses, stimulated by the smallest amount of sensuality or comfort we take it to the extreme to fulfill that stimulation.  Desire is not enough for us so we squeeze everything we can out of our senses to make us feel better.  Unsatisfied by mystery we want to uncover every piece of each glimpse we get.  

But what if we saw false comforts for what they are, empty?  There's a comfort that comes after much anticipation and rough road, much like the gleam of gold after deep refinement.  The wait is the part that pushes us to be ready for the peace.  

God calls us to be different than the world, to go against the grain.  I believe the main pattern in that grain is instant self gratification.  "Do whatever you can to get whatever you want as fast as possible."  The greatest things in life are worth waiting.  These days we hear a lot of this message directed towards sex but what I am talking much greater than that, it is the deeper issue of dependence on God.  

Why are the seven sins so deadly?  They follow the grain, and bring a halt to our refinement. Resolutions never come instantaneously (thank God for His grace when it comes to salvation though).  The loss of a dear friend or lover comes so hard so we push it into the closet and leave it there.  Not just to forget but to numb ourselves, to callouss the moldable part of our hearts.  But it doesn't go away.  It stays and grows because we feed it with our senses.  We "forget" by drinking ourselves sick, eating until we can't eat anymore, having sex until we've collected every demon...just to hide pain that could be turned to something so beautiful.  Redemption is not owned by the act of salvation.  Redemption belongs to every part of our lives.  Let us not forget what we are living for and that each step, though uncomfortable, can we turned into something beautiful and strong.  

In Awe

How often do I stand in awe of my King?  How long has it been since my heart leaped at the thought of His presence? It has been far too long since I've leaned against His chest and felt His breath.  All the other things have gotten in my way, I've missed the glimpses of His face with the brick wall of desire and the steel doors called "lack of faith" standing in front of me.

Oh but I've glimpsed His face from down here, down at His feet.  What beauty, majesty, and strength He holds.  I cannot look for more than a moment, and in that moment my heart may burst.  But what perfection for my heart to burst as His burst for me.  Sweat and tears of blood, pain in every piece of who He is.  Yet He stayed in strength because He has called us worthy, He has named us Beloved.

He calls us to stand with Him, as His bride, His co-heir, His beloved.

When He reaches out His hand and asks us to stand, will we believe what He has called us or will we stay laying in the dirt, where we can only imagine His heart beat?  I want to know my King.  I want to lose my breath with every word He speaks.  Can you hear His whisper from the dirt?  He will pick you up, carry you, clean you, and transform you. 

My cry is for this generation of Christians to get out of the dirt, to understand the Father's heart for their life.  Just as much as they long to glimpse His face He longs to look in their eyes.  His purpose for His bride is much more than staring at His feet.

Who's Behind You?

Relationships are vital to your way of life.  If we are not intentional about surrounding ourselves with good friends who will encourage, support, challenge, and push us...then how do we expect to do the same for anyone else?

I pray God reminds us often of His intent for our friendships. 

Relationships are a life source for us, when we lack them, we lack life.  We are not the full image of God, therefore, there will always be a part of someone else that opens a door to a new part of God's heart.  Each person carries the glory of the Lord in a unique way.  My heart is to carry it in a way that allows others to carry it the way God intended, that way they can shine.

Oh Lord, never let my eyes close to your beauty in each person.  

The Ache

Some days I feel like I am torn between two different worlds, the world of organized, clean, stable living and the world of unpredictable, dirty adventure.  Both are great, both have a purpose...only one has the power over my heart to make it ache in its absence.  Part of me longs to believe they can coexist within my life, but reality is making me all too aware of their resistance to each other.  Much like oil and water, no matter how hard I try to shake them up and mix them together, they will never make a smooth mix.  But no matter which world I'm in, I have to stay aware of where the Father's heart is.  I am made for the hard, rough, dirty road...the not always comfortable or fun road...but that is what I've been made to walk on. So how do I do that when I am in Ohio? 
I don't know. 
But I don't want to lose site of who I am or forget about the babies who wait for my arms to hold them.  There is purpose for each season; to learn, to wait, to run, in this season I am seeking without relent.  I want to know my God in deeper, more intimate ways.