FamiliOR stranger ?

Is God a familiar stranger to you?

Do you know Him? His likes, His dislikes, do you know what makes His heart beat, His heart move, His heart jump? Do you know what makes Him smile, what makes Him cry, makes Him sad, makes Him angry?

Do you know Him? Personally... Relationally... Emotionally... Physically...

If all He wants in this world is for you to be in relationship with Him- what does that relationship look like? 

Is He like a distant relative you visit a few times a year or only at big family get togethers? Or is He like a close friend? Twin? Brother? Sister? 

Do you know Him more intimately or closely than your spouse? 

He desires you. He delights in you. He wants you near Him. He wants you talking to Him. He wants to hear about your day, your fears, your problems, your thanks, your praises. He wants to hear your voice more than you want to hear His. 

He wants to hear it all day long. 

He longs for you, He smiles each time you speak to Him or think of Him. He melts every time you turn your gaze to Him. 

Did you know how much He loves you? 

Is your relationship with Him the most important thing or do you just use God when it benefits you or when you need something or when something goes wrong? Do you have an adulterous relationship with God because of your lack of discipline or multiples of life distraction? 

Are you using God as your fire insurance? or do you have an actual daily, continuous relationship with Him? 

If He is the most important relationship you should have- how often do you talk, have a meal together, drive together, sit quietly together? When was the last time you asked Him a question about Himself instead of just requesting something for yourself? 

When was the last time you said "Hi" to the One who makes each new day you have?

He hasn't gone anywhere- He is waiting for you...

His butterfly

she said...

I see you as a butterfly dripping with gold.
Rare.
Beautiful.
Captivating. 

With each flutter of your delicate wing, golden glitter flits into the air, like sprays of wet dew that quench your skin from the blistering sun. The drops of gold settle on those so intently gazing. Wherever you go... Whomever you engage... They see the beauty from inside out- seeing its difference, longing for what has created it- or who created it. 

It's golden beauty does not run dry for the butterfly flutters by to the source of its Everlasting beauty. 

The Water of life- the Well that never runs dry- the Spring in the most desertous places. His water brings life, His water is life, His water always and forever more quenches. 

His water can flood- wiping every evil thing away, His water can fill- to give life to those who partake, His water grows- as the plants in the grown, His water nourishes- as the sustenance of life itself. 

Who am I- that someone sees His light flowing all around me, as well as being loosed into the atmosphere where I reside and on anyone who comes near. 

Who am I-that You would entrust Your secrets to, Your heart to, Your love to? 

You alone have called me Yours

You alone have saved me

You alone get all the glory

You alone are God

                                     

This is your life to Him, April!
He makes you beautiful... 

His tower over me is strong

A tower... A self supporting structure that stands alone or part of a surrounding structure. They are subject to varying winds and weather. Users take advantage of the elevation in surveying the defensive positions and obtaining a better view of the surrounding areas, including battlefields. They were constructed on defensive walls, or rolled near a target. They were also used to communicate information over greater distances.

The Tower of David- King David's palace...
What did David do there?...
Pray
played music
sang praises to God
wrote
meditated on The Lord
I like to think he sat still and silent, listening for His still small voice

As my hands ran across rocks that were laid thousands of years ago, I can't help but think of David running his hands the same places and for the same reason- to pray for the city and it's holy people called by God.
As my eyes watch people, my heart breaks.

Did David's break at seeing and hearing the lack of reverence and immense adultery to our holy God?
The psalms say time and time again- praises to you God, save me, deal with my enemy, deal with sin, but thank You for Your mercy.

I see David- standing- looking at his tower, turning to pray- thoughts of the once great city, hopes of the future in which will happen.

                               

And yet- my spirit leaps to think of the New Jerusalem not built by human hands; no inhabitant against His perfect nature, no violence, no strife, no pain, no worry; all inhabitants able to stand before a holy God because of Jesus. We, standing as the Bride- pure and whole
Is this what he longs for?
As David prays for his people, for his city, for Jesus to hasten his return- I ask-- what are you doing to change what we see before us- darkness prevailing in the land because of new forms of ungodliness, because of old forms of ungodliness, denying the Messiah, the Body of Christ accepting what was never meant to be within us- sin. 

"Thy neck is like the Tower of David built with turrets, whereon there hang a thousand shields, all the armor of the mighty men." (Song of Songs, 4:4)

 This means, setting your will to obey God.

Will you- at all cost- obey the One who paid the highest price for your life, whose blood is the veil for God to look upon you? 

Fearful

Fear- a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain,etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

What feeds it? 

Where does it come from?

Is it normal?

What can be done with it?

How can it be overthrown?

What do you fear?   Pain, losing something or someone, spiders, snacks, dogs, mice, death?

Why?

Fear began in the Garden. Adam & Eve, after eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, feared The Lord. Why?

Disobedience. 

And so began the fear that was not meant to be apart of life for us. It is not how God designed it, but He knew it would happen. 

Why do we fear as children? 

All that we know and learn from infancy to early childhood is taught, purposefully or not, by our parents or siblings or family. When a child first begins to fear it is being separated from its parent. Not that they had never not come back, for most kids anyway, but the enemy crept in, placing thoughts of abandonment in the child's mind. 

Children get hurt or see a scary movie or see scary pictures or the unknown= this creates things to fear and stays with them for most of their lives. 

Adults allow things to come in with or without knowing of the danger that creates fear. 

It happens without our consent most of the time. Or there is a lack of boundary. 

As life continues more fears creep in and others flee. 

Circumstances in life bring more fear- but not because we ask for it, but because we don't know how to or the fact that we have the power to overcome it. 

Angst, worry, & control are particles of fear. 

The enemy THRIVES on it! 

We were not created with a spirit of fear. We were created to rule over all things here on earth and to live in peace, but most of all to glorify God. 

Fear focuses on the dark. 

How do we counteract it? 

                Focus on The Light! 

We are called to see through the darkness to what darkness is trying to hide. 

The enemy is trying to hide that which God is trying to mend or use or purpose for His glory. 

The enemy wants to keep us at bay- hidden in our fear and shame so that we cannot be used or healed or restored. 

Stop listening to fear. It will control you and devour every ounce of joy and life. 

But know... God is able to do immeasurably more than we can imagine or ask. 

He does not want His children to live in fear. Just like you don't want your children to live in fear. 

So... How do we overcome fear?

Declare what God has promised. 

"The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom." 

This fear is reverence to the holy God who creates life and everything of this world. To know who created you and why. 

The Lord is perfect love & "perfect Love casts out all fear."

Every time the feet of a Jesus follower hit the ground- the enemy trembles in fear of the One in which we stand!!

So what do you fear now?

Hello Dennis

Meet Dennis 

He came out slightly charred, but very handsome. Smelled divine. Like I could eat him up! 

He sacrificed so much to be there for me. We have similar taste- he really loves carrots and onions. He enjoys a good warm pita, in fact he prefers them. He did nothing but smile at me all night. His dark brown eyes gazed so intently at mine. Nothing could keep us apart... It was love at first sight. The lemonade we drank tasted so fresh against the spice from the salad. His silence captivated my interest and curiosity of how much people raved over him. His inability to stick around longer than one night was less than appealing to me but I succumbed to wiles. 

Meet Dennis... 

His Sun/Son

                                 

As I was watching my first sunset in Israel- I thought of why God called the sun the sun. All of Gods created things revolve around it, it gives light to all it touches, it cannot be looked upon because of it's brightness and brilliance, it gives light to all, it warms you, it melts away things that are hard icey and cold. 

Ironic... That the sun is so similar to The Son

He gives life

He is light

He melts cold hardened hearts

He cannot be looked upon because of His bright brilliance

Everything revolves around Him

His eyes are like flames of fire

He warms you

He is the light of life

The Son & sun is the most important part of our lives

His hands at work...

The next journey beginning... The old way left behind. 

The feeling is odd but good, fresh but scary, exciting all the same!

I want nothing more than to do engage in my favorite hobby of traveling, and God has opened the door. This time- my heart is different. My focus has changed. I want to be His hands on this earth. 

A new heart, a new way, a new focus... And the first place He chooses is His holy land. 

My expectation... God

He has said, " "you must go to everyone I send you to & say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you & will rescue you." Then The Lord reached out his hand & touched my mouth & said to me, "now, I have out my words in your mouth. See, today I have appoint you over nations & kingdoms to uproot & tear down, to destroy & to plant.""-- Jeremiah 1:7-10

Thank You Lord, for choosing me- the unqualified- to qualify and equip me to speak Your truth so that other may see who You are & believe.