Safe in His Arms

This past week was spent at the beach in Destin, Florida. I spent much time in the sun, covered with tanning lotion. Thursday afternoon I was spending some time alone at the pool by the condo. I had been listening to worship, reading my Bible, and tanning. When I couldn't take the heat any longer, I retreated to the pool to cool off. There was a Mom and her little girl there swimming. The girl couldn't have been more than seven years old. She could swim well, but only when her mother was near by. Her mom said "Let's see you swim across the pool." The girl let go of the wall and began to swim across the open water. The water was only 4 foot deep where she was. Half way across the pool the little girl got tired and scared. She whimpered and fought to swim to the stairs where she could touch even though her mother was right beside her and all she had to do was reach her hand out and her mom would grab her. The loving mother grabbed her frantic daughter anyway and pulled her in.
I saw something beautiful in this moment. Something that I have seen in my life many times.
How often do we respond to the call of God and step out in faith only to get tired or frightened and struggle back to where we can touch. We swim for shore rather into the arms of our Father God. He can hold us safely. He won't let us drown. But still, we fight to swim to shore rather than swimming to His arms. Do we not trust that he can hold us? Do we fear that he will let us go. Do we think that he will be mad or disappointed that we can swim across on our own?
God knows that the water is deep. He knows that we can get tired. But He will never call us to go somewhere that he won't go with us. He will never tell us to do something that will harm us. He isn't disappointed when we call to him for help. He wants us to. He doesn't expect us to do it on our own. He wants to help up. He wants to hold us. He wants to guide us.
So why do we continue to swim to where we can touch when he has called us out to the deep with him? If we can touch, we don't need him. He wants us to go to the deep with Him so that we will cling to him.
God, help me to learn to cling to you alone.

 

Lessons learned from chalk dust

Heard this really sweet analogy last week and it has totally changed my life.

Your life is a chalkboard.

All of your past mistakes and failures are written on it in chalk.

Right there,

in bold letters,

YOUR sin is written out for the WHOLE world to see.

DEATH

You can try as hard as you want to E R A S E the deeds of your past.

You can do a decent job at it even.

But your best efforts will still leave behind a chalky residue.

You may get the letters to _disappear, but you are still left with the

smeared, DUSTY, MESS

of your life.

The only way for that residue to be removed is by being washed.

The only One who can wash you is

JESUS

He can come and wash off every

MISTAKE, FAILURE, FLAW, ERROR, WORD, ACTION, HURT…

SIN

That has

MARKED, SCARRED, SCRIBBLED, SEARED, AND RUINED,

the chalkboard of your life.

He erases it completely.

GONE. FROM. MEMORY.

He sees you

Clean.

Holy.

Pure.

Spotless.

Perfect.

Beautiful.

And then…

He begins to write the story of your life.

Hope.

Faith.

Future.

Good.

Beautiful.

Powerful.

Life Changing.

Blessings.

Favor.

He writes,

Beautiful, soft letters,

Words that bring JOY to the _{deepest parts} of your heart.

Words of

LIFE.

Overwhelming love

Jesus says, " "Even though you turned your back and completely ignored my affections and strived for man made satisfaction and love, I STILL CHOOSE YOU. I will not pick another bride, YOU ARE MINE."

Amazing Love

Overwhelming Love

Redeeming Love

THE SAVIOR'S LOVE

The Wall

There was a young girl named Candid.* She lived in a simple house. In a simple forrest. With simple possessions, but oh, how she cherished her possessions. Candid felt alone many nights. Because she lived in the middle of the simple forrest, she didn't get to enjoy the company of people often. She was a very trusting girl and strived to see the best in everyone she was able to meet.

Every night, a friend came to visit her. His name was Zareh.**Candid cherished their time together. He would tell her of great and glorious things. She loved spending time with him. He was so wise, so loving. He told her of her worth, her value. He told her who she was, and who she was capable of being.

One night, Candid met a new man. His name was Zared.*** He knocked on the door of her simple house. He was an attractive man, with a smooth manner about him. He used sweet words to persuade Candid to let him in to her simple house. They sat at the simple table and ate muffins and drank warm milk together. 

Night after night, Zared would come, knock on her door, and together, they would eat muffins, drink milk, and talk about various things. 

When Zareh would come to visit, Candid would be so entranced by the words of Zared she wouldn't notice he was even there. Zareh never complained, but he always left her a note. 

The note read, "Candid, never forget who you are and who you can be. Do not allow others to deceive you. Use wisdom when listening to the words of others. Don't believe the lies that say you are worthless. Remember who you were created to be. I love you." 

Zared told Candid many things. He introduced her to many new ideas and ways. Candid continued to listen to his words, not realizing that with each word she listened to, he stole the things she held closest to her heart. She never read the note. 

Many weeks later, she began to notice that things she once admired were missing. She realized that many of her possessions had been ruined, or stolen. She felt trapped by the words of Zared, but she knew not how to escape. She felt betrayed and hurt. So she set out on a mission to protect her self, to keep herself from ever being hurt again. She forgot all about the words of Zareh. 

She began to build a wall. She worked day after day to build a thick wall around her simple home. Through sweat and tears, she built the wall. Only wanting to never again feel the hurt of man. She kept to her self. She refused to talk to anyone who passed by. She was so afraid to be hurt again. To have the things she held closest to her stolen. Finally she finished the wall. She felt secure knowing she would never be hurt, but at the same time, she was filled with so much hurt. The missing possessions and the wall was a daily reminder of the pain and hurt she felt. 

Months turned into years. She had grown cold and hard. Vines grew thick over her wall and her once beautiful yard was covered in thorns and weeds. She felt so lonely, and she missed her time with Zareh. How she longed to see him. To hear what he had to say to her. But she was trapped inside her wall. No entrance and no exit. She was alone. 

One morning, she looked out her window, she could hear someone calling her name. It was faint, but she recognized the voice, but was unsure of how. She flew open her door, fought painfully through the first rows of thorn bushes, eager for the possibility of having company, but tripped and fell to the ground. There was no way she could get out. she was stuck. "Candid," She heard it again. "yes?" she called out. She suddenly was overtaken with feelings of shame. She was a mess. Everything was a mess. 

"Candid, Here I am!"

 Wiping away tears she called back, "Go Away!" 

"Candid, I still love you. Remember who you are!" The gentle voice called back. 

Suddenly she remembered who he was. Zareh!! She was still afraid and ashamed. She called out to him, "Zareh, I miss our talks!" 

"Then let me in" He replied.

"I can't!" She sobbed. "There is no way in or out, I am trapped!" 

Zareh was silent for a few moments. "Do you want out?" He asked. Candid thought for a moment. She had been in this place for so long. She had forgotten what it was like to be free. To feel. To trust. To love. "Do you?" Zareh asked again. "Yes!" Candid cried. She wanted to be free. "But how?" She cried out. "There is no door!" 

Zareh replied, "I have made a way for you to be free. It was planned long ago. Before you even knew me. I died to set you free. But you must be willing. You must desire to have these walls broken down."

"I am willing! Whatever it takes! I want to be free again!" Candid was desperate for freedom. 

Zareh said, "Then you must stop listening to the lies of the Evil one, Zared. He came to steal your identity, kill your dreams, and destroy your life. Stop believing what he has told you, and trust me. I will protect you."

"I do!" Candid called out. At that, the rocky wall began to crumble. "I trust you!!" She cried out, and she ran in to his arms. 

The End

*Hidden

**Protector

***Trap

There are so many walls that I have built up around my heart. So many areas that I have not listened to the life-giving words of the Lord, and have believed the lies of the enemy. These walls have gotten me no where. They do nothing for me. Only the Lord can truly protect me. As I have tried to protect myself, by my own efforts, I have allowed the lies that I hated to breed and spread. What may have started off as one simple word has spread like a deadly disease. It has spread to all areas, all rooms of my house. My idea of safety has allowed more hurt. BUT, The two words, "I SURRENDER" have allowed the walls to fall. It is only by the blood of Jesus that I am free. He is my Protector. 

So here I am. I SURRENDER once again. Break down the walls. Set me free. 

The Songstress

There was a little girl who lived in a land far away. Her name was Karmina.* She loved to sing. From the early hours of dawn to the late hours of dusk the villagers could hear her lovely melodies resonating through the village streets. Though there was nothing special about her manner, she was well know throughout the village for her soft, sweet voice. She didn't think she was special. She never imagined her songs could or would take her anywhere in life. But after the encouragement of others in the village, she ventured out to let her voice be heard by surrounding villages. 

Karmina went village by village singing her songs. She was applauded and admired by young and old. Her voice was the talk of what ever village she ventured to. All of the praise began to take control of her. She no longer sang because it was what she enjoyed doing; she sang because of the way the accolades made her feel. She based her worth off of what the villagers said she was. Off of the applause and cheers. 

The accolade of the people was what she dreamed of. She became arrogant and jealous if anyone else tried to sing. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she performed. But week after week, her crowd of people shrank smaller and smaller. No one wanted to listen to Karmina any longer. They were tired of her arrogance. Her voice no longer was soft and sweet to them. It ad become boisterous and offensive. Her songs were all about her. She no longer sang praises to the King, everything was about her. 

When Karmina realized that no one liked her anymore she was hurt. She felt worthless. She had based her identity off of the praises of the villagers and no longer knew who she really was. She wondered off into the forrest to be alone to think. She vowed in her heart to never sing again. 

The villages were quiet. No one knew how to sing the way Karmina once sang. Though they tried with all their might, no one could sing praises to the king as she once did. The King set out to bring her home. He knew that only He could tell her who she was. He knew she had forgotten what she was created for, to worship the King. 

As Karmina slept, she dreamed of her King and His kingdom. She missed singing so very much. She was afraid to return because she feared the response of the villagers. She feared that they would cast her away because of her past mistakes. She didn't feel like she was worthy to ever sing for the King again. Little did she know, the King himself had already set out on foot to bring her back into his courts. He missed her singing as much as she missed singing for him.

Karmina woke to the King gently calling her name. "Karmina," Karmina was afraid to look him in the eye. She feared what she would see. "Karmina, look at me," the King lovingly whispered. He lifted her chin gently and gazed into her eyes. Karmina saw such love in his eyes it made her want to cry. She never imagined that her King would come searching for her. He left His throne and all His riches to come and rescue her! She was speechless. 

Words will never express the love she felt at that moment. The King lifted her up into His arms and carried her to the castle. He set her down at the table. He fed her, clothed her in the most beautiful gown you have ever laid eyes on, and reminded her who she was. The daughter of the King. 

To this day, you can still hear Karmina's voice sweetly singing praises to her King. When villagers praise her, you will hear her pause, remind them that it was her King that gave her the voice to sing, and then she will continue her song of praise to the King. Karmina realized something we all must. Our gifts and talents are not of our doing. We were given them by the King. The King Himself came to rescue us and we now are able to sit at His table, to stand in His courts and praise Him. He alone is worthy.

The End

*song, songstress

My thoughts His thoughts

My thought:

God, I love these girls.

His thought:

Joy, I GAVE MY LIFE for those girls.

My thought:

God, It kills me to see the crap they are going though.

His thought:

Joy, I was Killed to set them free from the crap they are going through.

My thought:

God, I think about my girls more than all the other things combined. They are all I think about.

His thought:

I have known them since the beginning of time. Every day is planned out. Their names are written on my hand. They are ALWAYS ON MY MIND.

My thought:

God, My heart breaks when they tell me of the things they are going through.

His thought:

I have broken your heart for them. I have every tear they have ever cried in a bottle. I hold them in my arms. I AM their protector. 

His thoughts are so much greater than my thoughts. As much as I love these beautiful girls that I have the awesome priveledge of knowing and leading, He loves them so much more. As much as I think about them. He thinks about them more. As much as my heart breaks for them, He was broken for them. As many tears as I cry for them, He cries for them. AND He hears their cries. 

God, I love them so much. I never thought I could love anyone as much as I love them. I know that the love I have in my heart for them comes directly from You. Help me to love them more. Teach me to Love Daddy. My heart cries out for you to show me exactly what I need to to for each girl. Give me specific words for them that will pierce their heart. Going down deep to the most hidden places. I know it must be your words. There is nothing that I could ever say or do to help these precious young ladies in any way. They NEED YOU!!!!

I need you. 

I love you.

Amen

Unconditional Love

Unconditional Love.

Unconditional: Not subject to any conditions.

Love is hard. Love can hurt. Love brings healing. Unconditional love is something that I dream of having. Somedays, thats a hard dream to live. I ask the Lord to help me love like He loves. Somedays, I don't live it. Love is a choice. Unconditional love is a harder choice. What is Love anyway? 

Patient

Kind

Not jealous

Not boastful

Not proud

Not rude

Not self-seeking

Not irritable

Keeps not record of being wronged

Does not rejoice about injustice

Rejoices when truth wins out

Never gives up

Never loses faith

Is always hopeful

Endures through every circumstance

How many of those can we say we really are? Joy is Patient, Joy is Kind, Joy is not jealous.... How many if we are totally honest? If this is what love is. and we are supposed to love like Jesus, where do we fall short? Where do we excel? What are areas we need to work on? 

It's hard sometimes to love unconditionally. We aren't perfect and we never will be. I have the tendency to beat myself up sometimes. But I was reminded to night by some one that if we were perfect at everything we wouldn't need Jesus. He wouldn't have had to die if we were expected to get everything right. This post is way different than I had planned for it to turn out. Maybe I'll right another one later. For now, this is it.

How can you love more like Jesus?