Climbing down from the high places on the Rock, I view an ongoing war in the valley. I take the spyglass from my belt to view each battle being fought. This new way of seeing close up is a gift from my Father. In His presence I quietly listen to His lessons, learning to examine the art of war. The strategies are nothing less than simple. Alone we are taken down one by one. Only when we unite ourselves to battle as one will we gain victorious ground.
The woman looked into my eyes and saw who I was and who I was to become. Selflessly she offered up her life to share all she had learned, that I might gain understanding from her experiences. She knew me to still be young, needing guidance. Exposing her flesh she asked me to draw near that I might touch her scars. At first I wanted to divert my eyes and see her only as perfect but she insisted I see correctly. One by one she showed me her wounds and explained how she had received each one. Some she had gained from other’s infliction and some she had brought onto herself. She hid no details of their origin. In touching each of these scars I could feel my heart aching inside my chest; feeling swollen and inflamed with the transference of compassion and mercy.
When alone I considered what was being shared with me and the reasons why. Tears kept rolling down my cheeks and reaching up to touch them I let my finger gather these liquid drops. Looking at them I felt as though each one was a treasure. I turned on the light of my magnifier to look closer. They seemed to sparkle and shine. Was this what God saw, was this why He kept them?
Scars and tears; each had their purpose and Jesus had been a bearer of both. I come to understand more day by day.
I watched the woman with white hair walk slowly in the morning sunshine. Next to her was a tiny girl child with a sun hat. The child’s height barely reached above the woman’s knees. With each step the woman took she was careful not to let the girl child fall behind. It was clear even from my distance; the woman was encouraging the child to keep moving forward as best she could.
I had no idea how far they’d come or how long they had walked. They both stopped momentarily and I could observe some kind of conversation. The woman seemed to be encouraging the child to keep going further. Instead the child reached up to ask if she could be carried for a while. With gentleness the woman scooped up this tiny girl child, carrying her out of my line of sight. Leaning back in my chair I knew I had seen something precious.
I stand before the mirror trying to understand. I am not seeing who I really am just yet. Yes, I see the flaws, but also the hope. If I look deeply enough into my own eyes, I can see the dreams that burn in my soul. While in this state of observation, I hear His Word, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”*
Looking at the mirror, I picture it steaming up with moisture. I imagine if I can wipe it with a clean towel perhaps I’d see myself as I really want to be seen. If I wiped hard enough perhaps I’d see the face of Jesus looking back at me. Laughing, I walk away from my own silly thought. My reflection will never be perfected by my own efforts to wipe away anything.
It’s time to find that quiet place once again; the place where I can be still and let myself be known; this is where I come to fully know.
*1 Cor 13:12
I heard a quiet Voice and my feet move toward the whisper. I desire to get closer. Other voices distract me. They shout loudly. They vie for my attention, making me strain to hear the quiet Voice more clearly. My steps slow and I pause. I wait to hear the whispering Voice once more. Eventually the noise will fade.
David is now a king when he dances without inhibition before God and before the people of God. David has a bride and the bible records more than one. In his dance, David does not heed cultural expectation or decorum; he puts joy of the Lord first and foremost. Watching from a distance, one of his brides sees him dancing and her heart is filled with disdain. In conversation with her husband she derides his actions. His response is instant, “I will play music before the LORD. And I will be even more undignified than this, and I will be humble in my own sight.” *
I wonder at myself being one of the brides watching my KING dance before me, before others. Will I disdain the way HE leads us to worship? Will I let cultural protocol rule my heart or will I let love reign first, released to be uninhibited in my joy? A song enters my heart in answer to this question.
We will dance, we will dance for Your glory
We will dance, we will dance for Your glory
We will dance for Your glory, Lord
We will lift up a shout to adore You
Every sound that we make, it is for You
We will dance for Your glory, Lord
The King is coming in, the King is coming in
As we tell the whole world of Your love and life
We will dance for Your glory, Lord *
*Scripture from 2 Sam 6:21-22 * Lyrics taken from Matt Redman, For Your Glory
I kneel when the world would tell me to stand
I cry before my family to show myself strong
My brokenness is where I find my strength
I am a father
I am a brother
I am a son
I am a man
My identity is in I AM
Would you be so kind as to tell me the truth? Or would you leave me alone, not wanting to offend me?
The kindest cuts I have ever been given are from those who also stayed beside me to bandage my wounds with their love.
Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
Einstein had a theory which he alone seemed to grasp. It took years for him to be heard as more than one voice among the many offered. Even those of his scientific peers who believed were dissuaded coming to his defense for fear of looking foolish. They needed proof to protect their reputations! His theory was eventually proven by the scientific community. To this day many try to disprove Einstein’s theories. A theory is different than truth.
Jesus didn’t offer a theory, He spoke truth. He said “and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die”. He proved it by raising Lazarus from the dead. History teaches us that even in the face of evidence; some people want to bury truth out of jealousy.
The Message John 12:9-11 Word got out among the Jews that he was back in town. The people came to take a look, not only at Jesus but also at Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead. So the high priests plotted to kill Lazarus because so many of the Jews were going over and believing in Jesus on account of him.
Rings; I remove them from my fingers, captivated by what they mean. My mind takes me back to my marriage ceremony. It seemed surreal and I couldn’t focus on the words being spoken, with the exception of what the rings represented, “no beginning and no ending”. That sentence has never left my thoughts when I look at my rings.
I am the bride.
