Category: Blog Article

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.

 

The greatest acclaim I can ever ask is none for self. As I open my mouth to declare aloud the name Jesus, I garner the applause of heaven. What greater audience could there be? I offer the minor works of my hands, laying them at the feet of my Father. To my enjoyment, He grabs me up to squeeze me in His approving arms saying, “well done my daughter”! The approval of others is irrelevant.