DebraBee

She stood before the gates of heaven looking around at all the people searching for the entrance. She did not understand how come they could not see the doors or hear the heavenly angels singing before this passageway. In observation, she took notice of a filmy substance over their eyes and sticky plugs in their ears.

As anxious as she had been to enter these gates, a sick feeling came upon her. How could she possibly seek her own desires when so many were still searching? With a new resolve she began to circulate among those seeking to find their way. With gentleness, she helped wash away the film and stickiness. Whenever they would try to turn, looking to find who had helped them see and hear, she would point toward the King Himself. Soon enough, each would find the gate of entry for themselves, not looking back again.

Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child (trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving) is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  (Mat 18:4 Amp)

I donned my cloak of invisibility once more. No eyes could see me through this gown of humility. For good measure I got down on my knees. Becoming lower in my stature, eyes did not look upward at me. Instead I chose to look up into their eyes, sharing with them a love beyond human reasoning. I thought of how my King washed our feet. He served to cleanse us so we could walk as He did, so we could serve as He did.

John 13:1-17 (NIV) It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

I had momentarily stopped on the road I traveled. I sat beneath the shade of a large tree, waiting. The time passing felt like forever, yet I understood the importance of being well rested. In the wait I opened my bible for nourishment. Replenishment rushed through me quickly. I longed to jump up and go again but there was purpose to the timing.

It was difficult to watch other travelers passing me by, they all seemed to be moving so quickly. Now and again someone would wave me to come along. I lay aside my desire to prematurely join them, choosing to listen for the Lord’s instructions for me. I cheered them on with what encouragement I was to offer, content to know my assignment was being fulfilled even in this sitting still.

John 5:19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”

Naked I came into the world

Naked I was meant to stand

Naked sets me free

A childhood game I once played was upon my thoughts. A blindfold had been put upon my eyes and I was spun in circles until dizziness came. At that point I was released with instructions I was to pin the tail in my hand to a target hung on the wall. In the background I could hear laughter and jesting for how far off the mark I was. When the dizziness from being spun passed and the blindfold removed, I could clearly see how easy it would be to reach the target.

A childhood game teaches me my need not to be blindfolded. It teaches me I am not to be spun until so dizzy I can’t walk in a straight direction. I am meant to reach my target.

My character development is slow enough I wonder on a daily basis, am I different from who I was yesterday? My mind is drawn to remember how foundations are actually made upon the earth. Sediment is formed one layer at a time, until eventually there is not only a mountain of soil but some of that soil becomes rock solid. Becoming rock solid in who I am is going to take a heart willing to be taught over time. I want to be successful in learning; I will need to lean on patience to learn.

Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.

I have been given a job of utmost importance. My instructions are quite clear. I am to mind my heart, that as I perform each assignment, it not be done through selfish ambition or conceit. I am not to be in rivalry with my fellow workers, but count them more significant than myself. This is completely counter-culture for how promotions work. It’s my understanding in this job, I must go lower to get higher.

I am to assist all who have need, and do so without boasting, as though I had done something beyond the expectations of my job. I am to work with a hopeful attitude even if I’m having a bad day, preventing a negative environment. I am to always wear a badge, not with my name, instead the name of my Employer as His representative in the workplace. (He is the Boss, but He’s also my best friend and helps me with every task.)

The payment guarantee is peaceful no matter how chaotic the economy. My retirement package has been completely insured to include an eternal place and time of rest. In the fine print there is a promise of a mansion and treasures beyond my ability to see or imagine. I am free to invite anyone to join me in this employment opportunity.

Turning in slow circles I let the dance move upon my heart. Nothing mattered except to worship in this moment. I let His words flow from my mouth, “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.”

A rhythm moved my bare feet in this most private of moments. The voices of condemnation lessened in the presence of the voice of truth. Lifting my arms, I celebrated the goodness and mercy of the God of all the universe.

Psalm 86:11-13

I have seen flowers that begin life looking more like weeds than anything that would produce incredible beauty. If you didn’t know better, you’d pull them from the soil to throw them away. I see the same thing in people. They can seem rough, ill mannered, loaded with problems and behaviors. When alone and quietly praying I begin to ask the right questions. “Father, who do You know them to be?”

A flood of hope comes upon me and I swim in His river of truth. I begin to hear the words I am to speak in prayer, “this daughter will write songs about My love, that son will speak with wisdom and win men to My truth, that child will draw with My creativity, this mother will raise beautiful children who honor Me, that father will teach healing”, and it goes on.

Paul wrote many of the epistles of the New Testament but even he didn’t start out fully accepted for who he was meant to be. It was said of him, “he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.” At times I have wondered if some I’ve met are real disciples or imposters. When I put this confession before my Father, He is gentle to correct my thinking. He shares with me how much He loves His children and if I will agree with Him in prayer, I can speak into being what He already knows is possible.

Verse from Acts 9:26 NKJV

Our hands were made by the Maker of the universe. Our hearts are filled with His Spirit because He chose us for this moment in time. We hold our hands before Him and ask, “What has been put in our hearts, what are we to do with these hands?” The answer comes in a single word, “equipping”.

Equipping – (katartismos Greek, Strong’s #2677) A making fit, preparing, training, perfecting, making fully qualified for service.

With every word we speak we can equip, with every action of our hands we can equip by example. The greatest gift to offer in any of this is that of love. Without love all equipping becomes ineffective and insubstantial. Daily we must stand before our Father and ask Him to equip us with the kind of love it will take to make a difference.