A Prayer of Thanks

I sat here a few nights ago, thinking about what I am thankful for as we come upon another Thanksgiving. I have to admit, this is one of my least favourite holidays...but it's one worth celebrating. Not because it is the last remaining holiday that keeps us from going into full-blown Christmas mode. Also not because of the food, the football, or the shopping afterwards. 

But because it is a day that should be celebrated as it's spelled out in the day's name itself: giving thanks.

I have so much to give thanks for. The greatest of these things is God's love and sacrifice that I might live my life fully in His hands. Giving thanks should always start with His sacrifice. From there, the list just begins to fill itself out...

So I wrote down a small prayer of thanks that I want to share with you.

As we gather once again, on a day that we have set aside to give thanks, I want to thank You...

For the sound of laughter, the chatter around the table, the unnecessary words and the words unspoken, thank You. Without the times of tears, we wouldn’t know how to laugh together. Without the words, we wouldn’t know when to be silent. and without regret, we wouldn’t know when to speak up next time. 

For every hug, eye roll, sarcastic joke, smiling face, and story told, thank You. It reminds me that around us there is joy and grief to be had, surrounded by those who keep us on our toes. There are people I share this day with who will continue to challenge me into a new person, tell me truth, and not be afraid to share the good and the bad as it comes. 

For the smells coming from the kitchen, the burnt bread, the leftovers we will have tomorrow and those who brought the feast to the table, thank You. It leaves me knowing I will have a full stomach and a full heart. It reminds me that we aren't the only ones celebrating today and that tomorrow as we gather at a different table, You will provide for us again. 

For the memories I've already made and the ones being made today. For the memories we wish we didn't have and the ones we never will, thank You. It is no mistake that each person is here today and it wasn't a mistake where we were ten years ago. Tomorrow is in Your hands and for that we are thankful. We trust that the memories You keep us from making and the ones we have yet to make are all crafted by Your hand.

Thank you, Lord. For your love. For your sacrifice. For all that you have done for me and for those I love. Thank you. 

Amen. 

I am here.

I am here. 

Sitting in an oversized chair, facing the window. 

The fog rolls along the horizon, narrowly kissing the ocean as the warm rays of the sun fights to overtake it.

The sea breeze billows through the open window as the salty air assails my senses. 

I am where home once was. 

I am sitting among friends - fellowshipping among family.

Those I will see are those who know me, whom I have known for many years. 

They have seen me grow up - from childhood to adulthood, from a baby in Christ to a missionary. 

This is familiar. 

I am home once again, navigating a new familiar, an old unknown. 

Faces I love and longed to see from a distance are now a part of my every day. 

And the sun still rises and I watch it lower itself daily, adding to a passage of time that I want to slow down and gain speed simultaneously. 

This is my now.

Until January, when everything becomes the new normal. 

When I return to where I left my heart and my new family, and once again restore new. 

To my new normal, with confident refreshment. When I will look at the sun fighting behind the clouds, the wind and the rain cascading down the hills and can finally say, 

I am here. 

A Ministry Update

Hello from Morro Bay, CA! 

I'm sitting here overlooking the Pacific Ocean, back on the central coast, and excited for this coming {albeit short} season. I arrived back on August 26th and have been enjoying spending time with my family in Orange County and Bakersfield...but now I am here in Morro Bay and looking forward to all that the Lord has for me during my time here! =)

So, here's some questions regarding my furlough I thought you all might like answered.

How long are you here? 

I plan on flying back to Scotland around January 15 (along with a two year missionary visa!!). My furlough is a bit longer than a regular furlough due to a few reasons. Mainly, obtaining a new visa, renewing my passport (that is about to expire), fundraising, and spending the holidays with my family. 

What will you be doing while you're in the states? 

I will be spending most of my time serving at Shoreline Calvary Chapel (my sending church), fundraising, and sharing/speaking engagements (either sharing about my ministry, what the Lord has been teaching me, or my testimony). In addition to that, i will be focusing on getting everything squared away for my new visa, and getting to spend the holidays with my family before I fly back to Scotland in January. 

Where will you be? 

I will be mostly staying in Morro Bay, CA but plan on travelling for various reasons while I'm here. If you're in CA, and especially on the central coast, I would love to see you! 

How can we help? 

There are a few ways to help: firstly, prayer! Please pray that my time here would be fruitful and used by the Lord. Whether you're getting this update and are in another country yourself, or are busy and want to cheer me on from a distance, prayer is the best way to do that! 

Secondly, I would love to get a few speaking/sharing nights on the calendar (especially for those of you who live outside of the central coast). If you are involved in a church that would like to hear a missionary update, in a bible study that might want a guest speaker, or a ministry that could find encouragement in hearing the Lord's story in my life, please let me know! I would love to set up a date/time with you/your church! 

Lastly, if you're here on the central coast and would like to be involved in a few fundraisers on the horizon, please let me know. I've got some fun Christmas-themed fundraiser ideas that will hopefully be in the works soon. =) 

When can we see you? 

I know that right now, 4 months seems like ages and that I will have plenty of time to see everyone before I head back...but then Im going to blink and be like "what happened to the last four months?!" So, I am currently in the planning stages of an update time at Shoreline and a few sharing nights in the next few months. I will send out an email when I have those dates and hope to see many of you during those times! 

Again, if you have any more questions about anything please feel free to email me! Thank you so much for continuing to join me on this journey and praying for me. =) 

Wind & Waves

A few weeks ago, a section of verses kept coming up through various avenues: reference verses at church, in personal devotions, in conversations with friends. After about round 4 of this, I decided the coincidence wasn't to be taken lightly and I would memorise them.

I am terrible at memorising anything that isn't a song--not because I can't, but because of the disciplined action I am required to do. I can memorise a song without a second though, no problem, but straight line memorisation has always been a bit of a struggle for me. 

So, I wrote the verses down, and started repeating them back to myself...one at a time. Finally, I got to this verse:

I stopped memorising. I couldn't continue because I felt like I didn't quite understand it. Why would the Lord choose to command and raise the wind which, in turn, lifted up the waves of the sea? I asked God why He didn't just command the waves to be lifted; why didn't He just leave the wind out of it?

I was reminded that His ways are higher and greater than mine and that He chose to use the wind to affect the waves. He could have done it differently, but He didn't.

A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

I finished that day having memorised one small verse, but having been filled with His peace. I walked away knowing that He was in charge of both the wind and the waves and if He would choose to affect the waves by the wind, who am I to argue?

Then, he caused some wind to rise, the waves were lifted...and, as a sheep gone astray, I forgot all that He taught me.

I had been growing increasingly exciting about a specific ministry opportunity and, seemingly out of nowhere, plans fell through and I was no longer needed to serve there. The wind came up and completely tossed me about like a wave at sea. It wasn't me that changed. It wasn't my plans that were moved, it was something else that happened, but inadvertently affected me...and I didn't like it.

 I thought one way, God thought differently. I thought I knew what was best, God knew better. And not two days after memorising and meditating on Psalm 107:25, I was experiencing it first hand.

It took me a bit of time to be reminded of that peace I had when I first understood this scripture. It took repentance from my frustration and hurt. It took relinquishing my own plans. It took His merciful and gentle voice to calm me and give me a refreshed trust in His direction.

In the end, with the reminder of His Word, I was able to dwell on the times I have been affected like the waves...and the times the Lord has used me as the wind. I felt a peace knowing that regardless of His plans, it was for a greater purpose and I am blessed to be used for and by Him in whatever capacity He chose.

And it has renewed my joy in meditating on scripture and raised my trust in His "cause and affect"actions in my life. 

So Shine.

Light.
It's revealing.
Shining.
Dispels darkness.
Brightens dullness.

We don't turn a light on to stare at the light.
We need it to see the objects and subjects around us.

We don't turn a light on to close our eyes.
We need it to brighten the shady parts and reveal truth.

And we don't shine Light into the world so that people can look at us in awe.
We shine Light so they can glorify our Father in heaven.

We are called to be His light.
To reveal the darkness in the world around us.
To shine bright into the dull shadows.

A Pattern Worth Nurturing: A Small Musing

In case anyone didn't know...I am a character of structure and pattern. I enjoy having a schedule, knowing what my day is going to look like, and planning out my weeks.

What I have found, however, is that over the time I have been here in Alness, I have joyfully developed a pattern of being unstructured--something that is very stretching (and healthy!) for me.

I struggled with it at first. Not having a schedule, to me, meant "free time" and too often in the first month I was here, that translated into time wasted.

But I quickly discovered the beauty of this available time. I wasn't given the blessing of "free" time to do whatever I wanted, I was given it to be able to hear the Lord stronger, and hear myself less.
I was given it to be able to spend more time with Him, and less time with an appointment book
I was given it to be available for His plan, and not try to consume my day with my own plan.

Like I said, it was stretching. It went against so much of who I am. But, I am so thankful that He found me worthy to be grown in this way! I have been able to be more available for ministries that come up naturally and suddenly, have been able to experience more "organic" relationships and ministry.

Most importantly, I have recognised that the only pattern that is of the utmost importance is nurturing my relationship with the Lord by studying His word and spending time with Him daily. 

Do you find yourself consumed with a pattern or schedule? Is it putting your relationship with Christ, and your availability to be used by Him, second to making sure "everything is in order"? If you're like me and can relate to this, what verses do you use as a reminder to place Christ first?

New Mercies

I wrote this poem from an overflowed prayer. I was trying to put words to why I felt ill-equipped to be a missionary. Why I felt ill-equipped to be praying for revival here in Scotland, knowing that the impression to pray for it is so strongly felt in my heart that I can't expect to pray and not be moved to action by it. I confess that I've struggled to get on my knees to pray for the Spirit to move as He has in bygone years because I am scared of what He may call me to do. How selfish can I be?

This poem is an attempt to come to terms with the fact that it has nothing to do with how I feel, or what I am comfortable with. My flesh with always battle with the Spirit and my thoughts will always battle with my prayers. What matters is Jesus. What He has done for us, what He is doing in us, what He chooses to do through us. Our imperfection is at its greatest when we think that we cannot be used by the One who not only created us, but made us in His image. Our lives are the most useless when we convince ourselves of this lie. 

I don't have a conclusion...I'm not even sure this poem is finished yet. But I do know that I will always feel ill-equipped yet, in His infinite wisdom, He still chooses to use me. He still chooses to rejoice over me with singing, call me His beloved, send me out to share His Gospel, be His child...I am so unworthy to be loved by a God so amazing! 

New Mercies

You are my first love; You rejoice over me and call me

To You as you awaken me and remind me that

The portrait of who I am is made in

Your image.

You ask me to love you with all of my heart, 

You call me to serve and honor you

Completely, with a joyful and reckless

Abandon.

Yet, when the morning dawns, and mercies are new

Like the sun pouring over the horizon

Its dance across the sky mingles with

My flesh.

As the dance continues, I see myself fall into step

With old habits and thoughts that do not uplift

But tear down and leave a path of shadowed

Regret.

And when the sun’s dance sets, I am left in wonder that 

You would daily love this imperfect mess, 

the one who so willingly turns from You to

The world.

I am comforted by Your words, written on my heart as a 

Brazen promise of restoration. I am encouraged

by Your peace that strengthens me to remember 

Your mercies.

You have given me the only True Salvation that takes me 

From death and darkness to life and Light. Your body

was broken that I might awaken to Your love and 

Your grace.

And in those times I look at sunset and not sunrise, reminded

That I have come from so dark a place, it is Your Son

that shines brightly as the morning dawn and 

Awakens me. 

Your gentle calling never fails to turn my ears 

To your voice. I am captivated by the whisper

Of avid concern: a command as personal as

A love letter.

Because You are my first love; You rejoice over me and call me

To You as you awaken me and remind me that

The portrait of who I am is made in

Your image.

I cry to you and ask to let these words, this song, this psalm 

May my heart be words poured out as a prayer 

As worship and praise, adoration and

Overwhelming love.

My plea.

My hope.

My heartbeat.

My change.

AW Tozer Quote

I've been reading The Pursuit of God the past few days. It's a book I started years ago...and one I never finished. As I read it last night, I kept coming back to this quote (among other ones). So often I see God as just words on a page and not as the Person He truly is. My prayer last night was for Him to open my mind, will, and emotions to His voice, that I would better know Him and hear Him communicating with me. 

Scatter.

Two things struck me yesterday that ended up becoming a small theme of reflection.

First, I got to share the parable of the Sower and the Seeds with two young boys at Sunday School. It was a story that came up last minute simply because we don't generally have children that come to our small church and, when they do sporadically come, I have a few things up my sleeve I know I can share with them.  This parable was easy-peasy, understandable and relatable...and something I wouldn't have to spend a lot of time "studying for." Perfect.

But, of course, God's word is powerful and living (Hebrews 4:12) and the minute I started sharing it with the kids (from memory), He started showing me what was in it for my personal application.

A sower went out to sow his seed.

Sow seeds. That was the only thing that this sower was responsible for. He wasn't responsible for where the seeds were sown, how the seeds grew, what kind of fruit that seed bears. He just simply went out to sow seeds...knowing that what happened after he did his job would be the work of nature.

The seed is the word of God.

I am to sow God's word. This is my calling as put forth by the Great Commission in Matthew 28. "Go...make disciples..."This is my responsibility. I am not responsible for picking and choosing where I sow God's word, or how it affects the people to whom I share it with. I am simply called to sow. To scatter His seed. This doesn't mean I pick and choose. Who am I to look at one person and think "oh, they're probably like the thorny ground" or "the birds of the air are going to eat these seeds, better not..."

Years ago, I helped a friend of mine plant her garden. We took handfuls of seeds and planted them and I recall her saying something along the lines of "plant as many seeds as you can. Some of them wont grow, but the more you plant, the more chance you have of getting a fruitful garden." Scatter those seeds! It is my pleasure to sow as many seeds as possibly, knowing that His job is to cultivate the good soil to receive it. His job is to grow the seed into bountiful fruit. His job is to feed and water it.

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? 

And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? 

And how shall they hear without a preacher? 

Romans 10:14 NKJV

So, who scatters? 

Secondly, in the evening service I attended, we were studying Joshua 8. Among other points in the sermon, a challenge was put forth over the question of "who?" Who is called to do the work of the Lord?

Take all the people of war with you.

In this chapter, the whole army was called forth to go to battle against Ai. It wasn't just a small group of people (they tried that...it didn't work). It was everyone. They were to act as a full army, not as just one small company.

Who? all of us. Doing the Lord's work isn't just for ministers, pastors, church workers, bible study leaders, missionaries, etc. The Lord's work is for the body of Christ...of which, if you are a professed believer in Jesus Christ, born again through the acceptance of His death on the cross and resurrection three days later, you are a part of that body.

For as the body is one 

and has many members, 

but all the members of that one body, 

being many, 

are one body, 

so also is Christ. 

1 Corinthians 12:12 NKJV

Be a part of the body, beloved brothers and sisters.

Be a part of the army marching forth and claiming victory for Christ.

Know who our captain is.

It is the Holy Spirits's job to bring conviction.

It is the Lord's job to bring salvation.

It is our pleasure to share His gospel.

Reflecting the Son: A Small Musing

"You are the light of the world.
A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket,
but on a lampstand,
and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.
Mathew 5:14-16 NKJV

I've heard it said more times than I can count that we are to be like the moon. The moon shines only because of the light from the sun that it reflects. (source)

What a great reminder! We are to be as the moon: reflecting the Son of God, Jesus Christ (through the Holy Spirit) and shine light into the darkness.

But what about the times we don't "function properly"?

Tonight, my pastor spoke about it from the point of eclipses. Defined from google, an eclipse is: an obscuring of the light from one celestial body by the passage of another between it and the observer or between it and its source of illumination.

A Lunar Eclipse happens when the sun, earth, and moon align, with the earth in the middle.

A Solar Eclipse is when they align, but the moon is in the middle. Both affect the reflection and illumination of light.

If we were to think about what that means in relation to our lives, we have two different types of eclipses: when we obscure others from the Light of Christ (solar eclipse)...and when others obscure us from His Light (lunar eclipse).

My encouragement to you is this: reflect the Son every day, letting your light "so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

If you stand in the way of others seeing Christ, the focus is on you and not on Him.

If you let the world, and the stresses and distractions of it get in the way of your relationship with Christ, then your priorities are still not in order.

If you see that you're eclipsing, get realigned with the Lord in a way that He is fully reflected in your life.
Get into His Word.
Confess your sin.
Pray.
Seek fellowship.
Keep your eyes focused on Him.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded 

by so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us lay aside every weight, 

and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, 

who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, 

despising the shame, and has sat down 

at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

My Plea

Lord teach me to walk with the bold confidence which only comes from trusting you completely, that I may not stumble or falter in the path you have laid before me.

Train me to know your Word as well as I can draw breath into my lungs. 

Show me how to love others with the ease of a smile and the grip of a hug. 

Grow me as a plant that has roots running deep and near streams of living water that my blossoms of life may be fragrant and my branches may be fruitful.

Challenge me to daily discipline and training, that I may step ever closer to the goal and finish line you have set before me.

Let me find you every day in a new way, that I may always be joyful in the new discoveries of who You are.

Turn the light of understanding on when I am feeling swallowed in dark confusion, that the darkness would scatter and the knowledge of your wisdom and presence might embrace me.

Drive into my remembrance the testimonies of saints around me, that I would be able to rejoice not only in Your growth in my life, but in the way you have brought others into True Life as well. 

As I pour out my thoughts, keep them. As I lay down my fears, relinquish them. As I confess my dreams, take hold of them. 

You are my Teacher, my Trainer, my Revealer, my Strengthener, my Light, my Lord. 

A Melody in My Heart

If you've spent any time with me, looking at my Facebook, or talked to me at all recently, you will have heard about a recent trip I took to a Scottish island called Lewis...where, among other things, I was introduced to Psalm Singing. The church I enjoyed fellowship and communion with use metrical versions of the psalms to sing them in their services. For all my friends back home who are looking askance at your computer screen right now...it's worshiping the Lord alone, with His Word alone, using the God-given instrument of our voices alone. It was such a blessing to sing God's word with other believers and revelatory to think about how easy it is to hide God's word in your heart through song.

Coming home, I continued to dwell on the idea of singing Psalms and the beauty and importance of that. As the Spirit would have it, in a recent bible study at Calvary Church, we were going through a short series on what worship is (that's an entirely different blog for an entirely different day). However, that evening, we were discussing worship specifically through song (side note, did you know that the Hebrew word for 'singer' and 'singers' is mentioned 37 times...and only once translated in the singular form? Chew on that for a bit...)

What really stood out to me was when we talked about the word "psalm" and it's meaning. Did you know it translates into the english simply as "melody"? Blue Letter Bible tells me that it's root word comes from the verb "zamar" which means "to sing" or "make music" (Insert the caustic "duh!" moment here).

Well, you might have known or guessed that, but this particular evening it was like a light switched on for me. It really got me thinking about how there are times in my life that I am led to pour out my heart to the Lord but, like David and the other psalmists (poets? song writers?), sometimes just journaling facts doesn't rightly express what my heart is wanting to say. Sometimes (especially for those artsy dreamers out there like me), a poem or a song is calling to burst forth.

These are the psalms of our hearts.

These are the words that the Lord has given us to praise Him in a very personal way. These are the melodies that Ephesians speaks of when Paul exhorts us to "be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, - Ephesians 5:18b-20 NKJV

The Psalms in the bible are songs that overflowed from these men, led by the Spirit, and ordained to be kept and canonised that we might be able to glean from them thousands of years later.

I know that His Word was given to us that we might learn from it, grow from it, be complete in it as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

His Word is also meant to be hidden in our hearts as Psalm 119:11 says: "Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You."

I know that singing the Psalms of the bible will be beneficial for recalling His promises and exhortations for me. It will draw me closer to Him in a binding and beautiful way. Reading His word daily will do the same.

These things will also be adding to the well springing up inside of me that, as a believer, I cannot keep from overflowing. His word will dwell in me and I pray that He would use that well to overflow into psalms of my heart.

That I might make a joyful noise to His glory.

A melody for my Lord.

Peter and John

Something I've been thinking about from last Sunday's Easter message:

"Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed." - John 20:2-8 NKJV

John was the fast one. In my limited study of him, I see him as quick to ask questions, quick to understand meaning, witty with his words (in my opinion), and as the verse above states...he arrived at the tomb first. We can learn a lot from John. We can learn that listening and being astute is a favourable thing. We can see that the Lord used him in these ways. We can recognize that these gifts he was blessed with was utilised by the Lord. 

We can also see how his cerebral approach was met with less action. Less “doing”. Less falling flat on his face, but experiencing redemption and grace. And we can glean from and learn from that.

But then, there's Peter. He was the bold/daring one. He got out of the boat, swore his allegiance without a backward glance, preached at Pentecost, and as we read above, he went into the tomb first. We can learn a lot from him, too. We can learn that sometimes it takes a really big trip up to bring us closer to God. We can learn that when we step out in faith, the Lord will be there as we call out to Him. We can see that sometimes the bold one has more bruises, but also has more passion and experience. 

Both are great examples of faith for us. Both are great men of the New Testament. Both have their faults and admirations. 

If you’re anything like me, you look at John and find comfort in how he pays attention. How he chooses to ask questions...and think before he acts. How he sticks close to Jesus, close to the comfort zone, and exercises his faith with his words. 

But then you look at Peter and are in awe at how many times he “screwed up” and yet the Lord still used him. You see how many times the Lord had to rebuke him, help him, explain something to him, exhort him…and yet he was used in amazing ways by the Lord! You see how he truly understands grace and mercy...and receives true Agape Love.

Who do you relate with? Who do you wish you were more like? 

Remember

Do you remember...

When He spoke so clear into your heart, mending the broken pieces and giving you that promise of a long-gone year? Yet you questioned and asked again. 

Do you remember...

When He answered you a second…third…fourth time? Affirming His call. Responding to your doubt. Healing the wounds and restoring your hope. 

Do you remember…

The day He called you to rise up for the first time? The day He gently guided you to take that first step towards a journey that would alter your life forever and spoil you for mundane reality. 

Do you remember…

The day he called you His love, His fair one?

Do you remember...

That bold and terrible walk along the precipice of fear? One step among another, shaky yet determined. A heart that trusts with a mind that questions can often lead to a body doing what it doesn’t want to do, and yet is unable to turn back. 

Do you remember…

The bridge that meant so much more than a fear of the tangible? The bridge that called to be crossed. The chasm between faithlessness and bold trust. And the family of Christ-followers who were there, smiling, cheering, and  encouraging you. The ones who are still here, by your side. Lifting up, exhorting, praying, and coming alongside you. 

Do you remember…

When He called you to come away? When He called you His beloved? With the promise of His presence, you stepped from the recognisable into His arms. You made it. 

And then you left. Forgot. Went home and thanked Him and told everyone about His love for you and for everyone around you. But you turned back to the mundane. Something was off. 

Do you remember…

Knowing that there was something else? Not quite able to lay to rest the longing and wonder, but comfortable in your life that you weren’t ready to start seeking and searching for it. 

Do you remember…

You held your breath and plunged forward? You explained away discontent with fodder like “His will” and “Living for today”. But you knew, didn’t you? Somewhere deep down, you knew that He was raising you up…and out…and you ignored it until He wrapped you in His arms again, lifted you away from the greyscale life, and spoke those words. 

Do you remember…

When He once again brought you from winter to spring? When He called to you from the clefts of the rock.

Do you remember…

When He finally said “GO!” and it didn’t mean what it did before? It meant LEAVE. It meant remove. It meant take a step in the direction that He was pointing and don’t look back. Only take a deep breathe and trust. 

Do you remember…

The windy country road that was your first experience living in the new? The beauty of the landscape, but the tumult that was inside you. The excitement, wonder, pain, and confusion. The change and the consistent. The confidence and the hesitancy. 

Do you remember…

The bridge that brought the fear back? The one that took your breath away…and your ability to move. The shaky legs and shortness of breath. The one that once again called to be crossed. To journey with Him again from the unknown into His will. 

Do you remember…

What you found on the other side? What you are continually finding? 

Oh, please remember. 

Recall it as with Ebenezer. Lock it in your heart and write it in your memory. Tell it to as many people that they would be able to share it with you when your memory becomes grey. 

Oh, please remember. 

You are new and whole. You are revived and refreshed. You are loved and beloved. You are made in His image and He has renewed your soul. 

Oh, please remember. 

The good and the bad. Set it in your heart and your mind. Because if you don’t remember, I won’t remember. If you don’t recall, I won’t recall. For you are me; and we are being made perfect in His image. 

Oh, please remember. 

My beloved spoke, and said to me: 

"Rise up, my love, my fair one, 

And come away. 

For lo, the winter is past, 

The rain is over and gone. 

The flowers appear on the earth; 

The time of singing has come, 

And the voice of the turtledove 

Is heard in our land. 

The fig tree puts forth her green figs, 

And the vines with the tender grapes 

Give a good smell. 

Rise up, my love, my fair one, 

And come away! 

O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, 

In the secret places of the cliff, 

Let me see your face, 

Let me hear your voice; 

For your voice is sweet, 

And your face is lovely." 

Song of Songs 2:10-14 NKJV