April 4, 2013
Woke up this morning and didn't feel like hitting the shower right off the bat... Always seems like I run short on time to be with You. Wanted to spend today in extra praise and worship - in thanksgiving for yesterday's Bible study going so well and the little burst of revitalization it brought to my own faith that I've been longing for for a couple weeks now.
In prayer for Jason and the men going on the retreat this weekend. Lord I pray it wouldn't be just another fun get together - But that You would build friendships - godly friendships - over the weekend. Father I pray that it would be a time for Jason to meet men of faith with whom he could grow and be in relationship with - and that for all the men who go - it would be a sweet time with You and with one another. I pray they would be surprised by the depth that comes out of the weekend - refreshed and re-energized to come back to jobs and families with renewed strength and passion in You.
Little Apple is snuggled up next to me on the couch - again I wonder over her presence and the joy it brings me just to have her around. Will be grateful for her company this evening while Jason is gone.
Morning is already hazy and warm - drippy from the rain last night - but so fresh. I am so grateful for Spring finally come - it's like I can't help but wake up rejoicing.
Psalm 117
Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!
Such a short Psalm - just two verses - and yet I feel that is more than enough for me this morning. Praise the Lord - give thanks to Him! For great is His steadfast love toward us - His faithfulness endures forever - no matter what.
He gives great gifts - awesome blessings -
But greatest of all is the love that never leaves us - even when we reject Him - it still endures...
Even before I knew You - You loved me.
Before I loved You - You loved me.
You knew me - all of me - and You loved me.
And Your love for me is so great I can barely grasp the edges of it - It bursts into song when I wake up to spend time with You in the morning - it glows in hazy pinks and dusty blues from the eastern sky - it gently wraps around me in cool kisses on cheeks and hair.
It snuggles next to me in a little pupdog.
It rejoices in my heart (despite it being morning).
It wakes me up - ready for the day before it has begun
It holds me fast when my heart is falling to pieces and nothing is going right...
You leave me reminds of it - little love notes all over the place - even when I don't catch them all -
And even when I feel You are distant and I'm crying out to You - You hear me - and Your heart is breaking with me - until I find myself in Your arms again - where I never left even though I thought I did.
I wish I could give people a taste of this love - Your steadfast love - Your overwhelming love - the love that is Your glory - Your presence - the very essence of who You are.
Upon tasting it I believe that no matter how hard it is to follow You - no matter the impossible heights and depth of love and grace and transformation that You call us to - the heartbreak You make us go through and witness so that we may continue to be open hearted and not numbed or cold - the struggles of what is in Your Word and what that means for our lives - the questions about Evil in this world - why it continues - why it doesn't end... Everything about being a Christian that I wrestle with - even hate or wish I could avoid - all of it is worth accepting as a part of my life to acknowledge and experience and grow deeper in the love that is in Your presence - as a part of being in relationship with You - it is all completely worth the relationship.
Father - if in any way I could live so that people could get a touch or a glimpse or a taste of Your love - that is what I want. That in some way - they may taste and see the goodness of You Lord - and realize that whatever hesitations - whatever questions they may have - are worth facing to have relationship with You. They don't matter as much as experiencing this love - and You have a way of answering them - in Your way and Your time - that is perfectly fit to who we are and where we are.
Every question I have (and I still have some out there on the table before You) You have been faithful to walk with and through me on... and it is never about the issue... It is always about being in right relationship with You - and I love that.
If only I could share that with other people in some way... Father may that be what my life is all about.
Thank You Lord for this morning. For the many love notes You left for me - from the time I woke up.
May today be a day of rejoicing and praise in You. May I spend my time wisely - in both work and play - and rejoice in You throughout the day.
Thank You Lord - I love you and rejoice that You love me.
Amen.
