Love Me

"Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens." Psalm 89:2 NLT

"I need someone to love me!" she shouts impatiently from her princess toddler bed.

"I'll be right there," Mama reassures her, "as soon as I lay your baby brother down."

Oh isn't that the cry of everyone's heart? Toddler princess or not, we selfishly desire love -an all-knowing, unfailing, soul-deep love. We crave attention, reassurance that our existence matters; that who we are in this great big world makes a difference to someone. 

Mama finally arrives and kneels beside her bed.

"My heart is so full of love, Mama, so I need to love you," the toddler princess explains. "And, I need someone to love me."

Isn't that the way unfailing love cycles? Love fills and spills and fills again - without fail - without fear. Perfect love never fails.

{Click on over to {re}fresh for the rest of the story, won't you?}

Cast Out All Fear

"There is no fear in love. But

perfect love drives out fear..."

1 John 4:18a

The shadows rise tall above her bed in the purple room as the night light bleeds shadows across the ceiling. Blessed with an active imagination, monster pictures squelch sleep from her eyes.

 

She braves the shadows and tries to shut them out, but soon her tiny feet pad across the carpet and into my bedroom next door.

 

"Grams? I'm scared," she whispers.

 

(Psssst! Tip toe across the blogosphere with me and read the rest of the story at refresh, won't you? Click here.)

Say Yes to God's Sacred Adventure

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you...an move you to follow my decrees.." Ezekiel 3:26a, 27b

God met me in my quiet place. His Spirit blew through open windows though never rustling the leaves outside. His joy filled me up with laughter that couldn't be suppressed and it changed me.

All week long anxiety and pressure mounted, turned my world upside down and I stared my God-portunity down. This TV show, Penn's Pals, was nowhere on my radar and certainly nothing I concocketed from my own imagination, but as the week wore on and wore me out, I wondered and questioned, "Am I stepping into God's will or is this just a huge distraction from the Enemy?"

Rest finally came Thursday night. Exhausted by all the challenges I fell into God's hands and said, "Catch me, Lord. Search my heart. If this is from you, give me deep rest and breathe life in me and through me." Twelve hours later (yes, 12) I awoke, peaceful and rested.

I quieted myself inside my office sanctuary and opened the windows, welcoming His presence and Holy Spirit. Opening my devotional, He met me with these words:

"Though I am the Lord of the universe, I desire to work in partnership with you. As you say yes to this sacred adventure, you become more fully the one I designed you to be."

(Jesus Lives, by Sarah Young, (Thomas Nelson, 2009m pp. 76-77).

Hmmmm...a sacred adventure? Penn's Pals is certainly an adventure and now my spirit knew it was a sacred calling, prepared in advance especially for me; one that God intends to work in me and through me for His purposes. I'm not sure how, or what that looks like right now, but as long as He's in it, I know there's good things ahead!   I cannot express the overwhelming peace and joy that's replaced my anxious, worrisome heart. Praise God!  

Expectant.  

Standing ready and prepared to watch what God is doing,   

Dawn

Don't Rehearse Your Troubles

"Have I not commanded you, Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Incredibly shy as a young girl, acting became my refuge; a place where I discarded my apprehensions and troubles, crawled into another shell quite unlike myself and safely expressed emotions the real me never could. But, I had to be careful. Rehearsals exhausted me, transformed me and it took hours before I found myself, the real me, again.

Sometimes we rehearse real life.  A problem heads our way and immediately, we imagine all the possible negative scenarios. We turn those thoughts over in our minds - diligently rehearse our parts - until one day our minds transform the imaginary into reality. Our hearts no longer rest, but beat exhausted and anxious before trouble even comes.

Sarah Young puts it this way: "Rehearsing your troubles results in experiencing them many times, whereas you are meant to go through them only when they actually occur. Do not multiply your suffering in this way!" (Jesus Calling, 2008, Thomas Nelson).

On the contrary, God says, "Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go"(Joshua 1:5, 9). Relax. God's got it! He is with us and knows what's up ahead before we do. All he asks is that we seek his face with all our hearts. And when we do, he will fill us with his peace - an incomprehensible peace - even in the middle of our mess.

So, if we're to rehearse anything in this life, it is to be being fully reliant on God. Practice our faith until we're transformed into maturity in Christ.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Joshua 29:13

Lord, may we remember to seek you, not only during trouble, but every day; for this is how we mature in you. May we stop rehearsing our troubles and remember to just be ourselves with you, giving you everything and in thanksgiving, look forward to where you are. In doing this, fill us with your peace.