Living Water

Living Water

Step into the water and feel the soft sponge caress your skin with warm water. Living water.

I love you, dear one, and I pour fragrant sudsy water over your body.

No, don’t protest. This is the nature of my kingdom: to serve my children.

I rinse away the dust of this world, the responsibilities and burdens. My burden is light.

Be revived by this smooth water.  Your thoughts will settle and be rejuvenated by my flowing stream.

Allow your heart to be healed and your mind awakened.

Trust me. I love you and I will breathe new life into you day by day.

Lean into my gentle waters.

Be renewed. Be refreshed.

Be restored.

 

When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Isaiah 43:2-3

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved.

Please Notice

Please Notice

I know the ground is covered with snow now, but you have touched a flower’s bloom.

Remember the silky petals, the sweet scent, the contrast between the colors. The petal is pink or red or purple while the stem and leaves are vivid green.

Not only do all these parts have a utilitarian purpose but they also bring lovely contrast of colors, don’t you think?

They please me.

Notice the bee nestling gently into the stamen. He has a job as well, to spread the pollen and produce life-giving honey. Isn’t it all wonderful?

My creation will encourage you and strengthen your heart. Don’t be so deep in your grief that you don’t see.

Notice, my child.

…the LORD made the heavens!
Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty fill his sanctuary.
O nations of the world, recognize the LORD; recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong.

Psalm 96:5–7

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved.

Beauty Ahead

Beauty Ahead

(God spoke this to me on Christmas Day seven months after Matt passed.)

Look back – a quick glance – to see how much progress you’ve made on this mountain. Notice the rugged stones beside your path – and the yellow and purple and blue flowers.

Breathe in.

Up here, the air is thinner, but sweeter too and cool. Let that air go deep in to your body, burrowing into your soul, refreshing your heart.

The breeze whistles as it carves its way around boulders, rushing onward and caressing your skin. A bluebird overhead joins the new song.

You are ascending a height that not everyone has conquered. Continue by my strength.

It’s a special day – but you live today without your precious ones lost til eternity. Don’t focus on the loss, but strive to see.

Embrace the view before you–a magnificent slice of my creation. You have endured. I haven’t let you fall and I never will.

Breathe deeply once more. The air is thin and your legs are weary. Go one step further. Don’t think of turning back. Be tenacious.

Take one step. Then another. Then another.

The coming year holds beauty. You only see it if you keep climbing higher. Stay alert for the splendor and the love and the truth that awaits you. In me. In my presence, my beloved.

Notice how much progress you’ve made! Majesty lies ahead.

The Lord, the Mighty One, is God,
and he has spoken;
he has summoned all humanity
from where the sun rises to where it sets.
From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines in glorious radiance.

Ps 50:1-2

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved.

Not Like Your Broom

Not Like Your Broom

My child, I could sit in a grand palace and control my creation with an iron fist. I could create robots who obey perfectly. But what relationship would come from that?

Do you have a friendship with your broom? Or your car? Or your computer?

They are tools to achieve an end. You don’t take your gadgets to coffee or laugh at their jokes.

I don’t desire a relationship with robots but with created beings who have minds of their own.

I created a world of wonder and I knew the downside: that many choose their own path that doesn’t include relationship with me.

But many do.

In these I delight. I laugh with those humans who desire relationship. We dance and sing and hike together.

I give choices. You have free will, my love, because I delight in the authentic. When you stumble, I help you. When you cry, I kiss away the tears. When your anguish drops you to your knees, I hold you close.

I value our relationship. I love you infinitely.

I love you more than you know.

 

But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord
who demonstrates unfailing love
and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
Jer 9:24

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved.

 

When You Look Deeper

When You Look Deeper

Look deeper. Further down your path. Let your imagination capture my message.

Do you see a waterfall cascading in a steady rumble, flowing in magnificent shades of blues and teal and green? Light glistens as the water rushes down the river.

This is my grace, flowing in thunderous beauty.

I love you, my dear. I want you to succeed and to heal and to have joy. I haven’t left you. I alone can whisper to your spirit and I alone can heal the dark places within.

Allow me fill you like that waterfall fills a canal with a spray of bubbles joyfully rippling downstream. Let my Spirit wash through you and remove the strongholds which resist me.

Trust me to unleash healing gushing water that bring fresh hope to your heart.

I am with you always, my dear. To the very end of the age. To eternity. I am with you. Rest in me and let me heal your heart.

You will be scarred. That is the way of this broken world.

But you will be able to continue your walk. I will give you the strength to bring my joy and love to others.

Step into my waterfall.

 

For I hold you by your right hand—
I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you,
‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.

Isaiah 41:13

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved.