You have hidden too often, but please don’t run again.
When pain strikes, don’t race away. Walk into the pain. I give you the tools to meet hollowness and fear with courage and wisdom.
Let me guide you into fresh places and new experiences. Have faith in me and everything I’ve taught you.
I will protect you and will find the place for your voice.
Yes, you have a new mission. Please accept it.
Trust me, dear one. Trust me. I will lead you into purpose and a new life.
But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?
Out of the water, I rise. Out of the misty depths, I step up. I have conquered evil: you need not fear.
I have finished the battle. You are free. I rise in victory and reach out to you. Take my hand and let me lift you.
Let me fill you with my Spirit so that you walk in confidence.
In joy.
In peace.
In love.
And life and freedom.
The list goes on and on.
Walk in life today. Lift your hands and look at me.
Be refreshed by my strength and by my love. Come. We will run through meadows of green grass.
Take my hand and we will dance in the spring rain.
Trust me, dear one. Trust our love.
I will never leave you or forsake you.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
But I will need some name ideas for my iPhone because I’m thinking I need to write a book tentatively entitled, The Secret Life of My iPhone, which sounds pretty bland. Even Walter Mitty sounded better, but I don’t think he had an iPhone.
The thing is, my phone has a secret life, slipping around behind my back.
Well, not exactly behind my back.
Who’d Figure?
I recently heard a voice coming from my pocket. I’m a little dense about talking pockets and it took me a minute to dig out my phone. The voice was my younger son.
“Mom? Mom? Are you okay?”
By the time I got the phone out, he sounded worried. We have a texting relationship, so he always answers when I call because he assumes those are emergencies.
Here he was, talking to the lint in my pocket because my iPhone (as yet unnamed, but we’re working on that, right?) called him. He’s thinking broken bones and I’m thinking my pocket had developed a deep voice.
Not His Fault
On another day, I had taken my grandson disc golfing. We had a great time flinging discs and then his mom texted us.
I’m guessing Joel has your phone…
Here’s what was on my iPhone screen:
All this with my phone tucked in my pocket.
Joel was innocent, since I knew he was playing disc golf with me. My phone, however, seemed to be fine implicating a blameless ten-year-old.
I can’t do a text message like that, but my iPhone managed it in the dark regions of my pocket. 🥴
Hung Up On
I once FaceTimed my sister from inside my pocket. Her view was pretty limited, and she hung up on me. Well, on my iPhone.
My phone dumped that rejection on me later. I could almost see tears in its eye. You think an Apple product doesn’t have an I?
The phone has called other random people on my contact list. I’m now glad I don’t know anyone in Germany or India. Imagine those bills while iPhones chatted about the weather across time zones.
I’ve decided I don’t give my phone enough attention. These are cries for more relationship with me instead of the inside of my pocket.
Just to add some companionship, I dropped in a car key one day to see if that helped.
It didn’t.
Clearly a Name is Necessary
So I need name ideas. Email me your ideas or you can leave a comment here.
And if you don’t help me out, you might someday get a random call from an unnamed iPhone and you’ll wish you had.
This world is a jar for butterflies. But don’t lose sight of the beauty and freedom I have given you now.
When you enter eternity, this world will resemble the jar that held the butterfly.
Think about dear loved ones who have left you. They are precious to you and their loss bites into your soul.
Your anguish stems from being left behind. You remain in the jar for now.
Remember that they are now butterflies set free. I enjoy watching the butterfly with its oranges and yellow and blues, free to fly.
I want you to embrace your time in this world. I want you to enjoy bold colors now. Feel the cool air beneath your wings. Float in the breeze. All in this time that you still have in this world.
Also envision a future of freedom, beauty, and vibrant colors in the new world. One day, with me and with your loved ones.
Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Your steps follow what you think. Consider that which is honorable, true, pleasing, and commendable.
In your mind, you choose the path of life or death? Of hope or hatred?
I give you choice. Freedom.
Love forced is not genuine love. I allow you to direct your mind and your decisions.
When you choose to love me, it comes freely. Not forced by me.
This love is rich and deep and holy. I want such love for my children.
Choose my love, my child, in the freedom and life I give.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
