Saturday, October 6, 2012

A Thirst To Be Quenched





God? 
This view.
How do you do it?
In Your infinite creativity
You gave me breath
and here you go
 taking it away.



And rightly so.

I've heard it said..
"The Lord 
gives 
and the Lord 
takes away."


This day
The magnificent view 
did just that. 

I thought we might reach the heavens;
as we climbed toward our destination
 -this flat rock above-
that hovered over the earth below.
I imagined us meeting Mufasa and Simba
This tiny Lion cub to follow his Father's steps
as King
I know this story well.

And so I thought of Your Son.
The One in whom all of Your Fullness
was glad to dwell.
The heart of a Great Father.

My lips grew parched as we continued on
and the last droplet of water nestled it's way
into my thirsty bones
with so much time to go

And again, I thought of Your Son.

I climbed these unknown heights 

on this unknown path
and I remembered Him washing 
a woman unclean
with water that he was sure 
would quench her every thirst.
A craving much deeper than 
the walls of her mouth 

He promised her in truth that as the water
from this well would quench her temporary thirst
there would again come a time 
in which she would be 
in need;
His Voice echoed through the cracks
of my dried lips:

"If anyone thirsts 
let him come to Me
and drink."
(John7:37)

He offered the simplest
and gave the grandest.


My prayer in the desert was answered 
in the finding of
another great mystery of the most Creative One of all,
A mystery hidden between
my waterless lips
her dried soul
and his Great Promise.
Yes, a simple 
and yet life-saving 
necessity.


So Come, Lord. 
Fill us to overflowing;
from the inside 
out.


".. Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again

but whoever drinks the water I give him 
will never thirst 
Indeed the water I give them will become in them
a spring of water welling up to eternal life .."
(John4:13)


Monday, September 24, 2012

A Tribute to September 23rd



For 1 year I've stared at an enveloped entitled;

"All I need,
   
                is you."

In 1 year of time - life happens.

Each moment, of each day, life happens. 
This little envelope mirrored this truth as it was shuffled, dropped, moved -place to place- over the course of 365 days. 

However, for the last few months it has found its home propped upon my bookshelf at level eyesight as I lay my head down each night.


These are often the last words that I read each night before bed, and I find comfort in their truth:


Yes,


 "All I need,

        is you."



Today marked the start of a new season, and as I laid on my bed to rest, my eyes began to browse the bookshelf. My eyes stopped, as they always do, on the little envelope propped neatly in front of "Walking in the Way" and "The Hiding Place." I  looked at the calendar, and back at the envelope. I quickly realized what the backside read, and I rushed to open it. 

"Written on 9/23/11 
                 
           .. Open on 9/23/12."


It was a letter .. from me. A letter in which the voice of my Lord spoke loudly.

Words penned exactly 1 year ago today that have been shut and sealed for the past 365 days. 



Reading it now, exactly 1 year later,
I am reminded not to worry.

As though the Lord himself was speaking .. He reminds me:
Mia, don't think about who you will marry, think of me. There is no other He, that took you from darkness into light. Read my Word to you - it's always right. Take delight in me, Mia. I am for you. Keep your lips from evil, and let me use you.

I'm thankful for many things today; 

this sweet year-old letter, 
is one of them. 

This year has gently (and sometimes not so gently) pounded 1 simple truth into the confines of my heart, soul, and mind:

God is the only constant

Amidst heartbreak, tears, victory, let downs, marriage, heights, depths, and sweet laughter, laughter, laughter
     .. One thing remains. 
And it's the only thing that ever was
                                               ever is 
                                          and 
                                        ever will be.

Thank you Jesus, that you speak clearly when we tune our ears to your voice.
Thank you that in a world that will never be what I can hold on to ..

All I need,
  is you. 




"O to grace how great a debtor
                                                               Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above."

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Twelve




When I saw you
I wanted to hide you
as I do each time I see your 
little face

I wanted to cover your eyes
and your mind
and your heart
from this wicked 
wicked world.

But there you lay
motionless
and there I stand
restless
as you feel every 
ounce of what 
you don't deserve

I'm so sorry..
and what this means 
is nothing at all
But, for what it's worth
I grieve with you
sweet child.

I said
there was nothing to comfort
the ailing within your saddened heart
but only to remind you 
that the very One who shaped it 
doesn't make mistakes

As droplets fell
slowly down your cheeks
I prayed that you would
forgive the wolf who got you here
and forgive the heavy hands 
that surround 
you.

Just know 
sweet child
that there is One who is waiting 
to tuck you in
until the end of time
Yes, this is what you
deserve


And the one you bore 
is being held in His hands
of which 
there is no place greater

Close your eyes little one
Can you hear it?
The One who watches over you
both now and forevermore
is rejoicing over you
with sweet 
sweet
singing

And His Kingdom is one of
love

the kind
that cannot be broken

So hold on
Just one more day

And if He gives you the gift 
of tomorrow
please say that you'll hold on
just one day more.







Friday, August 10, 2012

Dear Assaulter




To you,

I didn't see you standing behind the debacle
yet this is always the stand that you take.

As sweat dripped down my brow and I shuffled for the right tune to set my pace,
I peered across the busy street and saw your handiwork. 

"The righteous are as bold as a lion." 
(Proverbs28:1)
We both know this well. 

and so I ..
I sped faster than any tune I could have chosen to set this pace
The drumbeat of my heart was enough boom 
to keep me going.

I saw the face of innocence, tainted. 
Young life ripping at another out of a heart of anger, protection
and sadness 
and you,
you stood on the outskirts
loving the sight of hatred and fear
That is who you are.

This young life under your dominion, tainted.
I pulled her from the grasp she held on the other
like pulling teeth.
You're never satisfied
and this only satisfied 
your taste of dissatisfaction 
even more.

And so you came.

As your blow plowed heavily
I could still only think of the 
young lives you were infecting.
The yoke of your slavery upon them.
I wanted to tell you to keep making 
your assaults at me
instead
and 
just leave them alone.


I wanted to infect you 
so badly
with love
sweet, sweet, love
For I know this is the only infection 
that will cure you
I wanted to cry out in love to you
to make you see

but you
you are blind.

You screamed and you shouted, 
"How about again!"
"How about again!" 

My heart grieved over you.
Fool,
I could only utter in my heart.
Fool.

If only you could see that your power is weakness in disguise
for you hold none.
May I remind you?
"Be not afraid of those who kill the body, 
but cannot kill the soul." 
(Matthew 10:28)

Fear, my friend, fear.
Fear the One who has the power to throw both Body and Spirit 
into the depths of hell. 
For this is wisdom.

And so I Praise Him. 
Praise to the Glory of the One of whom I spoke 
the One that makes you shutter. 
You were silent..
But only until your defenses purged from you like a flood
claiming to know Him. 
A claim to be one who worships in truth
and yet you are the 
father of all lies

This age is blinded by your assaults upon it
young ones chase you 
not knowing
they are being hunted

But time is ticking
you know this full well
for

HE will come like a flood
HIS going out is as sure as the dawn
HE will come to us as the showers, 
as the spring rains that water the earth
(Hosea6:3)

Yes
HE will come


..and your assaults will be no more.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Matchless



I wanted to get away today. 
Somewhere to rest, somewhere to write, somewhere in which I could not only see the mountains, but feel their beauty. 
As I drove, I was captured by the surrounding scene; the colors of the rocks,  
the now widening sky. 
Ah. 

                  
  "Lord! I have no idea where I'm going, but please lead me!" 
                                   I said aloud, after driving over an hour and a half
                                              to an unknown destination. 
                     
 As I neared Camp Verde both my bladder, and Spirit, were ready to stop. 
                                  My phone, about to die, searched nearby coffee shops. 
                             I had another fifteen minutes until I would reach 
                                          "Thanks a latte.." 

                My phone reached it's last breath as I neared Main Street.
                               Needless to say, I found my way.
                        Now in recollection, I know that this left my Spirit to rejoice (..and if there were such a thing as a "praising" bladder, than that was rejoicing, too.)
                                                                                             ;)
            I was unsure as I pulled through the back; a plain door reading:
"Thanks a latte ... ENTER"
Stepping inside,
A cutesy, quaint cafe.
                    
3 older women sat at a table near the entrance
          I felt like a foreigner 
as I walked in with my big Trader Joe's bag, and laptop case. 
               The feeling of being in a small small town, where, as our friends from "Cheers" might say.. everyone knows your name. 
Except here, everyone knew everyone else's name, but mine.
                                                         "Ah, Trader Joes." 
                   The oldest woman in the bunch looked up at me and smiled graciously. 
                              "I just love Trader Joes!" 
..suddenly feeling less.. foreign. 
                                     
Until .. "Dear, are you from out of town?" 
                                                     "Yes," I smiled at her. 
                                                           "Yes I am." :) 
                         "Well welcome, where are you from?.." 
                                      
We began the small chat and I shared my drive to an unknown
destination that led me where I stood.
                                          
                   Questions of life and faith, arose.
                          To hear of mine, they all just smiled. 
                        
 Well, this is a Christian owned business and... "Paul!" 
                                                          They yelled over to the owner. 
                            "This is Paul".. the ladies grinned.
         He smiled humbly at me.
So much smiling going on in length of this meeting 
I was happily reminded of everyone's favorite Elf, as he exclaimed-
 "Smiling is my favorite."
Gladys, the oldest of the group, was sure to tell Paul I was from out of town, and that I came up to Camp Verde to get some writing done. 
 "Camp Verde?" He chuckled. 
"You came all the way here for that?"
. . . . . .
As I travelled the quick road from foreigner to family, all i could joyfully respond was;
"The Lord sure knows what He's doing!.."

"Oh my, isn't He faithful?" Annette said with assurance.

I wanted to inexhaustibly exclaim:
"You have NO idea!"

But, she did have an idea-
which uncovered the grace of this moment.

I felt like Christian, the character in the ever famous The Pilgrims Progress, as he walks out His faith and meets many opposing his trek. 

He then stumbles upon his sweet friend, Faithful.  
Moments of much needed Grace.  
I answered more questions as they asked, and mentioned my upcoming trip to Mexico. 
Paul walked over again and said;
"Wait, so ya'll are just meeting??" 
We all laughed.  

 "Well, we're already sisters."

Gladys' words were so true, it was mind blowing.  
"He is the King of turning strangers to family." I said. 

The music seemed to grow louder after the conversation began its decent, and Paul summoned me to place my order. 
The ladies were getting ready to head out for their day. 
As they stood up Annette came to me saying, 
"Tell me the days you'll be in Mexico, I will be praying for you."  
"This Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday." I said. 
"I will be praying," she reassured me. 
I hugged her. 
Little Janice and Gladys came up from behind, and I turned and hugged them both, too.
                                           Sisters indeed.                                                                     I ordered my Pumpkin Latte, as Jeremy Camp resonated in the background.. 

"You opened my eyes to the wonders anew, 
you captured my heart with this love,  
cause nothing on earth is as beautiful 
as you."

Without further ado - before I start to well with tears - 
Our God, is a very near God. 
Nearer now than ever before.  
If you don't believe this? 
Start to. 

The closeness of the mountains as I sit outside of this seemingly perfect coffee shop? Comforting. 
The awing landscape on the way to find this picturesque place?
Amazing.
The reality of a God who makes His Presence known to me everywhere I go? 
Amazing and comforting. 
But also- 
matchless,
 priceless, 
and wonderful beyond compare. 
Rest for my soul

I came here to write and read about, well, not this. 
But this is what has come. 
I love the God of the Bible. 
I love Him because He first loved me. 
I love Him because when people in my life tell me I am full of fear, He says His perfect Love casts out all fear.
I love Him because I am made in His image- and therefore, and only therefore, I am myself, captivating. 
He was first beautiful, not me. And now? 
This matchless truth is growing my heart closer to match that of my Father's.
Matchless, Priceless, Wonderful beyond compare. 

A new melody.  

I came here to read and study more into the depths of my heart as a woman.  
Yet, the  more He shows up in my day-to-day, 
the more I learn about who I was created to be. 
A seeker, after a great adventure. A pursuer to unveil beauty.
The same heart as my Father, 
and I'm so thankful that His seeking and searching is for His daughter.
:) 

"Mia," Paul came to me,
"Just wanted you to know I'll be closing up here in about fifteen minutes."


I gathered my things together, and thanked Paul again for his hospitality.  
As I went to leave, a young woman who I had noticed earlier, called out my name. 
"I will be praying for your trip to Mexico, too." She said.

As it turns out, Lisa overheard some of the conversation that was had when I first arrived to the Cafe. 
One of the last things she said before I slipped out the door, was that it was good that I was starting in Mexico.
"Those are the real broken and forgotten ones." She said.
"I know," I replied.
"And that's exactly who He came for."
This caused tears to well in her eyes - it struck a heart-string that only God knew the full depths of.
I walked over and put my arms around her. 
I knew I would talk to her again.

As I got to my car, I opened the note that she had handed to me before I walked out, 
 it read:

"What a beautiful spirit you have .. I picked up on it from the min you walked in. God's love and grace is all over you. Thanks for bringing Him to me today!
God Bless you Mia
You'll be in my prayers,
Please keep me in yours."
-Lisa


Yes, a very near God indeed. 
Ask Him to lead you, and He will.
As much as people may believe He brought you to them, it just might be Him bringing them to you.
And it might be 
                   just want you need;

(And it might just feel  
                                        matchless.)

 "You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me. 
 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.
 Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence? 
 If I go up to the heavens,you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 
 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.."
p s a l m 139:1-10