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