He stitches each part of our lives in such a beautiful woven tapestry for us to see as he turns a corner for us as one section ends and a new is about to begin. I pray that He is seeing more of the puzzle of my words form for Him as well. The beauty of what He is shaping right now blows my mind. A old is about to end and a new is about to begin. The emotion of that is too strong. And it's so strong it isn't just us, husband and wife, it affects, but also our children. Our jobs and environment affect them too. This is a chapter of closing for them as well. Tending to their hearts in this bittersweet moment words are still evasive in those moments as well. No one quite knows what to say. Everyone is sad and happy at the same time. It's the end of a chapter.
One we thought would be a long one.
One we thought would be a long one.
We are all excited for the new though. It's been so orchestrated by God that though I fought and argued and dug my heels for months... it really is undeniable this is a God move.
What do you do in the moments where you want to pour out, document, make your Ebenezer, yet you have no words?
All I know is "There is a Cloud" that God is forming and that scares me... in an exciting kind of way. I feel like God brought this song to me in a way I could dissect each line and take sermon notes on it. The way it hits me; overwhelms me. The timing to which He presented this song to my heart. I still have not fully grasped that "the dry season" is about to be over. I'm not all entirely sure I ever will. The thought alone brings me to tears I can't explain. It's been so engulfing to us the last 16 months, the seeking, the praying, the digging for our roots to grow deeper, we've tangibly seen and felt the hand of God, we've watched our children grow and deepen their faith as well.
I love the digging.
It's hard work but so incredibly worth it. I love the visual God brings to me with the digging. The massive system of roots He has growing down beneath us. The deeper they go the stronger we stand as the hurricane force winds hit us with each weather pattern of life. Each time, no matter the direction, a little harder, we stand a little stronger. I visualize the cedars of Lebanon. It bends but it doesn't break. I love where we have grown to in this season and I pray with all that I have that doesn't stop as the floods start to come. I struggle to write that last line. I struggle accepting compliments, I struggle receiving blessing. I don't want complacency to come back in and go back to a place where we've mentally been before. Apathy isn't welcome here. We have to fight tooth and nail to stay in this place of humility where those around us can't tell where we start or stop because all they see is the image of God.
I've been reminded this season that God can do above and beyond all that we can ever imagine (Ephesians 3:20). I wish I could formulate into words what God spoke to me with this verse months ago through a YouTube video of a Priscilla Shrier sermon. I still have one of those hands to head "mind blown" feelings about this verse. It seriously blows my mind that he wants to go beyond our beyond.
I sit and think on that and reflect on His wanting to bless us and stop and go, "but I'm not worthy." I want to just sit at your feet and be blessed by Your words coming to life for me. Any other blessing is simply material. Your words in my heart stirring to life a visual of me walking the dirt roads tangibly living out the same moments... that is eternal! That is the blessing! I don't feel worthy of anything else. Yet, to whatever capacity He is wanting to move in this season of upcoming rain, in the clouds He is forming, He says we are. Multiple people have come up to us and said His blessing is coming. "Get ready." I still struggle wrapping my head around that. Should God choose to bless beyond our beyond I pray we humbly reflect Him in only a way that mirrors the moon reflecting the sun. The moon does not shine on its own and we do not shine on our own. I pray we never never forget that.
None of this has been of us.
None of it.
I pray we never lose sight of the growth we've had, the path we've taken, and whatever the next storms of life may be (whether mole hills or steep mountains), that we continue to walk in the steps of Christ before us. Because no matter how rough the road is if His steps are there He's said it's safe enough to walk.
I don't know what the road ahead for us looks like. There are so many parts of this journey ahead that is uncharted territory for us. A way that we have never taken before. Mental hurdles of understanding and acceptance still walk with us, but we have peace. We have comfort because not a single time did God ever leave our side and He isn't planning to now either.
God is alive and moving. Not just in my life but in all of our lives. We just need an ear turned to listen and heart turned to seeking and receiving. He has a lot to say. A lot to breathe life into again.
I don't know what season you are in... just walking out of one, in one, or about to walk into one... whichever part of the path you are on hold strong... Christ is walking with you and He has his story to tell through you. You get to walk this path and show how mighty He is. It may not feel like it... but what an honor He chose you to share this part of His story!
What new normal are you walking into?
I love the digging.
It's hard work but so incredibly worth it. I love the visual God brings to me with the digging. The massive system of roots He has growing down beneath us. The deeper they go the stronger we stand as the hurricane force winds hit us with each weather pattern of life. Each time, no matter the direction, a little harder, we stand a little stronger. I visualize the cedars of Lebanon. It bends but it doesn't break. I love where we have grown to in this season and I pray with all that I have that doesn't stop as the floods start to come. I struggle to write that last line. I struggle accepting compliments, I struggle receiving blessing. I don't want complacency to come back in and go back to a place where we've mentally been before. Apathy isn't welcome here. We have to fight tooth and nail to stay in this place of humility where those around us can't tell where we start or stop because all they see is the image of God.
I've been reminded this season that God can do above and beyond all that we can ever imagine (Ephesians 3:20). I wish I could formulate into words what God spoke to me with this verse months ago through a YouTube video of a Priscilla Shrier sermon. I still have one of those hands to head "mind blown" feelings about this verse. It seriously blows my mind that he wants to go beyond our beyond.
I sit and think on that and reflect on His wanting to bless us and stop and go, "but I'm not worthy." I want to just sit at your feet and be blessed by Your words coming to life for me. Any other blessing is simply material. Your words in my heart stirring to life a visual of me walking the dirt roads tangibly living out the same moments... that is eternal! That is the blessing! I don't feel worthy of anything else. Yet, to whatever capacity He is wanting to move in this season of upcoming rain, in the clouds He is forming, He says we are. Multiple people have come up to us and said His blessing is coming. "Get ready." I still struggle wrapping my head around that. Should God choose to bless beyond our beyond I pray we humbly reflect Him in only a way that mirrors the moon reflecting the sun. The moon does not shine on its own and we do not shine on our own. I pray we never never forget that.
None of this has been of us.
None of it.
I pray we never lose sight of the growth we've had, the path we've taken, and whatever the next storms of life may be (whether mole hills or steep mountains), that we continue to walk in the steps of Christ before us. Because no matter how rough the road is if His steps are there He's said it's safe enough to walk.
I don't know what the road ahead for us looks like. There are so many parts of this journey ahead that is uncharted territory for us. A way that we have never taken before. Mental hurdles of understanding and acceptance still walk with us, but we have peace. We have comfort because not a single time did God ever leave our side and He isn't planning to now either.
God is alive and moving. Not just in my life but in all of our lives. We just need an ear turned to listen and heart turned to seeking and receiving. He has a lot to say. A lot to breathe life into again.
I don't know what season you are in... just walking out of one, in one, or about to walk into one... whichever part of the path you are on hold strong... Christ is walking with you and He has his story to tell through you. You get to walk this path and show how mighty He is. It may not feel like it... but what an honor He chose you to share this part of His story!
What new normal are you walking into?
[Verse 1]
Hear the Word, roaring as thunder
With a new, future to tell
For the dry, season is over
There is a cloud, beginning to swell
[Verse 2]
To the skies, heavy with blessing
Lift your eyes, offer your heart
Jesus Christ, opened the Heavens
Now we receive, the Spirit of God
[Chorus]
We receive Your rain
We receive Your rain
[Verse 3]
Every seed, buried in sorrow
You will call, forth in its time
You are Lord, Lord of the harvest
Calling our hope, now to arise
[Chorus]
We receive Your rain
We receive Your rain
We receive Your rain
We receive Your rain
[Bridge]
Like a flood; like a flood
We receive Your love
When You come
Like a flood; like a flood
We receive Your love
When You come
Like a flood; like a flood
We receive Your love
When You come
Like a flood; like a flood
We receive Your love!
[Verse 4]
And with great, anticipation
We await, the Promise to come
Everything, that You have spoken
Will come to pass, let it be done!
[Chorus]
We receive Your rain
We receive Your rain
We receive Your rain
We receive Your rain
[Outro]
Ohh-ohh-ohhh, ohh-ohhh, ohh-ohhh
Ohh-ohh-ohhh, ohh-ohhh, ohh-ohhh ...
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