Among the vast number of names that God gives himself, he calls Himself “Father.” He designed family, and therefore has the perfect blueprints for how we are to live in love, accountability, and honour with one another. Family is one of the greatest gifts we receive from the Father. I believe that we come most alive when we are placed into a family. We have this accountability with others who can remind us who we are and call out the gold in our lives, as well as a safe space to be vulnerable and honest. Healthy relationships that breathe unconditional love and acceptance are at the heart of the Father and all he desires for us.
We are called to love well, above all. The second commandment is to love others as we love ourselves. The way we love is a direct reflection of our love for God and our love for who he created us to be. This is weighty. As we prefer and serve the ones around us in love, we learn connection that can only be attained through close community. If we resort to trying to do it all on our own, we miss a huge part of God’s plan for our lives and miss out on seeing a massive part of his heart. We were never meant to do life alone. In the Old Testament, we see God’s value for family right away. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are together in perfect union. The Father’s desire for family has been strong from eternity past. We were created for covenant relationship with the living God. To be fully known by the Almighty. This is incredible. “God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have brought us into their intimacy and family. From their love and wisdom, we build healthy families and communities.” (Kingdom Culture) This blows my mind. Who are we that the Holy Trinity would bring us into their intimacy? We have been made one with the Son, and therefore are one with The Father and Holy Spirit. We are enveloped inside the Trinity. This is crazy. I need to grasp this kind of love. This desire was in the Father’s heart all along. He created us for Himself. I think I could meditate in this reality for hours! In the beginning, God created man in his own image and walked with him in the garden in the cool of the day. When he saw that it was not good for Adam to be “alone”, he created Eve as his companion. It’s interesting that God said this- Adam technically wasn’t alone, as God was with him. This shows us the true value God has for us to be in relationship with each other and not only alone with Him. We do need personal communion with God alone, but we also need to be with the people that He puts in our lives. It is a gift. In the New Testament, in the book of Acts, we see the fellowship of believers who truly created family. The believers in Acts 2 devoted themselves to the apostles teachings, to having meals together and spent time in prayer together. These are all areas of life that created strong connection. They did life with one another and they poured out their hearts before each other. It says that they even had all things in common. They were pursuing the same truths and it marked their lives. They covered each other financially, and were generous in heart. The favour on their lives was evident through these acts, and there was good fruit. We are to do nothing from selfish ambition or gain. There is grace available to us to walk in this with strength. Abraham Isaac and Jacob display the beautiful example of family inheritance in the Kingdom of God. God even identifies himself to Moses as “the God of your Fathers, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.” A family that was destined to carry the heart of God and the plans of the Father in history. God blessed Abraham to be a blessing to his family line and all that would come after him. Why would God give Abraham offspring that outnumber the stars in the sky if it wasn’t for greatness? Even though these families were not seamless, God blessed them to carry his name as they followed him and glorified him in their lives. In John 15 and 17, Jesus doesn’t change the subject from family. His desire is for us to be with him where he is, and that we would abide in him as he abides in us. Never separated, forever knit together. This oneness is our portion and our inheritance. We see His heart for healthy family in John 15 as well as Romans 8 in light of adoption to sonship. Bringing the lonely and fatherless into a divine, whole family without strings attached is unmerited grace itself. Salvation brings us into right relationship and rebirths us into the abundance of family. Born again. This imagery of this is often lost, but when you really see what this means, the game changes. Salvation is literally as if we have a fresh beginning with the Father. Like a newborn baby comes into the world and is placed in the arms of its Dad, so are we when we are saved. This is amazing! What security and love we are cradled by. When we choose to abide in Christ, in his words and in his spirit, we stand in the freedom and truth of where we were always meant to belong. Right in the middle of his family. We didn’t earn it. We don’t deserve it. But when we freely receive the love of a perfect family, we are fully clothed in royal robes. We are sons and daughters of the King. This is our family inheritance. Healthy family looks a lot like knowing who we are and who we belong to. Where we belong in the Kingdom. Knowing what we carry, how we influence, and how we walk together to sharpen, encourage, and provoke one another towards Christ in this race towards the goal to win the prize of Christ.
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I really loved finding stories in the Old Testament where the presence of God was glorified and dwelt upon. Even though they did not have the Holy Spirit living inside of them, the presence of God was no less present or active in the lives of the believers.
In 1 Chronicles 16, the ark of the covenant has been brought into Jerusalem where David has pitched a tent for it. David gathers the Levites and many others to minister in their field of excellence before the Lord. Israel camps around the presence of God, giving glory, thanksgiving and honour, and praise everyday. David understood and valued the presence of God in his own secret, personal life, and knew that all of Israel needed to know this God personally. He paved a way with the ministry before the ark of the covenant and brought reverence back to the forefront. Let the main thing become the main thing again. He says in Psalm 27:4, “One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.” David had foresight and laid foundations of worship and communion before the Lord within his preferences. This was a beautiful reflection of what takes place in the throne room of Heaven and is so dear to the Lord’s heart. The focus on the presence of God that David presented brought centrality to invoke, praise, thank, offer, tell of his works, glorify, and exalt the Lord for who he is and all he has done. He gave a charge to remember his covenants and deliverance. The Israelites had a track record of forgetting their deliverance and needed this realignment. Song and praise and quoting the prophets and scriptures helped the Israelites to re-focus on the God of their ancestors, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. They needed corporate space to recall their deliverer and give him praise. This upward gaze reset their thanksgiving and brought them into gratefulness and peace. This return to the first commandment also looked like returning to the fear of the Lord, which had been grazed over and forgotten. In 1 Chronicles, we read, “Tremble before him, all the earth.” Creation sings as the judge of the earth comes. When we truly focus on the Lord, we should find ourselves in deep awe and reverence of who he is. We are dust, yet he humbled himself to our form. This reverence cannot be separated from the joy of being immersed in his presence- the two are one. He is so wonderful. David was a man after God’s own heart and had a deep intimacy with the Father. He showed us a way to have fellowship with a God who is approachable and relational. As for the New Testament, I want to dive into John 17— the High Priest’s prayer. Jesus prays to the Father that we would know the truth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and that He is Lord. In the presence of his Father, Jesus asks that he be glorified with the same glory he had with him before the world existed. He later goes on to pray that we would be with him where he is. We know he is talking about the sending of the Holy Spirit once Jesus is taken up to the heavens. In James 4:8, we read, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” This is his very nature. He created us to be relational people for a reason! One of my favourite instances of all time is Moses and the burning bush in Exodus 3. I love this unique interaction that he has with the presence of the Father. As he was tending his flocks of sheep, the angel of the Lord speaks out of a burning bush that is ablaze yet not consumed which draws Moses in with great curiosity and wonder. God speaks to Moses and has his full attention. God tells him that the ground before him is holy, and to remove his sandals, and keep distance. Right away, fear of the Lord and reverence of this atmosphere is established. God makes himself known by declaring that he is the God of Moses’ ancestors— Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses hides his face in holy fear. The presence of God was overwhelming and terrifying. Moses was undeniably changed forever because of this moment. The tangible, audible presence of God not only completely shook and shaped the course of Moses’ life, but began the stunning deliverance of the children of Israel. Moses had to rely on the presence of God throughout this entire deliverance. He did not feel strong, per se, and could do nothing on his own. He needed the Wonderful Counsellor, the Everlasting Father, the Price of Peace at all times. Jesus had build deep friendships during his thirty-three years on the earth and had genuine love for his people. His desire for us was to come into perfect unity with our Maker and the Lover of our souls, just as he had. The more we fix our eyes on him and expect his presence to be with us where we are, the more peace and power we dwell in. This gives us courage to step out in risk and confidence as sons and heirs in the kingdom. Focusing on his presence requires a deep abiding- as we look at him, we see him looking back at us. This is beautiful communion. Jesus only did what he saw the Father doing, and only said what he heard the Father saying. He lived a holy, set apart life, yet was not completely isolated from the world. There is no sacred secular split- we are holy beings, yet assigned to be here on earth as ambassadors of Christ. We need to have the Father’s perspective, and move with Holy Spirit within us. Holy Spirit empowers us and strengthens us everyday. For me, nearness with the Father has been both a lifeline and a joy. I’ve found that a returning to the truth of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of me always quiets everything down. I find his eyes, and my reflection inside of them. What I love about the presence of God is that he is constantly pursuing me and drawing me close to him. He makes it easy for me. One of my favourite books has been Experiencing the depths of Jesus Christ by Madame Jeanne Guyon. She was a mystical woman of deep prayer and intimacy with Jesus. This was a book that was publicly burned for its contents and revelation of the simplicity of entering into the presence of God. There is a deep turning within that changes everything. It cannot be taken away from us, for he has made us his home. Some of the challenges that I have faced in focusing on the presence of God have been offence, fear of missing out, atmosphere, mind traffic, and questions like what does it actually mean or look like. I remember times where I would find myself getting offended and hurt with the Lord during ministry times where it seemed like everyone but me was experiencing the tangibility of the Holy Spirit. Looking back, I know that the Lord was encountering me in different ways, and that my offence actually took my eyes off of the presence, and onto my supposed “lack.” There became a fear of missing out and so much mind traffic that was very loud, and again, drawing my focus away. In another light, sometimes distraction can get in the way depending on the atmosphere. I’m learning to recognize the presence no matter where I am, and to find pockets of time to step back and find his eyes. I think that remaining focused on the Presence is an absolute key and priority in the vision of being a revivalist. It needs to be all about Jesus, otherwise, what are we actually doing? We can have stadium events, amazing music and speakers, but if our works do not glorify Jesus Christ, we have lost it all. To be revived, I believe, means to wake up into our true design and identity as sons, daughter, kings, queens, ambassadors and heirs. We need to remember who we are, and all that we have access to and co-reigning people. If we are not focused on the presence of God, we have lost true intimacy. As a revivalist, I want my life to draw and point others to Jesus. I want my life to be a fragrance and so evident that his face is my goal. Revivalists need to know that they are the very dwelling place of God. We are holy beings, meaning that everywhere we go and everything we do is now sacred. This is not to be carried lightly. The more we come into this truth, beholding his face in our everyday, the more we will be transformed into more of his likeness. We were created to lock eyes with our maker, and go out into all of the world and do what Jesus did and more. If we lose intimacy in the midst of our great feats of revival meetings and exploits, then what have we really gained? I walk back to the altar of stones. Past victories are not left to dust. They sing of breakthrough and courage. They declare the grace of the King. I find their shape. I recall their sweat. I stay a while- however long it takes. This is my confidence. I shed victim stances, and all captive movements. I give back breath to the land I’ve taken from. I whisper the only name that breaks familiarity that haunts. I kindle a fire in my own inner world. I’ll keep it hot with wisdom’s pure gaze. Nose to nose. I connect. I commune. I remember surrender. I fall back into arms. It’s not as hard as I’ve made it— it’s freedom. I’m found.
Ellie glided over to me with her unnecessarily large caramel nut muffin and her cafe latte. She asked to sit at my little round table located right outside the bathroom doors in our student filled church campus. I politely closed my laptop and took out my earbuds to welcome her to sit awhile. We introduced ourselves and her warmth invited me in to ask her about her life.
Ellie was beautiful in her age. Her eyes were light green and clearer than I can describe. She was at campus for a prayer meeting. Redding has been her home for over a decade, California her home all her life. She told me about her healing ministry, and how she moved up to Redding. When Ellie was in her thirties, she worked as a secretary at NBC in Beverly Hills. She was in a four year relationship at the time with Frank- a man of the industry who sat on millions. As she spoke, her pink dangle earrings would slip out from her ears. She admitted they were cheap, and she didn’t really mind losing them. I retrieved them up from the floor a couple of times before she popped them in her bag. I knew that this woman had stories. So I asked her how she began her ministry and how she met Jesus. She laughed to herself, Now that’s a long story. I leaned in. Whilst flying over the Gulf of Mexico, Ellie’s life was about to change forever. Traveling alone, Ellie settled in and wandered her gaze out the window into the gorgeous clouds. Something about the way they billowed and swirled prompted her to say, “God, if you’re real, tell me.” I was getting bossy with God, she told me, muffin untouched, coffee yet to be sipped. Again, she challenged the Lord, “God, If you’re real and Jesus is your son, show me!” In this moment, she heard a voice that shook her to her core. It was so loud, I was sure that the whole airplane thundered at the sound, or that the pilot was speaking to us— but no one moved. The man next to me was fast asleep. The only words Ellie could respond with were, “God, I’m sorry for my life.” A moment of deep repentance came over her, as she surrendered her life to The Lord in her little widow seat. Upon returning to Los Angeles, Ellie ended her relationship with Frank. Her friends told her she was crazy to leave him. “Nobody leaves Frank.” “Well I just did.” Ellie knew that she needed to change everything about her life and live for God. She kept her word to the Lord. Before she quit her job at NBC, she prayed that she would have a chance to talk to Irv— one of the director/producers— about Jesus. Sure enough, she ended up in his office. “I’m so glad you’re here.” Irv had been having relational issues. She explained to me that everyone in the industry had social problems. It was messy all the time. Ellie told Irv about her recent salvation, and shared the gospel with him. She had little pieces of paper with scripture written down on them for him. This would be the last time she set foot in the NBC office. From then on, Ellie began praying for people and learning more about Jesus. She prayed for a man who needed a new heart, and he was miraculously healed. All I said was ‘Jesus’ and he was healed! The tests came back, and the doctors had no explanations. When she visited the couple again, they grabbed her in shock. Something had changed. It was a miracle. He was no longer in need of the transplant. I never asked for this— but I’ve seen five hearts healed in my life. Ellie began receiving invitations from all over the world to come and speak and release healing. Her favourite place in the world- Egypt. She adored the people, the culture, and the way God was moving in that nation. I’ve never invited myself anywhere. I just do life, and wait to be invited. Ellie continues to love people, intercede for nations, and treats herself to caramel muffins and coffee on Tuesday mornings after prayer. I stepped right in
You met me there I tried so hard To make amends You walked in strong You played the game I took my heart Out of the cage Now we plateau Or take the time My hope rushed in To make you mine So use your words Or I’ll use mine But in my mind They’ll soak a while Please pull them out Please dry them off Speak softly over And hold, hold, hold My hand forever The air seemed to bite the very tips of them. Noses, ears, fingers, toes. The warmth of the day had recoiled into the sky, knowing it’s place, knowing the hour. Nevertheless, crisp air was overdue- not for lungs, but for souls. Conversation was light, mimicking the gentle dancing flakes. Every word quiet, careful, not to disturb the silent streets. The crunching blanket beneath their feet marked the trail of years they shuffled through. Into the blue they disappeared like snowflakes; magnificently unseen. I do not know where you sit Nor what I really should know To feel now fully feels quite wary Strangers take precious time This wide open space is fit for kings I’ve cleared, i’ve tended, I’ve sown How do I dance here; how do I spin? My joints, they feel so cold Is it a good idea to blindly walk on Or was it a mere idea alone I close up in a flicker, fly like a flash Grieve un-lasting futures untold I do not know where I stand Nor what I really should show Laced with warmth, woven with promise Yet coldly shut up in seconds The heart is not void of fickle perspective These fears cannot bow to reckless affection Hesitation grows, striving for gaps Watching is learning, learning is proving The day continued to move. Dusk crawled in, as always, unintentionally tucking sunlight into bed. The swirling air seemed to swirl them back together as the day’s precious time laid its head once more. Time is not my enemy She calms the want, quiets the breach Time is not a luring tease She makes the space, she trusts and frees Time is not at fault, you see She rolls like tides in ecstasy “We owe the world an encounter with beauty.
There is an ache and a groan found deep inside the soul of every living being. It is an innate desire to behold and to express beauty. This is a God-initiated desire that can only find ultimate fulfillment in Him alone.” Sean Feucht I crave beauty. I seek it. I hunt. The earth and it’s people shed a glimpse of what I long for, but they never suffice. I meditate on the eyes of Jesus. There’s just something about those eyes. They dismantle me. They silence harsh tones and exude truth. They are flames. They are seas. They are beautiful. When I lock in, I can see my reflection. A little lamb staring back. Now I can’t look away. I won’t. I’m reminded of a youtube video that I had scrolled past on social media. The video was a mashup of colourblind people who were gifted special glasses that correct their vision. Almost every one of them begins to weep as they saw the true vibrancy of life. “Is this what you’ve been seeing all along?” “It’s so beautiful.” “This is what I’ve been missing?” In this moment, I began to weep as I heard the Lord say to me, “My beauty will change the world. Will you be an ambassador of my beauty?” I find His eyes. I behold beauty. The wrinkles in Your laugh lines Are like arrows pointing towards The eyes of my Beloved Crumbling my empires The creases in Your smile lines Are like rivers to the source Pools of great affection Every glance is stoking fire I take a short walk to the bookstore in town when I need to think- I leave my inner racings at the house. I declutter my brain of worthless things- hopeless things. Here I reset. I’m not sure if it’s the smell, the familiarity, or the dewey decimal feels that make things feel okay. They pull me back to the ground. I find sweet surrender. I find my air. There’s a slowing down here. A rest from the screens. I find hidden new wonders that beg to be cracked open and savoured. Every section holds wonder, magic and care. I’ll always return here, though windows are scarce.
My light brown, lace up ankle boots seemed to be the only concrete, familiar thing about the day as I shuffled into the classroom. I had only heard stories about this place from my two brave siblings that had gone before me. One step at a time was all it required. Nothing extravagant or overly noteworthy. It was the first first day of school, and I wasn’t exactly clicking my heels all the way in. But as it were, curiosity tugged, as did the hand of my Mother.
Maybe it wasn’t all as foreign as I’d imagined. I’d seen these sorts of toys and books before, but they sure never smelled this way— disinfectant mingled with dried tropical punch. Charming. I had grown so content being surrounded by family, and neighbourhood kids. Barefoot and free in a valley tucked in the mountains, frolicking from forest to forest, pushing the limits of the land. But this… what was this? I wanted familiar. I wanted comfortable. I wanted home. My mother leaving me in this room wasn’t any of those things. Yet not one tear was shed. So there I was. Me and my booties. They matched those of my older sister, only to further encourage strangers to ask if we were twins. My Mother thought it was so darling for us to match, even down to our folded over socks with frills peeking out of our said matching shoes. Though my sister and I had identical boots, mine had their own story. My boots had treaded garden soils to gather rhubarb and berries, and tramped through sap-stricken campgrounds searching for four leaf clovers, owl feathers, and flowers. They never walked too close to unpredictable dogs and never ceased to fly through the yard in a flurry. Today, they graced a whole new arena— elementary turf. How… adventurous. Would Pocahauntus have to put up with this? At this stage of life, I had not quite perfected the ‘rabbit ears’ or any other sort of ‘around and under the tree’ tactic for keeping my shoes on my feet. My Mother kindly tied them up and surely double knotted them as you do for young ladies. In my eyes, these sailor knots would save me the embarrassment of squeaking out a ‘can you please help me tie my shoes.’ Before I could dig deeper into who else held this secret, I was asked to put on my indoor shoes. Now this, I could do. Denim, mary-jane slip ons with glorious velcro and little embroidered wild flowers on the toes. The perfect addition to any hand-me-down 90s outfit. And just like that, all of the internal ‘what-ifs’ and woes relaxed and fell smooth like ironed out wrinkles. Carried along by the souls of my feet, I learned to laugh and learned what I loved. I learned to get lost in the art of feeding my mind, and tending to my soul. In my spirit, I was confident that my Mother would return at three o’clock, as always, to tie up my exploration kicks once more. Pretty soon I learned to tie up and tighten my shoes all on my own, sending myself on ventures into the uncharted. Change became easier, and people less strange. Evidently, I grew out of my light brown, lace up ankle boots and allowed myself to grow, adapt, and break in new sizes. In letting go, I found the courage to walk into the deep blue new. Now, I’m clicking my heels through the nations. I’ve moved country many times over the past eight years and have found grace for mystery and curiosity for change. I’ve found my voice in stark moments of bravery. I‘ve step out with holy prompts into territories of fear, only to lock eyes with my true self on the other side, and yet I am still in discovery of what it looks like for me to be fully alive. (re: previous post)
So I made a wee list. I’m alive when I’m laughing until tears stream (oh, it’s quick) especially when I’m caught off guard with layers of wit. I come alive when I am around people that I love, who can laugh at themselves and let go. I’ve realized over the years how much I need these ones. I find life in good story, when details jump out at me. It creates butterflies in my tummy to piece red threads together and find hidden metaphors and all the foreshadows to hold onto for later. I love listening to hearts reminisce their lives and how they stumble into new lenses for the memories they’re unfolding. It’s a privilege to be in the osmosis of those moments. I come alive when I hear melodies and harmonies in gorgeous simplicity, and I cannot help but swoon over those perfect lines in those dreamy songs. Keep me dancing, Keep me still, I try to keep the balance right, but it feels like wasted time. (Particles, Olafur Arnaulds) Like most, I flutter at the notion of a whisked away romance, but we haven’t reached that part of the story quite yet. Then there’s beautiful food with beautiful company. It’s something so magical about gathering around a table. My heart comes alive when I host and lay aesthetics. To create spaces for comfort, for laughter, for cozy. The beauty of oceans, mountains, and trees fill my heart with creation’s warm melody. It gives me new clarity, and space to dream. I breathe. On the flip side, supercharged atmospheres such as concerts, theme parks (don't get me started on Disneyland), exploring new lands and cities cause my heart to wake up. The discovery, the culture, the wonder, the air. Just try to wipe the smile off my face on those days. I’ve come to the days where I need to find life in the little moments. Though I carry my ideal world in the left side of my breast pocket, these 26 years have taught me that there’s joy in each hour that wants to be hunted. I can’t afford to let life happen to me while my fantasy world moves forward and distracts me from reality. I’ll choose present over perfect and messy over wrapped. It’s not a new year’s resolution, it’s a deep breath to be had. I refuse to thrive only in glorified moments of euphoric bliss. Alive craves sustainability— to be found in pockets of ordinary that would otherwise be labeled as mundane, boring, simple. In saying this, it’s not always comfortable, this build up to the refreshing of the soul. Most of the times where I felt most alive came after massive risk. It’s pretty uncomfortable, (incase you’re new to the great dive) but the outcome proves strength, proves courage, proves life. But I’ll let you decide for yourself. Please mull it around, and I’ll leave you with this… The wise Ferris Bueller’s once said, Life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it. So look around. Drink it in. Maybe even take a day off, hijack a parade float to twist and shout to the world that you are fully alive. I was asked not long ago to write an excerpt about the last time I felt fully alive. To be honest, it felt like such a broad stroke question to the likeness of, what was your highlight of your trip or tell me about your childhood. I ventured deep into the library of my wanderings and experiences to collect the perfect story, only to find that it was more a collection of poetry than it was a novel. I got lost in thinking about this library-- not quite to the genius degree of the mind palace of Sherlock, but a palace, nonetheless.
I’m learning a lot about my memory and imagination lately. What have I concealed inside, hidden from my own consciousness? What have I chosen to remember, and what do I wish could disappear and be forgotten? There are memories I have only because of photographs that jog things back to the forefront, and the handful of stories my family love to resurrect over and over again— they are often embarrassing, to my demise. Somewhere along the way, I found that it became more habitual to collect the memories that were feats of blood and war. Maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but I am a 4. The trials and traumas seem to float to the surface like bubbles grasping to reunite to their familiar atmosphere. The cup is half full, but I’ve been too focused on the carbonation. So I am currently in the practise of focusing on the stationary contents of this tall drink of life— the beautiful, joyous mundane. I will strive to be present. In saying all of this, I feel that to recall one moment where I felt fully alive, or even to unpack the last time I experienced this would appear minuscule, and I think in some regard, that is the point. Steadfast. Brave. Wholehearted. Can you feel the strength in these words? Attributes as these are not only within the person of God, but can be found in continuous growth and multiplication on the tree of your life. We strive to cultivate, hope to embody, and pray for grace in these areas. The fruit of this dauntless feat reasure us— they are, in fact, attainable; within reach. With bright intention, pursue the great pilgrimage: the pursuit of faith. “Faith is the substance (or confidence) of things hoped for; the evidence (or assurance) of things unseen.” Hebrews 11:1 An unwavering spirit in these “things hoped for” is faith. A steadfast spirit develops as we stick to our guns, full of hope and overarching clarity in the ‘big picture’ plans, and heart of the Father. An inner resolve to believe that He is who He says He is keeps us steady amidst knocking waves. Here begins an internal resolution to have courage of heart, which is often is overlooked against outer displays of bravery seen in battle, confrontation, and expedition. Let us not forget that inner strength is at the source of our exterior feats. To live from the inside out requires courage from heaven- courage we were born to encounter. A heart void of fear and full of love does not shrink away from greatness. The two go hand in hand. Wholeheartedness is birthed out of deep conviction of truth. A relentless trust finds us ‘all in’ for the sake of love and grants immovable assurance of ‘things unseen.’ As we commit to lean into our Beloved and let go of the ‘what-ifs’, our eyes are opened to the wonder of a heart fully awake. Faith in the unseen looks a lot like lovesick trust. It is confidence in the one who devoted his whole heart first. full article below |
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May 2019
AuthorJulia Grace Schroeder |