Heaven's Will and Earth Collide

What is it that stopped Jesus in His tracks to tend to Bartimaeus' need in Luke 18:35-43? 

Here is a man who thought money or goods were his greatest need as he sat on the road begging that day.  That is until he overhears that Jesus is passing by.   Something stirs within him.  His spirit leaps when he hears that the Man of Compassion is in his midst.   Faith arises.  Bartimaeus becomes desperate to receive more than what a fallen world had dealt him.   He becomes bold.   He pushes past the fear of men; men, who had sight, yet were blind to what his soul was reaching for.   He refuses to keep silent.   He no longer accepts “the bad report,” but to trust in the Name above all names. 

 

Heaven’s will and earth collided that day.  Bartimaeus walked away with far more than eyes that could see, but a life changing encounter with Love Himself.  

 

 

Begging for what I thought

To be life’s greatest need

Until Love’s presence passed me by

And my soul cried to be freed

 

Refusing to keep quiet

A heart in desperate plea

To reach the ears of Messiah

Simple words - that I believe

 

Unashamed persistence

Abandoned fear of man

Confident pursuit in the One

Who holds my need in His hands

Relentless in pursuit

Crying out all the more

The King of Glory turns to me

“What is it your soul longs for?”

 

Simple faith and confidence

Stopped Mercy in His tracks

Healing my sight to fully see

True Love move on my behalf

 

-ets

 

 

 

Veils

Years ago I  was scurrying around the kitchen taking care of my children’s hunger while worshipping along with the music on my laptop.   Suddenly I  came to a dead halt; not knowing that MY "hunger" would be met that afternoon.  Leaning onto my elbows on the counter, eyes shut - the One being worshipped reached down to touch me: depositing into me the only way to feed my longing to know Him more intimately.

 

“…the veil of the temple was torn in two.” (Luke 23:45)

Ultimately the veil has already been torn for our free access to God, where we can come BOLDLY to Him, but we are well learned in hanging up our own self constructed veils that keep us from confidently approaching Him.

I see Jesus, just the lower half of Him, in a white robe.   His hands outstretched beckoning one to come to Him…

 

A woman, behind a white veil – sheepishly pokes her head around to see Him.   She knew Him.  He knew her.   That was evident.

 

As she made her way to Him, there were rows of veils to maneuver around.   Each veil had a name such as shame, hurt, bitterness, resentment, anger, guilt, abuse, abandonment; all in which were blocking her from coming to Him FULLY.  She longed to be with Him, but these veils…

She loves Him and is in relationship with Him.   She is a worshipper, but she only presents to Him the “pretty” parts -  ashamed of those unhealed, dark areas of her life.  

We think these veils protect us.   We shy away because of shame.   We even unconsciously doubt His acceptance of us.  We've allowed the image of our worth to be molded by the pain we've experienced  and the people in our lives that have rejected us for who we are.

The most intimate relationships are born out of being vulnerable to share your whole “story.”   This is why He is calling.   He longs for all of you, and He knows the healing power His presence brings. Beloved, He is beckoning you…

Longing for a love exchange 

Abandoned and free 

I anticipate our togetherness 

As you make your way to Me

  Suddenly you cower 

From Me, your eyes divert 

Veils drape around you 

Tailored by years of hurt
 

I see the shackles tighten 

Binding up your heart 

You hold from Me the broken

Only giving Me a part

 

A part of who you really are

A portion of your soul

I need to embrace it all

To mend and make you whole

Restoration only comes

To places you let Me touch

Press past your own resistance

I’m the One who you can trust

 

Anxiously I beckon you

As a husband to his bride

To make your way again

Confidently by My side

 

Recklessly abandoned

To My arms you quickly run

Cradled in My acceptance…

Veils dropping… one by one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djrY_eFDOwE

Intricacies of Life

I was walking through a "year round" Christmas store and couldn't help but notice all of the varieties of Christmas villages on display. From afar, they looked nice;  caught my eye, but when I really got up close and saw all of the intricacies of each individual piece, it made the display that much more beautiful and appreciated.

I began to think about our lives and how all too often we look at the BIG picture and we miss the "little" things. Years pass us by and all we can account for is eating, sleeping, and paying the bills  - a life of what appears mundane when you look through it with surface vision. 

Day after day we acknowledge the  existence of people, places, and things but fail to notice their beauty. We grow weary concentrating on what we don't have and miss out on the enjoyment of what is right at our fingertips.  We get so stuck in our routines that we sacrifice relationships both in our homes and beyond the four walls.

Looking at the villages I was also reminded of a couple of verses in Psalm 139. "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it."

When an artist puts detail into his creation: a painting, a sculpture, a writing,  it is placed there for a reason... for the observer to take notice and  to find enjoyment in the beauty and uniqueness of it.

God is the Master Creator, the Master Artist, and He is into detail.  Everything He has ever created is an authentic masterpiece made for not only His pleasure but for ours! Our job is to slow down to find the joy in the NOW.

Let’s stop merely glancing over the big picture of life. Hit the “zoom” button and you’ll discover what a fleeting look will never see.

Begin studying the individuality of your children. Love them BIG right now in both their cuteness and what you may see as annoyances and quirks. Begin noticing the deeper things deposited within your spouse, your family, and your friends rather than year after year maintaining “how's it going?” shallow  relationships where you have no real desire to listen or share in either their joys or their woes.   Quit being satisfied with the pet answer of, "It's going good," and begin to really care about people.   Care about them deeply.  Set aside your selfish, patterned day and allow for interruptions.  In time, it just may dawn on you that they were not interruptions at all.  These were the moments of true living like God intended. 

Seize opportunities to share life together and be an encouragement to one another.  Quit waiting for an "easier" or “more convenient” stage of life to live in the now. Before you know it, the chance you had is over and everything gets pushed off for a future that never comes.

 

 

 

“Slow down and smell the beauty in life.” e