Home sick

"At that time I will gather you;
    at that time I will bring you home."
Zephaniah 3:20

Been feeling home sick awhile now.  Longing to be snuggled into the Fathers arms with no second thought of the future.  Selfish thoughts but the core of my being is honest this morning.  To experience in part what we will in full can be agonizing.  Like the chase for another hit, knowing that we will receive the best upon the arrival of our true home.

Change my heart, forgive my sin, show me your glory on earth so that I can persevere until heaven.

As my circle of focus broadens, your children are in dire need of you across this planet.  Comfort those who mourn, give them hope and a longing for their eternal home, their focus on you.  Let their voices rise to you a sweet sound in your ear, and give them peace because of who you are.  I AM. Your eyes to see, your ears to hear, hands open to give and receive, and after a coal touches my unclean lips, a mouth to speak your truth.

Black coffee

I had a revelation moment while standing in Starbucks ordering a coffee...  It has since forever changed the way I drink my coffee, viewed this generation, and read the word of God.

I was trying to figure out and becoming increasingly stressed over the terminology of having to order a coffee in a new place.  Furthermore having to think of all the wonderful things I would like to add to my coffee in order that I didn't taste actual coffee.  I began to suffer from pre-coffee anxiety and God in His ever so gentle way whispered,

"just drink a coffee, nothing added, nothing taken away. Just have a coffee."

What a strange thing for God to tell me.  Then a flood of things came to mind...  This generation, the word of God, how foreign the concept of church must seem to the new believer, how we can add and take away from the Bible in how we preach, or how we present salvation to a new believer. How ordering a coffee can be like ordering a church in every size and color to meet our wants, but then we are not really looking for church are we?  Or are we?

You can make your coffee to taste like whatever you like, but is it then coffee?

You can make the word of God say whatever you like, but is it then the word of God?

Is it time to start ordering your coffee black?  Is it time to start looking around in Starbucks instead of at the menu board?  Is it time to drink a coffee for what it is?  A bitter tasting, but warming and energizing substance to be taken in and savored?

Lets go for coffee...

Train up a child in the way she should go: and when she is old, she will not depart from it. (Prov. 22:6)  

Feeling quite out of bodyish at the moment leading up to Tuesday.  I remember in the worst times wishing for this day to arrive, and now that it is almost here, and I have had the best summer EVER I am anticipating each moment that will lead up to it.  Wanting to have a mental memory frame by frame to halt and slow it all down... back it up, slow it down.

That world can be so big and mean.  I want to hover and hold and cuddle into that everlasting love... but this is not my lifelong job.  I'm not sure God is best glorified in my moments of closed hands, holding onto the ones he gives instead of releasing them to be blessed and bless others.

How could I have known in my worst moments with them that I would be having this moment so quickly? I gasp as if to recover the last breath wasted in my worst moments.  I gasp because I'm desperate for their little minds to know that I did in fact give my all, even when my all didn't seem to quite hit the mark.

In my spirit we we always have the past and this summer. In the future, just as I have discovered with God, I will learn new things of them.  How to surrender between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm two lives just beginning...  Ah, and yet the Lord knows.  He knows.  

My babies are off to the bus, off to the classroom, off to the fallen world of my only Lord.  From inside of the house the moment my hand touches the door, their keys unlock my heart.  How long will I be able to hold them in, snuggle them close enough to know it is time for a bath again:)? 

All my babies... All of the Lords babies... and for every moment forward, open hands and opens arms.  Please pray for moms like me that may struggle the first day of school...

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

~Jesus (Matt. 9:10-14)

As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.

~Samuel (1 Sam. 12:23)

It is tempting to just stay with "our own" and not venture outside of our small circle of influence. I'm not sure we are called to just stick with our own. As God builds you up, remember that part of your walk is to share about the hope you have in Christ Jesus, always being prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

Jesus came for the sick. A part of our life must be to shine His bright light into dark places, no matter the cost. Give mercy... and Father, with face to the ground we ask for you to have mercy on us.

North America is one of the largest missions fields in the world today. Having more is reaping less. I am ashamed to say I don't always do my part, take up my cross, take His yoke upon me. Not a moment should go by that we are not desperate for people to be saved from their Hell and brought into the light. What will you sacrifice to be known by our Lord? What will it take for Him to be known through you, through you to others?

Remember that the New Testament was written to new believers. Everyone else was rebuked or corrected in their unbelief. Some of us choose to be the "everyone else"... the New Testament kicks my tired, searching in other places for something I don't need butt all over the place. People that do not believe in Jesus have no foundation or understanding of why you do what you do. Always point them to God in their questions, in the answers. Do not think that you will not be called out if you do not do this. It may not be today, but your life will go on so much longer after you die.

The beauty of a new Believer. A baby in the family of Christ Jesus... the innocence, the wondering questions, the longing for more, milk then solids... Be part of that for someone, for the masses... for whatever you are called to be obedient to.

"I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God." Luke 12:8

Father help each one of us carry the burden of the cross with us daily, in whatever way we have been called. Help us to be obedient, help us to take your yoke upon us and learn from you. In these horrible times may we cling to you for living water that you give us and never thirst again.