Morning Serenade

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Awake, My child, My love.
I have sustained you through the night.
Look! The dawn is breaking and full of new mercies.
Sing and rejoice with Me for your life.
What joy I have in you!

Awake and bathe in My unfailing love.
Soak in it!
Let me shower you in My grace, O little one, and wrap you in My righteousness.
I have exchanged your rags for fine linens.
You are beautiful to Me!

Awake, apple of My eye, and behold what I have for you.
There is much I desire to give.
I offer you My strength and peace for the day.
My hand is open to you as the satisfier of all your needs; the answer to the desires of Your heart.
Seek Me. Ask Me. Depend on Me.

Awake to the fragrance of My love.
Draw near to Me.
Dwell in My safety.
Walk in the Light of My presence.
Dance in My freedom.

Awake! Rise!
Come to life!
I breathe My Spirit, the most intimate part of Me, into you.
I am with you, now and forever.
With long life I will satisfy you and show you My salvation!
Awake, My child, My love.

The Lover of My Soul

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I have a Lover. From every mountaintop I will declare it. I have a Lover! I am a lover. I am loved and love.

We unite as only lovers can, simultaneously giving and receiving. My offering is meager compared to His, but He accepts me with such compassion. The softness of His eyes for me reveals it all. We are committed. Growing in union. He knows me and consumes me. I give Him everything. Nothing hidden.

All of our senses are caressed by the other: I, a fragrant aroma to Him; He, the Majesty before my eyes. Weak-kneed, His beauty overwhelms me. My spirit breathes deeply in His Presence and my entire body responds in worship. I fall to His feet in awe.

O to say aloud: my Beloved is mine and I am His. My unending desire. My prize. The reason I was made. How my soul longs for more of Him. What joy! What purpose I have! Love created me to love; to love Him, above all.

I have a Lover. He is the Lover of my soul. He knows my most intimate thoughts and all my ways. Past, present, and future. Fully known and fully loved. His grace washes over me. His love purifies and cleanses me. I am whole with the Lover of my soul.

What excites me most is the pleasure He takes in the love I offer. I am His lover! He calls me by name. He calls me in the nighttime and leads me to His refuge. He calls me when the sun is high and leads me to His well. My Beloved, who never leaves me, His desire is for me. I feel the warmth of His breath as He whispers, “You are altogether beautiful, my darling, And there is no blemish in you.”

I have a Lover. My heart overflows. How can He love me? I can hardly believe He chose me! He wants me! I lift up my head and open the door to my heart and soul. I open the door to my Beloved knocking. Come in, O Radiant One. Come in, O King. Come in, O Lover of my soul. Remain with me. Help me remain with You, my greatest desire and satisfier of all my needs. I am Yours.

An Image of Worship

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Standing.
Arms outstretched.
Awaiting Your Presence.
This is my expression of worship.

Head bowed.
Eyes closed.
I’m on my knees.
This is my posture of worship.

You caress all of my senses.
How can I stand?
I dare not move.
Consumed by the flame of Your glory.

Tears streaming.
Heart engaged.
Communion.
This is my offering of worship: all of me.

Thoughts from the Bride

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Below are a collection of thoughts I had while meditating on “the Bride of Christ”. What could be more romantic?! Lover and beloved united. I am His bride and I rejoice as He rejoices over me! No matter the darkness that surrounds me, the Light of His Love is unfailing and always leads me deeper into His arms. There is no other place I long for more. O, how I love Him!

He left His Father’s house in search of me. 
In search of me, He came.   
He has come. He is coming!
I see Him on the horizon, shining. 
Shining for me. 
O, how I love Him.

He asks for my hand and offers me His name. 
To me! To me, He gives Himself. 
I say yes! I say I do!
I am His. His bride.
Together we dance and sing. 
O, how I love Him and He me.

I rejoice greatly in My Lord. 
My soul exults Him. 
He clothes me in garments of His salvation. 
He wraps me in His robe of righteousness. 
I am clean, pure, dressed in white. I am redeemed. 
O, how I love Him!

The perfection of His love casts out all fear. 
Building myself on His faith, I remain. 
His love sustains me. 
And He who is able, keeps me from stumbling.
I stand on His arm with great joy, blameless in His glory. 
O, how I love Him and He me!

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In His Strength, I rest.
Eternity’s song on my lips. 
Shine in me, O Radiant One!
Send me, O Merciful One!
I will proclaim Your name and unending grace!

I declare to the nations: You are My Father, my Brother. 
My Husband, my Lover. 
My Protector, my Provider
My Creator, my Healer. 
My Savior, my Redeemer. 

You are the Lion, the Lamb.
The Sacrifice for all.
Raised from the dead. 
You are the Living God. 
You are Life Eternal. 

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How freely You give Yourself to me!
How freely to all.
I stretch out my arms. Come, O Holy One. 
Live in me. Teach me Your Ways. 
O, how I love You!

For My Brother’s Wedding

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Last week, I had the great honor of reading the below untitled exploration of Love at my brother’s wedding. I’m so proud of the man he is becoming! When my brother first asked me to read something at his wedding, I felt a near panic!! As a single woman who has never been married, I cannot know personally the ins and outs of marriage. What would I read?! After weeks of procrastination, it occurred to me that though I may not have personal experience with marriage and intimate relationship, I have personal experience and intimacy with God, who is my Husband and Lover, as the Scriptures describe. I began to jot down notes based on my knowledge of Him, who is Love. What you read below is the result of those notes. I know God has oceans more of Himself to share with me. May He always find me willing to seek out the depths of His majesty and grace. And may He bless my brother and his new wife through the revelation of Himself in their relationship.

In the beginning, there was Love.

Love transcends time and conquers death. It was the beginning.

Love is more than a moment, a passing feeling of passion. It extends to the depths of our souls; the foundation of our being.
It is life.
It is eternity.
The reason we were made; the reason we live.

By design, we long for the intimacy of another. After all, “It is not good for humankind to be alone.” We were created for partnership. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one. . .Naked and unashamed.” Two, intertwined. Inseparable. No longer “I” or “You”. Only “We” and “Our”.
Love is relationship.
Love is together.
Love is unity.

Love is purposed for expression. Not restraint or confinement. Love soars on the wings of freedom. It is to be given and received simultaneously. Not earned or bought or paid back, but lived.
A choice.
A commitment.
A promise.

Love raises a white flag to let go of pride.
It stands at the door and asks you to stay.
It surrenders,
Yet fights for the other.
Love gives itself away.

Love is arms wide open, never closing. Never turning away. Love whispers in your ear, “You are mine. I am yours. I am here. I will be your shield in time of need. I will be your armor-bearer. I will lift you above the crowd so you can see. I will support your arms when they become heavy. I will carry your burdens. I will be your companion. I will protect you from the storms. I will walk with you through the fires. I will catch your tears and lead you to safety. I will live so you can shine.”

When all else fails, when all others disappoint, when the grave beckons, Love will remain.

In the end, there is only Love.

A Personal Note of Devotion and Awe

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God first imparted His breath. It should have been enough, but humanity fell. Not wanting to be apart from His Creation, He gave His only Son. Then, he gave His Spirit. He has given all of Himself to us that He made.

He gave His breath before we knew sin. He gave His Son while we were in sin. He gives His Spirit even as we continue to sin. This is grace. This is the love of God. Unmatchable!

Morning Dream

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What a clear, crisp, and beautiful morning! I listen as the birds sing. I listen intently for the Living God. I look around and cannot escape His presence or His provision. Almighty God, how I hunger for more of You and yet You are everywhere. As David says, “You have enclosed me behind and before and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is too high. I cannot attain to it” (Psalm 139:5-6, NASB).

My Lord, who knows all things about me and loves me all the more, visits my morning dreams so that He is first in my thoughts when I wake. What love is this! What desire! How unworthy I am. His pursuit of me is incomprehensible. How can I run? How can I hide from this great love? I turn with arms wide open and whisper—for He is so close—“here I am. Have Your way.”

In my morning dream, I dove into the warmth of a salty sea. God was the sea. How vast, how deep and wide! I felt safe (I know this was God because water is not my friend!!). I was held in His strength; His intimate embrace. Carried. Tickled by the playful waves and bubbles around me. Consumed by His touch. Every part of me known, nothing hidden. Washed. Purified. Behold, the depths were unending. Deep called and beckoned me deeper. Oxygen was never a thought or an issue as my focus was on Him. I went farther and farther still never losing sight of Who was before me. The deeper I went, that is the deeper He carried me, the more like Him I became. The water and I were merging; we were becoming one. I, in Him and He, in me. Carried to the depths of His great love.

Light in My Darkness

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I am now convinced that Your nearness, O God, is the reason You whisper. What need have You to speak above the gentleness of Your breath when You are so close? In the silence, Your voice is comforting company. In the busyness,  it is peace and calm. Truly, where can I go from Your Presence? You triumphantly reveal that as I call upon You and pray, You listen. Thank you! I seek You and I find You when I search from the depths of my heart (Jeremiah 29:12-13). Behold, there You are waiting for me to look up. I am looking up.

In this season of loneliness, I rejoice to discover just how near and present You are, O God of my redemption. How wonderful is the One who takes me in! Who does not abandon nor forsake me. Who is “a shield about me. My glory and the One who lifts my head” (Psalm 3:3). You continuously remind me who I am: a daughter of the Living God.

Though I feel the great pain of loss and sometimes struggle to breathe in the loneliness, my love and hope in You is unwavering. Your Word has never been more comforting and reliable. I am growing in greater knowledge of the mysteries of God, namely the beauty of grace. As I walk through this valley of deep darkness and death, I am amazed by the life that is sprouting within me. How can there be life in death? But this is the Gospel of Jesus who conquered death! As the man after God’s heart declares, “darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day” (Psalm 139:12). Therefore, I must declare with great praise that my darkness is Light and Jesus is the source of my life.

Renouncing the Care of Ourselves

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I love those moments while reading when the words or an idea just jumps off the page! This morning I was reading excerpts from Life and Teachings by Catherine of Genoa (a text I plan to purchase in the near future!). Catherine briefly describes this idea of “renouncing the care of ourselves to God.” I read this passage a couple of times wanting to grasp its full significance and I’m confident it will inhabit my meditations for sometime.

How often, in the most holy of causes, do we wrestle with sin (temptations, imperfections) in our own will and strength? It’s through the love of God and His Holy Spirit that we are able to recognize and find conviction; yet, how often do we attempt to deal with it by human means! The desire is noble, but so human. Our Great God must look upon us and chuckle. I imagine there is also a brokenness as He whispers, “my child, let Me help you.” The revelation of sin is supernatural; therefore, the answer, the remedy, the transformation must also be supernatural. Let go caring for yourself, prompts Catherine. Trust your care into the arms of Christ. It is He that leads us to perfection.

Psalm 100:3 – Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Perspectives 7: On Devotion

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For these weeks that I have been studying the letters of Bro. Lawrence and the writings of other early Christian writers, I have pondered in awe over their experiences that led to such devotion for the One, True God. (Spending much time in Asia among polytheism and animism the reference to God as the “One, True God” holds special significance to me. It is one of the truest Truths I know.) Devotion. This word possesses a power capable of penetrating the soul. The very image and nature of devotion has alighted my spirit this morning as I sit in meditation on the God of Love, the God who creates the stars in the heavens, the mountains of the earth, and the depths of the oceans. Of all His wonders, it is hard to fathom that I, so unworthy and ungrateful, draw His attention. Not only does He answer when I call, but He draws heartily near. What a gift is His sweet Presence!

Perhaps over these past weeks of study I have been too focused on the mere (I daresay worthless) act of devotion and have given far too little attention to the object of devotion. I confess a bit of shame here. Odd that one seeking a greater level of intimacy with Divine Majesty would focus more on the path than the prize! Alas, this is human nature – a nature of works and human effort. Grace. Today, however, I taste a new freedom in devotion: God, Himself.

It is liberating! I am removed and only He exists. The troubles and cares of this world fade away and my inner soul is filled and consumed by Love. As Bro. Lawrence might say, I am practicing the presence of God. It is a practice, a discipline, a developing habit. By no means is the study I endeavor a waste, though for many days at a time, weeks even, I feel I have made little progress. I will press on. . .”so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12 – the namesake of my blog). I am in pursuit.

And I make it my business only to persevere in His holy presence, wherein I keep myself by a simple attention, and a general fond regard to GOD, which I may call an actual presence of GOD; or, to speak better, an habitual, silent and secret conversation of the soul with GOD. . .Bro. Lawrence