Shaken...not stirred

The other night, after a long day of work, baseball, supper, clean-up and getting the kids to bed, Lisa and I finally had some time to ourselves. Now, before the move and the wedding, our daily contact was by phone when we would talk for a couple hours each night. Now, however, our talking is spread out over the 6 to 11pm hours and we’re discovering that we miss that concentrated talk time…anyway, I digress…So, we read a devotional, talked about our day and well, basically chatted like we used to. And during this seemingly mundane act of communication, Lisa took a bottle of lotion and taking one hand at a time, rubbed lotion into my hands. I turned my head and looked at her and what I saw there in her eyes…in that moment…stunned me. I saw complete and unfettered love and devotion. I am an ‘eye’ person, always have been. I look into people’s eyes when I talk and observe them and most of the time am able to discern a great deal and so, I have seen many things throughout my 45 years, but never that! If I would have been standing, I am positive I would have crumpled to the floor. It humbled me and shook me to my core…there I was, imperfect, fault ridden and yet that didn’t matter to her. In her eyes, I am a hero…I am her husband. It was simply one of the most incredible things I’ve ever received.

I wonder if that’s the way we’ll feel when we see Jesus look upon us. A love so deep, a happiness so complete and a pride so encompassing that we’ll be too taken a-back, too moved with emotion to turn our face’s away. Our eyes drop to the ground as our minds try to fathom just how we ever came to deserve that type of look from the Son of God.

God With US ~ Mercy Me
Who are we--- that You would be mindful of us?
What do You see--- that's worth looking our way?
We are free--- in ways that we never should be.
Sweet release--- from the grip of these chains.
Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing.
All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.
My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.
Lord, You know--- our hearts don't deserve Your glory;
Still You show--- a love we cannot afford.
Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing.
All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.
My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.
Such a tiny offering
Compared to Calvary;
Nevertheless,We lay it at Your feet.
Such a tiny offering
Compared to Calvary;
Nevertheless,We lay this at Your feet.
All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.
My heart sings a brand new song.
My debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

~ V

Dangerously Bold

For the past two Sundays, pastor Sonny has been teaching about dangerous prayer. You know, the type of prayer that if it is in accordance with God’s will, might actually require something of you! Some examples would be: ‘Father, change me’ or as Jesus aguishly prayed in the garden ‘…yet, not my will, but Yours be done’. Quite often, dangerous prayers will enact a change in us or may require us to step outside of our comfort zones and safety nets. And I find that they always require the complete surrender of our will and/or situation to Him. In the past, when you have prayed (and I know all of us have), ‘God, use me’ did you really mean it? Such a simple three word prayer, but OH how dangerous! When truly meant, it gives God unrestricted access to move us in ways and put us in situations that may very well be extremely dangerous or not to our fleshly liking, but will bring Him honor and glory.

From prayers about my kids and my job, to pleading with God to heal my heart and to bring someone into my life who could love me for who I am, I’ve been praying some pretty dangerous prayers for the better part of a year and a half now. The one thing that I’ve learned is this; God rarely calls us into something that’s safe and comfortable. However, when God wants to use me, He will provide the strength, wisdom and resources needed to finish the work He set before me. God won’t ever use you for His purposes and stop when the task gets difficult or quit with the task half done. I know this is true because Philippians 1:6 say so, ‘being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’ And Hebrews 13:21 says this, ‘equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.’

As those of you who read this BLOG knows, I’ve been decidedly absent…since the last time I blogged, Brittany has graduated, we’ve moved two houses, I’ve started a new job and Lisa and I were married! Both Lisa and I have prayed some pretty bold prayers and God has answered in very bold ways, but we haven’t stopped there! We are trying to instill daily bible reading and prayer with our kids as well. Honestly, it’s been a struggle as baseball or late suppers or any of a number of distractions try and interrupt this time, but we’re not giving up!

Hebrews 4: 15 says, ‘Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’

God wants us to come to Him, not as a meek and frightened child, but with confidence and boldness.

What have you boldly and dangerously prayed today?

~ V