Step by step, one foot in front of the other. I follow his lead with my hand resting gently in his. I hear a click and there's a brief squeak as he ushers me through the golden front door. And then we stop and as I gaze upon my new surroundings I hear a faint click as I recognize the sound of a lock falling into place. I find myself in a beautiful hallway with cream colored trimmings and soft purple walls, the color of royalty. Yes, I am in the hallway of a home belonging to royalty. There are beautiful paintings and verses filled with promise and hope. There is even a marble staircase on the right side that leads up to another hallway. There are magnificent flowing tapestries upon the front windows.
As I'm exploring I feel the familiar presence of my guide. No, not my guide. My Prince. His title is marked by the crown of thorns around his head. His hands seek mine in his once more, and he looks at me with a smile that radiates pure love.
"My dear princess," he says, "I must leave you here for now, but before I go I must explain. This is the house of your life. You have been faithful and given all you are and all you have to me, and so the time has come for me to bring you here. However, only this hallway is ready for you. I must go ahead and prepare each room of the house, and I will bring it to you when it is complete and ready for your presence. You are safe here. Do not be afraid when robbers bang on the door and try to get in. Trust that I have taken every precaution for your safety. While you may not see me for a little while, I am always with you and will always fight for you, you need only be still. All I ask for is your trust. I can hardly wait to see your face light up as I show you what I have prepared for you! So now, my beautiful bride, it is time for me to go. I will see you soon." And with a kiss on my forehead he's gone.
Who am I that my Prince Jesus has prepared a house of royalty for me? I never dreamed I would be led here! I begin to explore and walk around the hallway. It is only now that I realize the doors around me. All of the doors have a golden label, and some of them have words etched into the precious metal. I walk past a door that reads "Calling", and another that reads "Moving Out", and yet another that reads "Marriage". I try to open the third door but it will not open. That room is not ready for me yet. Other doors have only a few letters etched in so I can not make out their titles. I realize that behind each door my Prince is preparing the room for me, and I am filled with excitement and try to imagine what incredible things I will find behind the door. I know he will not open a single door until that room is ready for me. Oh how I long to walk through each door, but I know that I don't want to walk through a single door with any baggage, with any emotion that will hinder me from taking in the fullness of the room. I only want to walk through the doors with a joyous, grateful, praising heart.
When I get up I walk to the very last door in the hallway, directly opposite the first door Jesus and I came through. This golden label reads "Everlasting Life", and I realize that the view behind this door will be the greatest of them all, the one that will take the most time to prepare. Oh who am I that the heavenly prince would love me, save me, and prepare a lovely home for me! I have done nothing to earn this gift. I turn and find two magnificent paintings on the wall. The first features my Prince bloody and weak nailed to a cross. A reminder of the price that was paid, how great my Prince's love for me is. The second painting features an empty tomb with white cloth draped over stone upon which his body once lay. It is the reminder of his triumph, the victory. And it is through both of these paintings that I realize why I am here. Nothing I have done, other than taking the hand of my Prince, has brought me here. It was all him.
I begin to sing and hear my song echo off the walls with such grace. My joy leads me to dance, and I spin around like a young girl in a new dress and laugh as I fall down dizzy. And with a deep breath I whisper the words, "Thank you Jesus!"
I walk up the marble staircase and see a magnificent mirror with words written on the frame. The words read "Encourager" "Supporter" "Captivating" "Loved" "Compassionate" "Daring" "Nurturer" "Joy" "Pure" "Blameless" and "Princess". Below the large mirror is a small table upon which sits a beautiful glittering crown, a princess crown. No, my crown. I gently place the crown upon my head and gaze in the mirror as I see myself in a brand new and altogether lovely way!
Oh how loved I am!
Friday, November 14, 2014
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Let It Go
When thinking about this post, no other three words seemed like a better fit. And if you're anything like me, when you read this a certain Disney song popped into your head. And if you're exactly like me, you probably started singing it! These three words, however, were the main message of this morning's service at my church. It spoke about letting go of our fear of the consequences of truth, however I actually only remember a skit that was performed near the end.
In this skit it featured a man in a business suit looking very aggravated and walking at a hurried pace. He walked right past another man who was sitting eating his McDonald's on a park bench. The man on the bench asked if the businessman was leaving work early, to which the response was that he was and added that he'd been having a tough year. After taking a phone call that added to the businessman's aggravation, he came to sit down by the man sitting on the bench. After some conversation the businessman revealed his struggles with a man at work and a meeting that he had that didn't go so well. The man on the bench said that one of the businessman's coworkers was having a tough time with some things and maybe he could be shown understanding and patience. He also added that the businessman could have taken a different approach in the meeting. The businessman looked confused. The man on the bench was not in his meeting, how did he know these things? After revealing some more details to him, the businessman was thoroughly bewildered. Then, as a test, the businessman asked a question to which the answer was very personal, "In 7th grade I had a crush on this girl and I wrote her a note asking if she liked me and for her to check 'Yes' 'No' or 'Maybe'. What did I write this note on?" The man on the bench answered that he had written it on a wrapper. The businessman smiled in relief and announced that something else had been used, not the wrapper, for his note. The man on the bench countered saying that that was his second draft of the same note, the first draft had been written on the wrapper. He then added, "And I remember how hurt you were when she checked 'No' and how you yelled at me." At this point the businessman realized that he was speaking with God and was amazed. He came to sit on the bench where God asked him about all the different things in his life. His money, his car, and then his job. The businessman realized that God was asking him to give these things into God's hands. At the mention of his job the businessman became reluctant saying that he somehow needed to provide for his family, but finally handed it over in the form of his briefcase. Then God asked about the man's family. The man showed Him a picture as he beamed proudly, which quickly turned into a deep frown when he realized that God was asking for this too. The man took a lot longer with this, it was his family, his flesh and blood, something he poured a lot of love into. Finally, the man tearfully handed God his family in the form of the picture. Then the man became angry, saying that God now had everything and he was scared. Then God said, "Not everything". The man realized that God wanted him to hand over his life. This took the longest of all, the man had given up everything else he had to God, and now God wanted him as well. The look on the man's face showed that he thought God was asking too much. He asked what God could possibly want with him, what He could possibly do with his life. God responded, "You'll be amazed." Finally the man gave his life up to God and came to sit beside him on the bench once more. Then he started laughing realizing that he already felt better. And then something amazing happened. God handed him everything back. His briefcase, his car, his money, his family. The man was confused. God said, "Remember, they all belong to me. And I'm trusting them to you." As God got up to leave the man asked what he should do with everything given to him. God responded, "Check in with me and I'll tell you."
So what does this beautiful skit have to do with anything? When we come into a relationship with God we need to realize that God doesn't just want to save us and cleanse us of our sins. He wants all of us, and He can only have that if we surrender control over the things we love and give that to Him.
God has asked me to do this several times in my life. When I surrendered my life to Christ He asked me to give my family and my future to Him. I struggled, but I surrendered them. When I was struggling with teaching God asked me to give my career life over to Him. At that point I didn't know what else to do so I gladly gave it into the arms of God. And then God asked me to hand over a man I loved, a man I was engaged to, and asked me to trust Him. I struggled a lot with this one but eventually I surrendered. And God has blessed me abundantly for each surrender even though I was terrified. I thought I had given everything over to God, and then He shocked me once more. After this morning's service I saw my dear friend and mentor and went down to visit her. We talked about the service and I told her about my experience at the retreat I went on with the high schoolers. I confessed to her that part of my struggle had come because I felt like God was asking me to give up my dreams of being a wife and mother, dreams that I'd had as a young girl and then given up in my teenage years because I lost hope as the world told me I wasn't beautiful and I wondered how anyone could love me for the rest of my life, no one was even that interested. After I came to Christ pst-college, my hope for marriage was sparked once more. And after my broken engagement it was this hope which I clung to, that someday God would bring the right man into my life to be my husband. I had been praying for this man and writing him letters and working to live my life in a way that would bring both him and God joy. When I felt like God was asking me to give all this up I freaked out. After the retreat I concluded that that was not it, it couldn't be. After I told my friend this she asked me, "Could you give up your dream of marriage?" I stood there stunned. I said, "I can't see how God wouldn't have a husband for me." My friend responded, "That's not what I asked. Could you give up your dream of marriage to God?" I squirmed, "I feel like this is a desire of my heart, I feel like He's been preparing me for it." Once again my friend asked, "Will you give you your desire for marriage to God? Is God enough for you?" I felt like I was the man in the skit talking to God when asked to give up his family. My life had been easy to give up, and now God was asking for my deepest desire, my strongest dream, the hope that had been keeping me alive. And I wrestled, I clung, and then finally released. "Yes, I give it up to Him," I finally said. My friend smiled and asked to pray with me, and I felt lighter! Don't get me wrong, I'm still terrified, but I also realize that as in the skit, God could hand my dream back to me, He may still give me what I desired, but only if it fits into His plan. And now I fully trust that His plans are better than my own. God has rewarded me for my obedience, for releasing everything up to Him, and I know He will continue to. And as was said in the skit, when asked what God could do with me, God is saying, "You'll be amazed!"
So this morning God once more asked me to "Let It Go", and I look in joyful expectation for what He will do!
If God is asking you to let go of something, take the time to pray and consider, but I hope you'll give it up to Him. He loves you and He cares so much about you. Our control holds us back from living the life we were meant to and the stress overpowers us. He can take the load, and He's the most careful and trustworthy being there is. I pray that you listen to this song and feel God's love rush upon you. Surrender to Him and you won't be disappointed!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkDqQtfs0w
In this skit it featured a man in a business suit looking very aggravated and walking at a hurried pace. He walked right past another man who was sitting eating his McDonald's on a park bench. The man on the bench asked if the businessman was leaving work early, to which the response was that he was and added that he'd been having a tough year. After taking a phone call that added to the businessman's aggravation, he came to sit down by the man sitting on the bench. After some conversation the businessman revealed his struggles with a man at work and a meeting that he had that didn't go so well. The man on the bench said that one of the businessman's coworkers was having a tough time with some things and maybe he could be shown understanding and patience. He also added that the businessman could have taken a different approach in the meeting. The businessman looked confused. The man on the bench was not in his meeting, how did he know these things? After revealing some more details to him, the businessman was thoroughly bewildered. Then, as a test, the businessman asked a question to which the answer was very personal, "In 7th grade I had a crush on this girl and I wrote her a note asking if she liked me and for her to check 'Yes' 'No' or 'Maybe'. What did I write this note on?" The man on the bench answered that he had written it on a wrapper. The businessman smiled in relief and announced that something else had been used, not the wrapper, for his note. The man on the bench countered saying that that was his second draft of the same note, the first draft had been written on the wrapper. He then added, "And I remember how hurt you were when she checked 'No' and how you yelled at me." At this point the businessman realized that he was speaking with God and was amazed. He came to sit on the bench where God asked him about all the different things in his life. His money, his car, and then his job. The businessman realized that God was asking him to give these things into God's hands. At the mention of his job the businessman became reluctant saying that he somehow needed to provide for his family, but finally handed it over in the form of his briefcase. Then God asked about the man's family. The man showed Him a picture as he beamed proudly, which quickly turned into a deep frown when he realized that God was asking for this too. The man took a lot longer with this, it was his family, his flesh and blood, something he poured a lot of love into. Finally, the man tearfully handed God his family in the form of the picture. Then the man became angry, saying that God now had everything and he was scared. Then God said, "Not everything". The man realized that God wanted him to hand over his life. This took the longest of all, the man had given up everything else he had to God, and now God wanted him as well. The look on the man's face showed that he thought God was asking too much. He asked what God could possibly want with him, what He could possibly do with his life. God responded, "You'll be amazed." Finally the man gave his life up to God and came to sit beside him on the bench once more. Then he started laughing realizing that he already felt better. And then something amazing happened. God handed him everything back. His briefcase, his car, his money, his family. The man was confused. God said, "Remember, they all belong to me. And I'm trusting them to you." As God got up to leave the man asked what he should do with everything given to him. God responded, "Check in with me and I'll tell you."
So what does this beautiful skit have to do with anything? When we come into a relationship with God we need to realize that God doesn't just want to save us and cleanse us of our sins. He wants all of us, and He can only have that if we surrender control over the things we love and give that to Him.
God has asked me to do this several times in my life. When I surrendered my life to Christ He asked me to give my family and my future to Him. I struggled, but I surrendered them. When I was struggling with teaching God asked me to give my career life over to Him. At that point I didn't know what else to do so I gladly gave it into the arms of God. And then God asked me to hand over a man I loved, a man I was engaged to, and asked me to trust Him. I struggled a lot with this one but eventually I surrendered. And God has blessed me abundantly for each surrender even though I was terrified. I thought I had given everything over to God, and then He shocked me once more. After this morning's service I saw my dear friend and mentor and went down to visit her. We talked about the service and I told her about my experience at the retreat I went on with the high schoolers. I confessed to her that part of my struggle had come because I felt like God was asking me to give up my dreams of being a wife and mother, dreams that I'd had as a young girl and then given up in my teenage years because I lost hope as the world told me I wasn't beautiful and I wondered how anyone could love me for the rest of my life, no one was even that interested. After I came to Christ pst-college, my hope for marriage was sparked once more. And after my broken engagement it was this hope which I clung to, that someday God would bring the right man into my life to be my husband. I had been praying for this man and writing him letters and working to live my life in a way that would bring both him and God joy. When I felt like God was asking me to give all this up I freaked out. After the retreat I concluded that that was not it, it couldn't be. After I told my friend this she asked me, "Could you give up your dream of marriage?" I stood there stunned. I said, "I can't see how God wouldn't have a husband for me." My friend responded, "That's not what I asked. Could you give up your dream of marriage to God?" I squirmed, "I feel like this is a desire of my heart, I feel like He's been preparing me for it." Once again my friend asked, "Will you give you your desire for marriage to God? Is God enough for you?" I felt like I was the man in the skit talking to God when asked to give up his family. My life had been easy to give up, and now God was asking for my deepest desire, my strongest dream, the hope that had been keeping me alive. And I wrestled, I clung, and then finally released. "Yes, I give it up to Him," I finally said. My friend smiled and asked to pray with me, and I felt lighter! Don't get me wrong, I'm still terrified, but I also realize that as in the skit, God could hand my dream back to me, He may still give me what I desired, but only if it fits into His plan. And now I fully trust that His plans are better than my own. God has rewarded me for my obedience, for releasing everything up to Him, and I know He will continue to. And as was said in the skit, when asked what God could do with me, God is saying, "You'll be amazed!"
So this morning God once more asked me to "Let It Go", and I look in joyful expectation for what He will do!
If God is asking you to let go of something, take the time to pray and consider, but I hope you'll give it up to Him. He loves you and He cares so much about you. Our control holds us back from living the life we were meant to and the stress overpowers us. He can take the load, and He's the most careful and trustworthy being there is. I pray that you listen to this song and feel God's love rush upon you. Surrender to Him and you won't be disappointed!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkDqQtfs0w
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