Atlanta, I hear you calling…

Twenty-six. 

That’s how old I’ll be in…. oh, now :)  Hard to believe I’ve been traversing this world for over a quarter-century.  Last year’s birthday hit home because suddenly I wasn’t in my “early 20′s” anymore!  Whoa no, overnight I reached this big milestone where: I hit my quarter-life crisis, was officially of “car renting” age, and fun, frivolous thinking was abruptly replaced with Roth IRAs and political jargon.  I know, weird!  

So here I am overlooking the last 26 years of my life….. realizing how far I’ve come.  That’s what this past week has been for me: A review of the past, with a brand-spankin new perspective.  And yes, I’m lovin it!  I’ve found myself looking thru pages & pages of old journals, letters & notes long forgotten, mementos of school years far removed from my current life. 

So…. why?  Why the sudden need to go thru my old junk? 

Well, because I’m MOVING this weekend of course ~ moving to a brand-new place, a new state, a huge city, a situation I’ve never found myself in before.  Yes, I’m gonna be a Peach! 

So many new beginnings this week: a mega-important birthday, saying goodbye to my beach-hoppin Floridian life, no longer welcoming Georgia from a distance but now greeting it from a half-week’s length.  It’s touchable, that’s how close I am.  The long wait is nearly over. 

The Big Peach

This situation begs the question: Am I ready?  That’s what I’ve been ruminating over.  Then my alter ego kicks in, asking Au contraire, Is Atlanta ready for me?!  I wonder… where will I fit in?  What will my place be?  One thing I’m certain of: I’ll love it! 

I cannot wait to explore the city, to take in the winding tree-lined streets, to run through the hills!, to breathe the cooler air & watch the leaves change this fall, to wade through the traffic (hah!), to shop my heart out at Trader Joe’s (Florida, you need to hop on that train!), to have my independence and be able to set my own schedule apart from fam.  To live as a young adult for the first time, well, ever.  Free as a jaybird. 

Why yes, I’d say I’m ready.  Atlanta, I’m here to shake your hand.  I’ll see you soon, Satur-soon.

Rwanda

Wisdom from my Dad, from a recent email, concerning efforts in Rwanda to reconcile its two tribes after 1994′s civil war:

“… it is quite clear to me that the common thread of forgivness and reconciliation can defuse the problems of any country or people group. I think we all need to consider this and see what the Lord’s will is in all this.”

Amen!

JOY of Salvation!

“Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15)

“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3)

You need not understand all the doctrines of atonement, reconciliation, propitiation, grace, sanctification, etc.  All you need to know in order to live joyfully unto the Lord is this one foundational truth: GOD WAS COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH CHRIST’S SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS!

It was all that was needed!  God now willingly—joyfully—forgives all who repent.

To not rejoice in Christ’s forgiveness is to doubt His full payment of our sins!  Let the Spirit give you an understanding of this truth—we are called to liberty.  God wants us to have an abundance of joy, a joy that is full and complete.  Pressed down and running over! 

He yearns to be enjoyed by His saints:

“That they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13)

“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10)

~David Wilkerson

A Grading Scale for Pain?

Incredible article on pain, by Nathan Zacharias.  Check it out ~

Is There a Grading Scale for Pain? 
http://www.boundlessline.org/2009/08/is-there-a-grading-scale-for-pain.html

Blessings!
Summer

Grace for Our Brokenness

Joy Messer of Georgia wrote the blog excerpt below, sharing how the Biblical account of Mephibosheth shed light on her recovery from traumatic sexual abuse.  Her healing is remarkable and supernatural and reminded me of my own personal journey.  I hope this blesses you as well.  To read more from Joy, visit www.healingstreamforsurvivors.blogspot.com.

Following the death of King Saul, David became King, which meant that anyone who remained alive from the household of Saul would most likely be killed. In an attempt to preserve his life, Mephibosheth was carried away to a place called LoDebar.

During the course of King David’s reign, he inquired if anyone was yet alive from the household of Saul. He wanted to express kindness to a family member for the sake of his beloved friend, Jonathan. He was informed that Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s own son, was alive and living in LoDebar. David sent for him at once.

No doubt when the king’s soldiers knocked on the front door of Mephibosheth’s house, it struck a note of fear in his heart. Mephibosheth was brought before the king, thinking it would mean his death. He thought it was the end, but it was only the beginning of a new life for Mephibosheth. He was told that the king had prepared a special place for him to live and the he would eat all of his meals at the table of the King. Can you imagine? Eating daily at the King’s table! That’s a long way from LoDebar!

The thing that brought Mephibosheth out of hiding was grace. It was King David’s grace that was so richly lavished upon him. He had done nothing to earn the honor and position that was given to him. 

King David sent for Mephibosheth, just like Jesus sends for you and me. He calls us to come out of our hiding place and to be seated at the table of the King of Kings. Daughters of the King, dressed in robes of righteousness, sought out, sent for, and delivered from our own personal LoDebar.

I was just as fearful as Mephibosheth. When God’s grace comes and gets us, He gets behind our walls of fear, shame and self-protection and calls us to come out of our barrenness and brokenness. His grace covers our brokenness. The Father’s desire for us is to be whole, complete, lacking nothing. Never mind that we’ve been dropped and damaged. Never mind that we felt like we needed to hide ourselves away in secrecy and shame. Never mind. Grace covers it all!

The Daughter of the King of Everything!

From the pit to the palace, O Lord, can it be?
You touched my broken, bleeding heart and rescued me.

You bound up my wounds, healed all my disgrace.
You set my feet upon the earth’s high place.

You called me ‘daughter’!
The King of Everything

And I, Your daughter!

Father, I thank you for preserving this beautiful story of grace for us to discover in Your word. Thank you for healing our disgrace and removing us from our barren land of LoDebar. We know that in whatever valley we may find ourselves, You always know where we are and You are as close as the whisper of Your name. Thank you for allowing us to catch a glimpse of You. Amen.

When God “Orders Your Steps”

My good friend Dan Gore who started Destiny’s House Church here in Tampa Bay, Florida, wrote the following this past week.  I loved this and hope it sheds light on this journey with God we are both on:

Letter #37: 07/27/09
WHEN GOD ORDERS YOUR STEPS, IT WILL BE A GREATER ADVENTURE THAN HAD YOU DESIGNED/IMAGINED IT YOURSELF
PSALMS 143:8 “SHOW ME THE WAY THAT I SHOULD GO”
 
What a great question:  Which way should I go??  Any time you are perplexed; any time you are worried; any time you are trying to figure out the next step of your life’s journey, I want to encourage you to Go Ask God. Then listen for the answer.  Then write it down.
 
God is many things to us, but He is also the concerned parent.  We need merely to engage Him by faith with our plans & goals & dreams, and He will work with us to see them through. (Prov. 16:3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed).
Bible says He will even cause our thoughts and will to begin to line up with His. (Prov. 16:3 in Amplified version.)
 
Many Christians & Non-believers are missing this in their lives.  They don’t have the ability to see Him as a father/resource to ask advice and help from. This is why the bible addresses the “orphan spirit”.  I like to also call it a “hobo spirit”.  There is a wandering, directionless, purposeless, reactive approach that many have today.  Like a tumble-weed, they just go wherever the wind is blowing.  Then the years seem to blow right by, and they wonder in regret, as they are old and grey, if only they could do it over again.
 
It is possible that each new day brings a fresh new word of help from God, to you, in Real time, for the exact situations and needs you are facing. This comes by faith through the Spirit.  You have a choice – you can either open the letter for today or “return to sender” and miss it.  We miss this new letter each day that we fail to engage Him in this dialogue with the Holy Spirit. Don’t go it alone. Go Ask God. Go ask Him which way you should go, and He is more than eager to guide you down the most adventurous and blessed path.  New strategies, brilliant ideas, exciting new approaches, new witty inventions, confidence, validation, comfort, encouragement, power & promotion are all to be found in this unique dialogue with the Holy Spirit.  It concerns your future. Don’t neglect so great a resource & help.
 
How does this work?  Most effectively, I believe it comes through that quiet set-aside time in the Dialogue with the Holy Spirit.  Bible study is part of it; prayer time is part of it, but as we engage Him in real time, through worship, we will begin to hear him more and more distinctly & easily.  You will learn to distinguish His voice from your own thoughts. You will grow more familiar with how He speaks to you.  It will become easier…just keep practicing. Then keep a journal of what He says to you so you can go back and meditate.  God did not stop talking after the bible was written.  He is still talking!  Do you hear the sound frequency of the Spirit?  Listen… You will. 
 
I love how Psalms 32:8 says: “I will instruct you in the way you should go. I will counsel you and watch over you.”  Therefore there is no reason why Christians should be harassed by continuous stress & worry.  We have a Daddy who is no less interested in speaking success into our lives than we do our own children.  Have you considered that?