When it rains...

I had the exquisite honor and privilege to attend a women's retreat this past weekend. And I don't know what else to say except that I will never be the same.

I've heard story after story where God shows up in people's lives and orchestrates baffling events and situations that changes all kinds of things in the life of that person and sets their feet firmly on a new course. Yes...over and over...in the lives of countless others. And don't get me wrong, the Creator of the universe has nestled me securely in the palm of His hand as well and when I think back on all the things He has spared me from; and all the mercy and grace he's showered over me, I am grateful and humbled. And because of it, I spend a lot of time trying to convince precious friends how much He loves them and has a specific plan for them, and that He has not skipped them when passing out blessings. But I've always failed to believe that truth for myself. I mean I have believed it with my head, but my heart wasn't sold.

It is now.

And I can't explain it except that He orchestrated some baffling and highly personal events just for me last weekend. And now I am convinced...and the words of this song are the only words sufficient enough to explain...and even these words don't seem to be enough...

Free to Be Beautiful

I lived in a world made of tears

Afraid and abandoned contained by my fears

I was hurting and broken alone and believing

The worst about who I could be

But then Your love captured my heart

And you rescued me out of the dark

And I finally see the truth about everything

You see in me

(Chorus)

And I'm free to be beautiful

To spread my wings and to soar on the wind

Free to laugh loud

Free to love strong

Free to fly higher since You came along

And I'm free to be beautiful

You've opened the cage I was keeping me in

And everything's changed because

You made me see that I'm beautifully free

Now you have opened my eyes

I can see all the promise and reach for the skies

Be strong and courageous and smile at tomorrow

And all that I'm destined to be

I know I can dream for the best

You promised I have nothing less

And I am sure that nothing's impossible

When I believe

(Chorus)

I won't give in, I won't back down

I won't surrender or turn back around

I'll fly higher and higher

And dare to believe I can make it because I believe

If you think you've been skipped over by God, try your best to believe that you haven't been. Try your best to believe the things He took the time to spell out carefully and strategically in His Word that you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) He desperately wants you to know that He loves you...He has always loved you...He always will love you...He has never not loved you.

He may just be waiting for you to come to Him and empty your hands of whatever you are holding on to.

When it rains...it pours...

Hanging out in the shadows...

It's fitting that it rained today. Our parched, dry ground has needed it much like the parched, dry ground of my soul.

It's been one of those seasons where everything just feels blah to me. Nothing bad has happened. In fact...quite the opposite is true. We have moved into a beautiful house that is the perfect size and has the perfect color scheme that goes perfectly with our furniture. Summer is here and I'm off work. And I'm getting paid to wake up when I want, take little road trips here & there, bask in the sun by the pool, spend as much time as I need with God, meet friends for coffee and/or lunch, operate the remote at my leisure, and get lost in the romance of a chick flick whenever I want. So why the dry spell? Not sure, really. But what I do know is that it's not the first time it's happened, nor is it the last. And...it's not going to last forever. It's just a season. I'm finally learning that it's just part of the journey.

So. I woke up on this Monday morning and reached...first thing...for my iPhone. First to see what time it was. Then to see what God needed to say to me today. I was greeted by the little red 1 waiting patiently for me in the top right corner of my Fighter Verses app. It was letting me know that since today was Monday, it was time to memorize a new verse from God's Word. I'm always anxious to get a new verse because I've come to know that God highly personalizes His messages to me, so I always know that a new verse is meant just for the season or circumstance that I'm in and that I will need it at some point in the near future as part of my armor.

Monday, July 9th - Psalm 91:1-2
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

As a former English teacher, I can't help but take apart the verse to understand what He wants me to know. The verb dwell in the verse is beckoning me to action. I won't stumble into the shelter of the Most High on accident. I must dwell there. And dwell...according to Google...means to live or stay as a permanent resident; reside. Abide. Bunk. Crash. Exist. Hang out. Nest. Occupy. Park. Rest. Settle. Tarry.

Get the picture?

But I'm also moved by the effect of doing so. Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Will. Not maybe. Not might. Not every once in a while. Will. If I'm not mistaken, that's a promise. And because I believe with my whole heart that His Word is true, I have to believe that hanging out with the Most High is something I don't want to turn down or miss.

So I will because maybe this dry spell is really just me resting in the shadow of the Almighty.

Anyone want to crash with me There?