Time for takeoff!

A while ago a friend of mine gave me a word:
"The door stands open..."
And while the whole thing was simple and powerful, I didn't quite get the full picture.
"The door stands open, I see you running. Take my hand, I'll lead you through."

What He sees is more than I could ever see... Yet, I'm seeing more now standing here with a greater view.

Tonight I heard the story of an eagle, a great, majestic bird, ruler of the skies; it had been locked up for ten years. The owners decided to free it after those ten years, but when they opened the door it didn't know what to do. It was locked in the invisible cage created by his mind. He would move no further than the only place he knew. But when another eagle flew by and called out the caged bird became a free bird. It took the realization from truth to get that bird out of the cage ( from "Brave Worship" by Jonathan David Helser).

Harriet Tubman once said that she could've freed more slaves if they only realized they were slaves.

It takes an awareness of who you truly are to walk out in the full freedom that you have been given.

You need to know that the truth is you are a child of God and the enemy wants you to believe everything contradictory to that.

We have a Father that created us because He wanted children... He delights in you. He has a plan and a purpose for you.

I am discovering more of my purpose. I know one thing... I will let out a freedom cry, sing the song of truth that the captives are yearning to hear. I am learning to step out of that mental cage and I am going to stop crawling back in it... Cause I am no longer a slave to fear. I am going to believe I am who God says I am and be bold, strong and courageous.

You are beautiful, fearfully and wonderfully made. You are His beloved child, delighted in. I sing a song of freedom, of His love... A song that has always been sung. He placed the planets in motion, set the stars in the sky... He came to Earth as a babe, thought of you and I. He loves you. You were worth it. He believes in you and you are not a slave to fear! You belong to Him!

It has always been...Your love.

When I wake in the morning with a joy I can't explain
As the sunlight peeks through the windows
My heart races with possibilities.

I walk down the street and my heart floods with songs: songs of Your grace.
I see the clouds set so perfectly in the sky, perched in a blue vault, vast and calm.
I begin to ponder about all that You've done for me...
It was the way You thought me out,
It was every moment of perfection made from this brokenness.
It was the splendor of roses, wild flowers, sunsets, and butterflies arranged so beautifully.
It was the way you knew what I liked, what I missed;
A bluebird lighting on a tree,
Not just one, but two, dancing merrily.
You reminded me that You had me in Your hand.
It was the way You showed me I can trust and let go,
The way You surprise me.
You are the only One who knows everything about me.
It was Your love,
Your love that sustained me,
Your love that surrounds me,
Your love that upholds me.
Jesus, it's Your love.
Your love conquers,
Your love sees and knows all,
Your love that is strong.

It's Your love that speaks to hearts and seeps deeper than any wound.
Thank You, it's this love I will never be separated from.

I need You more.

"I need You more than this breath I'm breathing, more than this feeling I'm feeling inside me. Without You, Lord, I am dead and hopeless. You're the only love that puts life in me." -Great Awakening

As I went about this crazy last week of classes I caught myself saying, "I don't have enough time right now" or "I guess I'll have to wait until later" when it came to time spent with the Lord.

The truth was... when would I find time if my sole desire was not to spend time with the Lord?

Yes, I may have thought that was my earnest intent; but if I had the desperation of Zacheus or the woman reaching for Jesus' hem in the midst of a crowd, I would make the time. If I was genuine in wanting to spend time with the One I love I wouldn't have just gone through the motions and said "that seems enough".

Now, I'm finding myself at the point near tears, apologizing to a Savior who so gently comforts me. These tears well up because He has given everything for me. He is the most gracious and loving of fathers and He is always there to comfort me. He waits for me to turn to Him, not just in times of need but to laugh with Him, to talk to Him, to tell Him my dreams and desires. Time spent with Him is precious and I want to take advantage of it.

I need You more.

More than the things that seem so important and vital,

You are my heartbeat.

You give me the strength to tackle these monstrous giants,

To scale these walls,

To move these mountains.

And now I hear you calling me,

"Where are you?"

I will skip through the garden to Your side

Anxious to hear what You have to say.

Envelop me in your love and grace

Let me look up into Your eyes,

Those eyes that pierce like light through a churning fog,

Those eyes that soothe like the sound of rain on a tin roof.

I want to be lost in Your love.

Pray...

without ceasing.

And without thinking the words burst forth.

It was one of those "aha!" moments where something that I have known caught fire and began to burst in the flame of passion that comes with revelation. I was talking with a friend about prayer and asking how I could better support her. I admitted with honesty that I had not prayed for her since the event I was praying about ended. Yet, I have realized that because one prayer is answered or there seems to be no dire need, that is no reason to stop praying.

"Why should we stop praying when the enemy doesn't ever stop?"

Those were the words that rang in my mind after they left my lips. We had just talked about unity and the picture came to mind of soldiers in disarray. If one wants to do this, and one wants to do that instead of following the orders of the commander, or even waiting to see what the orders are, what will ever be accomplished? And, furthermore, what injuries will occur?

We need to first lay ourselves aside and tune in to what God is doing, His heart, and hear the things that He is saying. We need to take the same passion that we place in so many other things and PRAY. God desires wholehearted petitions. No matter the eloquence or word choice, when we pray with a passion and with a deep concern something shifts. It is the hand of God. He is there waiting for us to cry out, searching for one, just one to stand in the gap. We could be one of those worldchangers that the Bible describes, moving God's heart with the words of one cry.

I have heard countless stories and I have my own of lives being changed through just one prayer. There have been stories of huge events in history, or shall I say well-known events (for nothing is too big for our God), with a big turning point that happened because of people's prayers. Politicians have been influenced through interactions with people that prayed for an opportunity to reach out to them. I, myself, have seen my prayers answered with a swiftness I did not expect. They were always simple, yet earnest prayers. Things in my own life that seemed impossible by the world's standards but, as I said before, they are not impossible with my God.

Sometimes I think that I struggle with going through routines and doing things because I know that I need to, but what would happen if I changed my mentality to one of partnering with the Great Intercessor? What if I had the persistence that matched the urgency of the issues at hand?

This life is more than just going through the motions and it is more than satisfying a need for things or even love and attention. It is a battle, a restoring of a kingdom, a rescuing of the lost and a healing of the broken. In this grand adventure prayer is key.

The vast expanse

Tonight, as I sat on the beach looking at the stars I felt small compared to the expanse before me. I looked up at the clouds covering the moon and thought about where I was. I was far from home, I knew that well. I watched the lights from houses nestled in the rocks glimmer on the water below. "Did you ever think that this would be where you would be at this age?" A friend questioned leaning forward to search for our eyes in the night.

It is questions like this that never cease to amaze me. Where did I think I would be at this age? What did I think I would be like?
When I was younger I wanted to be a veterinarian or a marine biologist. One day I would be out sailing the seas. Or maybe I would have a family and kids. I thought this was the age that sort of thing happened. Now I am learning it takes a lot to have a family of your own by watching other families with adult eyes.

One thing is for sure... I never thought I would be here now. I never knew that I would be so blessed. I have come so far, carried on my Father's arms. I see His hand in so much of my life. Yet, looking back on it is like looking at these stars. I can only see the portion sitting in front of me. It's beautiful, but grand... Too grand and incomprehensible. I sit in awe of the part of the sky that I can see but God, who holds it all, is the only one who can fully appreciate it in all of its magnitude. He sees me and He looks at the stretch of my life and He says it's beautiful. He sees the full picture and He assures me keep Your eyes on Me and I will step you through. Constantly, He reminds me that He is with me. Seek Me and you will find Me, child, He says. You need not fear, I am with you, today and always.

You loved me...

First.

Your love came first.

Before the world began,

Before there were rules,

agendas and even plans.

Now,

"Was it my broken heart that lead me straight to You?
Was it your broken hands that I can not refuse?
Was it my emptiness or was it your empty tomb that pointed me home, pointed
Me home, to you?"

It was Your love, the way that You sought me out, the way that you pursued me. You called me out. You said this one's mine. You waited at the door of my heart until I let you in. 

I'm falling more in love, discovering more about your grace. I'm learning that there is nothing in the world that I could've done and nothing that I can do to make you love me more or less. I'm finding that when You say that You'll never leave, though there may be times when you feel far away, You will never leave my side. 

Your grace is so beautiful. I stand amazed. Your love is enough for me, Jesus. Thank you that you saved me. That you came for me. I could never repay you for all that You've done and You say, "Just receive, just receive. Receive my love and grace." 

You took my place... and that is more than anything I could ever ask for.

Joy unspeakable... and full of glory.

I don't know how He does it...

Makes me smile from ear to ear

As I tramp around campus

Determined to please Him.

And when worries come along

"you steady my heart".

You're always there

the Constant that keeps it beating.

I don't deserve this,

But You are so good to me.

Jesus,

How do I express...

How do I confess...

My deep love and desire for You?

Oh, how I've missed this,

this bliss.

You are the joy radiating from my smile.

The very rays of the sun.

Jesus, You are...

Lovely.