2013 is coming to a close. My word for this year was "write/right". When I first heard it, I heard "write". In my mind I saw "right". Isn't that interesting? As December descended upon us I began to ponder what that had meant for me throughout this year. I haven't written anything to speak of - just a few blog posts. I haven't journaled. In fact, not much went on in my life about writing at all. Instead I painted. (Which is a form of communication I suppose.)
I was having a conversation about all this with a friend when it hit me. This year has been about me NOT having to be "right" on so many levels. It's been somewhat humbling and certainly more than a little freeing. Isn't it just like God to turn it all around and make it something completely out of the box I had envisioned it in?
One day while I was doing laundry I had the thought "I don't want to put God in the box of my beliefs". I don't want to have to be right because, holy cow - what if I'm not? It could happen. ;o) I'll be the first to admit I don't know. I do know what I believe in my heart but I don't have to convince you I'm right. You get to have your very own relationship with God anyway you want - or not at all if that's your preference. God is big and good enough to reach your heart without my yammering. My truth is simply that - my truth - the revelations that I've been given. And really? My truth changes as more is given. Every day I grow. It may be something I read, or something I see, or something I experience alone or with a friend. This change has become my friend - no longer my enemy. I used to hate change of any kind - but not anymore! Now I embrace it. But it has to come to my heart. I believe we are created with a "knower" - that part of me deep inside that knows, yes, this is true. Trust me I come across a whole lot of stuff I know is not. And when I do, I kindly decline the offer to accept that thought and move on.
We've had some conversations with the high school kids we work with that have driven this home. I thought I was put in this group to lead them into some spiritual place of truth - my truth. I have come to realize that they carry their own amazing hearts and beliefs and they have done their share of leading me - because I let them. I opened my heart enough to listen. Those have been the best of times and the deepest discussions and I have grown.
So here I am writing about right. I love that. The word was not a wash. God is so fun. I was scheduled to teach our prayer class on January 5th but had to reschedule. I ended up doing it on December 15th which happened to be the last Sunday we met in 2013. I talked about Journaling with God. I think that is hilarious! I got to tell them about this revelation I've had about my word. I got to relive some old journal entries that blew my socks off all over again. It was amazing. I am so blessed.
So now I get to ask for a new word for 2014. I think I've already got it. I'll let you know.
Showing posts with label write. Show all posts
Showing posts with label write. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Going to Heaven
I spent the last 3 days surrounded by amazing awesomeness at a conference hosted by our TSSM school featuring Graham Cooke and Christa Black. Google them. Get to know them. God is using them along with lots of us, you included, to change the world.
And it continues. Today I had an epiphany as I told a friend the story of one 5 minute extraordinary experience that occurred over this last 3 days. Christa spoke to us on Tuesday afternoon about purified imagination and toward the end of her talk she had her amazing "studhubs", Lucas, come up and lead us through a very cool experience of "going to heaven". There were 3 prompts. 1) Picture Jesus. 2) Receive what He's handing you. 3) Ask Him to see your garden. This is what happened:
I immediately saw Jesus standing before me as a Shepherd - long white robe, long hair, beard, holding a staff. No brainer. As He approached He again handed me a scepter. I say again because He has handed me this same scepter at other times during Soaking. (I think He's trying to get me to "get it". I need to sit with that awhile.) When I asked Him if I could see my garden He instantly became a gardener, dressed in bib overalls and a red plaid shirt (which He just revealed to me as I journaled that He dressed in red because He knows it's my favorite color...sweet!) As He led me away He put his finger to His lips and said, "Shhh, it's a secret". (Another reference to how well He knows me - my favorite story is The Secret Garden. Again, sweet!) As we were walking along an ivy covered wall we came upon an old wooden gate. Jesus reached in his overall pocket, pulled out a big skeleton key, placed it in the enormous keyhole, glanced over at me with a wink and began to slowly open the gate. He swung it aside and grandly gestured for me to enter.
At once I was astounded.
Here I was in my garden. I was surrounded by brilliant color. Each flower was a letter of the alphabet. Leaning in to look closer I realized the leaves were paintbrushes and crayons and markers and pastels and colored pencils. I turned to Him and asked, "What the heck is all this?" And I remembered. He told me once that I would paint pictures with words. And today I know. This is where I will write. Here in my garden with Jesus tending nearby probably whistling my new favorite song, "The King Is Here". And I am amazed at His extreme goodness.
And it continues. Today I had an epiphany as I told a friend the story of one 5 minute extraordinary experience that occurred over this last 3 days. Christa spoke to us on Tuesday afternoon about purified imagination and toward the end of her talk she had her amazing "studhubs", Lucas, come up and lead us through a very cool experience of "going to heaven". There were 3 prompts. 1) Picture Jesus. 2) Receive what He's handing you. 3) Ask Him to see your garden. This is what happened:
I immediately saw Jesus standing before me as a Shepherd - long white robe, long hair, beard, holding a staff. No brainer. As He approached He again handed me a scepter. I say again because He has handed me this same scepter at other times during Soaking. (I think He's trying to get me to "get it". I need to sit with that awhile.) When I asked Him if I could see my garden He instantly became a gardener, dressed in bib overalls and a red plaid shirt (which He just revealed to me as I journaled that He dressed in red because He knows it's my favorite color...sweet!) As He led me away He put his finger to His lips and said, "Shhh, it's a secret". (Another reference to how well He knows me - my favorite story is The Secret Garden. Again, sweet!) As we were walking along an ivy covered wall we came upon an old wooden gate. Jesus reached in his overall pocket, pulled out a big skeleton key, placed it in the enormous keyhole, glanced over at me with a wink and began to slowly open the gate. He swung it aside and grandly gestured for me to enter.
At once I was astounded.
Here I was in my garden. I was surrounded by brilliant color. Each flower was a letter of the alphabet. Leaning in to look closer I realized the leaves were paintbrushes and crayons and markers and pastels and colored pencils. I turned to Him and asked, "What the heck is all this?" And I remembered. He told me once that I would paint pictures with words. And today I know. This is where I will write. Here in my garden with Jesus tending nearby probably whistling my new favorite song, "The King Is Here". And I am amazed at His extreme goodness.
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