>Sunday Scripture-Wait

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“Can the no-gods of the godless nations cause rain?  Can the sky water the earth by itself?

 You’re the one, O God, who does this. So you’re the one for whom  

 we wait.  You made it all, you do it all.” 

Jeremiah 14:22 The Message

>And God Cried

>Life seemed to be an all-encompassing storm
Through loss upon loss from my heart hope was torn
Crisis begat crisis time and time again
Each day a new problem without any end

Dark clouds settled over my head
I felt less alive then someone physically dead

In anguish I cried out to the Father above

He lovingly reached down with His strong arms of love

Picking me up in response to my cry
So gentle came the answer from the Most High

Hanging my head in shame

I despising both my condition and the pain

Yet closed my eyes to rest
Cradled closely to His breast

His gentle arms brought such peace

I seemed to slowly drift off to sleep

Soon I was awakened by a drop
Then came another and they did not stop

Again a drop and then some more
And soon a steady downpour
“What is this?” I said

As the droplets soaked my head

My eyes began to look around
Nothing but dark clouds could be found
Until a steady piercing light
Began to shine ever so bright

Suddenly I felt His glory all around
“Why does this rain not fall to the ground?”
Drip, drop it fell upon me
I began to look up in curiosity

His Glory did shine with awesome wonder
It was more jolting then the most deafening thunder
But the sight I beheld was more glorious to see
I saw the tears of God falling down upon me

Tears streaming down from His cheek
These precious words He did speak
“My little lamb I love you
When you hurt, I cry too.”

“When his people pray for help, he listens and rescues them from their troubles. The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope.” Psalm 34:17-18 CEV

>Sunday Scripture

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“God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name. Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs that drown out enemy talk, and silence atheist babble.

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, moon and stars mounted in their settings.

Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way?

Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden’s dawn light. You put us in charge of your handcrafted world, repeated to us your Genesis-charge, made us lords of sheep and cattle, even animals out in the wild, birds flying and fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deeps.

God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world. ” Psalm 8 The Message

>When violence hits home

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For six days it laid, submerged in water, inside our washing machine. I’d put it in to soak after promising to work wonders using my many years of laundering skills. Afterall, it is his favorite shirt. Our son, that is.

A mixture of mud, blood, and grass stains eclipsed the once crisp clean blue checked cotton material. I’ve laundered all of those things out in the past. Just never all at once.

Soaking seemed to be a good place to start. In addition to helping to loosen the stains it provided a quick way to get the soiled shirt out of our sight. I’d forgotten it was there until I began my pre-weekend housework.

Throwing open the lid to put in a load of clothes I peered down at the murky water. In many ways it reflected my feelings. Cloudy, dim, and dark. As I spun out the shirt and pulled it closer for examination my senses unexpectedly reeled.

And I remembered.

The stains were not the result of an impromptu game of soccer or  some late-night ultimate freesbie. They were evidence of a brutal attack on our, one and only, son. The assailants whose names I’ll never know apparently had one motive.

Greed.

What did greed get them? Eight dollars and a Skagen wristwatch. What could it have gotten them? A lifetime in prison. After being beaten and left for dead, in fridged temperatures, our son came away with his life. But the outcome could have been very different. We know that and pray that whoever hurt our son will stop before a worse tragedy occurs.

Sin is only pleasant for a season. In the end it brings death.

The skin on my fingers wrinkle from trying to scrub away the powerful reminders of pain. How long do I repeat the process before giving up? Even if the stains wash out it is hard to imagine how much time would need to pass before seeing this shirt would fail to provoke unpleasant memories ellicting feelings of indescribable pain.

If I could put things back to the way they were before. Replace what was taken. Repair what was broken. What would I do about the pain running deep within? His pain. Our pain. The pain of family and friends who wonder why these kinds of things happen.

How long will the memories linger?

How long will we hurt?

How long before God stops those bent on harming others?

How long until I can lay my head down to rest at night without reliving this ordeal?

How long until our son is whole?

These questions have plagued my mind. I imagine that they are as common as a cold when your offspring is harmed. The larger the threat the stronger the reaction, I suppose. The more harm done the more questions.

What about God?

Did He feel the same kind of pain when His Son was beaten, mocked, and murdered. Whether for greed or some other form of gain sin is still sin. It motivates all manners of evil. Someone once said that it was love that kept Jesus on the cross. Agreed. Yet we must never forget that sin put Him there.

My sin.

Your sin.

The sin of thugs running the streets of the inner city.

Yet “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.”

Forgive them?

I’d much rather forgive a friend ,who unknowingly hurt my feelings, then those who violently attacked our son.

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matt 6:14-15

“God, You have no idea what You are asking of me. I’m not ready to do this.”

And then I remember Calvary.

And the night Jesus spent in the garden agonizing over the blood that He would soon spill to redeem all mankind once and for all. When he cried “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Suddenly I’m in my own Garden of Gethsemane. The pain is palpable. The struggle intense. I realize that in order to accomplish the will of God that I, too, must die. To the fears, to the frustration, to the anger, and to the right to understand. I must crush the negative emotions which seek to give birth to sin.

The sin of unforgiveness.

A part of me wants Abba Father to take this cup away. To allow me the luxury of deciding for myself. Yet the best of me realizes that the worst of me might not make the right choice. That would end far more tragically then this wrong done to our son.

It would end in bitterness.

“Bitterness imprisons life; love releases it. Bitterness paralyzes life; love empowers it. Bitterness sours life; love sweetens it. Bitterness sickens life; love heals it. Bitterness blinds life; love anoints its eyes.” Harry Fosdick

Making yet another attempt to remove the stain from this shirt prayers raise from desperate lips revealing a needy heart. A heart that desires to be more like Jesus but falls so short, especially in this moment.

I need to be willing to die, so that I can forgive.

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32

>Five Bible Verses About Money Every Christian Should Know

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I’ve been doing a lot of blog post reading this week. I typically leave comments to let the writers know I’ve visited but I’m pretty sure they get tired of hearing from me, so I’ve been tweeting the posts insted.

While visiting Christian Personal Financial’s blog I found this post and wanted to share it with you. http://christianpf.com/5-bible-verses-about-money-every-christian-should-know/

There are many other good posts there as well. Take a few moments to look around. I’m certainly rethinking a lot of things since my visit there.

>Essentials of the Heart

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Today, I have the pleasure of featuring an interview with Susan Weagant, author of the book Essentials of the Heart.

Susan and her husband Ben, and two sons, are missionaries in the Christian Camping Ministry. She has been teaching women’s Bible studies for over a decade and is currently involved with Stonecroft Ministries, MOPS, Women’s retreats, and a women’s community Bible study. Susan has a passion for teaching God’s Word in a way which allows her to also share her heart and enjoys the one on one relationships that come as a result of her ministry.

Her book, Essentials of the Heart springs from a desire to see all Christ followers experience a passionate walk with God. Here is a little more information:

•  Are you tired of playing hit and miss with your spiritual life?
• Are you looking for a more purposeful and committed walk with the Lord?
• Do you ever feel so broken that there seems to be no hope?  

If you answered yes to any of these questions, Essentials of the Heart is for you. This thought-provoking book is full of personal examples and peppered with Scripture. Susan Weagant takes you from life-changing decisions to daily disciplines necessary for a passionate spiritual walk, using personal examples from her own past as encouragement. Join Susan on this spiritual journey to find out what decisions and disciplines are Essentials of the Heart.

And now more from the author in this Q & A interview…

Susan, you and your husband serve as Christian Camp missionaries. Share with us how this ministry-focus came about and how it influenced the writing of your book.

My husband and I have been missionary supported at Camp Peniel since 1992. The word Peniel comes from the Bible in Genesis 32:30 where Jacob wrestled with an angel. He named that place Peniel because he said that he had seen God face to face and his life had been preserved.

The man who started Camp Peniel had a desire that anyone who came would experience God face to face, either by coming to know Him as their Savior or growing in their walk with Him.

Many spiritual turning points in my life happened at Camp Peniel. Decisions that impacted my spiritual life the most were made at that place. Those decisions and disciplines that I learned there are what has influenced my book the most. It is for that reason that a portion of the proceeds will go to Camp Peniel’s scholarship program.

I understand Essentials of the Heart is blessing both men and women. Did you consider the impact it would have on men when you wrote it? What are they saying about it?

I was blindsided by this one. I speak to women’s ministries; so, my audience is women. One day my friend came to me to apologize for not reading my book that she got a month earlier. I told her that she didn’t need to apologize for that, but she insisted to tell me why.

 Her husband had picked up the book and started reading it. She did not want to take it from him until he was finished, but it was taking a long time. (It is a small book so it shouldn’t take him that long.) He finally came to her and told her to go buy two more books because he wanted to give them to his adult sons for Christmas.

I was floored that he would enjoy it so much that he would want his adult sons to read it, too.

Essentials of the Heart is divided into two parts, Decisions and Disciplines. What is the significance of this?

“He has made everything beautiful in its time; He also has planted eternity in men’s heart and mind [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun, but only God, can satisfy]…” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, AMP)

What that means to you and me is this: God created us with a sense of eternity in our hearts and mind. We know that there is more to this life than the here and now. We sense it deep within us. The only thing that can bring lasting fulfillment to you and me is our relationship with God and growing in that relationship. That is what has brought me the greatest fulfillment in my life, and it starts with heart “Decisions”, which is the first section of the book. The next section is “Disciplines”. These are daily practices, which are necessary to grow in the Lord. 

So the first Essential of the Heart is the decision we make personally for eternity … accepting Christ as our Savior. You list several more Decisions we need to make such as: Who do we want our life to count for, a Decision to Trust, a Decision to Build Intimacy, etc.

I’d like for us to look at the issue of Trust. You explain though we often use the words trust and faith interchangeably, we first need to understand what they mean. Could you shed some light on this?

The word trust, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is an assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. Faith according to the Bible is this: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, KJV). The Greek word for faith in the New Testament is pistis, which is a firm persuasion or conviction based on hearing according to Strong’s Dictionary.

If you look at all the definitions, that will give you a better picture of faith. It is important what you base your hope on in this life. Here is my definition of faith. Faith is a firm conviction of hope based on God’s character, God’s ability, God’s strength, and God’s truth when I can’t see what lies ahead. When I base my hope on God’s character and God’s Word, it is then that my faith will grow.

If someone would like to have you speak at their event, how can they contact you?

They can go to my website, SusanWeagant.com, for information on my speaking ministry.

I know your book is blessing individuals. Can Essentials of the Heart be used for a group study?

There is a pdf file of study questions for each chapter on my website and it is free to download.

To find out how you can purchase a copy of Essentials of the Heart by viewing this book trailer:

I hope that you enjoyed this interview and will go over to Susan’s website where you’ll find more information on “Essentials of the Heart” as well as the free downloadable study guide for group use.

Also, stop over at the Christian Speaker Services blog and enter their contest to win a free copy of the book.

[I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author's interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speaker Services.]

>Learned helplessness

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A woman lies in bed praying that the intense throbbing inside her head will subside. Hours pass slowly in a darkened room.

“This can’t last forever.”

Days come and go. The pounding, like a steady sledge hammer, rhythmically continues. Weakness begins to set in. Moving a single muscle provokes ravaging pain. Each movement likened to lifting a hundred pound barbell. Strength drains out, with every breath, as dehydration from ongoing nausea wreaks havoc on the body’s system.

“This can’t last forever.”

A loving mate appears in the shadows of the darkened room to assist with the necessities of life. “Just put your arms around my neck. I’ll carry you.” She tries but fails as her right arm falls with a thud exhausted from the effort.

“This can’t last forever.”

A call is placed. The decision made. A trip to the emergency room is in order. Pajamas seem fine, on this occasion. Who has the energy to primp? Besides, it’ll be in and out. These headaches are treatable.

“This can’t last forever.”

Medications are administered, tests are run. The specialist is called. A diagnosis is established. The patient is taken to a room. By then her left side shows no signs of life. Paralysis has taken hold.

“This can’t last forever.”

Life becomes a waiting game as drops flow from the intravenous medications and flood the body to do their work. Hushed voices whisper prayers. A verbally silent patient reminds God of His promises in her mind.

“This can’t last forever.”

Day in day out the swish of white coats become routine. Reflexes are checked, medications are tweaked. The woman attempts to drink from a sippy cup with her non-dominate hand. Booties are placed on her feet to avoid bed blisters. A kind care-giver tirelessly works to keep her comfortable and clean. People stop by to visit. A hospital employee gives an impromptu gospel concert. It sounds like the music of heaven despite the raging pain.

“This can’t last forever.”

On the tenth morning she awakens. Her extremities are buzzing. Something is happening. There is a change. A spark of reflex is returning. Hope rises on the wings of a situation that has left a poor soul helpless and totally reliant on others for everything except the breath of life.

“This can’t last forever.”

Soon she takes her first steps. It’s been weeks. Weakened muscles will need to be retrained. The sippy cup is exchanged for a glass. The booties, for a pair of socks. The rate of the pain medication is slowed. The fog begins to lift.

“This can’t last forever.”

And it doesn’t.

As I recalled this situation, which took place in my life a few years ago, I remembered the overwhelming peace that I felt throughout those difficult days. Unable to lift my head, or do anything for myself, I knew that I was helpless.

Yet in truth we are all helpless apart from the power of God who sustains life and works His good will in and through us. Problems surface when we forget this important truth. When we fail to see ourselves as God does. He knows that we are totally dependent on Him. We need to learn the extent of our helplessness so that we will completely trust in God.

Andrew Murray speaks of this in his book Absolute Surrender which includes the prayer “Let my life be a proof of what an omnipotent God can do.”

What. A. Prayer.

I like what author Mary Pierce has to say on the subject “When we pray ‘let my life be a proof of what an omnipotent God can do,’ our lives begin to be a proof, not of who we are or what we can do, but a proof of what God can do. God can take the petty and the puny, the weak and the wimpy, the half-baked and the completely fried, and He can do something wonderful. How? Not because we have anything to offer, but because God is able to do so much with so little.”

Andrew Murray says that our response to the recognized presence of the omnipotent God in our lives will be “deep helplessness and simple childlike rest.” A rest like I experienced while lying in that hospital bed knowing, that apart from God, I was helpless to ever move again.

When I did move all who witnessed it knew it had not come at the hands of man or even medication. God’s power was revealed. My life was a proof “of what an omnipotent God can do.”

No no enjoys the sensation of being helpless. For some the concept of “learned helplessness” implies feigned weakness. But there is a “learned helplessness” that brings strength to the weary heart. No longer wrestling with the daunting task of rescuing ourselves we are able to rest in God. 

Lord, help us to learn that apart from you we are helpless. And may our lives be a proof of what an omnipotent God can do!

Helpless is never hopeless when the all-powerful God is in control.

>Lifelines aren’t always long

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I’m not really much of a blogger. I’ve tried to be but, in all honesty, I’m long winded. Finding a way to communicate my thoughts in a manner which is short and concise just doesn’t seem to be part of my natural make-up. I am a teacher. Teachers talk and also use words to provoke others to share.

Many of the people that I know just write blogs. They don’t take the time to read others. I’m not someone who just writes blogs. I also enjoy reading them. Most of the time I leave comments. It only seems polite. Besides offering encouragement is a part of my make-up. It is something that I find easy to do. When people bear their souls it takes courage. I like to let them know that I appreciate what they’ve said.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been doing a lot of contemplating. During my time spent with God I’ve been asking Him about His plan for my year. I’m still waiting for answers, of course. All in His time.

I’ve also been asking God if I should continue to blog. There are so many great bloggers out there. I’m mindful of this because I read their posts on a daily basis. They are refreshing, challenging, and inspiring. Sometimes reading such great posts can be intimidating. How can we, who don’t possess the “gift of gab” possibly make a difference online? What’s the point? Is it all just a waste of our time?

I had been thinking that perhaps my gifts and time might be better utilized elsewhere. Just today, I was thinking that perhaps my days on social networks are winding down. I’ve been off them for 14 days and very few people have noticed. Perhaps I am just taking up space and wasting time. Can someone really make a difference in 140 characters or less? I had thought so but was beginning to question that. Until I read a post by some friends which gave me pause…and a case of the what ifs.

What if someone does drop by and reads something amongst my ramblings that grabs their heart? What if just a few words that I’ve said makes the difference for them on any given day? What if somehow God gives me just the right phrase to rescue them from a sea of discouragement or despair? 

And what if I fail to write it because my words don’t seem eloquent enough or powerful enough. Or my posts seem too long or too short?

The key is to be led by God in all that we do. It is His Spirit that empowers us to touch people’s lives. Often times we don’t realize what we have done or how He has used us. And many times it happens with a very small number of words.

I hope that you will stop by to read 100 three-word power posts to share online via @stickyJesus (Tami Heim & Toni Birdsong). You will be inspired.

It has made me realize that lifelines aren’t always long. There is something to be said for the strength of the rope and the proper tying of the knot.

Don’t be intimidated by what others are doing or not doing online these days. Just be who you are in Christ. He’ll take care of the rest…one word, two words, or even three words at a time!

>Nursing a dream

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I’ve nursed many things over the course of my life. Some have actually been people like my son, husband, or another family member or friend. At times, I’ve nursed myself back to health with long seasons spent administering intravenous antibiotics. I don’t missing those days, months, and years. They were a lot of work.

There have been occasions where I have nursed grudges before graciously letting go. Other times when I’ve nursed hurts while the Holy Spirit administered healing. Sometimes the hurts belonged to others. At other times they were my own.

Currently I am nursing a dream. This is actually new territory for me. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve had many dreams. God has even allowed some to come true for which I am very thankful. Yet this is the first time that I recall actually having to nurse a dream.

On Christmas Eve I had an amazing dream. When I awoke the dream was still very vivid and I felt extremely hopeful. Perhaps more hopeful, regarding a particular situation, then I had in quite a number of years.

For the past 14 years I’ve been living life wearing one shoe and walking on crutches. The other foot and leg have been encased in fiberglass, for reasons I won’t go into at this time. A few months ago I took off the long-leg cast and began to relearn to walk. This was my first Christmas since our son was 6 years old that I have worn a pair of shoes. My husband & I didn’t exchange gifts this year. Who needs gifts when you finally can wear a pair of shoes?!?!

Yet there are issues remaining with my leg. Obviously there’s a whole lot more to this story. The cast seems to have done what was needed but it has also done a lot of damage. My foot won’t go flat on the floor. There is no movement in the ankle. So essentially I am still disabled.

That is what makes the dream so important. In it a man, who appeared to be a doctor, approached my bedside. He told me that he had seen all that I’d done to get out of the cast. Trust me when I say that it’s been some of the hardest work I’ve ever done. He also said that I had gone as far as I could go, on my own, and that he and his colleagues would be taking over from this point. They would do all that was necessary to get me walking normally again.

And then I woke up.

I felt strangely encouraged as if I’d just received an intravenous dose of faith. When I walked in the door at my Mom’s house to begin our Christmas celebration the first thing that I shared was the dream. It was still so real to me. Throughout the day I couldn’t help it. My mind kept revisiting it time and time again.

And then it happened.

Later that afternoon as I was descending from a stool, at my Mom’s island, my foot landed oddly. Had my ankle had the ability to twist it would have. My Mom looked on in horror as I corrected my gait. At the time I didn’t feel much of anything. By the next morning there was some swelling and discolored areas around the ankle. After taking it easy for a day or two it felt better.

And then I made a bad decision.

A few days later I decided to go and walk at the local recreation center. Over the past few months I’d pushed myself to walk hundreds of laps around that little indoor track. It is a safe place where people can walk at their own pace.

Things started off fine. There was no pain in my foot. Strolling along with my iPod blasting in my ears all was going well. Then suddenly my knee locked up. I was on the far side of the track so I stopped for a few minutes. It’s amazing how much you can pray in a short time when the possibility for extreme humiliation is at stake. I had to get around the track. God helped me and while finishing out the lap the knee felt better so I pumped out a few more rounds.

And then I regretted it.

As my husband and I left the building my body began to rebel. My knee went into full lock-up mode every time that I bent it. Needless to say you have to bend a joint to use it. Once we made it to the walkway all dignity left me. The pain was so intense that I let out a yell. My neighbors probably heard it. My husband helped me get to the car and then to the couch. He told me, in no uncertain terms, that I was benched for the night. Basically I’ve been benched every since.

And then I started nursing my dream.

It seemed in need of resuscitation. I’ve been nursing it every since daily because in all of the years of this physical struggle I’ve had only two dreams related to my leg. Both have been significanct to me. I’m not exactly sure just what to make of this one but I can’t shake the dream.

And truthfully, I don’t want to.

Dreams are important. We need them in order to have hope. Sometimes things happen to try to steal them away. Other times we allow them to die. All of us need dreams to keep us going.

“We grow by dreams. All big men are big dreamers. Some of us let dreams die, but others nourish and protect them, nurse them through bad days…to the sunshine and light which always comes.” Woodrow Wilson

I want the dream to live on inside of me until it becomes a part of my destiny. It elevated my faith. It made me more hopeful. So despite the fact that it appears that the very opposite of what I dreamed is occurring I’m going to continue to nourish this dream.

 Why? Because, I believe that I am meant to walk again. I also believe that God has a plan. It is far past anything that my mind could conceive. It will happen in His time. In the meantime, while I wait on Him–I’m nursing this dream. His Word is the medicine that I am applying along with a whole lot of prayer.

“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jer 29:11 The Message

Have you ever nursed a dream?

Is it possible that you are holding on to a promise from God right now but find yourself in a struggle?

What do you do to maintain your dreams until they become destiny?

>Come and dine

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Several weeks ago God began to deal with me about taking a break from social networks. Other than the fact that it would include a period of no less than 21 days I received very little information regarding what might expected.

All this left me a bit unsettled. I am a person who likes to have a plan. I also enjoy the sense of satisfaction that comes with setting and reaching goals. I like to know what is expected of me. In short, I am a bit of a control freak. Because of this I sought God, in the days leading up to my targeted date, for more details.  Each time I came up empty. I found the silence to be unnerving. 

A few days ago it seemed only right to let my friends on Facebook and Twitter know that I would be taking time off. Several people had concerns and contacted me privately. A few questioned the validity of what they began calling this “fast.” That actually proved to be helpful as it caused me to return to God for additional confirmation. He quickly provided it. I hoped that a plan would unfold but it didn’t. All I could come up with was 21 days.

Last night I logged out of my social network accounts. I can’t say that it felt good. It’s hard to have a sense of anticipation when you don’t know what to expect. At least that is how things work for me. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. While I did operate in obedience, perhaps that did not include much faith.

Within a few hours I began to realize how frequently I use Facebook and Twitter as distractions for pain and insomnia. It only took a few more hours more to come to the conclusion that if God did not show up during these 21 days that this break would quickly turn into a “fast” that would be slow to pass and very painful. In the middle of the night I found myself praying some desperate prayers.

This morning I slept in. On a typical day I read from several devotional books and then move on to my inbox for more. Today I was unsure of where to begin. I picked up my copy of Jesus Calling to see where it might lead. I read it, re-read it and then took time to ponder it. Afterwards I discussed one sentence with my husband. Then I grabbed a journal. My plan was to write the statement down for future reference.

That’s about the time that it happened. Call it manna from heaven or a feast fit for a queen. All I know is that four pages into the entry it dawned on me that it would probably be better if I typed things in my digital journal for the remaining 20 days. God had shown up in a big way and answered many of the questions that had plagued me in the days leading up to this break. What a difference a day and a single act of obedience can make.

What might have been a fast, without His Presence, had quickly become a feast. It was very hard for me to push away from the table and I can’t wait to go back for more–and more–and more. The greatest part about this meal is that all that I have to do is show up. He has prepared a table before me, and only asks that I accept the invitation to come and dine with Him.

That is an offer that is simply to good to refuse. I have a feeling that God has an invitation with your name on it as well. It might not involve a 21 course meal but, whatever the case, I hope you will consider taking Him up on the invite.

Oh and let me be the first to say, just in case you are wondering, that the food is out of this world.