Not fallen off the face of the earth...just traveling it!

I Corinthians 2:9

Long time no see! 

     My last blog posted so long ago it may seem I’ve fallen off the face of the earth…Actually, I’ve been traveling it!  A few weeks ago I journeyed to the land of Israel.  Trying to explain one’s adventure to The Holy Land is like trying to describe marriage to a single person.  It’s just something you have to experience for yourself to fully understand. If you ever get a chance to go, don’t even hesitate.  Do it!  I still have not processed all of it, but I know one thing.  I’ll never be the same… 

     I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to articulate, but I do have a strong overall impression.  It’s this: I have a brand new perspective on what Heaven will be like.  And after this experience, I absolutely cannot wait to live that part of God’s plan!

     One of the best aspects of the trip happened totally on accident. I didn’t plan it this way, but I believe it contributed to my trip of a lifetime. As it turned out my cell phone charger shorted out leaving me with no regular connection to anything back home…no cell phone, no Facebook, no email. While we did have a TV, we never even touched the clicker.  Hence all the issues and struggles of daily life remained in oblivion till I returned home. 

     My only responsibility entailed choosing my outfit and showing up to the appointed places on time.  Which usually is an issue for me, but since that was my only requirement I managed both quite well. I didn’t have to figure out what to eat, where to go, how to get there.  I didn’t have to clean up or check on anyone or anything.  My focus consisted of soaking in each moment and loving those around me!  I laughed uncontrollable belly laughs. I cried deep guttural sobs.  The hair on the back of my neck stood up as Biblical pieces began to fit together.  I witnessed the Bible come alive in ways I’ve never perceived before. My heart burst as I walked the path of love…the path Jesus walked in my place.  In between the laughs and the tears, I caught glimpses of the sheer magnitude of God’s majesty. His power and glory is way bigger than my wildest imagination.

     Honestly, I didn’t want to come home.  The Galilean landscape dripped with lush color.  The Dead Sea floated (literally…did you know it’s impossible to sink in the dead sea because of all the solvents?) through my eye gate with its dreamlike mountainous pale bluish, petal pink backdrop.  And Jerusalem…Ah, Jerusalem!  Never have I seen a more magnificent, awe-inspiring city in my life.  I don’t suspect I ever will. 

     Whatever my vision of Heaven consisted of before this trip, I certainly needed to crumple it up like a scratch piece of paper and start a fresh!  How could Heaven be anything less than the varied beauty, the stress free delight, the full breath of lungs bursting with laughter, the cavernous sense of purpose and hope God permitted me to experience in His Holy Land?  I don’t believe it will be any less!  I believe I just dipped my pinky toe into His amazing future for all who accept Him as Savior.

     I thank God for letting me sample a teensy bit of what I’m really living for! Things of this world…they don’t mean as much to me because I know there is more!  Earth is not my final destination.  I want to be all that God has for me here.  I want to embrace every moment and relationship and opportunity because there are intense purposes I cannot fully comprehend.  I know I don’t understand it all. I’m not supposed to, but I aspire to walk by the light God does give me because I don’t want a second’s regret when I get Home!  
"...Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him." 

New Song...

Singing

Psalm 98:1

Hi Dee Ho Girls ~
I had planned ahead. My clothes were ironed. My hair washed and my bed made. If I kept up this pace I’d make it to my appointment on time. Maybe not such a big deal to you, but being on time is an occasion to be celebrated in my life! Feeling pretty good about my progress I preceded to the final step in the routine; getting dressed. I love pajamas too much to take them off any sooner than necessary, so I always save dressing till the end. Just as I was securing the last button on my shirt, the crazy thing slipped off and I heard it hit the dresser. Ah, nuts!

I dropped to my knees realizing the button must be close by. I searched frantically, but couldn’t find it anywhere! I reluctantly abandoned my search to pick out another outfit. I made it to the appointment, but all day this nagging sensation to find that button plagued my subconscious. It was such a mystery to me. I knew it had to be there. It’s not like buttons can just get up and walk off, or hide away so they can get a kick out of watching you -all sprawled out on the floor looking for them.
It wasn’t until the next day that I was finally able to give ample time to the search and rescue operation. I had a plan to find the pesky thing and I would...even if it killed me. I grabbed another button, stood in the same spot and dropped it - causing it to hit the dresser – hoping it would lead me to where the other button was hiding. I know it kind of sounds like a smart plan, except I chose a fabric button, much bigger and less elusive than my delicate shell button.

Once again I found myself face down, my rear end pointed high, searching...hopelessly. It was in this lovely position that I finally said, “God! I know you know where that wretched button is. You know and I know it has to be here somewhere. Pleeeeeazzzz...help me find it.”

~I need to interrupt this story to let you know that God and I have been having some interesting conversations lately.~ See, I know God loves me. I know He will perfect that which concerns me, but it feels like He’s turned His head and is more interested in other people’s lives than mine. I know that’s not true, but I said that’s what it feels like... Just that morning I had asked Him to please give me a new song. I have lots of songs about Him, & me but they’re old...things from the past. I craved a new one - like
described in Psalm 98:1. OK back to the story....

As soon as those words fled my lips, I glanced up sideways and smack dab in the middle of the rug sat my new nemesis as plain as a lightening bug on a dark night!
Now... I can’t prove this, but there is NO WAY that thing had been there the whole time! It was less than a foot from where I’d been standing. I had scoured that floor duplicate times. Bottom line is this. Whether God blocked my eyes from seeing it (Can’t imagine how being it was in plain sight) or God literally shooed it out of obscurity - either way - God gave me a new song. Not the song I had been looking for – one with an “ahha” moment answering my questions - but a new song nonetheless. I still have the same frustrations, but today I know God has not turned His head. He’s not forgot about me!

Good news – no matter what you feel – He’s not turned His head to you either.

“Sing unto the Lord a new song for He has done marvelous things!” Do you have one? Why not ask God for one and see what happens

Hope & Glory! to You ~ Love

Rebecca

JUMP!

Romans 8:33 & 37

Hey Chickadees :)

I’ve been reminded of my childhood experiences on the merry-go-round the last few days. Honestly I never like the ride, but when I did venture to give it another chance to be fun, occasionally, I’d discover the precise moment to exit the spinning disc unscathed and without a face full of dirt! But unfortunately, most of the time, my involvement with ride went something like this… I just held on for dear life, stuck, never knowing for sure when to bolt! On really good days a friend would enter my dilemma and holler, "Ok on the count of 3 Jump!" Sure enough those words of advise provided the boost I needed to help me off that beastly ride.

I've been spinning on an emotional apparatus the last 36 hours; stuck on the merry-go-round of cynicism, despair and "what's the point?" Weak I know, but true nonetheless. And it came out of nowhere, fast and furious. It started spinning me faster and faster and I needed some help to "jump" off that mentality! I thank God He sent support...twice!

Follow me here... If I asked you what tactic Satan used on Eve to tempt her to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, I wonder what you'd say...My Bible study (written by my friend, so I felt she was admonishing me over lunch at Cracker Barrel) reminded me that Satan didn't physically force Eve to take the fruit. He started his trap by planting doubt... Oh MY STARS! Like turning on a light bulb, I realized that's exactly what Satan had thrown at me. I had started believing what I could see and how I felt instead of promises like "He who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" Phil 1:6. How about this one, "If God be for us, who can be against us? ...We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" Romans 8:33&37 There are so many more promises I could fill pages.

Maybe you have a specific verse you've been doubting lately...what is it? Let me be the friend to you that Stephanie was to me. Allow me to expose the Enemy in your life. He loves to make us doubt God's word. They say success breads success. The whole "Doubt God" thing has been working for him for a long time. JUMP my friend! He's a liar and a defeated foe. We're the victorious ones, not him! Remember that ;)

Then just to confirm what I heard in my Bible study, I received an email from my friend Trudy and it said, "I don't get discouraged because I know that the victory has already been won and that I am merely in the midst of skirmishes." You know, she's right! We've already won! Yippee!

I'd love to hear the scripture(s) your believing right now! Post them on Facebook or leave them in the comment section. I need to be reminded of His promises too!

Hope & Glory! To You ~ Love

Rebecca

tabforthesoul.blogspot.com

For Pete's Sake...

Disappointment With God is a book written by Phillip Yancy. During the writing of the book he found himself in the Chicago O' Hare Airport enduring a 5 hour flight delay on his way to attend a conference. The long delay and the late hour combined to create a melancholy mood. Next to him sat a wise, Godly woman headed to the same conference. During those long hours the two had plenty of time to rehash all of their childhood dysfunctions, the disappointments with the church, and their questions of faith.

Then for several minutes Phillip poured out his questions and frustrations about God... Because of the research he had done for his book, he felt burdened by other people's pain and sorrow. His mind rolled around trying to explain all the disappointments, the unanswered prayers. His new friend listened to him as he unpacked the questions of his heart. And then out of nowhere she asked a question that he says has stayed with him a long time. She asked, "Phillip. Phillip, do you ever just let God love you?"

I heard this story during one of Chuck Swindol's messages. It stopped me in my tracks. I've been trying so hard to get it all done and to do it all well; striving for something, but I don't even know for sure what! I too wear the burden of others heartaches and the wrongs of society. Suddenly I felt those words grasp my heart on both sides and force me to look up. I heard God say, "Rebecca! Rebecca, will you ever just let Me love you?"

Then it dawned on me. God's been trying to get my attention. He's been trying to love me. These unexpected blessings lately, it's been God saying, "Rebecca, for Pete's sake, will you just let Me love you?"

That is why He came, you know. Why else would He leave His dream job, His dream home, His best friends? He did it so we could be in relationship with Him. He is such a humble, sacrificial God! Let that wash over you today!

Jeremiah 31:3 "... I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

So I ask you..."Will you ever just let Him love you?"

Hope & Glory! To You ~ Love

Rebecca

This is it!

Hey All ~

Its not like their assistants could just pick up the phone and call the travel agent to book their trip. In fact they didn’t even have the convenience of a phone or an airport. They only possessed a hunch…and lots of power to act upon it. They gathered their resources and made the arrangements; all the while looking up each night to make sure that star was not some crazy figment of their imagination.

The hired guides mapped out the safest route. Moving high profile men through the desert with minimal protection proved to be no small feat. This gig could be the big brake these escorts have been looking for! Imagine the business they’d pick up if all went well…then again, one little misstep and they wouldn’t have to worry their little turban heads about where their next job would come from. They probably won’t even have a head to worry about! The royal chefs and bakers whipped up some of their respective king’s favorite comfort foods. The members of the entourage kissed their loved ones good- bye as the date for departure arrived. And the gift…yeah, the gift…what to bring the newborn king? Each wise man secured the exquisite gift they chose and delivered it to the hands of their most trusted servant.

After days of grueling journey, they found themselves in the outskirts of a humble village. The night sky seemed black as midnight with the exception of a single starry diamond illuminating planet earth. Tonight felt different. Maybe this would be the day all of their effort and sacrifice would be worth it. Perhaps this would be the night they could find the king they had come so far to honor. Suddenly the head guide shouted, “Hold up everyone.” The command passed back through the group and the camels slowed, circling the area. “This is it! ”

The Wise men looked around and then glanced at each other with a raised eyebrow and repeated, “This is it? This? Are you certain?” One could almost hear the dust mites in their snug dirt huts as everyone held their breath for the confirmation. The guides hopped off their beasts, spread out the map holding the torch close enough to see. Instinctively the head guide looked up to the heavenly marker as the rest of the group followed suit. “Yep. No mistake folks. This is it!”

This…is it? This is the chosen destination?

The countless hours, the manpower and the risk lead us to “this”? I honestly don’t know what the Wise men expected, but I think it’s pretty safe to say they didn’t exactly expect “this”. Were they expecting to be greeted and courted to a fine feast and luxurious accommodations? After all they had sacrificed to make the journey, it hardly seems an unreasonable wish. While we don’t know all that happened, we do know they didn’t let the “this” in their life stop them from giving their very best. We know they didn’t turn around in a huff and go home. We know they found the Christ Child and offered their very best; gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Can you relate? You’ve had times you’ve given and sacrificed. And although you don’t really say it out loud, deep in your heart you wish God had something better up his sleeve for you; a better role, a more exciting task, a greater influence, a prettier spot, a better salary, a happier marriage or even just a husband! But you find yourself with wrinkled forehead as you ask, “This is it?”

May the example of the Wise men encourage us not to hold back our best when our “this” is not what we expected. What I love about this thought is that the Wise men understood the gift for Jesus would mean the same to Him in “this” spot as in the one they had imagined. So it is with us. Don’t hold back for a better day or a better “this”. Give Him your all in “this” place today!

Merry Christmas everyone! As you give and receive gifts this year, let them each be a humble token of the greatest gift ever given.

Hope & Glory to You!

Rebecca