Monday, January 16, 2012

You are Beautiful

I came home last week after work to find some love notes on the mirrors in our apartment from my husband. These simple actions of love mean so much to me. This picture above inspired me to write to you oh readers of mine. The phrase "You are Beautiful" may not strike much emotion in you but to me, it gives my heart wings at times. And it is a phrase that never gets old because when I hear it from my husband and from my Savior I know just how much they mean what they say.

For many years, God's consistent message to me has been how beautiful He made me and how beautiful my growth is to Him. Too often, we can tend to toss aside our value, especially when it is God telling it to us in many ways. When I look at the snow fall, I see how much God loves me and thinks I am beautiful. When I see how amazing a sunset is, I see the promises of God and I know God calls me beautiful. Everyday, there is something that God shows me to reveal this simple truth. It is like He is my lover who planted the tree in the backyard that I love just so that everyday I would know how great His love for me is... in fact, He showed me how deep His love for me was the day He died on a cross of wood from a tree that was planted for that very intention.

God uses my husband to communicate this same truth. I could not be more grateful for this! In fact, it has become a part of my daily life that I love and hold close to my heart every time I hear how beautiful I am from my husband. I must also say that there is a difference between having one say it and another mean it with every fiber in their being. For example: One can say that they love you but if they do not show it in their actions, the phrase is simply just words that have a superficial meaning to them. A person's actions reveal the truth and sincerity behind their words. It does not have to be complicated. Sometimes the simplest gesture can have a thousand meanings. And the person has to be able to be at a place where they can see it, hear it, and accept it deep into themselves.

I sense that many of you have been deeply, deeply wounded. In some ways, we all are alike because we are able to understand the pain of betrayal, rejection, gossip/slander, and so much more. When we allow God to heal these wounds and show us how safe He is, we are finally able to see, hear and accept our true value, our true identity. Too many times, we toss aside our true identity because we have yet to believe what God tells us about ourselves because of the pain (some of you may live or work in an environment where negative/false identities of who you are, are planted in your heart... or you may be holding onto the pain because that is what you are used to), while other times we just ignore His voice whispering in our ear because instead of living WITH Him we think that living for Him is the same and we remain busy.

So BEAUTIFUL ONE, you are deeply loved and you have a God who gave all and designed this earth to show you your value. The next time you see a flower growing through the cracks of pavement, or the sun rise from the darkness, know it was God who was thinking of you when He set it all in motion. His every thought is you! You are beautiful to Him. Soak it in, embrace it, and accept this truth. He has so much more He wants to show you. Accept His extended hands to be swept up into His arms as He longs to dance with you. You have no need to worry about the steps to this dance because all that matters to Him is that you are in His arms. Just keep looking in His eyes. There lies the truth of who you are. He does not lie. To you He says, "You are Beautiful, my Beloved."

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

My Life: A Bottle to Break Over Your Feet...


For the first time in weeks, I have some extra time to write about things on my heart. I must admit that I am tired, worn out and I feel a little beat up. There are so many good things that are happening and about to take place, but in the middle the enemy attempts to steal my joy. When life gets tough, I have to remind myself that God holds my heart and He is what matters.

At the moment, I am having an evening that reminds me of moments that I enjoyed from my years of being single. My husband is at a class tonight and it is strange that I am by myself. As I think this way, it also occurs to me that it seems strange that I would think that this is strange at all, because when I was single I thrived on nights like this. Nights where I would have a bubble bath by candlelight, eat junk food, and watch a girly movie.  These moments that I have enjoyed and am currently enjoying, are my favorite because Jesus meets with me here. I thrive being in the presence of God. It is all I want.

There is a song by Misty Edwards with a line that says, “I want to put my passion in a bottle and break it over your feet”, like the time Mary anointed Jesus with perfume. If I could put all that I am; all my dreams; all my passions; all my love; all of me into a bottle I would want to break it over Jesus’ feet and anoint him with it. As I think about what this means, it puts my heartache into perspective. My heart can be that bottle and each time that it breaks it pours a little bit more of my passion and life onto His feet as a love sacrifice. There is nothing more that I would want other than to love my Savior in this way.

As I reflect over the past year, all of the heartache was worth it. It helped fill up the bottle of expensive perfume to anoint over the feet of the one who calls me Beloved. What is even better is that my bottle fills up with not just heartache but of thanks for all of the wonderful things that God did for me this past year. 2011 was amazing in so many ways, and I get to wake up to one of the most precious gifts God has given me every morning!

Even though I am tired and beaten, my soul sings and my lips will forever give Him praise. I will live my life filling my bottle to pour over Jesus’ feet. No matter how many tears I cry, or how my heart might ache, and even if I may have a hard time breathing for the feeling of a sword piercing my heart, it is worth every priceless drop of my life over His feet. I am indeed a woman in love. And Love constantly sweeps me off of my feet into a sweet romance that is my life. Here I am. Forever yours.