Today has been a day that, I believe, on the timeline of the life of our family will be a point that divides “before” and “after”. I can’t go into too many details at this point…things are still swirling around and all the dust hasn’t quite settled yet. God is moving around pieces, rearranging and re-aligning the players…as it is said in the movie that takes place in Narnia: “Aslan is on the move!”
God is in control. God has a perfect plan to redeem and restore His creation. In His infinite and sovereign wisdom, He invites you and I into that process! We are part of the re-creation. In fact, it is only when the CHURCH, the BRIDE of Christ takes up this cause with passion, unquenchable fire and total abandon, that the BRIDEGROOM will return to claim her! (us)
God is in control. God has a perfect plan to redeem and restore His creation. In His infinite and sovereign wisdom, He invites you and I into that process! We are part of the re-creation. In fact, it is only when the CHURCH, the BRIDE of Christ takes up this cause with passion, unquenchable fire and total abandon, that the BRIDEGROOM will return to claim her! (us)
Today, in my quiet time with the Lord, I was doing various reading. I read through Luke 10 upon a prompting by a blog entry by Seth Barnes (founder and director of Adventures in Missions) that can be found here. Jesus is sending out some of the very first missionaries, 72 of them. He tells them: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” (vs. 2) He is basically telling them to GO…bring nothing with you, don’t settle your affairs….this is urgent…SO…GO!! Wow, what faith this requires, what boldness! I. WANT. THAT.
I am also reading a book by Patricia King called Light Belongs In The Darkness which is all about how we are called to be the light of the world and bring the lost, sick, dying and destitute to the feet of Jesus. She writes about the Holy Spirit and the supernatural power this brings to our life…IF we choose to allow it to flow through us to a world which is crying out and waiting for it! This is new territory for me…I have so much to learn. Eric and I are hungry for this annointing. We desire this for our children; to live and move and operate in the Holy Spirit. We continually pray for more. More, so we can BE the hands and feet of Jesus. So we can spread the Gospel message by the way we live our lives. So much more of the Holy Spirit that it becomes less about us and all about HIM.
I will close this blog with a rather lengthy excerpt from King’s book. I read this today and I was weeping as the words reached down and ignited something deep within me. The following is a vision that King was given in 1980. It is so powerful and beautiful to picture the scene which she describes:
“The torch bearer sheepishly ascended the golden stairway that led to the massive altar. Trembling in absolute awe of the consuming fire that blazed ahead, she extended an unlit baton into the inferno. Drawing it out after a number of moments, she beheld the torch in amazement, as it now illuminated with an indescribable, unquenchable fire. Looking away from the torch to gaze once more at the altar, she stood speechless and oh so still. The atmosphere was silent – almost too much so. Then an audible voice – not just a voice but THE VOICE – shook the environment around her and commanded with unquestionable authority, “Run with the vision, run with the vision, run with the vision.”
The runner was to race with the torch held high. She was convinced that her mandate was not about her, but about the eternal light she carried. In response to the divine command that continued to echo vehemently within her heart, she ran down the stairs with strength and purpose, with the torch raised high. As she raced swiftly into a path saturated in deep darkness, she found her pace accelerating. Her feet were seemingly bound to an ordained roadway. A powerful presence of supernatural grace propelled her along the route. Her focus was undisturbed. She experienced a sense of weightlessness and inner rest as her body vigorously ran through darkness toward an unknown destination. No sign of fatigue or weariness bore upon her, only the essence of exhilaration. Her mission was clear and simple: Hold the torch high and run with the vision.
On each side of the path, eyes peered through the darkness. Although the runner was aware of her unseen observers, she was neither impressed nor distracted. Her mandate completely consumed her attention and focus. She continued to run for a fair distance when, in the darkness, the heavens all of a sudden rolled back to fill the horizon with brilliant flashes of light blue sky and glistening white clouds. Instead of running into darkness, she was now racing into heavenly glory. The path of pure transparent gold was now in clear view. As she ascended the path into the heavenlies, the runner continued with fervency in stride.
A loud chorus of celestial voices cheered and shouted, “Here they come! Here they come!” The runner was puzzled and thought, “Here they come? Who are they?”
Taking a moment to glance behind, she was shocked to see a multitude of people from every nation running on the golden pathway. Everywhere the torch had gone had brought illumination and brilliance; there was NO darkness. Multitudes now followed in this radiant light along a golden roadway into life everlasting. Heaven was cheering and celebrating with an indescribable excitement!”
Will we take up the torch and run toward the darkness? Will you?
“You are the light of the world…” Matthew 5:14a
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. ” Isaiah 60:1-3
I’m right behind you, Jen!