In the woods with daddy.

In the woods with daddy.

The past couple of days, I have had the pure honor of sitting in on teachings from a Strong and mighty warrior of the Lord. It’s in these talks that the Lord used him to wreck my world, and my view point of fear.

FEAR.

Isn’t that something, if we were completely honest, we would have to admit we all struggle with? There are all kinds of fear, and it comes in may forms. The fear of man, (aka, what other people think of me). The fear of failure, the fear of jumping off that cliff and into the unknown, on and on it can go.

But you know what? Fear is nothing but a filthy liar! As a daughter of the King of heaven, fear is not mine to pick up. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”. 2nd Timothy 1:7. Fear is a weapon that the enemy loves to use against us. It causes us to stand still, to take a step back from fighting in the spiritual realms. It puts us in a position of handing control over to him. 

I grew up with the most incredible dad, who just happens to love hunting. I’ve spent countless hours in hunting blinds with him, out in the thick of the northern Michigan woods. When you deer hunt, you wait until after the world has fallen dark to leave the blind, taking the trek back to the car. My dad has no fear of the dark woods. None. 

As a little girl, this spoke volumes to me. As long as I was with him in those dark places, I wasn’t afraid either. He was right there by my side, holding my hand, guiding me in the right direction. I had confidence in him, that even if we were to get attacked by a bear, my dad had a weapon at his side, and he knew how to use it. He wasn’t about to let anything happen to me.

When Christ was resurrected from the grave, he conquered death, and plundered the gates of hell, stripping it of all it’s weapons.

Colossians 2:15 says “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities (of their power). He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross”. (NLT) Another version says that Jesus “stripped the principalities and the powers”. 

Last night, I was awoken at 3am, and fear threatened to surround me. I knew that this was a turning point. I had the choice to stand my ground and fight this, putting into action all of these notes and wisdom I’ve been taught this last week, or I could give in to the enemy and his lies, allowing myself to be held captive under the lie of fear.

I cried out to the Lord for his strength, and he brought to my heart all of those times I was out in the dark woods with my dad. Abba wasn’t afraid. He told me that I was a big girl, and even though he wasn’t holding my hand, I had to rely on him in faith. Although I couldn’t “feel him” he stood right there next to me, he was within me. 

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”. James 4:7 Fear now becomes our weapon to use against the enemy, Scripture promises are our sword.

This is my declaration, and I invite you to join me in this, that I will no longer allow the enemy to use the lie of fear over me. He who is in me is stronger than him who is in this world, and it is not me who should be afraid, but him! I have been given the brave and courageous spirit of a warrior. He has given me his complete armor (Ephesians 6:10-18) and I will choose to put on and clothe myself in his truths. 

Arise, my love

Arise, my love.

I recently came across a quote, and it made me shutter inside.

“We live like zombies.

 We wake up,

 carry out habits,

and go to sleep.

Only to wake up

 and do it again.

You exist,

but do you feel alive?”.

“This isn’t right!” I wanted to scream. This is not how Abba has created us to live, walking around like zombies?  But when I took a step back, this is how the vast majority of us live. I look at our families, our city, our nation, and my heart breaks. We walk around this earth tired, hurting, broken. It’s as though we drift through this life asleep.

I look back at my own life, and remember. I remember the emptiness of boring, daily routines. I felt like it was slowly killing me. I could be around people all day, but still feel so alone. My days were filled with small talk. People at work asking “how are you?” as I passed them in the hallways. They never even stopped walking. 

I knew Jesus. I had a relationship with him. He kept calling me to go deeper with him, and I kindly put him in a box,  holding him at a comfortable length. Where I didn’t have to surrender anything, and I still held all of the control. I felt like I was in a season of waiting. Waiting for what? I didn’t really know. But I knew that there had to be more. I felt like one of the disney princesses, waiting around for my life to begin.

Then, I fell madly in love with Jesus. His love for me lead me to surrender, and from that surrender came freedom. Sweet, sweet freedom. 

He kissed my forehead and awakened my soul.

Now I am fully alive! I have daily adventures, just by being with him. I know exactly who I am. I grasp the royalty that I am, as His daughter. I live in freedom and grace. I glow with the radiance he gives. I shine under the delight he bestows upon me. I know the love he has for me. 

Then, this morning, I was reading one of my favorite passages of scripture. It comes from Isaiah 60 and it reads;

“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
    and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn…

 Then you will look and be radiant,
    your heart will throb and swell with joy.

Papa showed me something that I hadn’t paid any special attention to before. His first call is to arise. Wake up sleeper! It’s the gentle and loving kiss on your forehead from your daddy, as your all snuggled up in your own comforts. He’s calling you to get up! Get out of this zombie funk you’ve fallen into. 

Awaken your soul to His love. Awaken your spirit to live this life! Then, oh only then dear one will you shine. Because His light has come, its here! 

Can’t you hear him?

 “Arise, my love. It’s time to awaken, it’s time to live”.

    

Swazi Goodbyes

Swazi Goodbyes

These sweet, precious children.

They play with my hair.

they climb up on my lap.

They squeeze my neck tight in a hug.

They stare deep into my eyes, and touch my cheek with their fingers.

They'll run around and play. Or they'll sit and snuggle with me for hours at a time.

They get all shy when you praise them for the good job they did coloring, then beam a smile that makes you wonder if they've ever been praised for anything in their entire lives...

They sing to me.

They hold my hands.

They snuggle in close.

But then the time comes. The time to say goodbye...

It hits me like a brick wall. I may never see this sweet child ever again. My heart grows heavy. Maybe a little angry

One day stands out in particular. We were visiting a certain carepoint, for only this one time. There was a little girl there. Probably around the age of five. I watched her walk up. Holding a bucket more than half her size, up upon her head.

She was more shy then most. Maybe that's why it surprised me when she edged ever so closer to me. A longing for love in her eyes. I took my time, making sure that she felt comfortable. But when the moment came, I swept her up into my lap.

She clung onto me, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck. Not saying a word. I held her tight. For how long, I really don't know. But it wasn't long enough. Then that time came again. We got our warning. We'd be heading out in five minutes.

It's then that I began that semi angry prayer.

Father, I don't want to leave her. I don't want to set her down, only to drive away, never to return to her again...

who is going to hold her then?

-I will, daughter.

Who will care for her, in the dark of the night??

-I will not leave her, for I am always with her.

Who will love her???

-daughter, I have loved her with an everlasting love...I knew her before she was formed in her mothers womb. I know her both coming and going. I have plans to prosper her, hope for her future... Don't you see, today I used you. To hold her, to love her. Now from this day on, she will be in your heart, in your prayers. Though you are leaving, I will be here, with her, all the days of her precious life.

It's those words, that Jesus spoke to my heart, that gave me the strength to say goodbye. Because although I wish I could hold her in my arms, every day from now on, right now, God has other plans for us both. I will trust that he will provide for her. That she will learn in depth of his love for her. That she will grow up, and receive an education, he will provide food, and water. To be cared for by someone who loves her. He will provide protection and that she will go on to serve Jesus.

I will trust that I'm not only saying goodbye. But instead, see you later! Because we will spend eternity together, in the presence of our King.