To Be

 

In order to let the dust settle, it has to stop being kicked around.

This world of networking in every way imagined has us stirred up like never before.  The bombardment of other peoples’ ideas, good or bad, has us in constant mental motion. 

Reading observations, realizations, inspirations, frustrations, persuasions, exasperation's, elation's and on; I got to the point where I wanted to shake the dust off from it all and for a bit,
just be. 

Be in this moment.

Be nothing more.

Be nothing less. 

Be.

That’s it.

And I found that place of peace. Quiet. And love. Just as I am.

A friend shared this with me and it came back to mind.  It’s Psalm 46:10a  and it is said in a slow way reaching the one word, “Be.”

“Be still and know that I am God.”

“Be still and know that I am.”

“Be still and know that I.”

“Be still and know that.”

“Be still and know.”

“Be still and.”

“Be still.”

“Be.”

Taking a moment to reach the  simplicity of peace that draws Him near.

Eyes On One

 

As Christmas nears, I am reading e-mails, messages, cards and posts. There is a sea of situations as unique as each life I am reading about. 

Anticipations of weddings, babies and first Christmas’ together.

There are those celebrating Christmas with the feeling of an absence of loved ones that no longer are with them. 

Some are deep in need of answered prayers.  A baby gasps for breath in a hospital, another’s brother is air-lifted on a heart-lung machine to Mayo, a toddler just diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at her routine check-up and now is suddenly leaving their home of Russia to get treatment in Cologne, Germany.

We pray.

There are those in treatment over-coming addictions, mental health being sought, and financial struggles to pay bills. There are the lonely and there are those that are surrounded by friends. There is the anniversary of cancer beaten and the celebration of new jobs miraculously given.

Praises are lifted by another set of parents whose child has returned home with breath again after weeks of being ventilated in the hospital.  Joy is expressed by friends and family returning home after long absences and the thrill of anticipation of loved one’s first-time visits.

Then there is a photo of a gentleman that has followed my Christian writings.  He lives in Ethiopia and he is standing with other Christian friends of his just outside of a prison wall. They are looking down upon blood that was shed at the door.  The photo needed no words. 

Lives lived, lives lost, but the hope of Salvation has come.

In this mix; cookies are being baked, prayers are being sought, Bible verses shared, friends stand together, gratitude for what is and hope for what will be; the people I am reading have one thing in common.  They all have their eyes on Jesus. 

They look to Him. They are thankful to Him. They place their hope in Him and know that love, grace, strength, peace and eternal life comes from Him. 

Our days have waves of highs and lows, but He is constant.  He came to us in a world needing Him and He is worthy of our praise.  Leaving the comforts of a throne to place His head in a manger, to be crowned with thorns, we are not forsaken.  Becoming "with us is God," the meaning of Immanuel, He did not remain separated from us, but took the sin that  separated us upon Himself to join us in this place and to bring us into His. 

His Kingdom come.

We are loved. 

This is Christmas. 

We look to One and there we find peace.

Psalm 29:11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world

Isaiah 9:6 

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

It's Okay

 

Striving, getting from here to there, making the right connections and trying to catch that right moment can bring about a huge amount of stress. 

A simple drive in a car brings about these same types of things.  Catching the light, choosing the right line on the entrance ramp, watching out for people in your way or getting around the ones that are slowing you up and most of all…getting there on time.

Freedom, relief and peace can come in such a simple phrase when we hear, “Its okay.”

I’ve realized I have finally reached that place in my life. It’s okay. 

Time after time God has shown me that no matter what I do, He is there and He takes care of me.  I can’t make it happen, but He can and He does. 

He’s timed a license plate in front of me that read, “O LORI” at a critical time for forgiveness.  He’s had me meet people that later are part of a bigger plan that He had already started.  He has timed things to the second after years of Him putting all the details together.  I didn’t miss that moment.  I got there exactly at the right time and so did the other person and events. 

In all of these things I have relaxed.  I know that when it seems I’m held up, it is His timing.  When I think it’s happening too fast, He helps me keep up. 

He’s got this.

Last week I was on my way to an evening planned for women that was offering prophetic encounter times.  I left home half an hour before it was to start.  I anticipated a 25 minute drive.

One road close after another.  A wrong turn.  A missed light.  Huge traffic back-ups and finally I got there.  It was the wrong campus. It had reached ridiculous status. I walked back across the parking lot with my head tipped back and laughingly said to God, “Are you kidding me?!”

I knew deep down He was with me and its okay. 

I began the trek to the other campus.  The same things happened.  I finally got to that church and the sign on the door said it was in the school next door.  I laughed out loud.  ‘”C’mon!  This is a prophetic encounter, do you You think You could have given me a clue as to at least one or two better roads to go on to get here?!”

I was nearly an hour and a half late at this point.

Humorously exasperated with Him, I walked up to the table where some women were taking names.  I told them what time I had left home and wished that the LORD could have given me a clue about the right roads to take since this was a night focusing on prophetic.  They giggled, too.  As I bent over to write my name on the list, there, three names ahead of mine was my dear friend’s name.  She had arrived not much earlier than me.

Neither of us knew that the other was attending or even knew about it.

A woman led me into the room filled with women singing and waiting for their time to go and pray.  Not knowing, she seated me directly in front of my friend. 

As I watched all of this happen, I nodded my head and smiled to myself, I knew I was right on time.  My friend saw me and waved at me with surprise as I slipped into my chair.

From behind me she reached her hand out and touched my shoulder and leaned forward and whispered in my ear that she needed a little favor.  She had wanted to record her prayer time and her recorder wasn’t working.  She asked if I could write things down for her when her prayer time was happening. 

The trust and friendship that we have for one another is special.  It was me that got to be with her and she was comfortable.  She also blessed me by writing for me, too.  I hadn’t even thought of doing that.

Later she shared how she had an appointment at work that ran late and she didn’t leave her home until 40 minutes after I had.  She even lived further away from the event than I did.  She also shared that she had thought to invite me to this event, but didn’t because she knew I normally had another study I attend on that night.  The LORD had her covered and He blessed me through it.  Had I arrived at the start time I would have probably have been done and had left and never saw her.

When I did head home, it only took me twenty minutes to get home.

My husband had just filled the car for me before I had left for this.  I wasn’t too low on gas, but I would have been with the unplanned detours and missed turns.  I got back and he saw the mileage on the car.  He couldn’t believe how many miles I had put on to go there and jokingly asked if I had driven to Canada.

Every little detail is covered.

Every little minute is His and when we realize that it’s okay, there is peace and blessing.

He’s got this.

Psalm 40:5  Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

Kiss

 

Let the thought of a kiss come to mind.  Think of giving one.  Think of receiving one. Think of someone that gave you a safe place or you gave a safe place in a kiss. As a child, as a parent, as a friend, as a family member, and to one you love; it happens in relationship.

 When you approach someone to kiss them, you are letting go of anything between you.  You come so close that you are vulnerable.  You trust in a relationship that will receive a gesture so near that you can breathe them in.  You probably remember the fragrance of those you love and care for because of how near you have been to them.   Producing a kiss to give to another is a pouring out of yourself.  It can be an expression of caring or protection, affection, comfort, assurance and a seal of how you feel about them or honor them.  You care.  You are there…and they matter.  

 When you receive a kiss you have allowed someone to draw near and offer themselves to you.  You allow yourself to be vulnerable to them as they have become vulnerable to you.  You allow them to connect to you; the breath and fragrance of their life near your own.

 A handshake is a connection literally at arms-length.

 But, the kiss is a place of great trust, vulnerability, relationship and grace. 

 It is a place of refuge…a place of peace.

 

Psalm 2 is filled with words that speak in advance about Jesus, the Son, and at the end of the chapter, a kiss.

 Psalm 2:12 ESV  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

 In the near relationship of the Son is the place of safety and peace.  The LORD is saying to “Kiss the Son.”

 

There is blessing there! In the nearness of a kiss there is refuge.  We are given permission in a direction to approach Him and to bring ourselves in such vulnerability to place a kiss upon Him.  We are not harmed in kissing Him, but instead given security and acceptance as we come near enough in affection to offer a kiss.  It is a place of love.

 When we distance ourselves from Him we are in the places of our own making or way that fails.  We perish in the way. We aren’t at peace no matter what we have tried.  When we finally realize this, that is when most of us turn to Him.  He always receives us.  He always makes Himself open for a kiss.  That is grace.  That is love.

The deepest betrayal to Jesus came by way of Judas.  Judas is described as, “one of the Twelve.”  These were those who were closest to Jesus.  They traveled with Him, ate with Him, slept near Him and served with Him.  They were the most privileged of all and He was nearest to them.  

 

Luke 2:47-48 NIV  While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

 Let that verse reach the fullness of understanding of the betrayal.  This was the way that Judas revealed who Jesus was to the high priests who were taking Him away to be crucified.

Judas was taking what God had given as a command for refuge and security, grace and peace to be used against the very One Who provides it.  It is staggering.  

 
Luke 22:49 NIV When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

 
51But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

In that time the others wanted to defend Jesus, but being Who He is, the place of refuge, He healed the one that was injured and said, “No more of this!”  He spoke against the place of fighting, betrayal, lies and animosity and He placed the wickedness to when, who and where they belong to …

  “when darkness reigns.”
 
Notice Jesus.  Notice His healing.  Notice His refuge.  Notice His grace.  Notice His Truth. Notice His peace.  Notice His love and forgiveness.
 
Yes, kiss the Son.  Kiss Him for all that He is for you.

God speaks about the ones that did not kiss Baal.  Baal is a pagan god and the name is also used in way of an idol.

 1 Kings 19:18  Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel --all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him."

These seven thousand were kept well and remained in Israel. These are the ones that have not gone so far as to find their security someplace else in an idol, or given their affection  or made themselves vulnerable. By not bowing their knees, they stayed strong standing up against Baal.  The kiss means a lot.

 We aren’t done kissing. 

As Christians, the Bible says to, “greet each other with a holy kiss.”   This is a gesture that does not allow anything to come between each other.  There is vulnerability, trust, caring, security, and peace. Forgiveness and grace are present.

In fact, it says it in MANY places to greet each other in Christ with a holy kiss.

•   Romans 16:16
• 1 Corinthians 16:20
• 2 Corinthians 13:12

A kiss that is holy is holy in Christ.

It is the purity of love, forgiveness and grace.

It is the heart of the message of grace.

Animosity aside is the peace within for a brother.

This is the message of the kiss.

 1 Peter 5:14  Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.