Resilient Heart

"I judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity."-John Wesley

"May You be all that's on my mind, all of the time. Let my heart be torn in two, until Your will is mine. Dearly Beloved, of my Soul. We desire YOU, God."

(worship song that keeps replaying in my mind...)

In recent weeks, I have faced a deep challenge. But, the Holy Spirit, who is the Great Teacher, and the Great friend, resounded with loud tones this word over me, giving identity and perspective. His much needed grace:

Resiliency

He told me, this is how He sees me.

And when God says something to you, it can be never be taken away.

Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" John 6:67-69

Hallelujah. Dearly Beloved of My Soul.

Resilency; defined:

re·sil·ient

: characterized or marked by resilience: asa : capable of withstanding shock without permanent deformation or ruptureb : tending to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

If God believes in you, no one can possibly be against you. He told me, resiliency is a sign of being "child-like." He told me that the joy of the Lord is my strength, and I am FREE.

Signs of a Resilient Child

* The ability to bounce back
* The capacity to have courage
* The motivation to move forward
* The power to stay centered
* The awareness of knowing themselves
* The gift of laughter
* The potential of showing promise
* The capacity to ask for help
* The tenacity to accomplish goals
* The willingness to share feelings
* The capability to connect with others
* The inspiration to give back

I began to hear "dreams of my heart" crying out for voice & audience. It occurred to me... perhaps that is what is "RESILIENT" about me. It is actually my HEART.

It was as I realized my heart is strong, my heart still dreams, my heart still hopes, my heart still believes, my heart WON'T GIVE UP... it was then, an even deeper revelation struck me, like mining PURE GOLD:

The movements of my heart; they move My God.

Who is this God, who makes His throne upon men's hearts? Who is this God who pursues me to the end?

He wants our love.

"I judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity."-John Wesley

"May You be all that's on my mind, all of the time. Let my heart be torn in two, until Your will is mine. Dearly Beloved, of my Soul. We desire YOU, God."

Great Gain

In that hidden moment of sacrifice, the choice was made. Humility's Choices. Wisdom's voice. In the Great Plain of Heaven's amphitheater, a cloud of witnesses sang anthems to the King of Love. Worship magnified. For through the eyes of human insight, it is foolishness to lose one's life; but the eternal scales of Glory call this:

Great Gain.

"Do you know the way you move me, in the secret place, you chose to die?"

(Misty Edwards, singing on intimacy produced from obedience and sacrifice in the secret place of the heart.)

So, have you ever faced incredible disappointment? Trials that seemed to produce much humbling?

Flip the script. Buy the gold refined in the fire. See from another perspective. Come up higher! Fly on eagle's wings.

Jesus Christ desires men's hearts as His Alabaster Throne. Forever.

No choice for love is ever wasted.

"Precious in the sight of the LORD
Is the death of His saints."- Psalm 116:15

When we chose in this life, to lay down our life, it is then we really FIND it.

Great Gain.

“And I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. "I and the Father are one.” - John 10: 28-30

Another Man's Story

Living for Another Age

"...so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the Revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, YOU LOVE HIM..."

-1 Peter 1: 7-8

There is a Love that emptied Himself.

"This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I just as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for a friend. You are My friends if you do what I command you." John 15:12-14

His love is more real, than the dim lit world we live in. More real than the shards of reality; pieced together through perceptions; foggy from the spirit of the carnal age. If we saw Him now, face to face, we would never be the same.

I have lived a lot of life. Seen a lot of things. Been many places. Forgiven much. Loved much. Hurt many. Forgotten some. Offered faithfulness at times. Fallen down. Persevered on. But what is the point to glory in these things? Or to disqualify based on these things? To pursue ambition for the audience of mankind?

"He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Deuteronomy 8:3

But, now I journey on a pilgrimage. Living for another age. Another day. Another Man's story. His very story. His-tory. In the making. His story in the making. In the making; in me.

Yeshua. The God who became man. Walked the earth. His story is living inside of me. I will live for the glory of this Humble King.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by FAITH in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." -Galatians 2:20

"...and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." -1 Peter 1: 8-9

"You shall love Me with your whole heart, mind, soul and strength... You shall love the Lord your God, and serve Him, only."

You shall love.

And the lovesick anthem is welling up. "Maranatha!" Come, Lord Jesus. Return to us, we pray.

...the Son of God, who loved me. He gave Himself for me.