With a look up to the Heavens, I see the stars shining back down upon me. Off in the distance, I hear a passionate African pastor- proclaiming loudly to his congregation of Christ’s death. Although it’s in saswati, the passion in his voice is as clear as this evening sky.
It’s Good Friday here in Swaziland Africa. I’m sitting outside by myself and the rest of the people are gathered inside in the main room lit up by candles. The song With Everything has just finished playing.
I had to leave the room.
I had to escape.
I had to get out.
It was a moment in which I could feel God speaking to my heart, “Come, my dear child, allow me to romance you. Allow me to sing to you through the crickets in the grass and the twinkling of the starry sky. Allow the cool wind that you feel upon you, to be MY breath and to breathe truth back into you. I know your tired. I know your counting down days till you see your family and friends at home. That is fine, I’ve stirred a new love and passion within you, for them. It’s pure, it’s good and it’s Holy.
Yet, my dear child, in this moment, still your heart and forget about home. In this moment, allow My simple love to flow within you. Filling you up the way you need to be filled. The race isn’t finished. It doesn’t end upon you landing at home. This is just the start. I have called you to something much greater than an 11 month trip.
I know your worried. Hey, I know if your really honest with yourself, your terrified. Terrified of returning home and not being able to “measure up”. Terrified of no longer being able to “fit in”, or of what the future holds.
But stop.
Look up!! Do you see that star twinkling off in the distance?!? It’s dancing. It’s singing praises to me. That’s what I created it to do.
See the blood red moon coming up in the distance?!? Long before you were even a thought in your parents head, I created that moon just for you. I created it, knowing you’d be sitting outside, at 8:24 pm on April 18, 2014 on a chilly African evening. Don’t you see? I knew your feet would be on African soil for the third time. 3 times more than what you ever even dreamed of. Africa has become a place that has taken you three years to realize, that this is where you belong. I’ve made you in My image, for a time like now.
Relax, breathe.
Like a father holding a new born baby safe in his arms, so I too, am holding you.
Only MY LOVE is far Greater than any earthy fathers love ever could be.
YOU ARE MINE!!
I died a gruesome death on a cross, for you to be right here, right now in this moment. I stretched my arms opened wide and felt the hammer hit the nail, in my blood soaked hands, every-time.
Every single time, my thought was on You. Your worth it. You are so very worth it. Let go of the pain, the shame, the expectations others…and yourself…have place upon you. Your free from that. Your free of the sins of this world. Learn to walk in that freedom. Better yet, DANCE.
Dance with ME in that freedom.
I love you.
Precious daughter,
I LOVE YOU
“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3 NIV)
But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” (Psalm 31:14 NIV)
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14 NIV)
