We were asked to write an essay called “This I Believe” about what really matters to us, as preparation for this world missions adventure called the World Race. This is what I believe…
I believe that God is so much bigger than my “normal.” And, that my “normal” needs to continuously change.
Normal. What is normal anyway? Normal is a perception of our current reality. And, our normal is transformed and changed as we add new truth to our reality. As truth is revealed our normal morphs to incorporate the new truth. So, therefore, our normal is constantly changing as new truths are introduced and we allow it to change.
Some people don’t want there normal to change and they allow themselves to live in a unrealistic world, one that is safe and that they can confine and understand. Well, I have come to realized that there is so much that I don’t understand. There is so much truth that I have not yet received and allowed to change my perception of normal.
Here is an example where my normal changed. I just recently got back from a conference in Lakeland, Florida. I witnessed something that I had never seen before. I believe in miracles and that people can be healed in the name of Jesus, but I had never seen anything like this. Todd Bentley had a vision, while he was preaching, about a woman in the audience who had no eardrum and said that God wanted to heal her. She came forward, which was incredible in itself that there was actually a woman in the crowd who indeed had no eardrum. Then, Todd prayed over the woman and with faith tested it out. He closed her good ear and gently snapped into the ear that previously had no ability to hear. The look on the woman’s face was priceless. She could hear! She was so astonished and filled with joy!
And, I praised God as he gave me another glimpse of who He is and that He allowed my normal to be changed. Now my normal includes God re-creating eardrums so that people can hear. And, tomorrow who knows. But, I am open to changing what I think is reality for the truth that is. God, please continuously change my perception of normal so that I will instead see through your eyes, the world as it really is.
*Here is a poem I wrote about the idea that the world as we see it is a blank canvas, but as God reveals His truth, the canvas becomes a masterpiece of vivid colors. There is so much going on beyond our vision.
White May Be, But Colors I See
Light shines through the hazy green windows
Penetrating deep into the language of the heart
Black shadows slowly disappear as truth unveils
Refreshing transparencies overlapping lingering shapes
Amber rays dance across the clear blue reflection
Wind gently whispering, revealing silent love
Hues of red-orange-yellow fading into shades of blue
Searching beyond oneself, imagination of the soul
Contentment overwhelms and peacefulness reigns
White may be, but colors I see.
