Baby, Fresh From Heaven

His fresh-from-Heaven arrival is close (but not yet).

His due date (guess date I call it) was yesterday.

Everyone, his young parents (this is their first), grandparents (our first grandson), aunts, uncles, loved ones … we’re all so anxious and excited.

Yesterday, my husband snapped a photo of his car seat already nestled in his Dad’s car.

His mother is graciously managing all the texts and FB posts inquiring of his status, are you in labor, is he here yet, what did the doctor say? She just posted, “Keep Calm and wait for Baby Noah.”

It is so close and yet it is his and God’s timing. It will be perfect, the time when he arrives. He will be perfect because he is being fashioned by the sovereign hands of God and he is being delivered fresh from Heaven.

He is already loved in extreme proportions and blessed by a ‘village’ of family and friends who not only love him, but also love God.

So close, any day now, fresh from Heaven.

“For this child, she prayed.”

Five Minute Friday: CLOSE
Linking to http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/

Jehovah-Sabaoth (My Protector)

I have tried to dismiss it, didn’t want to entertain it, but it won’t go away.
Less than a week after I experienced one of my dream adventures of flying in a hot air balloon in Albuquerque NM, there was a tragic hot air balloon crash in rural VA. When I heard the news report, I gasped and exclaimed, Lord Jesus! Then I just didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t want to think how it could have happened to my flight, that if that accident had happened prior to my flight, I might not have taken it, yada yada yada. Then hearing more details of the accident, thinking how fortunate I was to have had a veteran pilot and that none of the circumstances surrounding the fatal flight were common to my flight, yada, yada, yada.

Lord, forgive me. Shame on me!
Instead of dismissing it, I owe God a praise, a public praise.

God covered and protected me like He does every single waking moment of my life. Like He does for each of us. The routine things we take for granted everyday. There are occasions every single day when our lives are in danger but for God’s mystery covering (as my Pastor says). His angels protect us from dangers seen and unseen.
So, Lord Jesus, I thank YOU!

I thank You, that on May 1, 2014 when I was flying in a hot air balloon along the Rio Grande River in Albuquerque NM, You covered me. Thank You for the experience of a lifetime, but more importantly, thank You for Your protection, for being my Jehovah-Sabaoth (Protector).

When I didn’t think to pray for Your covering, You covered me.
When I didn’t have the foresight to invite your angels to encamp round about me, You covered me.
When I take things for granted each day, You cover me.
When I fail to invite You or acknowledge You in my decisions, You cover me.
So, Lord Jesus, in words that are not commensurate with the magnitude of Your grace, mercy and love towards me, I say, thank YOU!

Lesson: Do not be like the nine, be like the one who turned back and gave thanks. Never take any of God’s blessings for granted. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and everything He does.

When you know to give God praise, do it. He is so worthy!

STRETCH!

My sister taught us in Sunday School this past Sunday that we are “GUSHERS” of promise. That we are pregnant with purpose and impact. She taught us that we cannot be pregnant forever, we must give birth at the time of full development. I am feeling a growth spurt in a very real way. I feel it physically although I know it is a STRETCHing in the totality of who I am, who I desire to be and what I desire to do. I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes by Rubin Hurricane Carter that states, “We must transcend the things and places that hold us” and another that states ‘we must leave or let go of the things that compromise our wholeness’.

While visiting Santa Fe earlier this week I saw a beautiful sculpture fixed in front of one of the galleries along Palace Avenue.  This masterpiece of a Native American woman immediately reminded me of a Greek term my Pastor taught about, Apokaradokia, which means watching with outstretched head; strained expectancy; and eager longing. I love this piece. It is alluring, regal, strong and profoundly engaging. Like her, I am anticipating God with every ounce of my being.
At the Divine Alignment Women’s Conference I attended in Albuquerque this past weekend, Pastor Michelle Beal used the analogy of how when we are in love, we check and wait for a call from our beloved. She told us to check out phones for a call from God or our log for a missed call from Him. I am concentrating on receiving His call, not missing one. I don’t know what it is, but I know God’s blessing is rich and He adds no sorrow to it. I know that what He has for me, is for me. I know that I am blessed in the city, the field, blessed coming and going, my home, my family, the workplace, the Sanctuary, simply blessed, blessed, blessed.
So I am looking out the window, around the corner, and through the open door with outstretched head and eager longing.
What about you? I encourage you again to STRETCH your expectation of Him. Do not sell God short. He can and will not fail, nor will He disappoint you.
O God, my heart, my mind, my soul, every part of me longs for You.
You alone fill my every longing, You alone fill my hope.
With complete openness (withholding nothing) and a tender heart, I anticipate You, I reach for You, I STRETCH.