Shouting Glory Cries

3 things to boast and glory in.. Our sufferings, our weeknesses, and God's love...

There have been times that God's healing love has so gripped my heart in the midst of my own pain and struggle that I get the priveledge of knowing His pain and suffering. And the unending compassion in his heart for us all. And the honor of loving others with that very love from his brokenness.
And then there are times where my sufferings are ripping out my heart and I am overtaken by the lies amidst the pain. Those sorts of sufferings don't seem to yield the glory worth being revealed kind of crop. It's those times I feel lost. And my sunshine peaking out of the clouds is to glory in my Father's great extravagant love for me. Because when I am week, my father is the strong one who's love battles the enemy right on out of my camp and sets up a glory light of liquid love that is a wall of fire around me. He challenges the lies. Roots them out and shows me the truth... Strengthens my heart so I can be a router of 10 thousands.

So whether my sufferings are pure and you can feel the gold refining, or they are exposing wood, hay, and stubble, my Father is the victorious one who leads us to triumph over the enemy. And is worthy of glory shouts from deep in our spirits.. Our glory shouts are battle cries of victory hope to our fellow soldiers. So let your glory shouts be heard across the battle field! Remind your hard pressed soldiers of the hope we persevere and endure for. The hope that never disappoints. And the love that conquers all!

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
-Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)

Hello Patience! I Didn't Know You Were My Friend!

Suddenly, I find that it is Patience standing as a stumbling block in my pathway. I have stumbled and stumbled and stumbled over this rock time after time.. And here it still sits in the pathway one step in front of me. The stone that is making me stumble. I have tried to get around it countless times. To skip over it. Strike it.. Leap high enough to reach the other side.. But one thing I have not tried until now is to lay on top of it and rest my weary bones. 

Haha! This stone that makes me stumble! I never knew it was my friend! I will embrace the stumble stone.. And rest.

A Memory That Heals

God gave me a gift when I was in Germany. 10 years later, I am realizing it's secret value. 

He had pepper gray hair, a big broad shouldered man who built on to his 400 year old house from scratch with rough hewn timbers. Somehow, I was instantly his favorite. He treated me like a father would his daughter. The special gift was his attentiveness. He noticed me.. In a sweet caring fatherly provider kind of a way. He had a keen eye to notice that I was hungry or might need a drink. Always came to offer me his arm under his umbrella when it rained. It was like he took me under his wing while I was in his company to make sure my hosts were on top of things concerning me. His smile towards me was full of confidence and strength. And when it came time to say goodbye, he kissed me on the forehead! 

It meant so much to me because my hosts were frequently oblivious to some of my basic needs and since they were paying, I didn't feel I could ask for food if they weren't hungry at the moment.

What a treasure! I have discovered God was treating my heart to a wonderful revelation of his ever attentive shepherding heart towards me, a little memory to bask in, mediate on.. And let it teach my heart the truth about my heavenly Father and how He cares for me so attentively.

I had a dream that seemed a mystery to me once.. And I've been pondering it lately.. And I think the revelation has arrived! 

He used that confident shepherd in Germany to speak to my spirit about his father heart towards me! And though my expectations for a husband seem to have been train wrecked, He is holding me high up in His high tower.. I'm sitting on His lap and he is reading to me an alive story of hope in the midst of suffering.