Browsing Tag

Intimacy

Still Small Voice

Everlasting Love

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ast your cares upon Me for I care for you. Do not be deceived by the lies of the enemy. I love you with an everlasting love. Believe that, even when everything around you screams the opposite. I will never leave you nor forsake you. You are the apple of My eye. If anyone touches you to harm you, I will be your defender. I will always love you, comfort you, and remind you of My love for you. Do not fear, little one. I know your pain, your loss, your lonely heart. I have not abandoned you. You are being strengthened in the hard days. And each day you get through will bring you closer to My heart and closer to the day when our hearts will be one. When we see each other face to face. When My love will heal all of the past and be yours for eternity. Give Me your heart now and you will have My heart forever.

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." - 1 John 4:8 NIV

"The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." - Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV

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cha tus preocupaciones sobre Mí porque Yo cuido de ti. No te dejes engañar por las mentiras del enemigo. Te amo con un amor eterno. Créelo, incluso cuando todo a tu alrededor grita lo contrario. Nunca te dejaré ni te abandonaré. Tú eres la manzana de mi ojo. Si alguien te toca para hacerte daño, yo seré vuestro defensor. Siempre te amaré, te consolaré y te recordaré de Mi amor por ti. No temas, pequeña. Conozco tu dolor, tu pérdida, tu corazón solitario. No te he abandonado. Estás siendo fortalecida en los días difíciles. Y cada día que pasa te acercará más a Mi corazón y al día en que nuestros corazones serán uno. Cuando nos veremos cara a cara. Cuando Mi amor sanará todo el pasado y será tuyo por la eternidad. Dame tu corazón ahora y tendrás Mi corazón para siempre.

"Dejen todas sus preocupaciones a Dios, porque él se interesa por ustedes." - 1 Pedro 5:7 DHH

"El que no ama no ha conocido a Dios, porque Dios es amor." - 1 Juan 4:8 DHH

"Yo me aparecí a él de lejos. Yo te he amado con amor eterno; por eso te sigo tratando con bondad." - Jeremías 31:3 DHH

Still Small Voice

Day by Day

Reach out for My hand. I am right beside you. Open your heart to Me. I see the pain. I know it is there even though it feels like no one understands. Let me reset all those places of hurt. I know it is not easy to forget but I want to build new memories for you. I want to pull you forward and show you what lies ahead. Take one step with Me today. Listen to My words. They are faithful promises of My care for you. I know it feels lonely but I have never left your side. Yield to My Spirit and you will see the reality of who you were created to be. As your heavenly Father, you were created to be loved by Me. Let Me love you and show you My love day by day. Let us walk through this together.

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Extiende tu mano hacia la mía. Estoy justo a tu lado. Abreme tu corazón. Veo el dolor. Sé que está ahí aunque parezca que nadie lo entiende. Déjame restablecer todos esos lugares de dolor. Sé que no es fácil olvidar pero quiero crear nuevos recuerdos para ti. Quiero impulsarte hacia adelante y mostrarte lo que te espera. Da un paso conmigo hoy. Escucha Mis palabras. Son promesas fieles de Mi cuidado por ti. Sé que te sientes solo pero nunca Me he alejado de tu lado. Ríndete a Mi Espíritu y verás la realidad para que fuiste creado. Como tu Padre celestial, fuiste creado para ser amado por Mí. Déjame amarte y mostrarte Mi amor día a día. Recorramos esto juntos.

Still Small Voice

The Healing Balm

Cover, cover yourself with the warmth of My embrace. The winds of this world can be cold and bitter. But My embrace and words are a sweetness and a comfort for you. Come alongside Me and walk with Me. The fire from My blazing love for you will ignite your spirit and restore your soul. Deep in My heart I will cover you. In the secret place you are safe. Under the shadow of My wings you are protected. It is here that our intimacy is established. Let Us heal your heart of all its wounds. I will provide the healing balm to the wounds of your past. I have such a glorious plan for your future. Trust Me to heal you and guide you every step of the way. All your days are being used to tell the story of your overcoming victory through this life because you placed your heart in My care.
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Cúbrete, cúbrete con el calor de Mi abrazo. Los vientos de este mundo pueden ser fríos y amargos. Pero Mi abrazo y palabras son una dulzura y un consuelo para ti. Ven a Mí y camina Conmigo. El fuego de Mi ardiente amor por ti encenderá tu espíritu y restaurará tu alma. En lo profundo de Mi corazón te cubriré. En el lugar secreto estás a salvo. Bajo la sombra de Mis alas estás protegido. Es aquí donde se establece nuestra intimidad. Sanemos tu corazón de todas sus heridas. Proporcionaré el bálsamo curativo a las heridas de tu pasado. Tengo un plan tan glorioso para tu futuro. Confía en Mí para sanarte y guiarte en cada paso del camino. Todos tus días se utilizan para contar la historia de tu victoria superadora en esta vida porque pusiste tu corazón a Mi cuidado.

Devotional

Secrets of the Redwood Forest (Strong Roots)

Redwoods on a trail along the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway in Northern California. Photo / Merwyn Sanders II (2022)

The coastal redwoods, found mostly in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington, are the tallest trees on Earth. The secret strength that upholds these giant trees is found in their roots. They only go 6-12 feet deep but extend up to 100 feet wide and interlock with neighboring redwood trees.

Imagine a wide root system spread out underground giving it stability above ground through strong winds, earthquakes, storms, and floods. Their scientific name attests to their durability; sequoia sempervirens, which means “evergreen or everlasting.”

Roots are vitally important because they provide nutrients and stability. This is true in our spiritual life as well. However, their only as strong as the source of their strength.

dark night of the soul

Recently, I went through what could be described as a ‘dark night of the soul.’ The built up of stress at work revealed unresolved trauma from the past and erupted as severe anxiety coupled with depression for over a month. I was off work during that time and ended up making a prayerful decision to resign from a job I was at for 9 years that I viewed more as ministry than work.

However, when mechanisms are not in place to support staff, burnout usually follows. It was one of the hardest experiences I’ve been through. I’m still processing what led me to that place, the loss, the disappointment, but most importantly, discovering new depths in my relationship with God.

There’s always hope when we cry out to the God who loves us and who has promised to never leave us. And this love can reach us in varied ways. One of the ways God comforted and sustained me was through my friends. These friends prayed for me, nurtured me, fed me, listened to me, encouraged me, and presented the light of love in what felt like the darkest of nights, at the time. I know I would’ve made it through even if I was alone, but I wonder how long that would have taken. There is a reason why God once said that it is not good for man to be alone.

fellowship & unity

One of my takeaways from that recent experience is the value and necessity of fellowship with other like-minded believers. Just like the redwoods whose root system is comprised of the interlocked roots of many trees; our strength is found in unity of the faith. There were several key practices, many which were done daily, that contributed to the stability of the early Church and that can model that unity.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

When you fellowship with other believers, especially around the intimacy of a familial table, you’re taking the time to invest in getting to really know each other and share life’s journey, the good, the bad, and the ugly. You value each other, stir one another to love and good works, build each other up, you worship, pray, and learn together, and you share in the communion of Christ’s death, and meet each other’s needs. From this safe place you venture into ministry. On the other hand, a life lived in isolation breeds hopelessness, loneliness, and weakness.

rooted takeaways

  • We are connected to each other.
  • What we consume affects our brothers/sisters in Christ.
  • If we stay connected, we will get through life together.
  • The source of our strength holds our position and posture.

We’re living in a time when ‘church’ as we’ve known it may change and the call back to small intimate gatherings in homes may be necessary. With this in mind, I encourage you to begin to build some intimate relationships with brothers and sisters and start with a simple dinner around a table. This is what I now value and know to be necessary.

Devotional

The Feminine Plural

Many women feel less than, as if they lack something that will give them value. They may be estranged from their family, single or divorced, abused, infertile, lonely, or voiceless. They compare themselves to other women or men around them and all they can see is what they don’t have. But what if God’s intention for women is abundance in all the expected areas of life – family, intimacy, fruitfulness, friendship, and purpose, but only if she was willing to receive it in an unexpected way.

EVERY woman is capable of being a feminine plural.

EVERY woman is called to be a daughter, a wife, a mother, and a sister.

God has purposely chosen women to be a representation of the fullness of God. Just as He named Eve, the mother of all living – abundance is inherent in the makeup of a woman. She was designed to carry seed and produce life and live purposefully. A woman’s God-given heritage is waiting to be re-claimed.

Women —your fulfillment is in being ALL that God has created you to be. And that fulfillment is found in the company of the Triune God and His love for you.

Not in having an earthly family, but in being accepted in the Beloved.

Not in marrying a man, but in setting yourself apart to be the bride of Christ.

Not in having babies, but in birthing the Word of God from your spiritual womb.

Not in being liked or followed, but in denying your self and uplifting others.

Not in being a worldly success, but in living out your Spirit-driven purpose.

Family, marriage, pregnancy, community, and worldly success are earthly shadows of kingdom principles that are not yet fully manifested in their glorious state. Not all women will experience these conventional or expected norms, but the mystery is that abundant life can still be grasped. Who can ignore the distant echo of Jesus’ words reverberating down generations, The kingdom of God is within you.

Every woman has the potential to be all that she was made to be in the here and now. And its varied forms can happen all at once or in different seasons of a woman’s life. There is no need for jealousy or envy. God has given every woman the capacity to overflow in abundance.

EVERY woman can be a daughter — I will be a father to you. {2 Corinthians 6:18}

Some women have been adopted as children or have been in the foster care system, abused, rejected, neglected, or abandoned by their parents, victims of divorce, orphaned by disease, death, war or drugs. Simply put, some women feel alone and cry out for acceptance.

And from the deepest reserve of His love, God’s voice whispers, You, my dear child, are my daughter. I have chosen you. I knew you before you were knit in the womb. You have always belonged to me. Father, Son and Spirit are your dependable family and refuge.

EVERY woman can be a wife —Thy maker is thy husband. {Isaiah 54:5}

Jesus is calling every woman to be His bride – to an intimate spiritual relationship. She will be cherished, honored, empowered, fruitful, and safe. Jesus will meet a woman’s every need and transform her if she gives her self wholly to Him.

And He says, Come, come sweet bride. Listen to the gentle whispers of my love for you. I will comfort your aching, longing heart, and prepare it to receive. The secret of the depth of our fellowship is time. Set aside time every day to talk with me and I will reveal my secrets to you.

EVERY woman can be a mother — For more are the children of the desolate woman than the married wife. {Isaiah 54:1}

Once a woman has decided to give her heart to Jesus, the result of their union is abundant life. She will become a fruitful garden. He will tend to her and cause the North Wind to blow out her fragrance into the lives of the people around her.

As the seeds of God’s word are planted in her spiritual womb, the voice of Jesus whispers, The excess of my love will spill out for others through you. And you will comfort and care for my wounded children and you will feed the hungry – these are fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers. I have bundles of joy for you.

EVERY woman can be a sister — She had a sister who sat at the Lord’s feet. {Luke 10:39}

Surrendered women have a dynamic, personal assistant in the Holy Spirit. He reveals the deepest mysteries of Jesus. In silence and stillness, make time each day to listen and focus on the words and work of God. In yielding yourself, the Holy Spirit will be your influencer, your mentor, your teacher, your revealer, and your reminder. Strengthened by the Spirit you bandage, you carry, and you love your wearied, broken sisters.

And the gentle whisper of Jesus says, Be that sister who sits at the Lord’s feet. Be the sister who has loads of love and encouragement, the sister who edifies, the sister who teaches her sisters to seek the Lord with all their heart.

EVERY woman can have a purpose ­– You have come to your position for such a time as this. {Esther 4:14}

God makes everything beautiful in its time. All our sufferings are used for good. Some women feel like they’re permanent residents of a wasteland of buried dreams but God has a plan for each woman – confronting her past with her future to bring forth a dynamic now. You may be in a season of suffering or a season of waiting or a season of intimacy. But these are all leading to the revelation of your unique purpose.

And Christ whispers, Come with me, walk with me. Let’s hold hands. My visible scars will remind you I understand your brokenness. I will wipe your tears away in the company of my faithful love for you. I have wonderful plans for you – for us. Set your eyes on eternity – on me, and do not look back. Do not be afraid of your future. I am there.

My prayer for you, dear sister, is that God will empty your heart of regret, pain, loss, the shadow of death, loneliness, barrenness, and dreams deferred to make room for the fullness of God.

Embrace your feminine plurality. Abundance is yours!

Devotional

Deep is the Mystery of Intimacy

There is an endless cacophony of noise and voices entering our minds and hearts on a daily basis influencing us. Much of that is out of our control. But what if we deliberately chose to sit and hear from God himself.

My spirit has been yearning to enter into an even deeper intimacy with Jesus. I want to hear more of what His Spirit wants to share. But I know I’ll need to do some specific things for our relationship to flourish. It’s going to take time, focus and surrender. And I know I will have to sacrifice some things but what I expect to get in return will be worth the sacrifice.

When our spirit is silent and expectant our hearts are shaken to life. Sometimes I stretch forth my physical hands and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I get on my knees and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I pace around the room and sometimes I just stand still. It’s more a posture of the heart that God notices. He’s looking for someone that’s humbled in His presence, ready to listen and receive rather than quick to speak.

This intimacy is still such a mystery to me. And I believe it’s hard for some because it requires us to let go and trust.

But I truly believe the Spirit of God wants to whisper secrets from the heart of Jesus. On New Year’s Eve I received a gentle whisper that had my heart fluttering and my imagination dancing. It gave me a sneak peek of what we can expect from a deeper relationship with Jesus.

A Midnight Whisper from the Spirit

Wedding bells are ringing, wooing the bride of Christ.

At the midnight hour her heart is being prepared.

She will meet Him at dawn to begin a divine romance.

He will sweep her off her feet into the heavenlies.

Her first dance of true love with the Father will have the angels in awe.

The Son will then take His bride and show her His mansions.

Each day they will discover a hidden treasure together.

They will open new doors together;

enter into deeper rooms of revelations.

His heart will unlock rooms holding mysteries so deep,

her breath will be taken away.

There will be a library of books filled with words of love for His bride.

They will eat fruit baskets of grace and truth.

And He will take her to the throne room of mercy – a room of never-ending love and intimacy.

These are a couple of books I recommend that aided my intimacy journey with Jesus:

Secrets of the Secret Place by Bob Sorge

Desperately Deep by Lana Vawser