Zephaniah 3:17 PAGE 92

Being a parent is hard. There is a need for structure as well as flexibility, and then a balance of both. I try to give lots of breathing space-to allow for the joy of life to ebb and flow… but at times, I’m caught off-guard by something and that spaciousness implodes upon itself like a painfully inhaled breath.  Misunderstandings can really damper freedom and when you’re raising teenagers there are times when pesky mix-ups arise like an un-welcomed guest.  Grace is the one mechanism that can fill our hearts again and allow freedom to expand, but the fall-out of the implosion still has to be cleaned up.  

THAT is where I was the other night, as I tried to fall asleep.  With tears, I sought a resolution.  I was frustrated that I missed the opportunity to be gracious and, instead, allowed misunderstanding into the home that I strive to make a haven for those with whom I live. Instead of a place of peace there was pain.  Unwittingly, grace was not extended to our child and because of that God stopped me in my tracks. I was genuinely upset but I didn’t know why; however, the Lord knew I needed a reminder of what grace is! I felt this need deeply, yet was at a loss.  I fell asleep needing my heart to be mended.  

The next morning, I was half-awake yet dreaming.  I envisioned what I thought was the wording Zephaniah 2:17 on a piece of luggage being carried through a crowd.  Sleepily, I consider blowing off this "out of left field" scripture... but chose to mutter it a few times and then opened my eyes enough to grab my phone to look up that verse; however, there isn’t a verse 17.  I wondered if I was mistaken and that perhaps it was actually Zechariah 2:17; but there is no such verse in that book either.  I was disappointed because I really needed to hear from the Lord but honestly felt that I needed to get my heart right before I could find peace.  In consolation, I quoted a familiar scripture to start my day and got up.  Over coffee, my husband and I agreed we needed to take the time to extend grace to our child and get our hearts back in the right place.  We left the topic there and went to get dressed for church. I was getting ready to meet with the Lord and He was ready to meet with me!

We arrived, chatted with a few folks and walked in just a bit late; the congregation was already singing. I looked up to the large screens in the front of the sanctuary, that provide words to the songs, and underneath, in typical fashion, there was scripture that related to the song.  It was Zephaniah 3:17!!!

It says:

“The Lord your God is with you,

the mighty warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
(make no mention of your past sins)

He will rejoice over you with singing!”

Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

NOW, THAT IS GRACE!!!  Mind-blowing Grace!

BTW:

The song, below, was playing in the car on the way to church

 and was also sung at the end of the service!

NOTHING is ironic! LOL 

Revelation Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HC08NgsPqA

Keeping Life Panoramic Page 91

A while back, through circumstance and irony, I experienced a “Spiritual Name-change”.  Long-story short – I believe God called my attention to the name Ezra and put me on a purposed path to figure out why. The answers and details are on page 66 (July 2017) of this blog.  Perplexing, I know and un-relatable to some, I’m sure, but God does indeed rename people. My story is just one of many. 

For the purpose of this writing- let me share some details on the process of my name change: Because of some major struggles, I began seeking answers through scripture and prayer. In turn, I had several piercing moments where particular scripture became “alive and active” within my circumstances. Perhaps you have had moments where you’ve said “Wow, that was nothing short of a miracle; It was either irony …. or God!” I’m here to tell you…it was both!  

Because of my uncommon experiences with irony, I’ve tucked a reverence for it into my heart and have chosen to keep my life panoramic-paying close attention to unusual details with great interest. I’ve established this foundation of faith using personal experience and I know, without doubt, we can hear from our invisible God through circumstance and irony. Because of this, my faith has been enhanced and my ability to hear from God sharpened. This has changed my life. 

This writing is a reminder that every spiritual aspect we practice is about deepening our understanding of God and building a friendship with the Creator of the Universe.   That’s pretty vast isn’t it! 

"For the word of God is alive and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,

joints and marrow; 

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Hebrews 4:12

Song Recommendation:

So Will I

By:  Hillsong UNITED

https://youtu.be/GfVd5x9W1Xc

A Subliminal Spiritual Activity Page 90

Prison Life

“Locked in place, I’ve watched life’s shadow move across that same ole wall.

I’ve seen many days pass across those bricks.

To avoid even a shimmer of truth,

 I blur my vision so that I do not see;

I tame my thoughts so that they do not roam wild

and bind my mind so that emotions lay in chains.

Once free, I bravely fought life’s battles and won.

Now I hold my passion as a prisoner within.

My mind is still; my soul tempestuous.

To find solace I’ve emptied my spirit that I may sit in silence-

…and, again hear the heart that is bound in my chest.” 

RvH~1995

When I look back into my mid-to-late twenties- I recall a great amount of time that seemed locked up in emptiness and my life seemed distinctly dormant. The writing above gives you a mental picture of that time!  Using scripture found in the book of Romans as a magnifying glass, as well as the gift of hindsight, I now realize I was being refined by God; however, in real-time, my experience felt like persistent, personal loss!  While I stoically watched friends  getting married-I was separated.  When others were having babies-I was divorced. When life seemed at its pinnacle for my peers-I was living alone in a one-bedroom apartment- wondering how I got there, and why? 

I put on a good face, but I was struggling.  It was then that I returned to my faith and began to seek God for answers.  I've always journaled, so I can look back and literally read about that time of growth but, as I lived it out, my life did not feel as if it were producing anything.  The scripture below contradicts my experience and states that "suffering produces".  This isn’t for the faint of heart:  

“But we also rejoice in our sufferings

because we know that suffering produces perseverance,

 perseverance, character and character, hope. 

And hope does not disappoint us, 

because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, 

whom he has given us.”

Romans 5: 3-5

Was I rejoicing during this time of confinement? No, but I opened my journal and the Bible and began seeking the Lord for a smidgen of hope to sustain me day-to-day! My personal change began there.  In private I prayed and God began to work.  I now believe He immediately began answering my prayers-but this wasn’t visible and I was required to stand on faith as I sat in hope. In desperation, many of us anxiously sit in hope; hoping, hoping, hoping.....hoping. Perhaps we haven't yet realized that our Hope is an Action Plan; a catalyst to persevere and a gracious derivative of suffering.

Honestly, my defiance had to be tamed and some maturity attained; God knew best how to do that! That time alone in my apartment felt like a prison sentence-but it was actually God’s gracious work of refinement.  I waited for my life to change and stepped into the Subliminal Spiritual Activity of waiting on the Lord! I’m beyond blessed to have found myself in the midst of that experience-for it was truly holy ground! 

God purposely placed me in a "time of waiting" and compassionately comforted me.  With the passage of time- slowly, and I mean slowly, over the years, my character was strengthened and a godly woman emerged-just as the Lord intended!  I prayed and a loyal relationship was built. I waited and my future was prepared. As I held on to hope in the Lord-my maturity was molded and my character set.  I waited on the Lord and when I was ready He graciously put my future into motion.  His timing was spot on and though it appeared I was lagging behind in life, all was as it should be and I eventually remarried my ex-husband and had three beautiful children.  That time alone with the Lord did not disappoint and I am who I am (a better Christian wife and mother) because of it.  

My friends, be encouraged: For those who are walking through times where there seems no hope -FAITH changes that. Trust in God puts things into motion! Don’t allow emotions to hinder you. PLEASE, sit in hope as you rise in your faith!  Find your hope in our creative God-that gives you a new day to arise and begin again… and an evening sky in which you may count your lucky stars!  To all of us God says,“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

I did and you can as well! 

“Then the Lord said to him, 

‘Take off your sandals, 

for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 

Acts 7:33

"Arise, shine....."
Isaiah 60:1

Song Recommendation:

New Wine
By:  Hillsong Worship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ozGKlOzEVc


So Will I (100 Billion X)

By:  Hillsong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfVd5x9W1Xc

As You Find Me

By:  Hillsong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0eXYR65Z2w