Remember when you used to bring home gifts for your parents which you'd made at school or in secret in your bedroom? The Valentine with the misspelled words and smeared glue, the misshapen clay pot with indecipherable pictures, the potholder with sections of missing weave? They received these gifts, if we were blessed with merciful parents, as if they were the most perfect and exquisite offerings ever given them. They oohed and aahed and squeezed the stuffings out of us with apparent delight at our creation.
You've probably heard the expression, "If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it." However, you'll find there not just your picture but every imperfect attempt at pleasing Him and expressing your love. Every gesture of mercy and kindness you've extended to others, every attempt to express His Truth in an inhospitable world, every courageous stance you've taken at the expense of the approbation of those whose opinion matters to you, every time you've resisted the temptation to hide inside the security of His love and let the world go wheresoever it will, and instead subjected yourself to ridicule and condemnation. No matter how flawed your efforts, how inarticulate your words, or how ineffective the results, He receives your gift with gladness. You will find He has not only posted your presents on His frig, but placed others on His coffee table, His nightstand, and His display case. He shows them proudly to His angels and His family in Heaven. No offering of love is ever rejected, and He can and will take your meager offering of a few small loaves and fish and do something wonderful with them, as only He can.
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If you think someone could use some encouragement and unconditional love today, feel free to share this, or any of the Morning Manna posts.
Julie
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Saturday, November 7, 2015
How Close Can You Get?
Have you ever had a pet, especially a large one, who kept trying to sit closer and closer to you, until finally he managed to get himself completely secured in your lap? I remember Drew's sweet lab/setter/collie, Mariah, who used to sit at our feet, then on our feet, then put her paws in our lap, then gradually (as if she though we might not notice) levitate her hind quarters into the much smaller space on top of us. It seemed she couldn't get close enough, and was happiest when she was nestled so closely that one would find it difficult to see where she left off and we began.
I remember sitting on my father's feet, with my head resting on his knees, while he watched football on television (black and white in those days). He was a tender-hearted, wonderful man but was raised by German parents that to express emotion was a sign of weakeness. Yet I also remember a special moment when he reached down, as I sat leaning against his legs, to stroke my hair. Yeshua has given me that very picture of Himself, except that He is not uncertain how to express love. My father is there with Him and with the Father, as the recipient of that well-expressed love that he so desired as a child, and it gives me joy to think of it. My mother, too, who often felt inadequate as a child, is now fully accepted, fully valued, fully loved.
We don't have to wait for heaven to experience intimacy with Adonai. Thankfully, my mother discovered that well before she left this earth. Those of us who long for unconditional love and affection can find it the very moment we open our hearts to it. This is sometimes easier said than done, if we have experiened consistent anger, neglect, or rejection from the people in our lives who should have loved us best. But Adonai is our Overcomer. He is our Peace, Who breaks down every wall*. When you try to climb up closer, not only will He not reject you, but He will look down into your eyes with tender joy at the sight of you, rejoicing that closeness to Him is your heart's desire. Try it. It doesn't matter how old or how big you are, whether you are man or woman. He is bigger.
Much bigger. You will always fit in His lap and always be welcome there.
*Ephesians 2:14
I thought I'd share a picture I've loved since I was small. It still,hangs on my wall.
I remember sitting on my father's feet, with my head resting on his knees, while he watched football on television (black and white in those days). He was a tender-hearted, wonderful man but was raised by German parents that to express emotion was a sign of weakeness. Yet I also remember a special moment when he reached down, as I sat leaning against his legs, to stroke my hair. Yeshua has given me that very picture of Himself, except that He is not uncertain how to express love. My father is there with Him and with the Father, as the recipient of that well-expressed love that he so desired as a child, and it gives me joy to think of it. My mother, too, who often felt inadequate as a child, is now fully accepted, fully valued, fully loved.
We don't have to wait for heaven to experience intimacy with Adonai. Thankfully, my mother discovered that well before she left this earth. Those of us who long for unconditional love and affection can find it the very moment we open our hearts to it. This is sometimes easier said than done, if we have experiened consistent anger, neglect, or rejection from the people in our lives who should have loved us best. But Adonai is our Overcomer. He is our Peace, Who breaks down every wall*. When you try to climb up closer, not only will He not reject you, but He will look down into your eyes with tender joy at the sight of you, rejoicing that closeness to Him is your heart's desire. Try it. It doesn't matter how old or how big you are, whether you are man or woman. He is bigger.
Much bigger. You will always fit in His lap and always be welcome there.
*Ephesians 2:14
I thought I'd share a picture I've loved since I was small. It still,hangs on my wall.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
The Best Man
I was reading this familiar passage in the Gospel of John, and as often happens when we reread the Scriptures, it struck a new chord in me.
"Yochanan (John) answered..."You yourselves can confirm that I did not say I was the Messiah, but that I have been sent ahead of him. The bridegroom is the one who has the bride; but the bridegroom's friend, who stands and listens to him, is overjoyed at the sound of the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine is now complete. He must become more important, while I become less important." --John 3:28-30, Complete Jewish Bible
I attended a wedding recently and thought about how honored people are when chosen to be the Best Man or Maid of Honor or even groomsmen or bridesmaid. It's usually (not always, I know) a demonstration of true friendship, of the special role someone has played in the life of the groom or the bride. One is so very glad to see that special friend entering into a new era of his life. In some ways, it can also be bittersweet, however, because that friend will now have a new focus of her affection....
As I read John's words, it struck me that we are all both Best Man and Bride to Yeshua, no matter our gender. How privileged we are to serve in both roles. He, in turn, loves us as if we were the Only One...the one and only bride, the one Best Friend, and His focus is never turned from us.
Some maids of honor and best men take their role very seriously. With a true servant's heart, they set about doing everything they can to lift up and honor the bride or groom, working behind the scenes to bless their friends. Their acts of service are often hidden from others. They commit themselves, not only for the events leading up to the wedding day, but also in the years to come...to be there, "come hell or high water," as the saying goes.
Yeshua offers us all the role of Best Friend. Whether we receive the offer gladly, delighting (as John did) in the sound of His voice, is up to us. How much we foster that friendship is also up to us. He will come as close as we invite Him. He will share the deepest part of His heart if we spend significant time listening, as a true friend would. There's no other way to really get to know another to the point of intimate friendship, aside from reading his 'personal letters.' Doing all the talking won't do it. You learn very little about another by talking, unless you spend the greater amount of time listening to his response.
Those who tend to read this blog are most likely His Friend already. May we be ever more so. May our hearts leap when we hear His voice. May we one day rejoice at His coming and gladly sit by His side at the Wedding Feast as He is honored above all others.
"Yochanan (John) answered..."You yourselves can confirm that I did not say I was the Messiah, but that I have been sent ahead of him. The bridegroom is the one who has the bride; but the bridegroom's friend, who stands and listens to him, is overjoyed at the sound of the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine is now complete. He must become more important, while I become less important." --John 3:28-30, Complete Jewish Bible
I attended a wedding recently and thought about how honored people are when chosen to be the Best Man or Maid of Honor or even groomsmen or bridesmaid. It's usually (not always, I know) a demonstration of true friendship, of the special role someone has played in the life of the groom or the bride. One is so very glad to see that special friend entering into a new era of his life. In some ways, it can also be bittersweet, however, because that friend will now have a new focus of her affection....
As I read John's words, it struck me that we are all both Best Man and Bride to Yeshua, no matter our gender. How privileged we are to serve in both roles. He, in turn, loves us as if we were the Only One...the one and only bride, the one Best Friend, and His focus is never turned from us.
Some maids of honor and best men take their role very seriously. With a true servant's heart, they set about doing everything they can to lift up and honor the bride or groom, working behind the scenes to bless their friends. Their acts of service are often hidden from others. They commit themselves, not only for the events leading up to the wedding day, but also in the years to come...to be there, "come hell or high water," as the saying goes.
Yeshua offers us all the role of Best Friend. Whether we receive the offer gladly, delighting (as John did) in the sound of His voice, is up to us. How much we foster that friendship is also up to us. He will come as close as we invite Him. He will share the deepest part of His heart if we spend significant time listening, as a true friend would. There's no other way to really get to know another to the point of intimate friendship, aside from reading his 'personal letters.' Doing all the talking won't do it. You learn very little about another by talking, unless you spend the greater amount of time listening to his response.
Those who tend to read this blog are most likely His Friend already. May we be ever more so. May our hearts leap when we hear His voice. May we one day rejoice at His coming and gladly sit by His side at the Wedding Feast as He is honored above all others.
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