Yes, I am still alive. And no, I have not been in the hospital, nor was I in a life altering accident which kept me from making it to the top of the Empire State building to meet my true love so we could run away together. (BTW, We already ran away together.) But thank you for your concern. I have not posted in a few weeks due to the comings and goings and trappings of this crazy beautiful life.
I thought I would take a momentary breather to check in with you, the friend, the stranger, the reader. So ... whew... let's just sit back. That's right. Stretch your arms over your head. Let out a good long sigh, the kind makes your soul reverberate with the restfulness of a rainy spring day coming to a close. It's ok. You can close your eyes if you want to. Now open them again so you can keep reading.
I am learning again and again the importance of resting. A few weeks ago my friend, Anna, and I headed to the beach for a 48 hour whirlwind Florida bonanza. 18+ hours driving, approximately 4 hours eating, 2+ hours shopping, 10 hours sleeping, 1 hour fueling the car, 10 beach hours, and a miscellaneous 3 hours that were lost in the shuffle of bathroom breaks, pit stops, showers, and absolute randomness. When I got back, people consistently (mainly men) asked me one question. "Was it worth it?" To which I promptly declared, "Yes!" We were tired, and sun burnt, but joyful and at peace. Was it the salt of the sea or the sand in our toes? No! While I love the ocean more than any human should, the beach didn't make this trip restful. It was
windy and sand was burrowing in our hair, ears, and eyebrows.
As beautiful as the beach is and was, it was Jesus who met with me and gave me His peace. Every grain of sand and rush of salt water upon the shore reminded me of His creative genius, His constant presence, His sovereign bigness. He filled me with His peace as I gleaned promises from His Word in the morning by the sea shore before we left. I took short walks up and down the shoreline, gathering bits of shells and sand dollars. I was overwhelmed with the sense that the Spirit was telling me that each trinket I picked up was a gift from God.
I felt like He was right there with me and walking with me the way my earthly dad walked with my sister and I along the same shore so tangibly two summers ago. With every wave that rolled in, I was reminded of God's overwhelming love and mercies that are new every morning. Peace flooded my soul as He spoke truth to me through the Word, reminding me that He is my Fortress and Shield. Whom shall I fear?
Sunday we celebrated Easter and though Blake was sick and most family was absent, we were filled with joy as we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. He is alive! Death has no power over us now! We are no longer slaves to sin and hate and evil but today we are free in Christ! I know the Spirit of Christ Jesus met me on the seashore and was with me by the waves because I know He is alive and sitting at the right hand of God. His is intentionally pursuing each one of us, loving us, and calling us to a closer walk with Him! Listen for His voice and meet Him in the Word. He is waiting for you. Go walk with Him a while and recieve the peace He freely gives.
"35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:35-39
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