14 October 2007
There I will give her her vineyards ~ Hosea 2:15
10/20/07 04:52 PM
Where?... In the wilderness!
It is in that part of our sacred journey through life that may be the most difficult of all...where He gives us the deepest promises of restoration. The Israelites were freed from bondage and slavery by being wooed into the wilderness - that wild place of transition - on their way to inheriting their Promised Land. On God's calendar, He intended a 2 year journey of restoration - but their refusal to trust Him made it 40. Still, He kept His promise and they received back their vineyards in time.
During the prophet Isaiah's lifetime, God's people were in trouble again. They had deserted God and His ways and found themselves in a generation filled with judgement and mourning. Yet in the middle of consequences for their parents and their own rebellion, God says this about their restoration:
In that day [it will be said of the redeemed], a vineyard beloved and lovely; sing a responsive song to it and about it! I, the Lord, am it's Keeper; I water it every moment; lest anyone harm it, I guard and keep it night and day. ~ Isaiah 27: 2-3
Three chapters later, we see the desire of this amazing Keeper-God's heart. Right in the middle of their rebellion, shame and guilt He says, basically, because you are screwing up and will end up empty and broken...
Therefore... the Lord [earnestly] waits [ expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His matchless, unbroken companionship]! ~ Isaiah 30:18
God sees you...as a lovely vineyard, today, and He is your Keeper. He is continually wooing you to trust Him for full restoration. He earnestly waits to show loving-kindness to you. He longs to water you night and day. He is drawing you to a relationship of matchless, unbroken companionship!
It is in that part of our sacred journey through life that may be the most difficult of all...where He gives us the deepest promises of restoration. The Israelites were freed from bondage and slavery by being wooed into the wilderness - that wild place of transition - on their way to inheriting their Promised Land. On God's calendar, He intended a 2 year journey of restoration - but their refusal to trust Him made it 40. Still, He kept His promise and they received back their vineyards in time.
During the prophet Isaiah's lifetime, God's people were in trouble again. They had deserted God and His ways and found themselves in a generation filled with judgement and mourning. Yet in the middle of consequences for their parents and their own rebellion, God says this about their restoration:
In that day [it will be said of the redeemed], a vineyard beloved and lovely; sing a responsive song to it and about it! I, the Lord, am it's Keeper; I water it every moment; lest anyone harm it, I guard and keep it night and day. ~ Isaiah 27: 2-3
Three chapters later, we see the desire of this amazing Keeper-God's heart. Right in the middle of their rebellion, shame and guilt He says, basically, because you are screwing up and will end up empty and broken...
Therefore... the Lord [earnestly] waits [ expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His matchless, unbroken companionship]! ~ Isaiah 30:18
God sees you...as a lovely vineyard, today, and He is your Keeper. He is continually wooing you to trust Him for full restoration. He earnestly waits to show loving-kindness to you. He longs to water you night and day. He is drawing you to a relationship of matchless, unbroken companionship!
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My times are in Your Hands 3 ~ Psalm 31:15
10/18/07 11:11 AM
As I've said, God often speaks to me deeply when I turn another year older. This began in a notable way on my 30th birthday. I had been struggling with depression on and off for about a year. Friends had suggested a Godly counselor to me, but I was convinced if I had Jesus, it was a shame to myself and Him to need help with my emotions. Finally, after several cycles of hoping I was better - I made 'the call' and scheduled my first counseling appointment for August 29, 1989. Strangely, I did not realize until later that this was my birthday.
That morning, I was nervous! As I spent time with the Lord, He gave me a scripture I will never forget:
Hosea 2:14-16 Therefore, behold, I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak tenderly and to her heart. There I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor [troubling] to be for her a door of hope and expectation. And she shall sing there and respond as in the days of her youth and as at the time when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be in the day, says the Lord, that you will call Me Ishi [My Husband], and you shall no more call Me Baali [my Baal or my Master].
I needed all those things very much, but the last part kind of scared me. My marriage was falling apart and I hoped that I wouldn't need Him as my husband because I was going to lose my earthly one. Some very pain-filled months later, I did.
In the early days of recovery, I read the local newspaper one afternoon and saw someone was celebrating their 40th Wedding anniversary. I cried. And I said in my heart, "Lord, that's what I want. I still want a 40th wedding anniversary in my lifetime!"
Years later and still single, my 44th birthday was on a Sunday. Worship is a very sacred time for me and on this particular morning as I poured out my love to the Lord, suddenly, He appeared before me. I couldn't see Him, but I felt Him and I heard Him speak to my heart the most surprising words! "Happy 40th anniversary!!" He said to me. I was absolutely shocked and amazed to realize it was indeed 'our 40th anniversary,' as I had asked Him into my heart at 4 years old. I knew that day, whether I ever had another husband in my life - I'd had the best anyone could ask for - One who 'knew' me down to this long-forgotten tear-filled prayer of my heart; One full of surprises just because He loved to make me smile - and shed grateful tears instead of sad ones. And that day, I did.
Your times are in His hands. What season are you in? What has He said to you about it? What scriptures has He given you as journey markers for your NOW? Ask Him to speak to your heart again - through His 'Logos' - His written Word, and His 'rhema' - His freshly spoken Word. He loves you. He hears your prayers. And He wants to surprise you - again! You've got the best husband in the universe! (Guys, that's for you, too.) Pour out your heart to Him.
That morning, I was nervous! As I spent time with the Lord, He gave me a scripture I will never forget:
Hosea 2:14-16 Therefore, behold, I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak tenderly and to her heart. There I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor [troubling] to be for her a door of hope and expectation. And she shall sing there and respond as in the days of her youth and as at the time when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be in the day, says the Lord, that you will call Me Ishi [My Husband], and you shall no more call Me Baali [my Baal or my Master].
I needed all those things very much, but the last part kind of scared me. My marriage was falling apart and I hoped that I wouldn't need Him as my husband because I was going to lose my earthly one. Some very pain-filled months later, I did.
In the early days of recovery, I read the local newspaper one afternoon and saw someone was celebrating their 40th Wedding anniversary. I cried. And I said in my heart, "Lord, that's what I want. I still want a 40th wedding anniversary in my lifetime!"
Years later and still single, my 44th birthday was on a Sunday. Worship is a very sacred time for me and on this particular morning as I poured out my love to the Lord, suddenly, He appeared before me. I couldn't see Him, but I felt Him and I heard Him speak to my heart the most surprising words! "Happy 40th anniversary!!" He said to me. I was absolutely shocked and amazed to realize it was indeed 'our 40th anniversary,' as I had asked Him into my heart at 4 years old. I knew that day, whether I ever had another husband in my life - I'd had the best anyone could ask for - One who 'knew' me down to this long-forgotten tear-filled prayer of my heart; One full of surprises just because He loved to make me smile - and shed grateful tears instead of sad ones. And that day, I did.
Your times are in His hands. What season are you in? What has He said to you about it? What scriptures has He given you as journey markers for your NOW? Ask Him to speak to your heart again - through His 'Logos' - His written Word, and His 'rhema' - His freshly spoken Word. He loves you. He hears your prayers. And He wants to surprise you - again! You've got the best husband in the universe! (Guys, that's for you, too.) Pour out your heart to Him.