What's In A Rose?

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My child, it is time to walk into your new identity. Your identity is no longer established in this world and all that it offers. The world offers you distinctiveness found through youth, fame, success, wealth, possessions, titles, power and beauty. The world claims your identity is found through them. My child, this system of idols is not my way. My system is a Kingdom set apart by me and for me. I offer you so much more than this world can. I want to change the way you see yourself so that my love will live to the fullest in you. It is not to be stored. No, I want you to blossom to your fullest potential so that you may love as I love. It is through the aroma of my love that others will come to know me and my great love for them. What a sweet scent my love leaves.


You understand partly now but one day you will understand fully. Your focus will be made complete and your comprehension of who you truly are and who I truly am will become fully known. Until that time, I am working to renew your thoughts so that they will align with mine. When you look into a mirror, it is without thought that your eyes go straight to the place of your weakness. You see your flaws and imperfection but I see something completely different. You see your lack but I see my perfection. And when you gaze into the law of my first covenant, once again you see only your imperfection. This places focus on your sin rather than my LOVE and forgiveness found through the covenant of the cross. My LOVE covers a multitude of sin. My child, you have been made new In Christ, because you have turned back to me and accepted the gift of my son, Jesus. I have given you your true identity. You are a new creation placed directly in the center of my son, Jesus. In the past your focus has been skewed, but now it is time to live up to that which I say you are.



I see you as a reflection of my son, Jesus. When I look at you, I see his perfection. When you look at him, see yourself also. For the great riches of my love for him has also been lavished onto you. Go ahead my child, feel free to partake of all your inheritance. You are free to be loved and free to give love. Change your focus to line up to all I say you are.



If you want to know your true identity, don't look at all the world claims you are, look to Jesus. Come to know his character and you will come to know yourself because his character is also available to you. His patience, kindness, and peace I give to you. What a sweet aroma you are to me, my child. What a lovely fragrance.



Take a look at the rose; it is one of my most cherished creations and a wonderful representation of your identity in me. You see, my child, the fragrance of a rose is its crowning glory. How I enjoyed the scent of the roses in the garden when I walked with woman and man. Such joy and pleasure it brought to me, but now it is you that is my source of joy. You are my Beloved.


Notice there is no other scent produced by the rose, except that which I have given. A rose cannot produce the scent of lavender or of musty earth after a fresh rain. The coffee bean or an ocean breeze cannot compare. No, a rose has a scent all its own. Beloved, the rose is most fragrant when it has been crushed and its oil is poured out.


My son, Jesus, became crushed and he was poured out in order that you would be made fragrant. Fragrant so others would come to know the beauty of my great love. Your fragrance is my delight. I delight in you!


Beloved, next time you are tempted to look dimly into the reflection of this world, remember that I am renewing you day by day. My claim is that you are precious and lovely. Live believing that. Focus on my goodness and not the negativity of this world. Place your focus on Jesus and you will begin to walk in light of your true identity.


You are the fragrant sweet aroma, the crowning of our great love. Breathe in all which that encompasses and you will become like the rose in full bloom; most exquisite and fragrant.



Beloved, how exquisite you are!



2 Corinthians 2:14-16


14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjmZ2v0niCI

Safe in His Arms

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For the Marble chaser freedom uncovers itself one pearl at a time. 

Today's marble is unbelief.

Marble chasers aims high but their focus is always low. Their goal is perfection and their desire for it stems from their need to be accepted; to avoid the pain of rejection, shame and fear. To be able to attain perfection is merely an illusion. Still, they chase after it. All the while it can never be completely grasped; it's always just a step away.  

To come face to face with the fears of a Marble chaser leaves them feeling vulnerable. But it is through facing the fears that they are able to let go of the next marble. They may have an open wound for a moment but in the end they are left with healed new skin. 

I read once that scars are stronger than healthy unwounded skin. I know this is true; for it is in the scars of our Savior that we have opportunity for true wholeness, healing and our true identity exposed. He exchanges marbles for his beautiful pearls.  

LOVE, himself calls to this marble chaser. Over time he has revealed how futile all her marble chasing has been. Yet, learning new habits takes time and patience. Something she hopes to learn quicker than later.  She calls back to LOVE and asks about her agenda, her lists, and her responsibilities? And while all of those things wear the mask of importance, in her heart she desires for a greater purpose, “What is important, what truly matters when it’s all said and done?  Are clean dishes and tidy drawers to be the goal of this life? Can there be satisfaction found in such lifeless goals?”

Life seems to always produce lists, even for the non-marble chaser. Yet it seems over time marble chasers find themselves getting less  and less accomplished with each passing day; much like a dog chasing his tail.  And with it the emotions intensify and the fear of failure rises up. Rejection’s breath blows hot. 

Ah, but to find peace in the midst of the emotion, could this be the goal required of the marble chaser? Could the journey of learning a new way of thinking, of seeing, and believing truly be the destination; the place where contentment is found? Could it be that the journey, this life, is truly the destination? LOVE smiles and opens His arms wide.

He answers, “I am your peace. Come beyond the veil child. Come into my presence, for I AM Peace. Be still, listen and I will lead you. Your purpose is not found in your accomplishments but in your surrendering. To become you must first end.  It is not even found in loving extravagantly, as you once thought. No, Seek ME FIRST, come into MY presence, and receive from me. Let my peace wash over you, fill you to a fullness you've never known. Then you can allow me to pour out my love to others. This is where I want your focus, the rest will be worked out in good timing. BELIEVE in my goodness and my grace. Trust in me. Trust that in me you are always safe.”

A memory washes over me. Pages from long ago flood my mind. There in black and white the words ‘fear’ and ‘doubt’ stain  the face of a six year old little girl. The day she learned experienced disbelief.

She stood on the edge of the public pool looking down into the face of her step father, whom she called “Daddy.”   He stood in the water, arms open wide, a smile planted on his face, beckoning her to jump. The concrete, extraordinarily hot sent her toes into a tippy toe dance. The splashes, laughter and screams of excited children filled the pool. And for the little one who could not swim it sent waves of exhilaration throughout her little frame. Moms and Dads lined the fence sunbathing and chatting.  Desperate to enter into the fun she giggled with anticipation. 

“Jump, I’m right here, I’ll catch you,” her Daddy said firmly.

Then she felt it. Her eyes grew quiet as fear overcame her excitement.

“I can’t.  I’m scared. What if you drop me and I drown?”

 “Jump ! I won’t drop you,” his face became solemn.

Her little lips stammered, calculating the outcome, her toes still dancing as the heat rose to her face. She wanted to join in, but her fear caused her to doubt her own safety.

His face shifted, and she saw impatience in the furrow of his brow.

“Look, at that little girl.” He pointed. “She’s smaller than you and she’s not afraid.” An initiation of sorts; a myriad of emotion bundled into that one moment; a moment that would follow her the rest of her life.

A memory flashed through her six year old mind; Her mother's face and the pain in it caused by the very hands of her daddy. In her little mind, though she tried to make sense of the good and the evil he was capable of she could not. And in that moment trusting him seemed to wash away with each splash, with each stare.  The painful glances of the boys and girls next to her jabbed at her and with it a new wave of emotion. Her feet became painfully hot and she was desperate for relief but in that moment even the pain felt more comfortable than the fear that grasped her.

Her head dropped as she gave a nervous smile their way. Even her tippy toeing stopped as she stared at the water's depth. It was clearly over her head. What if he dropped her? Wasn't he a teaser, a prankster, what if he was teasing now?  This man she called Daddy for a short while could not understand her fear. He was overcome by his own sadness and embarrassment at her lack of trust in him. And soon his sadness turned to anger. Instead of calming the tiny one's fears, his voice grew firmer. 

There is no recollection of her jumping, or landing safely in her Daddy's arms. Instead the memory fast forwards to her daddy getting out of the water, his anger obvious to all. Her mother tried to calm him, but it only caused more upset. The little one was left feeling both ashamed and fearful; and with it sadness that she would not experience the joy of splashing in the water.

And so a new question arises, is God angry with us when we doubt; when we don’t believe he will catch us; when we don’t feel safe? Does he bail on us when we stammer? 

There’s a quiet nudging:

“Trust me; in my arms you are always safe. I do not shame you nor am I quick to anger. I lovingly teach you. I know your limitations. But you must know that it is your unbelief that will keep you from walking on water, from living the full life; from splashing joyfully.”

Calmness rains over me; and along with it a quiet voice calls.

"There are only a few things I require of you: 

#1 Run to the other side of the veil, to my LOVE where grace is the foundation for all things I have for you.

#2 Seek to hear my voice, to be in my presence, to love me as extravagantly as I love you. In that you will find true contentment.

#3 Remember I am writing the Great story, focus on what matters eternally,  all the rest will eventually fade away.

#4 Be Still and know I AM GOD.  Stay focused on my arms, not the waves."

Yes, we are safe to jump into the deep waters.  God holds us in his  arms. We can believe that He can be trusted, he will catch us each time.  He has a pearl waiting, we simply must Believe.

IMAGINE

This is dedicated to my sister, Susan, who passed away in December. Her nickname was "Hippie Chick." Susan was a child of the 60's and 70's and spent much time "Imagining." She longed for peace and love and spent her life chasing after them. It wasn't until the last part of her life that she found what she had searched for all along. But she was not able to find it through all the things of this world. Instead she found it by way of a torn veil and LOVE's rescuing hand. Imagine that!

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Imagine, All-encompassing LOVE walking intimately with us. LOVE; ever powerful, NEVER changing, and Unconditional-pouring himself out for his creation. Loving is not a part of who he is- LOVE IS. It is his complete essence. LOVE embodied, full of brilliance and light. Yes, LOVE walked and lived among his beloved. The purity of their fellowship was revealed throughout all creation, the warmth of his presence gave joy to even the tiniest of creatures.

But there was a squander-er, one who chose no longer to fellowship with LOVE. He was full of HATE and anger. He hated LOVE’s intimacy with woman and man. He was pure DARKNESS. LOVE warned woman and man to avoid the things of darkness. But when they heard the dark voice calling to them, it was smooth and attractive, and they did not recognize it as darkness. They ignored LOVE’S precious warning, choosing to go their own way and joined into fellowship with the dark one. Darkness filled the land.

LOVE did not change; LOVE cannot change- for HE IS LOVE. LOVE’S heart broke as he saw the change in woman and man. A veil had been placed between LOVE and his beloved. The squander-er had gained power over the land, and even over man and woman. Sadness had filled the heart of LOVE. LOVE NEVER CHANGED and he longed for intimacy once again with woman and man. Years were only moments, for LOVE is eternal and eternal is not bound by time. And while man and woman, woman and man, lived and died, LOVE was working out his rescue mission.

As a LOVING RESCUER, LOVE broke through the veil and entered into the darkness. The Creator, LOVE, now became the created. He walked among woman and man as both a man and LOVE. His mission was clear, his purpose was pure and his motive was the personification of all he is- PURE LOVE.

He gave himself fully, holding nothing back. LOVE gives all. LOVE took darkness upon himself. The battle hung heavy. Darkness was broken and the veil was torn. LOVE won. LOVE made a way for man and woman to once again fellowship with Him. Yet darkness still walks the land blinding the eyes and hearts of LOVE’s creation. A blinding veil he places before their eyes. Many cannot see the torn veil which leads to LOVE, nor his hand reaching into the darkness. LOVE offers LIFE. LOVE offers SIGHT.


LOVE NEVER CHANGES. LOVE is Eternal. LOVE is Hope. LOVE is freedom. LOVE is Joy. LOVE is Peace. He gives all to all who will receive. Yet as before, he gives man and woman choice. LOVE forces no one, but chooses all.

For the man or woman who wills to receive the gift of the rescuer, LOVE removes the blinding veil. Darkness turns to light. LOVE NEVER CHANGES. He is not contingent on us. In our hands we choose which side of the veil we will walk; whom we will fellowship with. For the LIFE which LOVE offers is given freely, yet we must freely receive.



Lift up your hands to LOVE and receive what he has been waiting to give. Turn toward the open veil and the one, LOVE, who is calling your name.



Yes Imagine, Believe and receive.

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