Between the Living and the Dead

 

“He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.” Numbers 16:48

Numbers can be a difficult book of the Bible to read through. It's filled with lists of, what else, numbers. Counting the members of the 12 tribes of Israel, and their children, the numbers of the fighting men of each tribe, and so on. Numbers and more numbers.

But Numbers 16 pauses from the counting to describe some devastating events that Israel experienced on their journey to the promised land. In that chapter, a group of people following a man named Korah challenge Moses and Aaron’s leadership. God defends the calling on Moses and Aaron by causing the earth to open up and swallow the Korah rebels and then close back up over them. Right after that, Korah’s group of 250 Levite priests were offering incense at the Lord’s altar, something that they were not authorized to do according to God’s laws. Suddenly, “fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.” (Numbers 16:35)

The Israelites were devastated and terrified, wondering who would be next on the chopping block. And rightfully so, since the next day God sent a plague that began on the outskirts of the community and people began to drop dead.

That’s when Moses called out God’s instructions to his brother, the high priest, Aaron. “Quickly!”, he urged. “Run! Take your censor and fill it with incense and burning coals from the Lord’s altar and make atonement for the people before they are all destroyed.”

Aaron may have hesitated for a second. Run? He was not a young man, probably at least 100 years old. But he was asked to run to the aid of the very people who had challenged him and called for his removal as their priest. Was his life in danger to even approach them? But Moses said “Run!” and Aaron took off sprinting to the altar where he filled his censor with the incense and coals. Then, fully equipped with the incense from the altar, 100 year old Aaron ran with all his might into the assembly where people were dropping to the sand, one by one, overtaken by the plague God had sent. Immediately the sweet smell of the warm incense permeated the camp, and the plague stopped in its tracks. But not before nearly 15,000 people had died.

Aaron fulfilled his role as priest that day. But what is the role of a priest? Doesn’t God now call his children a kingdom of kings and priests?

Revelation 5:9-10: “...with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God…”

So on this week where I learned of the deaths of two saints of God, one a dear friend and believer for over 50 years, and the other newly washed in the blood of the Lamb, only hours before his death, I listened to the Daily Audio Bible reading of Numbers 16.

Verse 48 caused my heart to quicken as I knew Holy Spirit had more to teach me on my role as a priest. The role of a priest is to stand between the living and the dead. To run to the people who may disagree with me, to the ones standing in protest of the truth of God’s word.

And my weapon to halt death in its tracks? 

Incense.

You see, also in Revelation, God describes the incense that burns constantly in the Throne Room of heaven: “Then the eighth angel with a golden incense burner came and took his place at the incense altar. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer up, consisting of the prayers of God’s holy people, upon the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the holy ones billowed up before God from the hand of the angel.” Revelation 8:3-4

Incense as my weapon... The time that I spend in intimacy before the Lord, praying the prayers on my heart, and praying the prayers on the Father’s heart, those prayers ascend to the very Throne Room of God. But not only are my intimate prayers a sweet smelling incense to Father God, but they are also a formidable weapon to be used to stand between the living and the dead, to stop the plague of hell that is capturing and swallowing up people all around me. Will I stand back afraid, or will I bare my heart and rescue the ones dying for lack of a Savior “and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death”. (Hebrews 2:15 )

Bill Johnson tells his church, “We owe people an encounter with Jesus”.

So what does it look like to stand between the living and the dead and let the incense of my intimate relationship with Father God rescue people around me?

Sharing the love of God with a stranger.

Teaching a “good news club” at a local school.

Praying for random people in need that I encounter at work and in the marketplace.

Hugging one of God’s kids or pre-kids as I whisper prayers on their behalf.

Telling the stories of my encounters with God, so other can smell his fragrance, like sweet incense, and taste and see that he is good.

2 Corinthians 2:15 “For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.”

His presence changes everything.

So, fellow priest, come with me to the Throne Room and let’s worship the Lamb and store up the incense that will stop death in its tracks.

Christmas Day in heaven, as I imagine, December 25, 2024.

 

As she slept, Mary kept hearing the words of a Christmas carol they’d sung in the Throne Room the night before, Christmas Eve.

“Mary, did you know…”

She awoke and found tears streaming down her face. “No,” she thought to herself, “I didn’t know, but now I know and, wait, it’s Christmas! I have to go find him and thank him!”

Mary slipped from her bed, leaving a slumbering Joseph curled up under the soft quilt. She quickly dressed and tip toed out of their bedroom. When she reached the front door she carefully opened it, stepped outside and pulled it shut as silently as possible. Then she turned to run toward the Throne Room, and ran right into Yeshua.

Jeshua caught her up in his arms and spun her around. “Ima, it’s Christmas!”

Mary laughed and nestled her head under his chin. “I know, I know!”

“Where are you going in such a hurry, Ima?”

“I had to find you, I had to thank you.”

Yeshua pulled back and looked into her eyes. “Ima, that’s why I’m here at your door this morning. Because it’s Christmas and I had to thank you.”

“For what?” they both blurted out at the same time.

Laughing, they embraced again, and again Yeshua lifted Mary off her feet and swung her around.

“Come,” Yeshua tucked his mother’s arm inside his own and led her toward the Throne Room, which he had arranged to be very near the beautiful cottage he had prepared for her and his step-father, Joseph.

He grinned. “Ladies first. Now tell me what woke you up so early that you had to run into me and practically knock me off my feet to tell me.”

Mary shook her head at his silliness and punched his arm playfully. Then she looked up to his face.
“Seriously, I dreamed all night about the words of the Christmas carols we sang last night around the Throne, and woke up weeping over all you did for me.”

Mary wiped away a tear and continued. “Of all the young girls in Nazareth, you chose me. Before you sent Holy Spirit to abide in your people I heard his whispers. When Gabriel came and scared me to death, I somehow knew that he was from Yahweh, delivering a message from Yahweh himself. When he said that nothing is impossible with God, Holy Spirit confirmed in my heart that it was safe to say yes to God. And with each challenge Joseph and I encountered on that painful trip to Bethlehem in the last days of my pregnancy, Holy Spirit whispered again and again. No rooms to let for the night, but God provided a stable. No mother or mid-wife to assist me to deliver my firstborn child, but Joseph was there, believing right alongside me that what the angel had told me, and him, was true. Then the shepherds came - somehow they knew you were here and had to see you. The magi came and brought treasures and proclaimed you a king! Those treasures financed our flight to Egypt to preserve your life when Herod tried to have you murdered along with all the young babies. And I knew each time, Holy Spirit whispered with each trial, “this is the right path, Yahweh will provide. Do not be afraid.”

“I treasured everything, every encounter, every trial, every provision in my heart, and I still do. I am so blessed, so wealthy with all these treasures filling up my heart. So, I had to run to you this morning, my son, to thank you.”

“Oh, Ima”. Yeshua pulled Mary into his arms and rocked her gently, as she had once rocked him so many years ago.

“Now it’s my turn.” Yeshua looked into his mother’s eyes and gently laid rough, nail scarred hands on her cheeks.

“Ima,” Tears sprung up in his eyes. “Thank you for bearing the shame of what appeared to everyone as an illegitimate pregnancy. Yes, I know how you suffered silently, knowing that you were still a virgin, but somehow with child, while the townspeople whispered and many shunned you for a sin you never committed.”

“Ah, yes, but you gave me two who believed my story. My Joseph – you sent the angel to tell him the truth about me, and he never left my side after that. Oh how I leaned on his strength as we traveled to Bethlehem those many miles. He never wavered as he stooped down to be a mid-wife for me. He was the first to hold you in his arms, tears streaming down his face, and call you by your name, Yeshua, for the very first time.”

“And you gave me my aunt, Elizabeth. Oh what an encouragement she was to me just as my pregnancy was becoming too evident to disguise. How good of your servant, Gabriel to tell me that my elderly aunt, Elizabeth, the one who was called barren, that she had somehow conceived a child and that she was already in her sixth month. I ran to Elizabeth, knowing that she could well understand what I was feeling; she lived with the shame of barrenness so many years, and I bore the shame of harlot.”

“But I wasn’t prepared for the greeting I received when I stepped through the doorway into Zechariah and Elizabeth’s home. As soon as I greeted my aunt, her eyes lit up and she clutched the sides of her large abdomen. I thought she was going into labor, as did Zechariah and we ran to her. But she began to weep and praise Yahweh. I remember vividly the words she spoke over me that day as the Holy Spirit filled her up. I later shared this encounter with Luke, who included my story in his gospel.”

Mary began to recite the scriptures Luke penned in Luke 1:42-45, and Yeshua, still gazing into her eyes softly recited the verses with her, to her:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:42-45

“Yes, Ima, blessed are you who believed every word Yahweh spoke, believed when you could not see. Thank you for preparing the way before me, for believing in me before you conceived me. Truly blessed is she who believed without seeing that the Lord would fulfill all that he promised.”

Mary rested her head on her son’s shoulder. “Fulfill is surely a pregnant word, my son. Not only was the promise fulfilled, but I am fulfilled, completely satisfied and filled up with all that Yahweh has done for me.”

“Wait, Ima. I’m not done thanking you yet.” Yeshua stepped up onto his Throne, and took his mother onto his lap, cradling her under his chin.”

Mary sighed, then laughed. “Full circle!” she cried. “The one who held you is now held by you.”

Yeshua continued. “Ima, thank you for enduring that trek to Bethlehem. I know it was hard, bouncing along on the donkey. Abba Joseph tried so diligently to look after you, but he could not begin to feel the pain you were experiencing with every jolt of the bumpy path.”

“And the utter weariness you felt, as your labor began, and every inn turned you and Joseph away. There was no shelter in sight.”

“Then after enduring so much, you learned that you would give birth in a stable!”

“Ah, but Joseph was my comfort, constantly reminding me and himself that this was an assignment from Yahweh, and that he would enable both of us to complete it. He helped me lie down on some fresh hay along the wall of the stable so I could push back on it as the labor pains increased. Then he emptied the manger and refilled it with fresh, sweet smelling hay and lay the swaddling clothes on top. I cried as I watched him prepare for you.”

“And then with one final push, you were born, and I heard your voice for the first time, crying out. Joseph cleaned you up with some water near the stall and swaddled you tightly to comfort you. Then he laid you in my arms and I gazed into the eyes of my Lord and Savior and every pain, every discomfort, every fear, every derogatory word spoke over me fell to the ground. It was worth it! You were worth it! You were so worth it!” Mary’s body shook with sobs as she leaned against her son.

“But the trials were far from over.” Yeshua softly whispered. “Do you remember the words that old Simeon spoke over you?”

Mary nodded, remembering the wonderful and awful words the old prophet had uttered.

Yeshua recited the words penned by Luke:

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Luke 2:25-35

“Yes, Ima, you may not have understood what Simeon meant at the time, about a sword piercing your soul, but as you stood beneath me at the cross, witnessing a mother’s worst nightmare, watching her son die, you surely knew then.”

Once again Ima’s body heaved with sobbing as Yeshua’s arms tightened around her. Once her sobs subsided, Yeshua spoke again.

“Ima, I knew you were there, witnessing what no mother should ever have to see. But I thank you from the bottom of my heart that you stayed until I breathed my last. It was as if you who had birthed me into this world, were now birthing me into the next world.”

“And yet,” Ima reminded him. “Even as you shuddered in pain, you thought of me, instructing your dearest friend, John to take me as his own mother.”

“Yes, Ima. But I want you to know that I heard your every sob, felt every shudder that rippled through your body as you stood with me. Your tears like liquid prayers came right into the Throne Room and, much like Joseph’s words of encouragement as he coached you through my first birth, helped me to transition out of this world upon my death.”

Mother and Son quietly held each other and wept. As they opened their eyes, they found that the saints had silently gathered around the Throne and were worshiping the Lamb who was slain for them, and marveling over the blessed one, she who had believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!

Mary slipped from her son’s lap onto the floor and joined the ones on their knees surrounding the Throne. Then together they rose and cried out as one, “Merry Christmas, Jesus!”

Twirling in Prayer and Life

 

Matthew 6:9 TPT “May the Glory of your name be the center on which our lives turn.”

As I was praying this scripture over the ones on my prayer list this morning, I thought of my friend, Natalie, a ballerina and prophetic dancer. Natalie is able to spin in place on her toes. She and other dancers, gymnasts, and skaters are able to spin without becoming overcome by dizziness using a technique called spotting. They focus on a specific point as they spin, which helps them to stabilize their vision and reduce dizziness.

Matthew 6:9, is part of what is known as “The Lord’s Prayer”. Jesus’ disciples saw him pray and then do impossible things, so they asked him “Master, teach us to pray”.

“Here’s how it works”, he taught them. “Make the Glory of my name the center on which your lives turn, your point of focus that you always return to, no matter what dizzying events come into your sight as you spin through life. If you are focused on my Glory- and remember that I manifested my Glory as my Goodness at Moses’ request – so if you are focused on my Goodness, you will not lose your balance.”

“Life is going to continue to spin. That’s a given, just as I told you the truth that ‘in this world you will have tribulation’, but I quickly followed that up with this promise, ‘but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world’”. John 16:33.

So sit back and watch Natalie as she spins seemingly effortlessly in her dance of life and remember to center yourself like she does. Focus on that unchanging point of God’s Goodness.

And watch what happens as you learn to “spot”. “The resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.” Ephesians 5:17

Samson and the Caller's Spring

 

What do you think of when I say the name Samson?

The strongest man in the world?

A lustful man?

A man with vengeance on his mind and blood on his hands.

Tragedy and poor choices.

So my devotional this morning led me to read Judges 15, about Samson’s actions after he found out that his wife, Delilah had been given to a friend of his.

Samson had married Delilah and right away she tricked him into revealing the answer to a riddle he had given to the Philistines. He should have known better than to marry a Philistine woman whose people hated both Samson and the Israeli people, but Samson followed his flesh right into the marriage bed. When Delilah betrayed his confidence, Samson gave into his flesh again. In anger he left his wife and returned to his father’s house.

But he couldn’t stop thinking about the beautiful wife he had left in the enemy’s camp. So he took a young goat as a peace offering for his wife’s family and traveled to his father-in-law’s house to reunite with his wife. His father-in-law wouldn’t even let him in the house.

“I thought you thoroughly hated Delilah for what she’d done to you, so I gave her as a wife to your friend.”

Samson became furious at this news.

His father-in-law saw the fire in Samson’s eyes and his clenched fists and tried to assuage his anger.

“Isn’t Delilah’s younger sister more attractive? Take her instead” he offered.

But Samson’s desire for his wife was immediately eclipsed by passion for revenge. He left his father-in-law’s house and went hunting in the nearby woods. He caught alive 300 foxes, tied torches to each of their tails and set them loose in the standing grain of his enemies’ crops. All the crops were burned to the ground, and the vineyards and olive groves destroyed along with them.

The Philistines took their revenge next by burning to death both Delilah and her father.

Enraged, Samson killed many Philistines and then fled to a cave in the rock of Elam.

The Philistines then turned to exact revenge on the men of Judah.

“Why are you attacking us? What have we done to you?” the Judeans asked.

“It’s not you we want,” they replied. Just give up Samson, and we’ll leave you alone.”

So 3000 men of Judah went up to the cave where Samson was hiding. “Do you realize what you’ve done to us? The Philistines are after us to make us their prisoners, and it’s your fault!”

“It’s not my fault,” Samson replied. “I was just getting revenge, doing to them what they did to me and mine.”

“We have no choice but to hand you over to the Philistines, Samson. Our lives depend on it.”

“All right, I will allow you to bind me and deliver me to the Philistines, only promise me this, that you won’t kill me yourselves.”

So God’s people bound Samson with brand new ropes and delivered him to the Philistine army. The Philistines took one look at their prize and came running, shouting curses against this man who had killed so many of their numbers.

But God. 

Judges 15 tells us that “The Spirit of God came upon Samson in power.”

What? God, would you really empower such a violent, angry, hateful man who followed his flesh instead of following you?

The Spirit came upon Samson and he stretched his arms and broke the ropes binding him. He spied a donkey’s jawbone laying nearby, grabbed it and stuck down a 1000 Philistines. Then exhausted, he threw down the jawbone and collapsed on the ground. He suddenly became overcome with thirst, but there was no water in that desert area.

So this blood covered, violent man cried out to God. “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”

“Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it.”

Samson gulped down the cool water and was revived. The new spring was called En Hakkore, which means caller’s spring.

Who is this God who gives gifts and doesn’t take them back when the recipient goes rogue, like Samson did.

Romans 11:29 “And when God chooses someone and graciously imparts gifts to him, they are never rescinded.”

But God, people abuse the gifts you’ve given them all the time. Leaders taking advantage of their followers. Prophets speaking words they never heard from you. Yet you say you don’t remove their gifts. Instead you stand ready to forgive and to pour out Holy Spirit to empower them.

The Caller’s Spring. The only requirement to gain the life giving water was to call out to God for it. How can you use such evil men to accomplish your purposes, men like Samson who allowed hatred, lust and revenge to motivate him, who shed so much blood,? Yet Samson went on to serve as Israel’s judge for the next 20 years.

God, is there such a thing of too much grace? You give gifts with no strings attached, no guarantee that we will use the gifts unselfishly. The only requisite for the spring of water was that Samson had to ask you for it.

So you empower madmen? Sometimes. But the grace you poured out on Samson reaped a harvest at the end of his life as you once more gifted him with supernatural strength to destroy the enemies of God’s people by pulling down the pillars of the building where he was held captive.

God, you amaze me that you give me gifts and don’t tell me how I have to use them. You don’t snatch them back out of my hand, even when I mess up. “I trust you,” you tell me. “Just seek me first in everything, and you’ll know how to use the gifts I’ve placed in you.”

So I read your word and grieve over this bloody man, Samson, who experienced betrayal and pain all of his life and gave in to anger and lust, allowing them to motivate him. Yet you never gave up on him, even renewing his gifting on the day he died along with his enemies. And you reserved a place for him in the Hall of Faith, noted in Hebrews 11:12.

Here I am, Father God, in possession of your gifts of grace. Help me never to take them for granted, even though they are mine to use as I desire. Help me to be like Jesus, to only do what I see the Father doing, and live to please you.

Romans 8:32: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

Ekloge - Claimed as his own

 

Remember jumping in the car with mom or dad and yelling out to your siblings, “I’ve got shotgun!” and hearing the others moan.

Claiming your spot. So what makes a location desirable? You wouldn’t want to reserve your seat in the trunk of the car, or claim your space in a garbage dump, would you?

So I came across this scripture the other morning that I’d never really looked at closely before.

In 2 Peter 1:10, God claims his spot:

“For this reason, beloved ones, be eager to confirm and validate that God has invited you to salvation and claimed you as his own.” TPT

First of all, you didn’t crash this party, or just happen upon it. You received a personal invitation from Father God. When the angels were writing out the invites, Daddy said to send a special invitation to Taffy Tucker Spaloss.

Then not only did he invite me, he also claimed me as his own. He staked out his spot – I’m sitting next to Taffy.

In the Passion Translation, the footnote for this verse teaches us that the Greek word translated ‘claimed as his own’ is ekloge (which means ‘from his logos word’). The footnote says “God spoke and you were his. You are meant to be a “chosen word” from his mouth, and you will not return to him void, but you will accomplish what he has destined for you to do.” (See Isaiah 55:11)

Don’t miss the meaning of this statement. Herein lies my value, my purpose, my raison d’etre. The God of the universe has claimed me as his own. He has declared in the presence of heaven and earth that I am his chosen word. My life has impact and purpose because he spoke my name.

And one day I will hear him speak my name out loud. When I step through the portal into heaven, pass through the throng of my loved ones who’ve gone ahead of me, and step into Jesus’ outstretched arms, I’ll hear him speak my name. I think of Mary Magdalene at the empty garden tomb, heartbroken because she believes someone has stolen the Lord’s dead body. But then she hears a soft voice, or is it just a breeze whistling over the desert bushes.

“Mary”.

“Did I really hear that? Is someone saying my name? It sounds… it sounds like...Jesus! Jesus, it’s you! You’re alive!”

Yes, it will be life changing to hear you speak my name. But you said to pray and declare on earth as it is in heaven. So could you speak my name now? Could you enable my ears today to hear you claim me as your own, ekloge? May I live today as your chosen word, accomplishing all that you wrote about me in your book. For I believe that “You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I’d ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in you book.” Ps. 139:16.

I will NEVER leave you.

 

I was running around in my jammies on Saturday morning, trying to button up my Sunday School lesson for tomorrow. Finally finished, I headed toward the computer room to print out the story, when all of a sudden I smelled my favorite perfume. I walked on, smelled the collar of my bathrobe, but there was no fragrance there. After passing the scent several times in my travels between my prayer room and the computer room, I backtracked and found my jeans jacket hanging on the back of my sewing chair. I sniffed at the collar of the jacket, and there it was. Some of my perfume must have rubbed off on the collar the last time I wore that jacket.

I smiled and started to walk away. But then Daddy said “wait”.

I knew he was speaking. Something about stopping to smell the fragrance, and I knew he wanted me to stop what I was doing, still in my jammies and now it’s nearly noon, and write about what he was saying to me.

The day before, while I was doing my routine early morning walk before work Daddy had reminded me of a time many years ago when I was traveling home from a conference in the Chicago area. A 20 hour bus trip home. I was quite discouraged at the time, had just broken up, or rather was dumped, by a boyfriend, and had the awful experience of running into him at this conference. I just wanted to run and hide. But I made it thru the conference and got on the bus to return home, alone.

Only I wasn’t alone. I had this strange awareness of a presence over me, like a cloud over my head. You know the kind of sensation you feel when you’re with people in a room, even tho your eyes are closed, you can still sense that someone is next to you? It was so intense that I kept looking up, only seeing the ceiling of the bus, because I felt like something was actually hovering over me. As the hours passed by I realized that it was God’s presence I was feeling. He knew I needed his physical presence, God with skin on, to carry me thru that discouraging time.

For 20 hours he hovered over me. When I got home, the sensation slowly dissipated until I couldn’t feel him anymore. But I was so thankful that he had done that for me.

So as I walked yesterday, Daddy reminded me of that amazing intimate bus trip. Then he said, “that’s the norm. I’m always there, right above you, beneath you, all around you. Look for me.”

And I had to get ready for work so I’d never journaled about what he’d showed me. Until this morning – well it’s nearly noon now – when he blew on the fragrance of my perfume on the collar of my jeans jacket and said “stop and recognize the fragrance of my presence.”

So pause with me, ok? Maybe you’re still in your jammies, too:) Hold up your hand and count off on your five fingers as you recite Hebrews 13:5,

I will never leave you.

I will NEVER leave you.

Once more, I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Watch me, Daddy!

 

Daddy, I’ve been feeling “less than” again. Like I used to be, striving to do better than anyone else, chip on my shoulder. Not feeling accepted, like I have to strive for acceptance and be someone I’m not.

But you keep telling me that you love me right now, where I am, who I am. I hear you saying the words of a song: “You don’t have to change a thing. Just be here with me…”

“Rest in who you are because I love you for who you are. I’m not done yet, but I love you throughout the process, from glory to glory.”

Psalm 37:23 “The steps of the God-pursuing ones follow firmly in the footsteps of the Lord, and God delights in every step they take to follow him.”

Can you hear him cheering, like an unabashed daddy watching his daughter take her first wobbly steps?

You’d think I just ran a marathon, not stumbled across the living room.

“Watch me, Daddy!”

Grinning, he reminds me, “I delight in every step you take towards me.”