Now Get Up and Make Your Bed!

Aeneas’ Story

Today I made my bed for the first time in eight years.

Maybe it doesn’t sound like a great accomplishment when I put it that way.

Let me explain.

I’ve been paralyzed and bedridden for the past eight years. Before that, I was seen as a hard-working young man, a blessing to my family, but after the accident that snapped my back and rendered me immobile I became basically helpless. I couldn’t join my new friends for worship and prayer at each other’s homes, but thankfully they came to me as often as they could.

One day, when I was at my lowest, my brother in Jesus, Barnabas reminded me of my own name, Aeneas.

“Your name means praise,” Barnabas told me.

“But I’m basically useless now,” I argued. “How can I bring any praise to God in this state, in this bed?”

“You bring praise to God just by being you, who he made you to be, Aeneas. And yes, even while you remain prone in this sick bed, you serve all of us.”

“What? How do I ‘serve’ you, Barnabas?” I bitterly shook my head.

“You pray for me, do you not?”

“Well, yes, I prayed for you and the others as you ventured into the city to share the good news last Sunday.”

“And your prayers were felt and empowered us to share boldly the goodness of God in the marketplace. Several new brothers and sisters were added to the fellowship that very day. Truly ‘one sows, one reaps, but all share in the harvest’” Barnabas grabbed my hand. “Thank you, my friend.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. Yes, I was still loved and needed by my family in Jesus. And yes, I determined in my heart that I would continue to be ‘praise’ even I as lay in my bed.

Until today. Today Barnabas came running into my room before the sun came up over the hill behind my open window.

“Aeneas!” he shouted, out of breath. “Peter is here, Simon Peter is here in Lydda and he’s coming to see you!”

Barnabas helped me to bathe and dressed me in clean, fresh-smelling clothes as I lay helpless on my bed.

“Why would Peter, the apostle come to my house?” I wondered to myself after Barnabas had left to guide Peter to my home.

In response to my unspoken question, I felt the nearness of the Holy Spirit of Jesus wrap around me, and my heart swelled with praise to the One who always made me feel valued, loved, a part of his family.

Not long after that I heard the many voices of my friends, and they filed into my little room, gathering around my bed.

Barnabas made the introductions. “Peter, meet my dear friend, Aeneas!”

Peter looked intently at me. I saw him scan my prone, immobile frame, and then his eyes found mine. He said nothing at first. It looked as if he was listening to someone, his head slightly tilted as if leaning in to hear better. He briefly lifted his head toward heaven, then turned his full attention back on me.

“Aeneas, man of praise, Jesus the Anointed One instantly and divinely heals you.” Peter stopped and smiled. “And Jesus tells you, ‘Now get up and make your bed’.”

I felt the healing in my spirit, not in my body, but at the sound of Peter’s command I simply obeyed , threw my formerly paralyzed legs over the side of my cot, and rose to my feet for the first time in eight long years.

I spied my mother in the crowd, tears running down her face as she smiled widely. “You heard him, Aeneas!” she laughed. “Now make your bed!”

I began to laugh with her and all my friends joined in with hilarious mirth, tears of joy on every face, including my dearest friend, Barnabas and my mentor, Papa Peter.

I was the center of attention as I bowed to the room, then with much flourish smoothed the worn sheets on my thin mattress, pulled the blanket over the top and tucked it in all around.

Today, the first day of the rest of my life, I made my bed and called it praise as I fully intend to do every day for the rest of my life.

It's Your Wedding Day!

 

I had been, have been feeling cranky, and angry lately, even to the point of not wanting to try anymore. Feeling rejection by the people closest to me, I just wanted to run or fade away.

That’s when God whispered to me “It’s your wedding day.”

That got my attention, even though God was mistaken. “It’s April, and I was married in June”, I told him.

But God tenderly repeated to me, “it’s your wedding day.”

Then he reminded me of something that happened over 50 years ago, on my actual wedding day, June 29, 1974.

I had started out the day wearing a comfortable flannel shirt and jeans as I drove up to the hair salon in Ocean Gate, NJ that morning. My hairdresser took her time arranging my hair in a simple pageboy style that would frame my face under the white, lace-embellished hat I would be wearing in the wedding ceremony.

After I left the salon I stopped at the grocery store. At the register I ended up interacting with an elderly man in the line who somehow mistook me for a guy, addressing me as “young man”. I did not correct him, just paid for my groceries and fled the store feeling rather ashamed.

Here it was my wedding day, the day I was supposed to feel special, beautiful, desirable, but instead I walked out of the grocery store in shame. Instead of being seen as a beautiful bride, I was perceived as a guy by this man I encountered. Yes, I was wearing shapeless clothing, a baggy flannel shirt over well worn jeans, but gee whiz, I had just come out of the hair salon with this pageboy style that framed my face. What was wrong with me? How homely was my face? How harsh were my mannerisms that I was mistaken for a man?

I went home, joined my sister and friends preparing for the wedding, but didn’t tell anyone about my shameful encounter at the store. I didn’t want to think about it, much less talk about it.

Fast forward 53 years. I still didn’t want to think about that awful event.

I prayed “God, why are you bringing up this memory now? I don’t recall if I ever shared my painful encounter with anyone before, just pushed it out of my mind for over 50 years. What possible good can be gained from thinking about it now, when I’m already cranky and angry and ready to throw in the towel?”

Then Father God reminded me of how wonderful my wedding day turned out to be.

And yes, it was wonderful. The sun came out after a week of rain so we could be married in our outdoor venue, our “plan A”. And not once during my wedding and reception and the honeymoon that followed did I think about that awful encounter in the A&P with that man.

“What changed?” God asked me.

“When I walked down the aisle at the Ocean County Park and saw my Jimmy standing there eyes on me and me alone, I forgot the shame.”

“That’s strange.” God said.

“Why, God,” I asked.

“Do you remember Taffy Tucker back in 1974? God continued. “Do you remember how insecure you were back then at 20 years old? You were always second guessing every decision you made, always put yourself down, never believed you were special or valuable. Jimmy had to continually remind you during the years of your courtship that you were worth loving and it wasn’t just a mistake that he fell in love with you, somehow being deceived into thinking you were worth his love and affection.”

“Yes,” I admitted to God. “That’s a pretty accurate assessment of my self worth at that stage of my life. I remember.”

“So what happened that allowed you to drop the shame and enjoy your wedding day?”

“When I looked down the aisle and locked eyes with Jimmy, I forgot the shame. I felt loved, beautiful and desirable whenever I caught Jimmy’s gaze on me, and his eyes were on me all day long. Every kiss we shared was electric, and we found ourselves staring into each other’s eyes many, many times throughout the day.

God smiled, remembering with me the events of that beautiful day.

Then he continued. “Knowing who you were and your insecurity at that time, why do you suppose that man mistaking you for a guy and not a woman on your wedding day didn’t just destroy you and ruin your day?”

I pondered his question for a minute.

“I guess I felt so loved by Jimmy. His eyes were constantly focused on me, from the second he saw me coming down the grassy aisle and continuing through the ceremony, the photos, the reception. He kept telling me he loved me, stealing kisses even when the glasses weren’t being clinked by the wedding guests. And I just felt so beautiful, so loved, so desired by this man who could have chosen any other young girl as his bride, but somehow had consciously chosen me – that value he placed on me eclipsed the unfortunate encounter in the grocery store.”

As I considered what Father God was reminding me about, I marveled. I remembered vividly how negative I was at that time when it came to my value. To think that I encountered a man in the morning who challenged my very identity as a woman, yet the amazing display of love and affection I encountered in the afternoon dispelled my doubts as to my value, such that my memories of my wedding were truly positive.

“That’s the power of being loved,” God said. “The truth of the unabashed love of your Jimmy drove away the doubts, leaving you feeling beautiful, loved, and desired.”

“So, Taffy. I want to tell you this. Today, while you’re feeling cranky and angry and ready to give up, I want to tell you this: it’s your wedding day.”

I was speechless, beginning to grasp what he was telling me.

And as the week went on and I was tempted many times over to doubt myself, my value, my “raison d’etre”, to compare myself with the people around me and decide I still don’t measure up, God kept whispering that same phrase.

“It’s your wedding day.”

“Today I choose you above any other person, any other woman on the planet. Today I pledge myself to love and cherish you. I see you, I know you, and I choose you this day, every day. It’s always your wedding day. Now go ahead and enjoy this day and every day to come, knowing the truth of who you are to me. No one, not even a near-sighted old man, can steal that away from you. Just keep your eyes on me. Just one glance of your eyes, my bride, ravishes my heart. I chose you and every day I choose you still.”

So for you, reading this little account, I tell you this, “It’s your wedding day.” I don’t care if you’re married, single, divorced, widowed, in or out of a relationship. Today, the God of all the earth chooses you, out of all women, to be in covenant with him, to love and cherish for all eternity..

Listen to what he says to you, Listen with your heart.

“It’s your wedding day! Today my eyes of love are fixed on you, and just one glance of your eyes ravishes my heart, my darling, my bride. Believe me, receive my love and affection, and live in the joy that no one can steal from you, knowing that I chose, and still choose you to belong to me.”

“Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.” Isaiah 43:4

“The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.” Jeremiah 31:3

“He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32

“You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride; you have ravished my heart with one glance of your eyes.” Song of Songs 4:9

Draw Near and Ye Shall be Heard!

 

This year I watched one of my two favorite holiday movies, Miracle on 34^th Street on Christmas evening, after the presents were open and scattered, and the kids gone home. My husband, somewhat reluctantly sat beside me in our adjacent recliners.

I always enjoy this movie and always at Christmas time, but this year, one phrase from the movie remained in my mind over the next few days:

“Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye. All persons having business with the Special Term, Part 3 of the Supreme Court held in and for the County of New York, draw near and give your attendance, and ye shall be heard.”

The court bailiff issued this announcement, almost singing the oft’ repeated phrase, as the judge entered the courtroom and took his place on the bench.

The entire courtroom stood to their feet as the judge entered, and once he had sat down behind the bench, they were permitted to sit down.

Draw near.

Is anyone in need of justice?

Draw near.

Are you in an impossible situation, being taken advantage of, lacking the resources to defend yourself?

Draw near, and you will be heard.

The judge promises in that two word phrase, draw near, to listen intently, judge impartially, to deliver justice.

People need hope. I need hope. I need to know that someone hears me. Someone knows my voice, gives me the right to speak, and promises to listen and rule justly on my behalf.

It’s just a movie, right? Just an old phrase that used to be said in antiquated courtrooms.

No, not so. There is still justice. “But God is the judge, and justice comes from him.” Proverbs 29:26.

And the weary, broken, persecuted and discouraged may run into his courtroom and still find justice. His courtroom? He now presides over a court that is always open, never closed down for holidays, never off limits. His courtroom is also his Throne Room where his saints through the ages have found mercy and justice to help them in their times of need.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Or in my favorite version, The Passion Translation:

“So now we draw near freely and boldly to where grace is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness.”

So draw near! Yes, there’s still justice available. There’s still someone on the bench who will listen and rule in your best interests. A just judge, a true “justice” on the high court.

And not only does he beckon you to draw near to the court for justice. He invites you into relationship with him, to run into his heart.

Hebrews 6:18-20

“So it is impossible for God to lie for we know that his promise and his vow will never change! And now we have run into his heart to hide ourselves in his faithfulness. This is where we find his strength and comfort, for he empowers us to seize what has already been established ahead of time—an unshakable hope! We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God himself. Our anchor of hope is fastened to the mercy seat in the heavenly realm beyond the sacred threshold, and where Jesus, our forerunner, has gone in before us. He is now and forever our royal Priest like Melchizedek. “

It’s true, believe it! Join me before the Throne. Draw near and you will be heard!

Hidden for you to find...

 

Reading through the book of Proverbs again this month, I came across that wonderful concept of searching for hidden treasure in Proverbs 25:2

“God conceals the revelation of his word in the hiding place of his glory. But the honor of kings is revealed by how they thoroughly search out the deeper meaning of all God says.”

I love how Bill Johnson explains in his teachings and books this concept of God hiding things from us. Bill shares the story of hiding Easter eggs when his kids were little. He says that he and his wife hid them often in plain sight, on a picnic table, or at the foot of a tree, when the kids were toddlers. They did not hide them up in the tree or on the roof where the kids could never find them, or if they actually did see the eggs up there, they had no way to retrieve them. No, he and his wife hid the eggs for the kids to find. The hiding places were age specific and grew more challenging as the children matured and could actually reach up into a tree to grab one.

It get frustrating sometimes when we feel like we don’t understand a situation we’re confronted with, and God doesn’t seem to be revealing what’s behind it, or how to deal with it. That’s when it’s good to remember that God is not hiding the answers from us, but for us, hiding them for us to find when we thoroughly seek him.

I was reminded of a short passage from my recently published book, Running with the Prophets, where I describe an imagined interaction between the prophet, Elijah and his parents when he was a young boy:

“Some of my earliest memories were of quiet mornings assisting my abba tending our terrace gardens. Well watered with rain from heaven and dew from the earth, our olive trees grew rapidly, producing some of the finest oil. Ima often prayed for me to grow tall and strong like an olive tree in the courts of Yahweh, our God. Abba sang over our family nearly every morning, “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, your children like olive plants around your table.” Ima and I laughed and danced as he sang! (Psalm 128:3)

I learned many lessons from Abba and Ima, but none so great as when Abba took me away for a few days, camping outdoors near our vineyards.

“You are becoming a man, Elijah. And I want you to know who you are.”

I laughed.“Oh, Abba, I know who I am. I am Elijah, son of Savah and Natanya, of the tribe of Benjamin!”

“Yes, my son, but there is more to your identity than your parents and your tribe.”

I looked up at Abba and waited for him to say more.

“Elijah, your name means ‘Yahweh is my God’. Do you understand what that means, for Yahweh to be your God?”

“I think so, Abba. It means that I worship the one true God. I don’t worship idols or objects that I can see in front of me. But, Abba, I do wish I could see the God I worship!”

“Ah, but you do see, Elijah! You see the sun rise each morning, and set each night. You see the vineyards bulging with the grape harvest, the olive branches heavy with fruit, the goats playing on the hills!”

“Yes, but I don’t see him, I don’t see Yahweh, and Moses taught us that ’You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.’”

“Ah, but do you remember what Moses prayed for? He asked Yahweh, ‘Let me see your glory,’ and what happened next?”

“I know! I know!” I stood up then and recited the words of Moses.

“Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “Yahweh, Yahweh, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” (footnote ?Exodus 34:5-7)

Abba’s face beamed as he listened to me recite what he had taught me.

Then Abba continued. “My son, when Moses saw God’s glory, what do you suppose it looked like?”

“Light brighter than the sun! A presence bigger than a giant!”

Abba laughed and pulled me close. “Elijah, Yahweh is my God. Today I challenge you to pray the prayer of Moses. For the rest of your life, ask and keep on asking Yahweh to show you his glory. Yes, it’s a mystery, but one worth pursuing. It’s a bit like when you play ‘guess which hand’, with your ima. You know she’s got something sweet in her hand, and you know it’s for you. She’s not hiding it from you, but for you. For you to find. Yahweh is like that, my son. Search him out all your days. He’s not hiding his mystery from you, but for you to find when you search for him with all your heart.

“And you, my son, will continue to speak the very words of Yahweh, both from the Torah which you have memorized, and also those mysteries you hear as you search for Yahweh with all of your heart. Your words will be weighty, life changing and life saving to kings and commoners in the days to come. I challenge you today, Elijah, to say what you hear, and speak what you see. The world needs to hear from Yahweh, and you will deliver the words he gives you at just the right time. Although it may be difficult, even dangerous at times, to deliver the messages Yahweh gives you, you can trust him to take care of you, because Yahweh is your God.”

I felt Yahweh’s presence that day, although I could not see him. And I fell more and more in love with this mysterious God for whom I was named, the one inviting me to search for him in all his mystery.”

So today, I invite you to listen to Father God’s invitation to seek him for the answers you need about that problem, that job, that relationship. And hold tight to Jesus’ promise: “Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

The Unforced Rhythms of Grace...

 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-20 The Message.

Sound inviting? That's the kind of invitation that the prophet Elijah received from God after he fled from King Ahab. Elijah had just delivered the bad news to King Ahab that the nation was being judged for their sins by an extended period of drought. In my book, Running with the Prophets, I imagine that encounter Elijah experienced with God . Imagine with me and enjoy this excerpt from my book : 

    Then the word of the Lord came to me again: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.”

Kerith Ravine, A Place of Seclusion and Provision

I fled the city as quickly as possible and headed east toward what I hoped was the location of Kerith Ravine. I had heard of the place, but had never been there myself. Abba had described it as a beautiful, but secluded place, hidden by cliffs with the sparkling fresh water of the Wadi Al Yabis stream running through it. The words of the Lord continued to run through my mind, filling me with hope and purpose as I hiked through the wilderness. Although I didn’t know the way, somehow, as if the Lord himself guided me to know when to turn to the right or the left, I stumbled into the ravine as evening approached.

I sat down, shrugged off my pack, and knelt by the stream to quench my thirst. Then sitting back, I suddenly realized that I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten. In my haste to flee the city, I had taken no provision. But what had the Lord said? Something about ravens…

I heard them before I saw them, the coarse croaking call of the ravens as they appeared over the top of the cliff and headed straight for me! I covered my face as they dove at me and then I heard several thuds on the ground. When I looked up, the ravens were gone, leaving behind a perfectly baked loaf of bread and a large portion of meat.

“Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has kept me alive and preserved me and enabled me to reach this season!”

I ate the bread and meat and drank again from the stream. Exhausted, I lay down and slept.

In the morning the ravens woke me as they dropped my breakfast from the sky, more bread and meat. I spent the day exploring the caves surrounding the ravine until the ravens reminded me it was dinner time, and I ate again and then slept.

So my days continued in my secluded wilderness hideaway. I wasn’t lonely, although I never heard a voice other than my own as I prayed and sang to my God. It was as if the ravens fed my physical being, while God himself fed my soul. I found myself taking silly delight in the tiny flowers that pushed right through the rock face of my cliff side home to bloom in the bright sunlight. I carried handfuls of water from the stream and watered them daily. I enjoyed watching the progression of the sun across the sky each day and the unveiling of the stars every night. I felt full in so many ways, so loved and cared for by Almighty God, El Shaddai himself.

After a time I noticed the stream was drying up in the drought. The prophetic word I had proclaimed at God’s direction was coming to pass. No rain had fallen in the land since I uttered God’s decree. One day there was not even a handful of water left to water my flowers, and they died. The ravens came one last time and I choked down a dry breakfast with none of the sparkling water to wash it down.

Although I had felt God’s presence teaching my soul those weeks at the ravine, I had not heard his audible voice since the day he gave me the words to deliver to King Ahab. But that morning, as I sat by the dry stream bed he spoke again.

“Elijah. Don’t linger here any longer. There is nothing here for you now.”

He knew my heart. I had felt safe here. I felt His presence every evening as I returned to camp and every morning when I awoke, just as sure as the bread and meat that arrived by ravens twice each day. I did not want to leave this place of comfort and provision. I understood then that was precisely why there was no longer any water. It wasn’t a safe place for me anymore, because God was leading me elsewhere. And I realized that any place God led me was where I wanted to be. He was my comfort. He was my provision. I had trusted him with my life when I agreed to speak his dreaded words to our king, and he had been so very trustworthy. I knew I would go anywhere he led me.

To purchase a copy of my book, copy and past the following link:

https://www.amazon.com/Running-Prophets-Finding-Intimacy-Yahweh/dp/B0G2ZWT4JK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34B56K9W1JPD8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Cjj8iFEOjmAQt7ZQT_VkykLP7JgELtOHThmsEurMuy98wb7MuslAiBdJzoNvpbdsfn5UJrTE8EgCefvB3hOKtxVERnF9AyOm2k1skzCAs7GTJfYODPSrDvYUF4jNdNzSUPO1pj6cUjEp7jbIxKFvy548DvrVjgpwHtyJR7jmP7z9dnPs1WyRpJL1tlmJH9GWsguMbgVjlbHApHisQwp30cUsC5dUGtYLEhskZS4NVJI.G6bpxJQdg7z9iZIf-dI_z5tuhaEb0qUfguZULUXjwn0&dib_tag=se&keywords=running+with+the+prophets&qid=1764346159&sprefix=running+with+the+prophets%2Caps%2C379&sr=8-1

Mommy's Favorite Book

 

When my mom was battling cancer 3000 miles away from me in California, a wonderful thing happened. The ladies who lived on my brother, Brett’s street came to welcome and visit with their new neighbor. They invited my Jewish mama to their bible study, where they introduced her to her Jewish Messiah, Jesus!

I would call Mommy on Monday nights – you still had to pay long distance phone charges back then – and I began to read to her over the phone. I chose my favorite book of the Bible, Hebrews, written from a Jewish perspective, since I thought she would identify with that New Testament book more than any other.

We had only gotten through a few chapters when I got the call from my brother, Brett, that Mom had passed.

I had visited Mommy once in California, accompanied by my sister, Roberta. My brother, Timmy bought both of our plane tickets so we could go. One of the neighbor ladies came with me and my sister to visit Mommy in the hospital. Knowing that her daughters needed to needed to hear from Mommy’s own lips about her encounter with Jesus, the neighbor asked Mommy point blank, “Doris, did you receive Jesus as your personal Savior?”

And I got to hear Mommy answer, “Yes I did!”

But after she passed, I began to doubt. Did she really meet you, Jesus? Is she really in heaven with you now?

My big brother, David was a missionary in Irian Jaya while Mommy was battling cancer. We contacted Dave overseas to let him know Mommy wouldn’t be around much longer and could he come home to see her. Mommy hung on a couple more weeks while Dave made the arrangements to travel home.

Dave was one of the last persons to see Mommy before she died.

So I decided to call Dave with my doubts. I was already crying and could hardly speak when I heard Dave’s voice on the other side of the phone.

“Dave, I need to hear something. I need you to tell me about your visit with Mommy before she died. Did she really know Jesus?” I managed to croak out into the phone.

Dave got it. He’s smart like that. “I asked Mom if I could read from the Bible to her, and she said yes. Then I asked if there was any part of the Bible she would like to hear.”

Now Dave didn’t know that I had been reading Hebrews to Mommy over the phone the past several Monday nights.

“She asked me to read Hebrews.”

Then I knew, I knew she had fallen in love with the God of her people, and her Messiah, Jesus.

“I read her the entire book all 13 chapters.”

So, all that to say I loved the book of Hebrews before Mommy died, but after she passed, I loved it even more. And I know I’ll be reading to her again when I join her one day in Glory.

And just this month, I’ve been studying Hebrews again, coming home to that familiar place I fell in love with so many years ago. Watch my blog for future posts from my, and Mommy’s, favorite book.

Daddy's Singing Again

 

At the end of the day I made my daily walk to the post office, just two doors down from my office. As I walked, I heard a song. An old song, by Keith Green, a Christian recording artist from the 70’s who was killed in a plane crash. “When I hear the praises start…” And I knew Daddy was singing over me again.

This is what I feel like when you look to me and praise me in the middle of everything, he said. I just want to rain blessings upon you, not condemnation, blessings that will fill you up. I do care about you. Stop believing that lie. When I look at you I see my daughter – I don’t see any stains, just my sanctified child, my chosen Bride. To me you’re only holy – nothing that you’ve done remains, only what you do for me.

“When I Hear the Praises Start”, by Keith and Melody Green

My son, My son, why are you striving
You can't add one thing to what's been done for you
I did it all while I was dying
Rest in your faith, my peace will come to you

For when I hear the praises start
I want to rain upon you
Blessings that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are my child and you know me
To Me you're only holy
Nothing that you've done remains
Only what you do for Me

My child, My child, why are you weeping
You will not have to wait forever
That day and that hour is in My keeping
The day I'll bring you into Heaven

For when I hear the praises start
My child, I want to rain upon you
Blessing that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are My child and you know me
To me you're only holy
Nothing that you've done remains
Only what you do in Me

My precious bride, the day is nearing
When I'll take you in My arms and hold you
I know there are so many things that you've been hearing
But you just hold on to what I have told you

For when I hear the praises start
My bride, I want to rain upon you
Blessings that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are My child, and you know Me
To me you're only holy
Nothing that you've done will remain
Only what you do for me.

So I sang along with Daddy as I walked. 

Inside the post office, the young lady ahead of me was interacting with the clerk and then spoke to him as she walked away, “have a blessed weekend”.

Ooh, a sister! I thought, and I hurried after her. She held the door for me and I told her, now you have a blessed weekend! You are loved by the Father. She smiled and said yes, I know. You are highly favored, I added. You are, too, she said. Then we walked side by side out of the post office. Outside I touched her shoulder gently and said, how wonderful to meet a sister. Then I told her about the Keith Green song God was singing over me earlier, and I sang a few lines over her. She was too young to have heard of Keith Green, but she loved the words of the song. Then this young lady I'd never met before turned to me, hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek before she headed to her car, and I headed back to the office to wrap up my day.

Such a lovely way to end the work day, my work week. Thank you, Daddy for family that I haven’t even met, all around me. Bless her extra special this weekend.

And please let Keith Green know that you’re still singing his song over your kids. That will bless his heart for sure.

Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIgVU_5FsqA