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|  'Better Than Beauty'. The title makes me want to buy it. I've seen what true beauty looks like and it makes me jealous for it. I have a friend that has walked a VERY long road of suffering and hardship. But she has never been offended before the Lord and she has allowed Him, invited Him, asked Him to breathe into, the toughest seasons. Whenever we pray together, I weep. I'm always saying 'God, do you see this woman? Isn't she so beautiful?' When she tells me what God is doing, I totally listen. I know that because of her walk of humiliation, her suffering, she is more in tune with the heart of God. I really believe her when she tells me that she's only living for the evaluation of One. While the things of this world: 'stuff', people, ministries, have wrought heartache, God has worked beauty through a humble heart that is willing to rest in Him alone.
I have the joy of seeing Jesus each time I look at her and it makes me jealous for suffering. This is truly beyond beauty...
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Washin’ the feet... Last night at house church, Chip taught on servanthood, that Jesus was the greatest servant of all, unto death. After worship, we had communion and a time for washing each others’ feet. Whoever you wanted to bless, you would go to that person and wash their feet.
I have a friend that is so beautiful. She has walked a true road of suffering, with the recent loss of her husband to cancer, the raising of three girls, and all that comes with it, etc. and yet she has ALWAYS pursued the Lord with an unoffended heart. She weeps in compassion and rejoices with those who rejoice. I’ve truly never met anyone like her and I would say that she’s a hero, of sorts, to me. Her walk of faith is deeper than most people I’ve met, her freedom is definitely greater than I’ve ever seen! She walks in a different reality than me. Sometimes, I find myself jealous of her suffering because her heart is so alive before the Lord.
The music was quietly playing in the background. I washed the neighborhood kids’ feet and afterward, I saw my friend waiting for me, pitcher in hand, towel over her arm. And I thought, ‘Oh God, I cannot have my feet washed by this beautiful servant.’ And yet that is what she did. And she wept and she blessed and spoke life over me. My beautiful, humble, friend, who is truly married to her Beloved. She knows Him well.
Last night, Carmen was the hands of Jesus to me and I find today that through her humility, I am more deeply touched that this humble Man came to serve, to lay down His life for one like me...
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| "I went over to the ministry house this morning. Mom was waiting for her group to start, and she had your music on. We were having a heart-to-heart talk, and I was getting all teared up. Mom asked if everything was ok. I said here we are, our hearts connecting listening to our daughter worship. Life is good; sunlight was even streaming in the window, the birds were perched on the window ledge singing, the squirrels dancing on the front step (ok, the part about the birds and the squirrels was made up, but I was trying to put the warm image of Disney into it... but everything else was just as it should be.)" --Quoted from Chip to our daughter.
Sometimes, it's nice to have a cartoon Disney day (just the happy parts, not the scary parts). Sure beats waking up and stepping in Finney pooh. Or being sick. Or other yucky things. Picturing squirrels dance and birds singing is much nicer :) Thankful for that kind of day.
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Hearts of stone. There are some days when my heart feels fully alive. I laugh heartier, cry easier, feel deep tenderness. And there are days when I hear devastating news and my heart barely shifts (I hate that). I’ve asked for a tender heart before the Lord, but sometimes, my heart just feels cold, kind of hard.
I came across this verse today: Ezekiel 11:19-20 that says, “And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations...”
Yae for a God that stirs the desire for a tender heart (He places that desire in us). Yae for weeping over the beauty of the Lord and the mystery of the cross. Yae for the revelation of the beauty in others, valuing their journeys as much as my own. Yae for a heart that whole heartedly embraces living life in love for each other. Yae for weeping with those who weep and really rejoicing when they rejoice. Yae for a God that cheers us on our journey toward hearts of flesh!
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