this morning during our morning prayer time, tim got out the guitar and led us in a little bit of worship, just us two (this is a thing precious, a thing not frequently enough occurring). i laid down to rest on the floor as he strummed, settling into a posture of restful adoration...
then Papa took me to the beach. in my mind's eye, clear as can be, and accompanied by Holy Spirit tears welling up in my eyes, He took me to Lake Michigan. you know that moment, heading west on Lake Michigan Drive when you see the lake for the first time, on the other side of those vintage water treatment plant buildings? at that first sight of that expanse of water, excitement and contentment fills my heart and i know that i am about to be in a place favored above most others.
and those still waters He talks about leading His sheep to... well, He was whispering that He was taking me to my still waters, and they are Lake Michigan. He knows me so well. He gave me a vivid, sensory imagining of a place and moment that are very special to me. because He loves me and He leads me by still waters.
psalm 1:3 was spoken over me prophetically be a near-stranger a couple of weeks ago:
(s)he is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
whatever (s)he does prospers.
so Papa has been talking to me a lot about dropping my striving. He reassures me that He has me planted right where He wants me and i WILL yeild fruit in season, but that fruit won't come from my striving. oh, all the controling, managing, franic striving i've been doing since i moved here: in order to make a place for myself here, to show that i'm enough of a misisonary to be supported, and enough of a fruit-bearer to be a worthy daughter.
freely receiving is hard for me. but i'm starting to see that i've got to get this. He's so patiently fathering me.
so this morning i receive an imaginary day at Lake Michigan with my Jesus.
