Hey, my beloved Siestas!
I am writing you from a bumpy altitude of about 28,000 feet on my way home from the Greensboro, North Carolina Living Proof Live. It’s Sunday early afternoon, a day later than I was scheduled to fly out. When I checked in at the United Airlines’ desk in Greensboro, a screen popped up saying that my itinerary had been altered and asked if I wanted to proceed. I reviewed the itinerary carefully on the screen and compared it to my schedule and could not for the life of me tell any difference. I shrugged my shoulders and carried on with my check-in and never gave it a second thought.
I got to Washington DC for my layover and looked at the screen in the bustling corridor for the gate number to my 5:10 PM flight and that’s when I saw it. My flight was so delayed out of Honolulu (seriously?? straight to DC??) that our earliest departure would be 11:00 PM that night and, best-case-scenario, would land us in Houston at 1:30 AM. That translates to a final home-getting out in the sticks where I live at about 2:45 AM. Hmmm. When I checked at the customer service desk to see if there had been any update on the schedule, the attendant confirmed the bad news as delicately as she could and added that the flight was at risk of cancellation and that, if she were me, she’d switch to a flight the next day and run for my life to a hotel. Otherwise I could get stranded in the middle of the night with no plan. So, that’s what I did. My dear and most excellent assistant, K-Mac, hopped on her computer at home in Houston and started finding me a hotel room nearby while I stood in another line to book this flight and waited for the next 2 hours in baggage claim for them to find my suitcase.
It all sounds worse than it was because Jesus stayed so near me. Typing those words, I could almost cry. He is so gracious. I’ll get to more of that in just a moment. I tried to call my man a couple of times before I made a final decision but couldn’t reach him. I hated the thought that I was going to cancel out of that flight and come home the next day without even letting him know in advance. When you’ve been married as long as we have, a few days pass and it just doesn’t feel right not to be back together. I started to say, “When you’ve been married as long as we have, you get used to one another,” but I said that not long ago to Keith and he looked at me glibly and said, “Lizabeth, I’m used to my underwear. I love my wife. That’s why I want to be with her.” And it made me laugh.
The older we get, I sometimes have the quickest shot of panic go through me when I say bye to him. It’s only on occasion. The rest of the time I keep my wits better about me. But sometimes before I walk out the door I touch his tan face, lined handsomely by the years and Texas sunshine, and I permit myself the moment’s agony, “What if I never saw this face again??” Ugh. Even now that wells a lump in my throat. I know I’ll see him again in heaven and throughout eternity but he’ll have his immortal body and not the one I helped heap a considerable amount of age on. And he’ll be my brother and not my husband.
That’s kind of a game changer.
I left Keith a few voice mails but had been in baggage claim a while after making the final decision when he called me back. Of course, he gave me his blessing and said he’d never want me in a car in Houston after midnight and out to the country at 2:30 in the morning if we could ever help it. I knew he’d say that but I also knew we’d miss each other that next Sunday morning.
“And now,” Keith said, “I don’t even have to feel guilty about going to a sporting clay shoot tomorrow.” That right there is vintage Keith.
“Honey, you still could have gone.”
“Oh, I know, Sweets,” he said, “I was going to go but I’d have to have felt guilty about it.”
I laughed. Just when I’m feeling all gushy about him, we get a fresh reminder that he and I are still mostly oil and vinegar (not saying which is which because that depends on the day) but at least we like being bottled up together. Yep. Almost all the time these days.
God was so good to us in Greensboro and so spared us the strivings of the flesh with the fullness of His Spirit that I very much did not want to get a bad attitude about the flight drama and 2-hour suitcase search. I also knew that, once I told Sabrina and K-Mac that I was stuck, they were liable to shake their heads as the wonderful, responsible coworkers they are and think again that it’s not the best idea for me to go alone. This is a loving discussion (from all sides) that comes back to the table again and again. They are so dear to me. I have no idea what I’d do without them. The thing is, I love traveling alone. It tends to offer me the strongest sense of Christ’s presence and often seems to amplify His voice to me about the message. But it can on occasion have a challenging side.
This was not really one of them. I laugh every now and then with Sabrina that no matter who she could send with me, I’d have more travel experience than any helper would by about 20 years. I say that laughing. At this point, I am fairly well versed in the airline drill as much as a civilian can be. And I truly do love to fly the friendly skies. Our compromise is that I go alone on a LifeWay event (like Living Proof Live) because they have an incredibly good and familiar system once I land in that city but that, if I’m heading to any other event, I take an assistant. Of course, all that is more than you want to know but I am stuck on this long plane ride and in the mood to talk to somebody. And you’re the one stuck with me.
About an hour and 45 minutes into the wait in baggage claim, I did almost feel like crying for a split second because I’m so completely drained after an LPL and couldn’t yet see rest in sight. I texted Amanda and Melissa and asked them to press in and pray a smile on my face a bit longer. They did.
And I ended up getting more than a smile. Right after that, the United agent in baggage claim told me they’d finally found the suitcase and it would be down in 15 minutes. It was. I cheered when I saw it, both fists in the air, and the agent grinned.
By the time I got to the curb, I’d missed the hotel shuttle by a few minutes and would have to wait another thirty minutes for the next one. I grabbed a cab instead. After checking into the hotel (at a good rate, thank you, Expedia.com), I took the elevator to the fifth floor, and began wheeling my cute, light blue briefcase and big ole suitcase down the hall. That’s when I got tickled. Out loud. I may have even bent over laughing. Our subject matter in Greensboro had revolved strongly around increasing our time in the “secret place” with Jesus. I had told them that I was exhilarated by the challenge and could not wait to get started into a deeper secrecy with Him. Let me just say, Jesus took me up on it. Immediately. I had all evening with Him then all the next morning with Him. Just the two of us. We ate dinner together. Well, we sat at the same table is what I mean. I think He was fasting. But He was fine company indeed.
(That’s gorgonzola on that beef medallion and the sides are fresh spinach and fried polenta. It was fabulous, especially because I was really hungry.)
I missed Bayou City Fellowship and my brothers and sisters at church so much this morning but, thanks to podcasts, got to have my own church service right there in the hotel room. With Jesus. By myself.
Then I got on this plane, got into the air, put my headphones on and listened to “Crown Him with Many Crowns” (the Chris Tomlin, and Kari Jobe remix on the Burning Lights CD) and cried over the pure awesomeness of this One who saved us by His own blood. It’s always awkward to cry on a plane with a stranger in the next seat touching elbows with you. I opened to the Book of Revelation in my red soft leather Bible and read the passages about crowns cast at His feet and crowns placed upon His head.
Revelation 4:9-11…
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who is seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for You created all things,
and by Your will they existed and were created.”
Revelation 19:11-14…
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a name written that no one knows but Himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him on white horses.
The words kept echoing, “Worthy are You!”
It’s almost more than my heart can bear. Amid the brevity of this vaporous earthly life, we will all soon see the face of the One who is so worthy of our worship and the priority affections of our hearts and the focused attentions of our minds. The One worthy of our faith when we cannot see our way. Worthy of our taking the way of escape when temptation beckons us into a whirlpool. The One worthy of gracing others because He has forgiven us at so high a price. The One worthy of counting on when the world calls us fools. The One worthy of taking at His glorious Word.
Don’t you on occasion find it slack-jawing astonishing that this same Jesus seeks us out and wants to be with us? It’s happened to you just like it’s happened to me. If you’ve known Him long, you’ve unexpectedly found yourself alone and lonely only to realize that He has temporarily isolated you just to be with you. And you realize you’ve never been less alone in your life.
Most of the time I accept the thought of His pursuit of us with genuine appreciation but with a certain amount of familiarity. I’ve read it enough in Scripture to believe it and receive it and want it in the worst way and enough to feel weird and worried if I go too long without sensing it. Other times, I’m thrown facedown over the wonder of it. I’m there right now. All of us in this community get why we should yearn and press past every obstacle to get to a place alone with Jesus but, seriously, why on earth would He yearn to do the same with humans? It’s just too much to wrap my mind around sometimes.
“He yearns jealously over the spirit that He has made to dwell in us.” James 4:5
Sister, Jesus is hemming you in. If He’s backed you into a corner, it’s not to isolate you but to freshly exhilarate you. He loves you. He’s seeking you out. Slow down and let yourself be caught by this holy jealous-for-you love that will not let you go. We are not just tolerated. We didn’t make it in by the skin of our teeth. We have been planned for and pursued. We are the deep desire of Someone’s heart.
Did you think I’d forgotten why we’re on here today? Smiling.
Nope. It’s just taken me a while to hash out my selection this time around. I know we’re supposed to stick mostly to one verse each 2-week period but I just can’t help myself. Some things can’t be sliced up with a knife and fork and taste the same way on a tongue.
Beth, Houston. 3 When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, 4 what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet. Psalm 8:3-6 ESV
You, Lord, YOU crowned us??? What were You thinking?? You have multiplied, O Lord my God, Your wondrous deeds and Your thoughts toward us; none can compare with You!” Psalm 40:5
Jesus, we long for the day when You will split the sky like the veil before the Holy of Holies and bound through the heavens on horseback, Your crimson robe whipping in the wind behind You. Every eye will see Your glorious face. And on Your head will be many diadems.
Crown Him with many crowns.
Awake, my soul, and sing.
Let’s have those verses, you Scripture-memorizing women of God.
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Michelle from Waterloo, ON, Canada
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10 NIV
Valerie Marrder Fernandez from Houston, TX “Indeed, God is my salvation;
I will trust Him and not be afraid,
for Yah, the Lord,
is my strength and my song.
He has become my salvation.” HCSB
Jennie
Beaverton, OR
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8
ESV
Katie, Kentucky- If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:11, 12 NIV)
Gina, Bolivar, MO
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Cindy, Uvalde, Texas
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Ephesians 1:3 NLT
Joretta Gorman
Waxahachie, TX
Colossians 3:12 NRS
And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
Diana—San Patricio, TX. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer…”
I Peter 3:12a (NIV)
West Monroe, LA:
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
NIV
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. (Matthew 6:29 NIV)
Marilyn, Mission Viejo, CA
Romans 10:9 ESV
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Lauren from Conyers, GA
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:3 NLT
Mary Beth, St. Louis
Psalm 105:4 (NIV)
“Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.”
Michelle From Higlands Ranch
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. (Psalm 105:4 NIV)
Tarah, Camdenton, MO
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers nor things present nor things, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will have power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 (HCSB)
Tori DeClue; Bolivar, Mo
“He must become greater; I must become less”
John 3:30 NIV
Tracy – Andice, TX
“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.”
Job 19:25 NASB
Nancy,Rhinelander,Wi Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way.It is not irritable,and keeps no record of being wronged. 1Cor.13;4&5 NLT
Michelle from Highlands Ranch, CO
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. (Psalm 105:4 NIV)
Terri, Papua New Guinea. “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8, NIV.
“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.” John 15:8, ESV
Chattanooga, TN
“Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”
1Peter 5:7 NRSV
“For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Phil 2:13 (ESV)
Ruth, Westerville, Ohio
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37, 38 NIV
Sue, Kingsport. Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
Isaiah 55:6 NIV
Sara, Sioux City
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
Psalm 139:16 ~ NKJV
Darla, Pittsburgh
“For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.” Jeremiah 31:25
Andrea, New Brunswick, Canada
“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 NIV
Psalm 1: 3-4 NKJV 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Amy in Central,La
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10 NIV)
Carolyn, Terrace BC Canada
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid: do not be discouraged.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”
I Corinthians 10:4, ESV
Chantel, Watson, LA – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1, NIV
Melanie, San Antonio, TX
“I therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV
Roxie, Jerseyville, IL 2 Timothy 1:12 ESV
“But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.”
Continuing on in my memorization of Psalm 91.
Psalm 91:8 “You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.” ESV
Leslie G from Warner Robins, Ga
James 4:5 NIV
Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
Laura, League City, TX:
“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:32
Rockmart,Georgia
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8. NIV
Lily, Auburn, AL
“…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn…”
Isaiah 61:2 (NIV)
Dawn, Mt. Olive, NC
Isaiah 12:2 NIV
Surley God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord is my strentgh & my song; He has become my slavation.
For April 1st:
“Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.” ~Isaiah 1:16-17
And for April 15th:
“Heavens sprinkle from above and let the skies shower righteousness. Let the Earth open up so that salvation will sprout and righteousness will spring up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it.” ~Isaiah 45:8
(Both from HCSB)
Lisa Lucas of Indianapolis, IN
NIV
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck, write them on a tablet of your heart.
Provers 3:3
Debbie Holbrook, NY
HE gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might
HE increases power. Isaiah 40:29 NASB
Sheila – Guyton, GA
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” Colossians 4:2 NLT
Olda, Huntsville, AL
“Those who shed tears as they plant will shout for joy when they reap the harvest. The one who weeps as he walks along, carrying his bag of seed, will certainly come in with a shout of joy, carrying his sheaves of grain.” Psalm 126:5-6 (ESV)
Nancy D.
Round Rock, TX
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery,”
Gal. 5:1 (ESV)
Ellen from Chattanooga, TN
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 NLT
Jennifer, Fort Worth
“But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” Romans 8:25 NKJV
Valerie, Omaha. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive courage of those with repentant hearts. Isaiah 57:15