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
Fort Wayne, IN
You have lived on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6You have condemned and murdered innocent men who were not opposing you.
James 5:5-6 NIV ’84
Angie
Anniston,Alabama
” Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”
Hebrews 12:1
NIV
Michele, Liverpool, NY
Deut 6.23 – And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. καὶ ἡμᾶς ἐξήγαγεν ἐκεῖθεν, ἵνα εἰσαγάγῃ ἡμᾶς
Lauren Spence from Decatur, TX
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)
1 Peter 4:8 (NASB)
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Ashley
Newport, TN
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1 (NJKV).
Beverly, Prosper, TX
Jeremiah 31:3
The Lord appeared to him from afar saying,
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” (NASB)
Lori
Bangor, Maine
God, the Master, the Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me.
Isaiah 30:15 (Message)
Ada, Rochester, MI
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29 NIV
Elizabeth, Nashville
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29 NIV
Jill Sayles, Puyallup, Wa
2 cor 4:9b – 10, NLT
“We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.”
Meredith
Menlo Park, CA
“The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:10-12 ESV
Jill
Winter Haven, FL
“in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.” Colossians 3:7 NKJV
Diana, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:4 NIV
LisaT from Boonsboro, Md.
James 1:5 NIV84
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Stacy from McDonough, GA
O Lord, be gracious to me; I long for you. Be my strength every morning, my salvation in time of distress. Isaiah 33:2 NIV
krystsl ward
teague, tx
then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. a scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.
malachi 3:16 NIV
Nicki Bishop
Bowling Green, KY
“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;”
–James 1:23 (NKJV)
Lorri, Fort Worth, TX
NIV
For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His purpose. Philippians 2:13
Philippians 4:9. The Message (MSG)
“Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”
Brenda from Alpharetta, GA
Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:3 NIV
Austin, TX
Psalms 141:3
“Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
NIV
This is very late, but how blessed I was to remember to come here and read this post about how God steals time away with us – seeking us out for a special time alone together!
Margo
Laramie WY
Isaiah 40:30,31
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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.
Kari, Katy TX
“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” James 1:25 ESV
There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it and I won’t take it away from her. Luke 10:42 NLV
Rowena Gulfport, MS, If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God to everyone liberly and in grudgingly, without reproaching or fault finding, and it will be given him. James 1:5
Rae from Greenwood, AR
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ” Hebrews 12:14. NIV
Maria Cristina Bruschi
Orlando, FL
Great is Jehovah, and praised greatly, in the city of our God – His holy hill.
Psalm 48:1 – Young’s Literal Translation
Connie from Plano, TX–“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
Marsha C, Kannapolis, NC
“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. ”
Proverbs 29:11 ESV
Cherilyn, Colfax NC
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6 NIV
Peggy Mullens
Shertz, Tx
“Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 ESV
Shannon Olson – Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
“March on my soul, be strong!” (Judges 5:21b NIV)
Sorry so late!
Kirby from Parsons, KS
“But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors.” Deuteronomy 6:23 (NIV)
(I forgot to post on the 15th, sorry!)
Sara Cain, Ft. Worth. “As for God, His way is perfect.” 2 Samuel 22:31a (NKJV)
Jennifer
Lancaster PA
The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Psalm 147:11 NIV
Above all else, GUARD your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 ( MSG)
Champaign, IL
Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. That together you may (unanimously) with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
Romans 15:5-6 (Amplified Bible)
“Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”Psalms 141:3 NIV
Sorry, I am a day early.
Linda,Mishawaka,In says
The goodness of God leads you to repentance
Rom 2:42 NIV
Santa Rosa Beach, FL
“Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.” Psalm 16:1 KJV
Tami, Brighton, CO
Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, Oh Lord. Ps. 25:7 (NIV)
Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:7-8 NLT
“We now have this light shining in our hearts; but we, ourselves, are like fragile jars of clay containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
Tera Ferguson
Gardendale, Alabama
I Corinthians 15:52 NAS
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
Mandy
Waco, TX
When I said, “My foot is slipping, ” your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
Psalm 94:18-19 NIV
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. Psalm 89:15 NIV
Charleen Beasley,
, Nashville “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” – Proverbs 3:24
Dublin, OH
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:18 NIV