Time with my Father - Part IV

Please be patient with me because this blog is changing.

GASP!

Not to worry. I’ve received so many beautiful and gracious comments here, via email, or in person that it has been very encouraging. I’m not going to stop writing but I do have to change some things and I’ve gotten the “go ahead” to tell you.

Part of the reason I started writing the series of “Time with my Father” was because of this very blog and those nine little words. I questioned how I could possibly bring my beloved Father all due credit for what was happening in my life, in the lives of others. So we spent a lot of time together and He showed me many things. With every little thing He showed me, my eyes opened wider and my heart grew bigger.

I want these stories to be about these beautiful people and how God is pouring Himself into blessing me in the process. I don’t want to write the stories about these encounters for the purpose of writing or recognition. I want others to feel bold and brave enough to do it also...and feel His mighty love.

In addition, if for whatever reason someone I had asked happened to come to this blog, I don’t want these individuals to ever feel like I exploited them for my purposes. That is why so much time is between each encounter and post. I allow their requests to soak in so I can love on the individual in private prayer.

I also wait for God’s lesson.

The stories are all so different from each other but what remains the same in every experience is that the blessing I receive is immediate and the lesson I learn lingers. For some time afterwards I feel like I am walking in another dimension, as if I have stepped into the lives of those I have spoken with. I become less petty and less critical, even if for a moment, of my life over what I have or don’t have. It’s almost as if I am experiencing the truth behind when Jesus was speaking to a religious leader about loving God and your neighbor as yourself.

Hearing Christ's words he responded, "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." [(Mk 12: 32, 33) emphasis added, mine.]

Oh! You mean not just going to church, and giving, and talking the talk but actually LIVING by serving and LOVING by walking the walk in our communities...our neighborhoods?

Yup.

In asking the question “How can I ask God to bless you today?”, I am having the unique opportunity to see the heart of the one I ask. To see what is not talked about. To see what they carry hidden. Maybe it’s not a secret that they share but a hidden burden, concern, worry or even joy. I also feel God's heart for their request.

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen tears well up or how many times someone has laughed. I cannot tell you how many times I have walked away and wondered how in the world I was able to see God’s heart for that person. His heart? A complete stranger? Just by asking a question? How is that even possible? I certainly do not understand it but do you know what Jesus said to the religious leader who understood what He was teaching?

“‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.” (Mk 12:34)

Out of so many pharisees who dispised Jesus, this one got it! He got the heart of everything God has ever said. Care enough as you would yourself. Care enough to love and you will experience His heart for those around you. Experience His heart and He is magnified in your life. You can't help but to fall deeper in love with Him. It is a glorious circle of loving God, loving people, and feeling completely loved in return. You can't get any closer to heaven on this earth than that.

No wonder those listening to Jesus  in that moment didn’t ask anymore questions. I don’t know how I feel God’s heartbeat when I ask those nine little words, but I do and I don’t dare ask anymore questions. I let the experience fill me.

Which brings me to what is changing about the blog.

These very private moments are between the person I ask, myself and God. At first I told my sweet and caring Papa God that I no longer wanted to write any of these stories because I feel completely inadequate to do it any justice. I felt Him speak to my heart that this mini- adventure I am on is to be shared. But I was still...afraid.

Don't worry. I didn't stop. I have spent weeks asking people those nine little words and debating whether I should share or not or even how. Needless to say, my Creator and I went on many walks and spent a lot of time talking. He’s been very convincing…in the gentlest way of course.

So, I will continue to share the stories but I will no longer tell you the details of where I had the encounter. Yes, I will give you the names because I believe in the power of praying for a person by name. I will also let you see my stumbles and self discoveries but in order to honor the privacy of these people God clearly loves and cares for, I will focus more on what I learned through the process.

Here’s to being “not far from the kingdom of God” by stepping out and pushing away my fear in order to experience the blessing of feeling my Father’s heartbeat…one beat at a time.

I believe it will be a beautiful thing.

...

Photographs of Monarch Butterfly in various by Lisa Arnold
taken with:  

Music to Inspire

Music is such an inspiration for me. Well, then again so is photography and nature walks and babies and reading and friends and making videos and my husband and food and … the list goes on. Sheesh! I’m exhausting.

Anyway.

The point is music is an energy producer for me and most of us can find a song to fit almost any situation or emotion. I have a few new favorites and I would like to share one with you.

Most of you have been following "Time with my Father" but do not know I have been in knee bending conversations about these nine little words I ask and the requests being made. I wrote on my facebook status about two weeks ago:

“amazed at how [9littlewords] opens my eyes and grows my heart”

I wrote that because I had finished having a "safe" conversation with a random young woman I had just met. I’ll tell you her story at a later time (all in due time…all in due time). The conversation felt so safe that I was compelled to ask her those nine little words.

I haven’t stopped thinking about her since.

This leads me to telling you about the music I have finally posted to the blog. There is a song by JJ Heller called “Love Me” which reminds me of every encounter I have had. I wanted to tell you about it but kept getting distracted. Then today happened and so much of the beauty of those endless and expansive blue skies reminded me of her…who I haven’t stopped thinking about.

How many people are out there who just want to be seen and loved?

I don’t know.

I hope this song inspires you to find out. Share yourselves. Share your time. Christ was willing to die for love. You don’t have to because He already paid the price. All you have to do is show it.

The song “Love Me” is second in cue.

Here are the lyrics. Enjoy. Be inspired to love. To be loved.

Love Me

JJ Heller

He cries in the corner where nobody sees

He’s the kid with the story no one would believe

He prays every night, “Dear God won’t you please

Could you send someone here who will love me?”

Who will love me for me

Not for what I have done or what I will become

Who will love me for me

‘Cause nobody has shown me what love

What love really means

Her office is shrinking a little each day

She’s the woman whose husband has run away

She’ll go to the gym after working today

Maybe if she was thinner

Then he would’ve stayed

And she says…

Who will love me for me?

Not for what I have done or what I will become

Who will love me for me?

‘Cause nobody has shown me what love, what love really means

He’s waiting to die as he sits all alone

He’s a man in a cell who regrets what he’s done

He utters a cry from the depths of his soul

“Oh Lord, forgive me, I want to go home”

Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside

And it said

“I know you’ve murdered and I know you’ve lied

I have watched you suffer all of your life

And now that you’ll listen, I’ll tell you that I...”

I will love you for you

Not for what you have done or what you will become

I will love you for you

I will give you the love

The love that you never knew

...

Hate is easy. Love takes courage.

 

Time with my Father - Part III

One morning I was walking home from dropping off Cristina at school when I was reminded of a recent family trip to a train and toy show. I had intended and prayed to find someone to ask my nine little words but God had other intentions and made sure I remained silent.

He was preparing to bless me.

As I walked, I remembered the details of that day. There were hundreds and hundreds of men, women, and children watching, looking, ooh-ing, and ahh-ing.

 

It was truly fascinating to see the extent of detail these hobbyists put into their trains and towns or whatever other scenery they had put together.

Regardless of the variety or complexity of what you were seeing, there was one common theme at each location:

The watchful eye of the creative and talented conductor.

There was also an attentive parent making sure the curious and innocent hand of a child did not accidently take out a whole town or mountainside with one swipe. Oh the horror! King Kong had nothing on these little ones! For some the temptation was way too great and families had to move on.

My husband at one point remarked what I was thinking, “What is it with the fascination of trains?”

With each subsequent lingering visit to a seemingly never ending display of town after town, mountain or hill, the question became more and more perplexing. The attention to detail was beyond my expectation although I have no idea what I was expecting.

What I also observed was that when anyone said to the conductor,

- “This is amazing!”

- “This is so cool.”

- “You’re really good and must have a lot of patience.”

You wouldn’t see a stiff, prideful posture or receive a high brow response of, “I know.” The conductor would give a genuine smile and pleasantly say “Thank you.” It would then be followed up with a “look here, let me show you this.”

As we would watch this and that, my husband would say to our children, “Look! Wouldn’t it be cool to be small enough to go there and there and …?”

It would always be met with “YEAH! I could go in there…or there…!”

Their excitement was so contagious I could feel it too. Of course it would be so cool to live in a place where one creative talent paid so much attention to detail, nothing was missed, and to have their watchful eye on us to make sure someone didn’t accidently destroy what was lovingly and patiently put together. Wouldn’t it?

And there I was, walking home from school on a familiar path.

The grass was green. The trees were blooming. Flowers were growing. Squirrels, rabbits and birds were going from one yard to another. The sidewalk was just were I needed it to be. The school I pray over where teachers instruct our first grader and other children was behind me. Our home that gives our family daily shelter and a place to sleep every night was just up ahead. I was in the neighborhood where our friends live. The church we worship in was just a short five minute drive. And the car! Our car. The one donated to us four years ago.

All of the details, each and every one was placed in our lives by our brilliant and talented Creator. I found myself come to a complete stop and as I looked around I saw more and more of those details. I could hear and feel like I had not remembered hearing and feeling before. I closed my eyes, raised my face and thanked my Father.

-“All of this is so AMAZING!”

-“All of this is so cool.”
-“You are so good and have so much patience…with me.”

It was met with the most glorious and gentle, “Thank you. Look here, let Me show you this.”

With each step the list grew longer. Each blade of grass looked different. I was amazed at how many varieties of trees were just in our neighborhood. The color of the morning sky was such a hue of blue it looked like a vast ocean. The flowers were cloaked and dancing in reds, blues, purples, yellows, oranges and every shade in between.

The fading moon itself seemed to be singing of God’s goodness as the sun rose and shined brighter. It was a spectacular sight. And to think this was a gift I was given one morning by simply remembering a time He had asked me to remain silent and just watch!

Thank you Papa God for loving me the way You do. Every day I get up and look out the window to see what You have laid out for me. I am in awe of You and the color palette You choose to use. You could have made everything in shades of grey but You didn’t. You could’ve given birds one song, but You didn’t. You could’ve given all trees one height and one type of flower, but You didn’t.

You took the time to go over every detail. Not one thing was missed and You did this all before any one of us opened our eyes or our hearts to see. Every morning You hang the sun in the sky without fail. Every night the stars glimmer in the vast blackness of space. Every time. No matter where we are or whether we can see them or not.

Thank You God for hiding Yourself in all of creation so man is without excuse. Father, keep me in a place of worship and praise for all You do and provide. Let me not ever take any day, minute or second for granted. And for the times I do, give me fresh new eyes to remember all over again and become giddy with excitement. Help me also to remember that because Jesus said, “It is finished” on the cross I can always come straight to You.

Thank You for walking with me this morning and reminding me. I have been richly blessed.


 



[All photographs taken by Lisa Arnold with Canon Powershot SX110IS 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)]

Time with my Father - Part II

On Easter morning...

...I thank Him. He is risen indeed.

(Sun on Cherry Blossom - photograph by Lisa Arnold)

Time with my Father - Part I

Everyone has a morning routine. It’s what wakes the mind and soul, bringing the body out of slumber. First thoughts could be about work, family, health, spirituality and so on.

My first thoughts as I wipe sleep away are usually wondering what my Father will show me that day. I’ll lie in bed for a good 15-20 minutes savoring that time. Although experts are conflicted about when the mind absorbs the most, I believe the morning is prime time to experience all things new.

Scripture says, “…Each morning He awakens me eager to learn His teaching;” (Is 50:4 CEV).
And that has been the case for me.

However, be aware that God will use any method to grab your attention and let you know you’re on the correct path or need a change of course. It might be through His Word, affirmation of other believers, creative outlets such as art and song, or maybe it could be through rock climbing, and yes, even a donkey (Num 22:28) or a fish (Jonah 1:17).

Here’s the fun part. A friend of mine, Heather, wrote about her connection with God and numbers. Read about it here. Another girlfriend of mine, Amy, learned a bit about patience through one of her spiritual gifts - craftsmanship. Read hers here.

So what's mine?

It’s actually connected with the first thing I do every day. From where I lay, I reach up and pull the blinds open. Without fail, God always speaks to me in that moment. I cannot begin to describe to you the inexplicable beauty I see every morning. Yes, even on what most of us would call gloomy gray days because I know it is meant just for me. The majesty of what I see brings an immediate smile to my sleepy face. I will tell you about one particular morning at a later time.

For now I will leave you with this. God desires to speak to each one of us and because He made each one of us unique, His way of speaking to you will be equally unique. For me, I have to have my time of reading, reflection, and worship either outside or near a window. I know everything God makes is good and He consistently places that beauty along my path every day because He knows I need it. And it always brings me to a place of worship.

 ^30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. (Matthew 6:30-33, The Message)

Find those moments on the path of your day to day walk. Breathe it in like air you need to survive. Feel Him speak to your heart and stir your soul. Worship Him for it. Your Father has laid it out for you, just you, uniquely you.