Lost

As I came out of the prayer room in the wee early hours of the morning, I felt my body craving something sweet, preferably my necessary daily vanilla latte. Since I had not slept yet, I decided on juice and maybe a granola bar. I climbed into my car once I found where it parked itself. I quickly drove to the nearest gas station; trying not to speed since recently I have felt a slight conviction of breaking the road rules. I pulled into the gas station, turned off my lights, pulled my keys out, layed them down by my purse, grabbed my wallet, and hopped out of my car. As my door was shutting I knew what I had just done. Now if you are reading this and you have known me for a long time, you know what’s coming. I locked my keys in my car. I haven’t had a car for about 2 ½ years and I’ve only recently been back to driving. So I knew I was due for this some time soon. I just looked at my car door and said ‘Oh no, I did it again.’ I immediately started praying about what I should do. This can be considered my first issue in Kansas City because my phone was in my car, I don’t have any of my roommates phone numbers memorized, I’m still not familiar with Kansas City, and well I just had this sense of helplessness placed upon me. So I began to pray for God to send me someone to help. I’m a very impatient person so I didn’t wait very long until I took the matter into my own hands. Forgive me Jesus even through your faithfulness. I called a locksmith. I decided I might as well go sit on the curb by my car and wait. I was sitting on the curb and this man stopped and asked me if I was okay. I said yes but I was just waiting for a locksmith. He said “Hurry, call them and cancel.” So I didn’t ask any questions and I went back inside the gas station to call and cancel. When I came back out to my car he was already working on getting my keys out. I told him that I had prayed for the Lord to send someone to help me and that’s when he showed up. I made sure to thank Jesus and bless the man. This man’s name was John, which is funny because the past few days I have been studying the book of John. As he was working on getting my keys out, I had this surreal revelation. I was standing in front of the gas station and it was as if the world was going in fast motion but I was stopped. I was a frozen body just standing in front of the gas station watching life zoom by. People were coming from every direction zooming in and out, in and out, in and out, in and out, in and out, and I was just standing there frozen, motionless, and watching life happen. As I was watching all these people coming and going, I realized that they were all lost. The majority of them didn’t know Jesus and they were walking in and out, in and out, in and out, in and out, in and out, and they were all coming to get something. Whatever they were coming to get was nothing compared to Jesus. At that moment, when this man John was getting my keys out of my car, I realized that all of these people at this specific location were coming to get something but they were leaving without the most important thing in life, Jesus. They were all lost and dying, but still alive on their way to death. I began to cry. As I stood there, during this momentary moment of my own sense of frozenness, I realized just how many people need Jesus. At this gas station, in this specific town, in this specific state, in this specific country, there were so many people that were lost and dying. There were so many people here that needed Jesus, they all needed life. I believe that this coincidence didn’t just happened this morning but I believe that it was a divine encounter with God’s heart for these people, at this specific gas station, in this specific town, in this specific state, and in this specific country. I realize just how much God wants us not only to walk out the first commandment (to love Him with all that we have) but that He expects us to also walk out the second (to love our neighbors). I can’t explain the pain that I was feeling as I drove down the road feeling a piece of God’s heart from this unexpected encounter this morning. I looked down at my coffee and granola bar and all I could think about was lost souls.

Hands

As I close my eyes, I see You. I see You standing there with Your hands wide open, looking at me. I see Your scars but they look a little different than was to be expected. I lean in a little closer to get a better view as I think I see something very peculiar. Scar pierced hands I see but they have something written, something engraved within. Your scar pierced hands say my name! It's my name engraved in those hands of Yours! I'm in those holes, scarred but healed. My name is in the palms of Your hands! Who am I that You chose me out of this world? Who am I that Your hands scream me? How can I contain this reality? It's almost too much to bear. My heart is overwhelmed with an awe and a sense of joy that a man could love me in such an intimate way. Your hands scream my name. Your hands contain all of me. Even through all my unworthiness You chose to die for me! Guiltless, betrayed, abandoned, and denied- You were crucified for me. What can I say? What can I do? What on Earth can I offer You? Nothing could ever compare to the Way, the Truth, and the Life that You have given me. Nothing could ever compare to this endless Love that will last throughout all of Eternity. My life is no longer my own but is in those Beautiful Hands of Yours. There is no other place that I would rather be. Your hands were pierced for me. I see You looking at me with Your palms wide open. Your Life was given for me as my name was inscribed upon those Beautiful Hands of Yours. Into those hands I give all that I am, all that I've been holding onto. Into Your hands, wide open, palms up, screaming at me. My name and all that I am are in those hands. I'm in Your Hands and Your looking at me. There is no other place that I would rather be.

'What a Friend'

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I am His Friend.
I am a friend of the 'Living God.'
I am a friend of the 'Great I Am.'
I am a friend of the 'Invisible Man.'
I am a friend of the 'Utmost High.'

He shares what the Father speaks.
He shares His secrets intimately.
He trusts me completely.
No longer a servant in need of a master.
Chosen for intimacy as I dine with the King.

No longer a servant. No longer a Master.
Friendship claimed in the palms of His hands.

Guiltless of all their accusations.
Guiltless. Betrayed. Abandoned. Denied.
Delivered to be crucified.

Who am I that this 'Righteous Branch' would hold my
name in the palms of His nail pierced hands?
Who am I that this 'Shoot from Jesse' would want any part of me?

He died for me. He died for me.
Flogged and beaten down.
He died for me. Jesus died for me.

No longer a servant. No longer a Master.
Friendship claimed by a crown of twisted thorns.

No longer a servant. No longer a Master.
Friendship claimed by the spear in His side.

Guiltless of all their accusations.
Guiltless. Betrayed. Abandoned. Denied.
Delivered to be crucified.

Delivered unto Authority.
Onto what accord?
Guiltless not for fame.
Crucified to sanctify.

No longer a servant. No longer a Master.
Chosen me for sanctivity from amongst all His creativity and even with my unique individuality.

Guiltless of all their accusations.
Guiltless. Betrayed. Abandoned. Denied.
Delivered to be crucified.

Come a little closer..... Come a little closer.....
Listen..... Listen to His voice..... He's ALIVE!!!
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Dr. Seuss meets Yahweh

Oh child I say…. Oh the places you will go today.
Will you get lost?
Will you find your way?
Child I must say… did you bring your map today?

Oh who is your guide?
Should I say a teacher, a cousin, or a make believe friend?
What? Do you not have a tour guide for the day?
Hmmm… Someone should help you along the way.
I shall say, maybe I will meet you half way.
How do you get to where you play?
Do you know the way?

All alone... all by yourself... you travel with no body else.
Where are your friends I must say?
Did they get lost today?
"Oh no" my sweet dear child… You must need someone to make you smile.
Turn that frown upside down.
You say you’re sad I say.
You need a friend to help you find your way?

Who is this special friend I must say?
Is he yellow, purple, black, brown, or white?
What? You say He is Big, clear, and bright?
This friend of yours must help you find your way today.
You’ve been so lost like a needle in the hay.
This friend… This beautiful friend.
You must be a friend of ‘Yahweh.'