Higher Up and Deeper In

The Lord is calling us to go to a higher place in Him. Higher up where we can soar with Him...where we can see things from His perspective...where we can be above the storm in Him. But at the same time, he is calling us deeper in... into Him... into a deeper relationship with Him...into a deeper love life with Him...into a deeper understanding of his sacrifical love for us and those He loves.

Did you ever read that book (maybe 20 or more years ago) that told the story of a whole town that started living as if Jesus were right there with them?

For the past 6 months or so, I've been "seeing" that we need to get to a point where we speak only words that are His words. It sounded like a good idea... but then, to think...how can I live my life, my whole life-in-the-work-a-day world speaking JUST HIS WORDS... He's challenging me... to consider what words and ideas I allow into my head and heart... but more than that, what words and conversation (lifestyle) comes from me. Is it possible to live each day and speak only the word of God so that He might be glorified? Is it possible to poke so much of His word into my own earthly self to the point that it starts being the bread of life that I live by and all the world might be affected? Can He do that through me? Will I allow Him to? What will it cost? How does it look? Is it possible?

Lord, break me

and

take me

and

make me

into a vessel that can truly be used by You.

My spirit longs for You.

My soul sings out for You.

In this dry and thirsty land,

my only hope is in You.

Pour into me what I need.

Lord, give me hands to take the dipper from Your deep well and draw out what You have prepared and given graciously to me.

Soul! sip and swallow!

Sing and shout!

Declare and share!

A water that will quench all thirsts

(The Water that will quench all thirsts!)

to that dry and thirsty land.

Whose Viewpoint?

These pictures were taken from high above a city in the United States. We enjoyed a very nice
meal and each other's company as we looked down on a changing view as the restaurant
slowly revolved. The view changed moment by moment, and there was always something
new to observe. Just like in our lives with God, we need to open our eyes and truly look at life
from His perspective, not our ones from down among the earthly. We need to see our world from His point of view, not our lowly view. How does he see our children? What would He do with His time at this very moment? How would he get the dishes done or the laundry folded? Would he worry about not enough money? Would He try to climb the ladder of success or become a servant so that others would see His love? Would He focus on material things? Would He spend much of His time entertaining Himself with what the world has to offer? How does He see the people who work right next to us, or our next-door neighbors? Does He see them as nuisances or enemies, or as the hurting and lonely soul that they are? Step up and see the world as God sees it. Enjoy a flight with Him and look out over His creation and feel His heart as He sees into each and every thing He created, and feels joy at the beauty, and a longing of when all things become new.