Back on line!
Several months ago God gave me this and I wanted to share it with you. So yesterday I decided to put it in a post....but it was a no go. I would later find out..... after a sweet friends prayer...... that my Malaware thought my blog was a danger. :) Pretty funny.
After a little intro you will read what He shared with me.... and now looking back....I understand it in full.
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As a little girl witnessing was a normal part of the Sunday afternoon routine. That morning we would leave our home and head for our church in the French Quarter of New Orleans. After the morning service, we would go upstairs to the apartment over the church and have lunch and then take a nap.
After the nap, Dad would grab some tracts and stale bread, and we would walk through the French Quarter to Jackson Square where we would enjoy feeding the pigeons and passing out gospel tracts to people lingering on the benches.
How times have changed! Now that little girl has gray lingering near her temples; you may no longer feed the birds in Jackson Square, and I don’t get terribly excited about the chance of passing out tracts. Gasp!
I know, I know….for shame. But I do think that if you and I were sitting face to face, there would be a nod of agreement. It is strange how often that discomfort appears when it comes to witnessing to those we do not know.
And yet, if you have been in the family of God for any period of time, you know that we were told to GO! Go into all parts of this earth and tell the lost that there is a God who loves them so tenderly. And because of that great love....He sent His one and only Son to die for their sins. Yet I still hesitate….how I wish that little girl was still here to offer her boldness when it comes time to tell others about God.
Sometimes we all need a little nudge to get out there.
So on the way to church a few months ago, God gave me a visual lesson. This has happened several times in the past and believe me…it gets my attention. He knows I am a visual learner and that I love to watch movies. Sometimes He runs His own production just for me!
As the scene begins to develop in my mind’s eye, I realize that we have gone back to the time of castles, kings and small villages. Villages filled with people who rarely see the wealth of the kingdom that exists right beyond the walls.
As I watch, I see a young woman burdened with the knowledge of a truth long forgotten.
How could she forget the day He came for her and how her heart had jumped as she lay in her bed and heard His tender call? Moving into the palace, as a little girl of five had changed her life.
Yet, when the King told her last night that she still had sisters held captive by the enemy outside the wall, she wondered why no one had gone out to get them. She looked down on her clean white linen dress and knew she could no longer continue to sit joyfully at the King’s table when she knew her sisters were still missing.
In her head the story ran again and again….. creating such intensity of emotion in her heart that sleep evades her. As she lays in bed, the light of the lone candle flickers in the corner.. tears for the long forgotten truth sliding down her checks. She knows the King’s heart weeps for the daughters the enemy had stolen. It became obvious that night at dinner as He talked about roaming the streets calling out for them.
She dresses hurriedly leaving her handmaidens to sleep. Wrapping her cloak around her shoulders........ securing the cape over her head......she slips past the guards at the gate. She glances quickly side to side, and her heart beats rapidly as she sets out leaving behind the familiar territory of the palace.
Her feet quickly cover the cobblestones. She is now walking through the same dark streets the king has walked. Her feet sidestep the debris in the street, and her face changes as she begins to recall the life she once lived. Spurred on by those memories she continues further into the sleeping streets.
As the sun begins to show itself over the worn ragged homes, she continues her search for the lost daughters. She wants to tell them that the King is waiting for them and how it feels to be enveloped for the first time by the arms of the King, her Daddy. They need to know how it feels to be protected by the forces of the King..... while having all needs met by the endless riches of the kingdom. She is so excited!
Lights begin to appear in windows as her long lost family rise to face a new day. Her heart beats faster but her feet begin to slow. Fear begins to show on her face as she begins to feel a bit insecure. She knows she is far from the guards that stand watch over the gates of the palace……..what had she done?
What was she thinking…what will she say? “Good morning. I am here to let you know that you are my sister and you were kidnapped from the King when you were born……He loves you and wants me to bring you home!”….. On my, that would get a great laugh.
She has made a terrible mistake, putting her head down she turns quickly before anyone notices her. But in mid turn, she runs right into another cloaked figure. Steadied by two strong arms, relief floods her heart as she looks up into the eyes of the One she has grown to love and trust.
“Oh Daddy, I am so glad you came. I so wanted to bring one of Your daughters home, but I have failed. I don’t know what to say. I am so sorry.”
“My daughter, you have not failed Me. I am so proud of you. I know the fear in your heart. You do not have to do this alone; I am here. Remember how I called you? Remember how you knew in your heart that you must answer that call? It will be the same with each new daughter who comes home. I will call, and they will hear My voice. All you need to do is tell her about your homecoming and what you know about Me. Hold her hand as she walks toward me. Do you think you can do that?”
Tears form in her eyes as she looks into His face.....and with a tender smile and nod they turn toward the sound of her sister’s voice.
Mark 16:15 (New International Version)
15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
~~~~~~
Luke 15:4 (New International Version)
4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
After the nap, Dad would grab some tracts and stale bread, and we would walk through the French Quarter to Jackson Square where we would enjoy feeding the pigeons and passing out gospel tracts to people lingering on the benches.
How times have changed! Now that little girl has gray lingering near her temples; you may no longer feed the birds in Jackson Square, and I don’t get terribly excited about the chance of passing out tracts. Gasp!
I know, I know….for shame. But I do think that if you and I were sitting face to face, there would be a nod of agreement. It is strange how often that discomfort appears when it comes to witnessing to those we do not know.
And yet, if you have been in the family of God for any period of time, you know that we were told to GO! Go into all parts of this earth and tell the lost that there is a God who loves them so tenderly. And because of that great love....He sent His one and only Son to die for their sins. Yet I still hesitate….how I wish that little girl was still here to offer her boldness when it comes time to tell others about God.
Sometimes we all need a little nudge to get out there.
So on the way to church a few months ago, God gave me a visual lesson. This has happened several times in the past and believe me…it gets my attention. He knows I am a visual learner and that I love to watch movies. Sometimes He runs His own production just for me!
As the scene begins to develop in my mind’s eye, I realize that we have gone back to the time of castles, kings and small villages. Villages filled with people who rarely see the wealth of the kingdom that exists right beyond the walls.
How could she forget the day He came for her and how her heart had jumped as she lay in her bed and heard His tender call? Moving into the palace, as a little girl of five had changed her life.
Yet, when the King told her last night that she still had sisters held captive by the enemy outside the wall, she wondered why no one had gone out to get them. She looked down on her clean white linen dress and knew she could no longer continue to sit joyfully at the King’s table when she knew her sisters were still missing.
In her head the story ran again and again….. creating such intensity of emotion in her heart that sleep evades her. As she lays in bed, the light of the lone candle flickers in the corner.. tears for the long forgotten truth sliding down her checks. She knows the King’s heart weeps for the daughters the enemy had stolen. It became obvious that night at dinner as He talked about roaming the streets calling out for them.
She dresses hurriedly leaving her handmaidens to sleep. Wrapping her cloak around her shoulders........ securing the cape over her head......she slips past the guards at the gate. She glances quickly side to side, and her heart beats rapidly as she sets out leaving behind the familiar territory of the palace.
Her feet quickly cover the cobblestones. She is now walking through the same dark streets the king has walked. Her feet sidestep the debris in the street, and her face changes as she begins to recall the life she once lived. Spurred on by those memories she continues further into the sleeping streets.
As the sun begins to show itself over the worn ragged homes, she continues her search for the lost daughters. She wants to tell them that the King is waiting for them and how it feels to be enveloped for the first time by the arms of the King, her Daddy. They need to know how it feels to be protected by the forces of the King..... while having all needs met by the endless riches of the kingdom. She is so excited!
Lights begin to appear in windows as her long lost family rise to face a new day. Her heart beats faster but her feet begin to slow. Fear begins to show on her face as she begins to feel a bit insecure. She knows she is far from the guards that stand watch over the gates of the palace……..what had she done?
What was she thinking…what will she say? “Good morning. I am here to let you know that you are my sister and you were kidnapped from the King when you were born……He loves you and wants me to bring you home!”….. On my, that would get a great laugh.
She has made a terrible mistake, putting her head down she turns quickly before anyone notices her. But in mid turn, she runs right into another cloaked figure. Steadied by two strong arms, relief floods her heart as she looks up into the eyes of the One she has grown to love and trust.
“Oh Daddy, I am so glad you came. I so wanted to bring one of Your daughters home, but I have failed. I don’t know what to say. I am so sorry.”
“My daughter, you have not failed Me. I am so proud of you. I know the fear in your heart. You do not have to do this alone; I am here. Remember how I called you? Remember how you knew in your heart that you must answer that call? It will be the same with each new daughter who comes home. I will call, and they will hear My voice. All you need to do is tell her about your homecoming and what you know about Me. Hold her hand as she walks toward me. Do you think you can do that?”
Tears form in her eyes as she looks into His face.....and with a tender smile and nod they turn toward the sound of her sister’s voice.
Mark 16:15 (New International Version)
15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
~~~~~~
Luke 15:4 (New International Version)
4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
I originally thought He gave me this for an online article I had been asked to write. But since the circumstances did not come together with editing....I let it sit in documents. And although I know it still needs some work....I now know that He used this in my life to prepare me for the CNA class.
What an awesome God we serve.
:)
4 comments:
So very awesome sis, love you.
Wonderful!!!!!
Beautiful as always Sharon! Your little light shines on! I see and feel it from here! You ,my friend are amazing!
Love,
Terri
I love your heart...so precious. What a great story illustration. Bless you today dear sister. Glad you figure out your computer problems! I am blessed by this post! No wonder the enemy fought so hard against it!
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