From The Window of Seat 13A

Flying 36,000 feet above ground is quite the experience. Perhaps everyone should try it. In a way it provides perspective and triggers awe. Holy awe. Awesome awe in the God who created these rippling white clouds, poignant blue sky, roaring and effective airplane, pilots with such skill to learn the tricks of the trade. I am captured by  the idea that God who is bigger than this scene out my window is passionate and excited about little me. And it’s only the tip of the iceberg of this necessary reminder that I grasp. God. Adores. Me. I take up about so many pounds and 5’7” of space. Yet it’s surrender and adoring devotion of my soul, my heart, my mind, my strength that He desires. He isn’t your “normal” ruler. The kings of old, i.e. Napoleon Bonaparte were aggressive in growing their empires, power, territory and influence. Leaders like Napoleon forced it on their fellow men and women even if it was not their place to do so, via law of man or heart of God. 

But God Who hangs out 36 K feet above ground, walks amongst the clouds, also oversees the work of the diligent army of ants, the budding trees, the transformation of seasons – and me.

Happenings in my world – our world – seem so consequential and some of them gravely are just that. But looking at the world from this standpoint I’m reminded, our battles for campaigns, the passage of laws, or whether I buy a certain pair of shoes or not, is only a small piece in the expanse of history. And nothing, absolutely nothing, is too big for God. 

Dear Fellow Human Being

Dear Colleague of the Human Race:

Oh how I long for you to know the friendship of Jesus, the realiziation of His hope, the experience of His power, the thrills of His intimacy, and the unbelievable manifestation of His redemption to your heart, mind and life.

Even if I had a billion dollares, the best I could give you would be the witness of and intercession for your personal relationship with Jesus. Oh how I long for you to pursue Him, to listen, obey and know Him. I long for your eyes to experience tears, your ear to catch His whisper, your heart to beat faster with His nearness and your whole being tingle: not for the momentary thrill of the experience but for the eternal thrill of the relationship of Jesus Christ in you.

Oh how I yearn to know Him more. May we start the next phase with a question: Who do You want to be to me, Father? And as we listen for the answer, may we never be the same.

A Fellow Pilgrim Who's being carried by the Creator of Our Story,
Amy Hawkins

Call to Anguish by David Wilkerson... & hopefully me

Being a type-A, eldest child, I have struggled with perfectionism which often leads to humanism. But I am blessed to have been raised in a home that recognized, taught and honored grace, providing the perfect balance to a recipe I am still trying to master.

 Because of my foundation in "law with grace" spirit, I question messages that tell us to fight harder, run faster, do more, do more, do more. Our Christian culture often operates that the more we try, the better we will be for God, when all God really wants of us is our friendship and out of our love to then obey in action. But listening to this message shows me there is a certain struggle/fight we are supposed to yearn for.

Mr. David Wilkerson's message shared below calls me.

It grabs my spirit and beckons me to walk a higher road. Anguish. We must hurt more ... and recognize what we see in the natural is not always God's best for us. We must yearn, cry out for, seek God's heart which upon reaching IS uncomfortable, can result in a struggle, and is something we shy away from in our human nature and performance.

But we must let Him break us. Break us completely. We must yearn for the uncomfortable and know that the only good things we can produce are done with the Holy Spirit.

 Treat this as a call to prayer and quiet time tonight. Before you turn out the lights, hit play. Quiet your heart with the Father. And let Him show US once again what is really important in our life. This type A girl is far from ever being perfect but I long to know the heart and anguish of the Father.

What Does Hope Look Like?

What does hope look like in today's world?

As you watch the news, read the headlines, follow leaders on Twitter, do you find yourself depressed about the future? As though the weight of the responsibilities of today and yesteryear - which have passed over to us - grows heavier and more crippling? Are you grieved? Discouraged? Apathetic that anything could ever improve or get better? Without hope?

I've had heart to heart conversations lately with a very dear friend. She sees the state of our world and culture as a mom, wife and concerned American citizen. I have realized that my perspective on the moment and the future as rare. The question arises - what is it that bridges her dispair to my hope?

I'm with her: things look discouraging! Our military is not being supported. Justice in our courts is not being accomplished. People are embracing corruption. Debt increases and corruption multiplies. When I mull through everything it's as though a cinder block of cement weighs on my heart. I totally get the perspectives of citizens like my friend.

I'm faced with a question: as a living human in the 21st century, who is experiencing the world that defines right as wrong and wrong as right, and is well aware of the disasters of mankind all over the world, I must answer this question: is there really no hope for us in saving America, our families and our freedoms? Or, do we believe that God is Who He says He is?

If I look deep into my own humanity, understanding, reality and cynicism, there is very little hope. And in fact, I'm not sure why I "try" to improve things at all, even one iota in fact!!

But the Spirit of God within me won't let that mulling stand very long. I choose the path of hope.

So many times in the Bible and in History we have faced giants. Moments when people of the same ilk and quality of you and me have been provided two choices: sit down, give up, and prepare to fail. Or, embrace His unchanging truths and move forward with hope.

- Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt: how dis-pairing it must have been to see the Red Sea ahead blocking their route to freedom. They were probably planning their own surrender to the Egyptians way before they reached the shore of this great water. But look how God delivered and the Jewish people have lived to thrive!
- The mother in the Bible who had given her son up for dead. Her life was already set mentally for having lonely years ahead. There was no hope, ambition or anticipation for joy. The journey was over in her mind and spirit. Yet, what hope God demonstrated when the boy came back to life!
- George Washington and his army of men at Valley Forge: they wanted to surrender, to be home in warm clothes and with their families but they were ultimately dedicated to freedom. At one point they were cornered and the escape came only because God provided fog to hide them as they slipped away without the enemy's attention. I'd say they probably faced many "hopeless" moments.
- Or during the recovery of the United States, after the clash of the states against one another during the Civil War - how many moments did people wonder: was all lost? Would anything get better? And yet now we enjoy a successful union of 50 different states.

These are only few examples.

Psalm 25:5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:3 No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame,

Psalm 33:20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

Psalm 71:14 As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

Psalm 37:9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

You see my friends, we must remind one another that God has been "dealing" with major crisis for thousands and thousands of years. Even in this hour in America, we can be optimistic because when we're out of hope, God is just getting started.