Choose!

The growing moon from late last night seemed to emphasize the message God is giving me. Do you see his face looking down? He is urging me to “Choose!”

I think I’ve been on the fence. The problem with fence-sitting is that you don’t have the freedom to move. You are just stuck there in the middle of everything. If you go in one direction, the you will be on that side. If you go in the other, you’ll be on the other side.

We have so little time. We have today, right now, and beyond that, there are no guarantees. We have to choose, and make a move. I felt a check in my spirit this morning, and the message was to focus on the main thing and get it across the finish line. Jim has told me that people are praying for us, and I thank each and every one who does, because this is hard.

We have been working very hard for the last couple of weeks to finish the illustrations for our new story, The Pirate’s Bride. It has been in the works for about two years (!), and during that time it has been revised and changed so much that it hardly resembles the original form. But the message is the same.

It’s a story about the love of God, when channeled through someone weak, can become the most powerful force we can experience. When we submit to God, He takes what we are, and He changes us into what He needs us to be.

When you work a looong time on something, it really becomes part of you. And this story is based on a true story from our family history, so I want it to be right. But I know the message is right, and if anything else isn’t right, it’s on me. I’m just nervous about this one, and I need to let it go.

It’s not the size or quality of our gift that matters to God. He wants our hearts, and we show our love by our obedience. He wants us to acknowledge Him and love Him with all our heart, soul and might. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) He wants to know us, to be in a relationship with us. In fact, we are cherished as His bride.

God loves us, and His thoughts toward us are many. He made us, and He showers us with His gifts, every day, to show His constant love toward us. The sunrise each morning, for example, is your own personal shimmering gift, fresh from the sun each morning, unique from your perspective. But even I, who love the sunrise and have spent considerable time and energy documenting it, sometimes don’t notice. And if I don’t notice, how can I thank God?

God does not demand attention. He hides. He only wants us if we want Him. We are utterly dependent upon Him, and He knows full well that we cannot make it without Him, and yet He waits for us to seek Him. He draws us with lovingkindness.

“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn you’.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

Our hearts always long for Him, and are only satisfied by his presence in our lives, which is as essential as our food or water. But often we “look for love in all the wrong places.” Most of the things we lavish our love and our time on cannot love us back.

God is alive and present. It might be difficult for us to wrap our minds around all that God is (Mercy plus Judgment, Truth plus Love), but He knows all about us. It might be hard for the beetle crawling on my arm to understand much about me, because he can only see a small part of me. But if I care to try, I can know a lot about that beetle!

We are known by God! Our ability to see Him and know Him depends on our eagerness to seek Him, and our willingness to submit to Him. He won’t share us. If we pull away, He will let us go. It is truly all or nothing with God. Jesus said that if we don’t give everything up for Him, then we are not worthy of Him. Why? Because He gave everything, even His connection to the Father, to save us.

This week, I heard the word “Choose.”

When I put God first, I get all those good things I long for–in Him! He is my best friend, my lover, my satisfaction, my joy, my future, and my greatest treasure! It is all there in HIMSELF, and I have wasted enough time being deceived by worthless substitutes.

But the message, “Choose,” isn’t just for us. He wants us to share it with all of you. (I didn’t realize until I started to post this that the last post was “Chosen.” I’m sensing a theme here. We have been chosen, and now we have to choose!)

God has been so kind to us, and He wants me to be obedient now, and get the story out. I am nervous, but determined to obey.

I love you guys! Please pray I will continue to choose courage and obedience! (And I will pray for you, too!)

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NLT)