Silver Lining

The gift of Grace doesn't make sense until it has been received. Even then, we are left to wonder why...

Though when we encounter rough-seas and are gripped with the panic of drowning, we can forget the time He first entered into our heart. In complete awe of forgiveness that swept in, like a cool breeze filtering out the stuffy dead air in an old abandoned cottage. All at once, everything came to life! The flowers in the yard began to bloom, the birds on the windowsill started chirping once more. Singing songs of love and basking in joy. It was as though you'd stepped into the pages of a storybook. All this time, freedom was available to you but the prison of darkness and neglect held you inside those treacherous walls. Pining desperately for air, scratching your nails into the dirt, hastily searching for your own way out. Scrambling like a beggar in the sand, giving it all you have but still holding on much too tight. In order to be released, you need to be able to relieve the clutches of what isn't truth to puppeteer your life.

And when you chose to stop running only for a moment, Redeemer came rushing straight into your love. 

Years later, as you have grown and matured and that fresh smell of new life has rubbed off along the way. When things are no longer rose tinted and the sun doesn't glimmer as brightly as you remembered. When everything in your world feels amiss. This is when you need that silver lining to gleam in. The hope to see beyond the pain you feel. Reassured that your journey is going to steer the right way and everything is still going to be ok. For He promised to hold you forever and a day, when you said yes, as He bled your case.

There's always more that He knows, than what we can see. Isn't life bigger than us all? We sometimes forget that the World has been spinning for a long long time. The World is big, our God who holds it is even bigger. 

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NLT)

Through Unnamed Woods

As the music was pulsating, lights were glaring and the people were singing aloud, I suddenly felt this stillness set upon me. Like falling peace right there, where we met. I asked my God, “Do You hear all this music or do You just listen to our hearts?”

Then we sang "Captain" and it was hard to voice some of the lyrics. I had to ask myself, do I really want to utter words I don’t always mean in my heart? Because... He can hear my real thoughts. Because... He knows the real struggle. And yet still I sang and meant it as far as I could grasp. Because... I wanted to, deep down I knew I would. Maybe that’s what He can see, so He listens and never deceives. 

When you strive to see through a dark place, with your own eyes, you may desensitise your other senses that could actually help you move forward. Since you’re just focusing on one thing. That is, to forcefully see through what you can’t see or understand on your own.

When we sing that line, “I’ll follow your voice straight into the dark” do we understand the weight of those words? In order to follow His voice, we need to be still and listen so that we might hear where we need to go or what we need to know. But if we’re striving, if we’re struggling, won't we likely drown out His voice and end up lost?

When you strive, your mind is screaming and every thought is followed by several exclamation marks. 

But when we stop to listen and use our other senses, we might actually begin to see clearer and know better where to go. Trusting that He is leading us through the unnamed woods.

But still, it’s hard. 
To trust in a dark place. 
A place filled with uncertainty. 
A place of great unknown. 
It seems so desolate, we feel forlorn
In this space, do we stand alone?
And as we wait in stillness,
We yearn to see a flicker in the distance,
Or hear the sound of a rock that hits against the wall,
Beckoning in the right direction,
Promising that we won’t fall.
Then time stands still,
Or so it feels.
When nothing happens,
Our faith one may steal?
So arms start flying,
Punching in the wind,
Hearts racing in desperation,
It’s Fear.
Misleading us astray,
But wait, this is not Love’s way.
Love holds us dear, 
So tightly knit,
Disentangling our chains, 
Silencing the chaos.

Exposing light from deep within.
We slowly breathe again and start reminiscing of Truth that will lead the way.

But still, it's hard. 

And that's ok. 

 

Men.

When a man is in love, he is wholeheartedly all in and means it with his very inmost, fragile being. From deep down in his gut, tucked safely hidden within. 

At times he won't let you in to all his thoughts and unsure feelings. Not because he wouldn't want to, sometimes he just needs time to learn the best way how to. 

If he loves you now and he says it everyday, he shows it in his doing and his eyes reflect its truth. Believe it that he really, certainly, always, definitely will. 

So don't waste away that security, don't lose that special bond, don't take his heart for granted, don't leave it out to rot. 

Though men are strong, their hearts are weak. They may show the expected exterior, but their internal is unique. 

Don't put him in a box, don't stuff him in a mold, don't judge him through a mood, don't make him mend your soul. Don't pressure him to be, at the pace you expected to see. Just love him where he is, love him wholly to the core. Though he is brave, he needs your armour. Though protecting you is in his design, he depends on finding home always nestled where you breathe. And home should be a treasured space of acceptance, comfort and warmth. A place to lay your head down and completely, perfectly entrust. 

"Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest. Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Find a good spouse, you find a good life— and even more: the favor of GOD!" 

(Proverbs 18:20-22 MSG)

The Nostalgic Friend?

Authentic friendship, is when your mere presence encourages your friend to relax in themselves and to excel out their true-selves. It makes you feel like you can just take a deep breath in and then breathe out all the pretence and simply BE. It evokes right confidence, understood humour, homely comfort, indepth beauty and ever growing wisdom. The need to be genuinely known is so deep, still many go through life without experiencing this great gift. Fame and popularity is so enticing, of course we like the idea of being liked by everyone. But at the end of the day, most of us would rather have a real friend with shared history and warm memories, to walk through all corners of life with. Some dark, others bright, some straightforward, others feared. Corners, not friends :)

Unfortunately you won't fit with everyone and you can't expect to. Some people unmeaningly pull others towards them like magnets, others need time to build rapport. But the friendships you do create won't all flourish the same way. Some you will click with instantly, like kindred spirits they say. Others you'll grow towards as you learn to appreciate and love them more. But I sincerely believe everyone needs a friend that helps you feel like your best you and allows you to explore who you truly are or want to be. They are like a breath of fresh air and the comfort of a nostalgic smell all mixed into one. Just like family. 

Friendship. Is it a force? Is it a human need? Do we ever evolve without it or will we unwittingly digress? 

"By the time David had finished reporting to Saul, Jonathan was deeply impressed with David—an immediate bond was forged between them. He became totally committed to David. From that point on he would be David’s number-one advocate and friend."

(1 Samuel 18:1 MSG)

Rest In

Does the ocean know it's own depth? Do the waves sense from whence they have been carried?

Does the sky know our dreams are found there? Do the clouds tempt us in how near we are to them?

I want to see Your reflection in the depth of the sea. I run to hear Your voice through the words in the breeze. I long to know the secrecy of the One who said "look up at the skies and count the stars." 

Always within reach, like the intensity of a whisper or the proximity of my own thoughts, is the One who sits beside me as I look up, look down and look around. 

When life is at its darkest, we have no where to look but within. That's where stillness sets and prayers are met, when we let The Light in. 

Look up, look down, look around, but don't forget to rest in. 

Fairy-tales and far away lands

"God’s love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks."(Psalm 36:5-6 MSG)

Have you ever wondered what world for us, lies beyond this one? 

Does our life now, in this time, on this earth, affect our life-after? Does how we live determine where we go or does who we know get us to where we need to go? But how can that be? For when we die, we die alone. 

Assumably, if there is an after-time there could very likely be a correlation with the now. Wouldn't it be slightly ironic to have two 'opportunities' at life and neither have anything to do with the other? Will one be more significant in the end? Will one seem minute in comparison? Or, is it not a second life or an after life, but rather a continuation of life. Remaining in the now, but in the now here or now there. 

And if there is some sort of accuracy to this way of thinking, why are we not more concerned with finding out the truth? 

Eternity. Is it a place? Like an actual destination. Is it a state of being? Is it a home for our souls to rest? Is it more than a nice idea? Is there life there? 

What does it mean? 

Eternity. Eternal.

It sounds so romantic. Eternity. Forever and ever. A love that lasts forever. They lived happily ever after. Ever after. 

We love the concept. The idea is ideal. Do you know what ideal means? It's defined as a conception of something in its perfection. An ultimate object or aim of endeavour. 

Or... something that exists only in the imagination. 

So which one is it? 

If God is eternal (without beginning or end, always existing, timeless) and His love for us is eternal (without begining or end, always existing, timeless), how does that affect us personally, if at all? Does it mean that our souls do not have an expiration date? Can His love really keep us alive? Is it His love that gave us life in the first place? Because of this, will we enter into an infinite moment? Into eternity, continuing within the most consequential LOVE story ever heard of?  

Well one thing is for sure, they do say true love lasts forever. But could it be different to what we've usually been told happens in fairy-tales? After all, this is not just another romance story between a seriously handsome prince and a hopelessly beautiful servant girl, where a frightful evil old lady tries to ruin their perfect little lives with flowers and fruit. 

Its a deeper more significant love, like how parents love their children kind of love. The kind of love that turns you into a force to be reckoned with when any sort of danger or harm comes near your daughter. The kind of love where you care more about your son than yourself. The kind of love where you'd freely, willingly and desperately give up your life for them if you could. They've come from you, they're part of you, they've relied on you since day one, they even look a bit like you and in some ways they define you. 

It's a sovereign and rightly possessive love between a Great King and his kingdom. Not the usual kind of kingdom, or king for that matter. No it's a kingdom that supersedes but also embraces all cultures, borders and continents. It is far beyond our human limited knowledge of every language ever spoken. It just fits into wherever it is welcomed. It doesn't seem to always make sense at first, it is often misunderstood and sometimes it appears contradictory. It doesn't use force, fear or swords to authenticate power. It grows through love, it responds with love, it answers with love, it depends on love. Kindness is its weapon, forgiveness its great strength and grace is its everlasting promise. For when you are the King and have the perspective of the whole kingdom through all its stages, in front of you, you can see the end and make the promise that assures your people everything is going to be ok... 

It's about the love between God and His creation. This has been talked about and passed on from generation to generation. That's how loyal and committed His love is. It is the ultimate love story. It's also the original one. And the only story that can truely end with, "and they lived happily ever after" without making you want to roll your eyes and gag. 

But we're not at the end yet. There are still many chapters to be written with several plot twists and new characters to be introduced. All the same, sometimes we just need to be reminded of how widespread and detailed the story of our world is and how vast the purposes of our God extend. Far, far, far away into the distance in a land called, Beyond My Understanding. 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." (John 1:1-4 NIV)

Our Arya

...Truly the most beautiful little girl I have ever known. 

She mesmerises everyone with her clever wit, her contagious joy, her captivating cheeky smile, her adorable darling voice, her bouncy playful hair, her endearing caring nature, her hilarious sense of humour and her sparkly inquisitive eyes. 

She can say or do anything, whether naughty or nice, but she continues to be adored and will forever be liked.  

When she entered our world, she became it. From the moment I heard she was expected to be, I knew she was super duper extraordinarily unique. 

She enlarged and further completed my life simply by letting me be a part of hers. From day one I have been whole heartedly devoted to her everyday and to her great future. I mean, with parents like hers, she is destined to aim far. 

If I but see her picture or hear her sweet voice my heart physically feels like it swells and could very nearly burst! There is no one who can make me smile and cry as quickly as she can; out of joy, pride or even pain (you know it's hard living worlds apart). 

I know that I would do anything and go anywhere for her. I believe they call that love...  the most real kind, the one that grows and grows!

She is all things lovely, wholesome and good. I miss her everyday, every week, every year. I pray she'll deeply search to know the One, who purposefully created her this very special way and in doing so may she always fully embrace her truest, most spectacular, most adventurous, kindest self. 

Happy 3rd Birthday to my favourite pretty girl!

Tante Teebs xoxo