well, I had these past two weeks off and I spent the time with my family, enjoying their presence and visiting friends. I went to mango tango yogurt shop with my family. I seem to notice that whenever I get yogurt I always get kiwi toppings [it is starting to become one of my favorite fruits]. I spent time watching the mod squad at my house, painting with my sisters and dear friend Casey [shout out-woot woot] and catching up with my friend's lives. I went to a softball game in which said friend caught a ball that bounced off the bat! I went to church and was so glad to see my church family. I was encouraged by the messages and what God is doing and how He is continuing to work in that Body of Christ. I was able to hang out with my friends Casey and Travis, my dear besty Betsy [try saying that ten times!] and have lots of meal times with my family.
Besides doing all those things, I was able to be during past two weeks as well. The Lord has been speaking and bringing to mind several things I would like to share with you great folks out there. Here are the words that can best sum up the things I have been learning: healing, waiting, obedience, and love.
Our Great Father begun the healing process that my heart is undergoing about four years ago. There are past hurts in my life (some big, others small) I realized I was still holding on to. I know that Abba wants to make me whole. It has been within the past couple years that I realized my need and want to be made whole by Him. Within this past year especially, many hurts have been healed. Although the scars still remain, they are now a witness of Abbas work in my life, not a burden. There are still hurts to be healed and I know that He is faithful to provide the healing. It has been a journey and I want to give praise to Him for going before me thus far and always.
Waiting.... oh how that word has come up a lot. Abba is showing me in this season of my life to wait. He is teaching me not only to wait for the things that I have laid out before Him, but also to see and understand that waiting is not a time to sit back and do nothing. Just because we are waiting for the next step in our life, an answer to prayer- whatever it may be- He does not call us to be stumps and just sit around. Waiting does not equate motionlessness. Sometimes it does, but I think we equate those two things too often. No, dear friends while we wait upon the Lord for an answer we need to wait upon the Lord- to serve, to be attentive, to be close, to be ready. He calls us to draw towards Him, to set our eyes on Him and be ever attentive to Him- not because of His answer but because of who He is. Friends if you are in a time of waiting I encourage you- seek Him, praise and worship Him, serve Him and serve others. If you keep staring and straining for the answer it will just seem that much further away and your focus will not get any clearer.
I feel like I have to talk about these next two words together because that is what Abba has been sharing with me about His heart for obedience and love. I am fully convinced that my Fathers heart longs for obedience when He calls us to love Him with all our hearts, soul, mind, and strength. At first I pushed away from this word obedience because it always had a negative connotation for me. obedience as a kid meant having to do what others wanted me to do and having no choice in the matter- I had to do it and tough noogie if I didn't like it. However within this past year obedience has taken on a new meaning.
Obedience is Love.
"For I have come from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me" 6.38 "If you love me, you will obey my commands" 14.15 "but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me." 14.31 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love." 15.9,10*
Jesus came and was obedient to his Father, obedient to death, because He loved his Father, and He loved us. Abba gave us His son as a sacrifice because He loved us and wanted us to be with Him always. We respond in love, the kind of love that Jesus showed- obedience. Jesus did exactly what he saw Abba do. He spoke what he heard Abba speak. He loved his Father through obedience and that is what He calls us to as well. I want to love the way Jesus loved, I want to obey my Father.
dear friends thank you for letting me share my heart. May God bless you and may His love be made reality to you this week.
- Aisha
*All quotations are found in John
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