perhaps every heart ever beating
knows this place.
the place where comfort
meets uncomfort.
that place of knowing
you are indeed
stepping from
one zone to
another.
from the comfort zone of
comfortableness
to the uncomfort zone of
uncomfortableness
and not always is the
zone of comfort
necessarily truly
comfortable.
sometimes it is
simply familiar.
yet familiarity can
become far too comfortable,
and so the zone of the familiar
eventually becomes the zone of comfort.
at times the comfort zone is so very
comfortable that the zonee
is blissfully unaware.
I know. I have been there.
and once aware, He has had me in a season of
stillness and quietness and listening.
learning to hear the whisper soft
with which He speaks to
my heart.
and I know He is calling me
to leave my zone of comfort.
to be willing to be stretched
even if that stretching brings pain.
and to live this life with eyes open
to see those around me through
the lens of love.
nothing more.
nothing less.
for love at its purest
can be neither more
nor less than love
so pure.
and no one could better know
that love than Abba Himself,
for He is love defined.
and was it not that love
which prompted Him to send
His only Son,
knowing what lie
ahead in the cross,
where He would
turn His face
away?
no greater zone of
uncomfort could possibly exist.
and the result of the Father's love
was seen in the life of Jesus.
hands which created all
now wore our skin.
He touched those seen as untouchable.
He walked with those seen as undesirable.
His compassion and tenderness for the
weak and poor and lost and weary
was the love of the Father
pouring out through His Son.
and that love which is Jesus
allows my heart to see
the very heart of my Abba,
who is that love so pure...
no more. no less. simply love.
and oh the comfort lying in a
love which can be no more
nor less than love itself,
for does that not mean that
I can be no more nor less,
because I wear that love so pure?
and when I dare step
into that place of
uncomfortableness,
failure is literally impossible
if that love is the driving force!
for never does He seek perfection.
instead He seeks a heart willing...
willing to bend low.
willing to walk in another's shoes.
willing to put aside all that distracts.
and simply love.
and I find myself
crossing from the
zone of comfort into
the zone of
uncomfort.
and now that I have
tasted and seen life
fully alive in His love,
I will never go back,
for I cannot untaste or unsee
that which I have tasted and seen. 
and all the glory goes to
the One who is life defined.
when what a heart has to offer
seems an offering far too
small...
is that perhaps a place
of potential beauty?
is that not perhaps the
moment when Abba
shows Himself
strong and faithful?
and once a heart admits
the call is beyond the capabilities
at hand
is that not the exact time
when He will be most glorified?
and in the offering of what seems
beyond one's capabilities
beyond one's resources
is that not truly giving
a sacrifice of praise?
and for an offering
to be a sacrifice
must it not
involve
giving
that which is not easy
to
give?
a song in the dark of night
when all seems lost
is a sacrifice of praise.
daring to walk in faith when
fear threatens to keep one
from following the call
is a sacrifice of praise.
daring to say thank you
for His blessings even
when the heart is
broken into shards
and slivers of glass
is a sacrifice of praise.
and giving financially
when numbers don't add up
is a sacrifice of praise.
raising arms high
with hands empty
and heart abandoned
to the only One worthy
of praise is a sacrifice of praise.
and the sacrifice of praise never stops
praising in that place where
sacrifice collides with praise
and His glory shines brightly
for all to see.
it is well.
even when nothing
actually feels very well.
it is well because He says
it is well.
and if He says it is so,
it is so.
for is that not what faith is?
believing even when it hurts.
believing even when it
makes no sense.
because sense can
rarely be made by those
who are not writing the story
or composing the song.
for only the Author knows what
the next chapter holds
and how the story line will unfold.
and only the Composer knows what
notes and rhythms
intervals and chords
harmonies and melodies
are yet to be performed
in the symphony of life.
and the beat underlying all
is the beat of His heart.
and His heartbeat
constant will remain.
so it is well.
it is well with my soul.
footprints...
every step ever taken
leaves a footprint.
some are visible...
others are not.
a footprint can lead to
an act of love so tender...
often difficult to trace
as those who live with love
typically tread with love...
often on tiptoe.
a footprint can also lead to
pain and despair
and oh so often the heart
lives with regret over
footprints past.
footprints regretted.
footprints outlined with guilt.
and oh how the heart
longs to sweep away
those footprints
so painful.
so the heart lives life
walking backward
with broom in hand
attempting to erase.
attempting to at least
look a little better.
I know because this was me.
but our Abba did not intend
for us to live leaving
backward footprints.
for how will we see
the beauty of the now
when focused on the past?
and how will we follow in HIS footprints
if we are looking the wrong direction?
and the beauty so dazzling is this:
His footprints can be seen
from the beginning of time
in the orchestra of creation.
His footprints are seen
throughout the years
as His love poured
down like rain.
the footprints most
staggering to trace
are those of His Son.
those footprints walked
the very dust He created.
those footprints were
stained with blood so red
as He walked the road to the cross.
His blood poured down
like the rain.
and more beauty so shimmering?
His footprints of grace cover all.
my missteps.
my crushing steps.
my shame-filled steps.
my guilt-filled steps.
my reckless steps.
my painful steps.
steps intentional? at times.
but more often than not unintentional
yet even footprints unintentional
leave a print.
yet all those steps
are swept away with
the force of His grace!
His love leaves no
mistake or sin
uncovered.
and as a result I am free
to walk leaving footprints
facing forward...
following in HIS steps of love
therefore leaving a legacy of
footprints spilling over with
the joy and peace of His love.
another precious baby
is in heaven.
another beautiful
4 year old dances
with Jesus.
and another
priceless 4 year old
battles cancer.
anniversaries of the days
when little ones took their last
breath on earth and
first breath in heaven
come annually as a reminder painful
that someone is missing.
oh it is not only the little ones
for when this life ends
no matter the age
tears fall.
even hearts with hope of heaven
ache and weep and mourn.
for it hurts. badly.
and not only death grips the heart.
all one needs do is look around.
darkness can seem stifling.
hope can seem gone.
planes fall out of the sky.
families run from home
and country to escape war
only to find danger ahead.
children are hungry
and many succumb
to that hunger
as mothers' arms
hold tightly.
and tears
fall like the rain.
children are discarded
or abused or enslaved
and really are some things
not worse than death?
and the list could go on and on
for so many live life desperately
seeking to fill an emptiness
all-consuming.
so what is the heart to do?
for even the heart knowing hope
and knowing that our Abba is holding all
can at times feel a heaviness so very heavy.
this is the time to stop. breathe. listen.
"My child, I am speaking out of the storm.
each wave threatening to pull you under
is really designed to pull you
into My arms.
and I still calm the water.
and I still hold your heart.
and I still gather your tears.
and all that swirls around you
is still controlled by My hand.
when you simply cannot understand.
when you simply cannot comprehend.
when you feel your life seemingly
lies in shattered pieces at your feet
just look up.
look into My eyes.
see a love fathomless.
let Me hold you in My arms.
let Me carry your heart.
let Me take all that
you carry on your shoulders
for My shoulders are strong.
and My child, I did not create
you to carry such a load.
let My peace wash over you.
let My comfort surround you.
let My presence overwhelm you.
and know, My beloved one,
that you are never alone.
for you are Mine."
