if you had told me - fingerprints

have you ever

 had of those

 "if you had told 

me a year ago 

 I would be here, 

 doing this or that,

 I would not have

 believed you"

 moments?

 I have. 

most likely
 you have as well.

 one of the most

 beautiful aspects

 of these moments is 

being able to look back 

and trace the fingerprints

 of the One who knew

from before time

 exactly where I 
would be today, 

doing exactly 
what I am doing.

when I look at 
the once strangers

 now friends in my life,
 I am in awe of how
 intricately God

 weaves our 

stories

 together.

  with one decision, 

 often an act of
 obedience

 to a place 
  He is calling, 

 a whole new

 world is opened 

and you find
 yourself

 in the place of

 "if you had told me".

"You saw me before I was born!

       Every day of my life was recorded

             in your book.

Every moment was laid out

       before a single day had passed!"

                          Psalm 139:16

how stunning!
how breathtaking!
God saw me and
God saw you
 long before
 time began!

the Creator of all
 loved every heart
that did beat,
 beats today, 
or is yet to beat, 
even before 
the first star was 
placed in the
 night sky or 
 earth
 and 
water
 were 
separated
to form land and sea.

and another beauty?

 when we miss
those moments
designed for us by
the hand of God,
and no doubt,
I have missed many,
still He works in us
and through us
in spaces
and
places
least expected.

nothing catches
Him off guard.

my heart has
found many homes.
my spirit beats
for many
passions.

the most recent?
 most unexpected?
 behind prison walls.
there I have found
grace and mercy
and the Spirit
of our God
shining.
shining in
darkness
so dark.

worship rises
from hearts
redeemed.
beautifully
broken hearts
are preparing
to be leaders in 
urban churches.

and 
grace
 overflows.

here my heart
has found
a home
 and nothing
 the enemy
throws my way,
(and he has  
been throwing)
 will ever remove
the passion from 
 my heart for 
the prisoner.

and the gates
of hell will
not prevail!

so trace the
fingerprints
of the One who
has your name
and my name
written on
His hands.

you will
see a design
so intricate
as to take
your 
breath
 away.