Monday, January 21, 2008

declaration number 6


Oh God, my present & ever present savior. You created the universe in all its detail—the vast galaxies and the smallest cell. You thought of everything—colors, scents, the lilt of music, the touch of a kiss & the perfect pitch of a giggle. You took our broken world and made a plan of restoration through your Son, the ultimate sacrifice. Truly, you thought this existence thing out.

And that is to be expected, because you are God. Creation & completion is what you do.

But there is more. I feel you in my heart—and not in a Sunday-School-flannel-graph kind of way, but like the blood in my veins, I feel your very Spirit coursing through me. Which is weird and normally I would be afraid of something so hibbity gibbity. I would be scheming for safety & comfort. I would stand very still in one place waiting for you & your will to pass by me. But now I feel a confidence in the you I am beginning to know and I find myself trusting in the direction of your Spirit.

And this creates a peace in me, because you are God. Peace is a gift you give.

In that peace, I get a glimpse of truth. You see, I know that this is not me. On my own, I have no real capacity for true peace or joy or kindness. Sure, I have fits and spurts—but no consistent fountain of true love. Left to my own devices, my heart gets hard, my spirit gets critical and I close myself away. But through you, and your spring of selfless love, I am able to see the people in my life and I have to recognize that each person is a unique gift created by a big God. And rather than focus so much on what is missing or broken or subpar, I am getting better at seeing people for what they have to give and not just what I can get. And somehow that seems to totally change my perspective on life in general. It’s so much more about who I’m with then where I’m going or what’ I’m doing.

And this truth is that real love not only frees me from myself, but allows me to love others so much more because you are God. Life-changing love is your signature.

I am continually amazed by this life that you have given me. It has totally changed again but rather than freaking out, I am just expectant and elated to walk this road with you. I am open to whatever you have in the coming months and years and generally have let go of the reigns.

And I feel a new joy. I am kind of giddy because you are my God.

And so, I praise you. You are Creator. You are the Prince of Peace. You are Savior. You are Love and you are here with me. You are God and I give all to you: my family, my friends, my church, my job, my cozy home, even my kitties—my life. And I thank you for every moment that I can bring a ray of your glory, yep I said glory, to this lovely little world that you made.




Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26

1 comment:

Annie Schilperoort Photography said...

Beautiful, Tina! This blessed me to read it. Yay for 6 years!!