Did you ever receive something …
a kind word
snail mail
a hug from your teenage son
or a glimpse at His sun as it rises to overcome the darkness of night …
At face value, this gift is tremendous. In our hurriedness, though, we brush past after the acknowledgement. The day’s tasks draw our attention away from the amazing way God personally blessed us.
Let me share how God slowed me down yesterday:
It’s 2:30p, and you don’t know what’s for dinner for the boys. You take a moment, though, to breathe in the aroma of white chicken chili simmering in the crock.
The two teenagers have been doing video games for over an hour, time to change the course.
Your husband will wake soon, after a 36-hour weekend. Your job is to listen to his needs, for sometimes he doesn’t even know.
You know this story, right?
When your world floods you with simultaneous ponderings, lists taking shape, and motivation hangs there in the balance.
It was about this time yesterday, my dear sister in Christ, Bettie Gilbert, came to mind. A few days earlier, Bettie had trusted me with prayer for words to come for her next blogpost. Bettie is open about her chronic illness. She writes with her heart in the open for all to see, learn and pray. At the end of this post, I will give you the link to her blog.
Though I am not perfect at this, I have learned (over and over) when someone’s name comes across my heart, I am to seek Him for direction. Heaven has a very specific reason to give me the name.
To encourage Bettie and honor God, I sent Bettie this song called Pen and Writer by Clayton Brooks (https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=ONPRfYEolmk).
Are you ready for this?
Because at the same time, Bettie sent me the blog post, whose words I prayed for.
Only God.
Holy Spirit is always in motion, perhaps not physically, but spiritually.
Reading Bettie’s post was gift enough. I was blessed by the way she described our human plight of rejection. Her writing draws you in, and to Him. She usually ends with a beautiful prayer and includes a link to a song.
Whoa, I had to pause. I had to put aside the blog. There was more for me to open, another gift Bettie was releasing, another gift for me to receive.
After taking care of my guys, I went for a walk. Fresh air feeds my soul. Though His sun was hiding, He wasn’t. My heart filled with anticipation and appreciation for the next part of Bettie’s post, the gift upon the gift.
Spirit reminded me immediately of when Bettie mentioned she had done some drama at women’s retreats. For those of you who don’t know, God has given me dramas to do for women gatherings. Rahab, Hagar, Mary Magdalene, and the prophet Zechariah.
In the booklet, free to download from Bettie’s post, are dramas of three women in the Bible, three I had not ever “been”.
As I read through, Spirit gave me eyes to see the women who watched Bettie’s dramatic presentations. I was overcome.
This gift of knowing how God uses you does not come often.
I could sense in the pit of my soul how the women could relate to the drama because His truth comes alive for them.
I praise God for the strength and wisdom He gives Bettie to share in the midst of all her struggles. I praise God that He is beyond gracious and patient in preparing us to bring Him more and more glory.
Though I don’t usually post poetry here, this is from my journal yesterday after receiving the double-Dibble portion of blessing in my interaction with Bettie and her writing:
Wringing my cracked hands
Sitting not standing
as Spirit whispers I showed
you so you would know
Weeping, worshipping
Just like the women
Just like Bettie
Christ. He is living
Among us
In us
No shame
You are forgiven
All are welcome
His presence
emanates
when we say
Yes, Lord
I am here
Set me as the lamp on the stand
Call me to your mountain
that I may praise the Son of Man
As I speak
to those You draw
Let them hear You
Call them close,
Fill their hearts with longsuffering awe
Because in this world
we will have trouble
But never, ever
are we abandoned in the rubble
Lord, You are our Rock
Our refuge
A sanctuary given by Your Spirit
Those close … anointed
with oil of joy
Lights on hills
Salt in tasteless meals
Warm bread rolls … filling souls
And that holy water
filling cups, they runneth over
~~~
Thank you for being here with me today.
A writer does depend on readers, just as readers depend on writers. A true symbiotic relationship.
Here is the link to Bettie’s post. May He bless you abundantly as you read:
If you are hungry for the Word, join the gathering tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10am Eastern. I will provide a mini lesson on radical surrender, we will read Psalm 18:25-50, and pray. To join go to https://Facebook.com/jdibble4Him. All who gather are encouraged to share their thoughts. Sharing is not required though. And if you cannot make this time, the video recording usually posts by about 11a and stays. So you can catch it when you have time to focus with your Bible open.
I look forward to hearing from you, either here, there on the ministry page or by email. juliedibblespeaks@gmail.com
All photos are mine, taken this morning 🙂
Be strong in Him, not yourselves.
Love in Christ,
Julie
https://faithhopeandpoetry.blog
https://Instagram.com/jayjule03
I love it when God allows us “peeks” into His workings, and “the other side of the story” as it applies to our lives.
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Kathy, He leaves me in such awe.
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Oh Dear Sister, Only God could have woven all of these things together in His perfect timing! Especially into a day where I knew that my strength was so small, and fogginess was so great, He made sure that the gift was from His hand. Praise His name! I am so thankful that we can worship Him together, at His feet, and pray for so many hearts who also long to be loved. Thank you Julie for the precious prayers and love from Jesus that you have shown to me. I pray that He will multiply the gift that came from Him in the first place. May He bless the broken bread now. Blessings & love, Bettie
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Oh Bettie dear. His perfect timing is always awe-inspiring. Thank you for being obedient to Him in spite of your weakness. And of course when we are weak, it allows Him to really show off as He did yesterday. Praying for your physical body to relax into His presence today. I pray in agreement that He multiply His gifts to you and to me and to those in desperate need of Him. Our God never stops pursuing us. Praise His name. Love and hugs to you sister from PA. P.S. We did get that family walk, but the first park we went to was closed for cars and for walkers 😦 We walked in the neighborhood instead and shared chocolate chip cookies I made this morning.
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