Emmanuel, "God with us"

It has been a long time since I've posted on our little blog. Mainly because I've been busy but also because I have started a journal and I'm putting a lot of my thoughts there. But, I feel that there are certain things that the Lord is calling me to share.

Funny how when I started this blog I didn't intend for it to be all about God. But, the Lord had other plans. He has captivated my heart and He is what I have to talk about. He is what I want to talk about. He is the one doing miraculous things in my life. I could talk about trips, recipes, and all of that but what will that matter when this life ends? (Please note that I'm all for awesome trips and recipes and in fact will probably try and start posting more about everything on the blog...) Today though, I want to share what God has laid on my heart.

Last night we worshiped at the Kari Job #majestictour concert. To say that it was amazing would not do it justice. The presence of God was so real, so awesome, so powerful that it was almost hard to breathe and I could literally feel my heart longing for the Lord, aching to be home with Him in heaven. Michael and I have talked about what it will be like in Heaven recently. In fact, we talked about it just this week before the concert. I think God answered our question last night becuase I truly feel that we got a glimpse of Heaven. Below is a picture that I'm going to keep to remind me how awesome it was.

Not wanting to forget last night I started thinking about how we, as humans, have a very short-lived memory. Miracles happen all the time. We praise God for them and then we move on with our lives forgetting how powerful that moment in time was and worrying about how WE will handle the next problem. I picture God pleading with us, weeping with us to turn back to Him. It seems so simple yet it is our human nature to do the very opposite. Kari talked about that she saw the Son of God movie the day before and as she sat there she thought about how real Jesus was. Just as real as me and you. Yes, we all know that but I think we lose our passion sometimes forgetting what He has done here on Earth. We tend to move on with things in life and later they become a memory and we lose the intensity of those feelings.

An example of this was just last year when my brother was in California and was hospitalized quickly. The doctors told him he had a flesh eating virus and that they would have to go in and do surgery with a couple of possible outcomes: 1) they could get it before it spread 2) they would have to cut such a large portion of it out that he would be disfigured or 3) that it could have already spread to his organs and the it was possible that he wouldn't make it. The phone call that night was surreal. I hung up the phone and hung on to Michael, pleaded with God, cried, got on my knees, called friends, family. I was so desperate for God to heal my baby brother. He went into surgery and they were able to remove it. It hadn't spread, he wasn't disfigured and he was alive. I swore to myself and to God that day that I would never forget His faithfulness and His miracle. I wrote in my journal, "I am marking this as a true God moment because I know as time passes it will seem less like a miracle. But it was." Below is a picture of my brother and I after he returned home from California.

I've found that God can use the situation that is most painful for you and turn it into good. My pain point is also my proof point and reminds me that He is faithful and how much he loves us! The fact that we can forget what God has done for us is crazy yet so natural for us. It reminds me of Deuteronomy 8 after the Lord has delivered the Israelites through the 40 years in the wilderness. God knows how fragile we are and how easy it is to forget the amazing things he has done for us. He warns,

“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end— then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’
Deuteronomy 8:11-17

Experiences like worship last night are real... as real as God delivering the Israelites out through the wilderness. I asked God this morning (thinking about last night's concert), "Why can't every day be like that" and his answer was "Oh but Rachel, dear child, it can". God is not the one who leave us. It's us that leaves Him. The ultimate sacrifice has been paid, the veil is torn! We have access and stand in the presence of the Lord... it's our hearts, our focus that has to change. Only then can we experience the His amazing presence. You see, it's HIS name that is Emmanuel, "God with us". Wow!

My prayer for you today is that the Lord will consume and captivate your heart as He has mine. I hope you are a light today in this dark world and keep your focus on the cross. If you don't know Jesus I'd love to share with you what he has done in my life and how much he loves you and longs for your heart. Message me if you feel that He is working in your heart. What an even sweeter day it could be!

In His Love,
R.