The Time In Between

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time… 

If it seems slow, wait for it; 

it will surely come."

—Habakkuk 2:3

Don't take much for this crazy world

To rob me of my peace

And the enemy of my soul

Says You’re holding out on me

So I stand here lifting empty hands

For you to fill me up again

But it’s the time in between

That I fall down to my knees

Waiting on what You'll bring

And the things that I can't see

I know my song’s incomplete

Still I'll sing in the time in between

—Francesca Battistelli 

"Time In Between" from My Paper Heart (c) 2008

Just As He Promised

Spring is arriving in my part of the world.

And with it, the promise of life. With a glorious burst of colour, the earth displays a beauty and vibrance that winter has done her shivering best to make us forget. Almost, she succeeds. Almost, we despair of spring's arrival.

Then she comes. At last. We feel her warm smile in the sunshine. Her loveliness is accented by the colourful clothing she wears.

She brings hope.

Sunshine is here. Better days are coming.

But, let us not alienate poor winter completely. She prepares for spring's arrival in a way summer never could. As strange as it seems, these colourful flowers need to experience winter's harsh, cold temperament in order to reach their potential. The richness of their beauty would not be possible without winter. She holds the seeds until spring arrives, and during her watch, they die.

But that's not the end of the story.

Seems like it is, doesn't it? Death seems pretty final. Those seeds are dead. But, in the mystery of His plan, the Father leaves those seeds for a while, dead. Until there seems to be no hope of beauty, of resurrection.

Then He brings them to life. Miraculous life. Kinda like He did with His Son on that Resurrection morning all those years ago.

Three days dead. Sealed in the tomb. Bound. Where was the hope for His disciples? Their Master, their Messiah, their Deliverer, their Friend... dead.

But wait.

There He was. He was alive!

Just as He promised.

"Why do you seek the living among the dead?
He is not here, but has risen.
Remember how He told you,
while He was still in Galilee,
that the Son of Man must be
delivered into the hands of sinful men
and be crucified
and on the third day rise."
—Luke 24:5b-7

Jesus Christ died so that we can live. The cross was my just punishment for my sin and self-worship, but He carried the full weight of it for me. As I gratefully accept His payment, like a spring flood He washes my wrongs off the record. I am clean and new. I have life!

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me

Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me

But as He lives, I also share in His death. As I walk in His steps, seeking to become more like Him, He will ask countless "little" deaths of me. Yet as we walk on together, it becomes clearer that in that death, there is abundant life.

Just as He promised.

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The King of Glory and of Grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God

Happy Resurrection Sunday to you all!

Unmarked quotations taken from the Hymn, "Before The Throne of God Above" by Charitie Bancroft, Public Domain

Happy To Be His Girl

I've been thinking a lot lately about the concept of Jesus as our betrothed bridegroom.

How many brides-to-be have you known who are worried as they wait for a coming surprise from their fiancé? Personally, I haven't seen many. But why is that?

Because a bride knows and loves her beloved and trusts his love for her. She knows whatever he's planning is gonna be awesome, that she's gonna love it, and that she'll enjoy going anywhere as long as it's with him. (And she knows he wouldn't dream of surprising her with something she wouldn't like.)

My friend has had some advice for me,

"Let God surprise you. Learn to enjoy the suspense." —Anna Kraft 

I'm not usually very keen on surprises—I've "wanted to know" whatever is going on, all my life! But one thing I do know is, whatever He's up to, it's gonna be awesome! I can know that, because I'm confident in the unfailing love of my Beloved. I know His heart is "kind beyond all measure." To Him, I am His princess. He delights in me. I want to prize and cherish that love. To trust Him with my heart, my life, my happiness.

I want the world to know I'm happy in His love, and ever so happy to be His girl.

It may be in the valley, where countless dangers hide;
It may be in the sunshine that I, in peace, abide;
But this one thing I know—though it be dark or fair,
If Jesus goes with me, I’ll go anywhere!

If Jesus goes with me, I’ll go anywhere!
’Tis heaven to me, where’er I may be, if He is there!
…If to go or stay, or whether here or there,
I’ll be, with my Saviour, content anywhere!

                     —Charles A. Miles, Public Domain

So, I Wait...

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!

Those who fear him have no lack!

Those who seek the LORD lack no good thing."

-From Psalm 34:8-10

Hungry I come to You

For I know You satisfy.

I am empty, but I know

Your love does not run dry;

So I wait for You.

I'm falling on my knees

Offering all of me

Broken, I run to You

For Your arms are open wide.

I am weary, but I know Your touch

Restores my life;

So I wait for You.

-Kutless, "Hungry" from the album It Is Well

In God's Hands

"...I am not ashamed, for I know Whom I have believed, 

and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day 

what [I have entrusted to Him]."

(II Timothy 1:12)

You say let it go;

You say life is waiting...

You say You will be everything I need;

You say let it go.

What do I love? What do I hate?

What will I lose? What will I gain? ...

What if I bend? What if I break?

What will it cost? What will it take

For You to save my soul?

You say let it go.

—Tenth Avenue North

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all;

but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."

—Martin Luther

The Hands Holding You...

Why do you say... "My way is hidden from the LORD...?"

Have you not known? Have you not heard? 

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.

(Isaiah 40:27-28)

These are the Hands that built the mountains

The Hands that calmed the seas

These are the arms that hold the heavens

They are holding you and me

These are Hands that healed the leper

Pulled the lame up to their feet

These are the arms that were nailed to a cross

To break our chains and set us free

You will be safe in His arms

'Cause the hands that hold the world

Are holding your heart

—Phil Wickham, 2009, "Safe"

I want to let you know Me more...

I feel Your hand pulling me away
I hear Your voice whispering the way
"Leave the noise of all that's vain
Meet with Me on higher plain
I want to talk with you
I want to let you know Me more
I want to show to you
More power than before
Yes, the journey may be long
And you'll feel you can't go on
But you'll find there, on the plain
I'll make you strong"

I walk alone across the rugged plain
And there You stand, You're calling out my name
Your glory is all around
I know I've reached that higher ground
And there You talked with me
And You let me know You more
And there You showed to me
More power than before
Yes, the journey had been long
And when I felt I'd not go on
I found that there on the plain
You made me strong

Yes, your journey may be long
And you'll feel you can't go on
But you'll find on that higher plain
He'll make you strong

-John Marshall Family, 2005

Take me by the hand...

Can You take me by the hand?
Can You use me as I am?
Break me into who You want me to be
When the time is finally right
You will open up my eyes
Show me everything You want me to see
This life is not my own

To God alone be the glory
To God alone be the praise
Everything I say and do
Let it be all for You
The glory is Yours alone
Yours alone

Take the offering I bring
You want more than what I sing
Can I give You every part of me?
Turn these pennies into gold
Take this life I call my own
Until I'm running after Your heart
I'm needing to let go

We will rise and we will fall
But You remain after all
You're glorious and beautiful
You're beautiful

To God alone be the glory
To God alone be the praise
Everything I say and do
Let it be all for You
The glory is Yours alone
Yours alone

—Aaron Shust - "To God Alone"
From album Take Over

You Are Good

When the sun starts to rise and I open my eyes
You are good, so good
In the heat of the day with each stone that I lay
You are good, so good

With every breath I take in
I'll tell You I'm grateful again
When the moon rises high before each kiss goodnight
You are good

When the road starts to turn, around each bend I've learned
You are good, so good
And when somebody's hand holds me up, helps me stand
You are so good

With every breath I take in
I'll tell You I'm grateful again
'Cause it's more than enough just to know I am loved
And You are good

So how can I thank You?
And what can I bring?
What can a poor man lay at the feet of a King?
So I'll sing You this love song
It's all that I have
To tell You I'm grateful
For holding my life in Your hands

—Sung by Nichole Nordeman, and Point of Grace