Hard way to the high way

God has taught me more this season than I can ever recall learning in my life. He has shown himself to me in deeper, more intimate ways than I have ever experienced. His glory absolutely blows my mind. He has covered me in my weakness & lack of wisdom; he has comforted me in my despair & loneliness; and he has filled me to overflowing every single time I have been thirsty & hungry for more of him. .. sometimes even when I haven't asked but he knew my heart & cared for me. The box I kept my heavenly Father in has expanded... or rather, he's burst through it at the very second that I finally said, "Okay.. WHO are you!? I know you are more than what I've made you... reveal yourself to me."

I used to shrug my shoulders hearing Christians talk like this... thinking something like, "yeah whatever I know God rocks but that's just so cliche.. get real, it's just God & I know I'm going to heaven, why do you gotta get so spiritual on me? Geez... let go & relax." Funny thing is that I understand this now so deeply that I want to scream his glory to the ends of the earth! Sometimes the overflow of glee in my heart wants to literally jump out of my heart & attach itself to someone else! lol.. yes, you can laugh... it does seem kind of silly, but.. that's Jesus for ya, far larger.. far greater.. far more mesmorizing than you can even imagine. It's so amazing to me to read his Word just to find out that I only know in part now & will know his glory in full when we meet face to face. He is so perfect right now, how can I even stand before him later? Wow. Pure awe. Genuine thankfulness. Overflowing. From which this poem was birthed,

"In the dark lasts fleeting good, it seems, where through the light warmth repairs

As we fight to break the chains, through fire, lasts momentary pains

The dragons hide between the slits, to close them off gains heavenly bliss

Only when His love's embraced will we see the finish line mark this race
To shine but only through the good would defeat the end goal, without prize
To come out on top we must go through and under, not around
To run away is to take the path most walked and love not found
Medicine in smiles. Sickness in Chains. Prison in the Other's trap.
Freedom where the arms are open when out of chaos beauty's caught
And through the seasons pass many lessons to be taught
It matters not what circumstances change 'til character's been rearranged
Alter not the loved ones near, but rather what's inside the fear
Strong is not where pride is found but where forgiveness renews
And 'til the day of offering, restoration spirals through the drain
Filter out what's not to catch, seek his eyes to unlock the door.
Drain. Repair. Clean. Renew. Or walk the same and must re-do.
Eternity awaits the seeker's heart, even when he must re-start."


The journey isn't always easy, but like our pastor shared this Sunday... "You often have to take the hard way to get to the high way."