Hidden

Let me just say I love where I live!  We live in the middle of a valley with beautiful mountain ranges all around us.  The views constantly amaze me, no matter how often I see them.  One day, just driving down the road, I see this:






The snow-capped mountains that have become my visual snack each day were nearly obscured by a layer of wispy clouds.  I couldn't resist a picture.  It was just so ethereal. 

And then I heard myself pray, "Lord, take the best of me and hide it in You.  Let anyone seeking You also find the best of me.  Hide me so completely in You that all anyone can see of me is You."

Hidden glory.  Covered majesty.  Taking the best and rendering it unseen.  Because I have always been okay with not being glorified.  Because I am always okay with GOD getting the glory.  Make me like these mountains, GOD.  If anyone desires to truly know me, they have to know You first.  And let everything that I am bring only glory to You.

Roots Unseen

There's this tree a few blocks from our church that is tall, beautiful, and majestic, even with winter's bareness still on it.  It's strong and thick, and has obviously been growing and thriving for many decades.  Then, one day, I was struck by the roots.  Even though they were underground, they had completely moved the sidewalk out of the way, reducing it to crumbles of concrete.

 

 

It dawned on me that people can be like that tree.  We grow tall and strong. Over the decades, we become beautiful and majestic, no matter the season we are in.  And most of our strength, like the tree, can be found in the roots.

 

 

In our roots, we find our connections to the nutrients and water we need, yet they are hidden from view.  In our relationship with Jesus, our strength and nourishment come from the hidden time we spend with our Savior.  In those roots, we find our anchor and connection, the reason we can grow so tall and radiate majesty.  All of which are hidden.

 

 

How many times are we discouraged by our seeming lack of growth?  How many times do we feel concrete barriers blocking us from getting to where we want to be? 

 

 

This tree shows us that there is no barrier strong enough to keep GOD's growth from bursting forth in our lives.  Our strength and growth all happen unseen and underground until it is time for it to be upward and seen.  There has to be a strong root system before a full grown tree can be supported. All of that takes place in the hidden underground.  
Sometimes even hidden from ourselves.

 

 

If you find yourself discouraged, take a cue from this tree.  Know that you are growing, you are strong, and you are hidden in HIM.  HE will take care of the growth.  Have faith.  You are more than a tree.

Cup of Sacrifice

I think my favorite part about church is the music portion.  There is just something so powerful about music, the way it can break through mental barriers and show you something new that you might not have thought of on your own, apart from its influence.  During worship like that, I think GOD has an easier time reaching me, helping me to learn or understand what HE is up to.  And it was while we were worshipping that I thought about HIS cup.

It was the week before Easter, Palm Sunday, and we sang a beautiful song by Kari Jobe, The More I Seek You.  The chorus goes like this:

"I want to sit at Your feet, drink from the cup in Your hand,

Lay back against You and breathe, feel Your heart beat

This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand

I melt in Your peace, it's overwhelming"

I was melting into HIM, just like we were singing.  It was such a sweet, tender, intimate moment between my Savior and me.  And as I sang the chorus again, my thoughts went to HIS cup. 

The cup of the Last Supper.  The cup HE asked James and John, the Sons of Thunder, if they were able to drink from it.  The cup Jesus begged GOD to take from HIM if there were any other way.  The cup of sacrifice.

My husband has an amazing sermon he shares about sacrifice and worship.  They are inextricable, you see.  There is no genuine worship unless it costs you something.  Sometimes it's time.  Sometimes, you may have to give up perspectives or previous beliefs.  Sometimes you have to give up an offense (forgiveness).  Abraham, in the very first act of worship, was willing to sacrifice his own son.  So worship, true worship, costs something.

 

As I pondered this, still hearing this beautiful song in my ears, I asked myself if I was really willing to drink from HIS cup.  I mean, HE didn't even want it!  I needed to really be sure I was willing to drink from a cup that would cost me so much.  And I asked myself, if I had to choose between the cup and having Jesus in my life, or not having to drink from the cup, but not knowing Jesus as my Savior, I would have to choose Jesus every time, no matter what. 

So knowing that, the depth of commitment and dedication, why am I so lazy, so lackadaisical, taking so much of this relationship for granted?  No More!  It is time to drink the cup of sacrifice, to lay down my desire to be in charge of my life, and to truly worship HIM with the sacrifice of my self.  There really is no alternative.