General Legacy

Some of the time we hold that the true power of someone’s legacy is only at the points easily recognizable as triumphant. Points passed on from person to person and generation to generation as indicators of greatness. We therefore wait to share our stories at their conclusions. That’s alright. But conclusions are not set on stone…how does one who still walk judge a story in their life to have ended…while they still walk?

I feel, humbly, that there is cause to celebrate too the journey, daily: that its a cause for High Praise and Thanksgiving. Like the lyrics of one of my favorite songs say “thank You LORD for the Strength You give, to simply carry on…”

When we hold of rejoicing because the outcome of the day was not what we anticipated or defined as triumphant, we miss out on the breath by breath triumphs, delights, yes even failures overcome or simply lived through, priceless treasures of life in its pulsating detail. There is as much weight in sharing the victory of the first step, the enduring scenes of the journey as there is in the end. Besides…we may not be alive long enough to truly appreciate the impact of our lives in their entirety. That’s usually the privilege of your survivors and future generations. Celebrate the breath you have just taken…you KNOW, you understand what you just survived. Shalom.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

Hebrews 11:13-16

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Bird Call

So I woke up this morning. I tried to get out of my bedding but was struck by the heavy implications of this day coming at me – headlong and in full speed. I lay my head back on the pillow as a deep darkness sought to overwhelm and drag me to a place I no longer had the strength to dwell in or out of on my own. I heard my Forever Friend whisper in answer to my unspoken plea for a particular breakthrough “Not today beloved.”

At least I knew what to expect from this day – I encouraged myself as the darkness rushed at me. But The Holy Spirit is never asleep and I heard my mouth begin to pray: And my heart to reminisce – especially to the beginning of the last ten years. And the words that poured out of my heart – battling painfully with my determined enemy were those of thanksgiving. God took me back to a time I was facing a similar situation but was even more frightened and reminded me that He had taken me through. And that opened a floodgate of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving from various places I was now privileged to remember during that period. Slowly the darkness dissipated and I was now overwhelmed by peace. I got up, drank my bottle of water, folded my bedding and packed them neatly into a large shopping bag.

Then I sat. And the darkness that I thought had given up on me for the day, returned. I faced head-on the meaning and possible implications of my Forever Friend’s words. At least I knew. But just in case He had forgotten, my mouth opened and I began to speak from a place of pain, despair, fear even…and peace fought back. The battle in me evoked tears. More sad words poured out of my mouth – honest words, then I heard what to me sounded like a crowing of a cockerel. I tried to push it back but another, and then another rang out. At the third cry, I heard the words coming out of me change to repentance as I wept. The frantic crowing went on until the bird had vented seven or eight soul piercing sounds…then silence. I continued to pray, to repent, and when the darkness had passed, got up and took a bath.

I realize that this is battle. I have had one other session of thanksgiving, this time going back to the time of my children’s birthing. The peace has prevailed but I am alert to the possible attack of the darkness. As I stood outside trying to catch a bit of the lingering warmth of the sun, I noticed a mother hen walk by followed by her four beautiful white and light brown chicks. It sank then – the trumpet had been sounded by a mother hen, and not her mate. I laugh thankfully and then sit down to immortalize this lest I forget. Thank You LORD for ensuring I stay faithful. Shalom.

#WhenAMotherCries #MotherCall #MotherHeartofGod #WellUnderHisWings

“I will extol The Lord at all times;

His praise will always be on my lips.

I will glory in The Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Glorify The Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.”

Psalm 34:1-3

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The Blinding Light of God’s Love

Yesterday afternoon a divine errand led me into the city center and onto a bus headed south-west of Nairobi. The only vacant seat next to a window was the one at the back and a older couple was already occupying the center part of it.

I was struck by the beauty of the elderly lady who seemed to be looking and smiling right at me and yet sort of through me. I realized immediately that she her excellently big brown clear eyes were visually impaired. The man seated next to her lifted his head for a moment to smile at me and move her legs slightly out of the way to give me room to pass. I settled and then focused on them. The man was besotted with her. She had a dried tear stain on her right cheek but her eyes reflected deep joy as she listened to the man speak just loud enough for her to hear. A deep sight, beautifully so 😍. I had to painfully look away to occupy my mind with the sights of the CBD.

 

I do not believe in coincidences and as I later reflected on this scene, and the deep joy it evoked in me, I realized that God had given me an illustration of His relationship with me. When I am on a journey led by Him, my Groom Eternal, I do not really have to know where He is leading me – that he does, is enough to get me there. His Voice and Manner is simply Love incarnate, and many times He words to me are for my ears only – because He has captured my attention and my love. His…Being…His Loving breaks me beautifully to the point of tears. He knows my blindness and sometimes my deafness, but He made and keeps His covenant with me – with my permission sometimes 😉, and His Seeing, Speaking and Hearing, covers beyond anything that I could be capable of even if I could see all the time. I LOVE absolutely that He Loves me unabashedly, without seeking anyone’s permission to favor me however He pleases. In fact throughout the journey the words that kept ringing in my spirit was ‘God is in heaven and He does whatever pleases Him.’ Psalm 115:3. And that is my reason to smile today. I don’t know if that couple knows how much they helped me by just being there…that’s a story for another day…but may I have that impact on others who would never speak to me. Shalom.

 

“Who is blind but My servant [Israel]? Or deaf like My messenger whom I send? Who is blind like the one who is at peace with Me [who has been admitted to covenant relationship with Me]? Yes, who is blind like the Lord’s servant?

 

You have seen many things, but you do not observe or apprehend their true meaning. His ears are open, but he hears not!”

Isaiah 42:19-20

 

“And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known. I will make darkness into light before them and make uneven places into a plain. These things I have determined to do [for them]; and I will not leave them forsaken.” Isaiah 42:16 AMP