Giving Away My Heart

Valentine's Day is coming up, and I'm so glad my heart belongs to someone! In fact, I'm falling in love all over again. I'm giving my heart anew to someone who will cherish it, love me more than I thought possible, and who shows himself to me in new ways daily. In fact, he tells me all the time I'm his treasured possession. My precious heart belongs to my king, my father, my bridegroom.....Jesus!

Wait, you say, this is not new information! Jesus has had your heart for a long time. And that IS true, but right now my relationship with Christ has gotten so personal and he knows me so intimately that the richness and complexity of His powerful love is spilling into my life in new ways. I'm his special Valentine! (So are YOU, by the way!)

I recently re-read one of my favorite books, Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge. I rediscovered it in my last move, and I forgot how good it was so I picked it up again. The tag line says it all, check this out - "Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus!" In re-introducing and reminding myself of these concepts, along with time in the word, prayer and praise, I'm experiencing a love relationship with Jesus like I've never had. We share an EXTRAVAGANT love!!!

I wanted to share a few ways this has played out recently.

EMOTIONAL INTIMACY

Jesus' love has been stirring within me in deep and profound ways. I often find seemingly small things moving me deeply, even bringing me to tears.

Just a few examples of things that caused me to weep:

Scripture

• I recently received a prophetic word, and was given the scripture passages in Isaiah 43 and 54. Is.43:1 - "I have summoned you by name, you are mine." The way the prophetess delivered this scripture moved me to tears, she emphasized "The Lord says - YOU ARE MINE!" I felt this seal of protection and love around me that caused me to break down in tears.
• Is 43: 18-19: "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Do you not perceive it?" God is moving me from things of my past to His work in my life TODAY! His mercy, grace and hope he gives me for "the new thing" springing up in my life is profound. When I think of it, I weep.
• The one that had me sobbing on the floor is Is 54: 7 "For a brief moment, I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back." When I think of the sin in my life and decisions in my past that should cause God to abandon me, He reminds me of his extravagant love and compassion for me. My repentant heart sobs with the undeserved gratitude I have for His all powerful love.

Gratitude

• God pours out blessings me that I am so undeserving of, daily it seems. Of all the gifts He's given me, friendships are the most precious. Recently, I find myself telling my close friends just how much I love them, and I get teary eyed. Fortunately, because they are my close friends, they are OK with it. (Never take the people God has given you for granted, they are HIS GIFTS to you!)
• I'm having to move soon, not by my choice. So, instead of being angry or feeling bad that I'm leaving a place I love, every time I enter my current home, I shout "Praise you Jesus for giving me this fantastic home for so long. THANK YOU! I LOVE where I live!"

People

• I was considering a move overseas recently, and God let me know that this is not the time. I was actually sitting in church, watching the video of my small group on the big screen that was featured that week, and God said - "See, I've begun a good work in you. We're not done with this season. Now, stay here and finish it."
• God has brought some people into my life recently, and one person in particular, that touch me in a place that profoundly moves me. This person's journey, and desire to embrace life now and not dwell in the past, and to understand and embrace that God is doing something new - it just inspires me in every possible way.

SECRETS

God has started telling me some powerful things about my life, both directly to me and through others that line up with these same messages. He whispers these things to me in the quiet stillness of the night, or on the green way as I walk alone in the early morning hours. And then he tells me that, like Mary, I must hide all these things in my heart for now.

Sometimes it's affirmations about others in my life so that I can pray accordingly, but mostly it's things about my own life and how it will unfold. What's more, sometimes He will say - "There is someone else I told about this, as well, so you can both be praying."

He did it just recently with something, and I said back out loud, "You told (name) about this!?" Just like we were two teenagers having a conversation, and one had told a secret. Then, I laughed at myself, and Jesus said, "Just trust me in this." It's beautiful when my Lord reveals something to me about my life, so that I can have peace, and my waiting becomes an act of worship. (So now, I'm asking, does that other person KNOW that I know? - Gotta love God's humor!)

The bottom line is this: when you have an intimate, trusting relationship with someone, you are safe sharing secrets. Who better than Jesus to have this intimacy with?

Because of the length of this post, I'll do a Part Two of Giving Away My Heart to talk about some of the other play, disruptive, extravagant ways we can experience God's love we give away our hearts!

Until then, Praise Crazy!