HIS INVITATION

The one I love calls to me.

Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling.

Come away with me!

I have come as you have asked

to draw you to my heart and lead you out.

For now is the time, my beautiful one.

The season has changed,

the bondage of your barren winter

has ended, and the season of hiding

is over and gone.

The rains have soaked the earth and

left it bright with blossoming flowers.

The season for singing and pruning

the vines has arrived.

I hear the cooing of doves in our land,

filling the air with songs to awaken you

and guide you forth.

Can you not discern this new

day of destiny breaking forth

around you?

The early signs of my purposes and plans

are bursting forth.

The budding vines of new life are now

blooming everywhere.

The fragrance of their flowers whispers,

“There is change in the air.”

Arise, my love, my beautiful companion,

and run with me to the higher place.

For now is the time to arise

and come away with me.

- Song of Solomon 2:10-13 (The Passion Translation)

This is His invitation to us, individually and as a group. The season has indeed changed. A new day of destiny is at hand. It's time to seek His face, minister to His heart and obtain the fresh oil we will need for our lanterns as we wait for His arrival. The hour is late. Many of us are sensing a greater urgency to pursue His Presence than we have ever felt before.

Others of us feel a sense of sadness that we have not pursued Him as relentlessly as He has pursued us. But there is no condemnation. His mercies are new every morning. You can begin today, right now, to turn away from the distractions of the world, and seek His face. He is, once again, extending His hand to you. Make haste, my Beloved.

Lord, I accept Your invitation and I am humbled by Your great love for me. It is my desire to know You and be known by You. Draw me continually into the secret place with You, and cause my heart to respond with joyful anticipation. I am Yours.

THE GIFT OF NOW

We’ve all said it. Someday I'm going to make some time to spend with Jesus. Someday I'm going to make some time to get my prayer life together. Someday I'm going to make some time to read the Bible all the way through.

Our "someday" is now. In the midst of this pandemic pause, God has handed us the very thing we've been promising Him, and ourselves -- time. The truth is, we can't make time. All the time that has been and ever will be has already been made… by Him. We can't make a single minute of time. But we can take it.

Taking time to do something presents us with the reality that, in order to devote time to a certain thing, we will have to take time away from something else.

For most of us, myself included, this will take practice. We're probably not all going to become wise stewards of our time overnight. And maybe we don't even know how or where to begin. But God, in His infinite wisdom and kindness, has given us in these past few weeks a starting point.

Regardless of how the present crisis started, whether it was natural or man-made; despite the media manipulation and political wrangling, it has created a vacuum in our lives that the Lord can use to carry out His magnificent plan. And His plan, from the beginning, was to reconcile the world to the Father. And that starts with you and me. One person at a time.

This gift He has given us – this time – is more valuable than we may realize. Someday soon, this pause will come to an end. And I believe that when it does, we should have something to show for it. Some offering to bring to him. Some evidence of how we used this time for the one thing that really matters.

"So teach us to number our days, That we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 4:12 (AMP)

Some of us will come out of this pause with our spring cleaning all done; organized closets, sparkling floors or an immaculate garage. Others will come out loaded down with gifts that can only be exchanged in the secret place of His Presence… wisdom, revelation, clarity, provision and peace. And what we carry, we will share.

How are you spending the time that has been given to you by the Maker of Time in this opportune moment?

Lord, reveal to us the things You would have us to change about the way we spend our time, both now and in the future. Rearrange our priorities to bring glory to You and let Your Kingdom be established in our midst. Draw our hearts to meet with You in the secret place, where communion and consecration bring miraculous transformation. Thank You for this gift of time. May we steward it well.

OVERFLOW

The other day, while watching a livestream church service, I was preparing to receive communion, as I have done most days during this "prophetic pause." I broke off a piece of matzoh and took out a small cordial glass I like to use for this purpose. I set the matzoh on a plate and poured some grape juice into the glass. As is my usual custom, I filled it about halfway. I turned my attention back to the livestream as the pastor began to speak about the significance of the elements. I always love to hear the story. My favorite part is when Jesus told His disciples to remember Him whenever they partook of this meal.

I looked back at my little portion of matzoh and the glass, and Holy Spirit prompted me to pour some more juice into the glass. Unusual, I thought, but I poured a little more. Maybe three-quarters full this time. "More," He said. So I smiled and poured in a little more. It's a very small glass. Then I sensed Holy Spirit saying, "Fill it up to the top. You want the fullness." "Well, of course I do!" I thought, and carefully filled the glass up to the rim. Or so I thought. Once again, I heard, "There's room for more." So I added one final dab that hovered just barely above the top of the rim. I wondered how I would even lift up the cup without it spilling.

Then I heard, "Now, pour in more until it overflows."

The livestream was lost to me. I was having a live encounter with the Lord. The significance of what He was asking me to do flooded my heart. I poured. And as I watched the liquid overflow the tiny glass, I felt my spirit leap inside me.

"I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]."

John 10:10 (AMP)

I received (or should I say 'achieved') communion in a whole new way that day. The Lord who wanted to be remembered gave me something to remember as well. He showed me that I – that we – are meant to live in the overflow. It was never His intention or design for us to settle for half full.

And now, every time I receive communion, I'll celebrate that reminder and embrace the extravagant fullness of His love.

Lord, thank You for showing up in my kitchen to remind me that there's always room for more. More joy. More love. More provision. More revelation. More peace. Forgive me for sometimes putting You in a box and settling for the limits I place on myself, for looking at my circumstances and not at You. Thank You for always being more than enough. And then some!