I have just arrived home from a conference entitled "Deeper Still". It was a wonderful time with one of my favorite peeps. In the afternoon session Beth Moore talked about "Treasures". The message was from Luke 2:51. To begin with I would like to share with you the definition of "treasure":to guard, to keep, preserve, keep close or defend.
Here are the main points from her talk (this is pertinent, I promise)...
1.) There are treasures out there (in life)
2.) They are not my treasures until they make it past my defenses
3.) Treasures strung together can bring healing
4.) Our treasure gets lost in the same trash as our time
5.) We will miss our most expensive treasure if we look past our hardship and pain
6.) When you feel like you don't see the treasure, look for Jesus (He will always lead us to our treaures)
One particular statement in her talk has "busted something loose" inside me. She said "each and every treasure involves a heart risk". I have many treasures in my life. I feel that God has blessed me in so many areas but there is one in particular that deals me fits. My greatest treasure in this life is my sweet baby girl. She is pure joy. The rush of vulnerability and emotion that she has brought into my life is something that I did not see coming. Quite truthfully, I have been ill-equipped to deal with it. The love that I feel for this child holds the potential to either be my place of greatest healing or the place of my soul's greatest devastation. Each time I look at this little treasure I feel a rush of unconditional love and paralyzing fear. For to lose her would be a place (I have convinced myself) that there would be no recovery. With regard to my love for her there is absolutely no protection for my heart. I am totally exposed.
As I drove home last night I was praying for God to show me what all this is about. I poured out my heart to him and asked him (begged actually) for Him to help me with my unbelief. I know at the core that this is an unbelief/trust issue. I woke up during the night last night and started to pray about this yet again. Asking him to show me where this fear is originating and why I feel so incredibly terrified and vulnerable in the same package with this unconditional love.
God in His infinite wisdom gave me the answer in a visual that he knew I could understand. He showed me a little puppy with a splinter in his foot. Puppies are "ill-equipped" to deal with such things. They know the splinter hurts and they run around in their limited understanding trying to figure out how to make the pain stop. Puppies cannot open drawers. Nor can they read for that matter...they have no idea what medicine is going to bring about the healing that they so desperately desire. The pulling out of the splinter may cause pain for a moment but healing will begin immediately. If left alone, the splinter will cause an infection, a place of constant pain and discomfort. Without the puppy sitting still and submitting that the Master knows best, the pup's paw will never heal. Well here is a news flash...I have got a mad case of the splinters! God informed me that there are areas in my life that I have not allowed Him to heal. The world has no means of providing the healing that only He can offer. He has assured me that "in this season" He is going to give me a gift of supernatural healing and peace for my splinters. A perfectly wrapped present just for me (and anyone else who needs it for that matter). His perfect love casts out fear (1 Cor 13). So perfect love cannot co-habitate with fear. Well guess who is getting the eviction notice ASAP! My love is not enough to do it...but HIS love can send fear packing! Sayonara Mr. Fear, you have been a bad friend to me.
These nasty splinters come about as a result of unresolved pain, loss, dissapointment or grief. Fear of loss has robbed me of many of my greatest treasures and I am taking them back. This is most certainly a case of God giving me beauty for my ashes (Isaiah 61:3).Instead He is going to give me healing for my splinters and faith for my fear. Now those are the gifts that keeps on giving! Merry Christmas!
Splintered paws in the air,
Heather
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