Opening my eyes this morning brought a realization of what today was... what it was supposed to be... and the pain and disappointment began looming before me. I reached my heart out to embrace it feeling that if I could face it head on now that perhaps I could overcome it later on in the day. But before I could do that I heard a voice speak deep within my Spirit... "Happy Anniversary" He said with a smile. It was the voice of my Beloved. I did not share His enthusiasm for this of all mornings, but knowing Him, I let my heart listen. "I am celebrating," He continued... "Ten years of love and faithfulness poured out before me." I must admit that this came as an unexpected response... I have been feeling that the last ten years were a "good try, Honey... but you missed it" or "well, that was almost it... try try again <wink>" maybe a "what doesn't kill you will make you stronger" But celebrating? Wow. Our thoughts are truly NOT His thoughts. And I am so humbled and relieved by His view of my life.
So in this spirit I am celebrating as well today. I am celebrating a decade of my life that I have brought before my King. Days and days and days of love and faithfulness poured over His feet. Just as there are seasons in the natural, there are seasons of life. And although I am mourning the sweetness of spring and the glory of summer, I do embrace the season of Autumn that I am in. I can see my leaves are dying and falling all around me, but I believe there is a reason that in the natural God caused these dying pilgrims to carry the brilliant, fiery colors that they do. They do not present hues of death and destruction but of strength and boldness and beauty.
My dear friend and mentor said, " Fall is when stuff dies... There is beauty in death but it only lasts for a little while. What we don't see is that all that death is preparation for the life that follows after a barren winter in the spring. The soil is enriched. Room is made for new growth and fruitfulness. Life goes on. (It always does)." And its true.
Joseph was stripped of his coat of many colors, tossed into a pit, and betrayed by those he loved. But God used the unkindness of others and maneuvered him into a place of favor. Because of God's faithfulness and (I believe) Joseph's willingness to be used in the hand of the Lord, He was placed into position for his ultimate destiny to unfold, for God purposed for him to feed a nation. I'm sure that there were many times in his life he would have felt his future was uncertain, and so many times he was wronged or misjudged. God sees. God hears. God knows.
So as the air is turning cold in my life and I can feel the long winter months are coming, as my tree is shifting and uncertain, as my coat of many colors is falling to the ground piece by piece and I see barren branches in its place... my heart will look up...
and I will see celebration spread across My Father's face as He breathes in the aroma of this perfume. This is the truth that I cling to, this is why I can look with joy on today and hold hope for tomorrow.
