more

A few weeks ago...

Pastor had the privilege of leading a celebration of life...
For the prince...
Of this royal, lovely woman.

Papa always brings harvest...
ALWAYS!

Especially through loss.

He loves bringing life from death.

It's what He does!

I see the Spirit moving...

I feel the winds blowing....

I feel my heart enlarging...

For the story He has been writing since forever...

It's invading earth...

Taking me over.

He is using the hands of warriors...

To fill mine...

With new seeds...

Costly seeds...

Seeds from their story...

And I am stirred towards greater feasting.

Alive is happening.

It is in the air.

It is being spoken over and into my Pastor...

Into our smalls...

Into the walls of our home...

And our Spirit's are ravished...

Growing all the more hungry with each and every taste.

All I can speak today...

MORE...

Please MORE!

And...

Thank you!

back...

Every time I think I have figured out something...

Mastered information regarding our Great God...

He gently invites me back...

To His drawing table.

He is The Papa...

I am the daughter.

He reveals...

I marvel...

I decrease...

He increases.

He is so good.

He is so loving.

He is so kind.

He is so BIG...

I am so hungry to be changed...

In the learning and the wait...

My little, daughter heart...

Can get easily discouraged.

It's vital...

During these times...

To not look away.

I must keep my eyes FIXED...

On the Artist and perfecter.

He is ALWAYS busy...

Sketching in new details..

Some strokes...

Strong and dramatic...

Others soft and subtle.

Both... so valuable when creating a masterpiece.

Papa is busy working on my gospel shoes...

I have a lot of faith walking still ahead...
Coupled with lots of patience and learning.

So as I return back...
I remember...
He cannot be mastered...
Nor can His ways...
But He can be trusted...
And He longs to be enjoyed.
And I do SO enjoy Him.

community

It is Monday afternoon...
And this is me...

Sitting in one of the most famous spots in America...
Starbucks.

I did not come for the warm beverage or conversation...
I came to be alone...
To think.

It's been awhile since I have had some space...
Most days...
I have companions following me...
Into even the most private of spaces.

A break from the norm...
It is a gift to my heart...
A gift that yields the best returns...
For everyone in my circle.

I am a product of my mother...
She adores to people watch...
And what better place to watch than Starbucks?
A place that has centered its entire marketing...
On coffee and conversation...

Rekindling relationships...
Over a $5 cup of coffee and chit chat...
Brilliant!

I have been here for hours now...
As have many of the faces that were here when I arrived.
I am shocked at the community that is taking place...
Regulars getting their regulars...
Waiting for the other regulars.
So that connection can begin.

Sons and fathers...
Chatty ladies...
College peeps...
Military...
Moms with smalls...
The gruff...
The groomed...
Young...
Old...
Loners...
Companions...
All are here.
All for the atmosphere.

All for a sense of community.

Oh...
The ache it stirs in my heart...
What would it be like...
If I...
A daughter of The King...
Carried such ambiance...
That others flocked...
Over and over again...
Just to encounter...
The Light of Life...
Shining through me from above.

Yep...
Starbucks...

It's a pretty swanky spot...
But the light from my view...

Speaks of a better thing...
Reminding me...
To invite in such a way...
That story will come to connect...
Linger...
Return...
Eager for more.

And I too...
Would wear a sign of gratitude...

For being chosen.

Ahh... the aroma of community...
It's as sweet as the fragrance wafting through the air in Starbucks...
One sniff and you'll wanna place an order for one of your own.

shoes...

Shoes...

They have captivated...

This princesses heart...

Especially other people's shoes.

Her fetish...
Making a forever mess.
Also teaching.

We are a people prone to believe and strive.
Living out of sayings and expectations of past generations.
Phrases like... "she has some big shoes to fill."

I am learning to like those statements less and less.

In ALL honesty...
When my eyes and feet get fixed on what someone else has "on them"
I long for their sparkle...

Instead of celebrating my own.

The result...
Callouses and blisters of the heart.

Of course, it is always good to long for more.

Longing itself is a gift from The Giver.

He is delighted when we ask Him to place...

Shoes on our feet...

Just not the slippers of others.

He has NEVER asked His people to fill the shoes of others...

His desire...

His heart for all His smalls...

For us to grow into the ones He has already given us.

Faith shoes...

Rarely about the sparkle...

More about walking them out.

So blessed by the brother...

That will sit beside all the "tryings on..."

Patiently speak truth...

And tenderly put my feet back into...

The shoes I've been blessed to fill.

May we never be tempted to fill the shoes of another...

But remain faithful...

Walking in the anointing we have been given.

Sabbath

Sabbath...

A day for...

Drawing nearer to His warmth...

Feasting...

 

Enjoying delights in such a way...

Whole-selves are freed up to express...

Heart satisfaction.

May your hands...
Take hold of that which brings pleasure...

And your mouth...

Take a giant bite...

 Of the goodness He offers.

 

Yes...

His fire is wild...

And should be approached with great humility...

But it is also filled with life-giving embers..

 

Providing the utmost decadence...

And ALIVE to our souls.

Sabbath...

Meant to be enjoyed...

In such a way...

That we wait in expectation...

Each and every week for the blaze of the "set apart..."

To return.

Love,

The Hopefuls.

36

This Princess...
Finally the age she been telling everyone she was for the past year.
36.

Life on life...

Hearts connected through words...

Socks for faith journeys...

From a sojourner that blesses with her whole heart.

Childhood favorites...

Made with love...

From the woman that birthed my story.

Sentiments from my eldest...

That I will feast on...

Until my days are done.

Dancing like David...

Jewels crafted from the hands of the small...

To bless the mama princess...

Divinely inspired love on a page...

And  a portrait of who I am forever becoming.

All treasured blessings.

Thankful to be loved...

Thankful to be seen...

Thankful to be known...

36... 

Always learning...

Forever thankful!