“Just give up” was whispered to me in my sleep. For weeks I had been waking up in the early morning with my heart racing in fear. The enemy had been harassing me in my sleep and this was just one of those times. “Give up your dreams and the call” seemed to be his verbatim.
I would contemplate the thought of throwing in the towel during those midnight hours. To just give up on my writing and give myself to work. The temptation was to lay the dreams down because the pipe was getting longer and life was getting shorter. As a working mom and an author I have often wondered when I would get to be strictly a writer. With the constant pressure to just give up and give myself to work and forget about my dreams, I could feel discouragement trying to be my advisor.
Last Saturday the Lord reminded me of a sermon I had preached four years ago. It was titled “The Destruction of Ignorance.” The heart of the message was about close friends brining disaster to our home and for an example I shared the story of my palm tree being destroyed by a new dog we had just adopted from a shelter that had separation anxiety. Out of a panic, he destroyed a palm I had for years and in minutes took it to its roots. With one small remaining stem sticking up out of the pot. After I cleaned up the mess, set it back on its right end, packed the dirt back around its roots and trimmed off the broken pieces it was quite pathetic. To look at it you would have never known that it was a majestic palm; it looked like a new seedling in a big pot. But underneath it was a great root system that declared it was a mature palm.
In church a couple weeks ago one of our pastors gave a word of encouragement. He said, “I sense there are some people in here who feel like giving up. They have been feeling hopeless and discouraged and struggling with the thought of giving up.” I squeezed Joe’s hand as the tears ran down my face. Then last week in church during worship, I had a vision of a giant root. It had once been a great tree of fruition and it was about to bloom again. Then my mind went back to the sermon of the palm tree.
As our senior pastor took the pulpit to preach he was having everybody turn to Psalms 103, I grabbed my bible but my bible landed on Psalms 92. (Don’t you just love it when your bible knows where it needs to fall?) And in my own writing I had bracketed and underlined verses 12-15
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.
God was reminding me and encouraging me to stay the course and to not give up. He was using my words and sermons I had preached. He was using scriptures I had underlined years ago and He was causing me to recall what I believe in and believe for.
Living an average life of work, bills and food has never appealed to me. However for a time, it seemed easier to let go of the dream and just become another person who once had one but grew old. Of course I want to mature and become wiser but I want the years that God is seasoning me in to be complimentary to the dream He has placed in my heart. As a mother my first dream is to instill in my children to dream and aspire and pursue the things of God. And As a mother I need to lead my example.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
the invisibles
She sleeps on the sidewalk between the street and the fence,
Our nameless and faceless resident.
Her roof is an umbrella her foundation a tarp
And I drive by her home wondering how she'll stay warm.
She’s lost in a world that seems distant to me,
Her eyes are hallow and her face hard to read.
She’s somebody’s daughter, sister or wife,
And she’s wasting away in her cornered-off life.
I can’t seem to sleep knowing she is covered in snow,
Unsure if she has a warm place to go.
These broken little people who are lost and unseen
And wander the streets with faces unclean,
Are noticed by God and loved by the Father
And He is waiting on us to love one another.
The stretch of His arms and the warmth of His hands,
Waits on our heart and our faith to extend.
As we drive by or walk by or see them in church,
Our lives maybe different but in the same way we hurt.
Longing to be seen, loved and accepted
Pained by mans words and feeling rejected.
Our homes maybe different but our hearts need the same,
A Savior to save us and a friend to remain.
Rather we are a people who sleep on a bed or a tarp
Our deliver sees us and heals the broken heart.
By Holly Ruddock
Our nameless and faceless resident.
Her roof is an umbrella her foundation a tarp
And I drive by her home wondering how she'll stay warm.
She’s lost in a world that seems distant to me,
Her eyes are hallow and her face hard to read.
She’s somebody’s daughter, sister or wife,
And she’s wasting away in her cornered-off life.
I can’t seem to sleep knowing she is covered in snow,
Unsure if she has a warm place to go.
These broken little people who are lost and unseen
And wander the streets with faces unclean,
Are noticed by God and loved by the Father
And He is waiting on us to love one another.
The stretch of His arms and the warmth of His hands,
Waits on our heart and our faith to extend.
As we drive by or walk by or see them in church,
Our lives maybe different but in the same way we hurt.
Longing to be seen, loved and accepted
Pained by mans words and feeling rejected.
Our homes maybe different but our hearts need the same,
A Savior to save us and a friend to remain.
Rather we are a people who sleep on a bed or a tarp
Our deliver sees us and heals the broken heart.
By Holly Ruddock
Monday, October 18, 2010
My prayer of thanksgiving
You are my refuge, Lord. When I am weary and tired and full of fear, You hide me in Your shelter. When I think I am alone You send others to encourage me. When the climb is to steep You reach down and lift me up. When I feel silenced because others seem more important, You reassure me I am valuable.
When I am unable to speak You provide the words through my tears. When I have no direction You grab my hand and lead the way. When I am thirsty You lead me to fresh water. When I am shrinking back You thrust me forward. You will not allow me to tremble in fear. You make me courageous. You hover over me when I feel small. You smile when I am curious about deep issues. You catch my tears in a bottle. You never waste a trial I go through. You are not surprised by my sin. You think I am wonderful.
When I am confused You bring assurance. When I am in torment You bring peace. When I have question You become the answer even if I don’t really understand the why of everything. You comfort my broken heart. You cheer me on when I am running on empty. You tell me to come hide in you secret place. You anoint my head. You find good in me when all I see is fault. You make me feel special in a crowd. You remind me I am made for your purpose. You never look down on me. You never make me feel less. Even when I pray the prayer that I would decrease and You increase. You still cause me to feel important in your eyes.
I know I am favored by you. If we were to dance You would spin me and I could stand on Your feet when I don’t know the steps. You like to use me for little things and big. You allow me to see hurting people. You send me to your lost or forgotten. Your presence fills the room with a fragrance that is undeniably You. Only You could think of the colors that grace the fall leaves. Only You could imagine the invisible colors in a rainbow. Only You could make vanilla smell so incredible.
I just want You to know how amazing I think You are and how grateful I am that You love me. How humbled I am that You see me. How shocked I am that You use me. I love You more than life itself. Even during my emptiest days I felt the abundance of life from You.
Thank You for calling me Yours. I am astounding by your unfailing love.
Your adopted daughter
Holly
When I am unable to speak You provide the words through my tears. When I have no direction You grab my hand and lead the way. When I am thirsty You lead me to fresh water. When I am shrinking back You thrust me forward. You will not allow me to tremble in fear. You make me courageous. You hover over me when I feel small. You smile when I am curious about deep issues. You catch my tears in a bottle. You never waste a trial I go through. You are not surprised by my sin. You think I am wonderful.
When I am confused You bring assurance. When I am in torment You bring peace. When I have question You become the answer even if I don’t really understand the why of everything. You comfort my broken heart. You cheer me on when I am running on empty. You tell me to come hide in you secret place. You anoint my head. You find good in me when all I see is fault. You make me feel special in a crowd. You remind me I am made for your purpose. You never look down on me. You never make me feel less. Even when I pray the prayer that I would decrease and You increase. You still cause me to feel important in your eyes.
I know I am favored by you. If we were to dance You would spin me and I could stand on Your feet when I don’t know the steps. You like to use me for little things and big. You allow me to see hurting people. You send me to your lost or forgotten. Your presence fills the room with a fragrance that is undeniably You. Only You could think of the colors that grace the fall leaves. Only You could imagine the invisible colors in a rainbow. Only You could make vanilla smell so incredible.
I just want You to know how amazing I think You are and how grateful I am that You love me. How humbled I am that You see me. How shocked I am that You use me. I love You more than life itself. Even during my emptiest days I felt the abundance of life from You.
Thank You for calling me Yours. I am astounding by your unfailing love.
Your adopted daughter
Holly
Monday, September 20, 2010
His UNFAILING love
I sat outside on my balcony with my coffee in hand. I so enjoy the weather change of the coming fall. The wind was blowing something fierce. I had my Celtic music playing in the back ground and I was praying for my children. As I was pondering the faithfulness of God I looked across the way. In the apartments across from me stood a woman on her balcony in her morning routine. I have seen her before but this time I looked upon her. She stood in the wind with a can of coke in one hand and a cigarette in the other, listening to the leaves rustle. We both seemed lost in thought. Was she praying? Was she lonely? Was she happy?
Our women’s ministries are focusing on Gods unfailing love for and entire year. So as I read His word, or have devotions or even sit on a balcony in the early morning, my thoughts tend to linger on His faithfulness. As I look around me and see other who are in desperate need of knowing His unfailing, faithful love, I am challenged to not forget it.
Psalm 13:5-6 5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.
Psalm 33:18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
I think about the times I failed in trusting Him. The times I feared He had forgotten me. Days I was certain He had abandon me; and then like a breath of fresh fall air, He would blow hope into my dry bones. He would visit me with a presence of peace that would crush all fear. He would disperse the discouragement that had set up camp around me and sit with me in my lonely place. And I would rest in His unfailing love. He did as His word promised in Psalm 119:41 May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise;
The signs of a person who rest in His unfailing love are subtle yet obvious. When troubles blow in to their lives they are anchored deep in His abilities to either rescue them from them, or weather the storm with them. A gentle confidence is around them. They may be terrified to drive in a real storm but trust in Gods unfailing love in the ice storms of life. They may scream because a nasty, hairy spider crossed their path but they are spiritual ninjas when they are in warfare.
My mother is one of these heroes. She knows Gods unfailing love to a level I would love to be at but dread the road to get there. I have lived for 41 short years(don’t laugh) and have many more troubles, trials and victories to experience. More days of balcony pondering. More days of learning to trust in His unfailing Love. More opportunities to notice those who are afraid and help them. More opportunities to extend my faith, flex my spiritual muscle and be brave in the uglies of life. More years of laying my children before the Lord pleading for their safety. And more years of seeing my prayers answered in His unfailing, faithful way. Lord, help me to not forget your unfailing Love
You are challenged today to do the same.
Our women’s ministries are focusing on Gods unfailing love for and entire year. So as I read His word, or have devotions or even sit on a balcony in the early morning, my thoughts tend to linger on His faithfulness. As I look around me and see other who are in desperate need of knowing His unfailing, faithful love, I am challenged to not forget it.
Psalm 13:5-6 5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.
Psalm 33:18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
I think about the times I failed in trusting Him. The times I feared He had forgotten me. Days I was certain He had abandon me; and then like a breath of fresh fall air, He would blow hope into my dry bones. He would visit me with a presence of peace that would crush all fear. He would disperse the discouragement that had set up camp around me and sit with me in my lonely place. And I would rest in His unfailing love. He did as His word promised in Psalm 119:41 May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise;
The signs of a person who rest in His unfailing love are subtle yet obvious. When troubles blow in to their lives they are anchored deep in His abilities to either rescue them from them, or weather the storm with them. A gentle confidence is around them. They may be terrified to drive in a real storm but trust in Gods unfailing love in the ice storms of life. They may scream because a nasty, hairy spider crossed their path but they are spiritual ninjas when they are in warfare.
My mother is one of these heroes. She knows Gods unfailing love to a level I would love to be at but dread the road to get there. I have lived for 41 short years(don’t laugh) and have many more troubles, trials and victories to experience. More days of balcony pondering. More days of learning to trust in His unfailing Love. More opportunities to notice those who are afraid and help them. More opportunities to extend my faith, flex my spiritual muscle and be brave in the uglies of life. More years of laying my children before the Lord pleading for their safety. And more years of seeing my prayers answered in His unfailing, faithful way. Lord, help me to not forget your unfailing Love
You are challenged today to do the same.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Keeping the sparkle in your eye
Psalm 13 1-3 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die
Have you ever prayed the prayer, “Don’t forget about me God.”?
The other morning I woke up with this prayer on my lips and I heard in my spirit Psalm 13. So I curled up on the couch and read it. It was as if David had read my mind. I love how a scripture is like fresh bread. Even though I had read it before, possibly hundreds of times, it was as if I had just pulled it from the oven and I tasted it for the first time. It was warm and a sweet morsel to my spirit.
Restore my sparkle.
I have never had the struggles David had but I have had my share of troubles. I am not running from a mad man. Does road rage count? I have never hid in a cave, but sometimes it feels as if I’m lost in one. The verse that really tugs at me is verse 3, Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
How can one live without a sparkle in their eyes? Sparkles fade when tragedy strikes, failure happen, and hopelessness invades. The light in our eyes, the crows’ feet and laugh lines make life abundant, worth some of the pain. Joy isn't Joy unless your familiar with hardships. But a broken heart can darken the sparkle in person’s eyes
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete
Much of my passion or sparkle comes from living out who I was created to be. And when I fall short of it or feel the largeness of life swallow up my joy, it can feel as if I have been forgotten. Struggling. That the enemy has the upper hand. Why is it that when our sparkle is dimmed our strength is zapped? Nehemiah 8:10b explains it best…for the joy of the LORD is your strength
I find it ironic that when I am in a full belly laugh I have no strength to carry a small box. But Joy is the thing that gives us strength to carry life’s heaviest burden
HIS JOY makes us complete.
What makes Him joyful? Us being who we were created to be. That is why stepping into our destiny is so vital. Pursuing our dreams, our vision, and our passions. Feeling His pleasure when we do what we were created to do! If I were a betting girl, I would say the majority of us feel a fullness of Joy when we are doing what we were designed and wired to do. Regardless of things, money or power.
When I am not doing what I was created for I can feel dull and un-sparkly. My lamp feels clicked off when I feel busy but not productive. When I feel weary from doing average things and too tired to dream big things. ARG. This is when I feel the enemy sucking my joy, my life, my sparkle. Like fluorescent lighting it just drains and discolors you. Your eyes are squinty not because of brightness, but from trying to see.
My passions can be summed up in three areas God, Family, Writing. When I am deprived of time with God and my family I loose my sparkle, it affects my writing, it changes my attitude. When I get to busy for any of my passions, my life is dull and meaningless. I can feel forgotten by God when in actuality it is me doing the forgetting. Sure there are times I will go through season that it feels as if God is quiet even if I am doing my devotions and reading my word. But that’s not what I am talking about here. I am taking about loosing our sparkle because we are consumed with tasks and assignments. We forget what brings God pleasure. We are created for His pleasure and Him seeing us take risks with our gifts and invest them in faith, puts a smile on the Fathers face. When we are doing what we were created to do. Your great dream and desire may be somebodys everyday life. Do it any way! I dont care if its not your career, but a hobby, it makes life so much fuller. We feel His completeness because it is creating completeness in us. It is time for us to sparkle and bring His light to those who are in the shadows. Go,inspire another!
Have you ever prayed the prayer, “Don’t forget about me God.”?
The other morning I woke up with this prayer on my lips and I heard in my spirit Psalm 13. So I curled up on the couch and read it. It was as if David had read my mind. I love how a scripture is like fresh bread. Even though I had read it before, possibly hundreds of times, it was as if I had just pulled it from the oven and I tasted it for the first time. It was warm and a sweet morsel to my spirit.
Restore my sparkle.
I have never had the struggles David had but I have had my share of troubles. I am not running from a mad man. Does road rage count? I have never hid in a cave, but sometimes it feels as if I’m lost in one. The verse that really tugs at me is verse 3, Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
How can one live without a sparkle in their eyes? Sparkles fade when tragedy strikes, failure happen, and hopelessness invades. The light in our eyes, the crows’ feet and laugh lines make life abundant, worth some of the pain. Joy isn't Joy unless your familiar with hardships. But a broken heart can darken the sparkle in person’s eyes
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete
Much of my passion or sparkle comes from living out who I was created to be. And when I fall short of it or feel the largeness of life swallow up my joy, it can feel as if I have been forgotten. Struggling. That the enemy has the upper hand. Why is it that when our sparkle is dimmed our strength is zapped? Nehemiah 8:10b explains it best…for the joy of the LORD is your strength
I find it ironic that when I am in a full belly laugh I have no strength to carry a small box. But Joy is the thing that gives us strength to carry life’s heaviest burden
HIS JOY makes us complete.
What makes Him joyful? Us being who we were created to be. That is why stepping into our destiny is so vital. Pursuing our dreams, our vision, and our passions. Feeling His pleasure when we do what we were created to do! If I were a betting girl, I would say the majority of us feel a fullness of Joy when we are doing what we were designed and wired to do. Regardless of things, money or power.
When I am not doing what I was created for I can feel dull and un-sparkly. My lamp feels clicked off when I feel busy but not productive. When I feel weary from doing average things and too tired to dream big things. ARG. This is when I feel the enemy sucking my joy, my life, my sparkle. Like fluorescent lighting it just drains and discolors you. Your eyes are squinty not because of brightness, but from trying to see.
My passions can be summed up in three areas God, Family, Writing. When I am deprived of time with God and my family I loose my sparkle, it affects my writing, it changes my attitude. When I get to busy for any of my passions, my life is dull and meaningless. I can feel forgotten by God when in actuality it is me doing the forgetting. Sure there are times I will go through season that it feels as if God is quiet even if I am doing my devotions and reading my word. But that’s not what I am talking about here. I am taking about loosing our sparkle because we are consumed with tasks and assignments. We forget what brings God pleasure. We are created for His pleasure and Him seeing us take risks with our gifts and invest them in faith, puts a smile on the Fathers face. When we are doing what we were created to do. Your great dream and desire may be somebodys everyday life. Do it any way! I dont care if its not your career, but a hobby, it makes life so much fuller. We feel His completeness because it is creating completeness in us. It is time for us to sparkle and bring His light to those who are in the shadows. Go,inspire another!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
the colors of change
I drove to the central part of Oregon to visit my parent this last week. We took the scenic route. It was positively beautiful. The mountain pass, the high desert and the farm land were all stunning. I was surprised to see the colors on the trees changing so soon, beings we are only at the end of August. I kept thinking, "It's too soon to see the leaves change." The changing colors are reminiscent of the season I am in right now. Changes that are coming at me at a lightning fast pace. As I brace for another son to leave for the military, I feel like I am also girding up my heart for other fluctuations. Changes I want to slow down. I am not talking about menopause or saddlebags or even wrinkles. Who wouldn’t want to stop those? No, the changes I am speaking of are the autumns of the heart. Aging I want to bring to a halt in my parents. I want to yell at the clock and say. "Just a little longer with my children." or "I need more hugs from my Mom." or "My dad has more wisdom I have yet to tap into" Yet like the leaves, my life gradually transform. And though the colors are beautiful it is inevitable they will detach from the tree and float to the ground. Leaving the tree to feel empty and gray. Knowing the coldness of winter is right around the corner. This visit to my folks was for two reasons. 1) My son is leaving for boot camp Monday and wanted to say his good byes to his grandparents. 2) My dad had a surgery for his heart. The colors of change are a painful thing. I don’t think I am ever really ready for them. And though I love new things, this experience is one that is an agonizing thrill. Seeing my children become men and women of God has been one of the most striking things to watch. Having parents that are also my friends, has been a priceless treasure. These kaleidoscopes of color have been a welcome surprise in the midst of an “early autumn“. I may not like the rapid approaching change but I can not deny the beauty of the colors.
I am comforted with the truth that the same God that watched over me when I moved out is the same God that watches over my children. I know that when my heart is unsettled and worried about the health of my parents or the well being of my children I am a prayer away from peace.
I know that these vibrant colors of change are bringing growth in my life and in my children’s life. I am highly aware that my children are called to bring change to a lost world. I am keen to the fact that my parents have imparted a blessing in our lives that have brought us to this place we are in right now.
Even though this season has been more difficult than I have ever expected I can see the harvest of abundance in the colors of change.
Isaiah 41:10 I've picked you. I haven't dropped you. 'Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
Isaiah 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
I am comforted with the truth that the same God that watched over me when I moved out is the same God that watches over my children. I know that when my heart is unsettled and worried about the health of my parents or the well being of my children I am a prayer away from peace.
I know that these vibrant colors of change are bringing growth in my life and in my children’s life. I am highly aware that my children are called to bring change to a lost world. I am keen to the fact that my parents have imparted a blessing in our lives that have brought us to this place we are in right now.
Even though this season has been more difficult than I have ever expected I can see the harvest of abundance in the colors of change.
Isaiah 41:10 I've picked you. I haven't dropped you. 'Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
Isaiah 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Restored Dignity
One check point down, two to go. Getting into a prison honestly is a lot more difficult than one realizes. We were going in as a team to bring the Gospel to the women in a Guadalajara prison. I was the one to speak. I had my message prepared and I asked the Lord as we were leaving for the prison, "What is the wisdom of the land?" I waited for His answer and it came in a flood. "Restore Dignity."
As I prayed over His download of wisdom, I looked at the children in the van with us. Along with our team, we had children from a home we worked in Mexico. They were going with us to see their mothers. Some were somber, and some were excited, and some were holding back their emotions. All were quiet. After each gate and check point and approval of heavily armed guards we make it to the main entrance, only to be screened and padded down. We walk through two more gates and we are in. The children run to their mothers. The teen mission group mingles with the women prisoners and the women prisoners smile and try hard to understand our conversation.
For prisoners, they worshipped freely. Some danced, some jumped, but all worshipped. These women were free behind bars. As I watched them worship recklessly my heart went to places of dignified women who worshipped half heartedly and quite contained. For free women are worship can be weak. These precious prisoners held nothing back. It was obvious, they loved their Savior. And it was even more obvious, their Savior loved them.
Restore Dignity. I preached on Hagar and Sari. I shared how when we are mistreated by people we trust; we are being positioned for a promise. God sees us and know us and reminds us there is no boundary to His great love. His love does not see status, money, homes, bars, slave or free.
We danced with the women and their children in the prison and felt the freedom of God behind bars!
Now home and back to the grind, it is hard to forget the liberty that the women behind metal curtains displayed so beautifully. As I walked into church and saw women behind their own bars and caged by their thoughts, past or hurts I couldn't help but think of the broken women that danced in the prison. The truth of the wisdom of the land still rings true. God aches to restore dignity to His women, regardless of which prison they live in.
Restoring dignity to those who have forgotten their promise. Restoring dignity to those who have felt abandon and unworthy of rescue. Restoring dignity to those who have held their hurt deep inside for fear of judgment. Restoring dignity to those who hide the true condition of their heart. Restoring their joy, their value, their dance. To the prisoners both free and behind bars.
Psalm 30:11-12 The Message
You did it: you changed wild lament
into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band
and decked me with wildflowers.
I'm about to burst with song;
I can't keep quiet about you.
God, my God,
I can't thank you enough.
When the Lord comes in and restores dignity, an undignified dance comes upon a person. When hope, joy and peace are given back to a temple that has lost it, a spinning twirling jig comes forth. A yehaw so to say. Think of David when the Ark of the covenant was returned. The glory of God comes rolling in and David came spinning out. An undignified dance welled up out of David! When the Glory of God restores a person’s dignity, a pee your pants dance should be the first thing we do. And Believe me, we were in an all women’s prison and it happened, and nobody cared. Because restored dignity has nothing to do with self image it has to do with coming into line with His image! So dance like nobody is watching you today.
As I prayed over His download of wisdom, I looked at the children in the van with us. Along with our team, we had children from a home we worked in Mexico. They were going with us to see their mothers. Some were somber, and some were excited, and some were holding back their emotions. All were quiet. After each gate and check point and approval of heavily armed guards we make it to the main entrance, only to be screened and padded down. We walk through two more gates and we are in. The children run to their mothers. The teen mission group mingles with the women prisoners and the women prisoners smile and try hard to understand our conversation.
For prisoners, they worshipped freely. Some danced, some jumped, but all worshipped. These women were free behind bars. As I watched them worship recklessly my heart went to places of dignified women who worshipped half heartedly and quite contained. For free women are worship can be weak. These precious prisoners held nothing back. It was obvious, they loved their Savior. And it was even more obvious, their Savior loved them.
Restore Dignity. I preached on Hagar and Sari. I shared how when we are mistreated by people we trust; we are being positioned for a promise. God sees us and know us and reminds us there is no boundary to His great love. His love does not see status, money, homes, bars, slave or free.
We danced with the women and their children in the prison and felt the freedom of God behind bars!
Now home and back to the grind, it is hard to forget the liberty that the women behind metal curtains displayed so beautifully. As I walked into church and saw women behind their own bars and caged by their thoughts, past or hurts I couldn't help but think of the broken women that danced in the prison. The truth of the wisdom of the land still rings true. God aches to restore dignity to His women, regardless of which prison they live in.
Restoring dignity to those who have forgotten their promise. Restoring dignity to those who have felt abandon and unworthy of rescue. Restoring dignity to those who have held their hurt deep inside for fear of judgment. Restoring dignity to those who hide the true condition of their heart. Restoring their joy, their value, their dance. To the prisoners both free and behind bars.
Psalm 30:11-12 The Message
You did it: you changed wild lament
into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band
and decked me with wildflowers.
I'm about to burst with song;
I can't keep quiet about you.
God, my God,
I can't thank you enough.
When the Lord comes in and restores dignity, an undignified dance comes upon a person. When hope, joy and peace are given back to a temple that has lost it, a spinning twirling jig comes forth. A yehaw so to say. Think of David when the Ark of the covenant was returned. The glory of God comes rolling in and David came spinning out. An undignified dance welled up out of David! When the Glory of God restores a person’s dignity, a pee your pants dance should be the first thing we do. And Believe me, we were in an all women’s prison and it happened, and nobody cared. Because restored dignity has nothing to do with self image it has to do with coming into line with His image! So dance like nobody is watching you today.
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