Mosaic: "a combination of many different parts forming one thing" (The Cambridge Dictionary).

If I had to answer the question, "Where have you been for the last 18 months?" The answer is a mosaic themed in Job's resolute statement, "But He knows the way that I take" [Job 23:10]. The "way" has been characterized by silence on this blog, but a lot of hand-written journaling.

Along the "way," I have been quieted in God's love [Zeph 3:17 TLV] and yet deafened by inner soul-cries; silenced by the complexity of brokenness and yet becoming released by the simplicity of healing. Finally, the "way" has been marked by tender closure, gentle resolution, and the blessed assurance that we are seen, we are heard, and we are loved.

Re-entering the "blog," I wanted to share five small pieces, small revelations of God's love over the past 18 months shared on other platforms that have combined to form the mosaic, "He knows the way that I take." 

In the light of the morning sun, I spotted these blossoms along the back side of a tall, rickety, wooden fence that parallels the sidewalk. Here, hidden among the weeds on the unseen side of the fence, was beauty. Be encouraged today, beloved, you may feel hidden among the weeds on the back side of the fence, but you are not unseen. Know that El Roi, the-God-Who-Sees, sees you, right where you are. The beauty of who you are and what you are doing is an impactful gift to be celebrated. Keep blooming, precious one.

A phrase in Scripture this morning spoke to me deeply, encapsulating a journey that I began just over a year ago. “The Lord your God will… little by little.” If God has spoken to you that he will… don’t resist and resent how God gets you there. He is faithful even on the journey of little by little. Beloved, “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace” [Matt 11:28-30 MSG] and embrace the promise through the process. Keep going and keep surrendering, knowing that your Keeper will joyfully uphold, diligently sustain, and relentlessly strengthen you. I’m so proud of you.

I decided to put a big band arrangement of Blessed Assurance on repeat while I walked this morning. As I was praying, the text, “Visions of rapture now burst on my sight. Angels descending, bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love,” struck me afresh. “Wasn’t the hymn-writer, Fannie Crosby, blind?” I thought. “And yet, she had vision that dramatically burst on her sight!” Mindful of a situation in my life where I have felt so blind to the possibility that something will change, I sensed a spark of hope. Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:18 began to make sense to me: longing that the eyes of our hearts would be opened so that we may know the hope to which God has called us. Perhaps you are feeling blinded by darkness. I invite you to join with me in praying that vision… hope… clarity… and peace would “burst on your sight.” And may you hear echoes of mercy and divine whispers of love that overflow into a new story and a new song of God’s rescuing grace. Precious one, you are unquestionably seen, you are undoubtedly heard, and you are loved without hesitation.

One of the homes I pass when I walk has this weathered Resurrection Scripture cross at the end of their driveway. Looking up toward the house, I also noticed a skeleton sitting on a park bench on their porch. The skeleton was slouched down as if it were taking a nap. While I chuckled the first time I saw these mixed messages of life and death in the same house, my heart has been more uncomfortable with the reality of my own duplicity: a double-mindedness that undermines my commitment to go the distance in my faith journey. Can you relate? Rather than pointed fingers of accusation, those neighborhood symbols have become prompts to pray. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me” [Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ ‭AMPC‬‬]. If you’ve been struggling, know that God willingly and joyfully extends arms of upholding grace: His empowering presence that enables you to become everything God sees when He looks at you. Rest in God’s transforming embrace, knowing that the One who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. You are seen, you are heard, and you are loved.

Doing some deep cleaning today, I came across the outline and notes from a choir retreat I led in 1992 based on the Maranatha song, “As You Really Are.” Deciding to take a break, I went to the piano and began to sing, “As You really are, God and King, as You really are, Lord of ev’rything, help me to see You as You really are.” As I sang, I was overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness realizing that all along He has been answering, and will continue to answer the prayers of that green-behind-the-ears choir director. Oh, precious one, know that God has heard your prayers whispered decades ago. He has, and will be faithful to answer in ways that reflect the beauty of His nature and the kind intention of His will toward you. Beloved, you are seen, you are heard, and you are loved.

While each of these reflections could easily be a blog entry in itself, I pray that you are freshly encouraged that God, indeed, knows the way that you take. And may these lyrics by Kim Noblitt minister sweet hope to you as you walk with God. "Be still, My child, I know your way and I will guide for My name's sake. Plunge in the rivers of My grace. Rest in the arms of My embrace." Amen.

_________________________________________________________________________________

If this blog has been meaningful, I invite you to do two things. Subscribe to the blog. You will be one of the first to receive a heads-up via email when a new entry is posted! Then, I invite you to share this blog with your friends. You never know how God might sustain the weary through a simple word of encouragement.