I curl closer. Locking my arms around his middle. Tucking my chin down around the bend in his neck. Finding warmth from this freezing.
Neighbors laughing. Stories of bears. Shivers camping around my extremities…
Keeping me awake.
Marshmallows still lay on the picnic table from the evening before. The coals now separated. Alone. Cold. Much like I was moments before.
And I remember ten years ago. How cold my embers were. How distant, spread a
part. Vacant I was living.
No…please get me. I looked the part. I smiled at church and walked around like everything was fine. But my heart knew different.
My life was charcoal. Barely a spark to the coal that lay slowly dying…while nobody noticed.
Until that day I slipped into that church. The one I had heard about, helping the community, reaching beyond the four walls….to people most needing. I thought no one would see me. I thought I could just “check it out” unsuspecting. Other’s oblivious to my presence….But I was wrong.
Music starts. And I am drawn to the front. Bowing my head with those unafraid to confess…that they too are sinners.
We pray. Cry. Weights lift and others stand….
Yet, I am frozen in my loneliness…..still on my face.
It was then, some lady….I didn’t know until later that she was a pastor’s wife….rest on my shoulder her hand as I cried. She recited….
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13 Comments
Jen, I think this may be my favorite post of yours. I love all that I’ve read but this one spoke right to my heart. “And I rejoice that we were made to overlap, join, touch each other. Made to fan the flames into a fire in the lives of one another. We are meant to be ablaze!” Amen! Beautiful! Thank you for hosting us every week. Blessings, Beth
This was beautiful!! Thanks for hosting Unite today. Have a great week.
Beautiful words. Aren’t they just so full of power? This does say a no rules blog hop, so I hope it is okay if I shared a great deal going on now to get essential oils. I also linked up a post on filling your lamp with riches…not money. Thanks for hosting.
Janine@mylampisfull
Yes! We are so blessed when God put’s people in our lives to encourage and motivate us to stumble and not fall; to rejoice and sing praises out loud. They help us to clearly see and fulfill the vision that God puts into our hearts. They may seem like a Godsend, and they are! We were all meant to bless and be blessed! 🙂
Thanks for being a blessing to all of us Jen!
Denise
Dear Jen
Your words today brought tears to my heart for I KNOW what you were going through. That emptiness, hopelessness when we are supposed to be fed at our Pappa’s table! I am so glad that you allowed yourself to be found by our Lord Jesus. I can just see Him leaving the 99 behind and searching for His hurt little lamb called Jen. I used to be a lost one too! Thank you for sharing so honestly and openly, dear friend.
Blessings and heaps of live to you XX
Mia
Just beautiful! We were truly meant to grow in relationship with one another. I love the photo of the camp fire too. Just stunning. Thank you for sharing this one!
Blessings,
Joanne
Beth – Thanks so much! Glad we can blaze together for His glory, my friend!
Judith – Thank YOU for always faithfully joining us! Your last post about adoption so touched me, right where I am right now!
Janine – Thanks for linking.
Denise – We are all meant to be blessed, but also be a blessing! Amen! Thanks for always being a blessing both here at UNITE & at your blog!
Mia – So glad this post touched you in the way it did! With His help, there is always hope and a way out of that tunnel of loneliness! Prayers as we all continually reach towards His abounding love and unconditional acceptance.
Joanne – Glad to have you! Makes me think of a braid as I get ready to do my daughters hair…and how strong it is, those woven three strands! May we be the same, my friend, woven together in Christ!
Hi Jen, firstly i am so sorry that I have not stopped by long enough for ages to comment. Secondly, thank you for always taking the time on my blog to say hi, I appreciate it and thirdly, such a great post. Really needed to be reminded of how God dove-tails stuff and helps us to get where He wants us to be.
God bless
Tracy
Jen- a powerful post indeed- thank you. What a blessing that woman had a word of knowledge and knew what to say to you. I pray often for more and more of this gift in my life too.
Love over-lapping with you on your blog site 🙂
Hope all is well with the family.
Love, Mary.
Your lovely post brings to mind Kurt Kaiser’s song, Pass It On. The words go..
It only takes a spark to get a fire going. And soon all those around will warm up in its glowing. That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it. You spread His love to everyone. You want to pass it on.
Thank you for the inspiration that we are all sinners. The difference is some of us are saved by His grace. Not worthy of His love or gift, but yet free to all.
God bless!
Your newest GFC follower,
Cathy
Tracy – You are so sweet! Always encouraged by your Bible based Word for the day! Thanks for taking the time to comment..I know it can be hard sometimes to get to everyone. Have a blessed day, friend!
Mary – You have been such a HUGE light in heart & a great source of God words on this blog! The reason I am writing the book I am right now is because of YOU! Thank you!
Cathy – Thanks for following and that song! What a great inspiration! Yes, once we have experience the love of God, you can’t help but burn bright to those around you! Bless you, friend!
You’re writing a book?Wow- am so very pleased as you are one of the most gifted writers I know.
I read over 100 blogs a day- none match your gift with words.
Can’t wait to read it!
Know for sure it will be a powerful blessing to many, as your blog is, also.
God Bless you and protect you and keep your writing times uninterrupted,and May the Holy Spirit fall upon you every time you sit to write.
May blessings fall on every area of your life, and may everything you put your hand to, prosper 🙂
Mary – Oh, sweet friend, you are much too kind! Your prayer is perfect…”to keep my writing times uninterrupted”. Can’t tell you what a challenge that has been! Still, may every word penned be all for His glory friend! All for His glory! Lots of Love, Jen