" A Captivated Heart"

          “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”  Jeremiah 31:3

 Do you know who said that long ago?  God…yes, God said it! To us! It was true thousands of years ago and is still true today. Isn’t that captivating? In the book, “Captivating” by John & Staci Eldredge, these words seem to leap off the page and into my heart—

            “A woman becomes beautiful when she knows she’s loved. The radiance of her countenance shines to all who are near. This same woman, whom everyone thought was rather plain and unengaging, becomes lovely, alive, vibrant when she is being pursued. If you will open your heart to the possibility, you will realize that God has been wooing you ever since you were a little girl.”

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         My personal story includes my life from childhood into adulthood of fear and pain keeping me bound with feelings of rejection and loneliness. A familiar space that I have lived throughout my life. It was not until, as an adult, begging God for His presence, something strange happened. I heard a familiar song…the singing was coming from a bird outside my window…a "morning dove”! That song brought back an immediate feeling of peace. I am safe…I am not alone…and I am loved by God! It was at that point, the realization set in. I had been serenaded by this bird my whole life! It was a sign from my Heavenly Father! As I looked back over my life, I could recall every time, the bird was always singing near me. It has been a lifetime of God’s gentle reminder…….”I am with you in every situation, every tough challenge to rise above the circumstances, and face every attack, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual, with the assurance of My Presence and Power within you.”

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To you, it may not be a bird, or a song that reminds you of God’s nearness and love, but rest assured, He was, He is, and He forever will be near!

 Wow! He has been drawing you near to Himself, to experience His passion, His love, and His romance!  We tend to think sometimes that all God sees all our mistakes, our sins, all the disappointments that we hand to Him, with head bowed in shame. He does see all that, and He does want us to be faithful and obedient, but His focus is on intimacy. Our intimate relationship with Him. Oh, that I could remember that and keep it guarded in my heart.

The heart is such a wonderful thing. It has the capacity to hold so many beautiful virtues…hope, love, kindness, compassion, generosity, and so much more. With the heart, we praise God, “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”  Psalm 9:1  With our heart we may see God, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8  With our heart, we may please God, “May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”  Psalm 19:14

Because the heart is such a vital organ to our soul, we must watch over it carefully and diligently.  Our heart does have the ability to turn to a different direction---away from God. Through pain, sadness, loneliness, anger, unforgiveness, to name a few, will rob us of the intimacy that we long for with Him. Listen to this verse, “The heart is deceitful above all things. Who can understand it?”  Jeremiah 17:9  Therefore, we are urged in the book of Proverbs…...”Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:2    

 Now, you men! I hope you understand that this blog is not just for the ladies. God is actively wooing you to an intimate walk with Him as well. An intimacy like no other, beginning with His pursuit and us giving ourselves over to Him. With this being the week of Valentines Day, my prayer is that all of us will listen to His voice calling to us, whether for the first time of giving our heart over to Him, or as His child calling us back to Him.  Listen for His voice…he's calling you right now!

          And let it be so, dear Lord Jesus…