Open Up Your Senses

Welcome back! I missed you and have so much to share with you. First, grab your favorite drink and snack. Then, say a prayer asking God to open your heart and mind to whatever He wants you to hear now. May all the cares of the world melt away as you relax.

Are you ready? Let’s begin.

When I last spoke to you, I was not in a good place because of my broken heart. I processed this with a friend. I shared that I want the person who hurt my feelings to go to Heaven when the time is right, but not necessarily to spend lots of time with me there. Do you have people in your life like this? I don’t want anyone to go to Hell, but my wishy washy emotions get prideful and think things like this that hurt God’s heart. He loves all of us equally, and I know I will feel differently after this life. Anyways…my precious sister in the Lord, spoke words of wisdom as she usually does. She stated that I have to let my wound heal. Right now anything that touches it will hurt. Once the scar has come, the wound is closed and not as sensitive. I knew she was speaking the truth, but I just couldn’t figure out how this would occur and certainly not anytime soon. Let’s be honest. Sometimes our human nature likes to stay angry as the victim. 

Fortunately, I AM doesn’t hold grudges and enjoys healing us in His timing. I was in for a wonderful surprise. We’ve been working on a yard project for about 6 months. The day after I spoke with my friend, I found myself moving soil and placing sod for hours. That physical work helped clear my head. I’ve discovered that God uses gardening to soothe my soul. If you’ve never tried it, you may want to. My soul is not so peaceful when the deer eat everything we’ve planted, though. We think we've cut off their entrance and should only see them in the front now where they are welcome to hang out. Overcoming that challenge gives me a sense of control in a world that is out of control.

The following day I was with another friend and told her about my heart condition. I thought I was OK, but all of a sudden I started crying hard. That released a lot of emotions and felt better afterwards. 

Two days later, I found myself back on an airplane headed to Minnesota to visit my treasured friend. I met Virg when I was 17. When friends wrote me off because of my depression and neediness, she was a loyal confidant, who was full of encouragement, joy, and reminders of how much Jesus loved me. She hasn’t aged and has the same sweet spirit. We hadn’t seen each other in 5 years. Not only was I blessed with 8 wonderful days with her but also getting to spend that time with her precious friend, Beth. Don’t you love it when you get to know new brothers and sisters in the Lord? Heaven is going to be one big party of transitioning into family with all of the saints.

Virg planned my ideal vacation to help me escape from the stresses of life. If you haven’t traveled to Minnesota, I highly recommend seeing this gorgeous state. You won’t catch me there in the winter, but in the summer all I can say is, “Wow!” It helped that we had perfect weather. According to Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources, this state “has 11,842 lakes that are 10 acres or larger in size.” 

On the 4th of July, I was treated to a two hour boat cruise in Lake Minnetonka. I’m still in awe that it has 42 bays - for one lake! We spent the day in Excelsior Bay and swam for two hours. As we came out of the lake, it started to pour. Then, I felt and heard a wall of wind. I’ve never seen a beach clear out faster. We found ourselves singing, “We are the World” with 50 of our closest friends while huddling for shelter outside the restrooms. After we waited out the storm, we saw a slice of Heaven. It was the most incredible sunset - absolutely breathtaking! I pondered how I was definitely not in California anymore while we waited for the fireworks to start at 10:25 p.m. Happy 250th birthday, America!

The next day, we drove up to the north shore of Lake Superior. It is home to marvelous waterfalls, rivers, flowers, lighthouses, restaurants, and the amazing deep and massive water of the Great Lake. God also used magnificent, challenging, painful, wonderful, and exhausting hikes to transform me in a week. I had to overcome paranoia in order to explore and see nature’s sites. Virg felt bad that she wasn’t aware of my anxiety of heights, bridges, ski lifts, and walking on slotted surfaces. She thought about it and said that God must have wanted her unaware so that I would have to face and conquer my fears. After first I froze and had to take deep breaths. I was dealing with knees that need replacement and the fact that I have never been like a goat who freely ascends and descends mountains. But, I did tell God that I want hinds feet after reading the book, Hinds Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard. Why should I be surprised by this adventure He provided? He already told me in Habakkuk 3:19 that, "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights." One of these days I will stop being astonished when He fulfills His promises.

For three days in a row we went to at least two state parks/day. Each stop involved a long hike with lots of stairs. It got to be comical how often we would turn a corner for me to sound like Eeyore and say, “Great, what do you have me doing now, God?” as I looked at another bridge or steep stairs. I realized that my Heavenly Father was playing with me. He was teasing me in a tender and loving manner as He called me to conquer the oppression of fear that has weighed me down way too long. You may be like Virg and Beth who are graceful goats who quickly made the climbs. Or, are you awkward, slow, and scared like me?

I also felt that God was asking me to play with Him when we discovered that the fireflies were numerous and level with our second story windows one night. Wow! The night before I realized that although we didn’t see any outside, there were one or two fireflies in my bedroom as I was falling asleep. What other surprises will He bring?

I kept thinking about how I told you to get back up and then to get out of the box in previous blogs. The next lesson God wants us to know is that we need to use all of our senses to embrace what is outside of the box. So, I learned to welcome the challenges, rewards, and everything in between. Virg and Beth graciously offered other activities, but I was determined to see these pre-chosen landscapes.

Do you remember being a child in awe of everyday things? I tried to have that attitude. Instead of rushing to my destination, I closed my eyes as I listened to the quiet at the summit at Tettegouche State Park and the rushing waters of Gooseberry Falls (see picture above). What are you teaching me Lord? We took time to smell lots of flowers and even pet a soft plant between our thumbs and fingers. I kept saying, “When in Rome…” as I tried delicious new foods. The visual landscape pleased my eyes whether in the car, beach, valley, or mountaintop. I was like a little child without a care in the world. I did have cares, though. But, as my Beloved called me to new experiences, the weight of this world disappeared. At the end of this journey, I thanked God for my broken heart a week before. It revealed one of the last chains I was carrying. I was able to name it and lay it at the feet of Jesus and pick up forgiveness as my wound healed. Now I have a lighter heart and am excited to spend time with the person in Heaven who made me sad. The wound has healed and lost its sensitivity. I may have to set boundaries in the future, but I’ll deal with that when the time comes. I called that person to offer forgiveness. We had a good discussion, and that person apologized and  clarified the words previously spoken, and that brought more healing. 

Our family has been in a challenging season, but I’m not allowed to talk about it here. As God has been drawing out the painful past, He has been filling the gap with His truths and peace that passes understanding to cope with present situations. Instead of hanging on to anxiety, I’m quicker to call it out and hand it over to my Heavenly Father and Jesus. We were not created to be pack mules. Can you hand your heavy sorrows over to your Saviour so He can have the pleasure of trading yokes with you? He says, “for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30).

I encourage you to focus on your senses this summer whether it is through new situations or even in your routine. Ask God, “What do you want me to embrace here?” I would love for you to share your experiences with us in the comments section. Maybe you could write about a transforming trip or season that God took you through.

Jesus’ disciples went through a transforming season after His resurrection. Luke reveals this journey in Acts 1:3-5 when he stated that after Jesus’ suffering:

“He presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with^[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with^[b] the Holy Spirit.”

 In Acts 1:8-9 Jesus told the disciples,  “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” 

In verses 10-11, the disciples looked “intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ^‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” Then Matthias was chosen to replace Judas in their core group.

God gave them 10 more days to process all of this before the Pentecost occurred 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection. It was in Jerusalem during the festival of Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks. This festival celebrates the end of the spring grain harvest and the day when God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites. Luke tells us in Acts 2:1-3 that the disciples and others were gathered in one place when "suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them”. Can you imagine seeing those flames? Wow! Would you be scared or in awe? Luke continues, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4). 

Have you ever learned a new language in a minute? All of a sudden the disciples could have conversations with foreigners, who they couldn’t understand 10 minutes before. They also got their Heavenly language of the Spirit. This “out of the box” situation must have been overwhelming in an astonishing, inspiring, and exciting manner. 

They had known the story of Moses and the burning bush that is not consumed on Mount Horeb. God called his name and said, “‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground’” (Exodus 3:4-5). He said He was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and had heard the cries of His people as slaves. Moses would be sent to “Pharaoh to bring…the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:6-10). To calm Moses’ nerves, “God said, ‘I will be with you…When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain,’” (Exodus 3:12). He went on to say that His name is, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). This was fulfilled, and Moses learned that God’s name reveals that He is dependent on no one, exists outside of our “box” of time, and is with us every moment of our lives.

In an instant, the unconsuming fire that Moses saw in the bush previously is now divided on the disciples and other believers. This miracle is the arrival of Holy Spirit individually resting on and in them. It is the birth of the Christian Church and God tangibly showing how He is going to dwell in people instead of a physical temple building. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is now alive and well in every believer instead of chosen priests and prophets only. The refining fire burns away the disciples’ fears and replaces them with courage to boldly preach the Good News of Jesus around the world. The disciples’ were transformed from hiding to embracing the challenges that came with traveling and spreading the story of Jesus to hostile crowds.

Before the missionary work began, Peter used his transformation courage to preach to the diverse crowd who had traveled to Jerusalem and witnessed Pentecost. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off” (Acts 2:38-39). He also warned them to save themselves “from this corrupt generation” (Acts 2:39). The power of Holy Spirit speaking through Peter had wonderful consequences for “those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day” (Acts 2: 41). 

According to Acts 2:42-45, the brand new Church of Christian believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All of the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”

This is how the Church is supposed to act - joining together for meals, teaching, prayer, and meeting each others’ needs. Their love of Jesus ignited sparks of faith in unbelievers that turned into flames of hope and salvation. Life was still challenging, but they got through it together with the strength of Holy Spirit’s guidance. 

We need this unusual lifestyle today. I encourage you to open your senses as you embrace God’s magnificent world outside of your box. What have you got to lose beside your fears, negativity, and exhaustion?