Therefore, behold, I will allure her...

"Therefore, behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her." Hosea 2:14

This is my season. I am in a desert, a wilderness, full of time to be alone, just me and God. Don't get me wrong, these times have been so sweet. I am deeply relational, so to not have very many, if any, deep friendships in my life is very painful.

I love and hate this season. I love spending time with the Lord, but I hate the pain of refinement. I was cautioned that this was going to happen by a dear friend of mine, and she was right.

Today the pain was real. I am not in Texas anymore. I don't know when I will see some of my closest friends again, my wedding probably, in another 3-10 years. Our friendship now looks very different. We are thousands of miles apart. Facebook, Twitter, text messages, and the occasional phone call. Ouch. 

The Lord is doing exactly what I asked Him to do, "Draw me closer to You, bind our hearts together." A very dangerous prayer, worth it in the end though.

So here in the desert Lord I will wait upon You.

Come and have Your way in me.

Refine me. Mold me. Shape me.

Into more of Your likeness.

I am safe in Your arms,

I am safe here, in the unknown,

in the darkness.

Your love covers me.

You are enough.

~Standing on His Promises~

CaseyMay

The Minority

I feel like I am in the minority here. Why is it that I am not invited/included in things just because I love Jesus. And why on earth am I labeled "religious"!!! I HATE that word, it instantly puts up a wall between me and others. No invites, no personal relationships, no good friendships, all because I am in LOVE with Jesus??? What the crap?!

Why is right wrong and wrong right? Why is true love traded in for attention? Why is this place so screwed up? Why can't they see what we see?

Why can I not tell them or show them who Jesus is? Why don't they ask more questions? What are they afraid of?

This suffering is small, so small. But I'm starting to feel it, the rejection, alienation, despair, urgency, and burdened heart.

Lord Jesus,

Bridge this gap with Your grace. Fill me to the point of overflowing

Use me Jesus to reach this messed up world

Give me the strength to be in not of the world

Shine brightly through me Jesus

so that there is no doubt that I am Yours and that I am set apart for You

Be my strength Jesus

Continue to guide me in Your footsteps

and forgive them for they know not what they do Jesus.

My God, rise up a generation on fire for You

that they may have the cries of Your heart.

My heart screams for Your people

it cries out in pain Jesus for those lost

for the hurting, dying, lost people

MY GOD BE THEIR REFUGE

BE THEIR STRENGTH

BE THEIR SAVIOR

RESCUE THEM JESUS

SAVE THEM FROM THE ENEMY GOD

RISE UP YOUR ARMY LORD

SEND US INTO BATTLE TO FIGHT

FOR THE LOST SOULS OF THIS WORLD

JESUS SHINE SO BRIGHTLY THROUGH US

THAT THE DARKNESS WOULD FLEE

AND ALL WOULD KNOW YOU

My soul is crying out to you tonight, it mourns for Your people.

Its in Your power Jesus that I pray these things.

amen

~standing on His Promise~

CaseyMay