The Father's Heartbeat

Every once in a while I come across a song that just speaks to my heart. I came across this song on my way home from church this morning (thank you PraiseFM!) and I just cried and cried at the words. "Blameless...", "Boldly I approach your throne..." "your own..."

God has always been incredibly real to me. I remember as a little girl giving my heart to Jesus because I marveled at His love. I remember Him stepping into my darkest nights when I was 14 and relentlessly pursuing me and giving me hope when I had given up on everything. I remember Him wooing my heart throughout the teen years, drawing me into His presence and showing me His heart for others. I remember Him piercing my heart to heal and help me remember so many painful things I had endured throughout the years so I could become whole...I remember Him asking me to accept His love as a young woman who was just starting to realize the extent of her impurity...a woman who cowered in shame and yet when I turned and ran into His arms a fountain of joy sprung forth from the depth of my soul.

"He pulls me close with nail-scarred hands. Into His everlasting arms." The very hands my sin, that I, had pierced. These very hands pull me close. The very feet I nailed to the cross because of my sin, pursues me, walks with me even in the midst of a darkness I am unable to overcome. And he calls me to walk with others in order to show them God's love. And the only way to show others God's love is by listening to the Father's heartbeat.

Sitting on His lap, letting Him hold you close. Can you hear it beloved? Are you there? Do you feel His arms embrace you, tenderly holding you against Him...just listening to the rhythm of His heart. There's no shame there, no condemnation...just a knowing that God loves you and accepts you as you are - all of you.

I want to leave you with a dream God gave me once a number of years ago. If you remember a few posts back I shared a poem entitled "The Garden". That Garden has become my special me and Jesus place in my life and in a section of this garden is a little waterfall flowing into a pool that is surrounded by a series of large rocks. This particular spot in the garden is where I go with Jesus when we need to talk through some difficult things. In this particular dream Jesus took me to the rocks and out of habit I sat down and watched the waterfall for a little while, unsure of why we were at the waterfall. Jesus told me he wanted to show me something and he took me through the waterfall. In this dream I was pleasantly surprised to find I was standing in a huge cave. The cave was lit up from somewhere and as my eyes adjusted I became breathless. Covering every square inch of the walls, ceiling, and floor of the cave were diamonds of every shape, size and color. Some sparkled brilliantly and others were a bit dull but not one was the same as any other diamond in the cave. When I could finally breath again I said "Woah, Jesus what are these?" In my dream Jesus stood a little ways ahead of me and when he turned around to face me I noticed tears running down his face. "These are the hearts of everyone I love, even those who do not know me or have rejected me. I love every one of them." And then Jesus proceeded to point out particular diamonds to me "I love this one. He is so funny and I just cherish his compassion." or "I love her. She doesn't yet know it but I am pursuing her intensely." Or "I love this one. He always makes sure to worship me in special and unique ways." And it went on and on in my dream.

This is a taste of the Father's heartbeat...do you know how much God cherishes you? Have you experienced His tenderness? His mercy? His love? Have you let yourself climb up onto the King's lap, dressed in rags and ashes, and let Him embrace you and hold you close to His heart? Have you accepted His love today?

"My precious child, let Me love you!"