I AM Returning...

 I said:  Lately, God, you have been relentlessly impressing your return on my heart.  I know That doesn't necessarily mean I will see Your return in my lifetime, but it very well could happen!!  Either way, we will all meet You--whether in the clouds or at the judgement seat.  I know you want me to be prepared, and You want me to help prepare those around me. Love is a verb.  Help me love more. 

God said:  Watch and pray.

Verses God has been leading me to:

    "The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  The five who were foolish took no oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.  When the bridegroom was delayed, they all lay down and slept.  At midnight they were roused by the shout, 'Look, the bridegroom is coming!  Come out and welcome him!

All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.  Then the five foolish ones asked the others, 'Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.'  But the others replied, 'We don't have enough for all of us.  Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.'

But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.  Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling 'Sir, open the door for us!'

But he called back, 'I don't know you!'

So stay awake and be prepared, because you do not know the day or hour of my return."            -Matthew 25: 1-13

"See, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay all according to their deeds.  I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.  Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life."    -Revelation 22: 12-14

"Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said.  In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.  "They will be my people," says the LORD Almighty.  "On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure.  I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child.  

Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."   -Malachi 3: 16-18

Are You Trusting My Love for You?

note:  this conversation picked up where it left off in the previous post, "Are You Letting Me Love You?"

I said:  Thank you, My Father, for this amazing love--I can't fathom the depths of it--it's too wonderful for me to understand.  I can only do as you say and accept it!  And I do accept it, Lord, make it come alive within me.  I want to trust you and I want to trust your love for me.

God said:  My daughter, this is the truth I want to reveal to your heart.  Nothing will be impossible for you as long as you TRUST my ABSOLUTE LOVE for you and remain in that love.  TRUST that I cherish you, that you captivate me.  My heart is in your hands.  All night I sing over you as you sleep.  I long to hold you close.  And in the morning, I am anxious to start the day with you-- I have so many exciting things planned for you and I want to tell you how much I love you in a million different ways!  I know how busy your life is right now.  You work tirelessly and lovingly and serve your family as unto me and that pleases me.  But I want to help you.  I want to give you joy in these tasks!  I want to fill your heart with love and laughter and strengthen you.  Let me love you.  Let me show you the million ways I love you.

I said:  Yes, Jesus!  I want to be closer and more sensitive to you.  And I long to be filled with joy!  Be glorified in me, Jesus!  I love you, Lord.  Thank you for loving me!

Are You Letting Me Love You?

note:  This was one of those conversations that I had on notepaper with God.  It helps me to hear Him more clearly when I'm writing down what He speaks to me.  Remember these are just private conversations with a girl learning to hear the voice of God.  Nothing more, nothing less.

God said:  Let me love you.

I said:  I thought I was, God.  How do you want me to let you love me?

God said:  Accept the fact that I love imperfect people.  You never have to earn my love or my blessings.  There are "no strings attached".

I said:  But I've let you down so many times.

God said:  I've never been disappointed with you.  I've known sorrow when you've made wrong decisions, but only because I knew the pain those wrong decisions would cause you.  I have great joy and have experienced immense pleasure in you.  Your desire for truth has been such a delight to me.  YOU are a delight to me.

I said:  I'm questioning whether I'm hearing you right, God.  I'm a delight?  I forget to read my Bible, some days I even forget to praise you.  I get short-tempered and rude and I often feel like I have so little faith.  Sometimes I feel far from you and so far from what I should be.  I have big dreams--but I don't feel like they're big enough.  I have a desire to do great things for you, but I lack vision and direction.  You must get exasperated with me.

God said:  I will always be patient with you.  You are my masterpiece.  Just as a painter pores over his painting, I am continually adding details, texture, colors--and I am excited about the work of art you already are!  I don't add details because I am unhappy with what I see--I add them because I am enamored with what I have created.  I love you, my masterpiece.

I said:  Please keep adding details, God!  I guess I am the impatient one!

God said:  And that is another thing I love about you--you allow me to express myself in you--you desire my will.  There is no limit to what I can do with you as long as you are submitted to me.  And nothing will be impossible for you!  Just let me love you--as you are right now.

I said:  But I am so unsatisfied with where I am, Father.  There is so much I want to do for you.  What are your dreams for me?  Will you use me, even with all my shortcomings?

God said:  Trust me, my child  I do have great dreams for you--bigger than you have imagined.  I will move heaven and earth for you--but you must trust me.  Even right now you are living in a dream I had of you--as a wife and a mother.  And I am so pleased with you, my daughter, for treating these roles with respect and for embracing this kingdom assignment from me.  Trust that my favor is upon you.  My grace is more than enough.  You will see my goodness.  You will inherit the land.