Relentless as the Forest

 

I feel especially close to God in the hammock in our backyard, especially when breezes tousle the branches above me, all shades of green, a kaleidoscope in the sun. Here, in a city neighborhood, in the hilly, forested part of Arkansas, my oak tree hosts a soprano choir of birds who seem to sing for the joy in it. 

Not far from here, the parking lots make it hard to believe there ever was a forest. Yet today in my hammock there is a distinct sense of the wild places still being present. Perhaps it’s the moss carpeting the rocky ground, mottled now and again with purple violets. Or maybe it’s the little nest of birds in the siding of our house. Yikes! Yes, the forest is still here, waiting. If not held at bay by homes and concrete, it would return, craggy roots imperceptibly yet relentlessly creeping into crevasses and crannies until there were few signs of civilization.

God is like the forest, it seems, patiently waiting to enter a crack in the concrete of the flawless persona we put on for the world.

Carrying the Aroma of God's Heart

Oh beloved little one. When you abide in Me, you carry the fragrance of Christ. You exude My own sweet aroma (2 Corinthians 2:14–15).

Perfume has the power to stir emotions, awaken memories, and lift a person from where they stand. It draws people without effort. So it is with My captivating scent in you and around you—the very essence of Myself. It whispers to others of who I am. 

What a sparrow has to say about God's love

Imagine a love so extraordinary that it encompasses every living being, from the tiniest sparrow to the mightiest creature in the forest. A love that knows every bird that soars and every animal that roams, extending even to the very hairs on your head. This is my unshakable, divine affection for you and every living thing. Plunge into the profound truth that I see you, hold you, and cherish you beyond measure.

"What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered." 

(Matthew 10:29-30)

I am your Champion, the Lover of your soul. My love for all creation runs deep. Even the smallest, most overlooked creatures—such as the insects crawling through the grass or the birds soaring through the heavens—are cherished by Me. I know each one intimately. Every bird that falls from the sky is under My watchful care. Every animal that passes away does so with My tender awareness. Nothing in My creation escapes My notice.

The promise of passing pain

 

Little one, you are discouraged, and I see your pain. You are beautiful to me even in the worst of circumstances and I will give you strength and carry you on. Still, you follow Me, and you love Me, and I am well pleased. You are already still, in the depths of your soul, and deep down you know that I am God. I will lift you up and carry you and teach you to walk again. I am always with you even to the end of the age. I will never leave you nor forsake you. What you feel may be terrible, but the deepest Reality is good. It is well with your soul. Your travail will be shortened. I am the God who heals.

With love beyond measure,

Jesus

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