“i will heal your {wandering}.
i will love you freely.
you will be like dew to Israel,
you will blossom like the lily…”
hosea 14:4
{morning quiet under a cypress tree }

 So many voices.

So many pulls.

Sometimes I start out quiet.

I hear God’s voice, easy — like it’s the most natural thing — like breathing.

I feel the sun on my shoulder and I know it’s the touch of God’s smile upon me, reminding me who I  am when I’m with Him — Beloved — and I understand what it is I’m meant to be doing.

But then, I start to look around at what everyone else seems to be doing.

Or maybe it’s the fear the that little desire I had just a moment ago when I felt Him speaking is too small. Too ordinary.

Or maybe the truth is that what I want to say or do or be is too different — insignificant and unworthy to pursue or invest into.

My heart wanders.

And my thoughts walk around in circles — around the very thing I feel God prompting me to change, say no to, say yes to, try to begin, or break out in a new direction — and I suddenly lose heart.

So many voices.

So many pulls.

Yet, even among my wandering, I hear a heartbeat within me waking up and it’s whisper is not abating  —

You’re loved.  You’re cherished.  You’re worth it. Just rest.

Let me love you.  Run to me.  Live for me.

Don’t look back.

Come. Draw near.

Listen as Jesus whispers His words to you.  Right now. Tenderly.

Look into his gaze because He wants you to see — how much He wants to just be with you.

Confide in this moment He’s longing to bring you into. Surrender what you’ve longed to say.

Hear your voice whispering to Him – in the beautiful, words of love in the luscious whitespace in Hosea 14:1-9.

Savor each line, slowly —  word by word — like the love letter it was meant to be, written on God’s heart for you — today:

Return…
to the Lord your God…
Take words with you
and return to the Lord.

Say to him: “Forgive all our sins
and receive us graciously, 
that we may offer the fruit of our lips. 

Assyria cannot save us;
we will not mount war-horses. 

We will never again say ‘Our gods’ 
to what our own hands have made,
 for in you
the fatherless find compassion.”

“I will heal their waywardness
and I will love them freely,
for my anger has turned away from them.

 I will be like the dew to Israel;
he will blossom like a lily. 

Like a cedar of Lebanon 
he will send down his roots; 

his young shoots will grow.

His splendor will be like an olive tree, 
his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.

Men will dwell again in his shade. 
He will flourish like the grain.

He will blossom like a vine,
and his fame will be like the wine 
from Lebanon. 

…I will answer him and care for him.

I am like a green pine tree;
your fruitfulness comes from me.” 

I will heal your waywardness {wandering}
and I will love you freely.

 Words

What are the words that touch your heart?

In this moment, as your heart longs to rest against the pressure the upcoming week — what is the one word like the warmth of a hand touching you deep inside, capturing your heart in this beautiful poetry?

Let it be yours.

Just yours.  Only yours.

My Words

I want be what you say that I am.

Everything in me wants to be yours. Only yours.

Everything in me wants to come home to you. Only to you.

All the time.

Help me to stay.

His Words

I see you — wandering so weary.

I long to hold you and encircle you in my arms.

To whisper these words to you over and over and over again.

Let me love you.

Take these words in, like there are no other words in this world.

Run away with me.

And live with these words as your anthem.

I will love you freely.

My love will heal you.

Stay close to me.

Very, very close to me this week.

Do what I prompt you to do.

Stay with me.

Make me happy.  Be my beloved. And no one else’s.

Set your heart free — to be and do — just like talk about in the secret together.

See me as I see you — fresh like dew — blossoming beauty in my eyes.

I will love you freely.

Just for you.

All for you.

Your Words

Confide in Jesus, as friend to friend.

Let’s quietly make space for each other, offering our words as incense. As prayer.  For they are.

You are among kindreds. In this quiet space.

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{ Remember… Soul rest is soul beautiful.  You are are #soulbeautiful.}