Obedience

Yesterday afternoon, as planned and carried out by my "attention to detail" daughter, Chris and I had a lovely Skype call with Addison.  As I looked at this sweet face on my computer screen, thousands of miles away ... "the new normal" became a reality.

It was so ... can I just add a million, two hundred, and eighty six "o's" behind that "s" ... so good to catch up. Chris and I spent most of our time listening as our chatty girl bubbled on and on about her life.  I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.  Behind that smile, however, I hid the longing to reach out and touch and hug and kiss the face of my precious first-born.  Everything in me longed to hold her ... a Mamma's innermost longing to be physically near her offspring.

Joshua and I have become good friends over the last few weeks.  (I'm referring to Joshua in the Bible.)  The past couple of days, the Holy Spirit has shown me a truth that I haven't picked up on before.  God promised Moses, Joshua's  successor, a land of his own ... a land for the people of Israel.  Moses instructed Joshua on the details of that plan.  Joshua was careful to obey the instructions.  What's interesting ... both Moses and Joshua acted on only words spoken by God.  There was a promise of land ... yet the land was not yet theirs.  They had to conquer it first.

Obedience has consequences.  Words that have been spoken by God (through His Spirit to yours, through other people, through the Bible) acted upon in faith bring great rewards.  At present, we find ourselves the recipients of great rewards. I don't have enough white space to fill up with black letters!  God has spoken to us a promise ... given us a vision.  We've acted upon it - believing it to already be true!  Scary ... at times.  Yet there is such a peace ... a rightness about walking in this promise that can't be explained.  I wouldn't trade it for all the coffee in Italy (because they have the best coffee ... and now I'm rethinking my claim!  Yet ... I digress ... ).

In the middle of obedience, comes the reality.  Reality:  our obedience has taken us miles and miles away from one we love.  There are no regrets.  There are longings to see, touch, smooch the face of and hold in my arms that one I love so dearly.  But last night as I woke up thinking about that girl, I was at great peace.  I know that God is working in me ... and in her ... knitting us together like a most beautiful tapestry.  I don't need miles to keep me close.  I have a spirit that is anchored to the Holy Spirit.  He keeps us both rooted in Him and in love with each other.  Miles ... they are many.  But in my heart ... those miles mean nothing.

Obedience has consequences.  I am enjoying the consequences of walking in faith ... trusting words spoken and taking them as reality.  It's a wild and wonderful place.

living on words,

christina