26;

IF YOU VIEW THIS ON BLACK I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER :)

THIS IS VERY LONG. BUT IT’S ONE I REALLY SUGGEST YOU READ.

My body swayed as the heat caressed every part of me. Absolute white pierced my vision when I looked into your face. It was so bright that my eyes couldn’t stay open but somehow I still saw you. Light radiated out of your skin so vividly that I couldn’t make out the details. In that moment though, the utter awe that consumed me silenced everything else.

“Come away with me.” Your words…your voice. There are no words that I could use to describe the pure beauty of it. Like water and thunder. There was such a beautiful tenderness yet still, such power, in those four words. I always imagined your voice to echo off of mountains and for birds to flock in fear as they flew in all directions. It was more than that. It was so much more. The stuttering of my heart had the faintest whisper of all those people lifting their voices. All those people crying out your name.

Your hand reached for me. I was frozen still as your fingers touched the boney part of my chest. I gasped. It was like I had walked head first into a hurricane. This wall of pressure swallowed me in such a peaceful way. The workers that beat my heart were swallowed in this tsunami of feeling. All the colours, all the light, all the emotions of the world rolled into one beautiful fusion that rushed through the wires of my veins. I could no longer breath on my own for the air that filled my lungs was much too sweet. Strength prickled down my spine. I tried to open my eyes, I tried to speak but you were just too overwhelming. I never truly appreciated or understood the term ‘beautiful’ until your presence seeped through my worldly flesh and bones. I never honestly understood your love until your arms embraced me and your lips, covered in sweet honey, spoke into my ear. “Open up your heart and let me in.”

Before I could understand any of this you were fading from my grasp. I swear, I swear I saw you smile. Or maybe it was simply the reflection of my own upturned lips. All I know is that when the light left after you and all I had to breathe was the stale air of my bedroom, I was certain that I was loved.

Come away with me, come away with me

It’s never too late, it’s not too late, it’s not too late for you

I have a plan for you. I have a plan for you.

It’s gonna be wild. It’s gonna be great. It’s going to be full of me.

- Jesus Culture, Come away with me/Let me in

 

Maddie sent me a really interesting flickrmail, simply asking for some guidance as to what to do to strengthen your faith. Where to start. All that jazz. Honestly, it’s all pretty overwhelming and it all seems so crazy. I’m one to doubt everything about my faith because of how logical I am.

So Maddie and any one else who’s interested, my honest truth is that I’m not sure if I would believe in God like I do, or even at all if I didn’t feel him. So many people have this strict christian regime. You read your bible. You go to church. You call yourself a christian. You believe god died and came back to life. Okay cool. But here’s the deal…sure those things are important but what happens if that’s not even the point? What happens if there’s so much more?

Matthew 7:21-23 ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

I know I’ve used this verse before but it’s always on my heart. It has bothered me for a long time and no, I don’t know the complete meaning but God has given me a revelation. Your “Christian 101” book isn’t going to cut it. The beauty of having faith is having a relationship with God. Do you think someone who loved you enough to give their only son only wants to hear you say “God, You are Lord.” ? He doesn’t need us. He wants us. He wants our love. He wants to love us. Your faith will not grow or be strengthened because sooner or later you will have had read the bible through, said all the prayers your pastor says, proclaimed God is real. You won’t see the millions of messages God can give you with only one verse if you don’t have a relationship with him.

My writing simply tried ( and I mean tried because it’s nearly impossible) to describe the beauty of the holy spirit. The way God absolutely consumes you.

But if you’re looking for tips right now, my advice:

Listen to Jesus Culture. (especially their new album come away) (or any Christian band ha). Listen to the lyrics. Let his beautiful power move through the praise and worship and touch you.

Go to your bible. Read whatever’s there. Get a bible reading plan maybe. You’re not going to be able to necessarily find a verse that fits your situation in life until you get to know the bible really well. But a good place to start is 1 John chapters 1 through 5. It’s almost like a handbook to our faith. It’s pretty awesome and reassuring.

Pray. Pray like never before. Blast music. Get quiet. Do what you want but really try praying. Don’t feel dumb or try to use big words just because your pastors do. Talk to God like you’d talk to anyone. You might not hear him, you might feel weird as if you’re just talking to the wall. Keep praying though. He will touch you. But remember our faith isn’t about feeling God and getting, getting, getting. It’s about giving praise to the most glorious God.

 

Overall, those steps are simple things you can do. But if you don’t allow yourself to have a relationship with God you risk not feeling him in a way that is so powerful. In a way that my writing just can’t do justice.

 

The love you’ll feel for and from God is unlike anything ever. I hope this can remind you of that. I hope this can touch you in a way that reminds you how much you just want god.

Done