Unhewn

I am but unhewn stone 
resting within the flow of your river.
Noticed, Seen, Chosen, Collected
Lain gently at your feet.
Building blocks of my life
shaped by you-For you
Revealed
Stacked one by one before your throne
A table, a place of rest
I take up my cross to follow you
I am not lost here in this place
For in you I have been found.
I have decided.  I cannot be swayed.
I set my face like flint.
I lay my heart upon these rocks
For I can do no less
It all belongs to you, you see
These stones:
An altar set before you
This heart:
A living beating sacrifice
So, 
I slaughter who I say I am 
And as I die, you bring new life
You breathe your breath into who You 
say I am

Unhewn, unwrought, uncut
Formed FOR You, BY You
Beautiful
Both Altar of remembrance and sacrificial offering 
Smoke rising, sweet incense
Accepted, Forgiven, Free

The year I began working on “Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust”, my writing coach encouraged me to set aside the time to ask what God wanted to say-both to me and through me. So, I did. Let me tell you, God is not shy! So, He spoke to the heart of the purpose for “Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust” and gave me an outline and an intro. God knows I’m an outline person, (He created me. He knows me; so, He spoke to me in a way I understand.

As I continued to pray and listen, the Holy Spirit again spoke to my heart. These spoken words were not for the book I was writing, but were meant to cut to the very core of who I had become-the ways I thought, things I believed, and how I acted in response to those thoughts and beliefs. He told me He was going to turn over some stones in my life, one at a time. He planned to kick up some dust, reveal some things that were hidden to me-within me. I discovered He is a supernatural investigator, leaving no stone unturned! He’d get to the truth, the heart of the matter, if I let Him. Well, He already knew the truth! He just wanted me to know it too.

This made me more than a little bit nervous! If I remembered correctly, and I knew I did indeed remember correctly, there are quite a few creepy, crawly things which live under rocks. I pictured all the stones in the creeks and rivers, water rushing over them, while the insects, reptiles, and crustaceans hovered in the darkness beneath the stones. Yet a dear sweet friend-and my husband-reminded me that gold is also often found under the rocks. I recalled watching more than a few westerns with my dad, and some treasure hunting shows with my husband. My friend and my husband were right! Every treasure hunter looks under rocks to find the good stuff! Yeah, there might be some creepy, crawly things they have to shoo away, but the goal is finding the treasure. Revealing the gold is the focus and the purpose!

So, I accepted the gauntlet tossed before me. H.S. was going treasure hunting! God had staked his claim upon my soul and he set to the business of panning for gold. Sure, He had to pick up some stones, take a look underneath, and reveal what was there. As He went He collected those stones, one by one, and gave them to me.

“Build an Altar. An altar of stone. And Remember!”

So, like Moses, like Joshua, and the Israelites, I gathered the stones. Stones shaped only by it’s time in the river of God. TIme spent in His presence and in the water flowing from His throne. I wrote upon the stones the things revealed-actually wrote in my notebook as He reealed them.

Stones Revealed

1. The lie of the spirit of comparison will destroy you. It is ground in jealousy and the belief your difference is your weakness. The reality is-in my weakness He is made strong!
2. Recognize the heart of worship. Although I (God) desire for you to have a spirit of excellence, I (God) and more concerned about matters of the heart. I study it and know its depths, its motives. What is excellence. Is it perfection or a submitted and obedient heart? Prepare and do the work, but submit and obey.
3. God: I love you. I call to you. Be like me! Forgive. Recognize and acknowledge the fruit of repentance and then treat that person as though they are justified and sanctified. The goal is connection. Not disconnection. You say that you know you are to be like Jesus to the world. So act like it and walk as He walked.
4. Me: God, that’s a little weird. God: Sometimes I’m a little weird.
5. God: There is gold in you. You have a calming presence, a calming voice and you are a carrier of peace. B ut here is the thing you must shoo away-remember to appreciate the compliments. Believe them and say thank you.
6. Creep Crawly thing: I am not comfortable doling out praise. God: Be effusive in your praise. I will make you a woman who is effusive with her praise. It is the purpose of “You are…”
7. Gold: You are one who is after my presence. It is your favorite place. You seek my heart and long to dwell there. You desire to get alone with God and are unafraid of that time. Watch: When I call you to a work do not feel guilty for DOING the work. I said to present your body as a LIVING sacrifice. Move, Do, Be about the work. Commit your works and your thoughts will be established. Do the work as worship. It is all mine if surrendered to my hand.
8. Stone: Wearing the label of introversion as an excuse or using it as an apology. Gold: The label you wear is my name. My word is written upon your heart. You are mine. You are powerful in your quiet strength. You listen and hear. The sound of silence does not frighten you and you consider your words for they have power to bring death or life. You are a creator, as I am a creator. So, discern, consider your actions and focus on HIM. Consider your actions and your words.
9. Stone: You have in the past walked away from others who have fallen-ambivalent, uncaring, embarrassed (Ex. Melly at Fletcher) Gold: You love justice. Action and Lesson: Mercy and justice work hand in hand. You are called to lift others out of the dust and will never leave a fallen brother/sister behind.