mysterious

God allowed me to have the gift of DANCE last night smack in the middle of Lent 2010. Our beautiful teacher, Leann Dickson, asked us to select one word in the song "Our Gread God" by Fernando Ortega and Mac Powell. On that word we were to use our imagination to see a scene that causes us to experience the majesty of God.

My word was Mysterious.
This is my moment to remember.

I am seeing the majesty of God in His Mystery this Lent.

There is Light. There is Beauty. But there are clouds and danger too.

On Pentecost 2009, I had the honor of being in New York City at Redeemer Presbyterian to hear Tim Keller teaching from the book of Habakkuk. "Give out of Scarcity." It has framed my year.

Now in the middle of Lent, Dr. Larry Crabb's devoti0n leads me back to the book and the Holy Spirit whispers truth to me, once again, from this living WORD. It is from his new book, 66 Love Letters.

"From the Book of Habbakuk: God says, never ignore your struggle with how I do things. Ask every question that rises in your heart as a you live in this world. But prepare yourself to struggle even more with My response. You must stumble in confusion before you dance with joy.

Know this: those who live by faith will struggle in ways that those who live to make their lives work will never know. It is that struggle, to believe despite desperate pain and confusion that a good plan is unfolding, that will open your eyes to see Me more clearly. Is that what you want? Will you pay the price?

The price is this: you will tremble in agony as you live in a sinful, self-prioritizing world. You will learn to wait in emptiness and frustrated desire for my plan of Love to reveal itself. With confidence in Me and hope in My plan, you will not only feel the pain of living in the valley but also SEE MY GLORY FROM THE MOUNTAINTOP OF FAITH.

Only those who struggle in confusion and wait in hope will be strengthened to struggle well and to wait with confidence!

Struggle well! Wait in hope!"

I see the awe of this mystery. I feel the pain.

I want to struggle well and wait in hope.