I am beginning to count on the train wake up as a special meeting time with God that was arranged. I usually start by listing my thankful blessings. Naming them one by one- family, husband, daughter, sisters, nieces, nephew, mom, dad, family extended, friends, neighbors, community. When I have reached a place where my heart is still I count my material blessings- things of this earth that I don't need & things that are needed like health and a hedge of protection - God has blessed us with these because of his goodness. As my heart waits and listens again I ask God for help. Help to be kind & joyful, to be a light for my family, For God to bless my husband, To be with those who I cannot be with, for sleep, and now I pray for God to be with my Little One to guide and help her. The best part of these chats with God by Train is the place when He speaks to my heart. The place where Satin tries to break up our meeting with thoughts of violence and pain and suffering. I turn those thoughts to God - be with the Christians who are suffering persecution, be with the cities who won't be sleeping because of war, be with the hungry children, be with the mother who just lost her baby, be with hurting families who I know. As Satan sees he's defeated tonight on his attempt to cause me to ponder on life as a depressing state of being I Hear God call my name.
"Candace, my child, thank you for this time together, thank you for loving me. I want to tell you a story. Remember those caterpillars downstairs that are in this season of darkness. I wanted to show you something about myself. You see the caterpillar is a lot like Mary. When I call them to do this life change of metamorphosis, they really have no idea what to expect. Yet, like Mary they turn their eyes to the heavens and say I am the Lord's servant. Let it be to me as you say. So they one by one as I call them come to a place and begin the long hard journey of building their chrysalis. They don't argue or feel regret. They dutifully, diligently and determinedly go into a season of darkness. Can you imagine if the caterpillar tried to argue with me- they might say but God look at all this food we can still eat, or why would we ever want to fly around when we have these cool suction cup feet, or we would be all alone in a chrysalis. I am reminded of the old gospel tune, Turn your Eyes Upon Jesus. - turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.-- My peace I give to you."
I smile and know that all is well with my soul. God is good. It is so easy to fall into a hole of darkness, a trap that was set by satan to confuse or scare you but when you place your eyes directly on the face of Jesus- The things of this earth do grow strangely dim. God knows my path and my destiny and holds me in his hand as he holds the caterpillar.
"Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name." Hebrews 13:15
