Book Marked

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

John Eldredge writes: “As Eugene Peterson said, ‘We live in narrative, we live in story. Existence has a story shape to it. We have a beginning and an end, we have a plot, we have characters.’ Story is the language of the heart.”


“Mom really likes this author” my sister exclaimed during a Women of Faith Tampa conference. Two weeks later, I would have the honor of serving at the Women of Faith Ft. Lauderdale conference. “I have a GREAT idea!” she said. “I will buy his book, mail it to you, you can get it signed by him, and that will be her Christmas present.” PERFECT! And so it came to pass that book was bought and signed to be her gift.

Sometime during the night, I spilled coffee onto the book. Thankfully, the stain was only on the outer edges. The inside pages, however, remained pristine and without a trace of trauma. Still, I was mortified. There was no covering or cleaning this mess. The signed book was irreplaceable! The stained cover was irreversible. It is to be given "as is."

…All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16

My choices will never change God's Sovereignty of my story. Though my cover is stained with humanity, my heart is signed with Holiness. He cleanses me internally, He changes me externally, and He carries me daily. My stains are not in shame, but are part of the tapestry that calls to other beggars to read of His grace and mercy.

I am a story book irreplaceable. His Son’s signature is irrevocable. I am bought, signed, and delivered to be the perfect and personal gift from the Son to His Father. This is also the gift presented to the world: His Perfect Word written inside this imperfect cover.

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

Click here for "Heal the Wound" by Point of Grace

Enjoy Him, Michelle mlpack1@yahoo.com

Watch and Wait

But those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31

But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Psalm 39:7

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him; To the person who seeks Him. Lamentations 3:25

The service has started, but she remained distracted. Her eyes kept daring towards the door; she was obviously waiting on someone to join her. She was not going to be engaged, enthralled, or enjoying the moments of worship until her friend arrived and was by her side.

Watching her, I wondered…”Do I seek You, Jesus, with as much anticipation and attention? Is my focus on the service or watching for my Savior? Do remain uneasy until You are engaging me?”

Beth Moore once noted: “One day it dawned on me: no wonder we are so exhausted…we are waiting on everything except Him…’those who wait for YHWH will renew their strength.’ Those who wait on anything and everything else will be drained of their strength.” I am certainly living proof of that.

Personally, I wait on: words. I wait on emails. I wait on texts. I wait on calls. I wait on conversations. I find myself waiting on others’ words, even if they are about my LORD, before I wait on my LORD’S WORD.

Paraphrasing, one author notes: “’wait’ and ‘hope’ are two words in scripture that weave together into one binding rope; in fact they are often interchanged.” What I am waiting on reveals where my heart’s hope truly lies. For example, waiting on another’s words before God’s Word reveals my unbelief in God to be my priority, my passion, and my power of life. Who do I search for, who do I long for, who do I hope for?

He lives and breathes in me – yet I have made Him so commonplace that I cast aside His Presence for much less securities, comforts, and loves. “Seek first, His…” and then “all these things” will truly be every gift and favor God intended them to be in my life…but only after I am satisfied by His Living Water. Priority of His Presence brings to life the joy of His gifts. A simple truth eroded by distractions that turns my heart from His face…a moment here and there, then again here and there. Simply He says: “Wait and watch for Me. Love Me. Trust Me. Desire Me. Worship will flow as I hold you close and you hold close to Me, child. Just look for Me and You will see, I am already here.”

Enjoy Him, Michelle mlpack1@yahoo.com