Breakups, Flowers, and Jesus

God really does know every facet of your heart. He knows what you are going through, how you think, and what what state of mind you are in. More importantly, He knows every detail of what is happening inside your heart. Sometimes it's hard for me to even know what is happening inside my heart but Jesus knows.

Let me tell you a story about a breakup, flowers, and Jesus. Back in the mid-nineties I was living in Texas and was involved in a college ministry that was seeing God do incredible things. We had about 400 college kids coming to our services. Our small groups, which we called life groups, were experiencing rapid growth. God was doing some really amazing things during this time.

Most of the students involved in this were from a more conservative background, but we were seeing God come in powerful ways and seeing changed lives with one encounter with Him. I was learning how God speaks and would often ask God to speak to me with a “word” when praying with someone. Our small group format looked this this: worship, discussion, and prayer and ministry times.

During one small group ministry time I asked the Lord for a “word” for a girl whose apartment we had been meeting at. I saw a very simple picture for her when I was praying. Jesus was giving her a white rose and I had the impression that He was asking to be her friend. During a group ministry time I gently shared the impression that I felt God had showed me with her.

Well, much to my dismay, she started bawling and quickly left the room. Some girls in the leadership team quickly followed her. This was a little Awkward. I was just trying to learn how to hear God speak and did not know if I had just completely offended her with what I shared. There is usually some risk when trying to grow in the things of God.

But, He does speak and He is speaking all the time. God said that His sheep will know his voice. He said the prophetic words are given to strengthen, encourage, and comfort his people. ( Do you realize that it is God's will for you to be strengthened, comforted, and encouraged?) Sometimes these words do not come in the form of picture or “word”. I don't know how many times that God has spoke to me from everyday conversation and at some point in a conversation you just know God is speaking through them. Anyway...back to my story.   

Well, the next day my lifegroup leader told me that I had really heard from God.  I had no idea of what had occurred when I had shared the word for that girl and was thinking I needed to apologize. He went on to share that earlier during the previous day this girls boyfriend, that she had hoped to marry, had broken up with her. He had done this by giving her a white rose and said that he just wanted to be friends. Wow….mindblown.  

That was the same picture that I had seen. Except it wasn't a breakup. It was Jesus standing with a white rose asking to be her friend. I had no idea. The picture and impression I had was not very strong. I was just stepping out in faith knowing God wants to speak to others to strengthen, encourage, and comfort.  She was wrecked by the word. Jesus saw the heartache and wanted to step in and be a friend to her during that time. Jesus, in one instance , said that I know you just lost the most important relationship in your life, but I want to come in and be that guy now. Simple. Powerful.

Jesus knows your heart. He knows what you are going through. He is always speaking. He wants to be your friend. Are you willing to be a vessel that he speaks through? Risk it.

LOVE wants You

Love wants you...real bad. Do you understand that when the Word of Life says that God puts the Spirit of Adoption in us it gives us a new Father? That is true....but truth doesn't always transform until be believe and experience it. Father God is in a good mood....He is not waiting for you to screw up again so he can take you out. He is not the Great Hit-man wanting to finally judge you because you mess up all the time....He really does Love you and wants you Home.

Home is were the Heart is and you can trust the Father with your heart. The key to understanding the Fathers heart is letting the past filters of our experience dictate who we think Father God is.

He is Dad....Big Papa

Galatians 4:6-7 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Do you understand that you are not a slave? Adoption means you come into the rights and inheritance of a Father/son relationship. The main inheritance you need is the Fathers love for you. Do you remember the story of the prodigal son?

Here is my summary....He wanted his inheritance now! So, in essence he is saying to His father "I wish you were dead because all I want is your cash". The Father loved his son so much he gave him his portion of the money and off he went. He went to high roller clubs and was rollin on 24's in his black Mercedes He smoked the best weed... rolled fat blunts and the woman were all around. He finally smoked all his cash away and had to work as a dishwasher in a cheap Chinese food place. He had to eat the leftovers off the plates he was washing in order to not go hungry.

He decided to go back to Dad because His Dad's employees were living much better than this. His Dad sees him coming up the drive... once the pickup that he hitched a ride with dropped him off. His Dad/Papa comes running down the drive barefoot with his new designer suit getting tattered as he runs up the drive in full abandonment. He comes to his son who is scared and full of shame and throws his arms around him and starts crying. "I love you so much and missed you so much...I love you son". The son feels so unworthy that he had treated his Dad with so little worth. He starts to apologize but Papa says "I know son...don't worry... your my son and I accept you with open arms...welcome home to my Heart". He takes off his new suit coat and puts it on the son...he takes off his Rolex and puts it on the son.

You thought the son spent all the inheritance? No.....Papa has so much he brings the son back into the place that creates abundance and restoration. The home of the heart that is Love and Life itself. Papa's love is unstoppable and when he sees His sons and daughters even looking his way he starts running towards them with Love in his eyes. His feet run swift & sure. His gaze is like a gale force wind of affection & affirmation. He knows who He made you to be. You will find yourself when you find yourself in the Fathers arms and realize that home is were the Heart is....and his Heart is a home for the homeless and the oven of true Love.

Come and run to Big Papa.....He loves you so much and He is waiting at the end of the drive just waiting for the chance to start running to Love on you.....Come Home.