The Umbrella.

A few weeks ago at my church we had a 3-week class on spiritual warfare. Immediately following our first Wednesday night class, my pastor called me up so that he could pray for me. I think he could just sense that I was going through some things and that I needed prayer for strength to continue forward. After several women and my pastor prayed for me, a man I'd never met before came up and said that God had given him a vision and he wanted to share it with me. I asked him yesterday if he minded writing it down because I couldn't remember everything. This is what he (Roger) wrote:



Dear Bridgette,

Here is what the Lord put on my heart for you.



Read: Proverbs 4:11-13 & 2 Thess. 3:3-5

The picture that God showed to me for you is you walking under a large umbrella that hung low; covering what is in front of you so that what is in front of you is not fully seen. Around you is heavy rain from which you are protected because of the umbrella's covering. At the top of the umbrella is a long pointed rod which is attached to the handle. The rod is not the short stubby type but long, narrow, and pointed.

As you begin to walk, with each step that you take, a lightning bolt strikes the tip of the umbrella, building a power beneath you that raises you up. With each step you take, another bolt of lightning strikes the tip of the umbrella and rises you up higher each time.

Over time the umbrella takes a new form and widens out, allowing you to see in front of you. The rains haven't stopped but your disposition and your vision for you has changed. And each time you take another step forward the power of the lightning bolt from above continues to strike; and each time you are lifted.

What I believe the Lord is saying to you through this is that he knows and understands the pain and hurt and disappointment of your heart (as depicted by the rain) but that through it all He is with you and provides coverage for your safety and protection. He promises to protect even what you see ahead by providing you power when you simply take a step of faith in His protection. He doesn't ask for large steps or special steps or even rapid steps; just a step of faith forward and He will provide the power and the strength to rise above the hurt and the pain and the disappointments that have flooded your life.

He will rise you above continually and eventually you will have a greater vision of who you are in Him, such that no matter the circumstance around you, your strength to overcome will be so great that nothing will keep you down; your risen life will show itself true because of your simple faith to trust in God to move forward and in His promise to love you and give you His power through the light of His Spirit as you hold on to His covering of grace and faithfulness towards you.

The Unwinding Cable Car.

This is one of my newest fave songs (by Anberlin). The lyrics are such a wonderful reminder of the grace and love of God; it knows no bounds.

Emotive unstable you're like an unwinding cable car
Listening for voices, but it's the choices that make us who we are
Go your own way, even seasons have changed just burn those new leaves
over
So self-absorbed you've seemed to ignore the prayers that have already come
about

This is the correlation of salvation and love
(Don't drop your arms)
Don't drop your arms, I'll guard your heart
With quiet words I'll lead you in

La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la
La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la

Backing away from the problem of pain you never had a home
You've been misguided, you're hiding in shadows for so very long
Don't you believe that you've been deceived that you're no better than...
The hair in your eyes, it never disguised what you're really thinking of

This is the correlation of salvation and love
(Don't drop your arms)
Don't drop your arms, I'll guard your heart
With quiet words I'll lead you in

This is the correlation of salvation and love
(Don't drop your arms)
Don't drop your arms, I'll guard your heart
With quiet words I'll lead you in

You're so brilliant, don't soon forget
You're so brilliant, grace marked your heart
You're so brilliant, don't soon forget
You're so brilliant, grace marked your heart
You're so brilliant (This is the correlation)
Don't soon forget (Between salvation and love, don't drop your arms)
You're so brilliant (I'll guard your heart)
Grace marked your heart (With quiet words I'll lead you in and out of the dark)

La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la
(Don't drop your arms)
La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la

This is the correlation of salvation and love (La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la)
(Don't drop your arms)
Don't drop your arms, I'll guard your heart (La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la)
With quiet words I'll lead you in

This is the correlation of salvation and love (La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la)
(Don't drop your arms)
Don't drop your arms, I'll guard your heart (La lalalala, la la la, la lala, la)
With quiet words I'll lead you in

[ The Unwinding Cable Car Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

I am a Christian.

Beautiful Christian Sister~ By Maya Angelou

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ

That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

When I say.... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean living;

'I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say.... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,

my flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain...

I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou;

I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

Pretty is as pretty does... But beautiful is just plain beautiful!