God Put Me Through Beauty School

Proverbs 2: 1-6: My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and IF YOU LOOK FOR IT AS FOR SILVER AND SEARCH FOR IT AS FOR HIDDEN TREASURE, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

IF YOU SEARCH FOR WISDOM AS IF IT’S A HIDDEN TREASURE….YOU WILL FIND IT!

Ok, I’ve read this scripture 5 zillion times. It was my staple scripture for almost a decade. But I just recently saw it with new eyes!

Several years ago, I was telling a skeptical friend about something God had done in my life. It was probably something similar to the things I share here…like when I blogged about “Holy Inside Joke! God’s in on it!” My hilarious boyfriend agreed to watch a silly girl’s movie with me and we were joking about it being our “fancy pants” date. I was leaning on my Bible at the time and looked down at a scripture that talked about wearing “Garments of Splendor!” I’m sure there’s a translation out there that says Fancy Pants! haha. It might sound like a small thing but it was Huge for me! I’m on a path to discover True Beauty and I learned something new about it. Most people agree that a sense of humor tops the “things I find attractive about you” list. So it made sense that the God who invented Beauty would also have a sense of humor. God wanted to be “in on the joke”….the fun side of my life. Who knew he could be that real in our lives!:)

So, it was probably five years ago and even though I can’t remember what I was saying…I’m sure I was telling my friend something similar to this…some new amazing revelation. At that time, he asked me a question that I didn’t think twice about …until now. After discovering more about God’s sense of humor, I woke up with his question so LOUD in my head: “What makes you, Missy Midden, think you’re so special that God would do all this for You.”

I think I finally have the answer!

The intent of the question was probably to point out I’m not really that special. haha It’s funny because I didn’t detect the skepticism at the time so I’m sure I answered enthusiastically as if he really wanted to know. I thought it had something to do with how God related to me personally as a creative person.

Ultimately, it was fair question. One that deserved a good answer.

The last few weeks, I kept thinking about the “wisdom” scripture. It kept coming up and rolling around in my mind. I sorta wondered what God was trying to show me since I had already dissected this scripture for years….but then I saw it! I saw the answer to his question. If you search for Wisdom as if it’s a Hidden Treasure….you will find it!! This suggests LIFE IS MEANT TO BE AN ADVENTURE! “Finding hidden treasure????” that’s like something out of Indiana Jones. Wisdom is universal…we all need it. So, these creative revelations are not just for creative types. God said we could have wisdom if we searched for it like a hidden treasure! Getting to know God IS the adventure. Our life is designed to be an adventure! So the only difference between my friend and me was that I chose to look under a few more rocks. I dug a little deeper in search of something significant. Something Beautiful. Pearls of Wisdom! I searched fully convinced I would find some new treasure! I would find God and Divine Inspiration for that moment of my life. I think it’s important to walk in Divine inspiration rather than be a slave to what seems safe and practical to everyone else.

So recently, I checked my treasure map, dusted off a little sand and found that God had a sense of humor. I discovered that God is so much more than the One who listens to our desperate prayers or approves our earnest pursuits and good deeds….but he Delights in our FUN TIMES! He asks us to rejoice …but look …he rejoices over us too! Isn’t that such a cool picture!!!

Zephaniah 3:14-17 Sing O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy…..The Lord the King of Israel is with you; never again will you fear harm…do not fear o Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great DELIGHT in YOU. He will quiet you with his love, He will REJOICE OVER YOU with SINGING.

Sometimes the “small” thing …IS….the adventure! Today, for example, I discovered true beauty can be found at Marshalls! haha (I’ll write about this next…it’s funny and meaningful)

So to finally answer my friend’s question…. We’re ALL that special!!! Look for Him and see what You find! I think this is when life will get interesting for you! This is the way to turn a dull life into a (better than Indiana Jones) kind of adventure!

By the way, when my friend was suggesting I believed I was a little “too special” …I was at the very lowest point of my life. What a testimony to the power of God’s adventure! Even though I was crushed in every way imaginable and it would have made more sense for someone to feel sorry for me….instead ….someone actually believed I thought I was “too” special! You know why ….because I was SPECIAL. I was blessed to learn that unimaginable treasure, an exciting adventure, pearls of wisdom and True Beauty can be found even in the darkest phase of your life. This adventure isn’t reserved for the rich, the creative, the stable, the ‘no longer hurting’…God never let me be a victim of my circumstances!

We are all meant to be free….to live the adventure ….to wear the hat! Who Knows what we’ll find …there’s so much ground to cover!

I pray God gives you courage to search for him as if He’s a hidden treasure and the faith to BELIEVE you WILL find Him!

Love and Hugs…
Missy

Ugh….WAITING! WAITING for your soul mate to show up….Waiting for someone to say, ‘You’re hired’……Waiting on some kind of spark to bring you to life again….Waiting for that person to change….Waiting for everything to run smoothly for once, Waiting for the microwave to beep…WAITING, waiting, waiting….

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

You might be thinking, “Yeah but for how long? I’ve been waiting for years ….in some cases…all my life.” Ok and realistically sometimes a few minutes or a whole half a day!:)

But no matter how optimistic, “spiritual” or “strong” we are, we have those days we’re just sick and tired of waiting! I wonder if God can relate? I wonder if sometimes we’re really not waiting at all but Running as fast as we can in the wrong direction?…just to be moving?…just to be doing Something?

I wonder if, in fact, God is WAITING on Us?

So a lively, free-spirited friend of mine was going to bust if she didn’t have a summer ADVENTURE. Much to her Dismay….NOTHING was really working out but she felt like God was telling her He had something special for her. Even though she tried to venture out on her own a few times, ultimately, she surrendered and chose to wait on God wholeheartedly. During this process, I watched her go through a “boot camp” of life lessons and grow quickly. Then, on a casual, adventure-free day, she had eyes to see something New. She knew in her heart it was the “something special” from God. This adventure didn’t require a plane ticket because it was in her own neighborhood. It might not have been what she was expecting but it was Much Better. It was also something that had been there all along but she never really noticed it. I believe God didn’t give her eyes to see it until she was ready. I was inspired by this because I could see the wisdom and perfection of God’s timing. He wants to give a Good gift and maybe sometimes we have to learn a few things in the meantime. Maybe we need to grow from the little trials in front of us first. Otherwise, the gift might not even be a blessing. I believe God protects us so we don’t ruin our own good gifts….like pouting before a surprise birthday party because you thought everyone forgot about you. ooooo Just wait …. it’s gonna be worth it!

Isaiah 64: 3-5: For when you did AWESOME things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways.

He is waiting on you to Remember Him….He wants your attention. He wants you to be ready….so he can give you an AWESOME gift…it’s all part of the Beautiful Adventure.

So maybe God relates to the pain we feel when we have no choice but to WAIT. He wants to give us unbelievable gifts and he’s not ignoring our needs nor our heart’s desires. He’s waiting. Waiting until the gift will be a blessing and not a curse. So, again, just maybe in all of our inner grumbling about having to Wait on God and thinking he’s taking FOREVER….maybe God’s actually waiting on Us.

It might not always be the case…but God I pray today we would stop and surrender. Instead of trying to manipulate our circumstances or expect the other person to change….God help Us to change. Help us to draw closer to you. Help us to remember your ways. And for those of us weary in well doing…help us to let You be the strong one. Help us grow a little more this week. Help us to see you in Heaven dying to give us a good gift:))

Pearls of Wisdom=True Beauty (from my niece Kelli): Don’t try to be so strong on your own. Give God your fear.
“He makes all things new. There isn’t room for perfectionism because God is already the perfect one and he doesn’t require that of you. He wants you to listen to him. Let him be the perfect one and let him make all things new”

I know I told you I was going to write about wisdom next ….shoot….I haven’t forgotten about it.
Hugs and Love
Missy

Actually, I was surprised how the 7 Day Faith Walk Adventure ended. I guess I was expecting fierce warrior prayers to continue with bold declarations of Faith. If it was going to compete with the rest of the week, shoot, I didn’t rule out doing cartwheels down the street. I have a head cold so I got a fully caffeinated coffee before my walk in preparation for the prayers of this final day! And then God did something COMPLETELY different. Haha

First of all, after I decided to do the 7-day walk I ran across the Battle of Jericho story:

Hebrews 11:30
By faith the WALLS of Jericho FELL (DOWN), after the people had MARCHED around them for SEVEN days.

THEN, I found this scripture at the bottom of one of my daily devotionals:

Psalms 12:5-6 (NLT) “Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.” The Lord’s promises are pure, like SILVER (something connected to beauty) refined in a furnace, purified SEVEN TIMES over.”

And the scripture my mom gave me:
Isaiah 58:6:
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? (THERE IS A VERY FUNNY STORY I’M GOING TO SHARE ABOUT THIS…WAIT FOR IT……… )

So I started off this 7th day READY for something big. I started praying, “ THANK YOU GOD, THE WALLS ARE COMING DOWN, THANK YOU GOD…THE WALLS ARE COMING DOWN IN MY LOVED ONES LIFE…THANK YOU GOD THE WALLS….” and more of this for about 10 minutes. I believe this IS the significance of this final day of walking but somehow this prayer didn’t feel “inspired.” I also spent the first 30 minutes trying to find a song that seemed to fit. Finally, I turned the music off and just prayed, “God, I need your help with what I should be praying. I sense my prayers are falling flat. Would you help me?” Then, I walked some more and I sensed God simply say, “just enjoy the walk.” I didn’t think I would write about this but just wait until you see where it took me! Ok, but my thoughts started wandering and I prayed, “God, I can think about what I want all day long…and I wanted this to be the hour I concentrated on You.” But again……… “just enjoy the walk” …. “ok … but what do I think about?” I sensed God asked in return, “what do you like to think about?” This is not at ALL the fiery faith walk I expected lol. “ok, I like to think about….” Well, then all the negative stuff I think about came to mind…so I prayed, “o I should ask forgiveness for that.” And then I believed God said, “No, that’s not what I’m talking about …just what do you really enjoy thinking about?” …… “ O oo ok what do I like to think about…. Hmm…ok um….really? ok…um…..like what do I LIKE to think about? ….ok, then finally, “ I like to think about what I’m going to write, I like to think about pictures that help an idea make sense, I like to think about my boyfriend, and You, I like to think about having fun and all the things that made me laugh at some point….Well, what do you like to think about God?” THIS IS WHERE IT GETS INTERESTING! I didn’t really expect an answer but an immediate “YOU,” followed.

THEEEENN…..I started seeing the picture God wanted me to see today. In the same way we might turn on TV or find our favorite websites online to be amused….GOD TURNS ON YOU-TUBE! Beyond the battling, the work, the super spiritual stuff…God is amused by US and all our idiosyncrasies. God was asking me what I enjoy thinking about and He shared what He enjoys thinking about too. You know what this is???? It’s a FRIENDSHIP! Isn’t that what all the battling and all the super spiritual stuff is all about?….to be free to Know God! Well, what do you know …the walls –did- come down.

Ok, here’s the funny story that, well, it applies. Earlier in the week, my mom and I prayed to break the yokes. I knew that was a prayer straight from God’s heart. So at the end of my prayer walk that day…I was breaking the yokes! With all the boldness God gave me this week I was declaring, “Break the yokes, break the yokes…Thank you Jesus the yokes are breaking…” except, I had the picture of EGG YOLKS in my mind hahaha. Disclaimer: I did know the actual meaning but couldn’t recall it just then. (I know, sure, sure) So, I was trying really hard to see the significance of breaking all those yolks. I called my mom back and asked her about this with MUCH LAUGHTER IN RETURN. The definition of a yoke is: a device for joining together a pair of draft animals, esp. oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal. SO, IN ESSENCE, IT’S A WORD PICTURE THAT REPRESENTS A WAY TO BREAK THE CHAINS AND SET THE CAPTIVES FREE. (not so much ordering up an Egg McMuffin).

My dad even called me that night asking if I had any egg yolks left to break. HA HA HA ….. lol……

I think God saw me walking , praying and breaking those egg yolks and CRACKED UP LAUGHING! I also think it was precious to him because he sees his daughter doing her absolute best to please her Father. But this was definitely a YOUtube moment for God. He wants to be our friend and just when we think we’re heading into a Hallelujah battle…God turns on YOUtube! He just doesn’t let us take ourselves too seriously. He’s a real friend…. and again, isn’t this the whole point? This IS the Hallelujah Battle!

Thank you Jesus, the Walls Came Down today! Thank you for the adventure that led me to the most pleasant walk with you….as my Friend. How simple, How Profound!!!

The special thing is right before I decided to do this walk, I whispered the prayer, God I’m walking through a bit of a lonely place. I need a friend. I’m so thankful for the friends in my life…but I had a moment of feeling alone in the midst of everyone. I asked God for a friend, I asked if He would be my friend. *teeeear* It was the most intimate prayer he could have possibly answered.

What a way to end the week.

My brother, Robert Midden, gave me the perfect conclusion to this 7day Faith Walk Adventure. He said:

“Sometimes we look to the past to define the future. The only problem it is God who defines everything.”

Love and Hugs
Missy

A while back I vented to God about not being good at finding my way through this most recent uncharted territory. It was like God called me to the job: surviving life after being laid off and preparing to start my own company through the rubble of multiple setbacks. Can you see that on a name tag? It requires tremendous ambition and leadership strength. This is not part of my natural skill set and I was drowning. In the past, God just simply opened the door to the next job. This time has been different. I was trying so hard and it wasn’t working and I finally said, “GOD…(like, what the heck)….I’m not good at this…You created me…You Know I’m not good at this….so HELP!” Then, the thought came…”Yeah, but you are good at standing in faith….so do that…” (with the implication…right, I know, but where you are weak, I am strong…I didn’t mean for you to try and save yourself, let me do it)! In fact, he had prepared me to stand in faith! It’s a lesson God has given me a million times throughout the years. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. It’s a major theme in my life: standing in faith….believing the word God gives me…(but) surrendering the outcome!

What a relief to finally get some direction that was at least familiar. I can have faith and believe God will lead my steps. So why am I still on this roller coaster that keeps parking in a fear pit for a few days at a time? HERE’S THE NEW REVELATION: I have been trying to “coast” through a season that’s not “coast worthy.” I was familiar with faith so I thought I could passively believe. It’s like I had my hands held out with “faith” resting on my open palms making it ridiculously easy for “trials” & “fear” to simply pick it up and run away with it. Here’s the lesson: There is nothing NEUTRAL about standing in faith! Every time a life-experienced adult chooses to have the faith of a child…an Active choice is made! It’s a sacrifice! You have to surrender and often times “die” to the “practical sense” that tells you to fear, or be cautious for good reason. It’s going against tremendous pressures that give so many reasons why you shouldn’t simply believe. Let me say this again: There is nothing Neutral about standing in faith! It’s a battle to get through to the next step. It’s like the butterfly struggling with the cocoon so it will have the strength it needs to Fly. God did give me the next plan of action but rather than embracing it….I was trying to “coast.” So, it’s time for me pick up my marching orders and take a stand!

Listen to this….I’M GOING ON A FAST (of sorts)! A Faith-Walk Adventure! I’m so excited about it! I started it yesterday actually. For seven days I’m going to walk for an hour every morning dwelling on the words of faith God has given me. I’m going to literally walk out my marching orders:). No matter what I do with the rest of the day ….at least for one hour…I will be thanking God for His goodness, Love, beauty and Nets Full of Fish. The focus will be on Thanks rather than the Limitations that so easily infiltrate a neutral mind! Active Faith! Loving God! Rejoicing! I’m going to take a stand and Believe. I’m going to pray for Breakthrough and Freedom for my life and those God puts on my heart. I believe it’s a form of intercession.

This is one of the songs I listen to on this walk. It’s called Mountain of the Living God by Jason Upton. It has an inspiring lighthearted tone with the reminder that we already have access to life’s greatest joy! We can step into God’s love, beauty, joy and adventure regardless of what’s going on in our lives. It’s funny because the fact that -this- is the song that leads me into intercession prayer shows that it really is a new season in my life. Usually intercession comes from the deep caverns of my soul through brokenness. The songs I listen to usually reflect this. But this time …it’s springing up through Joy! Like the “we three queens” toast for this year:The Joy of the Lord is our Strength!

Thank you God that you give us your wisdom, strength and courage we need to head out into uncharted territory. Thank you that when we are weak, You are strong. Thank you that you didn’t leave it up to us! We need a Savior! We weren’t meant to walk alone! Speak to our hearts today Lord….we Love you!

I’ll keep you posted on this 7 day Faith Walk Adventure:)
Love and Hugs
Missy