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

After a good talk and prayer time with my mom… I was ready to start the 6th day of my Faith Walk Adventure. I have been amazed at how God is answering prayers and I’ve seen His hand at work in the lives of my friends and family. So with great enthusiasm, I gathered up several “hearts” to go with me today. This prayer walk isn’t just for me. It’s like I’m representing many of my loved ones as I bring my prayers before God.

There was, however, this um….eeeensy….weeeeensy…..just barely there….thought that somehow made it through my “this is wrong” sensors: “What about me, God? What about answering my prayers?” AWWWHHH…why is our nature so naturally stinky! But I didn’t pay any more attention to it and I started my walk.

The first thing that came to mind was a butterfly. God has given me a lot of visuals about a butterfly struggling against the cocoon in order to have the strength to one day fly. For the first time, I saw that I was Free from the cocoon and I was fluttering around the very Heart of Love and Beauty. It was such a happy, carefree visual and I could clearly see the blessing of being at such a place….even though it’s a place of Waiting. I was listening to this song called Wait Upon the Wind by Jason Upton and I felt assured that I would fly. I was just waiting for the right current to carry me. There will be a wind current just for me.

Jason Upton: Wait Upon the Wind

“I will wait upon the wind…I want you to carry me like you promised you would do. I can’t climb the wall all by myself. Carry me… Let me fly…I want to fly…let me fly…I need to fly. I will wait upon the wind….. I will wait upon the wind….” “so I wait on you o God..with my wings spread out…I wait….I know you’ll carry me with your gusts that are coming….”

As I continued walking, the “what about me” question seemed to come before the Lord. I sensed all the prayers, words and thoughts part like the red sea and there was a clear path to the Presence of God speaking a direct word to me, ………………..”Ask.” ……………..I sensed in my heart God was asking ‘what is it that you want?…ask.” and then silence….he was waiting. Ok, do I run for cover? repent? Say it wasn’t me? Beg for mercy? But I sensed that God really wanted to know the answer. I thought about King Solomon in the Bible asking for wisdom. Well, I did that for a decade. The next decade I asked to be closer to God….but now…I was on the spot and I needed to figure out exactly what it is that I want. Surprisingly, it didn’t take long…….”Breakthrough.” ……..That’s what I’m asking for God….Breakthrough. I didn’t feel the need to figure out the ‘how’ or in what way breakthrough should come. Just breakthrough. I also knew this wasn’t just about me. I came before the heart of God on behalf of all the hearts I took with me today! So I asked God for breakthrough in your life too!

My mom pointed me to the scripture 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?

Wow! (by the way, one of my friends sent me a scripture from this same chapter yesterday). What a confirmation that God heard my prayer, ‘what about me’? and he was ok with it:) “The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well watered garden, like a spring whose water never fail” Isa 58:11

I got back from my walk and sat down to start writing out my thoughts. Once again my niece called me. God set her free this week but walking it out is difficult. I was praying so much she wouldn’t feel so ‘heavy’ today. I was hoping God would give her even a taste of the amazing calling he has on her life.

LO AND BEHOLD SHE CALLS TO SAY…..”AUNT MISSY I HAD A BREAKTHROUGH TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!”

She said to me, “I anticipated heartbreak but God made my heart resilient without being bitter. He kept my heart close to Him even though I thought I was so far away from him. Instead of tears, God put laughter in my heart …I already cried ..it’s time to laugh!!

She was laughing and full of joy and when I told her about the breakthrough prayer, she said, “O now God’s just showing off.” hahaha

I told Kelli having the understanding that it’s POSSIBLE for God to make your heart resilient instead of bitter is POWERFUL! THIS WILL REACH MANY, MANY PEOPLE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES! How amazing to see her walking around with a new pearl of wisdom! How beautiful it looks on her. She’s stepping in to her calling…to the beautiful woman God made her to be!

Thank you God that YOU ARE GOOD! Thank for all the ways you fill our lives with BEAUTY. Thank you for the pearl of Wisdom Kelli gave us today! Just one more beautiful treasure…. We love you!

One more day to this walking fast!

I want to leave you with another pearl of wisdom from my friend Bobbie. She added this comment, “humility is the most underrated power we possess…” Wow…this is something to think about!!! Thanks for sharing BEAUTY!
Love and Hugs-

Pace Yourself

I am practically speechless! This devotional was a like a coach telling me –exactly– what I needed to work on today: PACE! Pressure is building with so many things that need to happen -yesterday- and I can’t seem to get ahead! I felt a little off my game this week! It has been one of those weeks I’ve done everything and accomplished -not enough to sleep well at night. I’m not in a TGIF mode but (RIFA): Really? It’s Friday Already? and not in a good way!

“What the Lord is Saying” www.fullnessonline.org
November 20, 2009. I keep hearing the words “pace – pace – pace” and that is all I have heard. I am looking on my kitchen counter at a new jar of “Pace Picante Sauce” which is a staple here in Texas for Tex-Mex food. But that is not all. I looked it up on Google and the top items were for the pace cars for the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway race. So Lord what is this about? Some need to pace themselves or they are going to burn out. Some need to step up their pace. Some need to get hot after the matter that is before them. Beverly just send out the word “pace.”

1 Kings 8:58 (MSG) “May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors.” Bev Robinson

God, for those of us in need of a better pace….please HELP! Give us wisdom! We need balance so our weeks quit spinning out of control! I pray right now, we would stop…..breathe …….breathe, again……one more time….and place it -all- at your feet.

Lord, help us set the right pace for each responsibility so we don’t fluctuate between the extremes of ‘too much’ and ‘not enough’. I pray your perfect peace would help pace our day. Thank you for this relief! Thank you bringing clarity to a blurry picture!

I needed that …whew …
hugs-