I make myself a cup of Bengal Spice Tea with whipped cream and sit down in my big white Ikea chair with my laptop open. I take a sip of tea and close my eyes.
“What do I say?”
Do I keep it light?
Do I go deep?
Do I tell you my mind is a soupy mess and my words feel all jumbled up?
I wonder if I should just comment on the books I’m reading (about 5 currently) but not really getting through triumphantly. Oh don’t get me wrong. They are awesome books by some of the sweetest friends. I want to tell you to add them to your summer reading stack and where to get a cute bag to put them in when you go to the beach. I want to say all that but, there is all the typing and linking and blog type stuff that drains me right now. Oh how I want to be bloggish right now.
I take another sip. The whipped cream cloud is now gone.
The Lord is speaking, softly and slowly. He is wooing me to places of comfort and glory. I think much of what He is speaking is for savoring not saying just yet.
I stare into my tea.
But I love to have something to say. I’m used to being the one encouraging you from the rooftops with my megaphone in hand. I like to cheer you on with big bold words of peppiness. But not today.
So I sit in my watchtower and I wait. I wait for the words God speaks and wants me to say. There are so many pages to be filled this summer. A second book, a proposal or two, and a talk to share just months away.
Fear taunts me from the corner of my mind.
What if I don’t have anything left to say? What if the soupy, jumbled up mess gets soupier and more jumbled.
My tea cup is now empty. I kind of sort of feel the same way.
The Lord leans in a bit closer and raises His voice just enough to remind me of a promise He twice gave me:
“Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it’s happening now, even as I speak,
and you’re about to see it. I am preparing a way through the desert;
Waters will flow where there had been none.” Is 43:19
New.
It is happening. Coming just over the horizon.
You will see it.
Though you feel like this desert will never end. waters will flow where today there are none.
Watch closely.
This is the savoring season. The waiting days. The watch the horizon days.
I think I’ll refill my tea cup and keep my eyes fixed on the horizon.
xo,
Stacey
You took the words right out of my heart. Been praying for you lately. Hugs from Zambia!
The wisest of women knows that sometimes the Lord gives just for you, and not for the benefit of others. Why? Because he’s just that personal, and what he’s teaching you during this season may be just for you. Or it may need to marinate a bit before sharing. Either way, drink your tea and drink him in.
When I’ve been busy and rarely alone, sometimes arriving to those quiet places feels like a first date. Praying you sink into it, feel at ease and then refreshed and that clarity comes for this next project. I’d love to hear about it.
Your faith is encouraging. Looking up and out and always finding hope. I love you, dear Stacey.
The irony is that in sharing your “non thoughts” you HAVE encouraged!!! God works through us even when we feel like there is nothing there. Thank you for being you!!!
(And I am awfully interested in your reading list- you know you don’t have to share any links with me. 🙂 )
Love you!
First of all, Bengal spice tea is my absolute favourite. Yum.
This morning I was praying through all this stuff God is working on in me and I was overwhelmed with that moment of feeling like you’re on the edge and are about to jump into the unknown. It was frightening but exciting all at the same time. I’m excited for you the adventures that are waiting for you!
So when r we gonna take a day trip to the beach? I would live to sit and hear all day 🙂 Seriously! All the life changes we go through prepare us for the next season of ministry. Perhaps that is where u r percolating.
Thanks for sharing! Beautiful post…
Thank you my friend. As one comment above said…you HAVE encouraged. Watching closely with you…
I think there are times when, like Mary, we just need to treasure up those things in our hearts. It’s hard to find the words when He is quietly shifting our lives all around. Take your time… yes, He is bringing streams in the desert, and they’re bubbling up from the deep, and He will show you when it’s time to overflow.
Stacey. This. So, so beautiful. And articulates my own soul at the same time. Beautiful, friend.