Mosaic

Upon a visit to St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy I was awe-struck at the detail in architecture. All the mosaics involved, were even more amazing. All that fine detail would have taken so much work and dedication. Even the marble floors were detailed mosaic designs. The glass mosaics on the walls and the ceilings inside tell the whole gospel story including Pentacost and judgement. The colored glass pieces that make up the mosaics on the walls were formed from just sand. The Basilica's artwork told people who couldn't read it for themselves- the gospel story. God's great love for us, written into the very architecture in so much detail.
I am drawn to the immense attention to detail God paid as He formed the Earth and it's inhabitants. Everything depends on everything. All things have their own perfect place in the environment. It's like St. Mark's Basilica-every tiny glass square made from sand-we wouldn't be or tell much of a story without becoming a piece of the mosaic. We are all-every single detailed individual on Earth-part of a much bigger mosaic that only God can see and is perfect only when we surrender and allow Him to be the artist. Fall into your place in the masterpiece. Allow your sand-particle turned glass little colored square to be placed exactly where it will fit-and only God knows where that is. It's all part of a big picture to glorify Him. To show the world-all who would gaze on the Artist's work-who He really is. To read the gospel story in it all. To be taken by all the details of His creation and shown His vast love for what He has created.

My Grandma

I remember Grandma and Grandpa taking me as a child to the strawberry fields and picking baskets full of strawberries (and eating several too) then we would go to their house and Grandma would have angel food cake made. We ate it altogether with "lucky whip" on top, as Grandma called it. I remember all those times at Grandma and Grandpa's house when Grandma would put a movie on like "World's Greatest Athlete" for me to watch and play with dolls while they played cards with Bob and Rose, or whoever was over to laugh and play cards with them. I had the love and care of Grandma while meeting new friends all the time.
I learned how to make friends and keep them, from Grandma. She talked to anyone and everyone. She had lots of friends wherever she went. She wasn't afraid to speak out either. Sometimes she'd say, "oh, I'm bad, I should'nt say that", but she would say it anyway. Most of the time it was the truth only everyone else tried to cover it up or ignore it. In her eyes, no one friend was more important than another. Everyone we meet has something unique to contribute to this conversation called life. All people are important. She wasn't afraid to live life. I can't imagine who I would be without my Grandma Tietje.

Being Rooted and Established In Love

I once said that I wanted to be loved for who I am, all my imperfections and insecurities included. I didn't realize or accept that I already was loved so much, like that-like I longed to be loved. I am valuable and loved just for being God's creation. Just me. Loved. Accepted.

This convinces me to stop striving so much for perfection. To stop trying to "fix" things and just love God for who He is. Whether I like or enjoy what He is doing at the moment or not. It is up to Him to make me who I will be. It is up to Him to write history, to orchestrate the lives of all those around me, and everyone in the whole world. Focus on Him. Love Him for who He is! Stop striving to fix yourself or be a better person, because you can't do it, Adrianne. Strive instead to love God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, strength. He will take care of all else. For IN Him, THROUGH Him, and TO Him are all things.

Live the dream of being yourself, not worrying what society or anyone else wants you to be. In being yourself, imperfections and all, God will be glorified! He has promised this: that He will work everything out to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. And He WILL finish what He started in you!!
Ephesians 3:16-19, Matthew 22:37,
Romans 8:28, Philippians 1:6 and 2:13

Take me through the desert place, for the chance to see your face!

Don't relent-My desperate cry

"You won't relent until You have it all, my heart is YOURS! Come BE the fire inside of me, until You and I are ONE."--from the song, "You won't relent", Kim Walker
--And You will accomplish this, no matter what it takes, no matter how many times I have to bend and be spun around by the mighty weight of your love and mercy. You have a purpose for all things-and You will work them out for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28).
More than anything, I want, I long, to be one with You. One with You alone. You said this was possible and I know You alone are faithful-and You will do it! So come, BE a consuming FIRE! And DON'T relent until YOU HAVE IT ALL! For my heart is eternally Yours!
--This is the desperate cry of one who cannot do anything right-one who would be dead already if not for Your love alone, and Your acceptance of me as Your child, even in a broken and wounded place where there are still no answers and no one to blame but myself. You have saved me in more ways than one- more times than one- and You will never stop saving me if that's what it takes-because that is who You are. You are Love itself. Your love really does COVER over me and all my mistakes.
--And this is the desperate cry of a generation. A generation of people who are confused, who don't know what they are doing, who don't know how to go on, but they go on-confused and dissatisfied. Sometimes there are no answers, except to KNOW that HE IS God and we are not (Psalm 46:10). He is God and He is amazing. He loves us amazingly, like nothing we have ever known before. So please DON'T relent until You have a spotless bride, until my WHOLE HEART IS YOURS!!

We Cry Out!

This is ridiculous. Who are we? What have we become? Someone said "There is no hope for the satisfied man", and I am crying out-I am NOT satisfied! Like never before I am crying out the battle cry! Justice-Mercy-the battle belongs to the Lord! We will be silent no longer. We will be apathetic no longer! We have the keys to the Kingdom and we are taking ground! The tables are turning! God already has the victory. It is settled, we have to claim it! Shout the battle cry from the rooftops of the skyscrapers in America. Our freedom is near! Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
Psalm 2:8 "Ask of Me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession."
Malachi 4:5-6 Restoration! Oh God, we cry out for restoration!!!
2 Chronicles 7:14 "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
1 Timothy 2:1-4

More Than Enough In Mexico

We sing the song, "More Than Enough", but it's hard to determine if we really mean it, deep down. It's beautiful and easy to sing but I admit that sometimes I haven't been so quick to mean it in reality. I mean, God is God. Everything is His to determine. It's like Job. "Will I accept only good from God and not any hard times?" (Job 2:10) He never said it would be easy. He only said He would be with us. And if He truly is "More Than Enough", we should be rejoicing always in that promise alone.

"More than all I know, more than all I can see, You are more than enough for me. More than all I want, more than all I need, You are more than enough for me". Dealing with loss is never easy, no matter what, who, or how much that loss is. God is amazing beyond our wildest dreams. There IS a season and a time for all things under heaven, just as Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 says. When all falls away and more of me dies, I see that He IS more than enough for me and I have to trust Him wholeheartedly. In the end, He has promised to make it all okay.