See Me: a reflection
Originally posted on “Story Behind the Still“ Wordpress site on December 1st, 2016
Go a little further. Venture a little closer. Look from your left to your right. Above you, around you—don’t you see it? Don’t you see My Majesty? My Daughter, My Son, I created ALL that you see. Don’t you see it? I created it for YOU. Don’t you see my masterpiece? Don’t you see the beauty that I have made? My Child, I have called you BY NAME. I have rescued you from the PIT of despair. I have covered you in My Blood and paid the price for your sins so that you may be looked upon by My Father for MY LIFE. You have been set free by inviting me in and accepting me. I have set you FREE from the bondage. Why do you run back to the darkness? Do you think it will hide you from Me? My Beloved, do not cower from Me. Do not run—I will not leave you nor forsake you. You are MINE. I have placed a seal upon you—one that can NEVER be broken. I LOVE YOU. Why won’t you believe me? Why won’t you choose Me?
Look up; look around. Do you see it? You see that beauty? I created it so that YOU could REJOICE in it and PRAISE ME for ALL that I am. I made this for you. Will you accept it? Will you accept me? ~ Jesus
Just some things the Lord was sharing with me.
Man is He good you guys.
Last night I went to the last Doulos meeting of the Fall 2016 semester. I went to the same place, ATO at UF, where just a year prior I had given my testimony. Where I shared my heart for the first time in front of a large crowd—where I shared about the brokenness in my life and how My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, went down into my pit and saved me. How He viewed me differently than the lies of the enemy. How He set me free from an eternity in Hell. How He continues to DAILY save me from all that I am.
The year that followed that testimony has been hard—beautifully hard. It lead to one of the HARDEST summer’s of my life. It lead to a summer and a journey with the Lord. It lead to a great personal connection to what I heard and experienced last night at Doulos.
The president of Doulos, Andrew Vadyak, a senior in ATO, spoke on his story but also on how as Christians we are automatically set apart and called to glorify the Lord.
“Once you go all in, you don’t go back”
Vadyak spoke on how “Prayer Convicts; Prayer Sustains; Prayer Transforms.” How we NEED to have a Faith Culture where we are declaring what belongs to us—just how Jesus declared what belonged to Him. We watched a video that encouraged us to “Explore your inheritance. Go look at the rivers, the mountains, the fields, the sky.” How that’s ours from our Heavenly Father.
And I was struck by this. I thought, “Jaclyn, you’ve done that.” THAT is what the above photo is for me. THAT was Tahoe. While yes, I went to Tahoe for only part of the mission trip, what I truly feel the Lord called me to see in South Lake Tahoe was His beauty. To actually see, experience, BE in the inheritance that I have from the Lord.
And last night, I realized that. I realized that no matter what happened on that trip. No matter how painful it was to be told to leave; no matter how excruciating it was to leave that beautiful creation from God—I’m promised that beauty for ALL of eternity with my Lord and Savior.
And you know what? That knowledge precedes ANY and ALL the hardships I will have / have had in this life. Because His glory and blessings are SO much greater than the hardships. So yes, I am thankful for the crazy but confusing summer I had. It allowed me to meeting people that are truly passionate for the Lord and allowed me to experience unconditional love. And I’m thankful. So so very thankful.
Here’s to Faith that will Explore what Revelation reveals.
That is all—hope you enjoyed this further dive into the story behind the still.
~ Jaclyn
Inspired Scripture:
“Through Him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” – John 1:3
“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. 12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.” – Psalm 96:11-12
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1
