Royalty Realm – Sleeping Beauties

“God is raising up an army…and the Body of Christ is full of Sleeping Beauties who need to be awakened!”

It was one of those “Who said that?!” moments as it popped out of my mouth. The three of us sharing lunch went silent for a moment as we felt the force of that provoking Spirit-word.

We had been meandering through our table-talk enjoying a meal and each other’s company. It was a celebration lunch for having completed a five-month long journey together. In reality, though, our culmination became a continuation of the work the Lord had been doing throughout those months…

***

Our hostess had recently discovered a love and need for color. Upon arrival, her discovery was my discovery when I opened her guest restroom door and jumped back from the SPLASH of color that met me! First I laughed out loud then hollered at the other friend, “You gotta come see this!”

Later, over lunch in this visit to her vibrant palette disguised as a home, we laughed all over again at the uncontainable joy that COLOR prompted.

Our conversation through topics of gardening, meals, politics, writing, leaving a legacy, and more had leisurely circled its way back to our focal point of the journey being celebrated. We were simply women talking about the roles we held, both gratefully and not so much, and the forgotten or undiscovered gifts that women possess. It was in that context that Holy Spirit piped up with His wisdom, not mine. We could tell the difference as His words vibrated in the atmosphere and in the spiritual ears of our hearts.

Pointing to our friend’s discovery and release of color into her environment – which not only blessed her, but blessed anyone who unsuspectingly walked into her home! – I felt God’s passion stirring …

We three were surrounded by the evidence of His creativity through one soul who felt a need for COLOR. It woke us up with a jolt of joy!

Imagine an entire army of souls, each awakened to some unique facet of God’s character and nature.

With such joy resulting from a single soul who responded to the dynamo of the Spirit within, I could sense God’s ardor for releasing expressions of beauty and life through His multitude of vessels. What glorious contrast to the thick darkness that permeates our culture and our world – shimmering life in the midst of a death spiral.

***

I grant you it is far easier to think and act on these things if we are awake than if we are snoozing through life waiting for our prince to rescue us. He already did.

Sleep well tonight. Morning comes early, sleeping beauty.

Gracefully Free

“We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul–not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us… who did rescue us out of the authority of the darkness, and did translate us into the reign of the Son of His love…”  (Colossians 1:11-12 MSG; 1:13 YLT)