Lovely.
Jesus is lovely.
He is lovely. There is no one fairer than He.
He opens our hearts. He removes our heart of stone and births a heart of flesh. Hard stone to tender flesh. Flesh that has constant need of the Author, Creator and Sustainer of life.
This starts with Him. His loveliness is what makes this so tender, so lovely. Only Him. I am not pretending that this declaration is prescriptive for all. I am simply seeking to be present to what is happening in this heart. I want to declare now and, hopefully, remember later. This recording can aid me in that. Now and later.
I've been waiting for this. I've wondered about this moment. I am tenderly remembering sitting with Lea on the back porch at Story Cottage praying for our grandchildren. Wondering what it might be like to watch the expansion of our son's lives merge with God's woman for them and abundantly multiply. Expand in growth with their wives. Expand in growth with their children if that is something that God brings.
I've been staring for the last couple of days. Our son and his wife and their new daughter are at Beacon Hall for a few days. Drinking deeply in the creative power of God in the eyes of Emerson Marie. I can hardly stop looking. Yesterday I watched this picture happen for the first time. Emma's tiny fingers resting on Mem's bronzed skin. Mem reading to Emma. A trillion words quieted in me. Slowing to take it in. Wanting to be a blessing to her children and grandchildren. Truly a longing of Mem's heart. I see it. I hear her talk to Papa about it. Psalm 78 is real. It's not hype. It is God's heart. I celebrate God's planting of Psalm 78 in Lea's life as a young woman in high school. Psalm 78: The abundant multiplication of the Story of God in the generations. "The One who calls you is faithful and HE WILL DO IT." He's doing it! He is lovely and He is doing it.
"...that you may be able to grasp with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God" (bible book of Ephesians, chapter 3, verses 18 and 19).
Breadth, length, height, depth. Surpasses knowledge. All encompassing, mind blowing love of Jesus. Filled up to all the fullness of God. Our hearts must be able to expand for this filling. I'm counting on it. It's happening.
Emma is pointing me.
His expansive loveliness. All encompassing loveliness.
He is lovely. There is no one fairer than He.
There's more.